GREATIST (10.11.22) Does Botox Really Prevent Wrinkles? We Asked an Expert

Botox inhibits the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction, according to Dr. Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, FAAD, a board certified dermatologist in Houston, TX. By temporarily freezing face-creasing muscles, Botox keeps new wrinkles from forming.

Because Botox prevents creases rather than tightens skin, it’s used to prevent dynamic rhytides — aka, wrinkles, formed by repetitive movements. It might also fight static wrinkles caused by gravity and loss of elasticity.

“Over time, those who have had repeated injections of Botox in the same area can notice less pronounced wrinkles at rest in those areas,” Sartor explains.

But Botox isn’t magic. Sartor says you’ll need to wait for 1 to 2 weeks post-injection to notice the effects. And since paralysis is temporary, expression lines slowly return 3 to 6 months after treatment. Click here to read the full article