What Is BOTOX® Cosmetic? How Do Neuromodulators Work?

Over time, our facial muscles don’t really change, but our skin becomes thinner and our facial fat pads diminish. As we age, our skin creases more easily with muscle movement. Our complete lineup of botulinum toxins, including BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport®, DAXXIFY®, and Xeomin®, prevent wrinkles because they lessen this movement—helping to prevent frown lines, smile lines, forehead furrows, and other wrinkles from forming.

When injected, these “botulinum toxins,” also known as neuromodulators, prevent nerves from talking to the muscles. The molecules block this communication so that the muscle doesn’t contract. When the muscle stops contracting, the skin stops bending.

Skin rejuvenates itself constantly. It’s always remodeling, turning over, building up, and tearing down. When BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected and the muscles no longer move, the appearance of wrinkles at rest and wrinkles in motion are minimized.

The results of neuromodulators can be very long lasting. Even as you regain movement in the muscles, it takes time for the process to repeat itself and for the lines to reappear.

Botox® | Before and After

Why Do We Get Wrinkles?

Wrinkle relaxers provide remarkable improvement in the appearance of wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes, and lip lines. As you age, your skin loses elasticity. The lines that appear between your brows (frown lines) and around your eyes (crow’s feet) are the result of regular muscle movement and the passage of time.

After years of crinkling and wrinkling, those frown lines and crow’s feet linger and become more pronounced. After wrinkles have formed, regular injection of these neuromodulators can smooth and eliminate these troublesome signs of aging.

Treatments for frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles are the most common. However, we treat other areas of the face as well. In most cases, treatment can visibly smooth and soften these wrinkles.

Beyond the Frown Lines

When most people think of cosmetic injectables like BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport®, DAXXIFY®, or Xeomin®, they usually associate them with treating common facial wrinkles such as frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet. But these popular neuromodulators offer many more possibilities beyond these areas.

These versatile treatments can be customized to address a wide range of aesthetic concerns, helping to rejuvenate and refresh multiple parts of the face and neck, including bunny lines, chin dimpling, marionette lines, masseter muscles, neck cording, and more.

Will My Face Look Frozen?

Frozen facial expressions are the result of someone who has been overmedicated. An experienced professional won’t let this happen. Your provider will administer a customized amount of neuromodulator that reduces movement enough to eliminate lines without giving you a frozen or unnatural appearance.

We like to see our patients again after two weeks to evaluate their results. If they need a higher dose, we can give them more or make notes about individual preferences for future injections.

If you’ve hesitated to call your dermatologist about neuromodulators, there’s no need to worry. An experienced professional will tell you which injection will work best for your needs and how much you need. If your goal is to remove lines, these injections will do just that.

BOTOX® Cosmetic Neuromodulator Do’s and Don’ts

DO Your Research and Ask Questions

Before you make your appointment, ask the office staff these questions to know what to expect from treatment:

  • Does this office include an on-site medical director who is a board-certified dermatologist?
  • How much training has my injector had?
  • Are all treatments customized per patient?
  • Who performs the treatments?

As you find out this information, remember that a dermatologist is best trained to care for the skin and to supervise skilled injectors. It’s always best to seek care from someone who’s an expert in treating skin conditions.

DO Follow Post-Treatment Instructions

  • Exercise your face muscles for about two hours after treatment. Make expressions that move your eyebrows, mouth, and forehead.
  • Scrunch your face, frown, smile, and raise your eyebrows.
  • Do not lie down for four hours following your treatment.
  • Skip your workout for the day.

DO Follow a Treatment Schedule

You’ll see the best results if you stay on a regular treatment schedule. When movement returns to the treated areas, make an appointment to get your next injections before those lines return.

DO Ask: Will My Treatment Be Customized?

During all injections, the degree of relaxation is up to you. Our expert injectors can customize the dose to avoid a “frozen face” expression. Instead, you’ll enjoy a pleasant, relaxed, and younger-looking appearance. You’ll look like yourself—only with less noticeable frown lines and crow’s feet.

If you notice any irregularities at the two-week mark, feel free to come see us so we can make small adjustments. We’ll note the ideal number of units for your next treatment.

Have more questions about BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments? Contact us to schedule a consultation.