There are two categories of facial wrinkles: static and dynamic. Static wrinkles are visible when your face is at rest and occur during the aging process because of the loss of elastic tissue. Dynamic wrinkles appear temporarily when a muscle contracts during facial expression (i.e. smiling, frowning). Dynamic wrinkles are commonly found in areas of facial expression like the forehead (worry lines), between the eye brows (glabellar lines), and around the eyes (crows feet).

BOTOX Cosmetic diminishes or even eliminates the appearance of dynamic wrinkles because it paralyzes the underlying muscle causing the wrinkle. When injected directly into the muscle, the purified Botulinum toxin type A prevents the muscle from contracting by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscle. Because the muscle cannot contract, the wrinkle cannot form and as a result it gradually diminishes.

BOTOX Cosmetic is not as effective on static wrinkles which are better treated surgically or with dermal fillers.