Thought to be the most powerful toxin known to man and capable of causing paralysis, millions of people across the world have botulinum toxin type A injections to address the ageing effects of furrows, frowns and wrinkles. What was once the domain of the A-listers is now very much entrenched in the ‘every woman’ modern-day beauty arsenal and has become a worldwide phenomenon.
THE BIRTH OF BOTOX
Although the cosmetic effect of botulinum toxin on wrinkles was first documented by a plastic surgeon from Sacramento, it wasn’t until Canadian husband and wife ophthalmologist and dermatologist physicians Jean and Alastair Carruthers published their research in 1992 that ‘Botox’ for cosmetic use was officially born. In 2002, it was officially approved in the US as a treatment for frown lines in adults. (Australia had already introduced Botox for cosmetic use back in 1999.)
The birth of Botox to treat wrinkles was something of an accident. As an ophthalmologist, Jean Carruthers had been using botulinum toxin type A to treat blepharospasm - an uncontrolled
