How Botox Works to Minimize Frown Lines and Keep You Looking Young

How Botox works

BOTOXⓇ Cosmetic, DysportⓇ, and XeominⓇ are brand names for products containing a toxin produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. In large quantities, this toxin can cause an illness called botulism that can lead to paralysis and death in humans.

Rest assured, treatment with Botox injections won’t cause this type of severe paralysis though. When small, diluted amounts of the toxin are injected into certain muscles, it weakens or paralyzes the muscles only. Using the toxin in tiny quantities has many medical uses, including the treatment of uncontrolled blinking, excessive sweating, and certain types of bladder incontinence.

In April 2002, Botox gained approval by the FDA to be used as a treatment for wrinkles and fine lines. It’s particularly effective in treating forehead furrows, crow’s feet around the eyes, and frown lines between the brows, referred to as glabellar lines.

Botox works by blocking nerve signals to the muscles, which prevents muscle contraction.

The inability to contract causes the muscles to relax, so the wrinkles soften after a few days. Botox treatments can work on any wrinkle caused by muscle contractions, but it can’t treat wrinkles and fine lines caused by gravity or sun damage.

The Botox procedure

Before getting treatment, a trained doctor like Dr. Polavarapu should first assess the types of lines and wrinkles you have to determine if Botox is right for you. When you come into Polavarapu Plastic Surgery for Botox injections, the treatment is a simple procedure that takes only a few minutes. Dr. Polavarapu uses fine needles to inject Botox into the desired areas. It takes about 24-48 hours to start to see your results.

The results of the treatment typically last 4-6 months where you can expect smooth, wrinkle-free skin. Those bothersome lines will finally be gone! But they’ll appear again gradually over time as the paralysis wears off. If you continue with treatment the muscles may become trained to relax, and injections might be required less often to maintain your desired results.

Botox side effects and precautions

The most common side effects of Botox are bruising, redness, swelling, and numbness around the injection site. Headaches and eyelid drooping can occur in some people. If you do have these side effects, they generally resolve quickly. A small percentage of people can develop antibodies to the treatment, making further injections ineffective. Dr. Polavarapu discusses all the potential side effects and precautions with you before your treatment, so you’ll feel completely prepared.

Before treatment, it’s best to avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and alcohol for at least a week.

If you're ready to lose the frown lines that make you look grumpy even when you're not, come in to discuss Botox injections with Dr. Polavarapu. Call our Med Spa office in Fort Worth, Texas, to schedule an appointment or use the online booking tool here on the website.