From discovery to revolutionary use in aesthetic medicine
A radiant smile, a smooth forehead, a wrinkle-free eye area – these are just some of the results that can be achieved with botulinum toxin, colloquially known as Botox. But how did this revolutionary use come about, and what path has botulinum toxin taken from its discovery to aesthetic medicine?
The history of botulinum toxin begins in the 19th century. In 1817, the German physician Justinus Kerner first discovered the cause of a life-threatening food poisoning known as “sausage poisoning”. Kerner recognised that the symptoms of poisoning came from a substance produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Decades later, in 1895, the Belgian scientist Emile Pierre van Ermengem succeeded in isolating the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and studying its toxic effect in more detail. He identified the bacterium’s poison as botulinum toxin, which caused paralysis of the muscles.
In the following years, further progress was made in research into botulinum toxin. In 1949, the US scientists Edward J. Schantz and Arnold Burgen discovered the seven different types of botulinum toxin and classified them as A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
In the 1970s and 1980s, researchers began to recognise the potential of botulinum toxin for medical use. In particular, the Canadian ophthalmologist Dr Jean Carruthers and her husband Dr Alastair Carruthers played an important role in discovering the aesthetic effect of botulinum toxin. In the 1990s, they carried out clinical studies and finally obtained approval for the treatment of facial wrinkles.
Today, botulinum toxin is a widely used procedure in aesthetic medicine. It is used to relax the muscles and thus reduce the formation of wrinkles and lines. Botulinum toxin is administered with tiny injections into specific facial muscles, where it blocks the release of the neurotransmitters responsible for muscle contractions.
The areas of application of botulinum toxin have expanded over time. In addition to aesthetic medicine, it is used successfully to treat neurological conditions such as blepharospasm (involuntary twitching of the eyelids), cervical or spastic dystonia (cramp-like muscle contractions in the neck or other parts of the body) and to reduce excessive sweating.
The safety and effectiveness of botulinum toxin have been demonstrated in numerous scientific studies. Nevertheless, it is important that the treatment is carried out by an experienced doctor or specialist in aesthetic medicine in order to achieve optimal results and minimise possible risks.
The history of botulinum toxin is a fascinating journey from the discovery of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum to its groundbreaking use in aesthetic medicine. Thanks to continuous research and development, people today can benefit from the many possibilities of botulinum toxin and achieve a rejuvenated and radiant appearance.
Dr. med. univ. Görkem Atalay
Specialist in Plastic Surgery
Neumarkt 36-38 50667 Köln (Cologne)
Sources:
1. Carruthers, J., & Carruthers, A. (2009). Botulinum Toxin Type A—Historical Perspective and Current Clinical Practice in Facial Aesthetics. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 123(6), 38S-49S.
2. Hexsel, D., Soirefmann, M., Porto, M. D., Schilling-Souza, J., Siega, C., Dal’Forno, T., … & Rodrigues, T. C. (2013). Superficial dermabrasion versus botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis: a randomized controlled trial. Dermatologic Surgery, 39(1pt1), 44-50.
3. Karsai, S., Adrian, R., Hammes, S., & Karsai, M. (2017). Treatment of Migraine with Botulinum Toxin A—A Critical Review of the Literature. Frontiers in Neurology, 8, 30.
4. Rzany, B., Ascher, B., Fratila, A., Monheit, G. D.,
& Talarico, S. (2010). Re-treatment with botulinum toxin type A in patients with crow’s feet wrinkles: a multicenter study. Dermatologic Surgery, 36(S4), 2227-2233.
5. Sachdeva, S. (2010). Botox and beyond: Current and future innovations in botulinum toxin therapy. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 3(1), 21–28.
6. Wollina, U., Schmidt, W. D., & Nunner, U. W. (2011). Treatment of facial hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin A. Skin Research and Technology, 17(2), 243-248.
Please note that this is a selection of the sources used and that there are further scientific publications on the subject.
