As you probably already know, Botox is derived from the botulinum toxin type A, the very same bacteria that cause botulism. While that sounds scary, it’s not. Decades ago, doctors found that when the botulinum toxin is injected inminiscule amounts into a muscle it temporarily stops the muscle from contracting. It does this by blocking the nerve signals from the muscle to the brain. For the decades that followed, the botulinum toxin was used to treat conditions such as involuntary eyelid spasms and, more recently, migraine headaches. But when it was approved to treat the facial wrinkles caused by musclecontractions Botox (as the aesthetic use of the botulinum toxin was now called) became a superstar. By blocking the nerve signals that trigger muscle contractions when a person squints, for instance, Botox keeps the wrinkle that forms on the skin’s surface from appearing. This temporary paralysis of the muscle lasts four to six months before the body then absorbs the now-inactive Botox. At that point, the muscle will begin to contract again and the wrinkle will return. But you can maintain your results by scheduling another Botox appointment with the Cleft & Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center.