The first time I heard the term, I thought it was 'Beau-Tox'; as in, 'Beautifying Toxin'. It turns out, I wasn't far off in terms of what the procedure claims to perform. In its cosmetic application, the Botox is injected directly into patients' facial muscles, usually in the forehead and around the eyes, in an attempt to restore a smooth, youthful appearance.

Botulinum Toxins

In actuality, Botox is the brand name for a substance that belongs to a class of drugs called Botulinum Toxins; it is a formulation of botulinum toxin type A, derived from the bacterium associated with botulism: Clostridium botulinum.

That's right, people actually pay to be injected with small doses of the potentially fatal nerve toxin responsible for causing dangerous paralytic illness. The symptoms of botulism include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle-weakness. Although the illness is rare and usually contracted through contaminated canned food products, in serious cases, it can result in death due to respiratory failure.

We regularly allow ourselves to be injected with minute doses of dangerous bio-chemicals every time we are vaccinated or receive antibiotics. However, vaccinations and antibiotics are not optional cosmetic procedures, as they are designed to prevent or treat diseases and massive outbreaks of illness.

Allergan, the manufacturers of Botox insist that more than one hundred years of research have expanded experts' knowledge of botulinum toxin type A, from the initial identification of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, to the commercialization of botulinum toxin type A as Botox used by medical professionals for clinical and cosmetic use in order to relax muscles.

Cosmetic Use of Botox for Lines & Wrinkles

Botox Cosmetic has been approved in the treatment of frown lines (referred to as glabellar lines by professionals); it is advertised as effective in the "temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with corrugator and/or procerus muscle activity in adult patients less than 65 years of age."

Translation? Glabellar lines are wrinkles between the brows that form when you frown, an expression achieved by the contraction of the corrugator and procerus muscles located between and above the eyebrows. These wrinkles are formed when, over time, the normal movement of the facial muscles causes the skin between the brows to crease. You see, as skin ages, it becomes less elastic, so repeated frowning may create visible lines and wrinkles that are obvious even when your face is relaxed.

The manufacturers of Botox claim that "once the muscles are at rest, the skin becomes smoother, creating a more natural and relaxed appearance." The fears of most Botox skeptics suggest that muscle paralysis is decidedly un-natural.

How Does Botox Work?

Now, a little light neurobiology: The brain transmits electrochemical messages along nerve pathways to the body's muscles, stimulating them to contract and move. These signals are delivered from the brain via nerves to muscle tissue by a chemical called acetylcholine.

Botulinum type A bacterium produces a protein that blocks the release of acetylcholine; Botox effectively blocks nerve cells from releasing acetylcholine, thus stopping the final transmission of stimulating signals - preventing muscle movement by lack of chemical stimulation. Basically, the process results in localized paralysis.

It is important to note that Botox treatment is not permanent. The nerve usually takes three months to recover and begin to release acetylcholine, at which time muscles will receive signals and begin to contract normally. At this point, another injection is be required to re-paralyze muscles.

Common Botox side effects include head-ache, respiratory infection, temporary eyelid doop, nausea, flu syndrome, muscle pain & weakess.

Is Botox Safe?

Marketed as safe and simple, the procedure is non-surgical, is completed in about ten minutes, and can be performed in your doctor's office with doses specific to each patient. Patients can pay as much as $1000 per treatment.

Manufacturers indicate that because the procedure is non-surgical, no recovery time is required, and most patients can return to work of other activities right away. A clinical study with Botox Cosmetic indicated that most patients reported an improvement in the reduction of lines between their brows after one week and for up to four months.

Possible Botox Side Effects

Common side effects include head-ache (13.3%), respiratory infection (3.5%), temporary eyelid droop (3.2%), nausea (3.0%), flu syndrome (2.0%). Less frequently occurring adverse reactions include pain in the face, and muscle weakness.

Long-term hazards include to possible formation of antibodies that may reduce the effectiveness of subsequent Botox treatments.

While testimonials on the Botox website claim they do not experience abnormal stiffness or difficulty making facial expressions, and most patients seem to be content with the results, it is important to consider the complaints of those experiencing unusual side effect. Discussions among recipients of the treatment on an online Botox Users' Forum (hosted by Bioque Technologies) suggest that some recipients of the treatment have experienced significant, serious, negative side effects.

One woman reported muscle weakness sufficient to prevent her from walking for an entire day following her first treatment.

One recipient experienced symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome for six months immediately after her first treatment; when symptoms subsided, she went for another treatment and relapsed with chronic symptoms within twelve hours, leaving her bed-ridden for three months. Although her doctor denied a correlation, she insists she would never risk having the treatment again.

Another Botox Cosmetic patient reported loss of vision, hair loss, shortness of breath and tension in the shoulders after five courses of treatment; she reported that friends who had received the treatment experienced similar side effects and wondered if their immune systems were being affected.

As with any procedure, there are side-effects associated. Although horror stories definitely exist, many Botox users are pleased with the process. Whatever you choose, be sure to educate yourself about procedures as well as the competency of available medical practitioners, and seriously consider the risks.