There’s a wrinkle that appears before you even realize it. You see it on a video call, in a photo someone else took: the furrowed brow, the creased forehead—even when you’re not angry or tired. It’s just the muscle, repeating a gesture it’s made thousands of times.
Hyaluronic acid adds volume and structure. Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscle without completely paralyzing it. Of course, when it’s done right.
But what does Botox actually do?
Botulinum toxin type A acts on the nerve-muscle connection. By temporarily reducing the release of acetylcholine, it reduces contraction of the treated muscle. With less muscle activity, the lines that appear with certain movements can be smoothed out.
That is why it is mainly used for so-called dynamic lines: those that appear or become more pronounced when you frown, raise your eyebrows, or smile.
The most common areas are the area between the eyebrows, the forehead, and the crow’s feet. Treatments are also available for other areas of the face and neck, depending on the doctor’s assessment and the specific instructions for each product.
Why can one app look so different from another?
Because every face has its own unique anatomy and muscle activity.
The evaluation should be conducted both with the face at rest and during movement: observe how the muscles contract, what lines appear, which muscles are involved, and how they interact with one another. Current consensus recommendations specifically call for moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches and tailoring treatment points and dosages to each patient.
The goal is to find a balance.
Softening an expression can be entirely compatible with preserving gestures, movement, and naturalness.
Can I get injections of different brands and still get the same results?
Among the most well-known botulinum toxin type A formulations are BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA), DYSPORT® (abobotulinumtoxinA), and XEOMIN® (incobotulinumtoxinA).
And there’s one detail that often goes unnoticed: a brand’s units cannot be directly converted into those of another brand. Each product uses its own system for measuring potency, so a higher or lower number of units does not, on its own, allow us to determine which treatment is the most potent.
The choice of product is part of the medical decision-making process.
How long does Botox last on the face?
The answer depends on the product, the treated area, and each patient’s individual characteristics. In cosmetic treatments, the effect usually lasts for a few months, after which muscle activity gradually begins to return. For certain indications, product information sheets report an approximate duration of three to four months.
And there’s something else worth paying attention to: what they’re applying to you.
In 2025, COFEPRIS issued an alert regarding the counterfeiting and adulteration of certain lots of DYSPORT®, highlighting risks related to their origin, manufacture, and handling conditions.
That’s why, before getting an injection, it’s important to know the brand, check the product’s origin, and consult a professional trained to administer it.
Botulinum toxin has been transforming the way we view aging—and expression lines in particular—for decades.
But perhaps its true potential lies in something much more subtle:
making things less noticeable without taking anything away.
Continue to make facial expressions. Continue to be expressive. Continue to recognize yourself in the mirror.
When the technique is applied with discernment, the treatment doesn’t seek to impose itself on your face.
It seeks to complement the way you want to continue living in it.