Botox – How does it Work?

Posted on Friday, December 7th, 2012 by Dr. Babak Dadvand

Botox has been used cosmetically for over 20 years and has been FDA approved for over 10 years for the treatment of scowl lines. But how does Botox work? Well, keep reading to find out!

Botox works to reduce or eliminate lines that are caused by muscle contraction. Certain muscles in the face, when activated cause predictable lines in the skin. Over time with repetitive use of these muscles, the lines may become permanent so that even when one is not making the expression the lines are still present. Knowing how Botox works means having an understanding of how muscles work.

When you want to contract or move a muscle, your brain sends a signal to release a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical binds to receptors on the target muscle, which then activates a cascade of reactions causing the muscle to contract. Botox serves to block these receptors, making the acetylcholine ineffective. The reason Botox doesn’t last permanently is because it does not bind to these receptors permanently. Also, the body is adept at creating new receptors to overcome the ones that are blocked. This is why Botox typically lasts 3 months.

So, remember when your mother would say, “Don’t make that face or it will freeze that way”….well she knew what she was talking about!

To learn more about Botox and to view before and after pictures visit my website at drdadvandplasticsurgery.com.

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