Cosmetic botulinum toxin therapy, aka neurotoxin injectables, work to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles underneath. Typically used to help treat frown lines, crow’s feet, and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), neurotoxin brand names include Dysport, Xeomin, newly FDA-approved Jeuveau, and perhaps the most well known of all, Botox.
Botox is an injectable neuromodulator that works to relax nerve-muscle imbalance, explains Los Angeles–based dermatologist Harold Lancer. In other words: Wherever its injected, Botox causes the underlying muscles to temporarily stop moving. When the muscles stop moving, the wrinkles stop forming. But is it really that simple? Not to mention, safe?
You’ve probably heard of people using it before they even have any fine lines, in order to prevent their development in the first place. Or, maybe you’ve seen images of unnaturally frozen-looking faces that have turned you off to Botox altogether. Perhaps you’ve even been invited to a Botox party (which, for the record, we’d recommend you skip). Despite the immense and continually growing popularity of Botox and other brand names, the cosmetic injectables industry still presents many unknowns and inconsistencies.
As such, it’s always wise to do your research before going under the needle. To answer all of our collective questions, we consulted a slew of experts to break down all things Botox.
Does Botox Prevent Wrinkles?
Absolutely. Botox (and competitors like Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau) are highly purified toxins that can temporarily erase or reduce horizontal forehead lines, vertical frown lines, and crow’s-feet. “The injections slow muscles that contract hundreds of times a day, eventually etching lines in the skin,” says New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Michael Kane, author of The Botox Book.
Basically, wherever Botox is injected in the body, it paralyzes the muscles underneath the skin. “Botox interferes with the nerve stimulation of the muscle causing excess facial expressions,” Lancer explains. “When the muscle relaxes, the line diminishes.”
In addition to relaxing frown lines in between the eyebrows, Botox can also lift the corners of the mouth that sag with age, smooth out the “pincushion” look in some chins, soften smoker’s lines around the mouth, and soften vertical neck cords.
Also read 10 DIY At Home Facial Steams for Clear Glowing Skin
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