Most people have heard of the benefits of Botox for treating wrinkles, but few have heard of Xeomin – the most recent Botox competitor to hit the market. Xeomin (otherwise known as incobotulinumtoxinA) is a drug that blocks nerve activity in the muscles that causes a temporary reduction in muscle activity and thereby diminishes wrinkles. But what are the benefits of Xeomin over the two older and better known neurotoxins?
According to Dr. Dominic Castellano, a facial plastic surgeon in Tampa, Xeomin is actually very similar to Botox in many respects. It is a botulinum toxin type A and is used in the same dosage amounts as the better known brand. What makes it slightly different is that it is more pure than Botox and Dysport in that it doesn’t contain any additional additives. What this means is that it is less likely to cause any adverse effects such as allergic reactions. Another major benefit is that the human body is less likely to become resistant to this pure-form injectable because there are fewer ingredients in the solution. Some patients have developed antibodies to Botox and Dysport which leads to their bodies rejecting the treatments.
This new drug is considered to be very safe and more than 84,000 people worldwide have been treated with Xeomin injections. It was primarily prescribed to treat Cervical Dystonia (a painful condition in which neck muscles contract involuntarily) and Blepharospasm (abnormal contractions or twitch of the eyelid). It has been used in Europe cosmetically for years to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The U.S. is actually the 20th country to approve Xeomin for use.
Many patients prefer neurotoxins for superficial cosmetic treatments instead of microdermabrasion and chemical peels because while they may be useful at fading minor lines, botulinum works on the problem more directly and releases wrinkles for months at a time. Plus, these treatments do not require the same commitment, price or recovery times as traditional facial surgeries such as face or brow lifts. Injectable products such as Botox, Xeomin and Dysport take only a quick office visit and most patients return to work that same day.
Both Botox and Xeomin take about 7 days before the full effects are realized and the results will last on average for three to six months before another treatment is required. Some physicians have claimed that Xeomin seems to last a little longer. A few doctors have stated that they have seen treatments last for up to 9 months but this has yet to be proven. Dysport, on the other hand, shows a slightly quicker onset time with the same three to six months of wrinkle reduction.
Another variance with Dysport is that it the dosing is different than either Botox or Xeomin. So while the costs of Dysport are advertised being 1/3rd less per syringe than Botox, the average patient needs more injections of the drug to see the desired outcome. So often the cost ends up being in the same ballpark as Botox. Currently, Xeomin is the lowest priced option on the market today.
Dysport may also diffuse (or spread) a wider distance from the injection sites which is considered a problem when treating crows’ feet or wrinkles around the eyes or mouth which are near highly sensitive muscles that you do not want to paralyze. All three drugs carry similar risks which you should discuss with your plastic surgeon, but the most common side-effects are relatively minor. The most frequent complaints are bruising or bleeding at the injection site or allergic reactions. Again, patients using Xeomin may have a lesser chance of developing allergies because the drug is so pure.
All injections should be administered by well-qualified practitioners in a sterile environment such as a doctor’s office or accredited facility. If you are interested in learning more about Xeomin, consult with Dr. Dominic at Elite Facial Plastic Surgery. Or, if you are located outside of Florida, ask your current facial plastic surgeon if they are on the provider list for Xeomin.
