What’s the difference between all of the “Botox” brands?

by Liz | Jan 5, 2023 | Botox

Different Types of Botox

At this point most people have heard of Botox, but did you know that this is just one of many different types of botox brands we call neuromodulators or neurotoxins?

Neuromodulators are the umbrella term for any product that utilizes botulinum toxin to temporarily relax a target muscle in order to prevent and sometimes treat fine lines and wrinkles. Botox has come to be the household name for neuromodulators, but other common brands include Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin. What’s the difference between all of the brands or types of botox and which one is right for you?

Formulation

The biggest difference between brands is the form of botulinum toxin that is used- Botox is made of onabotulinumtoxinA, Dysport is abobotulinumtoxinA, Jeuveau is another form of botulinum toxin type A, and Xeomin is incobotulinumtoxinA. At the end of the day, all of these forms are effective in relaxing muscular contraction, so all will help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, there are some slight nuances that arise due to the different formulations.

Onset and Duration

According to the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM), the average onset of Dysport is 3 hours, Botox is 72 hours, and Xeomin is 96 hours. In practice, most people notice the results of Dysport and Jeuveau within 3-7 days post injection, while Botox and Xeomin are typically noticeable after 1-2 weeks. For all products, dose = duration, meaning that the higher the dosage used, the longer the results can be expected to last (within reason). The average duration for most people is between 2-5 months.

Resistance

While rare, some people may develop a tolerance or resistance to neurotoxins due to the creation of antibodies. A person’s immune system may identify the ingredients used in these injections as being a foreign invader, so it responds by producing antibodies that neutralize their effect. While resistance can occur with any of these four types of injections, it’s most common with Botox and Dysport. Botox and Dysport contain additives that can “irritate” the immune system and, thus, trigger the creation of antibodies.

Xeomin, on the other hand, consists solely of botulinum toxin, so it’s less likely to cause resistance than its counterparts, however there still have been reported cases of tolerance to xeomin. This has led researchers to believe that it might be the actual botulinum toxin causing antibody formation instead of, or possibly in addition to the additives, however the jury is still out on that. All in all, only about 1 in 100 people who receive a neurotox injection will develop a resistance to it.

Dosage and Pricing

Dosage will vary from person to person, however you can typically expect that you will need 2-3 times the number of units of Dysport as you would with Botox, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. Botox is usually the most expensive per unit as you are paying for the brand, and Jeuveau is usually the most cost effective. Evolus, the company that produces Jeuveau, was able to achieve a lower price by focusing its FDA approval specifically on cosmetic applications for its product, whereas Botox is approved for both medical and cosmetic purposes.

At the end of the day, all four products are FDA approved and all work well to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Come in for a consult today to help decide which brand could be the right fit for you! types of botox types of botox types of botox types of botox

What’s The Difference Between Neurotoxins and Fillers?

by Liz | Jun 1, 2022 | Botox, Cosmetic Dermal Filler, Dysport, Injectables

One of the most common questions we get is “What is the difference between neurotoxins and fillers? And which one is right for me?”.

Neurotoxins

Neurotoxins (NTs), or neuromodulators, are injectables made up of different forms of botulinum toxin which, when injected, relax the targeted muscle. Brands include botox, dysport, jeuveau, etc.

Relaxing dynamic muscles helps prevent static lines from forming over time in areas such as the glabella (11s), forehead, and crow’s feet (lines around the eyes). Neurotoxins can also help to smooth out lines that have already formed in these areas, but only to an extent. Once a line is there at rest, it is much harder to get it to completely go away, so Neurotoxins are actually best for wrinkle prevention!

Fillers

Fillers are injectables made up of hyaluronic acid (HA) (with a few brand exceptions such as Radiesse), which when injected can provide structure, volume, and contouring. Brands include Restylane, Juvederm, Belotero, etc. Fillers are mostly used to treat something that has already happened, such as volume loss to cheeks that can cause the face to sag and create jowls or to fill a line caused by a dynamic muscle that has not been treated preventatively with neurotox!

Which one is right for me?

So which treatment is right for you? That all depends! Everyone, no matter how old or how young, can benefit from wrinkle prevention with neurotox. A skilled injector at Accent Aesthetics can help decide if fillers are a good option for you as well.

Gallery, AdvaTx, Hyperdilute Radiesse dermal fillers, Intracel, Ultherapy, Neurotoxins, chemical peels, IPL, Genesis, microneedling

Gallery, AdvaTx, Hyperdilute Radiesse, Intracel, Ultherapy, Neurotoxins

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What To Expect at A Neurotox Appointment

by Liz | Mar 16, 2022 | Botox, Injectables

Wondering what to expect at your next neurotox appointment?

First, we will discuss which product you want to use factoring in price, look/feel, onset time, etc. Next, we will take before pictures to help track your progress. Then, we will go over the consent and have you sign it. Finally, I’ll take a look at your movement to help determine how many units are needed per spot. Then we ice, and inject!

The biggest thing to remember is that just because a number of units worked for you one time does not mean that same number will work again. Multiple studies have been done showing that dose = duration, meaning the higher dose we use, the longer the product will last. Results can last anywhere from 3-5 months.

Knowing the average number of units used per treatment site can help give you an idea of pricing beforehand, but just know that everyone is different and these numbers are not hard and fast rules. Here’s a few averages for the most common areas: “11s” need anywhere from 10-30 units, the forehead needs 10-30 units, and crow’s feet need 4-15 units per side. Remember that Dysport is dosed a little differently than Botox and Jeuveau, but it roughly comes out to 2-3x the number of Botox units.

Have any other questions about neurotoxins or other injectables?

Schedule a consult so we can find the perfect dose for you!

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Best Kept Secrets to Reduce Wrinkles

by Katherine Bredice | Jun 16, 2020 | accent aesthetics, Botox, Dysport

Neurotoxins aka: neuromodulators, such as Botox, Dysport and Jeuveau are wonderful, magical treatments to prevent and reduce wrinkles. But it’s important to know that every person who foregoes treatment to reduce wrinkles can have very different results. No neuromodulator is exactly the same just as no person who receives it is the same. And results can differ at each treatment. Let’s discuss some factors that may effect your wrinkle reducer results:

1. The Size and Depth of Your Wrinkles

If you’ve had your wrinkles for years to decades, chances are they are deeper or “thicker scowls”. These will probably require more product to correct than fine lines as they are bulkier muscles. This is one of the reasons we recommend starting neurotox treatment when your wrinkles are just appearing when at rest. Fine lines and wrinkles do not generally require as much product.

2. The Area Being Treated

Results in the forehead and between the eyebrows generally last the longest.

3. Your Facial Expressions

Some people, (looking at myself) show every emotion on their face. Some people, (also me) always have a furrowed brow even when not angry, upset etc. Smiling and laughing a lot will also get those lines setting in quicker although we do recommend that! I distinctly remember seeing crow’s feet starting about 6 months after my son was born, just smiling at him all the time. Totally worth it, but it happens!

4. Your Activity Level

This is a huge factor here in Colorado, the land of over-active outdoor enthusiasts! Neuromodulators tends to wear off faster if you are consistently raising your heart rate for long periods of time. Again, we recommend this along with smiling and laughing a lot so it’s just one of things you deal with.

5. Your Personal Metabolism

Your unique body chemistry will process neurotoxin on it’s own time frame. For most people, the effects last 3-4 months.

6. Frequency of Treatment

Our personal opinion with these treatments are: space them out AT LEAST 3-4 months. We strongly feel that when clients get neurotoxin too soon, or before 3 months, the body builds up antibodies to the product and the results dwindle dramatically. It’s easy to get “addicted” to the smooth, wrinkle-less look, but trust me, getting it too soon will not pay off in the end.

7. The Skill and Accuracy of Your Injector

There’s a reason the best injectors are booked out weeks to months. They know that not every face is the same. They assess the clients unique anatomy and inject accordingly.

If neuromodulators are something you are curious about, schedule a consultation with one of our amazing injectors!