This month patients asked: “How does Botox work?”
Dr. Patel answered:
It’s one of the questions I hear all the time at my practice. How does Botox actually work? For men and women trying to regain a more youthful look, Botox is a wonderful solution to reduce fine lines and soften wrinkles.
To start, let’s talk about how wrinkles form. Image you have a new crisp, sheet of notebook paper. Now, fold it in half and then flatten it back out. Repeat this over and over. You will notice that the once crisp sheet of notebook paper has a deep crease down the middle. The formation of this crease mirrors the formation of wrinkles and creases on our face; as our muscles contract over and over, these overactive movements can cause unwanted wrinkles and frown lines.
So what does Botox actually do? It places these angry, overactive muscles in a temporary timeout! Essentially, it relaxes the muscle by blocking the signaling pathway between the muscle and the nerve; and it does it for three to four months!
Botox is actually short for Botulinum Toxin, a neurotoxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The purified protein can come in many brand names. The most popular and well studied is Botox Cosmetic. When injected in small amounts, it prevents muscles from contracting by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles. This allows wrinkles to relax and soften and therefore creates a more youthful appearance. In fact, Ophthalmologists were the first medical specialists to begin injecting Botox for both medical and aesthetic purposes in the early 1980’s.
For muscles to contract, nerves release a chemical messenger, acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter). This is then attached to receptors in the muscles that cause the muscle to shorten and contract. When Botox is injected, it stops the release of acetylcholine thereby preventing the muscle from contracting. It’s a simple solution to an age-old problem.
When injected, Botox is mixed with a saline solution to dilute the neurotoxin. It is then injected directly into the neuromuscular tissue. Generally, it takes 5 to 7 days for Botox to take its full effect and the results will last for several month. It’s seamless process that provides a natural, youthful appearance!
Remember, only experienced healthcare providers should perform Botox.
