Botox vs. Dysport vs. Xeomin: Which Is Right for Me?
Facial lines and wrinkles are a normal part of the aging process. But with cosmetic injections like Botox® and fillers, you don’t have to simply accept this normal, yet visible, part of aging.
For more than 20 years, people have been turning to Botox to smooth out lines and creases, restoring their youthful look. If you’ve been considering Botox, you may wonder what the difference is between Botox Cosmetic®, Dysport®, and Xeomin®.
At Montclair Rejuvenation Center, we use all three brands. Why? Because our team of aesthetic experts, led by Dr. Kelly Distefano, wants to make sure they have all the tools necessary to meet your beauty goals.
Here, we want to talk about Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin, their similarities and differences, so you can figure out which one is right for you.
About Botox
Botox is the most popular trade name for botulinum type A injections. These injections contain a neurotoxin that weakens muscles or stops the transmission of nerve signals to get the desired results.
Botox is best known for minimizing the appearance of facial wrinkles, but we also use Botox for migraines. For aesthetics, we use Botox to treat dynamic wrinkles, the lines that form from repetitive facial movements like:
- Frown lines in between the eyebrows
- Crow’s feet at the outer edges of the eyes
- Worry lines on the forehead
We inject small amounts of the neurotoxin into specific areas of the face. These injections temporarily stop the movement of the muscles that cause the edged in lines, allowing the skin to relax and smooth out.
Botox vs. Dysport vs. Xeomin
Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, and Xeomin all contain botulinum type A, the active ingredient that relaxes the muscles to smooth out those lines and creases.
Botox Cosmetic was the first injection approved by the FDA to treat facial lines and wrinkles. It’s also the only brand FDA-approved to treat frown lines, crow’s feet, and worry lines. Dysport and Xeomin are only FDA-approved to treat frown lines.
Though we can use either botulinum type A injection to treat frown lines, they’re not interchangeable. Each brand contains a slightly different formulation that alters the dose, how the medication spreads, and how quickly it provides results.
The botulinum type A in Botox Cosmetic and Dysport are attached to a protein; Xeomin contains nothing but the active ingredient. The protein in Dysport allows the medication to spread further than Botox Cosmetic, which may mean you see results sooner and they may last longer.
Xeomin only contains the toxin without any added ingredients. This may reduce risk of side effects. However, there haven’t been any studies comparing the safety and efficacy of the cosmetic injection with or without added ingredients.
Choosing the right injection
How do you know which one is right for you? Luckily, you don’t need to figure that out. We determine which botulinum type A injection is best for you based on your beauty goals and individual needs.
No single cosmetic injection, treatment, or therapy works for everyone. That’s why we always do a thorough aesthetic consultation before making any treatment recommendations.
To find out whether Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin is right for you, call our office in Verona or West Caldwell, New Jersey, or click the book online button to schedule your consultation today.