Here at Cape Cod Skin Care, we offer four different neurotoxins to our clients. While we generally recommend you come in to consult with our nurse injector to find the best treatment for your specific condition, we also know you’ll be googling and looking for info all over the internet. No need – here’s everything you need to know about the magic four neurotoxins out there!

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What Are Neurotoxins?

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 All neurotoxin products that the beauty industry utilizes are made from the same substance – Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium is found naturally in lakes, soils, and forests.

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How Do Neurotoxins Work?

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Once a Botulinum toxin product is injected, it stops neural signals that are traveling from the nerves to the muscles. Left without the instruction to move, muscles will become stiff, and the skin covering them will soften and smooth out after a few days, you’ll notice that your lines have become dramatically less visible.

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It’s important to emphasize that neurotoxins will only work on wrinkles created by repeated muscle movements. They will not have any effect on wrinkles caused by sun damage or gravity.

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What are the most popular Neurotoxins?

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The great four are Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. They are all different trade names for the Botulinum toxin substance. The name, of course, isn’t the only thing that sets them apart. They all have some unique features that make them more suitable for one treatment or another.

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Botox

Botox injections don't need any special introduction. After all, it’s the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the entire world! It has become so popular and widespread across the globe that people use the word “Botox” to talk about other brands on the market. Botox is generally used to treat frown lines (between the eyebrows), forehead lines and wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet).

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Dysport

Dysport is a Botulinum toxin product whose primary use is the treatment of glabellar lines – also known as frown lines, the vertical lines between your eyebrows. Its defining feature is that it has the tendency to spread. This is both a good and a bad thing. Good, because it will give you a more natural look, and bad, as it can make it easier for the toxin to spread where you do not want it to end up.

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Xeomin

Xeomin is a type of Botulinum toxin used and approved for treating moderate to severe glabellar lines – wrinkles between the eyebrows. It was approved in the U.S. in 2011, but it has been used in many other countries since 2005. The U.S. was the 20th country to approve Xeomin. Xeomin is a pure toxin without any coating proteins.

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Jeuveau

Jeuveau is the newest member of the neurotoxin family – it just got the green light from the FDA in February 2019. It’s structurally very similar to Botox and can treat moderate to severe glabellar lines.

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How Do They Differ?

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 The four neurotoxins are similar in terms of the active substance they use, and how this substance works. Their differences reside in their molecular structures, and the parts of the nerve they attach to. What does it mean for you? Basically, it means that dosages are not equivalent across different products – so one unit of Botox is not the same as one unit of Dysport. Besides, the duration of the effects can differ across products, as well as the immune response of the body.

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Botox works where it is injected. In the hands of a non-skilled injector, a face can exhibit variations between the areas that have been treated with Botox and those that haven’t.

 

Dysport, on the other hand, has the tendency to spread and is more feathery-like, so the boundaries are not that clear. That means that even a non-skilled injector would not make visible separate areas on the client’s face.

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Xeomin is a pure Botulinum toxin without coating proteins that all the other Botulinum toxin injections contain. It goes through a unique manufacturing process that results in this highly purified neurotoxin. This makes it possible for people allergic to some substances or other neurotoxins to undergo a Xeomin procedure to treat wrinkles.

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Jeuveau is structurally like Botox, but unlike Botox, which may be used to treat migraines and some muscle disorders, it is purely cosmetic. The main draw for consumers, so it seems, is that the price of the toxin may be lower in comparison to the other products.

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How Is the Procedure Performed?

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All Botulinum toxin products used for treating wrinkles and fine lines are injected in a quick and relatively painless procedure.

Neurotoxin injections are administered by an authorized medical professional. You won’t need anesthesia, but your injector may apply a numbing cream to numb the area she will treat. The toxin will then be injected in the areas earlier determined and marked with a pen. This shouldn’t cause any pain – you may feel slight discomfort, mainly pressure from the injections.

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There is no downtime for the neurotoxin injection procedure. You will probably feel you can resume your normal daily activities right after the procedure.

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You should refrain from touching or rubbing the treated areas for several hours afterward, as it can cause the toxin to spread. You will notice the first results within two to ten days.

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Important: when you schedule your procedure, do not take aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications for two weeks before the date. Also, your medical professional may advise you to avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before the procedure, as it will reduce the chance of any bruising or swelling.

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You should also not get back to your normal physical activities too soon after the procedure. Avoid intense cardio for several days after the procedure, until the injection is fully absorbed.   

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If you’re getting Dysport, your medical professionals are likely to advise you to “exercise” your facial muscles gently to even out the absorption of the toxin.

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How Long Do the Results Last?

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The results of all the neurotoxins are temporary. Over time, the injected neurotoxin wears off, and the muscles go back to their regular communication with the nerves. This means that treated wrinkles and lines gradually re-appear.

If you continue injecting every several months, your muscles may get used to being inactive, so the wrinkles become less severe over time.  On average neurotoxins will last three to six months.

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Are Neurotoxins Safe?

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Neurotoxins used in the beauty industry for the treatment of wrinkles are generally safe.

Some copies of the FDA-approved products can be found on the black market, so your best bet is to find a provider that is trained and licensed to administer Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, or Jeuveaur.

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Here at Cape Cod Skin Care, we’re authorized to do so and have vast experience, so by coming to us, you’ll ensure you’re using the right toxin and are getting it from someone who is experienced and knows what they’re doing. This will minimize any issues that may occur.

 

If you want to get neurotoxin injections, be upfront with your medical professional about your medical history and all the medications you are taking. This should include all prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal supplements, etc. Additionally, if you have had Botulinum toxin injections in the past – especially in the last 4 months.

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When you come to Cape Cod Skin Care for a consultation, it’s important to let us know about all these matters so we can decide on the best treatment for you.

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