The History of Botox® in Ottawa
Botox has a long and fascinating history dating back to the 1920s, when botulinum toxin type A (the active ingredient in Botox) was first isolated. In the 1960s researches began to explore the beneficial aspects of botulinum toxin and found that by injecting very small amounts, certain muscles could temporarily relax. After much research, the FDA approved Botox in the late 1980s for the treatment of certain eye disorders. Shorty after, Health Canada approved Botox for the same eye conditions. Medical indications for Botox quickly grew and applications were extended to include other medical disorders including muscular contractions in the shoulders and neck (cervical dystonia). As more patients were treated with Botox, physicians began to notice something very interesting. When patients were treated with Botox for their eye conditions, the wrinkles around their eyes appeared to greatly improve. Physicians discovered that Botox injections could not only treat eye and neurological disorders, but was also effective at reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Botox was approved by Health Canada in 2001 for cosmetic treatment of certain facial wrinkles and lines. Over time, the medical indications of Botox have expanded. Currently in Ottawa, Botox is used for a number of medical conditions, including but not limited to chronic migraine, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), certain eye and neurological disorders, as well as certain bladder disorders. In Ottawa, Botox is also used extensively for cosmetic purposes to treat wrinkles and lines on the face. Because of the safety and efficacy of Botox, it is not surprising that Botox is the number one non-surgical cosmetic treatment worldwide, with over 6 million Botox treatments performed yearly. For more information about Botox in Ottawa, please contact our cosmetic medicine and medical skin clinic.