Your face conveys a lot of information. When you smile, frown, or look concerned, muscles in your face contract to create expressions. When skin is young and healthy, your face snaps back to normal after the motion has passed. Over time, however, fine lines, wrinkles, and creases deepen and become permanent. Instead of conveying happiness or surprise, these facial features simply make you look older, tired, or angry.
Simple injections with Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin can relax those natural crevices, making you look younger and healthier.
BOTOX, DYSPORT, AND XEOMIN WORK BY RELAXING YOUR FACIAL MUSCLES
Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are different varieties of the same thing: botulinum toxin. What was once known only as a dangerous toxin, medical science has now harnessed the power of the substance to treat a several conditions, from severe muscle contractions to headache to cosmetic problems. Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin work by preventing the treated muscles from contracting.
WHAT IS A BOTOX/DYSPORT/XEOMIN COSMETIC TREATMENT LIKE?
Your facial plastic surgeon will discuss your problem areas with you, to see which lines and wrinkles you would like to reduce or eliminate. Your surgeon then carefully determines which facial muscles are responsible for causing the unwanted wrinkles. She will then make a series of precise injections into those muscles using a very fine needle. The injection may cause some mild discomfort, but this is fleeting. The procedure is done in an office setting without anesthesia, so there is no recovery time. Patients can return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure. You should start seeing results within the first day, and those results become even more noticeable over the first week. Results usually last up to 4 to 6 months; however, but some people enjoy benefits for up to a full year.
ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOTOX, DYSPORT, AND XEOMIN?
There are subtle differences between Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin. Dysport is more concentrated than Botox, which means less of the drug is needed to achieve an effect. On the other hand, there is a slightly greater risk of side effects with Dysport compared to Botox. Xeomin is a “naked injectable” which means it doesn’t have anything in it besides the toxin. That means Xeomin does not need to be refrigerated as the other treatments do. This can be more convenient for doctors, and it also means that patients may be less likely to develop an allergic reaction to the treatment. Ultimately, your facial plastic surgeon will help you decide which treatment is right for your specific needs.
WHO SHOULD ADMINISTER THESE TREATMENTS?
Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are quite safe when they are administered by someone who is qualified to use the treatment. However, since the active ingredient is a powerful toxin, it should only be administered by a skilled medical professional. At a minimum, the person performing the Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin treatment should be a licensed physician, someone who fully understands the risks of the treatment. For best cosmetic results, however, patients should choose a facial plastic surgeon. A facial plastic surgeon not only has the medical training to safely administer the injections, but he/she has also thoroughly studied anatomy and aesthetics. A facial plastic surgeon is able to administer treatment safely and effectively.
