If you’re considering Botox injections to help smooth and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, you’re at the right place! Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify, the three main options we offer here at Thistle Medical Aesthetics can be used for relaxing dynamic lines made from repetitive facial expressions. Keep reading to learn more about the three different brands of neuromodulator, how they work, and what to expect at your treatment!
What Are Neuromodulators?
If you’ve heard the words ‘wrinkle relaxers’, ‘neuromodulators’, ‘neurotoxin’, or ‘Botox’, you probably know it’s one of the most popular treatments for smoothing out wrinkles. Did you know? “Botox” is actually a brand name and oftentimes it’s used as a catch-all term for neuromodulators. Here’s the thing– Botox isn’t the only neuromodulator out there. There are five FDA-approved neuromodulators in the market and we offer three of them at our practice: Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify. These are injectables made from botulinum toxin that work by temporarily relaxing muscles to smooth out wrinkles. Each one has its own different properties and the one that’s perfect for you depends on factors like how fast you want to see results, how long you want them to last, and your specific anatomy. Let’s break it down!
Botox: The OG Neuromodulator
Botox Cosmetic has been around for a while and is probably the most well-known name when it comes to smoothing lines and wrinkles. The active ingredient in Botox is botulinum toxin type A, which works by temporarily blocking the nerve signals to your muscles, reducing their ability to contract and causing the lines to soften. You’ll typically start to notice some results within 3-5 days, with full effects showing up at around the two week mark. Results last around 3-4 months, meaning if you want to maintain your results we recommend coming back for touch-ups every few months.
Dysport: The Favorite in our Studio
Dysport also contains botulinum toxin type A, just like Botox, but it has a slightly different formulation. What makes Dysport unique is its diffusion pattern, meaning it spreads out a bit more than Botox. This can make it especially ideal for larger areas like the forehead. Results can start to show up a little quicker, usually in about 2-3 days, with full results in two weeks. Like Botox, Dysport’s effects typically last 3-4 months. It is a client (and staff) favorite in our studio!
Daxxify: The New Kid on the Block
Now, Daxxify is a bit of a game-changer. It’s got the same botulinum toxin type A as Botox and Dysport, but here’s where it gets interesting: Daxxify has a peptide-enhanced formulation that helps it bind more effectively to the nerve endings, which can help the results last even longer when double dosed. So, if you’re someone who wants fewer touch-ups throughout the year, Daxxify could be your perfect match. You’ll generally start seeing results in a few days, with the full effect coming through at about 3 weeks. When properly double dosed, Daxxify can last up to 6 months!
Choosing the Right Wrinkle Relaxer for You
Okay, so how do you pick the right one for you? Here are guidelines to consider:
- Duration: It’s important to note that dose equals duration. When the product is injected, it binds to receptors on the nerve endings in the targeted muscles. The number of molecules (dose) determines how many receptors are occupied. A higher dose results in more receptor saturation, leading to a stronger and longer-lasting effect. It’s recommended that you follow your aesthetic providers suggested dosing so that you get to enjoy your results for the full 3-4 month duration. If you’re looking for a product that kicks in quicker, Daxxify might be a better option for you!
- Rewards Points: Very similar to a frequent flyer program or a points system such as Ulta/Sephora, both Botox (Alle) and Dysport (Aspire) have their own rewards programs offered by the manufacturer. Daxxify is not currently a part of a rewards program but we hope they will in the future! During your appointment, we will recommend that you sign up for one of these rewards programs so you’re eligible to earn and redeem points that turn into coupons so you can apply to each visit. Typically, Aspire offers a $20 welcome coupon for any new members and 200 points (equal to $20 savings) once every 90 days. Essentially, every 3-4 months when you come in for your Dysport treatment, you’ll have a coupon to use towards your appointment! Alle’s rewards program offers members to redeem their points once a year and A-list members to redeem twice a year. Both programs offer seasonal promotions for extra savings!
One of our aesthetic nurse practitioners will help you choose the right treatment for you. We will determine your perfect fit based on your anatomy, lifestyle, and what you’re hoping to achieve with your results. A personalized consultation with one of our experienced aesthetic nurses is the perfect place to start!
During your complimentary consultation, we will review your medical history, discuss your goals, assess your facial musculature, and create a personalized treatment plan just for you. We have time at the end of the consultation for treatment if you are ready! We can always reschedule you to a later date if you’d prefer.
What to Expect Before, During, and After Your Botox Treatment
- Pre-Treatment: To make your experience as comfortable as possible and limit potential side effects like bleeding and bruising, we suggest following our pretreatment recommendations. Staying away from blood thinning medications like Ibuprofen and Aspirin before your appointment, limiting alcoholic beverages beforehand, taking an oral herbal supplement called Arnica, and eating fresh pineapple. The day of your appointment, we recommend eating and drinking plenty of water.
- Day of treatment: Once you and the provider discuss which areas you are interested in targeting and the appropriate amount of units, the appointment takes no longer than 15 minutes with the actual injection time being less than five minutes. The provider will take your before photo for your chart, review your medical history and pre-treatment questionnaire, and ask you to perform different expressions to assess your musculature. The provider will then use a sterilizing wipe or pad over the injection site and slightly pinch the area to raise your skin up, injecting the product using a tiny needle.The injection itself is pretty quick and most clients feel little to no pain. Please note that the number of units received does not equate to the amount of pokes you receive. For example, if we’re treating the forehead/glabella area which can range between 15-20 units, you may expect about 5-10 needle pokes.
- Post-Treatment: Immediately after your injections, you might experience some temporary bumps that resemble “bee stings” which will go away after about 30 minutes. These bumps are normal and are just the product waiting to be absorbed into your muscle. There’s minimal downtime, letting you get back to your day right away. However, we suggest avoiding heavy lifting, exercise, alcoholic beverages, and keeping your head above your heart for 4 hours following treatment. When booking, give yourself up to two weeks before any events as bruising may be expected. Our vasculature is very complex!
If it’s your first appointment with us or we’re treating a different area, we always recommend you coming back in for a two week follow up, or a “sprinkle” as we call it, so that we can assess the area, perfect your dose and tweak anything if we need to! If you’re still experiencing unwanted movement after two weeks, then it is appropriate to add additional units at that follow up visit. Please note, we prefer not to treat anyone within that first 14 days to allow the product to fully settle. After your follow up, you can enjoy your results for about 3-4 months before you will gradually start to see movement again! We encourage you to wait at least 3 months before receiving treatment again because if we treat the area too often you can potentially build up resistance to the product or you may unintentionally train your muscles to need Botox more often for the same results…and we definitely don’t want that!
We hope you learned a little about the three different neuromodulators that we offer. If you still have questions or are ready to begin your aesthetic journey with our team, we invite you in for a consultation! We look forward to chatting with you about how we can help you look and feel your most confident self.
Xo, The Thistle Team
