How Do Botulinum Injections Work?

Most people have probably heard of Botox and can instantly summon images of completely frozen faces to mind. However, these days the world of botulinum toxin injections is very different, and they are much more widely used than you might realise.

In this article, Skin Inspection take a look at what botulinum toxin is and how its injections work in the world of non-surgical aesthetic treatments.

What is botulinum toxin?

Botulinum toxin is neurotoxin which is produced by a specific form of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. It is more commonly known as Botox, but it is important to remember that this is simply a brand name of one type of the toxin.

Whilst it is the same toxin that can cause botulism, it has been purified and used in very small doses to treat a range of health problems and cosmetic needs.

How does botulinum toxin work?

Botulinum toxin blocks the nerve signals which are sent to the muscles in order to make them contract. The extent to which this happens depends on how much of the toxin is injected, and so the frozen face effect that was once associated with this type of procedure should not be necessary.

As botulinum toxin causes the muscles to relax, the fine lines and wrinkles on the skin seem to reduce or disappear and the skin appears smoother. As the muscle is paralysed, it can also help to prevent new wrinkles from forming, as the skin is no longer creasing in that area.

In addition to cosmetic purposes, botulinum toxin can also be used for certain medical conditions such as excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis. The injections block the overactive signals that are being sent to the sweat glands and can therefore reduce the amount that someone will sweat.

It is important to remember that botulinum toxin is a prescription only medicine. This means that it will need to be prescribed for you by a medical professional, although the injections can be carried out by non-medics if they have been properly trained and the prescription has been issued.

Botulinum toxin injections

Before you have any botulinum toxin injections, you should have a thorough consultation with your practitioner to assess your suitability for treatment and to understand what you want to achieve. They will be able to advise you which areas of the face will be best treated by botulinum toxin and may ask you to perform certain facial expressions so that they can mark where they need to inject.

Whilst it is most commonly used to tackle the lines on the forehead and crow’s feet, it can also smooth bunny lines, lip lines and neck bands.

The sites for the injection will then be cleansed and the needle will be injected at the correct depth for each muscle. The needles that are used tend to be very fine and so an anaesthetic is not usually required.

The treatment only takes a few minutes, but the first changes will not be noticeable for a few days. The final results will be visible after a couple of weeks and will then last for between 3 and 6 months before the toxin starts to wear off as the nerves start to grow new connections.

In the correct hands, botulinum toxin injections can be a very safe aesthetic procedure, but it is important to do your research and find a responsible and fully qualified practitioner. When administered correctly, these injections can give your skin a smoother and younger appearance whilst still allowing you to move your face into all the natural expressions that you would want to experience.