All About Neurotoxins!!!

What neurotoxin is best for you?

Neurotoxin injections are safe and effective treatments for reducing fine lines and wrinkles of the face.  They are one of the most popular aesthetic services in the country due to its minimal downtime and the advantage of year-round treatments.  

Botulinum toxin type A is the most used serotype in the U.S.  It is derived from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum which produces a neurotoxin that works by paralyzing or weakening muscles.  This can sound intimidating or even frightening to some, but when done by experienced injectors, these are incredibly safe and prevent muscles from moving to create wrinkles. 

There are various formulations on the market, and it can be confusing to determine which one may be best for you. Below we will review the science and formulations of the most popular neurotoxins available to better understand which treatment may best suit your aesthetic needs.

BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA)

BOTOX is the most well-known and oldest of the neurotoxins.  It is used primarily in treatment of lines and wrinkles of the forehead, frown lines and crow’s feet.  BOTOX can be used in many other areas of the face and neck but is considered “off-label” by the FDA.  It has many indications for treatments outside of the aesthetic world as well.  Onset typically begins in 5-7 days with full results in 2 weeks.  Results can last between 3-6 months.

Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA)

Dysport is another well-known and popularly used neurotoxin second only to BOTOX. This neurotoxin uses a slightly different dilution than BOTOX due to its variance in molecular weight.  This dilution does not make it any less effective and is commonly a preferred toxin among injectors due to its more gradual onset and proposed longer and more natural looking results. The diffusion of this neurotoxin in the muscle is much larger than that of BOTOX and contributes to the more natural feel but can be a drawback for more precise areas of treatment. Onset typically begins from 3-7 days with full results in 2 weeks.  Results can last up to 6 months.

Jeuveau® (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs)

Jeuveau is a new formulation on the market that is very similar to BOTOX with comparable results.  The biggest difference is the way it is prepared.  Jeaveau uses a slightly different purification process.  The diffusion for this neurotoxin is quite small and is considered the most precise neurotoxin available.  This may require more injection points which can be a deterrent for some.  Onset around 3-7 days with full results in 2 weeks.  Results can last between 3-6 months.

Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA)

Xeomin works similarly to the other neurotoxins, but the differences lie within the manufacturing process.  Xeomin uses a process called XTRACT Technology™ that uses a two-step filtration process to isolate the molecule and removes any complex proteins that do not play any active role in treatment.  With the excess proteins now taken out, Xeomin theoretically reduces the risk of neutralizing antibodies to the toxin but head-to-head studies have not yet been completed.  Onset and duration are like those listed.

Daxxify™ (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm) 

The newest neurotoxin on the market is Daxxify.  This neurotoxin formulation has gotten a lot of attention for boasting the longest treatment duration.  This is achieved by an added protein that works closer to the nerve endings which increases its concentration and therefore length of duration. While most other neurotoxins need retreatment every 3-4 months, Daxxify claims to last 6 months or longer.  Onset however is still comparable to those listed.

So, which one should you choose?

This can be a tough decision.  You may still be confused as to which toxin is right for you given there are more similarities than differences among them.  We recommend you call and set up an appointment to speak with us to best advise you.  At this visit we can review all the options for you specifically and we can design a plan that will give you the best result.  

Call our office at (404) 303-7004 to set up your consultation today!