Tag injectables

Botox Treatments Are NOT An Urgent Issue

drstaceynaito 1 Comment

injectables and faceWhile I appreciate the aesthetic benefits and self-confidence boost that injectables treatments confer upon the people who undergo them, I get very annoyed by the sense of urgency which some people adopt when it’s time to get treated again. I am not kidding you when I say I have had patients contact me asking for Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, Belotero, or Radiesse with a hint of desperation in their voices, as if it was a matter of life or death in getting a treatment lined up immediately.

In a way it makes perfect sense because these non-surgical fixes are a cost-effective way to smooth lines and furrows and restore lost volume. When the clock is turned back the first time and a new patient sees the results of injectables treatments, it’s a wonderful reveal which causes the patient to see himself or herself differently. The neurotoxins (Botox, Dysport and Xeomin) yield effects which last from 3 to 6 months, with muscle function gradually returning over time, along with the corresponding lines and wrinkles. Fillers have greater longevity and dissipate from 6 months to two years after the treatment is performed. The dissipation tends to be gradual, not sudden.

So when I have patients calling the office, calling me or texting me, insisting that they MUST come in IMMEDIATELY for treatment, I almost want to ask, “Where’s the fire?” Sometimes the request is on such short notice that I cannot accommodate it, which sometimes upsets the patient greatly. The response from the patient goes something like, “But I need it NOW! You need to do this for me. I’m sure you can find time in your schedule to stay late or somehow accommodate me.”

Such treatments are NEVER an emergency, and your face isn’t going to fall if you don’t get shot up with neurotoxin or filler immediately. Trust me on this!

Botox Versus Xeomin

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

BOTOX® was FDA-approved for the treatment of facial wrinkles in 2002, and since that time has become a youth elixir for many people, smoothing wrinkled foreheads and eye areas. However, in recent years, new Botulinum neurotoxin forms have become available to consumers which promise better results. As someone who has had extensive experience as an injector, I am not easily sold on the idea that a competitor’s product is always better. The most recent competitor to Botox is Xeomin which uses the same active ingredient as Botox and promises of results which last as long as six months. It is the preferred form of neurotoxin for use in patients who have developed antibodies to the more complex Botox and Dysport molecules.
xeomin-232

The simplicity of Xeomin increases its appeal. Unlike Botox and Dysport, Xeomin contains only one ingredient: botulinum toxin A, and thus is referred to as a “naked injectable,” meaning that it does not contain any additives. The major benefit of Xeomin is that the human body is less likely to become resistant to it. Xeomin is dosed in the same manner as Botox, using the same unit measure, and costs about the same as Botox. Common side effects, such as minor swelling, headache and bruising, are the same as with Botox. Yet Xeomin can potentially last up to six months, which is wonderful news for patients who typically get a three month result from Botox or Dysport.

rnav-xeomin-boxes

I would recommend Xeomin for any patient who has noticed a decreased response of duration of effect from Botox treatments, as it may provide a solution to those issues. Be sure to follow the same pre and post treatment guidelines that you are instructed to follow when receiving Botox or Dysport treatments. Also be aware that Xeomin’s onset of action may take longer to assert itself, so if you are accustomed to seeing results from Dysport in a day or Botox results in a few days, it may take up to a week or more to see Xeomin’s results.