FHSB1214 BIOLOGY I
FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE
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THE BOTOX LOWDOWN: SCIENCE, SAFETY, AND SUCCESS
The Botox injection is by far the most popular cosmetic procedure performed today. Botox, or
Botulinum toxin A, works by blocking the release of a key chemical, acetylcholine, preventing
the transmittal of signals from nerve cells to muscles. This unique effect makes it useful
clinically in treating neurological and neuromuscular disorders and cosmetically in smoothing
facial lines. In both applications, Botox is incredibly effective. With few exceptions, it is also
remarkably safe. Given its current records of safety and efficacy, Botox is assured continued
success.
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Introduction
Whether you like it or not, we live in a culture obsessed with youth and beauty. And whether
they like it or not, the baby boomer generation approaches elderly status, and the proportion of
the population considered old is quickly increasing (C.S. Koblenzer, 1996). These two
unavoidable realizations are creating an increasing need for age-defying therapies. To meet this
demand, an emerging field in the pharmaceutical industry is
beginning to develop. So called "cosmecueticals", or
cosmetics that change the structure or function of the body,
accounted for $3.4 billion in pharmaceutical sales in 2002,
with sales expected to double over the next decade (H.
Pearson, 2003). One such headline-grabbing cosmecuetical is
Botox®.
Botulinum toxin A, given the softer sounding name "Botox" by
its manufacturer, Allergan, is an increasingly...