Neurotoxins that are currently approved in the U.S. are Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin. Unknowing consumers refer to everything in aesthetics as botox. This is not true...but understanding the basics of neurotoxins is easy. These products are used to temporarily prevent a muscle from contracting. As a result, the skin attached to these muscles relax and you get less lines and wrinkles in your skin. Common areas to treat (not necessarily all FDA approved) with neurotoxins are your "11's" or frown lines between your eyebrows, horizontal forehead lines, crow's feet around your eyes, bunny lines on the sides of your nose, smoker's lines around the mouth, gummy smile, chin dimpling and chin crease, frowning down turned mouth, stringy neck from strong platysma bands, and one of my favorites...over active hypertrophic masseter muscle from grinding your teeth!
As stated above, the neurotoxins that are currently approved for cosmetic use in the U.S. are Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin. I rarely use Xeomin, only because in my experience and my patients report it does not last as long as its competitors. Xeomin is referred to as the "Naked" neurotoxin. It does not have the protective proteins wrapped around the neurotoxin molecule, as do Botox and Dysport. The naked neurotoxin in theory is better for someone who may be forming a resistance or tolerance to Botox and Dysport, but I have found that the product just breaks down more quickly and I'm left with an unhappy patient who is back to see me sooner than what they would like.
To recap for you, all of these neurotoxin products are used to temporarily prevent a muscle from contracting. When dosed properly, most people need Botox or Dysport treatments about every 3-4 months. You should budget for your treatment about 3 to 4 times a year. When comparing Botox and Dysport, I think the easiest way for you to understand how they are alike and different is to think of them as Pepsi and Coke. Reps from these companies are probably cringing right now at this simple statement but it's true. They are both brown colas but some people prefer the sweeter taste of Pepsi and others prefer the extra carbonation of Coke. When introducing Dysport to patients for the first time, I hear a lot of "oh yeah that's the generic one right?" This is not true. I can get the same results for patients with both products, so I encourage you to try both and identify which it is that you prefer. The cost to the end user is the same. The unit dosing is different but this is accounted for in the clinicians conversion between the two products and should not reflect in the price you pay. Dysport does have a quicker onset, which may be advantageous for someone needing a last minute pick me up. Both last 3-4 months when dosed properly. Under dosing or under treating an area could result in a shortened duration of the results. On label, meaning FDA approved, areas for Botox include glabella and crows feet. Glabella is the area between your eyebrows. On label for Dysport is currently only Glabella.
Tune in tomorrow for Day 3 of my Aesthetic Advent Calendar...
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