Botolinum Toxin Injection is the most well-known injectable neuromodulator. It temporarily relaxes facial muscles to soften the look of dynamic facial wrinkles created by repeated muscle movement (think: frown lines and furrowed brows). 

It works by blocking nerve signals to the muscles, so the injected muscle can’t contract. 

Originally developed to treat medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, it is FDA-approved to treat crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines. 

It’s also used off-label to soften and smooth lip lines, “bunny lines” on the nose, chin, and neck bands. When injected above the upper lip, it can also create a “lip flip” (more on that below).

The neurotoxin can also relax muscles in the jaw. “A very popular area for Botolinum Toxin Injection is in the masseter muscle, either to treat TMJ or for facial slimming. Treating this area has positive cosmetic results, and it helps patients who grind their teeth.

Beyond its cosmetic uses, other benefits of Botox include treatment for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating on the underarms), a lazy eye (known medically as strabismus), chronic eyelid twitching (blepharospasm), chronic migraines, other types of muscle spasms, and vaginismus.