Botox and Dysport – General Information
BOTOX® or DYSPORT®
- Is a purified protein toxin produced by bacterium
- To date there have been no serious side effects related to the injections for face wrinkles
- Only small amounts of BOTOX® or DYSPORT® are used and therefore it does not spread throughout the body
- Works by blocking nerve impulses, thereby weakening the muscle that is causing the wrinkle
- Does not affect the nerve itself, so there is no numbness in the area of injection
- Most common areas of usage are: frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and the lines at the corner of the eye
- Alternative areas are: neck bands, nasolabial (cheek folds), chin creases
- The effects usually last 3-5 months and sometimes longer with repeat injections
- In rare instances, some individuals see little effect
- Some wrinkles are caused by skin laxity and cannot be corrected by injecting BOTOX® or DYSPORT®
- Seems to help relieve migraine type headaches in some people
Risks of BOTOX® or DYSPORT® Injections
- Although the long-term results of BOTOX® or DYSPORT® are not known, it has been used to treat eyelid muscle twitching and for wrinkle therapy for about many years.
- Temporary drooping of muscles, other than those intended for wrinkle therapy resulting in a droopy eyebrow, eyelid, lip or looseness of the neck area. This unwanted effect is not common and lasts for a few weeks
- Hypersensitivity
What to Expect
- Redness and swelling for a few days at the injection site
- Bruising may result from the injection and may last a few weeks
- The effects of BOTOX® or DYSPORT® will begin to become noticeable in 3 to 5 days
Alternatives to BOTOX® or DYSPORT® Injections
- Forehead and frown lines can be permanently eliminated by removing the nonessential muscle fibers during a Brow lift
- Frown lines can be removed through two small incisions hidden in the scalp using an endoscope
- Fillers such as: Restylane, Juvederm, Hylaform, Radiance, Sculptra, Perlane, Zyderm, Zyplast, Collagen, Muscle or Grafting material like Alloderm can soften the look
- Direct excision of the wrinkle line is sometimes done
- A Face lift may be necessary to correct wrinkles that are not affected by BOTOX® or DYSPORT®