Botulinum Toxin, a neurotoxin in the form of a purified protein. The mechanism of action for Botulinum Toxin is really quite simple; it is injected into facial muscles but really doesn’t affect the muscle at all. Botulinum Toxin works by blocking the transmitters between the motor nerves that innervate the muscle.
The areas typically treated with Botulinum Toxin for wrinkles are the forehead, between the eyes (glabellar region), around the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet) and around the lips (smokers lines or gummy smile). There is no loss of sensory feeling in the muscles. Once the motor nerve endings are interrupted, the muscle cannot contract, causing wrinkles in the skin to smooth. The effects of Botulinum Toxin ( last approximately three to four months, at which time the patient will require retreatment.
Botox Cosmetic is an injectable wrinkle muscle relaxer. It uses botulinum toxin type A, specifically OnabotulinumtoxinA, to temporarily paralyze muscle. This reduces the appearance of facial wrinkles.
A Botox treatment is minimally invasive. It’s considered a safe, effective treatment for fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. It can also be used on the forehead between the eyes.
Botox was originally FDA approved in 1989 for the treatment of blepharospasm and other eye muscle problems. In 2002, the FDA approved the use of Botox for a cosmetic treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows.
Botox Cosmetic involves a nonsurgical, in-office treatment. It requires minimal preparation. You should let your treatment provider know about your medical history, allergies, or medical conditions before your procedure. Your treatment provider should be a licensed physician, a physician assistant, or a nurse.
You might need to remove all your makeup and cleanse the treatment area before the procedure. You may also need to avoid blood-thinning medicine like aspirin to reduce the risk of bruising.
Cosmetically, the injectable can be used in the following areas:
- the area between the eyebrows (glabellar region), to treat moderate to severe frown lines
- around the eyes, commonly known as crow’s feet lines
Botox also received FDA approval to treat various medical problems, including:
- overactive bladder
- excessive underarm sweating
- lower limb spasticity
- chronic migraines
