Our skin texture inevitably changes over time. However, you don’t have to live with wrinkled skin. At LaunaStone RN in Calabasas, CA, we proudly offer a number of injectable muscle relaxants to help our clients improve the texture of their skin. Today, we’re taking a closer look at two of our most popular wrinkle relaxers, Botox and Xeomin, to help you determine which one may be right for you.
What’s the Difference between Xeomin and Botox?
Xeomin and Botox are FDA-approved injectable muscle relaxants that improve the texture of the skin by erasing dynamic wrinkles. Sometimes referred to as neuromodulators, these anti-aging injectables have a lot in common.
However, the primary difference between these two injectables is the former contains only the neurotoxic protein that relaxes the muscles. The latter contains extra binding proteins in the formula. Here’s a closer look at the two neuromodulators.
The Lowdown on Botox
Botox was one of the first aesthetic injectables in the world. It was first approved by the FDA in 1989 to treat two eye muscle-related medical conditions. However, the potential applications of the injectable continued to be studied. In 2002, the FDA approved this injectable for cosmetic purposes, and it has been popular ever since.
This injectable’s efficacy is one of the reasons it is so popular. In almost every case, regardless of how deep a facial fold, wrinkle, or line is, you will only need one injection session to reverse the signs of aging. The key to Botox’s efficacy is its primary ingredient, onabotulinumtoxinA. This neurotoxic protein relaxes away wrinkles by blocking some of the signals from your brain to your muscle.
Benefits of Botox
There are many benefits of Botox, including the treatment of blepharospasms, hyperhidrosis, and chronic migraines. However, it is most popular because it can relax away any type of dynamic wrinkle, line, or fold, including:
- Frown lines
- Forehead folds
- Crow’s feet
- Nasolabial folds
This injectable muscle relaxant can also be used to enhance the appearance of the upper lip, making it look fuller and poutier.
The Lowdown on Xeomin
Botox is a good choice if you’re looking to erase dynamic wrinkles. However, Xeomin is another solid option. As stated previously, this injectable muscle relaxant does not include any binding proteins. It works thanks to the neurotoxic protein incobotulinumtoxinA. This neurotoxic protein is similar to Botox’s primary ingredient onabotulinumtoxinA.
Which Injectable Muscle Relaxant Is Right for Me?
Since both neuromodulator treatments have earned FDA approval for safety and efficacy, it can be tough to decide which injectable muscle relaxant is right for you. Fortunately, you don’t have to decide alone. If you’re worried about the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, we will advise you on all four of your treatment options during your initial consultation. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect throughout your anti-aging journey.
Your Initial Evaluation
Your initial evaluation is the first step on your journey to smooth skin. During this initial consultation, we will discuss your cosmetic concerns and evaluate your areas of concern. This is important because sometimes cosmetic concerns are actually caused by extreme volume loss rather than overactive muscles. Also, it is possible that you have areas of concern that are showing the signs of aging due to both volume loss and overactive muscles.
We must identify the cause of your cosmetic concerns to ensure that you receive the most effective treatment possible. We also must discuss your medical history thoroughly to ensure that you will be a good candidate for injectable muscle relaxant treatments.
Your Preparation
The second step on your journey to smooth skin is preparing for your injection session. Fortunately, preparing for your treatment, irrespective of the neuromodulator you choose, is simple. We will give you a complete list of instructions during your initial evaluation. However, some of the most important steps you must take are:
- Not smoking
- Not drinking alcohol
- Not taking oral muscle relaxants
- Not taking certain sleep aids
- Not taking NSAIDs
- Not taking blood-thinning dietary supplements
- Wearing sunscreen diligently
Your Treatment
Your injection session is the third step on your journey towards wrinkle-free skin. We will schedule your injection session after your initial evaluation if we determine that you are a good candidate. When it is time for your injections, we will evaluate your areas of concern again. This is to ensure that your skin is not irritated. If your skin is irritated, we will reschedule your appointment. If your skin is healthy, we will clean the areas targeted for treatment.
Once your skin is clean, we will administer your injections. Typically, we administer five injections per treatment area, but the dose that is administered varies. There is no need for the application of a topical numbing cream because the needle used to administer the medication is tiny. You will only feel a small amount of pressure as the muscle relaxant is injected.
Your Results
The final step on your journey to wrinkle-free skin is waiting for your results to become apparent. Individual results vary, but you can typically expect to see the results of Botox injections after three to four days and enjoy your final results after 10 to 14 days. The results of Xeomin are usually apparent after three to four days, as well, but you will only need to wait five to 10 days to see the final results.
In other words, you will start to see the results of either neuromodulator treatment in just a few days. However, it may take a little longer to see the final results of Botox. The potential longevity of the results is another difference between these two treatments. The results of Xeomin typically last for around six months. On the other hand, the results of Botox tend to last for three to four months.
Frequently Asked Questions Answered
Can Neuromodulator Treatments Be Combined With Dermal Filler Treatments?
Yes, neuromodulator treatments can absolutely be combined with dermal filler treatments. Remember, one of the reasons your initial evaluation is so important is that we need to determine the cause of your cosmetic concerns. Your cosmetic concerns may be caused by volume loss, and neuromodulator treatments may not be right for you. Also, there is a chance that you need both neuromodulator and dermal filler treatments.
We often combine injectable muscle relaxants and injectable dermal fillers. Sometimes, dermal fillers will be injected into the same area as the injectable muscle relaxant. For instance, this occurs when we are treating nasolabial folds that are caused by volume loss and nasolabial folds that are caused by overactive muscles. However, we can also administer different injectables into different areas during the same treatment session.
Am I a Good Candidate for Injectable Dermal Fillers?
We will advise you on whether you are a good candidate for injectable dermal fillers when you come in for your initial consultation. As a general rule, you will be considered a good candidate if you are a fairly healthy adult and concerned about moderate-to-severe volume loss. However, we need to discuss your medical history and assess your cosmetic concerns to verify that you qualify.
Note, we offer a wide variety of dermal fillers that can treat numerous concerns. For long-lasting facial volumization, we proudly offer several Juvederm formulas. However, we also offer dermal fillers that can be used to volumize the hands and chest. If you are in fairly good health and neither pregnant nor nursing, we will advise you on which fillers you qualify for based on the concerns you wish to address.
How Should I Prepare for My Dermal Filler Treatment?
One of the reasons we commonly combine neuromodulator and dermal filler treatments is that preparing for both treatments is simple. In fact, preparing for neuromodulator injections is exactly the same as preparing for dermal filler injections other than the additional restrictions on taking oral muscle relaxants and certain sleep aids. In other words, if you are prepared for neuromodulator injections, you are prepared for dermal filler injections.
Discover Today How You Can Smooth Your Skin
Both Xeomin and Botox are effective wrinkle relaxers. The primary difference between these two anti-aging injectables is that the former does not include binding proteins that the latter features.
Regardless of which injectable muscle relaxant you choose, you will only need one treatment session to restore your youthful visage for several months. Book an appointment with us today at LaunaStone RN in Calabasas, CA to find out which injectable will work best for you.
