Botox is undoubtedly the most popular injectable cosmetic treatment on the market. It’s so popular that an entire class of injectable solutions (neurotoxin modulators) are referred to as Botox — even though the term “Botox” is really just the brand name for botulinum toxin type A neuromodulators.

One of the primary reasons for Botox’s market dominance is that it was the first neurotoxin modulator approved by the FDA as a cosmetic treatment. Botox was originally used to treat eye muscle problems, but it gained prominence as a treatment for dynamic facial wrinkles after 2002.

Since then, millions of Botox treatments have been administered per year. The success of Botox has also paved the way for several other neurotoxin modulators with slightly different properties, including Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. Botox is certainly not the only neurotoxin injectable anymore, but it’s still considered the best.

Not all Botox injections are created equally. Different Botox injections may have different concentrations, properties, and they may address different needs. To ensure optimal and natural-looking results, while avoiding embarrassing side-effects, you must consider all your options carefully.

In this buyer’s guide, we discuss how you can select the best Botox treatments for your unique needs.

Understanding Neurotoxin Modulators

Before we discuss how you can find the best Botox treatments, you must first understand how Botox works. There are many misconceptions about how Botox smoothes your skin, with many people likening it to dermal fillers that “fill” your wrinkles and facial fine lines. Botox belongs to a class of injectable cosmetic treatments called “neurotoxin modulators.”

Neurotoxins (like Botox) are used to treat dynamic facial wrinkles, i.e., wrinkles that appear due to the overuse of certain facial muscles. The vertical frown lines between your eyebrows occur due to squinting, the crow’s feet around your eyes appear due to laughing, and the horizontal forehead lines appear when you raise your eyebrows.

Neurotoxins (like Botox) are made of a botulinum toxin type A, a component that temporarily blocks communications between the targeted facial muscles responsible for dynamic wrinkles and nerve endings. By blocking the nerve signals, Botox temporarily paralyzes the facial muscles to avoid contractions, thereby minimizing the appearance of wrinkles.

Botox Buyer’s Guide

Understanding Neurotoxin Modulators