April 15, 2012 marks the 10-year anniversary of the FDA’s approval of BOTOX Cosmetic for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows.
“When approved by the FDA in 2002, BOTOX Cosmetic changed the way that physicians could treat patients who were interested in improving the appearance of their vertical frown lines between the brows,” says David E.I. Pyott, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Botox manufacturer Allergan, Inc., in a press release.
Since then “BOTOX Cosmetic has become the number-one neuromodulator in the United States and the number of patients considering talking to their doctor about treatment has more than quadrupled to 5.8 million since 2002.”
Susan Weinkle, MD, president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, agrees. “The approval of BOTOX Cosmetic in 2002 dramatically changed our ability to treat our patients by giving them an effective option to treat the appearance of moderate to severe vertical frown lines with a minimally invasive procedure,” she says in a press release. “BOTOX Cosmetic has become more accepted by the public, and this treatment has brought more patients into aesthetic practices to learn about other treatments available.”
Botox is also improved to treat ocular muscle spasms, problems with eye coordination, severe armpit perspiration and migraine headaches. It is also approved to treat urinary incontinence due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.
