Botox, or onabotulinumtoxinA, was the first neurotoxic protein to be approved by the FDA to relax muscles. Originally, it was approved to treat upper eyelid muscle hyperactivity, but it was soon approved for well over a dozen cosmetic and medical conditions. At The Botox Bar in Dallas, Texas., we understand that Botox isn’t right for everyone, so we offer Xeomin, a gentler neurotoxic protein that is appropriate for more people than Botox.
What Is Xeomin Used For?
Xeomin, also known as incobotulinumtoxinA, can safely and effectively be used to treat a wide array of cosmetic and medical concerns caused by hyperactive facial muscles.
It is most commonly used to address mild-to-moderate lines, wrinkles, and folds on the face caused by muscle hyperactivity, but it can also be used to address medical conditions caused by muscle hyperactivity, including cervical dystonia and uncontrollable eyelid spasms.
The Elimination of Frown Lines
One of the most common Xeomin treatment areas is the forehead. This is, in part, because the forehead muscles are some of the largest and strongest facial muscles, so the visible effects of hyperactivity are more pronounced. Frown lines are lines that are constantly present and noticeable on your forehead and between your eyebrows, but the lines become even more noticeable when you frown or raise your eyebrows inquisitively.
If you frown or raise your eyebrows inquisitively on a regular basis, you may need a larger dose or more frequent treatments than someone who smiles more often and has a more passive face. During your initial consultation, we will assess the extent of your cosmetic concerns to determine the appropriate dosage. Typically, four units of medication are injected into five strategic points within the procerus and corrugator forehead muscles, totaling 20 units of medication.
The Treatment of Cervical Dystonia
If you are trying to treat uncontrollable muscle spasticity, such as cervical dystonia, you may require up to 400 units of medication injected into your neck. In some cases, this medication must also be injected into the head and shoulders. However, the dose you will need depends heavily on your gender and the severity of your case.
You may only require a dose of 300 or 350 units if your case is fairly moderate. Similarly, you will need a smaller dose if you are female. Again, this will all be determined during your initial consultation and tailored to your current needs. If your condition worsens over time, we can give you a larger dose in the future so you experience relief for the same length of time following treatment. Alternatively, you may find that regular treatment reduces your need for medication.
The Treatment of Upper Eyelid Spasms and Droopy Eyelids
Another common injection point is above the eyes. Neuromodulator treatments were originally designed to treat blepharospasms or uncontrollable eyelid spasms. For its time, Botox was a revolutionary alternative to eyelid surgery. However, Botox is so powerful that it is not always an appropriate treatment method. Xeomin is much more appropriate for mild or fairly moderate cases of uncontrollable eyelid spasms.
It is also a great non-invasive alternative to upper eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty). Unlike blepharoplasty, there are absolutely no incisions, stitches, or anesthetics involved with correcting sagging, droopy upper eyelids, and other eye-related signs of aging. There is also no downtime or recovery period and very little preparation required. You may need between 50 and 100 units injected into your orbicularis oculi or other surrounding muscles to achieve your desired results.
The Treatment of Smile Lines
This neuromodulator doesn’t just treat hyperactive eyelid muscles. It can also be used to treat smile lines, the crinkly folds of skin that often form around the corners of the eyes that are exacerbated by smiling. These lines are sometimes also known as laugh lines because they are also exacerbated by laughing. Finally, these lines may worsen if you squint your eyes regularly against the sunlight.
To extend the durability of treatment, we strongly recommend that you wear a hat with a bill or sunglasses when you go outside. When you drive, put your sun visor down to minimize squinting. If possible, tint your windows. This protects the interior of your car from sun damage, keeps your car cool in the sweltering summers, and minimizes squinting which minimizes your use of the muscles around your eyes.
The Treatment of TMJ Dysfunction
If you suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction, you may experience relief if this medication is injected into the temples and jaw. The appropriate dosage to treat the pain, swelling, inflammation, discomfort and lack of range of motion depends on several factors, including your gender, the severity of your condition, and the cause of your condition.
Typically, when this medication is used to treat TMJ dysfunction, the appropriate dose is 200 to 300 units. The final results of treatment can usually be experienced around 96 hours after treatment and last around three to five months. If you receive treatment regularly, your jaw muscles will “atrophy” to the point that they are no longer hyperactive, and you may only need treatment twice per year.
The Treatment of Smoker’s Lines
A common injection point for smokers is around the mouth. When you purse your lips to take a drag off of a cigarette, the muscles around your mouth contract. This causes a phenomenon known as “smoker’s lines.” Even non-smokers experience exacerbated lines around the corners of the mouth when they purse their lips to sip through a straw.
If you are concerned about mild-to-moderate lines extending from the corners of your mouth, this treatment may be appropriate for you. To determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment or an alternative aesthetic treatment, you need to come in for an initial consultation to assess the extent of your issues.
The Treatment of Nasolabial Folds
Nasolabial folds are another commonly requested area for treatment. These folds occur because the localized muscles are hyperactive. You may notice that these folds worsen during cold and flu season or allergy season when you are regularly scrunching and blowing your nose.
However, these folds are ever-present. During your initial consultation, we will determine whether you have nasolabial creases or true nasolabial folds to determine the appropriate injectable for you.
How Many Sessions You Will Need
Typically, you will only need one treatment session to achieve your desired results. However, in some cases, like cervical dystonia, you may not experience the full benefits of treatment until you have received two or three sessions. As stated previously, we will assess the severity of your concerns during your initial consultation. We will advise you if we believe you may need multiple sessions to achieve your ideal results.
If your case is severe, you may be a better candidate for Botox, because the neurotoxic protein is complete and the formula is more robust. However, it is critical to understand that this is not always the case. For example, some people who have a case severe enough that they would typically be a good candidate for Botox are allergic to the medication. In such cases, they need a larger dose of incobotulinumtoxinA than people with a mild or moderate case.
How Long It Will Take to See Results
You will start to see and feel the treated muscles relax after three to four days. However, it can take up to 10 days to see the desired results of treatment.
If you haven’t seen the results you want from treatment after 96 hours, we strongly recommend that you wait six more days to decide if you need a follow-up treatment. Remember, there’s a good chance you’ll only need one session for cosmetic concerns unless the case is fairly severe.
How Long the Treatment Will Take
One thing people love about this treatment is that it can be completed within a lunch break, so there is no need to ask for time off from work. Furthermore, there is no downtime or recovery period, so you are free to return to work after your short, effective session.
Additionally, we use very fine gauge needles to administer the medication, so there is no need to receive any sort of expensive anesthetic that may cause severe drowsiness and stomach upset.
Potential Contraindications
Remember, this treatment is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safety and efficacy. However, there are certain drugs and supplements that may affect the way your body reacts to this treatment. When you come in for your first evaluation, we will review all of the drugs and supplements you are currently taking, like baby aspirin and multivitamins, and advise you if you need to stop taking anything for several days before and after your treatment.
For example, you should not take any prescription or over-the-counter medications designed to thin the blood or have the potential side effect of blood-thinning. Some of the most common examples of such medications include NSAIDs for inflammatory pain and poor heart health and MAOIs for major depressive disorder. If applicable, you should also stop taking multivitamins as vitamins E and K can cause blood thinning.
Good Candidates for This Treatment
An initial consultation will reveal if you are a good candidate for this treatment or an alternative anti-aging solution, such as Botox. Typically, if you are concerned about the effects of mild-to-moderate muscle hyperactivity, this is the treatment for you. During your initial consultation, we will review your aesthetic goals and diagnose the cause of your cosmetic concerns to determine if you need a neurotoxic protein or dermal filler to achieve your goals.
Keep in mind, you may also be a good candidate for this treatment if you have severe lines, wrinkles, and folds. What makes incobotulinumtoxinA so unique is that it is “naked.” In other words, it is not encased in the protein that makes Botox and other neurotoxic proteins more robust. Besides making alternative neurotoxins more robust, the outer shell of the protein is what causes potential allergies. Therefore, you may be a good candidate for incobotulinumtoxinA if you are allergic to bovine protein.
Book an Appointment to Learn More Now
If you’ve recently noticed lines, wrinkles, and folds, you are probably a good candidate for Xeomin. Alternative neuromodulators are designed to treat moderate-to-severe cosmetic and medical concerns while this treatment is designed for mild-to-moderate cases. To determine definitively if this treatment is appropriate for you, contact us now at The Botox Bar Dallas TX.
If we determine that the cause of your lines, wrinkles, and folds is collagen loss rather than muscle hyperactivity, we offer several appropriate solutions. Among the dermal fillers, we offer are Juvederm Volbella and Restylane to plump up your pout, Juvederm XC to treat deep lines extending from your nose to the outside of your mouth, and Juvederm Voluma to augment hollow, sunken cheeks. Regardless of your concerns, we can help.
