Botox is an increasingly popular cosmetic treatment for wrinkles and deep lines throughout the body. The injections are also used to treat excessive sweating, which is also known as hyperhidrosis. We are proud to offer Botox as one of our many services for
cosmetic dermatology in South Florida, but we do have many patients ask about Botox’s ingredients and safety features.
What Is Botox Made Of?
Like other injectables, Botox is made of compounds that often exist in nature. Botox is made of a neurotoxin that is produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that is associated with the botulinum toxin.
1 When used appropriately by a
professional dermatologist, Botox is a perfectly safe treatment for wrinkles, lines, and other conditions.
Botox works by blocking synapses of nerves in the treated areas, relaxing the muscles responsible for your wrinkles or other dermal problems. Botox makes it so the treated muscle can’t contract any longer, and this causes your wrinkles to soften or even vanish entirely as the injection is active. Botox injections do wear off with time, which is why many people choose to go to their dermatologist for injections regularly.
Is Botox Cruelty-Free?
No, Botox is not vegan by the technical definition. While Botox’s ingredients are not derived from animals, the product is often tested on animals to ensure its safety for human use. This means that though Botox is made of cruelty-free ingredients, it is not a cruelty-free or vegan product because its trials involve animal testing.
There is some hope for vegan Botox on the horizon, though. The maker of Botox, Allergan, has set out to reduce their animal testing by 95% in the coming years.
2 Vegan Botox will likely be something offered to patients in coming years.
Is Botox Safe?
Yes, when offered by professionals in a sterile setting, Botox is perfectly safe for most patients. Prolonged Botox use, and use of other injectables or dermal fillers, can also be safe for patients. Botox is FDA approved to treat frown lines, wrinkles, and it is even being used to treat conditions like excessive sweating.
If you are considering Botox or other cosmetic dermatological services, we encourage you to contact DSCI to schedule a consultation with our board-certified dermatologist.
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