Extreme Cosmetics Nowadays we live in a society, where someone’s outward appearance and beauty is very significant. Nearly all people in our society try to look like the perfect ideal of beauty, which we all get presented through the media. The business with toxins, acids and lasers in cosmetic treatments is very profitable because it is quicker and less painful than plastic surgery. The most common toxin which is used in cosmetic treatments is Botox. The bacterium Clostidium botulinum produces the poison called botulinum toxin, which is modified to Botox. In 1980 it was first used to treat many muscle disorders, like lazy eye, eye ticks and uncontrolled blinking, but it was soon discovered for treatments in the cosmetic industry. In small quantities the poison isn’t lethal, but interrupts nerve impulses to muscles in the face, which are used for frowning and raising the eyebrows. Injecting Botox leads to relaxation of these muscles and so the fine lines and wrinkles smooth out. The toxin is effective in small doses and so an overdose can leave the face with a lack of expression. Botox is also used to stop excessive sweating on feet, hands and axles, but also many celebrities undergo a Botox-treatment in order to avoid pit stains in publicity. Botox consists of two different protein chains. The protein chain A is responsible for the specificity and when the toxin is injected into the target muscle, this part of the toxin binds to the nerve ending.
Through endocytose the toxin gets into the synaptic ending of the nerve cell, where the second chain of the toxin is released. This subunit inhibits the releasing of acetylcholine, which is essential for any muscle movement. Through injecting Botox the signal transfer from the nerve cell to the muscles is interfered. When Botox is used for cosmetic treatments it lasts about 3 to 7 days till any effect of the treatment is seen and the effect lasts about 3 to 4 months. In Austria a treatment with Botox costs about 400€. Though there are many side effects, more and more people decide to have a Botox-treatment. Side effects like headaches, pain and bruises around the treated region can occur. In rare cases patients have to experience droopy eyebrows and eyelids and it can also happen that people loose the ability to eat, speak and blink. When people use Botox-treatments far too often, permanent paralysing of these muscles can occur. Though it’s a relatively new treatment side effects in long term uses are still unknown.