Botox is used cosmetically to remove wrinkles and to treat certain muscular conditions. It is made from Botulinum neurotoxin obtained from the bacteria <em>Clostridium botulinum</em>. It is a very powerful neurotoxin but in Botox procedure it is used in extremely small concentration so it does not cause harmful effects. Botox process usually lasts for four to six months.
Botulinum acts as acetylcholine antagonist and inhibits the release of acetycholine neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction. This inhibits the signalling between motor neurons and facial muscles. As a result, the facial muscles are not able to contract and hence wrinkles are not formed on skin.
Botox injections smooth facial wrinkles because botulin is an ACh antagonist that blocks the underlying facial muscles.
-Botox injections are the best known of a group of medications that use various forms of botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. This toxin is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.
-These botox injections have the ability to reduce the appearance of some facial wrinkles. They are also used to treat such problems as repetitive neck spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder and lazy eye.
-Botulinum toxin acts by binding presynaptically to high-affinity recognition sites on the cholinergic nerve terminals and decreasing the release of acetylcholine, causing a neuromuscular blocking effect.
