Why is it okay to use botulinum toxin in Botox injections for both cosmetic and therapeutic reasons?

It is true that Botox can be used for both cosmetic and therapeutic reasons. This product is a neuromodulator which means that when injected into a muscle it affects the muscle's ability to contract. This can be useful to treat many different issues in the body. It is important to note that the number of units needed can vary greatly depending on the intended effect of the medication and the area injected.

Botulinum toxin can be injected for both cosmetic and therapeutic reasons and has been done so for several decades. I think you are asking why it is safe to inject a toxin. The answer is in the formulation and dosage. Botox is one of the most studied medications and the safe dosing range has been determined to have localized effects of blocking muscle movement without systemic effects. There always remains a low risk of systemic side effects from these injections and it is important to have a full consultation with your injecting physician, discuss your medical history, and preexisting conditions that may impact the side effect profile.

Botulinum toxin (e.g. Botox, Dysport) can be used successfully for dynamic wrinkles (e.g. forehead, crow's feet, smoker's lines, bunny lines etc), as well as for medical uses (e.g. hyperhidrosis/excessive sweating, migraines, TMJ pain, grinding and clenching, Raynaud's disease, cerebral palsy, club foot, bladder dysfunction, post-stroke spasticity and more). Botox/Dysport simply stops release of acetylcholine such that nerves can no longer (or greatly reduced) communicate with muscles, sweat glands, etc.

Cosmetic Botox is not covered by insurance and is commonly performed to help with forehead lines, frown lines and crows feet. Therapeutic Botox is covered by medicare and private insurance for medical reasons such as chronic migraines, spasticity following a stroke, cervical dystonia, hyperhydrosis, etc

Hello and thank you for your question. Botulinum toxin is simply a muscle relaxing agent so works both comedically and therapeutically in different areas of the body.
We hope that answers your question. Best wishes