BOTOX Muscle Relaxer
BOTOX®, The Magic Muscle Relaxer
Most everyone has heard of BOTOX®, and knows it works wonders on facial features, but at the same time, there are misconceptions. For one thing, BOTOX® Cosmetic is a specific trade name, not a category of product. It’s a neuromuscular blocking agent that’s been used for years to treat muscle spasms and multiple other medical issues. Owned by Allergan, BOTOX® Cosmetic was the only botulinum toxin type A formula approved for cosmetic aesthetics, namely between the eyes (the glabella), in the United States. This is why people so closely associate it with appearance enhancements.
Reloxin®, The New Kid On The Block
Just recently (March 17, 2009) Reloxin®, a new muscle relaxing kid on the block has been approved. Reloxin® is distributed by Medicis, the company that makes hyaluronic acid fillers Restylane® and Perlane®. Reloxin® has been sold in Europe and South America for several years under the name Dysport®, so Reloxin® is not new to the cosmetic market.
Although there are small differences between BOTOX® Cosmetic and Reloxin’s botulinum toxin type A formulas, they work in pretty much the same way. Injected by an experienced professional into the offending area, they “relax” the muscle. As the muscle relaxes, wrinkles diminish. One word of caution though, if you have some problem areas you want to make go away for your daughter’s wedding, plan ahead. Full results can take up to 2 weeks in many cases. You should, however, begin to notice some changes in 3 to 7 days.
What Does A Muscle Relaxant Do?
Muscle relaxants can be used on forehead lines, to get rid of the ”angry look” lines between your eyes, crows feet, and can even help a sagging neck. Many of our facial features can be improved when a practitioner carefully relaxes various muscles in your face. One thing to keep in mind; relaxing facial muscles is very provider-dependent and should not be done by just anyone that can get the product. As a skilled practitioner moves from muscle to muscle, they keep in mind the inter-relational aspect of facial muscles. As each one relaxes, others may compensate. You cant just go in and inject a forehead and get rid of the lines. You have to think about what happens inside the muscles of the eyebrows, the cheeks, the eyelids, etc.
Injected into the muscle, a neuromuscular blocking agent will last about 3 to 6 months. The Reloxin people are claiming a bit longer for their product, but I haven’t had enough experience yet with it’s formula to know that for sure.
If all this sounds like a miracle, it really isn’t. For years BOTOX® has been used for reducing and sometimes eliminating muscle spasms in many parts of the body. It is also effective for excessive perspiration under the armpits and on the palms and soles of feet. The wrinkle removing possibilities were a pleasant effect discovered as the product was put in practice.
Want To Learn More?
I discuss BOTOX® Cosmetic and the results you can obtain more thoroughly in a short, informative and quickly read e-book, Skin Secrets Doctors Save For Celebrities , which is free. Since it’s published in e-book form, it will download directly to your email and you can be reading in just a few minutes. Just click the cover at the top right of the page for your copy of this free book. You will then also be on our list to receive a copy of my no cost Years Erased newsletter. In addition to new skin care procedures and techniques, each issue has a different Guest Star professional in their field providing tips and tricks for bringing out Your Best.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bonnie
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What is the difference between Dysport & Botox? Which do you recommend and
why?
Both are botulinum toxin type A. For further differentiation, the FDA requested that they use a different generic name, resulting in “abobotulinumtoxin-A”. The effects are very similar but the unit amounts are different, and the protein content is different. Therefore, if anyone was showing an increased resistence to BOTOX, they may have better results with Dysport. The injection points are turning out to be very similar also.
Personally, I have seen Dysport begin to work a bit sooner than BOTOX. Some anecdotal evidence in the literature has discussed a bit longer duration, but I have not seen that yet. In some offices it may be a bit less costly as the price is slightly lower than BOTOX, but again, it would depend on the office.
Some people are afraid of something new, therefore may not be willing to try it this soon after its release, although it has been used in many other countries for years. The provider and the patient together can decide which they may wish to go for.
Bonnie
I went to a plastic surgeons’s office to try his advertised “special” price on Botox. I had botox injections before (a few times) so I knew what to expect in the way of results. The botox he did lasted HALF the time as other injections I had received. I found out later (from a person who does skin care) that this MD was suspected of diluteing his botox because several complaints had been made of the therapy not lasting very long. Won’t go back to him. Less cost but shorter time means no savings and possible no ethics!
Belinda,
Unfortunately there are some providers who will take advantage of the easily confused “Botox dose”. One might see anything from “per syringe” to “per site” to “per area” to “per cc”. “Per site” or “per area” is OK, but ask if that includes a touch-up. A touch-up is typically given two weeks after the procedure if the target muscles have too much animation (they are moving to much). “Per syringe” or “per cc” means absolutely nothing as you have no idea how diluted the contents are. “Units” are the measurement in both Botox and Dysport (the newer botulinum toxin type A) that indicate how much product you are given. Botox is anhydrous, meaning it is completely dry in packaging and therefore has to be recostituted with saline. Some providers will reconstitute with one or two millilters, while others will add more. The more saline is added the bigger the volume of fluid (providing they are being fair and delivering an appropriate amount of units) will be. Some prefer this method, but I prefer to not cause increased discomfort by large fluid volumes that push your tissues around, causing stinging. So what is an appropriate dose? Anywhere from 20 to 30 units (of Botox, Dysport is different) per site is fairly standard. Always ask about the units.
Thanks for taking time to make your comment,
Bonnie