Treating certain wrinkles can be a challenge, particularly wrinkles that are in areas of your face where you make facial expressions. Over time, wrinkles caused by emoting can deepen and require more serious cosmetic intervention. Fortunately, the experts at Live Medspa in Miami, FL know that using neurotoxins early can be one way to slow down the aging process and help you look younger for longer.
Neurotoxins
Neurotoxins are an injectable treatment that treats a very specific sign of visible again – dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles form as a result of repeated facial movements over a lifetime, which is why they tend to form between the eyebrows, on the forehead, around the eyes, and in the lower face around the nose and mouth.
Neurotoxins can effectively relax the wrinkles that contribute to the development of dynamic wrinkles, which then smooths the appearance of these wrinkles. Because dynamic wrinkles can’t be treated with dermal fillers, neuromodulator injectables are generally the best treatment option. The best neuromodulators include:
Botox
Botox is the most popular neurotoxin in the world. As a staple in cosmetic treatments, Botox enjoys a long-standing reputation as being the safest and most effective neuromodulator on the market – and it has been used by thousands of people for more than fifteen years. Botox is incredibly versatile and can be used on most areas of the face.
Xeomin
Xeomin is a newer neurotoxin treatment. While both of these injectables use the same base neurotoxins, Xeomin has a “naked” form of the toxin that may be a better match for people who have moderate signs of aging. Xeomin matches Botox unit for unit and is sometimes used as an alternate treatment to avoid tolerance build-up.
Dysport
Dysport is a neurotoxin that has been designed to have a “slimmer” formula that makes it an ideal match for people who have mild signs of aging. Dysport is a bit more dynamic than other neuromodulators and tends to produce results more quickly thanks to the thinner formulation.
How Do Neurotoxins Work?
Overall, neurotoxins are very simple treatments that work by making several tiny injections with a small needle into targeted muscles of the face. Once neuromodulators are injected into the muscles, the toxin interferes with the normal communication between the nerves and the brain. In other words, these treatments stop the muscles in the face from receiving movement signals from the brain, which relaxes the muscles of the face and ultimately smooths out the appearance of dynamic wrinkles.
Most neurotoxins are formulated with botulinum toxin, which is a byproduct of a particular bacteria. Although the word toxin is part of this treatment, the injectable formulas themselves are not toxic – each formula is highly refined and generally well-tolerated by most people.
How Much Do These Treatments Cost?
While dermal filler costs are measured by how many syringes of product you need, neurotoxin treatment prices are determined by how many units are required for your treatment. In general, 20 units can cost up to $200 and treat mild signs of aging in one or two areas of the face. The more units you require for treatment, the more your treatment will cost.
Will Your Face Be Frozen?
This is one of the most common misconceptions about these treatments. No, your face will not be frozen after a neuromodulator treatment. Generally speaking, these treatments are designed to slow down the responsiveness of your facial muscles, not freeze them entirely. After your treatment, your facial expressions will be more subtle since the muscles in your face will be relaxed. Over time, this will train the muscles in your face to be “softer” instead of tense.
Will You Be Able To Feel Your Face?
Yes, you will still be able to feel your face after your treatment. Many first-time patients worry about numbness in the face after this treatment, but any numbness associated with your treatment will be thanks to a topical numbing cream used during your appointment. After your treatment, you will still have sensation in your face; this is because the neurotoxin used to develop this treatment only affects motor neurons.
Will Your Results Look Natural?
Yes, the results of your treatment will look natural. In fact, this is one of the advantages of neurotoxin treatments. Because only specific muscles in the face will be treated, you will not need to worry about your results making your face or facial expressions appear unnatural. Unless you tell them, people won’t be able to know you’ve had neuromodulator treatments at a glance.
How Soon Will You See Results?
Most people will see the full results of this treatment within five to seven days, although people who use Dysport may notice faster results. Your results will generally last for about three to four months regardless of which neuromodulator injectable you use. For that reason, the recommended treatment frequency is generally three or four times a year to enjoy continuous results.
What’s the Best Age for Treatment?
There is no true ideal age for neurotoxin treatments. While many people use neuromodulators in their 40s, there are more and more people in their 30s and even their 20s who are using these injectable treatments as a preventative measure against visible aging. In particular, younger people are using these treatments in areas of the face where dynamic wrinkles are likely to form, such as the forehead. That said, even if you’re older, you won’t have missed your window of opportunity to use these treatments.
Try Neurotoxins Today
Injectable treatments like neuromodulators are becoming increasingly popular, even among younger people. These treatments can help you look younger by relaxing tense muscles in the face that cause dynamic wrinkles to form. When paired with dermal fillers, neurotoxin injectables can effectively reverse the visible signs of aging without ever needing plastic surgery.
