What Is Botox? How It Works and What It Treats

Botox is one of the most widely performed cosmetic treatments worldwide, and also one of the most misunderstood — often reduced to "the wrinkle injection" without much explanation of how it actually works.

How It Actually Works

Botox is a purified form of botulinum toxin that temporarily blocks the nerve signals telling a muscle to contract. With the muscle relaxed, the wrinkles it creates through repeated movement — like forehead lines or crow's feet — soften.

What It Commonly Treats

• Forehead lines
• Frown lines between the brows
• Crow's feet around the eyes
• Masseter (jaw) muscle bulk, for a softer jawline

Botox Only Treats Dynamic Wrinkles

Botox works on wrinkles caused by muscle movement (dynamic wrinkles). Static wrinkles — lines visible even at rest, often from lost skin elasticity — generally respond better to other treatments like filler, which is why the two are often used together for a fuller result.

Learn more on the Botox procedure page.