In 1989 it was finally approved by the FDA to treat eye muscle disorders; these included blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking), strabismus (crossed eyes) and even wrinkles. In the year 2000 was given the all clear for the of treatment cervical dystonia. this is where severe neck and shoulder contractions were causing discomfort to a number of people, but other eye conditions were included in this approval. In their research, doctors discovered that Botox softened the frown lines between the eyebrows; after further tests in 2002 the FDA allowed it to be used for the first cosmetic enhancement and the drug finally had a new field of use.

Botox has a paralyzing affect when it is injected into areas of the forehead which control the muscles that cause frowning; when given sufficient injections given over a period of time, frown lines for example, will reduce in intensity. The lines will to the casual observer, disappear but the same process can now be used on laughter lines around the eyes and forehead lines as well. The form used in these injections is one that has been cleaned up and diluted, posing no threat; if it were not for the purification process this treatment could make us very sick.

The problem is that when we laugh, cry or frown for example, lines and wrinkles appear caused by the muscles that have helped create the expression; these injections can help eliminate those lines. When we are young and our skin is more elastic, these lines do not show but as we age the constant use of facial muscles leaves us with lines; when these creases become permanent, no kind of skin cream can get rid of them but this treatment can eliminate them temporarily. Because botox paralyzes the facial muscles, normal movement, expressions and gestures are almost impossible to make; these treatments provide the user with a facial surface that is smooth and often referred to as looking like a dummy or mannequin.

A person who has undergone this treatment still has enough movement to provide some expressions but they are limited; because most of the wrinkles and creases have all but disappeared, it appears that the person is younger than their true years. Whilst popular this cosmetic treatment is still very expensive for what it is; the average cost of just one injection in the United States ranges from a few hundred dollars to in excess of 1,000 dollars, depending on where the injection is used. The side-effects of regular botox use may take some time to appear as it is only a recent addition to the cosmetic surgeon’s armory but for now, its use does not seem to be diminishing.