You can’t stop the aging process. But with the help of Dysport and Dr. Ingrid Trenkle, MD in Redlands, CA, you can rejuvenate your face like never before. This treatment is designed to treat moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles, control cervical dystonia and more. Keep reading to discover how often you can, and should, receive this treatment.
What Is Dysport?
Dysport belongs to a class of anti-aging injectables containing Botulinum toxin type A. Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein produced by certain strains of bacterium, including Clostridium botulinum. This protein prevents the axom endings of your neuromuscular junctions from releasing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for muscle movements
Isn’t Botox Made of the Same Protein?
It’s true that Botox, manufactured by Allegran, features the active ingredient Botulinum toxin. Like Dysport (manufactured by Medicis Aesthetics), it is FDA-approved to minimize the appearance of crow’s feet around the eyes and other fine lines and wrinkles. However, there are key differences between these two treatments, despite the same active ingredient.
What Happens Before Treatment?
Before treatment, we will review your complete medical history. Let us know of all medications you’re taking, including:
- Antihistamines
- Blood thinners
- Cold medications
- Muscle relaxants
- Sleep aids
What Can I Expect From Treatment?
Treatment is pain-free and takes only minutes. Your board-certified dermatologist will apply a bit of topical anesthetic to the treatment area. This ensures you feel no pain or discomfort from the insertion of the very fine needles. Injections are usually administered to five different areas around your eyebrows and forehead to treat frown lines.
The longest part of the treatment is preparation. After the injections are administered, you are free to go back to work. However, we recommend scheduling a follow-up appointment for two to three months out so we can administer follow-up injections.
What Areas Can Be Treated?
This treatment primarily targets glabellar lines. Glabellar lines are the vertical wrinkles located on your forehead between your eyebrows. They begin to form during early adulthood. However, as you mature in age, your skin loses elasticity, and these deep, vertical wrinkles become more prominent. They may also appear more noticeable when you squint your eyes, making you look cold or angry.
What Can I Expect After Treatment?
Before you leave our office, you will receive a list of after-care instructions. Don’t exercise for two hours after your treatment to prevent the toxin from spreading outside the intended treatment site. Moreover, don’t rub the injection site. Expect to see a wrinkle-free forehead within 24 to 48 hours after treatment that stays smooth three to four months after your initial injections.
How Does Botox Differ From Dysport?
Dosage
The primary difference between Dysport and Botox is the dosage. For example, 30 syringes of Botox equals 50 syringes of botulinum toxin manufactured by Medicis Aesthetics.
Dilution
Botulinum toxin manufactured by Medicis Aesthetics is diluted differently than Botox, as well. Therefore, if you needed eight units of Botox to address furrow lines between your brows, you may need 10 units of Dysport. The important thing to remember is that dilution does not mean you are getting a lower quality product.
Molecule Size
The size of the molecules used by Medicis Aesthetics is smaller than those used by Allegran. Because the molecules in Botox are larger, the effects take longer to work and do not spread as far. It is essential that you seek treatment from a board-certified dermatologist so she can advise which treatment is right to achieve your goals. In some regions of the face, you may want an injection that does not diffuse as far.
Diffusion
Diffusion is a significant difference between these two neurotoxin injections, as well. If you’re looking to treat a larger area, Dysport may be right for you. If, on the other hand, more precision is required for your treatment, Botox may be the ideal injection for your unique aesthetic goals.
Onset
This treatment, also referred to as abobotulinumtoxin A, provides results three times faster than Botox. The difference between 24 hours and 72 hours may seem insignificant. But if you need to treat wrinkles two days before your wedding, you’ll be glad abobotulinumtoxin A is an option.
How Often Can You Get Dysport Treatment?
You may receive follow-up neurotoxin injections every 90 days. The efficacy of four repeated treatments has been proven in clinical studies. Moreover, the safety of treatment in a dozen repeated appointments has been proven. But how often should you come in for treatment? Come in two to three months after your first appointment to assess your results. We can help you determine when you need to come back for a follow-up treatment.
How Convenient Is This Treatment?
This neurotoxin treatment is incredibly convenient. It is performed in our state-of-the-art, comfortable office, and there is no downtime associated with it. You are free to go straight home or back to work once treatment is completed. Just don’t engage in a vigorous workout a couple hours after treatment. The protein needs a little time to settle into your skin.
How Much Does It Cost?
Because this treatment is more diluted than Botox, each injection is more affordable. However, if you are seeking this treatment to address cervical dystonia, chronic migraines, or another medical condition, your health insurance provider may reimburse you for the cost.
Am I a Good Candidate?
The best candidate for this treatment is between the ages of 18 and 64 and wants to relax hyperactive muscles. This may be to alleviate neck, shoulder or back pain, or it may be to smooth out “motion” wrinkles, such as worry lines between your eyebrows, smile lines around your mouth or laughter lines around your eyes.
While the FDA approved this treatment for safety and efficacy, it should not be administered to pregnant women or children under the age of 2. To address wrinkles, this treatment is only intended for adults. If you are lactose intolerant or allergic to other botulinum toxin products, ask us about alternative anti-aging treatments to address your concerns.
Abobotulinumtoxin A for Cervical Dystonia
Abobotulinumtoxin A, like Botox, can be used to treat painful neurological conditions. Cervical dystonia is a medical condition characterized by severe, uncontrollable muscle spasticity in the neck region. Abobotulinumtoxin A is FDA-approved to treat lower limb spasticity in children, cervical dystonia and muscle spasticity in adults.
How Does Treatment Work?
To treat cervical dystonia, your board-certified dermatologist will inject the neurotoxin into your affected muscles. This will end their hyperactivity so you can enjoy several months of pain relief. Depending on the nature of your condition, the injections may be administered around the head, in the neck muscles or in the shoulder and back muscles.
How Long Does Relief Last?
How long your relief from cervical dystonia lasts depends on several factors. These include how quickly your body metabolizes the neurotoxin and the severity of your condition. However, you should expect at least three months of symptom relief. Most of our clients don’t need a follow-up treatment until 14 weeks after their initial injections. And a quarter of our patients went over six months before coming back in for a follow-up.
Is It Safe?
Dysport hasn’t just been FDA-approved to correct moderate-to-severe frown lines. In 2009, the FDA approved this treatment for adults with cervical dystonia. In 2015, it was approved for adults with upper limb spasticity.
In 2016, it was FDA-approved to treat children ages 2 and up with lower limb spasticity. Finally, in 2017, the FDA approved this treatment for adults with lower limb spasticity. The more research that is conducted on this treatment, the safer and more effective it is found to be.
How Long Does It Take to Work?
Several clinical studies and anecdotal reports indicate that this treatment results in significant symptom improvement after just four weeks. However, everyone is different, so your results may vary.
Alternatives to Abobotulinumtoxin A
Botulinum toxin treatments are not right for everyone. However, there are FDA-approved anti-aging alternatives that may be a better fit. Depending on the cause and symptoms of your signs of aging, we may recommend Bellafill®, Restylane or Sculptra® Aesthetic
Bellafill®
Bellafill® is an innovative blend of collagen gel and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres. Once injected, the collagen immediately adds natural-looking volume to the treatment site, filling in acne scars and softening smile lines.
The PMMA microspheres work as a scaffolding system to promote the production of your body’s own collagen. As your body metabolizes the injected collagen, your results won’t disappear. Your new, improved appearance will remain.
Sculptra® Aesthetic
Sculptra® Aesthetic is different than other dermal fillers on the market. Unlike hyaluronic acid wrinkle-fillers, this volumizer supports your body’s natural collagen growth. Starting at the age of 21, your body produces collagen at a 1% reduced rate. Sculptra® Aesthetic helps your body restore lost collagen, even after decades of collagen loss. The best part is that the results of this quick treatment can last over 25 months.
Restylane
Restylane is a synthetic hyaluronic acid dermal filler that acts just like the hyaluronic acid in your body. It is FDA-approved to be administered into several treatment sides, including your cheeks, nasolabial folds, marionette lines and lips. When using Restylane to augment the lips, size, mass and natural definition are added without affecting the natural shape of the lip.
At Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD, we are proud to offer Restylane Refyne, Restylane Defyne, Restylane Silk and Restylane Lyft. These formulations are specifically formulated to address different areas for concern. If you think a hyaluronic acid filler is right for you, we welcome you to come in for a consultation and discuss which formulation will suit you best.
Juvederm
Juvederm is another hyaluronic acid treatment that instantly smooths moderate-to-severe lines and wrinkles, adds subtle fullness to the lips and fills in sunken cheeks. At Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD, we offer Juvederm XC, a formulation that includes lidocaine to ensure your complete comfort during treatment. Besides Juvederm XC to address lines around the mouth, we proudly offer our clients Juvederm Volbella XC, Juvederm Vollure XC and Juvederm Voluma XC.
Rejuvenate Your Face Today
At Ingrid Trenkle, MD, we understand that the face can be very sensitive, and your comfort is our top priority. If you’re worried about any discomfort during your treatment, we welcome you to come in half an hour before your scheduled appointment time. When you check in, please let us know if you would like a specially formulated topical numbing cream applied to the treatment site to maximize your comfort. This gives the cream time to take full effect.
Whatever your concerns, or to learn more about Dysport and determine if it is right for you, contact Dr. Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD of Redlands, CA today to schedule your initial consultation.
