How Botox Actually Works: Neurotoxins Explained in Plain Language

What Neurotoxins Actually Do

Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Daxxify are all botulinum toxin type A products. They work the same way. They block the signal between a nerve and a muscle. The muscle stops contracting, and the overlying skin stops creasing into the expression lines you see when you frown, raise your eyebrows, or squint.

They do not freeze your face. They reduce the force of specific muscles so the movement is softer. You will still smile, emote, and look like you.

What They Do Not Do

• Not fillers. Neurotoxins relax muscles. They do not add volume. If you have lost volume in your cheeks or lips, that is a filler conversation, not a neurotoxin one.
• Not permanent. Results last three to six months depending on the product and the patient. Dosage, metabolism, and muscle strength all affect duration.
• Not a substitute for skin care. If your skin is dehydrated, sun-damaged, or untreated for texture, neurotoxins will not fix that. They address lines from movement, not surface quality.

How Dr. Crenshaw Chooses Between the Four

Every major FDA-approved neurotoxin is available at CMA. The right one depends on what you value.

• Botox is the original and the most studied. Over 574 peer-reviewed articles and more than 20 years of clinical history. Most predictable for first-timers.
• Dysport has the fastest onset. Some patients see softening as early as day one. Useful when an event is coming up.
• Xeomin is the purest formulation, with no complexing proteins. Useful for patients who have built resistance to other products.
• Daxxify lasts the longest. Median duration is six months, compared to three to four for the others. Useful if you want fewer appointments per year.

What a First Appointment Looks Like

Dr. Crenshaw takes your medical history, reviews what you want to address, and looks at your face in motion and at rest. She recommends a specific product, a specific unit count, and specific injection points. You approve before anything happens. The injections themselves take ten to fifteen minutes. You leave without bandages, can drive yourself home, and can work that afternoon.

A Note on Looking Frozen

The frozen look is not a product problem. It is a placement problem. It happens when too many units are placed in too few spots, usually by an injector who does not account for how the muscles interact. Dr. Crenshaw places every injection personally and prioritizes balanced movement over maximum reduction. If you want to still look like you at the dinner table, say so at your consultation.