BOTOX® & Xeomin®

BOTOX® & Xeomin®: Is it Right for You?

BOTOX® and Xeomin® are FDA approved muscle-relaxant neurotoxins supporting the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. Women’s Wellness Center is proud to offer our patients a selection of BOTOX® and Xeomin® wrinkle treatments with the goal of helping you smooth wrinkles to enhance your appearance. Working together, we will determine which treatment best matches your unique skin needs.

Similar in approach, both BOTOX® and Xeomin® are neurotoxins acting to paralyze nerve endings in order to relax muscles. We offer both treatments to provide you with options as options allow us to best meet your particular goals. Though we’ll discuss your goals and skin tone needs to define your ideal treatment, a brief summary of the options is shared below.

BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA) is America’s most popular cosmetic procedure. The BOTOX® neurotoxin has been applied therapeutically for over 15 years and, with approval in over 50 countries, is among the most widely researched medicines in the world. In addition to skin wrinkle mitigation, BOTOX® is FDA-approved for therapeutic indications including chronic migraine, overactive bladder, incontinence due to overactive bladder caused by a neurologic condition, spasticity, and severe underarm sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis).

Xeomin® is also an FDA approved neurotoxin (incobotulinumtoxinA) muscle-relaxant. Xeomin® works in a similar manner as BOTOX®. In terms of costs, Xeomin® is a bit less expensive than BOTOX®. Xeomin’s® production process removes extra proteins noted actively needed in the muscle-relaxant treatment positioning Xeomin® as uniquely purified.

Both neurotoxin treatments offer significant efficacy. Both are FDA approved and both are well known and deeply researched. To help smooth fine lines and wrinkles on your face the selected treatment will be injected into a targeted muscle at our medical office to temporarily reduce muscle activity contributing to issues such as frown lines, crow’s feet and/or forehead lines. The result is a better version of you.

How and Why BOTOX® & Xeomin® Helps

As we age, our skin degrades. Much of the degradation results from years of constant muscle contractions which move and shift our skin in an unending cycle of activity. Think of bending a piece of plastic (or if you’re a hard body; a piece of metal) back and forth. Eventually, the item degrades and weakens. Our skin is subject to the same exhaustive effects of the back and forth process. Due to ongoing muscle movement every time we smile, laugh, frown, or squint our skin is put to work. Our skin weakens.

Over time, our skin becomes less elastic. It wears down and it creases. Those frustrating fine lines, crow’s feet, and wrinkles appear in response to muscle movement. As such, our skin ages. Neurotoxin treatments such as BOTOX® and Xeomin® address skin inelasticity by relaxing the underlying muscles. Working beneath the surface of the skin, your selected treatment limits those muscle contractions and acts to smooth the skin to reduce the features around fine lines and wrinkles. Relaxed skin appears youthful and vibrant.

How do these neurotoxins act to relax muscles?

The answer is fascinating as these neurotoxins actually represent a poisonous biological substance produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Channeled properly, these neurotoxins paralyze nerve endings that control muscles. The active ingredient in the neurotoxins block nerve signals and block the release of a chemical causing muscle contraction. We target specific areas under the impacted skin in order to paralyze or weaken the active muscles. As a result, your skin lays smooth and flat.

We localize the effect to your skin’s area of concern and the treatment does not impact your ability to smile, laugh, or deliver facial expressions.

Even after two decades of experience as a successful surgeon and practicing gynecologist, I still consider this an amazing discovery and application of practical science. Thank you science.

Who May Best Benefit from BOTOX® & Xeomin®?

As a physician, I worry about my patients all the time. When I worry my brow pinches and my eyebrows squeeze together. Over time my concerns contributed to the appearance of a vertical crease between my eyebrows (the infamous vertical forehead “11”). The application of a well placed neurotoxin treatment helped remedy my “11”.

I still worry about my patients, but now I do so without a crease in the middle of my forehead. 😊 Perhaps like me, you too are a candidate for neurotoxin treatment.

If you experience any of the following challenges, you may be a candidate for one of the neurotoxin treatments offered by Women’s Wellness Center.

• The “11”” vertical worry line or frown line forming a crease or furrow between eyebrows
•  Horizontal forehead wrinkles such as wrinkles when you raise your eyebrows
• Crow’s feet wrinkles forming around your eyes when you squint
• Chin dimpling
• Neck (Platysmal) bands or neck lifts forming on your neck when you speak and smile
• Smoker’s lines or smoker’s wrinkles forming when you pucker your lips
• Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• TMJ Treatment (teeth grinding)
• Gummy smile

Not Everyone is a Candidate for BOTOX® & Xeomin® Treatment

Your safety and overall well-being is our priority at Women’s Wellness Center. Prior to your treatment and to better serve you, please let your Women’s Wellness Center physician know if any of the following apply to you:

• Received other botulinum toxin product in the last four months
• Received injections of botulinum toxin in the past (please let us know exactly which product you received)
• Received an antibiotic by injection
• Take muscle relaxants
• Take allergy or cold medication or treatments
• Take a sleep medicine

If so, you may not be a candidate for neurotoxin treatment.

How Long Does a Treatment Take and How Often is BOTOX® & Xeomin® Applied?

Following our initial consultation, your treatment session will likely last 15 to 30 minutes. Save for the pin-prick of the injection, there is little to no discomfort associated with your BOTOX® and Xeomin® treatments.

The treatment may be expected to successfully hold effects for four to six months.

We often continue treatments on a scheduled basis every four to six months to keep your skin appearing smooth and youthful.

Is There Any BOTOX® & Xeomin® Down Time?

Not really…

Your neurotoxin injection is a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment. Anesthesia is not required and you are able to drive following your office visit. There is no down time and therefore no lengthy recovery time is required. That said, we do suggest you avoid physical activities or strenuous exercise in order to help avoid unintended bruising or swelling around the treated areas. We recommend that you do not touch or rub the Botox treatment area for up to 24 hours post-treatment. This includes the gentle rubbing associated with a facial treatment. We advise not having a facial or massage in treatment areas within 24 hours post-procedure. This is VERY IMPORTANT as touching or rubbing the area can move the neurotoxin and cause undesired results like drooping eyelids or nerve damage.

Please be Mindful of Potential Side Effects and Risks of BOTOX® & Xeomin®

While BOTOX® and Xeomin® treatments are richly researched and generally safe for most of us, they’re not for everyone. If you have or are experiencing any of the below issues, I’m afraid BOTOX® and Xeomin® treatments are not recommended:

• Have a disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease], myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome)
• Have had side effect from any other botulinum toxin in the past
• Have a severe breathing problem such as asthma or emphysema
• Have aspiration (a history of swallowing problems or inhaling food or fluid into your lungs)
• Have a bleeding disorder
• Have drooping eyelids
• Are planning to have surgery or an invasive medical procedure
• Have had surgery on your face
• Are pregnant or attempting pregnancy
• Are breastfeeding

Please remember, any medical treatment may result in side effects. The most common side effects of such a treatment are slight pain, numbness, and headaches, all of which usually subside quickly. Other additional side effects may include:

• Allergic reaction
• Dry mouth
• Discomfort or pain at the injection site
• Tiredness
• Neck pain
• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Eye issues such as double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, eyelid swelling, reduced blinking, and dry eyes

When we define your ideal treatment, please tell us about all of the medicines you take, including prescription(s) and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Please ask us and talk to us before you take any new medicines after you receive your neurotoxin treatment.