Xeomin: What is it and How Xeomin Compares to BOTOX®

Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA), made by Merz Pharmaceuticals, is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. IncobotulinumtoxinA is made from the bacteria that causes botulism. Botulinum toxin blocks nerve activity in the muscles, causing a temporary reduction in muscle activity.

Xeomin is similar to other drugs in this category, including Botox and Dysport, that also have FDA approval for the treatment of facial wrinkles. Now that Xeomin is available and FDA approved, doctors can use it to treat the same facial lines treated by Botox and Dysport, including frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles.

Worldwide, more than 84,000 people have been treated with Xeomin injections. The U.S. is actually the 20th country to approve this new drug. It is available in 50-unit and 100-unit vials.

Better or worse than Botox?

Xeomin is the first one that does not need to be refrigerated before use, which may simplify distribution. Xeomin also has no additives, just botulinum toxin type A. This may mean that there is less risk of developing antibodies against Xeomin than other available neurotoxins. The body develops antibodies in response to a foreign invader and attacks. In theory, antibodies could prevent a neurotoxin from having its desired effects. The effects of Xeomin occur within one week, and the results last from three to six months, making it comparable to Botox in terms of both onset and duration of action. Xeomin should not be used interchangeably with other botulinum products.

DYSPORT

Wrinkles aren’t your style and the “frozen look” isn’t either. For adults who want a natural look, there’s Dysport, a prescription injection proven to help smooth the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows without changing the look or movement of the rest of your face. Untreated muscles still work normally, so you can continue to express feelings naturally. It’s the lines that are minimized, not your expressions.

Because Dysport delivers the natural-looking results people want, 97% of users say they’d do it again. The majority see improvement in just 2–3 days after treatment. It can last up to 4 months. Additionally, Dysport is approved in 69 countries and has 25 years of clinical experience worldwide.

FILLERS

Natural aging affects the whole face. As we age, different parts of the face lose shape and fullness leading to lines, wrinkles, and a less youthful—looking appearance. In many cases, this is because our bodies aren’t producing as much hyaluronic acid (HA) as they used to. HA attracts moisture, and less HA means less moisture which can contribute to sagging and drooping skin.

Where we see wrinkles (and more):

Cheeks — Loss of collagen, thinning of underlying fat, and decreasing bone volume can lead to a reduction of volume in the cheeks, giving a sunken appearance.

Nasolabial Folds (laugh lines) —Through volume loss and aging over time, the skin of our cheeks may drape over to become nasolabial folds (laugh lines), creating a tired looking face with wrinkles between the nose and mouth.

Lips — As we age, our lips may lose shape and there can be an increase in small vertical lines around the mouth while the corners sag.

The Restylane® line of products offers tailored treatments for individual, natural-looking results. Designed to act like the body’s own naturally produced hyaluronic acid, the Restylane line of products visibly reduces facial wrinkles and folds, adds smooth, silky definition to lips, and provides lift for cheeks.

Restylane® has a reputation for enduring results. Widely used for over 2 decades, it has helped people all over the world achieve a natural look. Adding volume and fullness to the skin, it corrects moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth.

Restylane offers long-lasting results in nasolabial folds for over 18 months—working to provide a smooth, natural-looking appearance.

Restylane® and Restylane-L® are for mid-to-deep injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.

Restylane® and Restylane-L® are also indicated for injection into the lips in patients over the age of 21.

Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine is for deep implantation into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds and for cheek augmentation and for the correction of age-related midface contour deficiencies in patients over the age of 21.

Restylane® Silk is for lip augmentation and for correction of perioral wrinkles in patients over the age of 21.

Restylane® Refyne is for mid-to-deep injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, in patients over the age of 21.

Restylane® Defyne is for mid-to-deep injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe deep facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, in patients over the age of 21.