Clear skin, good hair, and a fit body, the miracle and envied combination. Staying in good shape and having good hair is however incomplete without firm and healthy-looking skin, hence the creation of anti-aging remedies that effectively hide the signs of aging.
Anti-aging injectables such as Botox and Xeomin are a great option because they are FDA approved and the results are almost sudden, the natural and youthful glow that they give the skin is commendable.
Botox is so widely known that it almost completely overshadows the presence of other botulinum toxins such as Xeomin and Dysport. Every anti-aging injection that is produced is perceived as an alternative or competitor of Botox, and Xeomin is constantly being compared with Botox to prove its reliability.
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What is Xeomin?
Xeomin which is also known as obotulinumtoxin A is a medicine produced and marketed by Merz pharmaceuticals. In the appropriate dosage, it is popularly known to be used in the reduction and prevention of fine lines and other facial wrinkles.
Xeomin is administered by being injected into the facial muscles as there are severe side effects if the toxin present in Xeomin injections are released into the bloodstream.
It is a botulinum toxin type A and serves as a U.S FDA-approved treatment for other medical conditions that affect the facial muscles such as chronic sialorrhea, cervical dystonia, upper limb spasticity, blepharospasm, and glabellar lines.
What is Botox?
Botox is also known as onobotulinumtoxin A, and just like Xeomin is another brand of botulinum toxin, it is the most popularly known brand of this toxin and was in use before the production of Xeomin began.\
When injected into the skin on the right prescribed amounts, botox serves as an anti-aging agent that relaxes the facial muscles and smoothes out the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Botox injections work by blocking some neural signals that cause the facial muscles to contract, though its most common use is to reduce skin wrinkles, it can also be used for the treatment of other medical conditions that affect the facial muscles such as chronic migraine, cervical dystonia, lazy eye, muscle contractures, hyperhidrosis, bladder dysfunction, and eye twitching.
What Are The Similarities Between Xeomin and Botox?
Despite being constantly compared as anti-aging injections, Xeomin and Botox have interesting similarities that make them appear as great options when you eventually make a decision on which to go for. Below are the similarities between Xeomin and Botox;
1. They have the same active ingredient
Xeomin and botox injections are both made up of botulinum toxin type A, it is one of the major and active ingredients in both injections that make them suitable for the treatment of facial muscles.
2. They work similarly in the body
Xeomin and Botox are also known to function by blocking the neural signals that affect the facial muscles they are injected to treat.
3. The effects of their treatments are temporary
Xeomin and botox are also temporary treatments as their effects wear off after a couple of months after they are gotten, this is because they only temporarily relax the muscles after administration.
4. They begin to show results around the same time
Xeomin and botox have been proven to show results for whichever treatment they were administered within a week. These results would take a while to completely set in, but they last between three to six months before they fade and new injections would be needed.
5. They are prescribed in similar amounts
The strength and efficiency of fifty units of Xeomin are the same as that of fifty units of Botox as well. This makes the prescribed doses of Botox and Xeomin for different treatments similar.
What Are The Differences Between Xeomin and Botox?
Xeomin and Botox are typically seen as competing forms of botulinum injections, they are often compared to ascertain which is right for use. Do these differences make either of these medications less efficient than the other? Below are the differences between Xeomin and Botox in an attempt to answer this question;
Xeomin is referred to as a “naked” injectable or neurotoxin because of the absence of additives in it, it is a pure and untainted form of botulinum toxin. Its pure form makes it easier for the body to accept and adapt to it unlike if it was laced with additives.
Botox however has protein additives or protective proteins that make it an impure type of botulinum toxin.
Owing to this, some patients that have used botox ended up developing anti-bodies as their body system was unable to accept it. These antibodies are the body’s attempt to resist the treatment and protect itself from the botox injection.
The preservative methods for Xeomin and Botox are also different from each other. To preserve botox units, they must be refrigerated at all times before use. Xeomin on the other hand must not be refrigerated before use, units of Xeomin can be stored at room temperature.
This difference in preservative methods is a result of the presence of protein additives in botox and the absence of those additives in Xeomin units.
Xeomin being easier to store than Botox makes it more accessible and makes the shelf life of its units longer as well.
Is Xeomin Better Than Botox?
Xeomin and Botox are both proven to offer great results when used in proper doses whether for aesthetic modifications or as a treatment medication for other neural conditions. They are effective and safe for the use that is why they have been FDA approved and are constantly used by experienced medical practitioners as a remedy for anti-aging and other medical conditions.
A comparison of Xeomin and Botox does proper justice to the unending questions of interested persons but it is not an attempt to make one seem more relevant in the treatment of medical conditions triggered by facial muscles than the other.
In a situation where this question is being asked due to a genuine concern about which of the two injectables would best suit your body, it is important to see a doctor. With proper medical evaluation and advice after a visit to your doctor, you will be provided with adequate information on which of the botulinum toxins are best suited for your condition.
What Are The Aftercare Procedures For Xeomin and Botox?
Aftercare procedures for Xeomin and Botox treatments are necessary to ensure the injection spread out without interruption and is properly absorbed by the muscles that require them.
After getting a Xeomin or a Botox injection, it is important to avoid rubbing the parts of your face where it was administered. It might have stung when it was gotten and the instinct to rub it might be in hopes of relieving the discomfort but it would result in redness, irritation, or bruising instead.
You should make sure you avoid lying on your face right after you have gotten either of these injections as well. If you must, you would need to wait at least four hours.
Engaging in strenuous activities or exercises a few hours after getting a Xeomin or Botox injection is advised against.
Any type of strenuous activity can prevent these medications from properly settling into your facial nerves and muscles for visible results to follow. If you need a workout or to perform any other vigorous activity, wait until after twenty-four hours at least.
You are advised to avoid intake of blood thinners, pain relievers, and alcohol within 24 hours of getting a Xeomin or Botox injection. These will thin your blood when taken and make you vulnerable to bruising and bleeding. For health and safety purposes, it is important to avoid this completely as they are more likely to cause health complications.
Even if it’s summer or you need to step out for a while and there’s a lot of sun or heat, you would need to protect the skin on your face properly. Contact with heat or sun in less than 24 hours after Xeomin or Botox injections can cause skin inflammation in the form of nonstop redness and swelling.
You would also need to stay away from washing your face or applying lotion to it until six hours after getting any of the injections.
Which lasts longer between Xeomin and Botox?
Xeomin and Botox judging from user experiences are known to last for the same amount of time before the effects begin to fade which is a period of three to six months. The manufacturers of Xeomin claim that it lasts longer than Botox, but it only lasts a few weeks longer in some patients.
Which is cheaper, Xeomin or Botox?
Since Botox is a more trusted treatment and treats more medical conditions than Xeomin as well as has a more complex makeup, it is slightly more expensive than Xeomin. While the average cost of a Xeomin treatment costs $425, the average cost of a Botox treatment is $550.
Which is better, Xeomin or Botox?
Xeomin and Botox are both effective treatment medications for the reduction of wrinkles, fine lines, and soothing facial muscles in general. A situation that requires knowing which is better is where you may have a medical history or allergies that require a doctor’s assistance to decide which of the injections is best and safe for use.
Which is safer, Xeomin or Botox?
Both Xeomin and Botox are safe and effective options that can be used for different medical conditions. The additives in botox might trigger the formation of antibodies in some persons and for these people, Xeomin would be a fitting alternative, but this does not mean Botox is unsafe.
Can you mix Xeomin and Botox?
Studies have shown that mixing Xeomin and Botox injections in one treatment session can trigger the body to release blocking antibodies. It is a mixture that is possible and when done with the right dosage and by an experienced medical practitioner should not result in complications.
In Summary
Naturally, as medical treatments that are frequently used for the same conditions, Xeomin and Botox are constantly being compared.
They have similarities and differences as should be the case, but they remain reliable and safe choices for the reduction of wrinkles, fine lines, and other medical conditions.
With proper medical advice and guidance, you can easily determine which of these injectables are safe for your body. However, the fact remains that several persons feel safer using Botox injection because it has been in existence longer and has gained more trust.
More persons are comfortable and less skeptical about getting Botox injections, but it is now a proven fact that Xeomin injections are just as safe and effective for use.
Sources
- Ife Rodney ( 2021 ), Botox Vs. Xeomin: Which Should I Choose?
- Gerardo Sison (2021), Xeomin Vs Botox: Differences, Similarities, and Which is Better For You.
- Kristeen Cherney (2021), What You Need to Know About Xeomin Vs. Botox
- Deven Hopp (2021), Hollywood’s Best Kept Secret: “Naked Botox”
- Lela Lankerani MD, (2018), Botox Vs. Xeomin: What’s The Difference?
