5 Key Botox Facts

While it might seem as though Botox has been in use as a cosmetic product forever, it has only been approved by the FDA for dermatology use in Reno and around the country since 2002.

Botox is actually a brand name. The actual product is a neurotoxin whose scientific name is botulinum toxin. Botox is considered to be very safe and does nothing more than relaxing the muscles it is injected into. This helps to reduce or remove wrinkles for up to four months. 

Here are five key facts about Botox, you might not be aware of.

1. Botox is the Number One Cosmetic Procedure

When it comes to Reno Dermatology, Botox is considered to be the number one cosmetic procedure. In fact, across the U.S. Botox has been the number one treatment since it was first introduced. According to the latest statistics from 2015, a total of 6,757,198 Botox treatments were performed in the U.S. alone. This was more than the 5 next most popular forms of treatment combined.

2. Botox is Not Just for Dermatology

In Reno, dermatology may be the most common use of Botox, but this is not the only use. In fact, it also has a number of medical uses. Doctors are now using Botox to treat migraines, certain eye conditions such as strabismus and double vision, excess sweating, depression, muscle spasms, and chronic pain.

3. Botox as a Cosmetic Treatment was Discovered by Accident

While Botox has become one of the mainstays in Reno dermatology, its use for this purpose was discovered by accident during the 1990s. At this time, Dr. Jean Carruthers was treating patients diagnosed with diplopia and strabismus with Botox because it helped to relax the muscles around the eyes.

Some of her patients started telling her they started noticing the wrinkles around their eyes were going away. It didn’t take long for word to get around and for Botox to gain a footing in the cosmetology world.

4. There is Nothing New About Botox

Just because Botox became a household name at the end of the last century, doesn’t mean it’s a new product. In fact, the botulinum toxin was first “discovered” back atd the turn of the 19th century by a Dr. Justinus Kerner.

The doctor was looking into why dozens of his fellow countrymen had suddenly fallen ill and died after eating from the same batch of sausages. His research led to the discovery of the botulinum toxin. From this, he named the illness that had led to the death of his fellow Germans, botulism.

5. Botulism is Safer Than You Might Think

While the history behind Botox might be a little “ugly”, it is now considered one of the safest products used by doctors for dermatology. According to the FDA, there were only been 36 serious cases of adverse side effects reported between 1989 and 2003. More importantly, out of those 36, 15 had underlying medical conditions that might have been the actual cause of the problems.

Best Botox in Reno, NV

To learn more about the use of Botox in Reno for dermatology, contact Integrated Dermatology of Reno to meet with a licensed dermatologist! Contact us at (775) 829-1212 or come into our office at 500 Damonte Ranch Parkway, #1056 Reno, NV 89521 for a free initial consultation. 

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