BOTOX®
BOTOX ® is a formulation of botulinum toxin type A. It is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium produces a protein that blocks the release of acetylcholine and relaxes muscles. Type A is just one of seven different types of botulinum toxin (A, B, C1, D, E, F, and G), and each has different properties and actions. No two of these botulinum toxins are alike.
More than 100 years of research have expanded our knowledge of botulinum toxin type A from the identification of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum to the commercialization of botulinum toxin type A as BOTOX®.
In the 1960s, the muscle-relaxing properties of botulinum toxin type A were tapped for investigational use in realigning crossed eyes. These early studies paved the way for treating other conditions caused by overactive muscles with botulinum toxin type A.
BOTOX® works because normally, your brain sends electrochemical messages to your muscles to make them contract and move. These messages are transmitted from a nerve to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine. When too much acetylcholine is released, muscles become overly active and spasm or tense up. BOTOX® blocks the nerve from releasing acetycholine. As a result, the muscle spasms stop or are greatly reduced, providing relief from symptoms. It's important to remember that BOTOX® treatment is not a cure. For many people, however, its effects have been dramatic. With BOTOX®, the nerve will take about 3 months to recover and begin to release acetycholine, and the muscles may become overactive again. At that point, another injection will be needed to provide relief.
At Atlantic Laser Clinic BOTOX® is administered by Dr. Richard Stockwell. His expertise and likeable manner will make you be glad that you came to Atlantic Laser Clinic for your BOTOX® treatments.
BOTOX ® is a formulation of botulinum toxin type A. It is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium produces a protein that blocks the release of acetylcholine and relaxes muscles. Type A is just one of seven different types of botulinum toxin (A, B, C1, D, E, F, and G), and each has different properties and actions. No two of these botulinum toxins are alike.
More than 100 years of research have expanded our knowledge of botulinum toxin type A from the identification of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum to the commercialization of botulinum toxin type A as BOTOX®.
In the 1960s, the muscle-relaxing properties of botulinum toxin type A were tapped for investigational use in realigning crossed eyes. These early studies paved the way for treating other conditions caused by overactive muscles with botulinum toxin type A.
BOTOX® works because normally, your brain sends electrochemical messages to your muscles to make them contract and move. These messages are transmitted from a nerve to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine. When too much acetylcholine is released, muscles become overly active and spasm or tense up. BOTOX® blocks the nerve from releasing acetycholine. As a result, the muscle spasms stop or are greatly reduced, providing relief from symptoms. It's important to remember that BOTOX® treatment is not a cure. For many people, however, its effects have been dramatic. With BOTOX®, the nerve will take about 3 months to recover and begin to release acetycholine, and the muscles may become overactive again. At that point, another injection will be needed to provide relief.
At Atlantic Laser Clinic BOTOX® is administered by Dr. Richard Stockwell. His expertise and likeable manner will make you be glad that you came to Atlantic Laser Clinic for your BOTOX® treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions About BOTOX®
WHAT IS BOTOX?
HOW DOES BOTOX WORK?
HOW IS BOTOX ADMINISTERED?
WHEN DOES BOTOX START TO WORK?
HOW LONG DOES THE EFFECT LAST?
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF BOTOX?
WHAT IS BOTOX?
BOTOX® is a novel therapeutic agent derived from the bacterium, Clostridium Botulinum. Also known as Botulinum Toxin Type A, the brand BOTOX® is produced in controlled laboratory conditions and given in extremely small therapeutic doses.
HOW DOES BOTOX WORK?
Normally your brain sends electrical messages to your muscles so that they can contract and move. The electrical message is transmitted to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine. BOTOX® works to block the release of acetylcholine and, as a result, the muscle doesn't receive the message to contract. This means that the muscle spasms stop or are greatly reduced after using BOTOX®, providing predictable and reliable relief from symptoms. BOTOX® is not a cure. For many patients, however, its effects have been dramatic - symptoms usually begin to dissipate within a few days and the effects can last for approximately three months.
HOW IS BOTOX ADMINISTERED?
BOTOX® is injected into the muscle. Dr. Stockwell will determine the muscle(s) in need of treatment.
WHEN DOES BOTOX START TO WORK?
Usually, you will see the effects of BOTOX® within three days. The maximum benefit is reached in one to two weeks.
HOW LONG DOES THE EFFECT LAST?
Given its unique mechanism of action, BOTOX® offers sustained relief, dose after dose over the course of long-term treatment. The relief you will feel from a single treatment of BOTOX® will normally be sustained for approximately three months. You will notice a gradual fading of its effects. At this point, you will return to Dr. Stockwell for your next treatment. Usually, BOTOX® treatment is required only three or four times a year.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF BOTOX?
Mild, temporary bruising may occur. Very slight droopiness of the upper eyelid occurs in about 2% of people who have their frown lines injected. About 5% of people who have their foreheads injected immediately above their eyebrows may notice this effect. A much smaller number of people will notice slight asymmetry of the lower face after injection of the crow's feet muscles. These effects are usually not noticed by others and fully recover after 3 to 5 weeks. An extremely rare side effect, temporary double vision has been reported in the literature. To minimize the possibility of such rare side effects, please be sure to follow the post treatment instructions. A very small percentage of people do not have much effect from the treatment. A rare patient may even develop antibodies to the Botulinum toxin and develop resistance to response over time. Usually, just the opposite occurs; they respond more to the same dose as time goes on.