XEOMIN^®

Stop Wrinkles in Their Tracks

XEOMIN^® was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 20, 2011, for severe frown lines or “11’s” between the eyebrows. As of November 1, 2011, it is now available to the public for use. XEOMIN^®, which is manufactured by Merz Aesthetics, has been used by more than 240,000 people worldwide. It’s now approved for glabellar lines use in almost 20 countries.

The approval of XEOMIN^® is based on the results of two pivotal U.S. clinical trials involving 16 investigational sites and included 547 healthy adult patients. In both studies, XEOMIN^®significantly improved the appearance of glabellar lines 30 days following the first injection, when compared to placebo. XEOMIN^® is the only botulinum toxin currently approved in the U.S. that does not require refrigeration prior to reconstitution.

What is XEOMIN^®?

XEOMIN^® (incobotulinumtoxinA), made by Merz Pharmaceuticals, is FDA-approved by the U.S. for cosmetic indications (just like BOTOX^® Cosmetic), for the treatment of facial wrinkles. The U.S. is actually the 20th country to approve this new drug, and currently, over 100,000 people have been treated with XEOMIN^® injections.

How Does XEOMIN^® Differ from BOTOX^® Cosmetic?

BOTOX^® Cosmetic, Dysport^®, and XEOMIN^® have a lot in common, but they also have some important differences. Unlike its predecessors, XEOMIN^® does not need to be refrigerated. This may be an advantage when it comes to distribution. What’s more, XEOMIN^® is “naked.” There are no additives — just botulinum toxin type A. This may lessen a patient’s likelihood of developing antibodies to XEOMIN^®. When your body senses a foreign invader, it responds by creating antibodies and launching an attack. If this were to occur with a neurotoxin such as botulinum toxin type A, it may not have its desired effects.

XEOMIN^® is a more natural alternative to BOTOX^® Cosmetic. Unlike BOTOX^® Cosmetic, XEOMIN^® has no additives, just botulinum toxin type A. This may mean that there is less risk of developing antibodies against XEOMIN^® than other available neurotoxins. The body creates antibodies in response to a foreign invader and attacks. In theory, antibodies could prevent a neurotoxin from having its desired effects. We have found that XEOMIN^®, being a cleaner and greener product, may need to have more units injected than BOTOX^® Cosmetic. The good news is that it costs less. Results are almost identical to BOTOX^® Cosmetic.

Am I a Candidate?

You may be a candidate for XEOMIN^® if you have frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet, bunny lines, corners of the mouth, low or straight eyebrows (will create a brow lift), smokers lines, wide jawline and square face, and wrinkled or dimpled chin.

What is a Typical Treatment Like?

XEOMIN^® works by softening lines and wrinkles, by blocking the signals from the nerves to the muscles, and as a result, the targeted muscle cannot contract. The effects of XEOMIN^® occur within one week, and the results last from three to six months, making it comparable to BOTOX® Cosmetic in terms of both onset and duration of actions. XEOMIN^® should not be used interchangeably with other botulinum products.

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What Results Will I See?*

The results of XEOMIN^® usually last for three or so months, making it comparable to BOTOX^® Cosmetic in terms of both onset and duration of action. Patients usually notice it start working within a few days, with the full effect seen in 1-2 weeks. The clinical results can vary depending on the skill of the practitioner, the nature, dose and concentration of the product, the frequency of the injections, the nature of the injected muscle, the age of the patient, as well as the quality of the skin. The more of the product you put in, the longer it takes to wear off, as with BOTOX^® Cosmetic also. Deeper wrinkles may require 1 to 2 additional sequential sessions before the best results are seen. At FACE we like to compliment XEOMIN^® or BOTOX^® Cosmetic with injectable fillers in order to fully restore optimal synergy to the face. Your nurse injector will guide you on which options are best for your unique needs.

Is There Any Downtime?*

The most common side effects of XEOMIN^® or BOTOX^® Cosmetic used in cosmetic applications are temporary soreness and mild bruising around the injection sites. Bruising can occur, particularly if a patient has taken aspirin, vitamin E, or NSAIDs. Ideally, patients should stop taking these products 1 week before the procedure. Applying ice to the injection sites before and after treatment may decrease the pain and the risk of swelling and bruising. Some people may experience a slight headache that lasts for several hours after treatment. Your Nurse Injector should discuss all the potential risks of this procedure with you during your consultation.

As of today, no serious issues have been reported among adults who have received botulinum products, such as BOTOX^® Cosmetic, Dysport^® or XEOMIN^®, for cosmetic uses. Adverse effects are usually mild and transient, such as brow ptosis, eyelid ptosis (Eyelid sagging), and are usually due to injector error or lack of injector experience. All of these effects are reversible and fade with time. If you have eyelid drooping after a BOTOX^® Cosmetic procedure, it is a good idea to let the office know because Ptosis can be treated with apraclonidine 0.5% eyedrops. Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) 2.5% can be used when apraclonidine is not available. Note that Neo-Synephrine is contraindicated in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma and in patients with aneurysms. Any other difficulties, such as difficulty breathing or rashes, should be reported to the office.