How Does Botox Work?

Almost every woman that has crossed there late 30’s has though about injecting Botox, but how does Botox work?

Botox is made from a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum called Botulinum toxin or better known as Botox. Botox is injected directly into neuromuscular tissue and works by preventing signals from the nerve cells reaching muscles, effectively leaving the muscles without instructions to contract, therefore paralyzing them.

In order for muscles to contract, nerves release a chemical messenger, acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter), at the junction where the nerve endings meet muscle cells. The acetylcholine attaches to receptors on the muscle cells and causes the muscle cells to contract or shorten. Injected Botox prevents the release of acetylcholine, preventing contraction of the muscle cells. The effect of Botox causes a reduction in abnormal muscle contraction allowing the muscles to become less stiff.

It takes 1 to 3 days for Botox to see the results of Botox. This is also the time for the Botulinum toxin needs to disrupt the synaptosomal process. In some rare circumstances, it may take as long as 6 days for the full effect is visible.