Botulinum Toxin Type A, commonly known as “Botox”, is a naturally occurring protein used for medicinal purposes since 1980. Before then, this toxin was feared for causing botulism, a potentially fatal disease to humans. That is until ophthalmologist Alan Scott created an injectable solution made from botulinum toxin in his workshop, for use on patients with ocular issues such as strabismus.

In 1820, a German medical officer named Justinus Kerner gave the first clinical description of botulism based on extensive observation and experimentation. He suggested that botulinum toxin develops under anaerobic conditions and can be lethal in minute doses, but also alluded to its potential for medically therapeutic uses.
Many scientists researched botulism, but it was Emile Van Ermengem that, in 1895, isolated the toxin and correctly described clostridium botulinum as the source. He was able to isolate and grow the bacterium, which would later be purified by other scientists based on Ermangem’s work.
Almost a century later, the first formulation of Botulinum Toxin Type A was licensed in the United States in 1989 for the treatment of three conditions: strabismus, blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm. Ophthalmologist Alan Scott created an EMG-Guided injectable drug named Oculinum and has trained hundreds of ophthalmologists in its use. Most recent years, two other formulations of BoNT-A have been licensed for use in the United States and a number of other countries: abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®) and incobotulinumtoxinA (XEOMIN®).

What to expect: Botulinum Toxin workshop

When you register for the botulinum toxin workshop at Esthetic Skin Institute, you’ll learn about the fundamental cosmetic applications of FDA approved neurotoxins such as Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin. We offer entry and advanced courses for physicians, nurses, and dentists who seek more instruction on the aesthetic benefits of botulinum toxin.
Esthetic Skin Institute offers medical professionals botulinum toxin workshops to help understand the dissimilarities. These differences pertain to the stability of the medications, in particular during the period of time between reconstitution and administration, which may affect the degree of diffusion through various tissues after injection. A variety of relatively new uses for BoNT-A for dermatological conditions and cosmetic applications will be discussed.