When you smile, laugh, frown, or look puzzled, you contract the muscles of your face. Over time, these contractions produce permanent furrows and deep wrinkles in the skin. You may notice this around the eyes and mouth, between the eyebrows, and on the forehead. These lines can make you look older, sad, angry or tired. If you have noticed these signs of aging on your face, Charlotte Ann Rhee MD provides BOTOX and Dysport injections. These injections prevent you from deepening lines during natural facial movements and erase these marks of aging to leave you looking younger and more refreshed. Dr. Rhee is a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Huntington, NY serving Long Island and surrounding areas in New York.
What Is BOTOX?
BOTOX® is the brand name for botulinum toxin A, a therapeutic muscle-relaxing agent derived from the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. Originally approved by the FDA for the treatment of eye muscle spasms, BOTOX® was quickly recognized for its cosmetic value.
When injected in small doses in specific areas, BOTOX® injections block nerve muscles responsible for the repetitive actions that cause fine lines and wrinkles. In this way, BOTOX® smooths the lines in the skin that make you look tired or angry. We do not currently offer BOTOX® but offer a similar product, Dysport.
What Is Dysport?
Dysport® is another brand name for botulinum toxin. Dysport® is an FDA-approved treatment, for temporarily lessening or eliminating moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows. Like BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport® injectable is placed directly into the muscle underneath a furrow, weakening the muscle to the point where it cannot contract.
What Are The Differences Between BOTOX and Dysport?
There isn’t much difference between these two neuromodulators. They all are made from the botulinum toxin type A. They all work by blocking muscle contractions that form lines and wrinkles on the upper third of the face.
BOTOX® has the most approvals. It was first approved in 2002 for frown lines and forehead lines. The FDA added approval for crow’s feet in 2011, although it had been used “off-label” for that almost since the beginning. BOTOX® also has FDA approvals for a bevy of other uses, everything from treating migraine headaches to stopping urinary incontinence and excessive sweating.
Dysport® has been approved by the FDA (in 2009) for forehead wrinkles and frown lines. It was also approved for cervical dystonia (upper limb spasticity) in children in 2019. Botox® and Dysport® are very similar, but they have some subtle differences. Some people think Dysport® lasts one month longer than Botox, but that hasn’t been clinically proven. The two products are diluted differently, so it takes more Dysport® to achieve the same results as Botox®, but the price is cheaper, so it equals out in the end. Dysport® is made of smaller molecules compared to Botox®. This allows Dysport® to start working a day or so faster than Botox®. It also allows Dysport® to be spread to a larger area. But the smaller molecules also make Dysport® more difficult to work with when treating smaller areas.
The only real difference between these two neurotoxins is the price.
What Are The Benefits of Neuromodulator Injections?
Seen one wrinkle, seen them all, right? Not so much. There are actually two types of wrinkles: dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles.
BOTOX® and Dysport® both work their magic on the dynamic type. These wrinkles form on the upper third of the face due to muscle contractions under the skin when we make various expressions, such as frowning or showing surprise, among others. Go ahead, make a frown. Feel the muscles around your eyes, between your eyebrows, and on your forehead engage? As we age, we’ve performed these expressions hundreds of thousands of times. As our skin thins and the production of collagen drops, wrinkles begin to form above these muscles when we make these expressions. Hello, frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet.
When a neuromodulator is injected into one of the muscles that create a dynamic wrinkle, the botulinum toxin blocks the acetylcholine (the nerve messenger in the muscle whose job is to relay messages from the muscle to the brain) in the muscle. This prevents the nerve message to contract the muscle from getting to the brain. So, the muscle stays at rest. That was how the initial use of BOTOX® for treating involuntary eyelid spasms was discovered (that was, by the way, also the first FDA approved the use of BOTOX® back in 1996). The action is the same when injected into a muscle that creates a wrinkle above it when it contracts. The muscle stays at rest and the line, crease, or wrinkle is either fully erased or dramatically lessened in appearance.
That’s the magic of BOTOX® and Dysport®. It’s no wonder neuromodulator injections have been the most popular cosmetic procedure around the world every single year since BOTOX® was first approved by the FDA in 2002.
When you have Dr. Rhee inject a neuromodulator, in about four days your 11s, forehead lines, and crow’s feet are gone. That erases years and years of aging on the expressive upper third of the face.
As for that other type of wrinkle, the static wrinkle, those are due to sun damage, personal habits such as smoking, declining collagen production, and natural aging. Static wrinkles have nothing to do with muscle contractions, and they show themselves at all times. Static wrinkles form mainly on the mid to lower face, especially around the mouth and lips. They are the domain of dermal fillers such as Juvéderm and Restylane, which Dr. Rhee also offers.
Choose Dr. Rhee For Your Cosmetic Injections
Even though BOTOX® & Dysport® is not a surgical procedure, it is very important to choose a highly experienced and qualified physician when deciding to undergo injectable treatments. Doctors who are less familiar with the technique could leave you looking “frozen” or perpetually surprised. Dr. Charlotte Rhee and her staff are intimately familiar with BOTOX® & Dysport®, having successfully treated hundreds of patients at our office. We also take the time to talk with each candidate before beginning the injections to find out what he or she wants to achieve and to determine how best to correct their problem area(s).
Candidates For Cosmetic Injections
A good candidate for cosmetic injections with Dysport® or BOTOX® maybe anyone looking to enhance their appearance by getting rid of unwanted lines or wrinkles. It is also important that patients seeking treatment are in good physical health, are not pregnant or nursing, and do not have a neuromuscular disorder.
Men and women considering cosmetic injections should have realistic expectations of what the procedure can do. You should discuss your desired results with Dr. Rhee and her staff during your consultation to ensure that your goals can be achieved.
How will I know which neuromodulator is best for me?
You really can’t go wrong with any of these two injectables. Dr. Rhee can discuss the differences with you, as we’ve described above. The main difference is the price point and the slightly greater spreading ability of Dysport®.
Wrinkle Treatment Consultation
What To Expect During Dysport & BOTOX Injections
Using a very fine needle, your qualified physician at Dr. Rhee’s office will make the injections into designated muscles in your face that are causing lines and wrinkles. You may experience brief, mild discomfort during the injection, but you can be assured that the treatment is very safe and effective. Taking only a few minutes, the treatment requires no anesthetic and recovery is immediate. You will be able to return to work and resume your normal daily activities that same day. Many patients get injections during their lunch break!
Dysport Injections
Results Of BOTOX & Dysport
Immediately following your treatment, you may experience mild bruising, which will go away shortly. You will see your wrinkles begin to fade within 24 hours, with continued improvement over the next 5 days. The effects of BOTOX® and Dysport® typically last up to four months, although many have reported results lasting up to a full year. After several treatments, the results may be prolonged.
For optimum results, many patients choose to use cosmetic injections in conjunction with a facelift, skin rejuvenation therapy, and/or laser skin resurfacing.
How Is BOTOX & Dysport Different Than Dermal Fillers?
Side Effects Of Wrinkle Reducing Injections
Side effects of cosmetic injections are rare and are usually mild and temporary. The most common side effects caused by BOTOX® and Dysport® are headaches and temporary redness or bruising of the skin at the site of injection. In rare cases, slight drooping of an eyelid or asymmetry of expression may occur. Any risk of complication can be reduced by choosing a qualified and experienced physician.
Schedule A Consultation
If you are interested in learning more about our BOTOX® and Dysport®, contact our Long Island office! Call (631) 424-6707 today to schedule an appointment with Charlotte Ann Rhee MD. Our practice serves Huntington, Long Island, and surrounding areas in New York.