Xeomin and Botox are popular injectable treatments used for a short-term reduction in the appearance of lines on the face. Both contain botulinum toxin and work by relaxing the muscles under the skin, which helps to diminish lines and wrinkles.
While they share similarities, understanding the differences between Botox and Xeomin, including their uses, side effects, and duration of results, is important when considering these anti-aging treatments.
Keep reading as we break down everything you need to know about Botox and Xeomin.
All about Injectables
Both Xeomin and Botox work by blocking nerve signals to the injection site’s muscles. This relaxes the muscles and smooths out any overlying wrinkles.
The procedures are very quick, only taking a few minutes for the injections. You’ll be able to go about your normal activities afterward.
What is Botox
Botox, with botulinum toxin as its active ingredient, is used to treat pronounced forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet beside the eyes, and the frown lines known as glabellar lines between the eyebrows.
The toxin, botulinum toxin, is safe and FDA-approved to use in these types of procedures.
Botox injections take only a few minutes to complete in your doctor’s office. Based on the treatment areas, your doctor will determine how many units are needed; the FDA-approved dosage for the upper face is 64 units in total. The results of Botox can last around 3 to 4 months.
What is Xeomin
Xeomin also contains botulinum toxin to relax the muscles under the skin that cause frown lines between the eyebrows, called glabellar lines. It also works to smooth horizontal forehead lines and crow’s feet.
The Xeomin procedure takes just a few minutes in your doctor’s office. Your doctor cleans the treatment area before injecting Xeomin in small doses with a very fine needle.
The FDA recommends 64 units in total for neuromodulators like Xeomin in the upper face. Results can last 3-4 months before repeat injections are needed.
Botox vs.Xeomin: What Sets Them Apart
| Aspect | Botox | Xeomin |
| Active Ingredient | Botulinum toxin type A | Botulinum toxin type A |
| Additional Components | Contains additional proteins (complexing proteins) | Free of complexing proteins, which might reduce antibody resistance |
| Onset of Effect | Typically within 5-7 days, improving over two weeks | Similar to Botox, effects begin within 5-7 days and improve over the first month |
| Duration of Effect | Usually lasts 3-4 months | Typically lasts around 3-4 months, with some research suggesting longer-lasting effects |
| Treatment Areas | Broad use: treats forehead lines, crow’s feet, and glabellar lines, and more | Broad use: treats forehead lines, crow’s feet, glabellar lines, and more |
| Side Effects | Pain, swelling, redness, bruising at injection sites, headache, facial pain, temporary muscle weakness, ptosis | Similar to Botox, including pain, swelling, redness, bruising, and other localized effects |
| Special Considerations | May develop antibodies due to additional proteins, reducing effectiveness over time | Lower risk of developing antibodies, potentially maintaining effectiveness with repeated use |
| Ideal Candidates | Healthy adults over 18 years looking to treat multiple areas on the face | Healthy adults over 18 years looking to treat multiple areas on the face |
Qualifying for Xeomin and Botox: Are You a Good Candidate
Both Botox and Xeomin are approved for use in healthy adults ages 18 years and over who want to treat moderate to severe expression lines on the face. You should not have any muscle or nerve disorders.
Inform your doctor about any medications you take, even over the counter, as well as preexisting health conditions. This helps avoid potential interactions and complications.
People with certain health conditions like ALS, myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and infections at the injection site should not receive Botox or Xeomin injections.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, you should not use Botox or Xeomin.
Who Should Avoid Botox and Xeomin
You should not receive Botox or Xeomin injections if:
- You have muscle or nerve disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome. The injections may worsen symptoms.
- You have an infection, rash, cyst, or open wound at the injection site. This increases infection risk.
- You are currently pregnant, attempting to conceive, or are in the process of breastfeeding. The safety of developing babies is unknown.
- You take certain medications like aminoglycoside antibiotics or muscle relaxants. Serious reactions can occur.
Always inform your doctor about all medical conditions and medications before treatment.
Target Areas for Botox and Xeomin
Botox injections are used for managing moderate to severe lines in the glabellar region (an area between the eyebrows where frown lines appear), lines on the forehead, and crow’s feet.
Xeomin is also used for managing moderate to severe lines in the glabellar region (an area between the eyebrows where frown lines appear), lines on the forehead, and crow’s feet.
A skilled injector will help determine how much Botox or Xeomin is needed based on your facial anatomy and which lines you want to smooth. Common injection sites are along the forehead, between the eyebrows, sides of the eyes, and around the mouth or neck in some cases.
Breaking Down the Costs
The average cost per Botox and Xeomin treatment at Green Relief Health are the same. However, prices can vary depending on factors like the total number of areas treated.
Many practices offer first-time discounts or package deals if you commit to a certain number of regular treatments. This can offer significant long-term savings from the total cost of injections.
Xeomin and Botox injections may be covered under certain cosmetic surgery insurance plans as well. Reach out to your insurance provider for information on potential coverage options.
Botulinum Toxin Therapy Risks and Side Effects
While considered very safe nonsurgical procedures, Botox and Xeomin do come with similar potential side effects. The most common include:
- Feelings of pain, noticeable swelling, redness, and bruising at the points of injection.
- Headache and facial pain
- Temporary muscle weakness around injection sites
- Drooping eyelids (ptosis)
These typically resolve within a week or two. Using proper injection techniques minimizes risks. Less common side effects involve flu-like symptoms, vision changes, rash, and nausea.
An experienced, licensed provider should always perform injections within approved guidelines. Inform them about any side effects experienced after Botox or Xeomin injections.
Comparing Lasting Effects
In head-to-head clinical trials directly comparing Botox and Xeomin, both treatments demonstrated similar efficacy. Treatment results emerge within a week, reaching maximal effect within a month. The average duration of symptom relief is 3-4 months for upper face lines.
Repeated treatments are needed to sustain aesthetic improvements, although some research has found that Xeomin may provide longer-lasting wrinkle relaxation than Botox over time.
This may suggest lower antibody resistance builds against Xeomin. However, individual results still vary widely. Talk to your doctor about expectations with each brand of neurotoxin.
Botox vs. Xeomin Results: Which Yields Better Results
Clinical studies found Botox and Xeomin provide similar wrinkle-smoothing results. Both demonstrate efficacy in treating moderate to severe glabellar frown lines between the eyebrows, lateral crow’s feet, and forehead lines.
Botox Results
Visible smoothing of wrinkles from Botox begins within 5-7 days, further improving over two weeks. Maximal wrinkle reductions generally occur at around one month. Results typically last from 3-4 months.
Forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines are all effectively reduced with Botox for most patients. Some extremely minor asymmetry or uneven effects can occur during the early stages but usually resolve during the first week.
Xeomin Results
Improvements from Xeomin emerge within 5-7 days, like Botox, becoming more noticeable over the first month. Full treatment effects build by four weeks.
Xeomin treats the moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows, forehead lines, and crow’s feet. Lines become less noticeable for roughly 3-4 months until repeat injections are required.
Choosing Between Botox and Xeomin: Which is Right for You
Assessing your individual needs and concerns is key when weighing options between Botox and Xeomin wrinkle treatments. Those new to neurotoxin injections should start conservatively focusing only on the most bothersome lines.
The glabellar frown lines between the eyebrows respond extremely well to Botox and Xeomin, making them prime target areas.
If you wish to smooth forehead creases or crow’s feet, too, you may also choose Botox or Xeomin. Cost is equal on average, and both Botox and Xeomin allow for treating multiple areas on the upper face during the same appointment.
Carefully review the pros and cons with an experienced cosmetic provider.
Choosing the Best Botox and Dysport Provider: What to Look For
Seeking properly skilled injectors for either form of botulinum toxin therapy remains vital to optimizing treatment success and safety.
Many types of providers perform Xeomin and Botox procedures, but clinicians focusing on cosmetic specialty fields tend to offer the greatest experience with facial injections.
When choosing a provider, ensure they will be personally handling your injections from start to finish. Ask how many Xeomin and Botox treatments they perform annually.
Request seeing before-and-after photographs of previous patients, too. All outstanding questions regarding the procedures, products, or potential side effects deserve clear explanations from your clinician as well.
For those in the Baltimore, Maryland, area seeking an expert Xeomin and Botox specialist for facial rejuvenation, Dr. Lauren Nawrocki at Green Relief Health provides exceptional skill and care for the finest cosmetic outcomes.
Wrapping Up
In the choice between Botox and Xeomin for smoothing away facial wrinkles, both injectable neurotoxin products offer comparable treatments that safely and effectively relax lines for several months when properly administered.
The active substance in each is botulinum toxin type A and takes effect within days, lasting around 3 to 4 months, typically before requiring repeat injections.
Botox and Xeomin are often used for addressing forehead creases, crow’s feet, eye wrinkles, plus frown lines centrally between the brows.
Xeomin provides similar efficacy with potentially lower antibody resistance among regular users over time.
