How Does Botox Work To Diminish The Appearance Of Wrinkles?
It works by blocking nerve stimulation where it is injected. It is designed to diminish lines, creases, and wrinkles of facial expression. It lasts about 3 1/2 to 4 months with excellent results. (Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD, Fayetteville Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Some of my patients think botox works by filling in your wrinkles. It actually does not. Botox works by relaxing the muscles that cause wrinkle formation. When the muscles are relaxed, the wrinkles slowly improve and soften over weeks to months.
The more consistently these muscles are kept relaxed, the more the lines will fade. (Ava Shamban, MD, Santa Monica Dermatologic Surgeon)
Botox for Wrinkles
What Does It Do To Wrinkles
When the nerve can no longer talk to the muscle, the muscle will stop contracting and creasing the overlying skin, thus improving the appearance of the wrinkles on the face.
Botox / Xeomin / Dysport only work on dynamic wrinkles of the skin such as horizontal forhead lines, crows feet and 11’s in the central forehead.
They do not improve facial wrinkles caused by other aging facial changes such as skin laxity or ptosis of soft tissues. (Jacque P. LeBeau, MD, Pensacola Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Cosmetic Botox is botulinum toxin A which is essentially a communication blocker…that is, it can block communication between nerves and muscles (hence reducing wrinkles), and between nerves and sweat glands (hence used to reduce excessive sweating/hyperhidrosis).
It is useful for dynamic, not static wrinkles, so typically wrinkles of the forehead, frown lines, Crow’s feet, around the mouth (“smokers lines”), bunny lines, and dimpled chins. (Benjamin Barankin, MD, FRCPC, Toronto Dermatologic Surgeon)
Dr. Daniel Levy, MD, Bellevue Dermatologic Surgeon – 29 Year Old Woman Treated With Botox
Botox works by temporarily weakening muscles
Botox toxin works by blocking the signal from motor nerves to the individual muscle fibers where the the injection was given. Since the Muscle fiber doesn’t receive a signal, it Won’t contract and pull on the skin causing wrinkles.
The higher the dose, the weaker the muscle and thus a more profound effect. (Scott M. Goldstein, MD, Philadelphia Oculoplastic Surgeon)
How Botox works
Botox, Dysport, and the recently FDA-approved Xeomin are all neurotoxins that work the same way: they disrupt the communication between nerves and muscles by temporarily blocking the release of a chemical called acetylcholine. Without this chemical, the muscles will not contract, which prevents the formation of lines in the glabella, forehead, and sides of the eyes (crow’s feet).
How Does Botox Work For Wrinkles
All three products are effective and safe if used properly. (Donna Bilu Martin, MD, Aventura Dermatologist)
Botox relaxes the muscles in the forehead causing the wrinkles. The injection blocks the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine at the junction where the nerve fiber communicates with the muscle. Normally acetylcholine causes muscles to contract.
Since it is blocked, the muscle remains relaxed and unable to sustain the crease that has developed from facial expressions (e.g. raising your eyebrows). (Sanusi Umar, MD, Redondo Beach Dermatologic Surgeon)
Botox is the gold standard for wrinkles in the forehead!
I love Botox for forehead wrinkles. It is the gold standard for these wrinkles. It is important that the Botox be done artistically so that you are not too frozen looking. It is a simple and easy procedure with fantastic results.
What Does Botox Actually Do To The Wrinkle
Botox works via Botulinum toxin that is injected to weaken the muscles that cause you to wrinkle. It is a liquid that works gradually over days to “freeze” the desired muscles. That is why it can take up to two weeks to see the desired results.
If you have very deep lines, it can take years of repeated injections to flatten these muscles. Consider it like a book with pages that are creased. It will take a while for that crease to “flatten out.” Botox is effective but gradual. The longer you do it, the better the results. Also, Botox prevents you from forming new wrinkles in the area it was injected so it is anti-aging as well. (Michele S. Green, MD, New York Dermatologist)
Botox, Wrinkle Treatment, Beverly Hills Botox, Los Angeles Botox
Botox or Dysport is a medical botulism toxin that temporarily weakens muscles. When injected into the muscles, that create lines and wrinkles when contracted, the Botox or Dysport weakens the muscles resulting in the relaxation of the unwanted lines and wrinkles.
The toxin weakens the muscle by blocking the chemical neurotransmitter mechanism of muscle contraction. (Francis R. Palmer, III, MD, Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Botox Cosmetic- How Does It Work on Wrinkles?
Botox is a paralyzing agent which will decrease muscle function when injected into the muscle. When Botox is injected into the facial muscles it causes wrinkles to appear softer. Botox also prevents new dynamic wrinkles from forming by decreasing the pull of the facial muscles. (Thomas Guillot, MD, Baton Rouge Plastic Surgeon)
Wrinkles Begin To Be Present On Areas Of The Skin Where It Creases Due To Smiling, Frowning And Everyday Facial Expressions
What you should expect from Botox
These are the steps we follow in my practice: During the consultation will give all the information, including risks regarding the Botox injection. A short medical history is required as well. An informed consent will be signed.
A numbing cream could be used if needed for the area to be injected. Alternatively ice could be used. You will be asked to frown or raise the eye brow to visualize the muscle. Botox is injected in the muscle with a very fine needle.
Instructions on post injection care will be given. A follow up appointment in a week is scheduled. You should start seeing a result in 3-5 days, and it should last anywhere between 2-5 months. (Hisham Seify, MD, PhD, FACS, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)
Don’t be fooled by before and after photos (but Botox does work!)
Botox Injection Temporarily Affects The Nerve Tissue Connected To The Muscles In The Face
Botox works by blocking the signal from the nerve to the muscle, so the muscles under the skin can’t contract (or contract more weakly).
This does allow the skin to lie flat and allows already formed lines to flatten over time. It does not immediately flatten already deep lines. If the lines are especially deep or creased, it can take months and months for smoothing.
Sometimes, appropriately placed filler (Restylane or Juvederm) can synergistically work together to work faster and last longer.
I titled my post “don’t be fooled” because sometimes before and after photos show two different facial expressions, identifying that the muscles in the second photo are weak.
Or else it’s just that the person is making an expression in the first, and not in the second. This is not a fair presentation of the value of Botox. Only look carefully at photos that have the SAME expression in the before and the after photo.
This is where you see the true results. See a detailed and artistic board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for your first time. Going to the wrong person can be a disaster. (Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH, New York Dermatologic Surgeon)
Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles
Botox and Dysport both block the uptake of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, by muscles. Even though the nerve sends the signal to contract, the muscle never gets the message. Reduced muscle contraction equals reduced muscle-induced wrinkles. (Ronald Friedman, MD, Plano Plastic Surgeon)
Botox reduces “dynamic” wrinkles
Botox Is A Brand Of Botulinum Toxin Type A
A lot of the wrinkles we get with aging are from the repeated “folding”, (dynamic motion), of the skin with facial expression. As we mature, the skin becomes thinner and less elastic, so that it doesn’t “bounce back” from the “folding”.
Botox weakens the muscles so that the skin is not as aggressively folded. A good botox treatment weakens the muscles in a natural-looking way. With continued treatment, wrinkles can actually “heal”, (under the microscope a wrinkle looks like a “scar”), and go away(!).
This is why Botox is so popular. (Debra Irizarry, MD, Salida Plastic Surgeon)
Botox works, but remember all your options
Botox works on wrinkles by blocking the signal to the muscle, which relaxes the muscle and ultimately smooths the wrinkle.
It’s very clinicial-artist dependent and you want to ensure whomever is injecting has the proper capabilities and experience. The last thing you want is droopy eye lids from over-injecting. (Douglas J. Key, MD, Portland Dermatologic Surgeon)