In celebrating our salute to poison, we decided to sit down with Botox for five questions.

Chuck Cotton:  What’s your real name, Botox?

Botox:  My full name is botulinum toxin and I come in several different strains.

CC:  Is it correct that twenty or so years ago doctors began using you to relieve spasms?

Botox:  Hey, you’re smart.  The Type A strain in me has been used to treat eyes that cross because I do such a good job of relieving spasms in the eye.  I’ve also been used to help relieve excess sweating and cerebral palsy.

CC:  But now you fix wrinkles?

Botox: Yes, kind of a step back, huh? Lips, foreheads, all kinds of face lines.

CC: Now, the “tox” part of your name. Usually that means something is bad. What gives?

Botox:   Yeah, I am a poison.  People still put me into their face for no reason other than to get rid of a wrinkle.  Go figure.  Think about it though, without me, how would your hollywood folk get along?  Hey, I’ve even been FDA approved (wink wink).

CC:  Ahh, hollywood.  What would we do without those wonderful, wrinkle-free faces?  Its funny though because sometimes I enjoy the Botox gone bad stories.  Do you have any favorites?

Botox:  Hello Chuck — I’m a poison!  Of course I do.  Unfortunately, there are some pushing back against me in Hollywood.  Apparently some directors are complaining that older actors and actresses can’t show emotion on their faces!  Hah.  Now, I’m not going to say I did these all by myself, but I’ve been credited, I mean blamed, with:

these eyebrows…

puffiness

men too

not just me!