Botox Injection

How is Botox similar to and different from Dysport and Xeomin?image004

These medications share a lot in common. In fact, many people refer to the differences as a “Coke / Pepsi” kind of thing, in that they are more similar than they are different. Xeomin and a Botox injection are extremely similar in their behavior and dosing, with the main difference being that Xeomin is a purer form of the toxin, without a lot of extra proteins in the solution. Dysport is dosed a bit differently (there is some debate, but it’s about 2.5 units of Dysport per unit of Botox), but has a very similar function. Dysport also may diffuse (locally spread) just a bit more which some people think is an advantage for treating patients with fewer injections, but others feel may make it a bit less precise.

Suffice it to say that a skilled injector can easily find success for any of these three medications in any area of treatment.

How long does a Botox treatment last?

For the facial areas such as forehead lines, results from a Botox injection lasts about 3 months. For treatments for excessive sweating, it lasts about 6 months. Fortunately, for the facial areas, if you continue to use Botox without allowing much of a recovery of muscle movement in between treatments, you are likely to eventually need less and less Botox for an effective treatment.

How can consistent results be ensured?

In my office I carefully map out every single injection so that we are sure to be able to repeat our successful results with each subsequent treatment. That way we can be sure that the forehead lines and other areas will be treated to exact & reproducible specifications. It’s critical that only a trained professional perform these injections. Some people feel that the greatest consistency is obtained from injection by a physician who is board-certified in plastic surgery or dermatology.

Is Botox Safe?

Botox injections are extremely safe when used by qualified physicians in the normal dose amount. The protein that makes up the medication is thought to be metabolized by the body, and there is no detectable Botox in the body once the treatment has worn off. Issues with Botox injection safety have all had to do with much larger than normal dose amounts or when unscrupulous physicians have purchased ‘imitation’ or ‘counterfeit’. Do not have a Botox injection from an unsafe source.

image003How much does Botox cost?

The price of injections varies by region and also by who is doing the injecting. If a patient is ok with a less credentialed person (such as a nurse performing the injection), then their injection might be cheaper. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists in San Francisco generally charge about $18-24 per unit of Botox, which for an area such as forehead lines will usually run from $450-600 per area.