Definition

Noun: 1. A neurotoxin used medically and cosmetically: Botox is the trade name for a purified form of botulinum toxin. In very small, controlled doses, it is used clinically to treat various medical conditions involving excessive muscle contractions. It is also widely used in cosmetic procedures to temporarily reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles by paralyzing underlying muscles.

Examples of Usage

• Medical Use:
  • The neurologist recommended Botox injections to manage the patient's chronic migraines.
  • Botox can be an effective treatment for cervical dystonia, a condition that causes severe neck muscle spasms.
• Cosmetic Use:
  • She gets Botox to smooth out the frown lines between her eyebrows.
  • The cosmetic clinic offers several treatments, including Botox and dermal fillers.

Advanced Usage

• "To get Botox": A common informal phrase meaning to receive Botox injections, typically for cosmetic purposes.
  • Many celebrities admit to getting Botox to maintain a youthful appearance.
• "Botoxed" (informal adjective): Describing an area treated with Botox or a face showing the effects of such treatment.
  • He had a strangely smooth, Botoxed forehead.

Variants and Related Words

• Botulinum toxin (noun): The scientific name for the neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium . Botox is a brand-name preparation of this toxin.
• Botulism (noun): A serious illness caused by ingesting the botulinum toxin, often from improperly preserved food. This is the dangerous, uncontrolled form of the toxin, in contrast to its medical/cosmetic use.

Synonyms

• Neurotoxin: A substance that is poisonous or destructive to nerve tissue. (This is the general category Botox belongs to.)
• Muscle relaxant (in context): A substance that causes muscles to loosen or become less stiff. (This describes one of Botox's primary effects.)

Related Phrases

• Botox injection / Botox treatment: The standard terms for the procedure of administering Botox.
  • The effects of a Botox treatment typically last for three to six months.
• Botox party (informal): A social gathering where Botox injections are administered, often in a non-clinical setting. (Note: This practice is widely discouraged by medical professionals due to safety risks.)

Noun

1. a neurotoxin (trade name Botox) that is used clinically in small quantities to treat strabismus and facial spasms and other neurological disorders characterized by abnormal muscle contractions; is also used by cosmetic surgeons to smooth frown lines temporarily