Xeomin in cosmetology - mechanism of action, advantages, contraindications

What it is

This chemical product was created by a German pharmacist who specialized in plastic surgery, and its composition is the same botulinum toxin type “A”, purified from the absolute majority of organic substances (elements that in the composition of the old-style drug were a complete complex of proteins).

These substances, although their purpose was to ensure the safety of the cosmetic product, also significantly slowed down the production of antibodies in the body.

The protein toxin in the new drug Xeomin® works as a neuromodulator, temporarily blocking the signals sent to the muscles through nerve endings. In addition to it, the drug contains sucrose and only 1% human serum albumin.

Any cosmetic product must be certified in the country where it is administered.
The presence of such a document in other countries does not guarantee successful testing everywhere. Therefore, before starting the procedure, you should ask the cosmetologist for documents for the drug.

Cosmetologist, dermatologist, trichologist

Kalinina Olga Alexandrovna

4 years of experience

Operating principle

When comparing botulinum toxin and the new drug, it should be noted that the effect of the injection of Xeomin® is not so pronounced, since this drug is more gentle on the body. Thanks to this, the result of the course of procedures is “live” and natural facial expressions.

The principle of action of Xeomin®, like all other drugs on a similar basis, is long-term local blocking of nervous system impulses in specific groups of facial muscle fibers.

As a result of the absence of contractions in the tissues, the skin on the face is freed from constant tension and smoothes out over time. Xeomin® injections are most effective in the neck, nasolabial triangle, eye area and other active areas of the face.

Difference between filler and botox

In the field of cosmetology, there is a wide variety of procedures that help fight signs of age-related changes and help improve skin firmness and elasticity.

Due to its weak diffuse properties, this drug is less effective when applied to people suffering from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). It is also worth noting that Xeomin® does not cause muscle atrophy, and all necessary processes occur in it in a proper healthy rhythm.

Xeomin® acts strictly selectively. By inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, the drug does not affect the central nervous system, affecting only peripheral nerve endings.

Opinion of cosmetologists

Doctors' comments on the use of Xeomin are varied, there are both positive and negative reviews. Some started working with a specific product and continue to use it, fearing other analogues.

Some doctors have tried many solutions with botulinum toxin during their work and can draw conclusions based on the results, albeit subjective. Here are a couple of examples:

Comparison with other drugs

In addition to Xeomin®, various anti-aging agents are used to relax muscle tissue and eliminate age-related changes, with characteristic advantages and disadvantages. Their comparative characteristics are shown in the table below.

Possible consequences

Drinking alcohol before or after Xeomin injections can cause a general deterioration in health, the signs of which include:

• nausea;
• muscle weakness;
• loss of appetite;
• irritability;
• sleep disorders;
• apathy;
• increased body temperature;
• flu-like syndrome;
• change in stool;
• dry mouth;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• impaired vision, articulation;
• vomit.

Aesthetic defects may also occur, expressed in:

• ptosis of the upper eyelids;
• lowering or raising eyebrows;
• blocking lip movement;
• complete immobility or distortion of the shape of the face;
• asymmetry of contours;
• swelling, hematomas, bumps;
• increased severity of wrinkles;
• allergic rashes.

Advantages

One of the undoubted advantages of Xeomin® over botulinum toxin injections is the almost complete absence of an “addictive effect” in the body’s reactions to the drug (as evidenced by published research results).

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Whereas with each course of Botox injections, the results become less and less pronounced. In addition, the almost complete absence of protein impurities in the composition of the drug makes its use absolutely safe for allergy sufferers.

Besides:

1. Xeomin® is less sensitive to temperature and more stable during storage and transportation, which cannot be said about other similar drugs. These advantages are provided by the purity of the product, which is due to the exceptional simplicity of its structure.
2. The effect of the drug can be strictly controlled, since the extremely small mass of the substance’s molecules allows you to “regulate” the degree of contraction of each facial muscle, while eliminating the impact on the others. Thanks to this, the patient’s facial expressions do not lose their naturalness as a result of the procedures.
3. The required dosages when using Xeomin® are extremely small and its consumption is more economical, which makes this cosmetic product more profitable than all others.

The procedure for administering this drug for the purpose of a rejuvenating effect takes no more than half an hour and, from the point of view of medical practice, does not represent anything complicated. However, like all such clinical events, its implementation should only be trusted to specialized aesthetic surgery centers.

Overdose

If the dose of Xeomin is exceeded, muscle paralysis may develop in areas not exposed to exposure.

Paralysis can cause:

• feeling of weakness;
• profuse sweating;
• difficulty speaking and swallowing;
• breathing problems.

To restore normal body functions, the patient is hospitalized for maintenance treatment. In case of paralysis of the muscles responsible for breathing, intubation and artificial ventilation are used until the symptoms disappear.

Detailed procedure and dosage

The drug is administered to the skin using injections. Before the procedure, the points where injections will be made with Xeomin® must certainly be treated with a cream with an anesthetic effect.

Which is better: Relatox or Botox?

To preserve the beauty and youth of the skin, for several decades, beauty salon specialists have been offering their clients injections of botulinum toxin.

The container in which the drug is supplied must be equipped with a sealed stopper, to open which the protective cap must be removed. The plug itself is not removed, and sodium chloride is injected into the preparation before collection (using a carefully sterilized needle). The resulting contents of the bottle should be a completely homogeneous and pure liquid, without any undissolved particles visible to the naked eye.

Injections are made strictly according to the scheme outlined by the cosmetologist, observing the individual dosage, which is determined depending on the characteristics of each organism, the characteristics of the skin and other nuances. The maximum allowable amount of the drug per injection should not exceed five units.

The first obvious effect of Xeomin® should be expected after 2 or 3 days after the procedure. It fully manifests itself on days 12–14. The next course of injections can be prescribed for at least 5 months of the drug’s effect.

The rejuvenating effect, as a rule, lasts up to six months.

Recommendations for rehabilitation

Xeomin® may also cause side effects. It is not difficult to minimize the likelihood of deterioration in well-being and other possible undesirable effects of the drug on muscle fibers. To do this, you should strictly follow the recommendations for behavior during the rehabilitation period after injections.

Necessary:

• observe an interval of 4 months between consolidation procedures;
• refrain from injections during the hot season (since direct exposure to sunlight on the skin can significantly reduce the effect of the drug);
• exclude all possible contacts with skin (smoothing or massaging the injection sites): as in the case of botulinum toxin, after using Xeomin® this will most likely lead to the most unpleasant consequences;
• refrain from any types of makeup (at least two days after the procedure);
• exclude bath procedures and any activities related to thermal effects on the skin;
• avoid heavy physical activity, including playing any sports;
• do not use antibiotics (min. 14 days), as well as any medications designed to regulate blood clotting processes.

Allergy to Botox

Allergy to Botox is a rare complication.

In addition to the above, you should also remember about the toxicity of the drug. Thus, drinking alcohol will significantly increase the likelihood of edema occurring after Xeomin® injections.

You should also carefully monitor your blood pressure, since increased blood flow can lead to the transport of the drug to those places where its effect is extremely undesirable. This is why Xeomin® and alcohol are incompatible.

Can you drink alcohol after Botox?

The list of main contraindications after injections necessarily includes the use of alcoholic beverages.
In this article we will try to figure out why Botox and alcohol are incompatible, how much doctors and cosmetologists recommend not to drink, what are the dangers of using it, and why after an injection session it can even be dangerous to health. Some people ask in surprise: “What, you can’t even have wine after Botox?” It’s probably worth starting with the fact that alcohol generally does not have the best effect on the human body, it doesn’t matter whether it’s strong or weak. The main disadvantages of drinking are dehydration and a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach, pancreas, kidneys and liver are most affected. The last organ listed is also responsible for purifying the blood that circulates throughout our body. The increased load on the liver in the form of the need to work several times more strongly affects the appearance. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can lead to swelling, unhealthy complexion and fatigue.

Result of injections

The most popular area for Xeomin® injections is between the eyebrows. Anti-aging therapy helps smooth out the glabellar muscle fibers and can significantly mitigate this effect.

Xeomin® injections are what help get rid of the excessive “frowning” that vertical wrinkles give to the facial expression, as well as horizontal ones in the forehead area.

By using the drug to rejuvenate the skin around the eyes, you can correct the so-called crow's feet - a kind of network of wrinkles common in middle-aged people and located near the corner of the eye. This procedure is one of the most popular.

What is the difference between Botulax and Botox?

Today, cosmetology uses several different products that can remove wrinkles, smooth the skin, and slow down the aging process.

In order to detect areas to be treated, the cosmetologist only needs to ask the patient to actively smile for a while, and the result will be obvious.

In the middle part of the face, correction of the nasolabial triangle is often performed, since most women are often bothered by straight wrinkles around the lips, also called “smoker’s lines.” In this case, the orbicularis oris muscle is subjected to injections.

The skin of the neck is the most obvious and difficult to hide evidence of age in most women. The most worrying thing is amniotic bands. Like botulinum toxin, Xeomin® deals with them quite effectively.

The beams that go from top to bottom are most successfully corrected. Several injections are made into each constriction. The “necklace line” is the least susceptible to correction.

Indications and contraindications

Despite all its advantages, Xeomin®, like other products used in anti-aging procedures, has a number of contraindications. The most important of them include:

• diagnosed diseases of the nervous system, as well as painful weakening of muscle fibers and their pathological fatigue;
• acute forms of skin diseases;
• chronic and acute diseases;
• cancer;
• disorders in blood clotting
• allergic reactions.

Difference between Xeomin and Botox

Botox and Xeomin® (Xeomin) are botulinum toxin preparations that are used not only in clinical practice, but also in the field of cosmetology.

The use of Xeomin® is extremely undesirable during pregnancy, as well as during lactation and breastfeeding. Complications can also result from the use of antibiotics during the day before injections, as well as increased eye pressure.

At the discretion of the cosmetologist, the procedure can be postponed if a pustular rash, eczema, acne, etc. is detected in the areas to be corrected.

Precautionary measures

As indicated in the official instructions for the use of botulinum toxin, after all manipulations, the remaining product in the bottle or syringe must be neutralized using sodium hydroxide. All auxiliary elements must also be treated with the specified solution or placed in an autoclave for 18 hours. If the solution is spilled, it must be wiped off with a cloth soaked in sodium hydroxide.

Side effects

Local side effects: small hematomas, allergic reaction in the form of rash and itching or pain.

Systemic symptoms practically do not occur; in rare cases, the patient may complain of general weakness or malaise, dizziness, nausea, and instability of blood pressure.

The effect of Xeomin on neighboring muscle groups may look like this:

• drooping eyelid;
• dysphagia;
• lacrimation;
• diplopia;
• speech disorder;
• turn of the century.

If all recommendations for drug administration and recovery after the procedure are followed, the formation of complications is unlikely.

Contraindications

Xeomin and other drugs with botulinum toxin cannot be administered to everyone. The manufacturer's instructions indicate several contraindications:

• tendency to develop an allergic reaction;
• various disorders of neuromuscular transmission;
• increase in body temperature;
• infectious inflammation of any localization;
• exacerbation of chronic pathology;
• breastfeeding period;
• pregnancy.

It is not advisable to perform the procedure if the patient is under 18 years old.