Whose idea was it to squirt botulism into someone’s face to cure wrinkles? Does it really sound that much stranger than using bread mold to fight infection? Naturally it’s not as simple as directly injecting canned yams gone bad.

Plastic surgeon Amir Karam of Carmel Valley Facial Plastic Surgery explains, “Botox® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium Botulinum bacteria that decreases the activity of wrinkle-forming muscles.” The use of this protein started out as a treatment for face and neck muscle spasms. Like so many other discoveries, the protein’s usefulness in treating wrinkles was noticed as a side effect.

The botulinum protein works by inhibiting the receipt of neurotransmitters by nerve terminals for the wrinkling muscles. A Botox® injection technique using a few mere drops with a small needle is enough to be effective for several months.

Find out more on DrKaram.com

Currently, there are many lasers used for facial and skin rejuvenation and to treat sun damage and photo-aging of the skin. One older laser system, the carbon dioxide laser, has been very effective for treating sun damaged skin but has fallen out of favor. This is because it routinely caused extensive rawness of the skin that typically required over 2 weeks of “hiding out” or “downtime” to recover. In addition to the time it took to heal, it frequently caused skin discoloration and occasionally scarring. Many lasers available today require very little downtime and yield some improvement of the skin but are not nearly as effective as the carbon dioxide laser. As with any procedure, anyone considering laser skin treatments should first consult with a plastic surgeon prior to under going their chosen procedure.