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Botox Cosmetic- How Does It Work on Wrinkles?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Question viewed 12,022 times
Tags: forehead, wrinkles, frown lines

Really want to get rid of lines on the forehead and heard that botox cosmetic is recommended by doctors. why?

33 answers to Botox Cosmetic- How Does It Work on Wrinkles?

+1

Botox work on the forehead

Simply put, Botox is a neurotoxin that relaxes the muscles in the forehead and brow. It blocks the pathway for proper muscle contraction, thereby smoothing wrinkles. Botox is used in areas where muscle contraction causes wrinkles to form, such as the forehead and brow area between the eyes. When the muscles no longer contract the lines and wrinkles become less visible or disappear altogether.
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

+4

Botox for the forehead

Botox works by weakening the function of muscles so they cannot flex and fold the skin to give the appearance of wrinkles. If the wrinkles are there only when moving the forehead muscles, then Botox is an option, But you need to understand the potential negative effects. If you weaken the muscles that cause the wrinkling, these are the same muscles that lift your eyebrows, so in weakening the muscle to avoid the forehead issue, you might allow the eyebrows to drop and make you look more... more
Julio Garcia, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+2

Botox Cosmetic Works on Dynamic Wrinkles but Not On Static Wrinkles

Botox will reduce Dynamic Wrinkles. Dynamic Wrinkles or Facial Lines are seen when the Facial Muscles contract-that is when you frown, raise your eyebrows or quint your eyes. Botox reduces Dynamic Wrinkles or Facial Lines by weakening the pull of the Muscles of Facial Expression on the skin. When the muscle relaxes the Dynamic Line goes away. Static Wrinkles or lines are the ones you see when your face is at rest. These are caused by sun damage, aging, and repeated contraction of... more
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

+2

How does botox work for wrinkles

Wrinkles are caused by muscle movement, sun damage (Sun aging) and chronologic aging. Fine wrinkles (mostly from sun aging) can be treated with chemical peels and laser resurfacing Deeper  wrinkles on the forehead,around the eyes and in other areas (mostly due to muscle movement) can be treated with Botulinum Toxin (Botox or Dysport)  Botulinum toxin blocks the communication between the nerve endings and the muscles responsible for the deep wrinkles, thus causing a... more
Eugene Mandrea, MD

Chicago Dermatologist
+2

Botox - how does it work?

I love explaining how Botox works!  Botox works at the neuromuscular junction - normally your muscles get a signal from the nerve via neurotranmitter to contract.  Botox binds and blocks the neurotransmitter thus, the muscle doesn't contract.  I tell patients that wrinkles are like folding a piece of paper.  If the paper doesn't fold, you don't make a line.  I've personally been using Botox for years and my forehead lines are gone.   Dr.... more
Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Botox for forehead wrinkles

Botox works my interfering with muscle contraction.  The muscle doesn't move and the wrinkle above it gets smoother.  when you go get your Botox, make sure they are well trained and know what they are doing.  They should ask you questions about your medical history,drugs you are taking, etc.  they should also do a physical exam.  This is especially important on the forehead, where if you are one of those people that the eyebrows descend when you are relaxed,... more
Jeffrey Roth, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+2

Botox for forehead wrinkles, how Botox works

BOTOX® is a purified protein that interferes with muscle contraction. It has the reversible effect of blocking nerve stimulation of muscles where it is injected, so that muscle contraction is weakened or inhibited. BOTOX® is designed to eliminate unpleasant lines and creases caused by scowling, squinting or frowning. When expertly administered, the ability to animate the face or look surprised is not changed. The result is a more beautiful, rejuvenated younger-looking you. more
Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

+2

Botox works well for forehead wrinkles, although you have to be careful

Both Botox and Dysport temporarily relax muscles and are great for wrinkles between the eyebrows and on the forehead.  When treating the forehead you want to be careful to not use too much because while your forehead will be smooth, your eyebrows may feel heavy or droop a little. In our office we generally use about 4-6 units for the forehead.  Placing Botox in the forehead is like adding salt to a dish, it's always easier to add a little more, and you can't take it... more
David Mabrie, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Video: Botox injections for forehead and frown lines

Watch as Dr. Renato Saltz, spokesperson for the Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, administers Botox injections to smooth forehead and frown lines on a patient experiencing Botox Cosmetic treatment for the first time. Narration by Marie Czenko Kuechel, consumer advocate and active participant on RealSelf.com. see video
Renato Saltz, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox Acts on Muscle Activity

Botox cosmetic, Dysport, and Xeomin are all forms of Botulinum Toxin Type A that act to minimize muscle activity in the lower central forehead, the upper forehead, and around the eyes. These products prevent the nerves and muscles from talking for a period of about 3 months. Hyper-dynamic forehead lines are a separate issue from fine lines and wrinkles, which are more age and/or sun related in their origin.
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

How Botox works.

In spite of some of the advertising hype, Botox and its alternative, Dysport, only do one thing: they give a flaccid, temporary paralysis to the muscles they are injected into. If the lines on your forehead are caused by the flexing action of the muscles, Botox will stop this flexing. How much improvement in the forehead lines you get depends; here is why. If your forehead skin is smooth when you are not raising your eyebrows, but has lines when you do raise your eyebrows,... more
Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox works by temporarily weakening muscles

Botox toxin works by blocking the signal from motor nerves to the individual muscle fibers where the the injection was given. Since the Muscle fiber doesn't receive a signal, it Won't contract and pull on the skin causing wrinkles. The higher the dose, the weaker the muscle and thus a more profound effect
Scott M. Goldstein, MD

Philadelphia Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

How Botox works

Botox, Dysport, and the recently FDA-approved Xeomin are all neurotoxins that work the same way: they disrupt the communication between nerves and muscles by temporarily blocking the release of a chemical called acetylcholine. Without this chemical, the muscles will not contract, which prevents the formation of lines in the glabella, forehead, and sides of the eyes (crow's feet). All three products are effective and safe if used properly.
Donna Bilu Martin, MD

Miami Beach Dermatologist
+1

How Botox Treats Wrinkles

Botox relaxes the muscles in the forehead causing the wrinkles.The injection blocks the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine at the junction where the nerve fiber communicates with the muscle. Normally acetylcholine causes muscles to contract. Since it is blocked, the muscle remains relaxed and unable to sustain the crease that has developed from facial expressions (e.g. raising your eyebrows). To see an example of real results, please view the video of this patient who... more
Sanusi Umar, MD

Redondo Beach Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Yes, Botox is the gold standard for wrinkles in the forehead!

I love Botox for forehead wrinkles. It is the gold standard for these wrinkles. It is important that the Botox be done artistically so that you are not too frozen looking. It is a simple and easy procedure with fantastic results. Botox works via Botulinum toxin that is injected to weaken the muscles that cause you to wrinkle. It is a liquid that works gradually over days to "freeze" the desired muscles. That is why it can take up to two weeks to see the... more
Michele S. Green, MD

New York Dermatologist
+1

How does Botox work?

Botox works by paralyzing the muscles beneath the skin which cause dynamic wrinkling (usually of the forehead). It is highly effective which explains why everyone is doing it. The downside is that the treatment only lasts 2-6 months.
Lawrence Kass, MD

Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Botox relaxes muscles that cause wrinkles

Botox reduces or blocks underlying facial muscle movement that primarily causes some facial wrinkles. Although facial / neck wrinkles are caused by many factors; some wrinkles, called "dynamic wrinkles" are primarily due to constant, repetitive muscular contraction over the years. Forehead, glabella (between the eyebrows) and crow's feet wrinkles / lines are the dynamic wrinkles that respond well to relaxation of the underlying muscles with Botox. ... more
Robert Strimling, MD

Las Vegas Dermatologist
+1

Botox for lines on the forehead

Botox and Dysport (botulinum neurotoxin type A) are by far the best and most effective way of treating forehead wrinkles. They reduce wrinkles by the temporary and reversible paralysis of treated muscles. Many wrinkles are caused by contractions of facial muscles under the skin. These types of lines can give a person an angry, tired or sad appearance, even when they are not feeling that way. Botulinum neurotoxin type A has been used fr the past 20 years in medical and cosmetic... more
Mitchell Schwartz, MD

South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

+1

How does Botox work??

Botox works by inhibiting the muscle from contracting.  Generally speaking, only a minimal amount of Botox is really required on the forehead and rather an appropriate treatment of the brow wil result in the desired improvement.
Theodore Diktaban, MD

Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox, Wrinkle Treatment, Beverly Hills Botox, Los Angeles Botox

  Botox or Dysport is a medical botulism toxin that temporarily weakens muscles.  When injected into the muscles, that create lines and wrinkles when contracted, the Botox or Dysport weakens the muscles resulting in the relaxation of the unwanted lines and wrinkles.  The toxin weakens the muscle by blocking the chemical neurotransmitter mechanism of muscle contraction.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

How Botox Works

Botox works by inhibiting the impulse going from the nerve to the muscle, which triggers the contraction of the muscle. As such, Botox works best for "dynamic" wrinkles, whic are wrinkles caused by repeated movement of the muscles. This would include the frown lines between the eyebrows (known as the glabella), the crows feet (also know as the periorbital wrinkles) and the horizontal forehead lines. In my opinion Botox doesn't work as well on the lower part of the face, such as... more
Andrew Kaufman, MD

Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Botox reduces "dynamic" wrinkles

A lot of the wrinkles we get with aging are from the repeated "folding", (dynamic motion), of the skin with facial expression. As we mature, the skin becomes thinner and less elastic, so that it doesn't "bounce back" from the "folding". Botox weakens the muscles so that the skin is not as aggressively folded. A good botox treatment weakens the muscles in a natural-looking way. With continued treatment, wrinkles can actually "heal"... more
Debra Irizarry, MD

Crestone Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox works, but remember all your options

Botox works on wrinkles by blocking the signal to the muscle, which relaxes the muscle and ultimately smooths the wrinkle. It's very clinicial-artist dependent and you want to ensure whomever is injecting has the proper capabilities and experience. The last thing you want is droopy eye lids from over-injecting.
Douglas J. Key, MD

Portland Dermatologic Surgeon

www.keylaserinstitute.com

+1

Botox® relaxes muscles

Lines are improved with relaxation of the muscles which cause those lines.  Be careful in the forehead.  The muscles that cause transverse lines are the same muscles that lift up your eyebrows.  When you relax those muscles, your brows may come down more than you like.  Talk to your doc.
Mario Loomis, MD

Middletown Plastic Surgeon
+1

Don't be fooled by before and after photos (but Botox does work!)

Researching Botox before trying it for the first time is a good idea. You want to understand what is getting put inside your body. Botox works by blocking the signal from the nerve to the muscle, so the muscles under the skin can't contract (or contract more weakly). This does allow the skin to lie flat and allows already formed lines to flatten over time. It does not immediately flatten already deep lines. If the lines are especially deep or creased, it can take months and... more
Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH

Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon

www.ArtofDermatology.com

+1

Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles

Botox and Dysport both block the uptake of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, by muscles. Even though the nerve sends the signal to contract, the muscle never gets the message. Reduced muscle contraction equals reduced muscle-induced wrinkles.
Ronald Friedman, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox really does reduce forehead lines

Muscles create and deepen forehead lines. Botox stops the muscles from doing that. Have your doctor start with a low dose if it is your first time. You can always get more added in 2 weeks. Hope this helps. Take care.
Daniel J. Ladd Jr., DO

Austin Dermatologist
+1

Botox works for forehead lines, but beware of the eyebrow

Botox relaxes the forehead muscle and can reduce the forehead wrinkles. Although not rarely the forehead muscle contracts to lift up a sunken eyebrow. If the forehead muscle is relaxed the eyebrows will sink even further down. Your experienced cosmetic dermatologist will know about this. 
Robert Kasten, MD

Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Botox for forehead wrinkles

Botox is an excellent choice to treat forehead wrinkles because of its mechanism of action.  Botox is a purified neurotoxin that works by paralyzing muscles.  This paralysis can last for 3-4 months.  This paralysis is useful in treating forehead wrinkles because wrinkles form due to hyperactive/repetitive facial muscles.  Over time, these wrinkles become deeper as the muscles continue to distort the overlying skin in a certain pattern.  By administering Botox, the... more
Naveen Setty, MD

Plano Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox is excellent treatment for forehead wrinkles in properly selected patient

I would agree that Botox is a great treatment for your forehead lines. Care must be taken by an experienced injector to not inject excessive amount of Botox or inject too close to the brow to prevent drooping of the eyebrow or eyelid. I would also recommend avoiding Dysport in the brow as it tends to diffuse and cause wider muscle weakness in the forehead than Botox.
Stephen Weber, MD

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Forehead and frown lines an excellent use for Botox

Frown lines are typically the vertical furrow between the eyebrows, and patients often tell me that people see them as being angry all of the time even though they aren't. These lines and the horizontal lines in the forehead are caused by hyperactive muscles of expression, and so they respond very well to Botox since it works by relaxing the muscle. Foreheads have to be done with finesse to avoid undesired change in the shape of the eyebrow.
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox for forehead lines and wrinkles

1. Avoid aspirin 2 weeks prior and NSAIDS 10 days prior to treatment. Contemplate arinica montana pre and post injection. 2. Consultation: History taken, Brief physical exam of wrinkles completed and performed. Consent reviewed and signed. 3. Some physicians use topical anesthetics while others don't. Some use ice and some don't. 4. Frown lines require 5-7 injections with 16-24 units. Forehead lines require anywhere from 4-20 with 8-20 units depending on lines and distribution. 5. Post... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

What you should expect from Botox

These are the steps we follow in my practice: During the consultation will give all the information, including risks regarding the Botox injection. A short medical history is required as well. An informed consent will be signed. A numbing cream could be used if needed for the area to be injected. Alternatively ice could be used. You will be asked to frown or raise the eye brow to visualize the muscle. Botox is injected in the muscle with a very fine needle. Instructions on post injection... more
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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