Botox News and Research

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Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It's the same toxin that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called botulism. Doctors use it in small doses to treat health problems, including, temporary removal of facial wrinkles, severe underarm sweating, cervical dystonia - a neurological disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder muscle contractions, blepharospasm - uncontrollable blinking, strabismus - misaligned eyes. Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves. The effects last about three to four months. Side effects can include pain at the injection site, flu-like symptoms, headache and upset stomach. Injections in the face may also cause temporary drooping eyelids. You should not use Botox if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

U of C research examines Botulinium type-A toxin

New Research at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology suggests that Botulinium type-A toxin (BTX-A) passes easily to surrounding muscles and is more difficult to control once injected than many people suspect.

27 Feb 2008

Botox under investigation

Health authorities in the United States say they are investigating reports of serious side effects linked with treatments involving Botox.

11 Feb 2008

Over 32,400 cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK in 2007

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk), the not-for-profit organisation established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit, today announced the results of their annual audit for 2007.

4 Feb 2008

UK cosmetic surgery clinics cannot be trusted say experts

Clinics in the UK offering cosmetic surgery have been accused of being dishonest to potential clients and putting sales before safety.

7 Jan 2008

Botox treatment for men

A review published in Dermatologic Therapy reveals that men can be treated with Botox for cosmetic procedures in the same way as women but require higher doses of Botox in all treatment areas.

2 Jan 2008

Women persist in plastic surgery treatments that are not working

Women are more likely to persist with using creams, supplements and plastic surgery to look younger if they feel these are not yet working, new research says.

14 Dec 2007

Botox shows potential for bladder spasms and leakages

Eight years ago, Lynette Kunz suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left her a quadriplegic and sufferer of involuntary bladder contractions.

5 Dec 2007

Dermatologists more interested in Botox than suspect moles

A new study has found that when it comes to cosmetic versus urgent dermatology appointments, cosmetic procedures win hands down.

30 Aug 2007

Tool will revolutionise functional genomic studies in clostridia

The genome of the organism that produces the world's most lethal toxin has been revealed.

24 May 2007

Botox for enlarged prostate

Injecting botulinum toxin A, or Botox, into the prostate gland of men with enlarged prostate, eased symptoms and improved quality of life up to a year after the procedure, according to a study by researchers at the Chang Gung University Medical College, Taiwan, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

24 May 2007

Botox decreases pain and intensity of spasticity following a stroke

Final results from a multi-center study shows that repeated treatments of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA or Botox?) over one year is well tolerated and results in a significant decrease in spasticity, pain frequency and average pain intensity in upper limbs following stroke, according to research from a neurologist at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

4 May 2007

Innovative treatment option for excessive sweating

An estimated 3 percent of the world population, or about 197 million people suffer from some form of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), many of whom do not receive proper diagnosis or treatment.

17 Apr 2007

Males had more than a million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2006

Surprisingly, the overall number of male cosmetic plastic surgery procedures declined by 7 percent; however, there was growth in minimally invasive procedures that provide volume in the face and in surgical procedures for a more toned body.

22 Mar 2007

Botox for bladder problems

Pioneering medical research is going on at the University of Leicester into the use of Botulinum toxin - commonly thought of as a beauty treatment - for bladder problems.

8 Mar 2007

Arm yourself with knowledge before plastic surgery

Despite the fact that 8 out of 10 patients who have plastic surgery are happy with the results, nearly 40 percent wish they had done better research before the operation with regard to the potential side effects and complications.

6 Mar 2007

Botox could be used to treat incontinence and cystitis

It has won an army of celebrity fans for banishing crow's feet and frown lines, but the use of Botox to combat bladder problems such as incontinence has been hailed as a 'major advance' by a urology expert.

From Sheffield Hallam University 27 Feb 2007

New treatment for migraines combines Botox and surgery

Five years ago, Sharon Schafer Bennett suffered from migraines so severe that the headaches disrupted her life, kept her from seeking a job and interfered with participation in her children's daily activities.

27 Feb 2007

Some ob-gyns switching to cosmetic medicine clinics

Some ob-gyns, as well as other physicians, recently have left their specialties to practice cosmetic medicine, including acne treatments and Botox injections, at medical spas, the New York Times reports.

2 Dec 2006

Misuse of super-strength Botox paralyzes victims

The misuse of a super-strength botulinum toxin by an osteopath in America, rendered him, his girlfriend and two of his patients so ill that they were paralyzed and hospitalized for months in 2004.

22 Nov 2006

Botox could fix your knees as well as your wrinkles

The preliminary results of a new study have found that Botox, better known for getting rid of wrinkles, significantly reduced severe pain from osteoarthritis of the knee and also improved the knee's function.

15 Nov 2006