Botulinum toxin is a potent neurotoxin produced by Clostridium Botulinum. There are eight distinct serotypes of exotoxin (A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F and G). Serotype A (BoNT-A) is the most potent and the only exotoxin that is licensed for cosmetic use. The toxin is injected using a needle into the target muscle, with variable dosing depending on the target muscle and patient factors.1
The molecule works by inhibiting the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the presynaptic membrane of neuromuscular junctions of peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals. This results in the flaccid paralysis of ‘botulism’, which occurs as varying degrees of neuroparalysis. Seven of the eight serotypes have been linked to paralysis, and human botulism is mainly caused by A, B and E, and uncommonly F and G.1
Botulinum toxin is used as an invaluable tool in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. Originally, it was licensed to treat strabismus pioneered by ophthalmologist Alan Scott in 1981…
