Beauty Goodies

The Botox Diary: How Botox Works to Fight Wrinkles

May 6, 2012 Beauty

Article by Cristal G. Orpilla, R.N.

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Botox has been around for many years,  and I remember first learning about it in Pharmacology class in college.  Of course everyone today knows Botox as the miraculous fountain of youth in injectable form.

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What Is Botox?

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Botox is a class of type A neurotoxic protein that is derived from the the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Over the past decade, botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) has increasingly become one of the most popular treatments used to combat signs of aging, specifically the wrinkles of the face.  When used as a small dose injectable into a muscle (like the frown lines of the forehead), Botox works to block the release of Acetylcholine.  Acetylcholine a the neurotransmitter released by nerve cells and is responsible for signaling muscle contraction. When muscles of the face contract, the skin on top of it scrunches into the wrinkles we see.   When this contraction signal is blocked,  muscles are temporarily “frozen” or paralyzed into their relaxed state,  and therefore the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled. If injected into the correct sites, one would expect the effects of Botox to last 3-4 months,  though there are few that have reported it to last as long as 5-6 months. How long botox lasts depends on many factors,  including the biology of an individual in breaking it down,  or the dose given in a particular area.

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What Is a Botox Procedure Like?

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So what should be expected during an in-office procedure? When receiving Botox injections,  the injector (usually an M.D., N.P., or R.N.) uses a small 30 gauge needle and administers small injections in specific muscle sites.  You should expect it to feel like a quick pinch,  but any discomfort can be reduced by icing the area just prior to the procedure.  Topical anesthesia may be used,  is not necessary. Expect to see small bumps, pinpricks, and maybe slight bruising in areas of injection,  but again,  these are transient and disappear faster with sufficient icing.  It’s important to note that you will not see an immediate softening of the lines, as it takes up toabout a week for Botox to take effect.  Patience is definitely needed the first few days.  Some practitioners may advise you to contract the area a few times to get the Botox into the muscle faster,  but this is not really necessary.  It is also advised you do not rub the treated area, lie down, or do exercise/yoga positions where you are bending forward (ie, downward dog),  as this may spread the Botox to unwanted areas.

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For those who may want to stop frownies from forming, Botox may be just the answer.  You may not be able to find the Fountain of  Youth or stop Father Time and Mother Nature, but at least you can slow aging in its tracks,  if only for a little while.

Credits:

Principles of Cosmetic Dermatology.  Baumann, 2009.

Tags: acetylcholine blocker, Botox, Botulinum Toxin type A, Injectables, Stop Wrinkles, Wrinkles