Many facial wrinkles form when we use our muscles to make facial expressions. The wrinkles formed during these expressions are called dynamic wrinkles. For example, when we smile our eye wrinkles become prominent and when we frown the vertical lines between our eyebrows become noticeable.
When we are young our skin springs back to its natural position after a facial expression, but as we get older dynamic wrinkles remain on the skin to form static wrinkles: they are wrinkles and folds that are present at rest. The process occurs because natural substances such as collagen (the major structural protein in skin), elastin (the protein that causes tissue to stretch) and hyaluronic acid (which gives skin volume) decrease with exposure to sunlight, smoking and stress all contribute to the creation of wrinkles and folds.
BOTOX is a natural, purified protein that relaxes wrinkle causing muscles, creating a rejuvenated appearance. The active ingredient in BOTOX treatment is derived from bacteria in much the same way penicillin is derived from mould. It is manufactured in sterile laboratory conditions. BOTOX is a prescription-only medicine and treatment is only available from a qualified medical professional.
BOTOX can be used to relax specific facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles (the wrinkles that are formed during facial expression). Once the muscles are relaxed, you cannot contract them preventing undesirable facial expressions. Thus, the lines gradually smooth and new lines are prevented from forming.