Botox

Botulinum toxin is a medication and a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is the most toxic protein known[1][2] with an LD50 of roughly 0.005-0.05 µg/kg. Despite this, it is used in minute doses, in some parts of the world, to treat muscle spasms. It is sold commercially under the brand names Botox, Dysport, Myobloc, Neurobloc and Xeomin for this purpose. Botox Cosmetic and Vistabel are available for cosmetic treatment. The terms Botox (Cosmetic), Vistabel, Dysport, Myobloc, Neurobloc and Xeomin are trade names and are not used generically to describe the neurotoxins produced by C. botulinum.HistoryBetween 1817 and 1822, the German physician and poet Justinus Kerner described botulinum toxin, using the terms "sausage poison" and "fatty poison",[3] as this bacterium often caused poisoning by growing in improperly handled or prepared meat products. It was Kerner who first conceived a possible therapeutic use of botulinium toxin. In 1870, Müller, another German physician, coined the name botulism, from Latin botulus = "sausage". In 1897, Emile van Ermengem identified the bacterium Clostridium botulinum to be the producer of botulinum toxin.[4]In 1928 Snipe and Hermann Sommer for the first time purified the toxin. In 1949, Burgen's group discovered that botulinium toxin blocks neuromuscular transmission. In the late 1960s Allan Scott and Edward Schantz were the first to work on a standardized botulinum toxin preparation for therapeutic...

Chemical Peel

A chemical peel is a body treatment technique used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin using a chemical solution that causes the skin to blister and eventually peel off. The regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. Thus the term chemical peel is derived. Some types of chemical peels can be purchased and administered without a medical license, however people are advised to seek professional help from a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, maxillofacial surgeon, or otolaryngologist on a specific type of chemical peel before a procedure is performed.TypesThere are several types of chemical peels.Alpha hydroxy acid peelsAlpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring organic carboxylic acids such as glycolic acid, a natural constituent of sugar cane juice and lactic acid, found in sour milk and tomato juice. This is the mildest of the peel formulas and produces light peels for treatment of fine wrinkles, areas of dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. Alpha hydroxy acids can also be mixed with a facial wash or cream in lesser concentrations as part of a daily skin-care regimen to improve the skin's texture.AHA peels are used to:reduce fine wrinklingtreat areas of drynessreduce uneven pigmentationaid in the control of acnesmooth rough dry skinimprove the texture of sun-damaged skinAHA peels may:cause stingingcause skin rednesscause mild skin irritationcause drynesstake multiple treatments for desired resultsBeta hydroxy acid peelsIt...

Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. While famous for aesthetic surgery, plastic surgery also includes a variety of fields such as craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, burn surgery, microsurgery, and reconstructive surgery. The word "plastic" derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mold or to shape; its use here is not connected with the synthetic polymer material known as plastic.HistoryReconstructive surgery techniques were being carried out in India by 2000 BC.[1] Sushruta (6th century BC) made important contributions to the field of Plastic and Cataract surgery.[2] The medical works of both Sushruta and Charak were translated into Arabic language during the Abbasid Caliphate (750 AD).[3] These Arabic works made their way into Europe via intermediaries.[4] In Italy the Branca family of Sicily and Gaspare Tagliacozzi (Bologna) became familiar with the techniques of Sushruta.[4]British physicians traveled to India to see Rhinoplasty being performed by native methods.[5] Reports on Indian Rhinoplasty were published in the Gentleman's Magazine by 1794.[5] Joseph Constantine Carpue spent 20 years in India studying local plastic surgery methods.[5] Carpue was able to perform the first major surgery in the Western world by 1815.[6] Instruments described in the Sushruta Samhita were further modified in the Western world.[6]The Romans were able to perform simple techniques such as repairing damaged ears from...