Aesthetic medicine and Botox® injections deal with enhancing and rejuvenating the appearance of the face and body.
This field encompasses a wide range of treatments and cosmetic procedures, including non-surgical alternatives such as injectables and laser therapy, as well as surgical options like facelifts and body contouring.
The goal of aesthetic medicine is to help your patients feel more confident about their appearance and help them look as youthful and vibrant as they feel.
This article will explore various treatments and procedures available in the cosmetic space.
Botox® is a prevalent cosmetic procedure that deals with minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face.
Botox® is the most frequently performed procedure in the United States for facial wrinkles.
This is the most common procedure for clinicians who want to incorporate aesthetic medicine into their practice.
It is a non-surgical procedure and involves injecting minute amounts of botulinum toxin (neurotoxin) into specific facial muscles.
The toxin temporarily paralyzes the muscles, which in turn smooths out wrinkles and gives the skin a more youthful appearance.
The procedure is relatively quick and easy. There is minimal discomfort associated with Botox® injections, as the needle is very fine and the amount of toxin used is small.
Moreover, there a very few adverse effects associated with using Botox® as a treatment option for horizontal forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines.
Patient satisfaction remains high in Botox procedures. The effects of Botox® are not immediate, and it typically takes several days to observe a significant outcome.
The effects usually last for about 3-4 months, after which the treatment will need to be repeated in order to maintain the results.
Botox® is a medical procedure, and as with any such procedure, there are some risks and potential side effects.
The most common side effects include mild redness, swelling, and bruising at the injection site, which typically resolves within a few days.
Eyebrow ptosis and temporary blepharoptosis are very rare complications that may arise, but these complications are more related to the skills of the injector.
As the skills improve, the chances of these complications occurring will concurrently decrease.
Botox® is an FDA-approved treatment option for wrinkles and lines in the upper third of the face. It’s a safe and effective way to smooth out skin and restore the youthful look that has been missing.
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IncobotulinumtoxinA or Xeomin® is a product made by Merx Pharmaceuticals. Some other components may include human albumin and sucrose in the formulation.
Xeomin® is most commonly used to treat wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes (“crow’s feet”), and between the eyebrows (“frown lines”).
Dynamic facial movements such as smiling or raising brows cause wrinkles that can be treated by using Xeomin®. It can also be used to treat wrinkles on the neck, around the mouth, and on the cheeks.
Xeomin® is a cosmetic treatment that is used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face.
Since the product does not contain any additives and has a very minute tendency to elicit an immune response, it is recommended to give Xeomin® to patients who develop antibodies to Botox®.
According to FDA approval, Xeomin can also be used to treat Blepharospasm, along with neck pain caused by cervical dystonia and upper limb spasticity.
Xeomin® is considered to be a safe and effective treatment for wrinkles and fine lines when performed by a qualified medical professional.
The most common side effects that could be observed include mild redness, swelling, and bruising at the injection site, which typically resolves within a few days.
Rarely allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, swelling, and itching may also be seen.
One of the main differences between Xeomin® and Botox® is that Xeomin® is a highly purified form of botulinum toxin, which means that it does not contain any additives.
This makes Xeomin® less likely to cause an immune response, which can result in a longer-lasting effect.
The other difference between the two is that Xeomin® does not contain any stabilizing peptide or protein.
Another aspect of Xeomin® is that it does not need to be refrigerated before use.
Xeomin® is an FDA-approved treatment for reducing moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows.
The injection composed of incobotulinumtoxinA is injected into the muscles above and below the eyebrows.
The medication blocks the nerve impulses and clams the the muscle group, preventing them from contracting.
Xeomin® can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, including Botox® Cosmetic and Dysport®.
Dysport® or abobutuliumtoxinA is a cosmetic treatment made by Ipsen Biopharm Limited that is used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face.
Like Botox® and Xeomin®, Dysport® is a type of neurotoxin that is injected into specific facial muscles to temporarily paralyze them and smooth out wrinkles.
Dysport® is made from a highly purified form of botulinum toxin type A.
The procedure is relatively quick and easy to perform.
Apart from the FDA-approved usage, Dysport® has been used commonly to treat gummy smiles by injecting into the upper lip, smoothening the dimples on the chin, raising the tip of the nose, and raising the corners of the lips.
In a study conducted on vaginismus, Dysport® was also used to treat muscle spasms with a 75% success rate.
The most common side effects include mild redness, swelling, and bruising at the injection site, which typically resolves within a few days.
Temporary side effects such as drooping eyelids or brows have been noted in rare cases.
It is contraindicated to use neuromodulators such as Dysport® in patients suffering from Myasthenia Gravis.
One major difference between Dysport® and the other treatments is the faster onset of Dysport® in the patients.
Another difference between Dysport® and other neuromodulators like Botox® and Xeomin® is its dosing.
Dysport® is typically dosed at a higher amount than Botox® and Xeomin® for the same area.
This is because Dysport® molecules are smaller than those of Botox®, which allows it to spread over a larger area.
This can be beneficial for treating wrinkles in larger areas of the face.
Dysport® is FDA-approved for the treatment of moderate to severe frown lines (glabellar lines) between the eyebrows, often associated with corrugator and procerus muscle activity in adults.
DaxibotulinumtoxinA, or simply DAXI®, is a Botox alternative with longer-lasting effects. The neuromodulator is manufactured by Revance Therapeutics Inc.
DAXI® injection prevention of activation of the muscle, effectively minimizing wrinkles formation.
With the long-lasting effect of the product, frequent visits to the dermatologist can be avoided for multiple touch-ups.
The best feature is its ability to sustain the forehead muscles in their relaxed posture. This is one of the most difficult postures to maintain, but DAXI® has shown potential in this regard.
The wear time of DAXI® is considerably longer than the other three mentioned such as Botox®, Xeomin®, and Dysport®.
DAXI® lasts for at least 6 months, according to the manufacturer’s claim based on the results of their clinical trials, as compared to other procedures such as Botox® and Dysport®, which last for 3-4 months.
One major difference between DAXI® and the other products lies in the formulation of DAXI®. In the DAXI® formulation, the toxin is attached to a stabilizing peptide.
This attachment is the primary reason behind the long-wearing effect of DAXI®.
As of September 2022, DAXI® has been approved by the FDA under the name Daxxify. It is a competitor anti-wrinkle drug for Botox.
DTX-021 or Dermatox® is a product made by Aquavit that claims to produce longer-lasting effects like DAXI®.
Not a lot of information is available about the product since it completed Phase I of Clinical Trials. More information will be available once Phase II is completed.
Just like the other treatment options mentioned, Dermatox® is also an injectable neuromodulator.
Like other aesthetic medicine procedures, Dermatox® can be used to treat wrinkles on the neck, around the mouth, and on the cheeks.
As with other procedures, glabellar lines (or 11s, the winkle lines that appear on the forehead) can also be treated by using Dermatox®.
It can be injected on the forehead, around the eyes, and between the eyebrows (“frown lines”).
It can also be used to treat wrinkles on the neck, around the mouth, and on the cheeks.
It can also be used to better posture by treating shoulder pain.
With Dermatox, there is a smoother transition visible between the treated areas and the non-treated areas which gives a natural look.
Such a more natural look is not that visible to obtain through other treatment options because the products do not blend that well as compared to Dermatox®.
Dermatox® is one of the latest injectable neurotoxins awaiting FDA approval.
In conclusion, aesthetic medicine can provide a wide range of options for enhancing and rejuvenating the appearance of the face and body, but it’s important to approach it with care and caution.
Although with continuing advancements in the field, clinicians are provided with a myriad of options to choose from, ultimately, it boils down to individual cases.
With Daxxify® in the market, and Dermatox® awaiting approval, it is only a matter of time before some new neuromodulator with much better features is introduced.
A thorough, quality consultation is an integral part of the entire process of the procedure. Read on for tips on how to conduct a successful consultation.
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