6. How Botox works to remove wrinkles

   As I was little behind of the schedule, I thought I would share my second writing project about 'Botox' this week. I assume everyone knows what 'Botox' is, this paper explains about how the material is made, the actual mechanism of removing wrinkles and also the result within few weeks will be explained with couple figures. Feel free to comment below if you have any questions! <:

How Botox works to remove wrinkles

     ‘Botox’ is known as highly effective non-surgical method to remove wrinkles on your face. Despite its popularity, not many people recognize where the material comes from. In reality, Botox is a concise word of ‘Botulinum toxin (BTX)’ which is one kind of toxin produced from a bacterium called ‘Clostridium Botulinum’. Isn’t it cool to know that you were actually infected by a bacteria’s toxin to remove your wrinkles? In this paper, the origin of Botox, the biochemical mechanism of removing facial creases, and the actual results of using this product will be explained.

1. Origin of Botox   

First of all, let’s look at where Botox has come from. The real official name Botulinum Toxin (BTX) for Botox was first found in improperly handled meat products. The toxin was discovered from bacteria and called ‘Clostridium Botulinum’ (keen et al, 1994). The bacterium has seven different kinds of toxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F and G) and normally results in decreasing a muscle’s activity by blocking the site where neurotransmitters are released. Later on, scientists developed a way to purify a mixture of toxin type A and type B, which is the actual start of using Botox to prevent wrinkles development by paralyzing facial muscles. The method became very popular in the United States and other countries. It turns out to be the most common cosmetic operation method to remove wrinkles.

2. Biochemical mechanism of Botox removing facial wrinkles

When Botulinum Toxin (BTX) is injected in a muscle, it blocks SNARE proteins from breaking through the membrane barrier at the end of the cell, so that neurotransmitters cannot flood into the receptors of the muscle. This causes the muscle to contract and gives the appearance of wrinkles. In the human body, passing a signal using vesicles from a nerve system to a muscle can be describe as crossing a river by riding a boat. To be able to pass a neuron signal from a nerve system to a muscle, a synaptic vesicle, which contains the neurotransmitters, has to move from nerve terminus to the muscle cell (Fig 1). When the neuron system is in a normal state, three kinds of SNARE proteins (SNAP25, Synaptobrevin and Syntaxin) perform together to break through the membrane barrier at the end of the nerve cell. Then they help neurotransmitter to release the receptors of the muscle and cause the muscle to contract (Fig 1).

                
Fig.1. Neurotransmitter released in normal state of a nerve cell. Three SNARE proteins combine together and attach to the membrane barrier and helps synaptic vesicles to approach to the muscle cell and release neurotransmitter. Then the muscle fiber contracts and it creates wrinkles.

  When Botulinum toxin comes into the neuron system, the toxin enters a synaptic vesicle and prevents the SNARE proteins from forming the complex (Fig 2). Accordingly, the SNARE proteins cannot bind to the membrane and the neurotransmitter is not able to enter the muscle cell. As muscle cells would not receive any signals, the muscle fiber is paralyzed (Fig 2). This ‘paralyzing effect’ is how Botox works to remove facial creases.

                                           

Fig.2. Nerve cell exposured to Botulinum Toxin. Botulinum toxin entered on a nerve cell blocks SNARE proteins to attach on a membrane surface. Without the proteins linked on a surface, neurotransmitter cannot release into the muscle cell and it ends up paralyzing the muscle fiber.

3. Botox injection effect

As previously mentioned, Botox can improve the muscles, and Botox injections target specific and individual muscles to flatten out by weakening or paralyzing the muscles for a short amount of time (citation). Generally, injecting time only takes about five to ten minutes. After the injection, the advance of your look is seen within three to four days and the improvement of your appearance usually lasts from three to six months (Fig 3, 4).

                               

    Fig.3. Patient before and after Botox injection on forehead

  (http://www.carterabbottmedspa.com/botox)

 

                                                                  

Fig.4. Patient before and after Botox injection on eye wrinkles

  (http://www.carterabbottmedspa.com/botox)

Now we know, not only Botox is known as one of the best ways to eliminate wrinkles but this material is a type of botulism comes from a bacterium which acts as neurotransmitter blocker to prevent the muscle contraction from creating wrinkles. Even though the Botox is tested safe to use in human body, there are several temporary side effects such as a drooping eyelid, double vision or getting a dull look. However, if Botox is carefully used in right medical circumstances, Botox still maybe a good option for wrinkle removal as we understand how Botox works and the possible side-effects.

Works Cited

Keen M, Kopelman JE., Aviv JE, et al. Botulinum Toxin A: A Novel Method to Remove periorbital Wrinkles (1994). Facial Plastic Surg. 10(2): 141-6.