The History of Botox

10 Years of Botox: a History

April 12, 2012

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Botox Cosmetic turns 10 years old this month, and what a difference a decade has made. While the drug was actually created as a treatment for muscle spasms decades ago, it wasn't until April 2002 that the FDA cleared Botox for cosmetic use.

So what's happened with America's favorite neurotoxin in the past 10 years? A whole lot, as it turns out. Celebrities have denied (and then admitted) using the stuff, and it's been used for conditions as diverse as sweaty feet and migraines. It's even served as the butt of many jokes. At the 2002 Oscars, host Whoopi Goldberg cracked, "Security here tonight is tighter than some of the faces." See Botox's biggest milestones now.

Source: Thinkstock

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by Miriam Lacey 3

Source: Thinkstock

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3 Comments

AmyDexter 1 year 3 weeks

Charice has denied the use of Botox for cosmetic reasons. She said she did it for TMJ (or something to that affect). Do you know for sure she used it to narrow her face? Can you divulge your resources? Did her Doctor tell you this personally? I believe she indeed had Botox for cosmetic reasons, but I don't know who to believe. Thanks! -Amy

Miriam Lacey 1 year 6 weeks

@feinbaby Hi! I didn't at all mean to suggest that Botox isn't a useful treatment, and I'm sorry if it sounded that way. It was meant to be a light-hearted kicker at the end of a paragraph, not an indictment of botulinum. I know plenty of people who use the drug for migraine relief, and I'm glad that it's helped you with your bruxism!

feinbaby 1 year 6 weeks

"Everyone wanted to get in on the Botox bonanza, to the point where even dentists began injecting patients with the stuff. It may well be the only situation in which you come out of a dentist's office looking less stressed." Who researched this article? Whoever gathered the information certainly missed some important points! I'm disappointed you'd be so dismissive of a medical treatment that has drastically improved my quality of life. "Even dentists"? Dentists have been using botox for off-label purposes for as long as the drug has existed. It is an excellent relief of TMJ tension and pain, or grinding known as "bruxism". While technically "off-label", the treatment is starting to be covered by many insurance plans. Botox has stopped me from wearing my teeth away, and now I can wake up in the morning without a splitting headache. Please do your research before you continue to propogate the notion that botox is just a cosmetic treatment for the shallow and appearance-obsessed.