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Beyond Botox: Which Wrinkle Reducing Injection Is Best for You?
As the first neuromodulator in the market, Botox® Cosmetic has become a catch-all name for wrinkle injections. While Botox is the most common injectable used today, a few other neuromodulators are rapidly gaining popularity for good reasons.
Below, we explain everything you need to know about Botox and the Botox alternative brands, so you can determine which one will give you the results you desire while working within your budget.
A Look at Botox Alternatives
While Botox has been synonymous with anti-aging treatments or non-surgical skin rejuvenation, other products work similarly and are FDA-approved to address age-related lines and wrinkles. You can consider trying these alternatives to Botox:
- Dysport®
- Xeomin®
- Daxxify®
- Jeuveau®
Botox
What is it?
Botox is a brand name for a neuromodulator that works by blocking the nerve signals to the muscle, preventing it from contracting. It results in diminished facial lines and wrinkles.
Botox has been in use for several years, and it is the most widely studied and tested neuromodulator in the market today.
What is it best for?
Botox is best for lines and wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet), forehead lines, frown lines between the eyebrows, bunny lines, and lipstick lines. Botox works best on smaller areas with expression lines that appear when you furrow your brow, smile, frown, or squint your eyes.
Botox may also be used for treating a gummy smile, softening or dimpling of the chin, or slimming the muscles of the jaw. In addition to treating cosmetic concerns, Botox may also be used to treat migraines, teeth grinding (bruxism), and excessive sweating.
Microbotox is a variation of Botox injections. This technique involves injecting Botox on a superficial level to avoid the “frozen” look that can happen with other Botox treatments. It uses a micro-cannula and a small dosage of diluted Botox to target the skin’s sweat and oil glands. Microbotox creates tighter and smoother skin with a powdered look.
Important Points:
- It takes 7-9 days to show results.
- Results last for 3-4 months.
- Possible side effects include bruising, swelling, and redness around the injection sites.
- You may have headaches and other flu-like symptoms for the first 24 hours.
- Although rare and typically occur when performed by an inexperienced injector, more severe side effects include droopiness or temporary weakness in your face, dry mouth, rashes, nausea, muscle weakness, breathing difficulties, and vision problems.
Dysport
What is it?
Dysport® is a Botox alternative that also works by relaxing overactive muscles to prevent repetitive movements that lead to facial lines and wrinkles. With the muscles relaxed, existing lines and wrinkles improve, and skin becomes smoother. Dysport is typically the same price as Botox.
What is it best for?
Dysport is best for treating lines on the forehead, glabellar lines (frown lines or the 11s), and crow’s feet.
Dysport tends to diffuse further than Botox, making it ideal for treating larger areas with wrinkles. It also has a faster onset of results and may last longer in many patients. Results are visible in just 2-3 days. Dysport for wrinkle treatment can also potentially help patients who have a resistance to Botox.
Key Points:
- Unlike Botox, Dysport can’t be used on a wide range of wrinkles.
- Results last for 3-4 months.
- Possible side effects include bruising, redness, and pain at the injection site.
- Although rare and typically occur when performed by an inexperienced injector, more severe side effects include droopy eyelids, nausea, muscle weakness, breathing difficulties, and vision problems.
Xeomin
What is it?
Xeomin® is similar to Botox but is in purified form. Also referred to as “naked” Botox, Xeomin contains no other ingredients besides the main active ingredient, while Botox is composed of a complex mixture of proteins. Because of its purified formula, there is less risk for a patient to develop antibodies to the product. In addition, Xeomin does not need to be refrigerated, making the treatment slightly more comfortable since it is injected at room temperature. Fewer units may also be needed to achieve the desired result.
Xeomin and Botox still function the same way, which is to block signals from nerves to muscles, causing the muscles to relax and the lines and wrinkles to smooth out.
What is it best for?
Xeomin is best known for treating glabellar lines (frown lines in between the eyebrows).
Key Points:
- Results from Xeomin injections take five to seven days to show.
- Results last for 3-4 months.
- Possible side effects include bruising, redness, and pain at the injection site.
- Although rare and typically occur when performed by an inexperienced injector, severe side effects include muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, and breathing or swallowing difficulty.
Daxxify
What is it?
Daxxify® is another neuromodulator with a unique formulation. It uses a novel peptide as a stabilizer, which allows the neuromodulator to produce longer-lasting results. While it has the same mechanism as Botox and blocks nerve signals to relax muscles and smooth out wrinkles, it can produce results that can last up to 6 months, with some patients seeing improvements for up to 9 months.
You may see results as early as the next day after treatment or within two days.
What is it best for?
Daxxify is best known for treating glabellar lines (frown lines or the 11s).
Key Points
- Possible side effects include bruising, redness, and pain at the injection site.
- Although rare and typically occur when performed by an inexperienced injector, severe side effects include muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, and breathing or swallowing difficulty.
- As one of the newer products, there is minimal data about its long-term safety and effectiveness.
Botox Alternatives and Their Prices
The cost of Botox, other Botox brands, and competitors will depend on the areas being treated and how many injections are required to achieve your desired results. The price for each neuromodulator reflects the number of units injected, which varies between patients.
These are the average costs* in Charlotte:
Botox Cosmetic: $15 per unit
Dysport: $5.00 per unit
Xeomin: $15.00 per unit
Daxxify: $12 per unit
*Pricing can change anytime, and patients should call the office for the most up-to-date pricing.
If requested, you may receive a price estimate of the neuromodulators we offer at Carolina Facial Plastics from our staff over the phone.
Although we understand that patients consider costs when choosing a procedure, I’d like to emphasize that this should only be a secondary concern. The more important decision you will make as a patient is choosing the right injector to perform the procedure. Botox alternativeinjections are only safe and effective when administered properly. A skilled and experienced injector will know how to precisely inject a product for safe and natural results.
Schedule Your Neuromodulator Consultation in Charlotte
Choosing the best Botox alternative can be determined by your aesthetic goals. An expert injector can evaluate your face, assess your specific goals, and recommend a neuromodulator best suited for your needs.
Heather Bryant, MPAS, PA-C, Amanda Piligian, PA-C, and Courtney Whitley, FNP-C, perform all of our injectable treatments. They remain up-to-date with the most advanced injection techniques and understand facial anatomy to ensure patients receive high-quality care and results.
If you’re ready to turn back the clock on aging without surgery, we can help. To learn more about the best alternatives to Botox and how each one can refresh your appearance, please contact Carolina Facial Plastics in Charlotte, NC, today.
