What about Toxins – BOTOX, XEOMIN, DYSPORT?

BOTOX, XEOMIN and DYSPORT are all injectable treatments that use botulinum, a bacteria-derived neurotoxin. These are used to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, between the eyes, lips. These lines can be caused from muscle movement, which causes the overlying skin to pull and form folds in the skin. These injectables contain the neurotoxin that causes muscle paralysis for a short period of time. Once the muscles are injected, they are unable to contract and the overlying skin to smooth out. Once the treatment wears off, then the lines can reappear.

These treatments are similar in results and have a few differences in their formulation, dilution, and protein structures. XEOMIN does not contain any additive proteins, whereas BOTOX does. Disport has a different protein which allows it to diffuse further and spread more. Here at pH7 Dermatology, we recommend alternating between toxins to get longer-lasting results and decrease the possibility of tolerance.

There can be a few side effects from the treatments of these neurotoxins, such as; headaches, minor pain, and redness from injection sites, some numbness can occur around injection sites, but those are short-lived. Most women who have regular headaches or migraines state these go away during the treatment cycle. Most people can use BOTOX, XEOMIN, or DYSPORT, but there are some instances where it is contraindicated. We do not recommend it for anyone who has had Bell Palsy, Myasthenia Gravis, or any other neuromuscular condition. If you are pregnant or nursing, we do not recommend treatment.

There are measurement differences between BOTOX, XEOMIN to DYSPORT. The rule of thumb is BOTOX or XEOMIN one unit is equal to 3 units of DYSPORT. For example, if you need 20 units of BOTOX or XEOMIN you would need 60 units of DYSPORT.

The recommendation is to start early, preventing those pesky fine lines and wrinkles. Average age to start is somewhere on the spectrum between 30 and 40, depending on your aging. This will help ensure that you’ll get the most out of this cosmetic investment. This is an investment in your face and the outcome is important. You should feel free to ask your injector questions about your treatment, about their experience, about their training, any complications they may have encountered prior to having your face injected.

When assessing you as a candidate for facial injections, Pamela Davis PA-C considers more than just your current appearance and how to improve it in the immediate future. She assesses how your face and hands have aged to date, and how they might continue to age over time – and develops a treatment plan that will provide the most natural-looking, subtle, and beautiful results.

1. Determine the ideal placement of the injections to create a balanced, natural look
2. Be able to recognize and deal with any complications that might arise

Many patients don’t realize that facial injections are not one size fits all – they should be tailored to your desires, your specific facial anatomy and physiology, your medical history, your unique aging process, and other factors that can affect your results. If an injector seems to follow one basic recipe for all their patients, they won’t be able to give you the best results. It’s the difference between buying a dress off the rack and getting one custom cut to fit your body – they both might work, but one of them will enhance your natural beauty and make you look and feel like a million bucks.

Another factor to consider when choosing your injector is that injectors are responsible for diluting (reconstituting) some of these products to the appropriate consistency for the type of treatment they’re doing. Although all injectors should follow guidelines from the companies that produce them, many injectors have been known to dilute the products dishonestly to increase their profits. If you find local injectables at prices that seem too good to be true – it’s because they are. You will not get the lasting results or the complete results you were expecting.

Many people believe that facial injections are a quick fix, and they can be – however not every issue can be addressed in a single session, nor can a single injection provide long term results. An injectable treatment plan requires regular maintenance to achieve the best, longest-lasting results. Often, patients will use price as the determining factor when choosing their injector – but what you should really focus on is value.

Choosing a more experienced injector, and developing a lasting relationship with them (rather than hopping around to get the best prices), is the best way to guaranteed results.