Forehead furrows. Fine lines around the lips. Crow’s feet. The signs of aging are nearly the same for everyone. Wouldn’t it be nice to turn back the clock by smoothing away those wrinkles and fine lines? Now you can do just that with the help of an injectable treatment called Xeomin. An FDA-approved treatment for moderate-to-severe lines on the upper face, Xeomin is similar to Botox. It’s one of several anti-aging treatments offered by Nubo Spa in Berkeley, CA.
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What Is Xeomin?
Xeomin contains botulinum toxin type A, which blocks muscle movement in the area around the injection site. Because it prevents those facial muscles from fully contracting, the treatment makes fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. Most patients who have had an injection enjoy a smoother, more youthful-looking face for three to four months. This botulinum treatment is particularly effective on frown lines between the eyebrows, but it is also used to treat crow’s feet, fine lines above the lip, furrowed brows, and other cosmetic concerns.
How Is It Different From Botox?
Although it hasn’t been around as long as Botox, the two treatments function in much the same way. One difference between the two is their chemical formulation. Xeomin is considered a “naked” neurotoxin, which means it is comprised of just a single ingredient: botulinum toxin A.
Botox, on the other hand, is made up of botulinum toxin and several other additives and proteins. Because it is made up of a single ingredient, Xeomin is less likely to provoke an allergic reaction, and patients are less likely to build up resistance to the treatment over time.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Treatment?
This widely used treatment is ideal for a range of patients, including those who want a more youthful appearance and those who have used Botox for years and are starting to find it less effective.
You Want a More Youthful Appearance
If you’re tired of looking in the mirror and seeing crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, and frown lines, it may be time to explore a botulinum injection. This quick and easy treatment resolves those cosmetic concerns for months at a time, allowing you to put your best face forward.
You’re Not Interested in Cosmetic Surgery
For many patients, cosmetic surgery is also an option, but not everyone is able to commit to the downtime and recovery period associated with a surgical procedure. For patients who are interested in a more youthful look without the commitment of surgery, this injectable treatment offers the best of both worlds. There is no downtime associated with Xeomin. It is a non-surgical and non-invasive alternative.
You’re Realistic About the Outcome
The ideal patient is eager for a rejuvenated and more youthful look but also understands that this treatment won’t make you look like a teenager again. Most patients experience a reduction in lines and wrinkles, which gives them a more relaxed, refreshed, and youthful appearance. The ideal patient is also emotionally stable enough to handle the subtle changes and improvements the face will undergo after treatment.
You’re Looking to Ward off the Signs of Aging
Younger patients who are just starting to notice fine lines and other early signs of aging are increasingly seeking out botulinum treatments as a way of addressing the issue early on and trying to prevent additional lines. These patients — many of whom are in their late 20s and 30s — are opting to make botulinum injections a routine part of their skincare regimen.
You’ve Developed a Resistance to Botox
If you’ve been using Botox for years but are starting to notice that your treatments are less effective, switching to a different treatment may be something to consider. It’s not uncommon for patients to build up a resistance to Botox over time. One of the benefits of Xeomin is that, unlike Botox, it has just one ingredient: botulinum toxin A.
The pure formulation of this injectable means patients are less likely to develop a resistance to it over the years. If you’re considering a change in your treatment, talk with your skin care provider about the options available to you, and whether or not a change makes sense.
You Have Healthy Skin
Botulinum treatments are safe and effective for men and women 18 years of age or older of all skin types, colors, and tones. If you are experiencing swelling or have an infection in the area surrounding the injection site, it’s a good idea to wait on treatment until that condition has passed. Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have neurological diseases generally should not receive these injectable treatments without a doctor’s approval.
What Is Treatment Like?
If you’re interested in a botulinum treatment, we’ll start by scheduling a consultation where we’ll review your medical history, any medications you’re taking, your skin concerns, and your treatment goals. We’ll work with you to determine whether or not this treatment is the best option for you, and whether it will give you the results you’re looking for. After that consultation, the next step is to schedule your treatment.
During Your Treatment
On the day of your treatment, we’ll clean the injection site with a mild cleanser, and we may even mark the area being treated. An ultra-fine needle will be used to inject botulinum into the facial muscles. Depending on the scope of the treatment, it’s possible that 2 or 3 injections will be needed. Most patients are surprised at how quick and easy the injections are.
The sensation associated with botulinum treatments is often compared to a series of quick pinpricks. After treatment, we may apply ice and pressure to cool the area down. Your appointment should take no more than an hour.
After Your Treatment
It’s a good idea to avoid manipulating or rubbing the injection site right after treatment. Otherwise, you can reapply your makeup immediately and get right back to your schedule. Many patients even schedule these treatments during their lunch hour or during other breaks in their workday. We know you’ll be eager to see results, and most patients start to see the effects of their treatment within 3 to 5 days. You won’t need to return to our office until you’re ready for your next treatment, which could be several months down the road.
Can Botulinum Injections Be Combined With Other Services?
Depending on individual cosmetic goals, some patients opt to pursue more than one treatment. Botulinum injections, for example, are sometimes combined with dermal fillers, which help fill in the tissue beneath the skin to address sagging skin, wrinkles, and creases. During your consultation, we can talk about the full slate of treatment options available to you.
Who Will Perform My Treatment?
All of our treatments are overseen by Dr. Shay Nicholas, our medical director. Dr. Shay is a board-certified physician with a passion for medical aesthetics.
She attended college in New York City and medical school in Connecticut, and she has done internships and residencies at some of the country’s top universities. Over the course of her career, Dr. Shay has practiced emergency medicine, intensive care medicine, and administrative medicine. She currently practices emergency medicine at a hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Why Choose Our Practice?
Are you ready to say goodbye to the fine lines and furrows that are aging your face? Call Nubo Spa in Berkeley, CA today, and we can determine whether Xeomin is right for you and put you on a path toward a fresher, revitalized look. Our contemporary, upscale, boutique med spa offers a full range of facial, skincare, massage, and aesthetic services. We also offer medical-grade skincare products.
FAQ
What Areas Can Be Treated?
Although this injection has been approved by the FDA to treat frown lines between the eyebrows, it is also used to treat other cosmetic lines and wrinkles on the face, including crow’s feet, fine lines around the lips, bunny lines on the nose, drooping brows, and chin dimples. The injection targets dynamic facial wrinkles, which are the wrinkles formed by facial movements like squinting, smiling, or furrowing the brow. Static wrinkles, which are often the result of factors like sun exposure and aging, respond better to other forms of treatment.
This treatment can also help with cosmetic issues beyond fine lines and wrinkles. It has been used to sculpt and refine soft jawlines and resolve gummy smiles, or smiles that reveal too much of the gum. This injectable has also been used to perk up the corners of a smile that naturally droops.
Does It Work?
There’s a reason why botulinum injections are among the most popular and frequently performed cosmetic treatments in the country. This is a safe treatment and, yes, it does work. The effects of the treatment usually start to show up within 5 days of the injection, and the final results should be visible within 10 days.
Treatments last anywhere from 3 to 6 months, so you’ll need to return for repeat treatments to maintain your new look. Most of our patients are very satisfied with their treatments and say they have new confidence about their appearance after undergoing an injection.
Will I Look Plastic or Overdone?
Botulinum injections have been used to treat facial lines for a couple of decades now, and the treatment has evolved to offer much more natural-looking results. If this is a concern, please let us know during your consultation. We will talk through this concern and explain how we’ll approach treatment in a manner that results in the outcome you’re hoping for.
Can This Treatment Be Used to Achieve a Lip Flip?
Upper lip enhancements have become trendy cosmetic procedures in recent years. Fillers can be used to achieve fuller lips that appear youthful and pouty, but botulinum injections are also increasingly used to achieve this effect. A strategically placed botulinum injection helps the upper lip relax enough that it rolls slightly upward, making more of the upper lip visible. Botox is commonly used for a lip flip, but Xeomin can be used for this treatment as well. Using an injectable to achieve a lip flip can be a great way of seeing if you like the look before proceeding to a filler.
What Else Can This Treatment Be Used For?
Although it’s emerged as a popular cosmetic treatment, that’s not all this injectable is used for. This muscle relaxer was originally developed for non-cosmetic purposes, and it is still used to treat cervical dystonia, a condition that involves severe spasms in the neck muscles, and blepharospasm, a condition that involves uncontrolled blinking or eyelid spasms. This injectable treatment can also be used to address uncontrolled drooling, excessive underarm sweating, and muscle stiffness in the wrists, elbows, fingers, ankles, or toes.