Neurotoxins
At Georgia Dermatology Partners in Braselton, Snellville, and Loganville, GA we offer two neurotoxins to address lines and wrinkles on the upper third of the face and certain other areas off label. These are BOTOX® and Dysport®. Although these two products are very similar there are some differences.
What Is A Neurotoxin?
These injectables are classified as neurotoxins because of how they go about taming lines and wrinkles. Both BOTOX® and Dysport® are made from the botulinum toxin type A. They work by stopping muscles from contracting for a period of time. This is completely different from dermal fillers, such as Juvederm® and Restylane®. Fillers work by simply returning volume.
When injected beneath a wrinkle, crease, or area of volume loss, dermal fillers add volume and push the skin back upward, erasing the wrinkle or filling the space.
What Is Botox® And Dysport®?
BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® are prescription drugs called neurotoxins, that, when injected, temporarily paralyzes muscles. They are used to treat permanent furrows and deep wrinkles in the skin that are formed by the continual contraction of facial muscles.
How Does Botox® And Dysport® Work?
Back in the 1950s scientists discovered that when a miniscule amount of the botulinum toxin was injected into a muscle it temporarily stopped that muscle from contracting. BOTOX® was born out of that research. Its initial FDA approval was for the treatment of involuntary eyelid spasms.
BOTOX® and Dysport® are all neurotoxins and they all work the same way. Certain wrinkles, known as dynamic wrinkles, form when repeated muscle contractions under the skin eventually begin to create wrinkles on the surface skin. This happens on the upper third of the face, the expressive area. When you make an expression, such as a frown, you can feel the muscles around your eyes, brows, and forehead engage. When a neurotoxin is injected into one of these muscles, it blocks the nerve messages sent from the muscle to the brain. Since the brain never receives a message to contract the muscle, it remains relaxed. Without the muscle contraction, the wrinkle on the surface skin doesn’t form.
BOTOX® and the other neurotoxins only work on dynamic wrinkles formed by muscle contractions.
Botox® Vs. Dysport®
These two products are very similar. Both are made from the botulinum toxin type A. Both work on static wrinkles by blocking muscle contractions. At Georgia Dermatology Partners, we have patients who request both of these popular injectables.
We find Dysport® has some advantages over BOTOX®, although they are subtle:
- Dysport® takes effect more quickly, relaxing the injected muscle in just one day. BOTOX® takes 4-5 days.
- Dysport® diffuses more, meaning it is able to spread to a wider area. This is an advantage for crow’s feet and forehead lines that cover more area.
- Dysport® has a lower price, but this is offset by its dilution. This dilution means more Dysport is necessary to achieve the same results as a lesser amount of BOTOX®.
Candidates For Botox® Or Dysport® At Georgia Dermatology Partners
Whether these neurotoxins are right for you depends on the type of wrinkles you are trying to address. As mentioned above, neurotoxins work on dynamic wrinkles formed by muscle contractions. These occur on the upper third of the face: crow’s feet at the outside of the eyes, the 11s between the eyebrows, and lines on the forehead.
The other type of wrinkles, known as static wrinkles, are due to sun damage, declining collagen production, personal habits, and natural aging. These wrinkles and lines form on the lower part of the face. You know them as smile lines, marionette lines, parentheses lines, barcode lines, and others. They have nothing to do with muscle contractions and these wrinkles show themselves at all times.
BOTOX® and Dysport® don’t work on static wrinkles; these need to be “filled” from beneath with a dermal filler such as Restylane®.
What Kind Of Results Can I Expect From My Injections?
Dysport® and BOTOX® are very effective at removing crow’s feet, the 11s, and forehead lines for up to about four months. Dysport® usually fully takes effect after just a day, while BOTOX® takes about four days to fully stop the muscle contractions. Some patients respond to off-label use of Dysport® on areas such as neck banding, but these results vary by the patient.
What Is Recovery Like From Botox® Or Dysport® Injections?
The procedure takes only a few minutes and provides only minimal discomfort with minor, temporary side effects. Most patients go right back to work or continue their activities immediately after the procedure.
It is unlikely that you’ll develop any significant side effects, but you may notice slight bruising at the injection sites. This is only temporary and can be covered by makeup. The most common side effects are headaches, slight swelling around injection sites (usually lasts 30 minutes to 1 hour) and temporary eyelid droop (can usually be reversed, if desired).
Barbara S.
“Excellent service. Did not have to wait long at all to get in. I’ve been coming here for 20+ years; doctors and other staff members have always been stellar.”
When Will I See Results From My Cosmetic Injections?
You should begin to see significant improvement within 5 to 7 days. The benefits usually last between 2 to 4 months. Most patients achieve their desired results after just one injection, although additional treatment sessions may be required in the future. In order to maintain and maximize your benefits, it is recommended to retreat every three months.
Side Effects With Botox® And Dysport® Injections
BOTOX® and Dysport® have been injected millions of times around the globe and have proven to be safe and very effective at erasing dynamic wrinkles. The main side effects are redness and slight swelling at the injection sites. Some patients experience a headache after injections. These effects usually pass in a day or so.
The main issue with these neurotoxins is injection into an incorrect muscle, creating problems such as drooping eyelids. That’s why at Georgia Dermatology Partners only our doctors inject these products because of their extensive knowledge of facial anatomy.
It is important that the patient not rub the injection sites for 24 hours after their session, as this can make the BOTOX® or Dysport® migrate to an unwanted muscle.
Contact Us!
For more information on Botox, or Dysport® treatments in Loganville, Snellville, Braselton, Gainesville, Monroe, and Lawrenceville, GA please contact our skin care consultant at 470-400-SKIN (7546)or schedule an appointment. To request a cosmetic consult, please fill out our online form.
