Nikki Sommer, a nurse practitioner with Key West Surgical Group, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning for Medical Matters.
People considering cosmetic wrinkle treatments have more FDA-approved options than ever, but understanding the differences between them is key to choosing the right treatment.
While “Botox” has become a household name, it is actually one of five FDA-approved neuromodulators currently available for cosmetic use in the United States. Other options include Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau and Daxxify.
“Many people use the word Botox to describe everything,” Sommer said. “Botox is like a household name, like a Kleenex or a Band-Aid. However, they’re all botulinum toxin type A, but they have different brand names associated with them.”
Neuromodulators work by temporarily relaxing targeted facial muscles responsible for expression lines and wrinkles. The treatments interrupt communication between nerves and muscles without causing permanent damage.
“A neuromodulator temporarily interrupts that signal,” Sommer said. “Without the signal, the muscle relaxes, taking away or softening those lines and wrinkles.”
The effects are temporary because the body’s nervous system eventually rebuilds the communication pathway.
“The medication does not suddenly disappear overnight,” Sommer said. “Your nervous system has literally rebuilt a new pathway. Once communication is restored, muscle movement returns, and the wrinkles slowly begin to reappear.”
Sommer also cautioned patients not to compare treatment doses between brands.
“If you get 20 units of Botox and now you’re going to get Dysport, their doses are different,” she explained. “They don’t convert the same. It doesn’t mean you’re not going to get the same result—it just means the science is a little different.”
Although each product works similarly, differences in manufacturing, formulation and dosing make it important for patients to receive individualized recommendations from an experienced injector.
“I realized when I talk to patients about the different toxins, they really aren’t educated on why they’re different and how they work differently,” Sommer said.
Choosing providers based solely on price isn’t a good idea either.
“When you jump from provider to provider, it’s like you need to reintroduce yourself to that provider,” Sommer said. “They don’t understand your muscles or your face or your anatomy. It’s like going on a first date.”
In addition to neuromodulator treatments, Key West Surgical Group Incorporated Med Spa offers laser treatments, radiofrequency skin tightening, microneedling and other aesthetic services tailored to individual patients.
Every patient begins with a complimentary consultation to determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on their goals and anatomy.
For more information, click here: https://www.keywestsurgicalgroup.com/