How Botox Works

Botox treatments have been around for decades – long enough for jokes about it to become cliché in pop culture. But Botox is more than just a “facelift shot”. For more than 20 years, including right here in Calgary, it has been used to help with wrinkles, lines, muscle spasms, and even with chronic migraine relief.

What is Botox?

Botox is a naturally occurring protein, produced by some bacteria. It is well-known for the way it interrupts the transmission of nerve signals within muscles, and decreases their ability to contract – which for cosmetic purposes, means that it softens the appearance of the skin and any wrinkles present in the area.

The word “Botox” itself is a brand name, the first neuromodulator to be approved for this kind of dermatological treatment. It even has competitors, such as Dysport, Nicaea, and Xeomin, which have similar performance, duration, and effect. 

What Does Botox Do?

It seems logical to think of Botox only as a cosmetic treatment, but the group with the most users is children! This is because Botox is an excellent solution for muscle spasms, so for kids having trouble with movement or muscle development (e.g., cerebral palsy), it can help decrease the constant signals that cause the spasms and contractions. 

The bonus? Getting Botox – for any reason, medical or cosmetic – only takes a few moments. It requires no pain medication or special preparation. It’s as simple as a few shots, similar to getting routine vaccinations. After 3-4 days, results will be apparent, and after 2 weeks they will be in full effect, lasting from 3-6 months.

Botox is used to treat frown lines, foreheads, crow’s feet, and a wide variety of muscular medical conditions, but it is unable to treat lines caused by sun damage, gravity, lack of sleep, or volume loss.

How Botox Works on Foreheads

Many people choose Botox to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles on their forehead. Since each treatment lasts for months, this is an excellent choice that doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. In order to give that youthful look, injections are targeted at specific muscle points along the hairline, forehead, and temples – keeping lines away and your skin wrinkle-free.

How Botox Works for Migraines

Intense migraines can be incredibly crippling, and unfortunately, many people suffer from them every day. Botox prevents a unique solution, though: since it interrupts the signals going from nerves to muscles, it can actually stop the contractions that produce migraine pain. It also blocks the nerve inflammation that responds to particular molecules, leading to an increased calming effect, too. You can read more about it here.

Why Botox Takes Time to Work

The speed of Botox results depends on the area of the body, size of the muscles targeted, and the frequency of injections, as well as the size of the overall dosage. As the Botox binds to the area between muscle and nerve under your skin, it takes time to fully cut off the transmission of signals that cause muscle contraction, and that transmission period is a bit unpredictable due to the factors above. Like a sponge in a dish of water, it requires time to work.

Why Botox Doesn't Work Sometimes

It’s actually possible to develop a resistance to Botox if it is used too often – and some people even have natural immunities of varying degrees. This is fairly rare (less than 3% of patients), and if your Botox injection didn’t work, it’s much more likely that you got a “bad batch” or that the injection site didn’t quite take properly. If you have more questions about it, we’re always here to help.

How Botox Works to Stop Sweat

Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes excessive sweating – which, in addition to being uncomfortable, can also be dehydrating and less than ideal for your clothes. Botox injections can solve this problem by blocking the neurotransmitters to your sweat glands, effectively preventing some of them from switching on. This isn’t just limited to underarms, either. It can be used on hands and feet, back, chest and groin, or even along the face. 

Do you have other questions about Botox? We use it for both cosmetic and medical treatments, and we can give you the answers you need. If you're a reader, you may enjoy our dedicated blog we've written on Everything You Want To Know About Botox. If you’re interested, we can even do a consultation to make sure it’s right for you. Keeping you looking and feeling your best is what we’re all about at BARDÖT Beauty Boutique!