Have you ever wondered how botox really works? 

Botox is a great non-surgical cosmetic treatment that can enhance the appearance of a person by reducing wrinkles for a certain period of time. Comparing it with other types of facial rejuvenation treatments, botox takes a few minutes and requires no downtime. Botox is made to treat muscular conditions and remove wrinkles by hindering the muscles movement. It is created from a neurotoxin known as botulinum toxin that is derived from the bacterium known as “Clostridium botulinum.” Essentially, once botox is injected into the muscles, it tells the muscles to relax and go on holiday for a few months and doesn’t allow them to contract as they normally do.

Botox and other similar anti-wrinkle treatments have been approved by the FDA as the injections are regarded as harmless and safe when injected by a trained professional. It has been proven to be an effective process when the dosage, period of treatment and types of therapeutic conditions are taken into consideration.

How Does It Work?

As we age, the muscles above and between the eyebrows contract and become tightened leading to the formation of wrinkles. Botox works underneath the skins surface and targets the muscles that cause frown lines and crow’s feet. Whenever we take a quick glace sideways, frown, or perform any facial expressions, our nerves discharge a neurotransmitter toxin which is known as acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter couples the sensory stimuli within the muscle that makes it contract and tense.

A 20-minute Botox treatment can smoothen the wrinkles on your forehead, in between your eyebrows, and crow’s feet. With a very thin needle, Botox is injected into the facial muscles responsible for those annoying wrinkles, completely relaxing them and limiting their ability to contract. After it has been injected into the muscle, the nerves send the signs to the muscle to contract, and the acetylcholine toxin is distributed underneath the skin, but it does not have the ability to bind the muscles anymore. This results in a reaction whereby the muscle contractions are unable to occur for a few months while the skin slowly smooths out.

The 20-minutes process specifically assists in paralyzing and relaxing the muscle tissue so as to prevent the unwanted effect most people experience. Botox works by coupling the acetylcholine receptors and obstructing the signal moving from the nerves to the muscles.

The effects of an anti-wrinkle treatment can last for about 3-6 month for most people. However, there are several factors that influence how long this treatment last. As the treatment wears off, muscle action returns slowly and facial lines may return so it is often recommended to undergo at least 2-3 treatments per year. It takes decades for wrinkles to form so understandably it can take a year of a few treatments to notice considerable reduction in wrinkles. If you are serious about enhancing the appearance of your facial lines, botox and other anti-wrinkle treatments could be a great option for you.

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