15 Nov Happy Anniversary, Botox!
If it seems like Botox has been around forever, it kind of has! Botox turns 20 years old this year, and we’ve come a long way in terms of overall societal acceptance of the beloved injectable. Botox and other injectables are the primary reason clients book at Parson Skin Center! Let’s take a look back at the Botox’s journey as it celebrates its silver year.
A doctor at the Neurological Institute at Columbia University injected a muscle paralytic (oculinum) in patients who suffered from muscle spasms. After treating one patient who had muscle spasms of the eye, he quickly noticed that the frown lines also disappeared. The patient went to the doctor to get rid of spasms, but soon after said they wanted more injections strictly for cosmetic purposes—and thus, Botox was born.
Why We Love Botox
Even though the first cosmetic injection of Botox was technically a happy side effect, it didn’t take long for everyone to start clamoring for it. An episode of Sex and the City found Samantha declaring that getting Botox was just as common as getting a manicure, or at least it would be soon. Oculinum underwent a name and brand change at the turn of the last century and Botox became the must-have tool for those who wanted to vanquish lines and wrinkles. At first, Botox was just whispered about but today people don’t give a second thought to sharing that they’re on their way to get Botox.
In many ways, Botox paved the way for injectables. Would dermal fillers be so easily accepted if Botox hadn’t paved the way to people being open to injecting something into their face? Probably not. Today, an entire market of injectables continues to be led by Botox, which has gone on to do much more than stop muscle spasms and wrinkles.
How we Use Botox Today
Botox has a number of great off-label uses, such as stopping excessive sweating and migraines. It’s also the secret ingredient of the “lip flip,” in which Botox is injected into the upper lip to “flip” it up to expose more vermillion. It’s an alternative to lip fillers, though it doesn’t actually make the upper lip bigger (it just looks like it does).
Botox is comprised of a purified neurotoxin found in clostridium botulinum, which was discovered in the Victorian period when fermented and canned food caused illness—but don’t worry. The “purified” aspect of Botox makes all the difference. Botulism, when it occurs naturally in foods, is quite deadly because it paralyzes the muscles we use for breathing. However, when the toxin is isolated it becomes the Botox we’ve all fallen in love with. Of course, Botox isn’t the only beauty tool that has a strange beginning (think how we’ve used snail slime), but it’s definitely the one that has achieved and sustained such popularity.
The Evolution of Botox
Botox received FDA approval in 2002 as the first treatment to address moderate to severe frown lines. In the numerous clinical trials that followed, Botox then achieved FDA approval for crow’s feet in 2013 and treatment for forehead lines in 2016. However, in the medical world, Botox was well-known before it became a household name. Some dermatologists recall Botox mentions from 1991, though at the time the thought of freezing lines and wrinkles seemed too good to be true. In the early 90s, there was only one filler (Zyderm/Zyplast) and it was made of collagen. It caused intense bruising and didn’t last long—a far cry from the injectables of today.
Now, we have a variety of hyaluronic fillers (HA) that can be used in conjunction with Botox or by themselves. HA is found naturally in the body and provides immediate results. There are also fillers that work via collagen induction therapy for a slower, more subtle improvement. In the last 20 years, we’ve been fortunate to see an influx of state-of-the-art, innovative creations, and improvements to the world of injectables.
Schedule Your Consult or Appointment Today
Botox has proven itself to be safe and effective for decades, but the skill of your injector is also important. The more experienced the injector, the better and longer-lasting your results will be. If you’re ready to see what an expertly-injected Botox outcome looks like, schedule a consult or appointment with Parson Skin Center today. Give us a call or complete the online form to get started.