Beauty industry guru Linden Tyler once said: “Invest in your skin. It is going to represent you for a very long time.”
Despite your comprehensive skincare regimen, wrinkles will form as you age. When you grow older, skin naturally becomes less elastic, leaving fine lines and wrinkles behind. In such cases, new skincare products may not be enough, and you’ll need to invest in new forms of skincare to minimize the appearance of wrinkles. The best option? Wrinkle-reducing injectables such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau.
Although all four are virtually the same—neurotoxin injectables—there are slight differences in target areas and amount needed to achieve results. To assist in the decision-making process, we’re going to explain preparation, recovery, and how long each lasts.
Check out Dr. Buglino’s injectable results on his Instagram!
Botox
What Is It?
The Botox Cosmetic brand utilizes a botulinum toxin A to temporarily reduce “the underlying muscle activity that causes moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines in adults—to help them look visibly smoother.” It’s the first and only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Candidacy Requirements
Candidates typically have moderate to severe facial wrinkles located between the eyes, on the forehead or around the neck. They are also in relatively good health and harbor realistic expectations for the procedure. If you are allergic to any ingredient in the product, have a skin infection or severe illness, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a muscle or nerve condition, you are not a candidate for Botox.
Preparation & Recovery
To prepare for Botox injections, stop alcohol consumption at least 24 hours prior, avoid anti-inflammatory medications and smoking two weeks beforehand, stay out of the sun in the days leading up, and don’t wax, bleach, or tweeze the area. Inform your doctor about current medications. Wash your face thoroughly in the days leading up to your procedure.
There is no down time associated with Botox. Patients typically resume normal activities immediately. However, stay away from exercising for at least five hours. If you feel pain or bruising, apply ice packs. Resist touching your face.
How Long Does It Last?
Results should begin to appear one to two weeks after treatment. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, Botox should last three to four months—however, it depends on the patient. For some, it could last up to six months, while others may see results for two months.
Dysport
What Is It?
Another brand of botulinum toxin A, Dysport is a prescription injection that treats “moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows by reducing specific muscle activity.” It’s injected into five specific points between and above the eyebrows to temporarily prevent muscle contractions. This brand is FDA-approved to treat forehead wrinkles and frown lines.
Candidacy Requirements
Candidates for Dysport are typically 18 years of age or older, in general good health, with realistic expectations for the results. They also suffer from frown lines or crow’s feet. You are not a candidate if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or cow’s milk protein, have a skin infection, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Preparation & Recovery
Similar to Botox preparation, you should avoid alcohol, anti-inflammatory medications, Aspirin, vitamin E, and smoking prior to treatment. Follow your surgeon’s prep instructions, too. There is little to no recovery time needed for Dysport.
How Long Does It Last?
Patients should begin noticing results two days after the procedure. It can take up to 10 days to experience full results. This brand lasts about three to four months, meaning you’ll need more injections per year.
Xeomin
What Is It?
The third botulinum toxin A, Xeomin, is a prescription injectable that blocks “the release of chemicals that cause these muscle contractions so frown lines are softened.” It was also approved by the FDA for “temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines with corrugator and/or procerus muscle activity.”
Candidacy Requirements
Candidates for Xeomin experience frown lines between their eyes, are in good overall health, and have realistic expectations for the outcome. Do not use Xeomin if you’re allergic to any of its ingredients, have a skin condition, or have experienced an allergic reaction to other botulinum toxin products.
Preparation & Recovery
Xeomin preparation is similar to Botox and Dysport prep. Follow your surgeon’s instructions to ensure you’re ready for the procedure. There is no recovery time associated with Xeomin, however, you should follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions. Don’t rub or massage the site, avoid lying down for 90 minutes, and stay away from exercise for 24 hours. Because Xeomin does not have complexing proteins, there is less chance of resistance.
How Long Does It Last?
Patients see visible results within four days of the injections, but it can take up to a week for the full results to appear. Xeomin lasts three to four months.
Jeuveau
What Is It?
The newest botulinum toxin A, Jeuveau, is “a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used in adults for a short period of time (temporary) to improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines).” It was FDA approved in February 2019.
Candidacy Requirements
Candidacy requirements for Jeuveau are similar to those for the aforementioned neurotoxin products. Patients experience wrinkles between the eyebrows and have realistic expectations for results. You should not use Jeuveau if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, have experienced an allergic reaction to other botulinum toxin A products, have a skin infection, or are under the age of 18.
Preparation & Recovery
Inform your physician of all medications you’re currently taking. Similar to the aforementioned three products, follow your surgeon’s preparation and recovery instructions. Typically, patients should avoid alcohol, and anti-inflammatory medications before and after treatment. Following treatment, patients may experience “localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, erythema, and/or bleeding/bruising.”
How Long Does It Last?
Studies have shown patients see visible results two days following the procedure. Results typically last for three to four months.
To determine which injectable solution is right for your fine lines and wrinkles, schedule a consultation with Dr. Anthony Buglino.
It should be noted that, in addition to using injectables, patients should maintain a personalized skincare regimen. Dr. Buglino also recommends regularly receiving laser resurfacing and radiofrequency microneedling to to even out the lower two-thirds of the face after the neurotoxins take effect.
