A new injectable wrinkle relaxer called Xeomin was recently FDA-approved and is expected to arrive at doctors’ offices across the U.S. by late September 2010.
What is Xeomin?
Developed by German pharmaceutical company Merz, Xeomin is a new formulation of the botulinum type A neurotoxin that has been used to treat neuromuscular conditions, as well as forehead wrinkles and frown lines, for years.
Currently, Xeomin is FDA-approved only for therapeutic use in treating neuromuscular conditions, such as cervical dystonia and blepharospasm, whereas Botox and Dysport are approved for both therapeutic and cosmetic indications. However, now that Xeomin is FDA-approved, it may be used for any medical purpose, including off-label cosmetic treatment.
Used in Europe since 2008, Xeomin works by temporarily paralyzing muscles that cause facial expressions and neuromuscular conditions, thereby reducing dynamic wrinkles, or expression lines, and calming tense or spastic muscles.
Botox cost unlikely to drop
If the April 2009 launch of Botox’s first-ever competitor Dysport serves as any indication, it is likely that the per-unit price for Xeomin injections will be similar to prices for Botox.
Many physicians and consumers had hoped that once Botox was forced to compete against other wrinkle-relaxing injectables that it would drive prices down, however this has yet to occur, a reality that Xeomin’s launch probably will not change.
Xeomin vs. Botox vs. Dysport
When compared to Botox and Dysport, Xeomin’s botulinum type A formulation may have the advantage when it comes to treating neuromuscular conditions. Xeomin is free of complexing proteins, so the higher doses necessary for therapeutic treatment can be given without resulting in antibody formation.
Xeomin’s advantage will probably not extend to cosmetic uses, as the doses needed for cosmetic injection are so small antibody formation isn’t really a risk that needs to be avoided.
In fact, some believe that Xeomin’s tendency to migrate or spread beyond the injection site might make Botox and Dysport better choices for cosmetic wrinkle treatment, as neurotoxin migration can result in unwanted muscle relaxation, which causes side effects like droopy eyelids or a crooked smile.
For the time being, it is best not to put much stock in speculation regarding the merits and shortcomings of Xeomin until the product can be further studied following its U.S. launch. Only science can prove Xeomin’s worth in cosmetic medicine.
To temporarily reduce facial wrinkles, some people are placing their trust in acupuncture, the ancient Chinese therapy long believed to alleviate many physical ailments and emotional imbalances.
In this ABC News segment Dr. Bruce Genter, a Pennsylvania plastic surgeon, voices skepticism about the treatment, pointing to the lack of scientific evidence supporting acupuncture as a wrinkle treatment. Still, some people claim that it works; are they seeing real results or simply being optimistic?
Julia Engstrom, who says she has used Botox and laser treatments in the past, believes facial acupuncture has improved the texture of her skin and reduced the appearance of wrinkles. Nearing the end of 10 treatments, she says her improvements have come through improved sleep and relaxation. “I’ve noticed that my skin is a lot smoother, there’s a lot less red pigment in there and the wrinkling seems to be a lot less,” Engstrom said. “I also have a lot less darkening under my eyes and I’ve been getting a lot of compliments.”
The popular wrinkle treatment Botox Cosmetic could be prescribed as a headache treatment in the future. New research published in Archives of Dermatology shares information about the recent clinical studies of Botox as a headache treatment, finding that certain patients experienced less frequent migraine attacks: “Patients who responded to Botox reported their migraines were reduced to fewer than 1 day a month from almost 7″, said Bloomberg news.
Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc has applied for FDA clearance to market the drug as a headache treatment. However, researchers say they cannot fully explain how Botox works to relieve headaches. One co-author of the study, Rami Burstein says, “it may block the signals in sensory nerves located on the outside of the head.”
In Houston, we all like to start the New Year on a positive note. Many of us take stock of what we’ve accomplished and focus on aspects of our life we hope to improve. If time has etched lines, wrinkles and grooves into your face, finding a solution may be near the top of your self-improvement wish list. BOTOX to the rescue!
By now, you probably know that BOTOX is a highly diluted form of the botulinum toxin used to correct certain facial lines and wrinkles. FDA-approved in 2002, BOTOX injections may be the single most popular non-surgical procedure to reduce or eliminate facial lines, wrinkles and grooves.
Wrinkles emerge over time
Crow’s feet, lines and even deep grooves appear on our faces over the years, the result of our natural expressiveness, lifestyle habits, and the tendency to move our facial muscles in habitual ways. For instance, you may squint a lot (when you’re concentrating, when you’re worried, when the sun is bright, or when you are trying to focus your vision.) As the years go by, this repetitive motion begins to carve lines in your face and can eventually result in a permanent expression of worry or intense concentration.
We frequently notice these facial lines and wrinkles on friends and strangers alike. At times, we also find ourselves looking at someone and wondering, “Why is she so angry?” or “Why is he so uptight and stressed?” We’re talking about that vertical line that runs down the center of the forehead: one of the most obvious facial flaws, in otherwise attractive men and women.
Why BOTOX?
BOTOX injections are a quick and cost-effective way to improve your looks. Performed by a highly experienced hand, the results are truly gratifying, softening the appearance of common lines and wrinkles:
Around the eyes (crow’s feet)
On the forehead (both vertical and horizontal lines and creases)
Around the mouth (smile lines)
For days after BOTOX is administered, you will look in the mirror and continue to see increased improvement in your face as the treatment reaches its full effect. BOTOX requires only local anesthesia, if any at all. The procedure effectively blocks signals relayed between certain nerves and muscles, causing a temporary paralysis in specific facial muscles.
After Botox treatment, you’ll still be able to smile, frown, and make normal facial expressions. BOTOX generally lasts 4-6 months before it needs to be replenished. Over time, many of our patients notice that their facial wrinkles continue to diminish even when they have BOTOX treatments less often. It almost seems to “train” the muscles to be more relaxed, resulting in a more serene, pleasing image as time goes by.
You only have one face
A word of caution: You may have heard about “BOTOX parties,” where the treatment is administered to a group of women in someone’s home. We strongly recommend that you avoid this route. You only have one face. Don’t place it in the hands of someone whose knowledge of facial anatomy may be insufficient. Just because someone can inject BOTOX doesn’t mean he or she can do it properly or with an eye trained to give the best aesthetic result. A trained plastic surgeon will administer the treatment with your very own unique face taken into consideration. The only BOTOX party worth attending is the one done safely in our Houston office.
If you are between age 18 and 65, are not pregnant, nursing or living with a muscular disorder, you’re probably a good candidate. Talk to us about BOTOX and start the New Year on a brighter, more attractive note. We’ve got Botox appointments available in Cypress, The Woodlands, at our Medical Center office, and Sugar Land.
treatment in the future. New research published in Archives of Dermatology shares information about the recent clinical studies of Botox as a headache treatment, finding that certain patients experienced less frequent migraine attacks: “Patients who responded to Botox reported their migraines were reduced to fewer than 1 day a month from almost 7″, said 
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