When was botox first invented

Through expanded research into aesthetic uses Allergan later commenced clinical trials to study the treatment's safety and efficacy for moderate to severe frown lines. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Nearly all of the surgeons interviewed about Botox for this article said that they have seen a steady rise in its popularity and that their colleagues continue to find off-label uses for the product. In this first article in a three-part series, Ocular Surgery News recounts the history of Botox and examines its current applications. In the next two installments, we will explore what may be next for Botox and how physicians can incorporate it into their practices.

Surgeons first tested botulinum toxin A in humans in , when Alan B. Ten years later, Allergan acquired the rights to distribute the drug, marketed first as Oculinum, and conducted additional trials for indications including benign essential blepharospasm and cervical dystonia. Allen M. Lipham said that most patients and even some physicians hold misconceptions about how Botox works. Botox actually works by inactivating muscles that are responsible for overactive facial expression. It does not target wrinkles, but the muscles that cause them to develop, he said.

Lipham said. Without acetylcholine, the muscle atrophies, according to Allergan representatives. It takes 3 to 4 months for the old nerve terminal activity to be restored. Surgeons must understand not only facial anatomy but also how different individuals use their muscles, he added.

Surgeons can glean a lot of necessary information about their patients during the interview, Dr. Fagien noted. Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. The research is time-consuming. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Read More Previous. Botox works by blocking the signals sent to the muscles from the nerves.

The muscles that are injected with Botox are unable to contract which results in relaxed muscles and fewer wrinkles. When used as an anti-aging cosmetic treatment the procedure takes just a few minutes and requires no anesthetics. Botox is injected through a fine needle into specific muscles and there is typically only minor discomfort during the procedure. It can take up to a week for the muscles to fully respond to the treatment. The effects generally last between four and six months.