Which anti-aging option reigns supreme?
When it comes to choosing the right wrinkle reducer the two most common questions are, “What is the difference between Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin?” and “Which one is right for me?”.
Dr. Bloom has a great analogy that really explains it well. He equates this to professional athletes and why they choose one brand of equipment over another (no we don’t get endorsement deals!). It all comes down to how it works in the providers hands to get the best results for our patients.
But on the more technical side, let’s break it down. To start, all three options — Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are neuromodulators that cause temporary muscle tone loss when injected into specific areas.
Botulinum toxin type A is the primary active ingredient in each product. In aesthetic medicine, botulinum toxin is used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by facial expressions (think: frowning, squinting, smiling, and the like) by injecting it into the muscles underlying the affected area. In turn, the lack of muscle contraction prevents the face from forming lines and wrinkles.
Following the Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin injectable treatment, the superficial skin layer remains wrinkle-free and smooth. The untreated facial muscles contract in a normal manner, which helps maintain regular facial expressions.
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom and Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, Lauren Gardstrom, provide injectable treatments for our clients in Chicago, IL and Burr Ridge, IL. Let’s dive a little deeper into what you can expect when you come in for a treatment.
Injection Procedure and Results
Regardless of the brand used, it takes between 10 and 20 minutes to inject the neuromodulator. The results last an average of three to four months. Neuromodulators, also known as neurotoxins, are used to create a long-term reduction in forehead lines, crow’s feet, and furrows between the brows.
This treatment doesn’t require any any local anesthetic or sedation, and you can return to your normal activities right after the session.
The injectable treatment is relatively painless and the effects will become apparent in three to five days. But it may take up to two weeks for the complete outcomes to become obvious.
It is common to experience bruising at the injection site. However, the side effects are minimally visible and temporary. Neuromodulators can effectively treat deep furrows between the brows, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and forehead lines.
Routine treatments can reduce fine lines for longer-lasting results over time. Some patients may experience redness at the injection site or mild headaches within 12 hours of undergoing the neurotoxin treatment.
Now that you know the basics of the procedure, let’s learn about the different brands.
Botox Injections
Botox is the OG of neuromodulators. It has been around for decades and has well earned its strong and loyal fanbase. It allows patients to accomplish a natural-looking and more youthful facial appearance.
Botox paralyzes the underlying facial muscles in the treated sites to mitigate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, repetitive injection prevents the development of new wrinkles as well. And, the effects of Botox can last for between three to four months and only impact the treated area, creating natural-looking outcomes.
“I use Botox for new clients who are very apprehensive about trying new brands or who have been using Botox forever, and don’t want to switch. I try to encourage these clients to switch to Dysport every third treatment so they don’t build up resistance to Botox.” – Lauren Gardstrom, APN
Dysport Injections
Both Dysport and Botox are similar in the manner in which they relax facial muscles and treat wrinkles. It can also create a more youthful eye appearance by lifting a sagging brow. Some noted benefits of Dysport are that it spreads more than Botox and can be a great option for patients who have stopped responding to Botox. It is also injected at a different strength and affects a slightly larger area than Botox or Xeomin.
“I use Dysport exclusively for my very active clients due to fact that their muscles are much stronger. I find it works best for deep lines and clients love the tight feeling.” – Lauren Gardstrom, APN
Dysport injections are also quick and painless, similar to Botox. Dysport and Botox have an almost identical formulation. However, it contains a lesser concentration of protein in comparison to Botox. Dysport is more diluted, using protein molecules that are smaller than the ones found in Botox. This smaller size means it’s not as easy for antibodies to break it down, which is one reason why Dysport can seem to last longer for many people.
Xeomin Injections
A lesser know neurotoxin is Xeomin. Like other neurotoxins it prevents the contraction of muscles. Unlike Botox and Dysport, Xeomin contains no accessory protein, making it a “pure” version of the botulinum toxin and reducing the risk of an allergic reaction or natural resistance.
It has been approved for the cosmetic treatment of moderate to severe frown lines, lines between the brows, and other lines on the brow. Xeomin is the most similar to Botox when measuring units to units, whereas Dysport requires more units at a lower cost per unit. Both Botox and Xeomin require up to two weeks for full treatment and in most cases Dysport has a much quicker onset for those patients wanting faster results. Our providers use Xeomin only in select cases where patients have shown resistance to Dysport and Botox. Since this is a very rare occurrence Xeomin is not a primary option at Bloom Plastic Surgery. Our experts believe it is a weaker neurotoxin and doesn’t achieve the same aesthetic results we expect to provide to our patients!
Bottom Line
Over time with different Botox, Dysport and Xeomin injections, our patients begin to favor which treatment works best for them. When initially deciding on which neurotoxin to use, consult with a highly experienced aesthetic injector. That’s what we’re here for! Botox, Dysport and Xeomin differ in administration technique and injection skills are necessary to determine the proper dosage in order to achieve the best result.
Both Board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jacob Bloom, and Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, Lauren Gardstrom, have extensive experience with injectable treatments for facial wrinkle reduction. Trust the pros to give you the exact look you’re after. Schedule a consultation today.