Cosmetic Toxins

Cosmetic Toxins (BOTOX and Dysport)

Toxins are cosmetic procedures that work to temporarily eliminate wrinkles in the patient’s facial area. Common ailments affected by the treatment include crow’s feet, frown lines, forehead creases and lines around the neck caused by age. Toxins will lessen the muscle action in the face by paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles. Toxins are often confused with fillers, which are procedures that remove wrinkles or enhance the appearance of the patient by adding volume to particular areas of the body where it is injected.

BOTOX®

BOTOX® is by far the most popular cosmetic toxin on the market today. It is a neurotoxin that is clinically used to relax muscles in the face and reduce wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles that cause them.

Dysport

Most surgeons will agree that Dypsort and BOTOX® have very similar results. Both are a form of botulinum toxin and are used for the same purpose. The difference in results and cost of the two is negligible. Dysport is often used as an alternative to patients who no longer respond to BOTOX® injections.

Cosmetic Toxin Procedure

The plastic surgeon injecting the toxins will typically perform the procedure as follows:

– Thoroughly clean the patient’s face.
– Ask the patient to contract their facial muscles in order to determine the best areas to make the injections.
– Mark the areas to inject the toxin.
– Numb the areas to inject the toxin.
– Inject a miniscule amount of toxin via a very small needle into various areas of the patient’s face.

Length of Procedure and Required Treatments

The procedure is relatively quick and will usually take anywhere from 10-20 minutes. The downside with toxin injections is that they are temporary. Patients should expect to have the procedure wear off within 3-6 months.

Recovering from BOTOX® and Dysport Injections

Cosmetic toxin procedures are short and relatively noninvasive. The patient can return to normal activity immediately following the procedure. Small side effects include redness of the skin, minor swelling, headaches and numbness in the areas the injections were made.

Risks of BOTOX® and Dysport

Toxin injections administered by a board certified plastic surgeon are relatively safe procedures; however, there are risks to take into account. Although extremely rare, some patients experience a weakening of the muscle in the areas injected. For example, if too much toxin is injected to the area around the eyes, the patient may have trouble blinking. These side effects are both rare and temporary.

BOTOX® and Dysport Cost

The cost of BOTOX® or Dysport will vary depending upon the surgeon, the individual patient needs and the location of the surgery. Typically the price range will fall within $300-$500 per procedure.

How to Get BOTOX® or Dysport Injections

Finding a doctor to administer cosmetic toxin injections can be a daunting task. Make sure you receive a consultation from more than 1 surgeon before you make your choice. Any type of cosmetic procedure is a very personal decision. While it may be tempting to go with the lowest price we recommend you take other factors into consideration such as the comfort level you feel toward the surgeon. For more help with finding qualified cosmetic surgeons in your area, visit our plastic surgeon directory for 5 Star Surgeon Network Approval Rated™ Surgeons near You.