Food Science and the Ethics of Botulinum Toxin A
In today’s youth obsessed culture, millions of men and women are turning to the needle to try and cheat aging—in fact, some people are even hosting Botox parties, wherein several men and women gather for cocktails and “wrinkle-banishing” injections (Neer, 2001). Despite its recent popularity, very few people know that Botox has its origins in food science and medicine.
Review of Literature Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin A, a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum (Neer, 2001). Botulinum toxin has been used for medical purposes for over fifty years, but it was not until 2002 when the FDA approved the use of Botox in cosmetic procedures that its use became widespread. Botox was initially used to treat strabismus (lazy eye), blepharospasm (involuntary and uncontrolled eye movements) and cervical dystonia (wry neck). Since its FDA approval in 2002, Botox has been used successfully in over eleven million patients (Schlessinger, n.d.) Botox treatment takes approximately ten minutes to perform and it involves injecting tiny quantities of botulinum toxin A directly into the problem muscles. Because the toxin is injected directly into a certain muscle or muscle group, there is very little risk of it spreading to other areas of the body. The procedure does not require anaesthesia, as discomfort is usually minimal and brief (Brannon, 2008; Neer, 2001). Botox works by blocking the acetylcholine receptors on the muscle side of the neuromuscular junction, the point where the nerve and muscle meet. This prevents the acetylcholine from binding on the muscle when the nerve sends a signal to the muscle to contract. Acetylcholine blockage is not reversible, but it does not damage the muscle or the nerve. The blockade begins within forty-eight hours, but the clinical effects do not become noticeable for five to ten days. The molecular effect wears off in three to five months, as the muscle gradually develops new receptor sites and regains its ability to contract (Brannon, 2008). The price of Botox varies depending on location, the level of dilution, the total number of units injected, and the number of sites treated, but it typically costs anywhere for eight to twenty dollars a unit (Schlessinger, n.d.). So, what does one stand to gain from Botox? According to Loichuen (2012), Botox has the potential to make the face appear thinner, reduce wrinkles, reshape and elevate the brows, and tighten facial pores. Cosmetic benefits aside, Botox has been very successful in treating blepharospasm, strabismus, hyperhidrosis, cervical dystonia and shoulder pain, migraine and digestive problems (Loichuen, 2012; Neer, 2001). Botox is considered by many to be a viable alternative to plastic surgery, being less expensive, less painful, and having near instantaneous results. However Botox is not without its drawbacks. Botox is not covered by insurance and a single treatment can cost up to four hundred fifty dollars per area and per session, a fact that is especially off-putting when one takes into account that several sessions are often required, and that the effects typically only last three to five months (Johnson, n.d.).
Health risks are very minor with Botox treatment. When performed by a professional dermatologist, the risks are limited to headaches, pain, and flu-like illness. In rare cases, drooping of the eyelid or eyebrow area may occur (Schlessinger, n.d.).
Conclusion
While Botox may appear vain on the surface, the procedure meets the need for youth and beauty of most westernized societies. Self-esteem, self-actualization and socialization are all affected on a daily basis by either a demand for youth and beauty, or a perception of the same. Botox also has many purposes that far surpass cosmetics, being used to treat a variety of conditions and ailments. Too often do we condemn certain body modifications, while spending billions of dollars each year on modifications of our own. Aesthetic enhancement has a long tradition, dating back to body paintings, tattoos, and primitive jewellery, and humans have long exhibited a drive towards developing a physical representation of the inner self. In contemporary western society, beauty practices such as bathing, hair cutting or dying, wearing makeup, buying and wearing flattering clothing, and orthodontic surgery are all accepted means of establishing one’s physical representation and asserting social status, yet, cosmetic surgery—which has a far higher success rate than over-the-counter skin care products and eyes creams—is seen as a less noble or dignified pursuit.