Botox®, the cosmetic form of botulinum toxin, is a popular non-surgical injection that temporarily reduces or eliminates frown lines, forehead creases, crow's feet near the eyes, and wrinkles and bands in the neck. When Botox is injected, it blocks nerve impulses, temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles while giving the skin a smoother, more refreshed appearance. Botulinum toxin injections are also used to treat migraines, excessive sweating, and other medical conditions.
Prominent facial lines can be misinterpreted as anger, anxiety, fatigue, or sadness, and contribute to the look of an aging face. A number of factors cause these undesirable lines, including fat atrophy, sun damage, chronic gravitational changes and hyperfunctional lines. Hyperfunctional lines are the result of muscles contracting beneath the skin, and are sometimes referred to, depending on location, as crow’s feet, lipstick lines, forehead furrows and glabellar folds (between the eyebrows.) When attempting to eliminate these wrinkles, it is important to address the underlying physiology, which means paralyzing the muscle.