Are you tired of looking in the mirror and seeing wrinkles and fine lines that make you feel self-conscious?
Do you suffer from migraines or muscle stiffness that impairs your daily life?
You’re not alone.
Fortunately, there are injectable treatments available that can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and treat medical conditions.
In this article, your going to learn.
- Botox vs. Xeomin: Differences and Safety
- Common Uses of Botox and Xeomin:
- Effectiveness for Migraines and Muscle Stiffness
- Duration and Side Effects of Botox and Xeomin
- Botox for Acne Scars: How It Works
- Cost of Botox and Xeomin: Coverage by NHS
- Risks of Interchanging Botox and Xeomin
- Benefits of Xeomin for Cosmetic Treatments
- Procedure for Botox and Xeomin Injections
- How Botox and Xeomin Reduce Wrinkles: Formulation Differences
- Determining the Best Injectable: Importance of Consulting a Qualified Healthcare Provider
What is Botox (Botulinum Toxin)
Botox (botulinum toxin) is generally used for cosmetic purposes, though there are some clinical uses for it as well. It contains onabotulinum and is injected every three to four months into the skin.
Though technically, it is a legal injectable toxin, it does has some benefits to the areas where it is injected, particularly in dermatology and aesthetic medicine.
What is Xeomin?
Xeomin is a popular injectable treatment used for both cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. Xeomin contains incobotulinumtoxinA, a type of botulinum toxin that is derived from bacteria.
Xeomin works by blocking the nerve signals that cause muscle contractions, resulting in a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines on the face.
Xeomin injections are a popular choice for individuals seeking cosmetic treatments to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Xeomin has been proven effective in treating wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes, making it a go-to solution for many individuals.
Unlike some other botulinum toxin products, Xeomin is formulated to contain only the active ingredient, incobotulinumtoxinA, which makes it less likely to cause allergic reactions and may lead to longer-lasting effects.
With Xeomin, patients can achieve a more youthful appearance with minimal side effects and downtime.
In addition to its cosmetic uses, Xeomin is also used for therapeutic purposes such as the treatment of cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.
Xeomin is generally considered safe when administered by a qualified healthcare provider, although like any medication, it can cause side effects such as headache, dry mouth, and muscle weakness.
Xeomin is an effective and widely used treatment for both cosmetic and therapeutic purposes, with a proven track record of safety and effectiveness.
If you are considering Xeomin treatment, it’s important to consult with a qualified healthcare provider to determine if it’s right for you and to ensure that it is administered safely and effectively.
Overall, Xeomin is a valuable tool for dermatologist or healthcare providers specializing in dermatology to help their patients achieve their desired cosmetic and therapeutic outcomes.
Difference Between Botox and Xeomin
The main difference between Botox and Xeomin is how they are made. Xeomin is formulated with only botulinum Type A, which lowers the risk of allergies, while Botox is a mixture of proteins including additives that may trigger allergies.
Since Xeomin lacks additives, it may not need to be refrigerated, which can extend its shelf life. However, a lack of additives may also mean that Xeomin may not be as effective as Botox.
Xeomin is typically used for mild to moderate wrinkles around the forehead, eyebrows, and eyes, but Botox can also be used for these areas.
The amount of injectable used may vary depending on the formulation, but this will not necessarily affect the price.
It’s important to discuss your concerns with a board-certified dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon to determine which injectable is best for your needs.
They will be able to select the most appropriate injectable with the least number of injections.
Both of these botulinum toxin injections are known as muscle relaxants, as they temporarily intoxicate your nerves.
This does not allow for the proper conduction of the nerves to your muscles, further restricting the contraction of the muscles that cause wrinkles on your face.
Botox is manufactured by Allergan Inc. (USA), and Xeomin is manufactured by Merz Pharmaceuticals (Germany).
Although Botox and Xeomin are similar, they should never be used interchangeably, and you should always refer to a professional before using one over the other.
Uses of Botox and Xeomin
Botox
While Botox is mostly used for cosmetic purposes, the injectable is used for treating a variety of medical conditions as well, which should be assessed by a doctor including:
- wrinkles
- frown lines
- fine lines
- lazy eye
- upper limb spasticity
- crows feet
- forehead lines
Xeomin
Xeomin injections is used for cosmetic and medical treatments:
- migraine (injected into the muscles of your neck and head)
- overactive bladder
- muscle stiffness
- excessive drooling or salivation.
Your doses of units and frequency of the Xeomin injection units are determined by your response to the botulinum therapy, as assessed by your doctor.
Procedure
Once you arrive at your practitioner’s office, your face is prepared by putting an ice pack to numb the area where the toxins need to be injected.
It usually takes about 10 minutes or more to get the entire botox or the xeomin procedure done.
If your skin is sensitive, you may experience redness or bruising post injections.
In the United Kingdom, these drugs can be given legally by anyone as long as you have a prescription for them, but it is advised that you visit a licensed practitioner for the best skin results.
Effectiveness
Both Xeomin and Botox are effective and convenient procedures compared to plastic surgeries.
Each of these drugs of both Xeomin and Botox start working as soon as they are injected into your muscles, but it may take around seven days up to a fortnight for visible effects.
These effects can last for three to four months, although you might experience longer-lasting effects with Xeomin compared to Botox.
The effects of these drugs are much faster and more effective for woman when compared to men. For males, effects are much more gradual and slower.
If you find that the effects of the toxins from either botox or from xeomin do not show up after seven to 14 days, it is best to consult your provider to evaluate the results.
Side Effects
Like any other drug, Botox or Botulinum toxin injectable has side effects on users body. The most common side effects of Botox and Xeomin are:
- redness at the site of injections
- headaches
- swelling or pain.
- itching
- bruising
Apart from these side effects of Botox and Xeomin, the side effects from Xeomin may also include
- dry eyes
- dry mouth
- breathing problems
- diarrhea
Statistically, in terms of side effects Xeomin drugs have higher percentage of side effects on your body than Botox.
It is best to seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe side effects from Botox or from Xeomin.
Additionally, it is advised to avoid botulinum toxin, or botox, treatments during pregnancies or while lactating since there is always a risk of transferring these drugs, including botulinum toxin, to the baby via the placenta or breastmilk.
If you are suffering from skin conditions, it is best to avoid botulinum toxin, or botox, treatment if you are allergic to albumin, a protein, as it may trigger an adverse reaction.
Acne Scarring
Acne scarring is a form of skin damage. It affects people with acne vulgaris, a condition that causes the skin to produce excess sebum (oil), leading to blocked hair follicles, comedones and pustules.
The resulting inflammation of the dermis and epidermis, known as acne lesions, often leads to complications such as permanent scarring. Acne scars can occur on any part of the body but are most common on the face, or neck or shoulders.
Acne scars are caused by inflammation, infection, injury and some types of surgery. They can be cosmetically disfiguring or psychologically distressing.
Botox is Also Commonly Used to Treat Acne Scars
Acne scars may be treated for cosmetic purposes by any number of methods including chemical peels, Coolsculpting and laser resurfacing, or even botox injections.
Acne scars can be a source of self-consciousness for many people, and botox injections have been shown to be effective in reducing their appearance.
Botox works by relaxing the muscles around the scar, which can help to smooth out the surface of the skin and make the scar less noticeable.
However, it’s important to note that botox is not a permanent solution and the effects will wear off over time.
Other treatments such as chemical peels and laser resurfacing may also be effective in reducing the appearance of acne scars, and it’s important to consult with a qualified practitioner to determine the best treatment plan for your individual needs.
Botulinum toxin, or Botox, can be used to treat a broad range of medical conditions including acne, migraine headaches, excessive sweating and muscle spasms.
The acne scar treatment process involves injecting small amounts of Botox® into the skin above an acne scar. The toxin blocks signals from your nerves to your muscles and prevents them from contracting.
This causes the area surrounding the injected site to relax, reducing wrinkles and improving acne scars over time.
Cost of Botox or Xeomin
The cost of Botox versus Xeomin depends on the area you are living in.
Typically, the average cost for Botox treatment is around £100 – £350 and the cost of getting a Xeomin treatment is around £175 – £300, making Xeomin comparatively cheaper than Botox.
Since the NHS does not cover the costs incurred by Botox and Xeomin treatments for cosmetic purposes, the price will vary depending on where you visit for your treatment.
Xeomin vs Botox, Which One Should You Choose?
As an overview, Xeomin and Botox are similar in nature with the only thing setting them apart is the absence of proteins in Xeomin.
If you are looking to treat frown lines or crow’s feet, Botox works in the most effective way and not the Xeomin. I
f you are looking to treat the fine lines and the glabellar lines, or if you want medical attention for an issue like migraine or muscle spasm, Xeomin works best to treat both cosmetic and medical conditions.
I hope the information provided here serves as a launching pad for further exploration into these methods of botox and xeomin so you can make an informed decision about which method is best for your cosmetic goals or needs.
You can book a consultation with me in person at my Botox clinic Birmingham to discuss further which one is best for you, and to get an answer on whether Botox or Xeomin is the most suitable option for your needs.
