Which Types of Wrinkles Does BOTOX® Correct?

If you’re concerned about your skin making you look older than you feel internally, BOTOX® is what the Milwaukee area’s Parkins Plastic Surgery recommends for temporarily smoothing facial wrinkles. What many patients (especially those who are new to cosmetic procedures) may not realize is that not all injectables work the same way.

For example, the types of skin damage that fillers address are different from the wrinkles that BOTOX® is designed to treat. Ever noticed lines forming when you lift your brows, squint, frown, or smile? These are what are known as dynamic wrinkles, or expression wrinkles. Static wrinkles are visible even when the face isn’t moving and are best treated with fillers.

This article provides a basic rundown of what patients should know about how BOTOX® works and which wrinkles it treats.

Unlike facial fillers, which are injectable soft substances added directly below the skin to create volume, BOTOX® is a medication that contains a purified, diluted form of a toxin produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Your face has about 20 flat skeletal muscles that enable you to make facial expressions. Every time we move these muscles, the skin that is attached to them gets wrinkled up. The skin can bounce back into position easily when you’re younger, but as it loses collagen over time, these lines become more pronounced, especially if the muscles are overactive.

BOTOX® basically works as a muscle relaxant. Within several days of an injection session, the botulinum toxin begins blocking the proper transmission of a chemical messenger called acetylcholine, preventing signals from successfully travelling from the nerves to the muscles. Since the muscles can no longer contract as much, the face appears smoother and more relaxed.

BOTOX® is FDA-approved for three areas: forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet.

Forehead Lines

Contractions of the frontalis muscle, such as when we raise our eyebrows, are the main cause of wrinkles on the forehead. This muscle pulls the skin up, creating a horizontal line or lines in the skin. These wrinkles are common because our eyebrows are so heavily involved in our facial expressions, especially when we convey surprise, anger, or happiness. Loss of elasticity contributes to these wrinkles, but if your skin is very dry, the lack of moisture can also make the wrinkles look worse.

Frown Lines

Frown lines, also known as “elevens” or glabellar lines, are vertical lines that develop between the brows and often intersect with other kinds of forehead wrinkles. The primary cause of these lines is motion in several muscle groups involved in facial expressions, such as the orbicularis oculi around the eyes, the procerus muscle, and the corrugator muscle.

Crow’s Feet

Crow’s feet or smile lines are tiny, fine wrinkles that form around the eyes when we’re smiling due to the movements of the orbicularis oculi. These lines branch out to resemble the toes on a crow’s foot. Unlike many other wrinkles, crow’s feet are mostly associated with happy emotions.

Although it may not be possible to get rid of any of these wrinkles completely, you can make them appear less prominent by leading a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining strong skin helps to make it less susceptible to wrinkles. Try to limit unprotected sun exposure by using SPF 30 or higher sunscreen daily, find ways to cope with stress, stay well-hydrated by drinking lots of water while also using a moisturizer, avoid habits like smoking that are detrimental to your skin, and eat a healthy diet. While we can’t avoid showing a range of facial expressions during everyday life, it’s important to be mindful of how your expressions play a role in the development of facial wrinkles.

Find out more about the benefits of BOTOX® from the Milwaukee area’s Parkins Plastic Surgery. Call them at (262) 269-1050 or submit a contact form to request an appointment for more advice about wrinkle treatments.