Botulinium Toxin (popularly known as Botox) is a purified toxin or poison that is used in very small amounts to paralyze the muscles to treat wrinkles. Botulinium Toxin is mainly used to treat lines near the eyes, forehead, neckbands etc. Botulinium Toxin can change the appearance in a short time with very little discomfort. Lets find out how a toxin is used medically to give a youthful look.

What Is Botulinium Toxin?

Botulinium Toxin is a toxin. This toxin is produced by bacteria most commonly known to cause a type of food poisoning- botulism. If you take Botulinium Toxin orally, all your muscles will get paralyzed. This toxin is purified and injected in very small quantities to paralyze or relax the muscles that have deep wrinkles in them.

Types Of Wrinkles Treated By Botulinium Toxin:

This toxin is mainly used to treat the wrinkles called crows feet near the eyes- the vertical lines between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose. Sometimes, it is also used to remove the muscle bands on the neck.

Botulinium Toxin injections are not for pregnant women or breast-feeding women. They are also not to be given to anyone with neurological disorders. Before getting injections in your neck to remove the muscular bands, discuss the details with your doctor.

To understand how Botulinium Toxin works, it is important to know how the lines and wrinkles form. Imagine exercising any part of your body. The muscles will gradually become stronger in that part. Similarly, when we make a facial expression, the muscles form lines and the more we use that expression, the more the lines get stronger. After many years, the lines become permanent. With a botulinium toxin injection, the muscles get relaxed and don't show any lines. The paralysis of muscles is used to relax the muscles totally and treat the lines and wrinkles. It is difficult to treat the laugh lines around the mouth, because the muscles are used for important functions such as eating.

Procedure Of Botulinium Toxin:

In this procedure, the doctor injects a tiny amount of Botulinium Toxin in the muscles. You will have to keep your head straight for about four hours; otherwise the toxin may spread to surrounding muscles. The toxin takes up to two weeks to show effect and the process may need repetition after three to six months. The pain involved is only of the injection and the procedure does not take much time. With repeated injections, the muscles get relaxed forever and after some time you may not need the injections.

Botulinum Toxin- facts

1. Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles where it is injected by paralyzing it.

2. Botulinum toxin cannot be taken orally. If taken orally, it can paralyze the muscles of the body.

3. Botulinum toxin injections are used to treat lines and wrinkles that are formed because of constant muscular tension and subsequent line formation, for example, the lines on the forehead above the bridge of the nose.

4. Botulinum toxin injections have to be repeated after some days. After few repetitions, the problem may disappear and you need not take any more injections.

5. Botulinum toxin should not be taken near the mouth. It may create problems for you while eating.