Botox is very safe and has been used for 30 + years. It is one of the most widely used pharmaceuticals in the world and has a long history of being used therapeutically before it was actually used in the cosmetic industry. The product is derived from a tiny inactive protein molecule from the botulinum bacteria. You cannot contract botulism from Botox. Botox does not enter the bloodstream and acts specifically to disconnect the communication between the neurtransmitters in the muscle to cause temporary muscle paralysis. Since it doesn't migrate any where but where it is placed it is an excellent treatment to prevent the expression lines caused from the strong muscles in the face. As we age these lines start to make us look mad or sad all the time even when we aren't expressing. The outcome is a softer, more youthful look to the face.