Put simply, Botox is a medication injected into muscles in order to temporarily smooth crow's-feet around the eyes and frown lines and other lines on the forehead. It contains a highly purified botulinum-toxin protein.

HOW DOES BOTOX WORK?

Whenever you frown, laugh, or squint, certain facial muscles contract, creating lines on the face. Botox temporarily reduces this muscle activity by paralyzing these facial muscles, which helps to visibly smooth crow's-feet, forehead lines, and frown lines.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR BOTOX TO WORK? HOW LONG DOES BOTOX LAST?

Botox is known as a lunchtime procedure—the actual injections take only 10 minutes. That said, results generally don't show up for 24–48 hours. Faces look noticeably smoother within a week, with optimal results showing up after a month.

Botox lasts up to four months.

older woman with wrinkles smiling

CAN BOTOX TREAT SWEATING?

Botox is FDA-approved to treat excessive sweating. When injected in the underarms, palms, or feet, the substance helps deactivate sweat glands in much the same way it hampers muscle contractions. For more information, see our Guide to Botox and Sweating.