Smoothing Out The Wrinkles In Botox Understanding

While botox has become one of the hottest type of cosmetic treatments around, few people understand how botox works. Realizing how botox works is important in order to know what should be expected from the treatment as well as the length of effect.

Botox is a material derived from Clostridium Botulinum bacteria. Botox works by selectively inhibiting muscles into which the formula is applied.

Thus for cosmetic use, botox works by selectively weakening hyperactive muscles that cause scowl lines. This will cause skin creases connected with these hyperactive facial muscles to become less obvious or to disappear while under the consequences of botox. In some studies, patients noticed a change in appearance 2 weeks after injection of botox. Inside 4 weeks of treatment, patients reported looking 3 years younger.

There are many different classes of Botulinum Toxin (A-G), with types An and B being the sole types in clinical use.

A bit about how muscles work

Muscles are turned on by impulses transmitted by nerves. The nerve attaches to a muscle in what is sometimes known as a “neuro-muscular junction”. The end of the nerve close to the muscle is stuffed with tiny vesicles or “bubbles” crammed with a substance called acetylcholine. When the electrical impulse reaches the end of the nerve, these vesicles are freed from the nerve ending, and acetylcholine is released into the space between the muscle and the nerve and then travel across the synapse to connect to receptors on the muscle. Once the acetylcholine attaches to the receptors on the muscles, this initiates a chemical process which triggers the muscles to turn on.

How botox effects the neuromuscular junction

Botox prevents the releasing of acetylcholine from the nerve ends. Botox proteins bind to the nerve ending and at last bind to the vesicles containing acetylcholine. Finally Botox interrupts with the method of the release of acetylcholine into the neuromuscular junction. It does this by cleaving proteins required for binding and release of vesicles (SNAP-25 protein).

It typically takes about 24-48 hours till the consequences of the chemical denervation begin.

How recovery from botox occurs

Recovery from botulinum toxin occurs normally inside 3-6 months. The recovery happens normally by another nerve ending sprouting to replace the nerve ending which is effected by the botox. The original nerve ending finally recovers with time and the new sprouts fall away. It was once thought that this was the only method of recovery from botox treatment. Nevertheless it’s now accepted that the originial nerve ending effected by botulinum toxin does finally recover. Consequent to the recovery of the original nerve ending, the new nerve ending sprouts finally fall away.

The recovery of botulinum toxin in glandular tissue takes longer. The effects of botox on glands usually recedes in 6-9 months.

Botox is a recognized trademark of Allergan. Botox injections should only be undertaken by properly qualified medical professionals and after obtaining informed consent. BotoxTelAviv offers botox injections in the Tel Aviv area.