Freezing One’s Way to the Fountain of Youth: a New Option in Immobility
One of the most popular cosmetic procedures todayis injection of products containing botulinium type A to “freeze” facial muscles by inhibiting nerve signals between the brain and muscles. The quick yet impactful treatment helps to preserve a youthful appearance, even serving to help still-elastic skin “unlearn” lines. As an already widely embraced option for turning back time, there are few strangers to exactly what Botox® is, but some remain unaware that there are other products promising similar results.
In the past few years, there has been the emergence of several other botulinum toxin type A products. Dysport®, and most recently Xeomin, have shown up on the skin scene resulting in yet another choice in our world chock-full of options. Regular injectees and nubies alike are left with another decision in life: Botox®, Dysport®, or Xeomin. Not unlike the choice between Pepsi or Coke, the bulk of information on all of these injectables leads to the conclusion that a decision amongst the immobilizing injections lies in preference alone.
While Dysport® is almost an exact replica of the Botox® product, Xeomin claims to be a slightly different beast. Xeomin, used successfully in Europe since 2008, was recently approved by US Food and Drug Administration. The main thing that differentiates this product from its competitors is that it lacks specific proteins in its makeup. This could mean that the body’s immune system would be prevented from developing antibodies that would eventually wear down its effects. In other words, Xeomin argues that while some users of Botox® experience the build-up of a tolerance to Botox® or Dysport® over time, this would be impossible with Xeomin.
As of yet, there is no evidence whether or not users of Xeomin would experience muscle paralysis as long, or longer than with the other botulinium type A products. Over the next few years, with a longer track record and wider use in the United States, this answer will soon be uncovered. So for now, the debate rages on: Pepsi or Coke?
