" I'm often asked what I consider to be the greatest advance in cosmetic dermatology. Without hesitation I say, "Botox." The advent of treating wrinkles with Botox injections has allowed doctors like myself to treat conditions that in the past not even plastic surgery could remedy. Don't like the way your forehead stays furrowed long after you've stopped worrying? Then shoot those lines into oblivion. What about those little lines around your eyes that are still in existence despite your fanatical use of eye cream? Shoot some Botox there, too. And whatever happened to your regal neck? Yes, Botox will bring back your beloved neck as well. All this improvement with no recovery period, minimal pain, and extremely natural results. Botox has many uses, but its claim to fame is how well it smooths dynamic wrinkles, also known as "wrinkles in motion." These lines are most often found across the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes. Constant frowning is one sure way to get them, but any sort of movement will bring them on, including laughing heartily and squinting at your computer screen. In other words, just being alive brings them on. What happens over time is that the line morphs from a "wrinkle in motion" to the more dreaded "wrinkle at rest." Like it or not, that little guy is there to stay. For a substance with such dramatic properties for beautification, Botox has a much publicized controversial background. Botox, or "botulinum toxin type A," is a highly purified derivative of the toxin that in much, much larger doses could be hazardous. When used for cosmetic purposes or wrinkle zapping-the purified toxin is diluted and injected into the facial muscles. Almost instantly, the toxin blocks the nerve impulses that control muscle movement by restricting the patient's ability to contract the facial muscles. No contraction of the muscle equals no movement of the skin lying over it, and no movement equals no wrinkles. A smoothing effect is seen while the patient is still in the exam chair, and improvement continues over the following couple of days. The result lasts approximately three to six months, at which point most patients gradually return to their original state of wrinkling. Of the seven existing forms of the botulinum toxin, type A is most studied and most used, and is the only one approved by the FDA for the cosmetic treatment of frown lines. Myobloc, manufactured by Elan Pharmaceuticals, is another paralyzing agent, derived from botulinum type B. It is used very similarly to Botox, but its FDA-approved only for cervical dystonia, involuntary contractions of the neck and shoulders. However, the potential of Myobloc as a cosmetic treatment is starting to emerge, and more information should come within the next couple of years. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently released statistics on all the surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed last year. In the case of Botox, the figures were mind-boggling. It was ranked as the most often requested nonsurgical cosmetic procedure, with more than 1.6 million Americans treated in just one year. Of that figure, more than 86 percent of the patients were female, and the remaining 13 percent were male. (The other four top nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were chemical peels, collagen injections, microdermabrasion, and laser hair removal.) The immobilizing property that makes Botox sound potentially morbid is also what makes it an incredible drug. " more...

"Age-Less" by Frederic Brandt