How Botox Works

There’s beauty in aging. But that doesn’t mean you have to giggle about your laugh lines or give a celebratory caw for those crow’s feet.

If you’re troubled by the increasing number of wrinkles showing up seemingly every time you glance in the mirror, then you may want to consider Botox.

You might say, “But why would I want to inject botulism into my body!?” Well, that’s not how Botox works. We’ll take a deeper dive and explain how it does.

Botox and Botulism?

Let’s address the elephant in the room first.

Unlike with dermal fillers, Botox contains neurotoxins that temporarily weaken the muscles in your face. A bacterium called Clostridium botulinum comprises the neurotoxins used in Botox. Botulinum toxins occur naturally in soil as well as in contaminated foods. It is the latter that has created the scare around botulism.

However, in the case of Botox, this bacteria is created in lab where technicians dilute and sterilize these toxins so they will NOT cause botulism. Even so, you always want to work with only highly qualified medical professionals when receiving injections.

Bargain shopping for Botox is not a great idea.

How Botox Works

By weakening or paralyzing the muscles that cause laugh lines, crow’s feet, or other wrinkles, Botox effectively reduces those wrinkles and lines to provide younger looking skin.

Now that you’ve gotten past the botulism issue, you might shudder at the thought of your face being paralyzed. To be clear, Botox doesn’t completely paralyze the face. This is because there are two types of nerves in the body.

One type of nerve is responsible for motion, and the other for feeling. Botox blocks only the synapses of the brain only in the former, so you will still be able to feel your face. Once the injection moves into the desired muscle, only the motion nerves are blocked. So while your brain may be firing and signaling your body to move that muscle, Botox will block those synapses.

When the injected muscle is unable to contract, wrinkles relax and soften. Plus, Botox also helps prevent new wrinkles from forming. So it’s a two-fer. And, once again, when done by a highly qualified specialist, the procedure will result in a natural appearance.

Various Reasons for Botox

Of course, Botox injections are used to smooth wrinkles and lines on the face and neck.

But it’s also been used in the medical industry for decades to treat a variety of medical conditions including chronic migraines, overactive bladder, excessive sweating, eyelid twitching, crossed eyes, cervical dystonia, and adult spasticity.

Furthermore, since Botox blocks nerve signals that control muscle movement, it can also provide relaxation and pain relief. As such, it’s effectively used for pain management for the back, neck, and jaw, as well as nerve pain, neuropathy, osteoarthritis, joint pain, TMJ, and chronic myofascial pain.

What to Expect

The procedure is pretty simple.

Depending on where the injection occurs, the doctor may rub an anesthetic cream in the area to numb it. Then the medicine is injected into the targeted facial muscles.

The whole procedure takes only a few minutes and within the first week of your treatment, you’ll notice fewer facial lines and wrinkles as your muscles start to relax. This effect will last for up to four months.

And that’s it!

A More Youthful Appearance Is Easier Than You Think

Now that you know how Botox works, find out if it’s right for you.

Contact us today for your free consultation. We’ll give you the 411 on all your options and you can decide from there.