Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a popular non-surgical treatment that helps smooth wrinkles and fine lines by targeting specific facial muscles. By temporarily paralyzing these muscles, Botox softens expression lines and gives the face a rejuvenated appearance.
Let’s dive into the key facial muscles commonly targeted with Botox and their effects.
Frontalis Muscle
Location: Forehead, running vertically from the eyebrows to the hairline.
Function: Elevates the eyebrows, creating horizontal forehead lines.
Botox Effect: Reduces forehead wrinkles while softening the appearance of raised brows. Careful application preserves natural expressions without causing droopy brows.
Glabella Complex (Procerus and Corrugator Supercilii)
Location: Between the eyebrows, forming the “11 lines” (vertical frown lines).
Function: The procerus pulls the skin between the brows down and inward, while the
corrugator supercilii muscles draw the eyebrows together.
Botox Effect: Smooths out frown lines, resulting in a more relaxed and approachable appearance.
Orbicularis Oculi
Location: Circular muscle surrounding the eyes.
Function: Responsible for squinting and blinking, leading to crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes.
Botox Effect: Softens crow’s feet for a youthful and refreshed look while maintaining natural eye function.
Nasalis Muscle
Location: Bridge of the nose.
Function: Compresses the nasal passages, creating “bunny lines” when you scrunch your nose.
Botox Effect: Minimizes bunny lines, maintaining a smooth appearance around the nose.
Orbicularis Oris
Location: Circular muscle around the mouth.
Function: Helps with lip movements such as pursing and puckering, which can cause vertical lip lines (“smoker’s lines”).
Botox Effect: Softens vertical lip lines without compromising normal lip movement.
Mentalis Muscle
Location: Chin area.
Function: Elevates the chin, creating dimpling or a “pebbled” appearance.
Botox Effect: Smooths chin dimpling for a more balanced lower facial contour.
Platysma Muscle
Location: Neck, extending from the chest to the jawline.
Function: Causes vertical neck bands and pulls the lower face downward.
Botox Effect: Reduces neck bands and subtly lifts the jawline in what’s known as the “Nefertiti lift.”
Depressor Anguli Oris (DAO)
Location: Runs from the corners of the mouth down to the jawline.
Function: Pulls the corners of the mouth downward, contributing to a “sad” or “downturned” mouth appearance.
Botox Effect: Lifts the corners of the mouth, creating a more neutral or pleasant resting expression.
Levator Labii Superioris
Location: Extends from the upper lip to the cheekbone.
Function: Elevates the upper lip, exposing more gum when smiling (gummy smile).
Botox Effect: Reduces excessive gum exposure in a gummy smile while maintaining a natural-looking smile.
Masseter Muscle
Location: Along the jawline on either side of the face.
Function: Responsible for chewing and clenching the jaw. Overactivity can cause jaw pain, teeth grinding (bruxism), and a square-shaped jawline.
Botox Effect: Slims the lower face (jawline contouring) and relieves symptoms of bruxism and jaw tension.
Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi (LLSAN)
Location: Runs alongside the nose to the upper lip.
Function: Lifts the upper lip and flares the nostrils, contributing to a “gummy smile.”
Botox Effect: Reduces nostril flare and softens a gummy smile when combined with treatment to the levator labii superioris.
Depressor Septi Nasi
Location: Base of the nose, near the upper lip.
Function: Pulls the nasal tip downward when smiling, leading to a “drooping nose.”
Botox Effect: Elevates the nasal tip for a subtle improvement in nasal appearance, particularly when smiling.
Risorius
Location: Extends horizontally from the corners of the mouth to the cheeks.
Function: Pulls the corners of the mouth laterally, contributing to a wide smile.
Botox Effect: Modifies the width of the smile for a more harmonious facial appearance.
Temporalis Muscle
Location: On the sides of the head, above the temples.
Function: Assists in chewing and can become overactive, contributing to tension headaches and facial pain.
Botox Effect: Relieves tension headaches and reduces pain from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Buccinator Muscle
Location: In the cheeks, between the upper and lower jaws.
Function: Assists with chewing and maintaining cheek tension.
Botox Effect: Rarely used for aesthetic purposes, but when treated, it can slightly reduce cheek prominence or relieve oral discomfort caused by overactivity.
Auricular Muscles
Location: Around the ears (anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles).
Function: Control minor ear movements (minimal in most people).
Botox Effect: Occasionally treated to reduce tension or twitching around the ears.
Zygomaticus Major and Minor
Location: Run diagonally from the cheekbone to the corners of the mouth.
Function: Lift the corners of the mouth upward, creating a smile.
Botox Effect: Adjusts the balance of the smile, particularly for asymmetric smiles, or reduces an overly “toothy” grin.
Occipitalis Muscle
Location: Back of the scalp.
Function: Pulls the scalp backward, contributing to tension in the forehead.
Botox Effect: Can relax the scalp to relieve tension headaches or migraines.
Superior Rectus and Inferior Rectus
Location: Around the eyes, controlling upward and downward eye movements.
Function: Involved in eye positioning.
Botox Effect: Used medically for conditions like strabismus (misaligned eyes), but rarely for aesthetic purposes.
Dilator Naris
Location: In the nostrils.
Function: Flares the nostrils during breathing or expressions.
Botox Effect: Reduces nostril flare for a more refined nasal appearance.
Pterygoid Muscles (Lateral and Medial)
Location: Deep muscles within the jaw.
Function: Assist with chewing and jaw movement.
Botox Effect: Relieves jaw clenching and TMJ-related discomfort.
Galea Aponeurotica
Location: A connective tissue layer on the scalp.
Function: Works with the frontalis and occipitalis muscles to move the scalp.
Botox Effect: Indirectly reduces forehead tension or scalp-related headaches.
Levator Anguli Oris
Location: From the corners of the mouth upward toward the cheek.
Function: Elevates the corners of the mouth.
Botox Effect: Enhances the smile by balancing the upward pull of the mouth.
Read Next
