While the FDA has approved a number of toxins for treatment of facial lines and drooping, Botoxremains the gold standard of injectables. Dysport and, more recently, Xeomin are competing products that came to market with lower price points than Botox.
So it’s fair to ask: Do they work as well? Last as long? Really cost less? Here’s what I can tell you, based on my experience.
A Botox injection typically lasts three to six months—longer in patients who have taken regular Botox treatments over a period of two years. I’ve found Dysport to be equally effective and as long-lasting as Botox, but —and this is a crucial difference —only if it’s injected in higher concentrations than the FDA has approved it for.
Using a more concentrated form of Dysport means spending more for each injection. This negates any cost savings vis-à-vis Botox.
Dysport can also spread out from the injection site with mixed results: a positive, additional smoothing effect around the eyes; but, in some cases, signs of unwanted droop in the eyebrows.
I have found Xeominto be disappointing, wearing off completely in two to three months. Yes, it costs a bit less than Botox, but the shorter-by-half duration of its effect makes Xeomin, in my opinion, a more costly treatment in the long run.
Granted, aesthetic surgeons have a shorter history with these Botox alternatives: Dysport received Food and Drug Administration approval for cosmetic treatments in 2009; Xeomin followed in 2011. Researchers and practitioners, therefore, have had less time to evaluate these products than Botox, which the government first approved for treating frown lines in 2002. (A more recent FDA go-ahead for Botox, in treating crow’s feet, came last year.)
Our field will continue to compare all three. The possibility of still newer alternatives is always present. As of now, patients who come to me seeking non-invasive cosmetic facial enhancements will, more often than not, be advised to consider Botox.
—Dr. Rubinstein
About the Doctor
A practitioner in facial plastics in the Hudson Valley for more than 14 years, Dr. Ran Rubinstein combines science and art in every treatment plan. In addition to aesthetic procedures such as otoplasty, chin augmentation, and neck lift surgery, the doctor is also an expert in septoplasty—surgery to improve the functionality of the nose.
Dr. Rubinstein is a dual-board certified through the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology —Head and Neck Surgery, and is an Assistant Professor at New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
Visit this website’s photo gallery to see examples of patients before and after Botox treatments with Dr. Rubinstein.
To consult with the doctor, and to discuss types of implants, recovery times and any potential complications, call Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC in Hudson Valley, NY, at (845) 863-1772. Or contact us through the office consult form.
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