Botox Trivia for National Botox Day

Tomorrow is National Botox Day!

Brilliant Distinctions is celebrating by offering a limited number of BOGO $100 gift cards tomorrow, so set your alarm at 8:00 am to get yours!

Can you believe that Botox (Onabotulinum A) is the most studied drug in the world? There have been more than 3,500 clinical studies, over 3.5 million people treated, and about 1,000 patients are injected every day in the U.S. alone.  Botox has nine therapeutic FDA approved indications (ranging from muscle spasticity, migraines, and even sweaty armpits) and three cosmetic FDA approvals (for creases between the brows, crows feet, and forehead wrinkles). Botox is certainly used in other areas (like around the mouth and in neck bands), but these areas are considered “off label”.

Botox is a neurotoxin that comes from a bacterium called Clostridium Botulinum. When ingested from improperly canned food it can be deadly, and it can even be weaponized, but we prefer to harvest its powers to fight the signs of aging.

Botox works by stopping the release of a neurotransmitter from nerves that tell muscles to contract. The effects last for about 3 to 4 months. It was first used in the early 80’s to help treat strabismus (“lazy eye”) and eyelid spasms. Noticing the smoothing affects in the surrounding skin a brave ophthalmologist (Alistair Carruthers) injected his even braver ophthalmologist wife (Jean Carruthers), and cosmetic history was made!

There are common risks like bruising and discomfort at the injection site. Common aesthetic problems can be asymmetry, a heavy brow, or the easily treated “Spock” over-elevated brow. Less commonly Botox can migrate into surrounding muscles and make it hard to open your eyelid completely.

Having used Botox both professionally and personally for over 20 years I am thankful to the pioneers who made it all possible!