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Most people think of Botox as a cosmetic procedure. It might surprise you to learn that it was not originally introduced for use in cosmetic applications. That was a happy accident for the original practitioners using the toxin.

How did Botox become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures? Since the initial FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval, the uses for Botox have become more varied.

Let’s learn when Botox was discovered, and how it became one of the most popular cosmetic procedures available.

The Discovery of Botox

A Belgian scientist by the name of Emile Pierre van Ermengem was the first to discover the bacteria clostridium botulinum. His discovery was made after an outbreak of botulism in the 1800s. This bacterium, known as the deadliest bacteria worldwide, is what scientists have harnessed to create the Botox used in medicinal and cosmetic applications.

First Uses of Botox

In the 1920s, scientists started attempting to isolate botulism toxin. Success was achieved approximately 20 years later. Dr. Edward Schantz is credited with isolating a crystalline form of the toxin.

In the 1970s, Alan Scott began experimenting with Botox as a treatment for the ophthalmological disorder strabismus (eye-crossing). He injected botulinum into the muscles of the eyes. His procedure worked when three surgeries had not, and Scott became known as the father of Botox.

In addition to strabismus, Botox was used to treat blepharospasm. This constant eye-twitching was corrected by injecting Botox into the eyelid. During the initial trials for FDA approval, the cosmetic indications for the drug were discovered.

Botox As A Cosmetic Treatment

During testing on monkeys in the 1980s, botulinum proved useful in smoothing the furrows between the eyebrows. The first company to produce Botox for use in cosmetic procedures was Allergan. They had bought the rights to Botox from Alan Scott in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

From the initial use as a treatment between eyebrows, Botox began to be used in other facial applications. Someone noticed that the toxin makes wrinkles and fine lines look smoother. Doctors use their clinical best judgment to determine whether Botox should be used to treat wrinkles. Since its discovery, Botox has become the most popular cosmetic procedure available for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles.

How Botox Works

Many people think that Botox works by filling the wrinkles in the skin. However, it actually works on the muscles and neurotransmitters within the muscles. Basically, Botox blocks the reception of messages from the brain to the muscles that cause the muscle to contract and move. Blocking this movement of the muscle causes the muscle to smooth making wrinkles seem less pronounced.

Conclusion

Botox is known as a cosmetic procedure that smooths wrinkles. However, it was initially used as a treatment for ophthalmologic conditions like eye-crossing and eye twitching. Since the FDA began testing it in the late 1980s or early 1990s, many medical and cosmetic uses have been discovered for the toxin.