Botulinum toxin is one of the more effective methods to treat facial wrinkles and lines. Pharmaceutical companies have been making botulinum toxin-based injectables for a decade and have formulated several highly popular anti-aging products, such as Botox and Dysport. While these substances work similarly, they should not be used interchangeably, and they should only be administered by professionals like the medical staff at Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute and NeoDerma DaySpa. Learn more about the injectable products available at our practice by exploring the information below.
How Toxins Work For Facial Aging
Botulinum toxin is a prescription medication that is injected into very specific muscles of the face to temporarily relax the muscle and soften the specific facial wrinkles caused by those muscles. To be even more detailed about how this works, keep reading below!
This prescription medication is botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is a protein made by a bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum. That protein prevents the neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) from being released from the end of the axon nerve ending at the junction of the nerve to the muscle, known as the neuromuscular junction. When the stimulation from the nerve can’t be transmitted across the junction of the nerve to the muscle, the muscle doesn’t contract and the facial expression line (aka wrinkle) softens or is completely prevented from being seen- leaving you looking years younger!
Look Good For Years- Get Toxin on Schedule
Although each patient is different, Toxin treatments have predictable effect and duration of effect. We at Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute, take a very scientific approach as to how we do our Toxin treatment. Once we see how your body responds to standard dosing, we customize each patient’s treatment.
BotoxⓇ
BotoxⓇ is a purified form of botulinum toxin that, when injected, paralyzes the muscles that contract to create wrinkles for a predictable period of time. It is most commonly used on the forehead, the space between the eyebrows above the nose, and the outer eye area. BotoxⓇ is also approved for treating eyelid and neck muscle spasms, excess sweating (hyperhidrosis) and migraine headaches.
Standard dosing for BotoxⓇ Cosmetic
BotoxⓇ is a prescription medication that, when injected, paralyzes the muscles that contract to create wrinkles for a predictable period of time.
Although there are customizable ways to inject BotoxⓇ, the standard doses are used as a guidline so that predictable results are achieved. The standard doses as approved by the FDA are the following: 64 units of BotoxⓇ in 3 areas of the face, about 3 times a year.
Forehead – 20 units
Glabella – 20 units
Lateral canthal lines (Crow’s feet) – 12 units per eye
DysportⓇ
DysportⓇ is an alternative to BotoxⓇ. It is another injectable form of botulinum toxin to smooth wrinkles. While these medications work similarly, they should not be used interchangeably. There are certain advantages of DysportⓇ making it the optimal botulinum formula for certain patients. The hightly trained professionals at CASI customize your treatment plan and help determine which botulinum toxin will work best for you!
XeominⓇ
XeomenⓇ is an alternative to BotoxⓇ and DysportⓇ. It is another injectable form of botulinum toxin to smooth wrinkles. As mentioned above, these medications work similarly, however they should not be used interchangeably. The hightly trained professionals at CASI customize your treatment plan and help determine which botulinum toxin will work best for you!
JeuveauⓇ
JeuveauⓇ is an alternative to BotoxⓇ, DysportⓇ and XeominⓇ. It is another injectable form of botulinum toxin to smooth wrinkles. As mentioned above, these medications work similarly, however they should not be used interchangeably. The hightly trained professionals at CASI customize your treatment plan and help determine which botulinum toxin will work best for you!
SculptraⓇ
How It Works
SculptraⓇ is injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). This biodegradable material has been used for decades in many applications in the field of medicine including in dissovable sutures. PLLA activates the body’s natural regeneration process and stimulates the body to create collagen. Collagen is the most common protein in the body and is intricately involved in skin support.
As one ages, collagen production decreases and the face loses volume and the skin starts to look older. To help restore facial volume, SculptraⓇ injections stimulate the body to create more collagen and increase facial volume. Since it’s your body’s own collagen production that is being boosted over time, the effect is gradual and very natural!
The hightly trained professionals at CASI customize your treatment plan and help determine if Sculptra is the right treatment for you!
SculptraⓇ Intended Use / Indications
SculptraⓇ Aesthetic helps correct shallow to deep facial wrinkles — and folds that appear with aging — by replacing lost collagen.
It involves a treatment regimen consisting of up to 4 injection sessions that are scheduled about 3 weeks apart for correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles.
Since Sculptra® Aesthetic relies on stimulating your own body’s regeneration process, it is intended for use in people with healthy immune systems.
Important Safety Information for Sculptra Aesthetic
You should not use Sculptra Aesthetic if you are allergic to any ingredient of the product or have a history of keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring. Sculptra Aesthetic should not be injected while you have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area, and should not be injected into the red area of the lip. Use in the skin near the eyes is not recommended.
Side effects of Sculptra Aesthetic may include injection site discomfort, redness, bruising, bleeding, itching, and swelling. Other side effects may include small lumps under the skin that are sometimes noticeable when pressing on the treated area. Larger lumps, some with delayed onset with or without inflammation or skin discoloration, have also been reported. In a key clinical study the incidence of small and larger lumps were low, and most resolved without treatment.
KybellaⓇ
KYBELLA® is a prescription medicine used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin. This area is called submental fat and is commonly called a “double chin.”
How It Works
KYBELLAⓇ is deoxycholic acid, which is a naturally occuring substance in the body that aids in the breakdown and and absorption of fat in your food. When injected directly into pockets of fat under the chin, deoxycholic acid destroys fat cells and reduces the fullness of the fat pockets.
It is not known if KYBELLA® is safe and effective for use outside of the submental area or in children less than 18 years of age.
Who should not receive KYBELLA®?
You should not receive KYBELLA® if you have an infection in the treatment area.
Before receiving KYBELLA®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: Have had or plan to have surgery on your face, neck, or chin; have had cosmetic treatments on your face, neck, or chin; have had or have medical conditions in or near the neck area; have had or have trouble swallowing; have bleeding problems.
Although we’re talking about men’s injection treatments in this section, but you’re a female just looking into KYBELLA® do not use KYBELLA® if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if KYBELLA® will harm your unborn baby); are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed (it is not known if KYBELLA® passes into your breast milk; talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive KYBELLA®).
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take a medicine that prevents the clotting of your blood (antiplatelet or anticoagulant medicine).
If you are interested in treatment with toxins or other injectables like KYBELLA® in Chicago and would like more information, please contact Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute today!