Popular Posts

BOTOX® or XEOMIN®? Comparing Two Muscle-Relaxing Injectables

Many people have long wished for a more youthful-looking face—and their numbers seem to be growing. Not only do image-based social media platforms continue to thrive, but industry studies show that women and men alike are frequently unhappy with one or more aspect of their aging skin. Perhaps that’s why the demand for wrinkle-reducing injectables has been so strong in recent years.

XEOMIN® (pronounced zeo-min) and BOTOX® treatments at St. Louis’ West County Plastic Surgeons are two popular anti-aging options that come from the same general source: muscle-relaxing botulinum toxin. There are some notable similarities between the two prescription medicines, but there are also significant differences.

Both brands are distributed in a powdered form and contain small amounts of something known as “human serum albumin.” They are also both have botulinum toxin for an active ingredient—as noted above—meaning they function by temporarily relaxing facial muscles that are responsible for the formation of wrinkles. Effects take a few days to appear and last for several months, on average. Note that neither of these injectables is a filler capable of adding volume to areas marked by volume loss.

Now for the differences: To start, BOTOX® has earned official FDA approvals to be used on the complete upper third of the face. It has the green light to treat forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet. XEOMIN®, on the other hand, has an FDA approval solely for softening moderate to severe glabellar lines (the frown lines between the eyebrows).

XEOMIN® is a more stripped-down formula than BOTOX®, lacking the specific, complex carrier proteins that are found in the other brands of neuromodulators. XEOMIN® is therefore often used on patients who seem to be “immune” to the effects of its more versatile companions.

That said, a trained and experienced injector is the best person to help anyone determine which brand is best in a specific case.

Have questions about these wrinkle-relaxers or other injectables? Find out more or request a consultation by calling West County Plastic Surgeons at (314) 996-8800 or sending a message online.