What does Dr. Steinsapir think of tear trough implants for under eye hollows?
Indications
Dark circles under the eyes can be responsible for a tired, haggard appearance, and they don’t simply go away with makeup or “beauty sleep.” This is because the underlying cause of dark under eye circles is not staying out too late, but a tissue deficiency just under the eye and above the cheek bone. Because the skin is quite thin and fragile in this region, when you lack enough volume under the eye, the interaction of the light here creates the dark circle which makes you look sickly, tired or simply older in appearance. An effective treatment must successfully address this key issue.
Background
Tear trough implants are a surgery where an implant is placed in the under eye hollow area just below the orbital rim on the facial skeleton. It provides more volume in this hollow area. The implant is placed thorough a skin incision, an intraoral approach, or from behind the lower eyelid. Generally the effect of this surgery is modest given the effort needed to place the implant. While modern facial cosmetic surgery is very safe, it is always best to opt for the least aggressive approach, including nonsurgical options when they are available or can even yield better results. The bottom line is that tear trough implants were a great technology 20 years ago, and they worked well for accomplishing treatment of the under eye circles in a time when this was an advanced procedure. However, thanks to hyaluronic acid fillers, we have much better treatment options today. By placing a small amount of Restylane in the under eye hollow, extremely natural results can be achieved during an office visit with a leading specializing physician of hyaluronic fillers. The service can last a year or more and has essentially made this surgery obsolete.
Modern Advances
Hyaluronic acid fillers — such as Restylane and Perlane — have revolutionized modern day cosmetic treatments, providing safe, adjustable, nonsurgical treatment options for those seeking to improve their facial aesthetic. These fillers can be administered in a comfortable office visit, and have long-lasting benefits yet are not permanent and can also be readily and comfortably adjusted with hyaluronidase if needed. This enzyme breaks down the filler should an adjustment be necessary such as from a post treatment highlight, ridge or bump. A service can be feathered with this enzyme making it possible to achieve truly natural treatment results.
Dr. Steinsapir advocates for minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatments that yield natural results and compliment your facial contour. Sometimes surgery is indicated, but other times just as much if not more facial improvement can be achieved with modern advances in services that include fillers, botulinum toxin like BOTOX, and chemical peels. Restylane is a filler that does very well to correct the under eye hollow. It works by adding volume to the affected area, contributing to the natural fullness associated with youth. With dark circles under the eyes, what we see anatomically is a descent of the malar fat pad; in other words, with age and time the tissue under your eyes and upper cheek that gives a bright affect eventually begins to drop. Dr. Steinsapir has invented DeepFill Restylane specifically to address this problem in a safe, effective method.
Taking Action
There is no reason to fret over under eye hollows and dark circles when reliable nonsurgical options are available. By seeking expert advice you can see improvement soon. The key, as with any treatment, is to see a doctor who makes your concern a major part of his or her practice, has completed specialized education, and has proven experience with exceptional results. Dr. Steinsapir is one of the leading providers of hyaluronic acid fillers, and he has extensively studied and published on the treatment of under eye circles as they relate to an overall balanced facial aesthetic. His observations and research led him to invent DeepFill Restylane, an under eye treatment for which many individuals travel to his practices in Beverly Hills and at UCLA. To learn more about the best treatment for your under eye hollows, contact us today and schedule your consultation with Dr. Steinsapir.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Beverly Hills where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician or surgeon and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
What is Microdroplet botulinum toxin treatment?
Microdroplet™ botulinum toxin treatment, or more simply called Microdroplet™ BOTOX®, is a specialized method of cosmetic BOTOX® treatment protected under US Patent 7,846,457 B2. This treatment was designed and researched to address the problem of the “forehead freeze” sometimes seen in standard BOTOX® treatments, improving this minimally invasive cosmetic procedure with more reliable, precise, and natural results. In short, Microdroplet™ BOTOX® improves upon earlier treatments by avoiding the “flat” or “frozen” or “nonexpressive” look that is sometimes associated with BOTOX®. BOTOX® is an extremely popular cosmetic service for good reason–it’s safe, it’s effective, and its benefits are clinically proven. Now with Microdroplet™ BOTOX®, you can achieve a youthful appearance that elevates the eyebrows and improves forehead lines, but still retain your full range of natural facial expression.
How does Microdroplet™ BOTOX® work?
Microdroplet™ BOTOX® utilizes the same foundational principles that make BOTOX® effective. Botulinum toxin or BOTOX® is a natural muscle relaxant that, with proper placement, can restore balance to the face by correcting overactive muscles often responsible for wrinkles, creases, and forehead lines. What is unique about the breakthrough Microdroplet™ BOTOX® method is the highly controlled placement of tiny microdroplets of botulinum toxin to treat the muscles responsible for pulling the eyebrows down, without “treating” other parts of the face that don’t need it. Microdroplet™ BOTOX® is an individualized treatment targets the precise muscles responsible for your concerns, meaning that you achieve positive results but still maintain normal forehead movements and expressions.
How was Microdroplet™ BOTOX® developed?
The placement of Microdroplet™ BOTOX® is positioned according to the depth, treatment patterns, volumes, and other technical factors developed by patent holder Dr. Steinsapir who researched and invented the method, which is regarded today as revolutionary. The method is so unusual that is was granted a very rare United States patent. Dr. Steinsapir trained alongside the inventor of BOTOX® and has been providing BOTOX® since 1988, along with other specialized facial cosmetic procedures. Upon observation, Dr. Steinsapir noticed that many individuals received great benefits from treatment yet still experienced some side effects. This is why he developed Microdroplet™ BOTOX®, to continue helping individuals achieve the results they desire and maximize natural improvements. To learn more about how an individualized Microdroplet™ BOTOX® plan with Dr. Steinsapir can benefit you, call us today to schedule a consultation.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician or surgeon and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
I am having BOTOX treatment complications and my wedding is in two weeks. What do I do?
BOTOX® complications can range from minor problems like bruising, frozen forehead, or swelling, to more severe problems like eyelid ptosis, to the even more rare systemic effects including difficulty swallowing. Typically, even these more severe problems will resolve themselves over a period of 4 to 6 weeks without intervention. However, given a very short time frame, it is essential to see a treating physician immediately to determine the best course of action.
Fixing Minor Problems
BOTOX treatments are popular because they are noninvasive and effective in relaxing tense muscles and smoothing wrinkles. BOTOX is a naturally-occurring purified protein that relaxes muscles but is eventually broken down and expelled from your body completely. The effects usually last 4 to 6 months.
With botulinum toxin A products (BOTOX, Dysport, Xeomin), adverse issues are usually the result of an unbalanced treatment. Forehead treatment can be associated with upper eyelid or eyebrow ptosis. Unbalance forehead treatment can result in issues of asymmetry. It is possible to improve your treatment results using the appropriate counter treatment along the eyebrow using Dr. Steinsapir’s Microdroplet method.
Eyelid Ptosis
If your BOTOX treatment has caused eyelid ptosis, Dr. Steinsapir recommends finding an oculoplastic surgeon to help you with this particular issue. Oculoplastic surgeons are trained to assess and treat upper eyelid ptosis. A prescription for Iopidine (aproclonidine ophthalmic solution) can be helpful in this circumstance; this medication is a glaucoma drop that can elevate the eyelid a couple of millimeters. The drops can also be used to assess the severity of the ptosis and predict the likely time frame for the resolution. Dr. Steinsapir recommends trying the drops twice a day for a week. If successful in opening the eye, the ptosis will likely resolve in 4-6 weeks and the drops will help improve the eyelid ptosis until resolution takes place.
The likelihood of upper eyelid ptosis is extremely small in the hands of an experienced injector. Less experienced injectors are more likely to perform a treatment that causes ptosis. It’s important to carefully research a doctor or nurse’s credentials and their track record for successful injections. The individual performing your treatment has a profound effect on the risk of side effects. Upper eyelid ptosis has been reported in as many as 5% of cases. The incidence of upper eyelid ptosis in the hands of experienced injectors is much less. Dr. Steinsapir has seen only three mild cases of ptosis in his last 3,500 treatments.
Other Options
What if your doctor tells you that there are no treatment options? Rescheduling an event like a wedding can be impossible. Consider having a heart to heart with your photographer. Can they photograph you to minimize the appearance of a droppy eyelid or photoshop your images after the fact? If so, consider going forward with your plans and let the photographers cure your eyelid position digitally.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon. He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid and midface surgery. He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions. He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago. He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage. He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally. He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities. Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for his expert care.
To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialized BOTOX treatments, please contact us today.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
I had facial fillers and BOTOX and now I look older
If this happened to you, there is no doubt that you are dissatisfied with your treatment and that it makes you feel old – the exact opposite of the reason you chose to undergo the procedure! There are many reasons your treatment may not have turned out the way you expected it to, but it is not the fault of the BOTOX or the filler, whether it’s Juvederm®, Perlane®, Restylane®, or any other hyluronic acid filler. Complications from non-surgical treatments like fillers and BOTOX are almost always the result of your surgeon’s talent. Choosing a skilled surgeon to perform your injections is important, but once the damage is done, choosing a skilled surgeon to fix the problem is imperative.
The Truth About Treatments
As the effects of your BOTOX treatment begin to wear off after several months―Restylane wears off more slowly―your face will slowly regain the looks it had immediately before your treatment. Restylane and BOTOX treatments will not make you look worse than your original pre-treatment appearance as they wear off, nor are they supposed to make you look worse when treatment is new. Provided you did not let someone put silicone oil
in your face and treatment is provided by an experienced injector fillers and botulinum toxin A have few side effects. But if you aren’t happy with your results, you do have options and it is not necessary to wait more than a year for the filler to wear off.
Options for Fixing BOTOX Treatments
Treatments like BOTOX and Restylane are popular because they are noninvasive treatments that together can smooth wrinkles, relax tense muscles, and fill in hollow areas. BOTOX and Restylane will not permanently alter your looks. BOTOX is a naturally-occurring purified protein that relaxes muscles, and Restylane is made from a biodegradable sugar-gel that occurs naturally in the body. Both of these are eventually broken down and expelled from your body completely.
Generally with the botulinum toxin A products (BOTOX, Dysport, Xeomin), the issue is an unbalanced treatment. These services typically freeze the forehead. The treatment results can be improved by having the appropriate counter treatment along the eyebrow using Dr. Steinsapir’s Microdroplet method. However, if your BOTOX treatment has caused eyelid ptosis, Dr. Steinsapir recommends finding an oculoplastic surgeon to help you with this particular issue. Oculoplastic surgeons are trained to assess and follow upper eyelid ptosis. They are familiar and have experience treating upper eyelid ptosis. A prescription for Iopidine (aproclonidine ophthalmic solution) can be helpful in this circumstance. This medication is a glaucoma medicine that can elevate the eyelid a couple of millimeters. The drops can also be used to assess the severity of the ptosis and predict the likely time frame for the resolution of ptosis. Dr. Steinsapir recommends trying the drop twice a day for a week. If the drop is working to open the eye, then it is likely that the ptosis will resolve in 4-6 weeks.
Options for Fixing Filler Treatments
Dr. Steinsapir often sees individuals frustrated with treatments they received elsewhere. Surprisingly, many people are not aware that the hyaluronic acid fillers can be adjusted using the enzyme hyaluronidase. This enzyme is delivered with a small injection during a very comfortable office visit. Dr. Steinsapir has helped people who put up with unsatisfactory treatments for much longer than they need to. These issues are easily dealt with using the enzyme in one or two visits. It is the ability to make these adjustments that makes it feasible to provide many of the advanced filler services. Do you have a hyaluronic acid filler issue that is not responding to hyaluronidase? Some patients have been told they were injected with hyaluronic acid filler but in fact were treated with silicone oil. Correction of some of these issues can be challenging and need to be approached on a case by case basis.
Restylane is a long-lasting, but not permanent sugar-gel facial filler that is preferred for improving facial contours due to its natural results, even in sensitive areas like dark circles under the eyes and the lip edge. Restylane and Perlane offer the ability to modify results when necessary. This includes treatments that were performed in the past and need fine-tuning. The ability to adjust a treatment with the enzyme can take a good treatment and make it great. In some cases, as the body slowly breaks down the material over time, slight irregularities may develop despite the initial quality of the treatment. Sometimes, the answer is adding filler rather than subtracting volume. For this reason, it is best to start with a detailed assessment with an expert like Dr. Steinsapir.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon. He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid and midface surgery. He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions. He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago. He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage. He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally. He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities. Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for his expert care.
To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialized Restylane treatments, please contact us today.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
Feeling Pressure to Look Feminine
With an abundance of fashion magazines like Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and Elle there is a lot of pressure to look a certain way in order to be considered “feminine;” full pouty lips, large eyes, flawless skin, and high, full cheeks are the aesthetic standard these days. The internet has only become a tool to fuel this obsession with female perfection, but the reality is, makeup and Photoshop go a long way in making starlets and models meet the modern standards of beauty. Nevertheless, the desire by women to meet the ideal is strong, and it doesn’t always require major surgery to achieve. More often than not, it’s the little touches that make the big difference and starting small can preserve a more natural look and prevent you from looking like you’ve had major surgery.
Lips
Your lips are one of the first parts of your face to appear aged. With a loss of volume and an increase of lines around the the mouth makeup has a tendency to exacerbate the problem by feathering. Full soft lips are not just a sign of beauty, but also a sign of youth. Fortunately, your lips are one of the simplest fixes without the need for surgery. Fillers can provide a very natural solution to lips that are thin or losing volume.
With so many fillers available on the market today – Restylane®, Radiesse, Perlane, Juvederm, Artefill, Sculptra, Matridex, and even silicone oil – it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. However, not all of these fillers should be used as lip fillers under normal circumstances. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane are much more suitable for lip augmentation than permanent and semi-permanent fillers. This is because they are much more forgiving, do not tend to lump, and can be simply and easily adjusted with the enzyme hyaluronidase.
Dr. Steinsapir prefers the use of Restylane as the best filler for lip volume deficiencies. This is because the lips are very sensitive and irregularities can arise. Fortunately, Restylane doesn’t tend to form bumps, and an experienced physician specialist can skillfully place Restylane for natural looks and long-term benefits.
Under Eye Fill
Dark circles under your eyes, or even a hollowness above your cheekbones is easily improved using a similar method as with the lips. Dr. Steinsapir also prefers Restylane to reduce the appearance of dark circles because it can be easily adjusted. Despite what the old wives tales say about dark circles and getting enough rest, persistent dark circles are actually the result of your lower eyelid muscle showing through the delicate and thin skin of your lower lid area. When there is no subcutaneous fat between the skin and the muscle, the area appears dark and sunken.
The treatment requires a skillful hand but once placed and adjusted, the treatment is completely natural and can’t be detected by others. No wonder this has become the most popular eye dark circles treatment.
It is critical that the injecting physician assess how you do after the treatment because a certain percentage of treatments require an adjustment. Dr. Steinsapir explains that everyone holds a slightly different amount of water in the tissues and small areas of fullness can spoil an otherwise great result. For this reason, he encourages his patients to follow up about a week after treatment to assess how the service has settled.
Microdroplet BOTOX® and Dysport®
Of course, forehead wrinkles and brow lines are considered unfeminine, even among the older generations of stars like Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, and Jane Fonda. Despite all of these women being over 60, all their photographs show them with smooth foreheads and full cheeks despite their features showing other signs of aging. Maintaining a youthful appearance is a large part of looking feminine because it’s these features in women that are signs of femininity.
Unlike standard treatment methods, Microdroplet™ BOTOX® and Dysport create brow lift without forehead paralysis. Microdroplet™ BOTOX® works with greater precision with your facial muscles. The care and interest Dr. Steinsapir has shown in inventing this treatment demonstrates his dedication to achieving a beautiful, more youthful appearance without impeding the ability to express emotion.
Standard injection methods tend to freeze the forehead. The forehead can’t move and the eyebrows drop like stones. What looks good is a gently lifted eyebrow, no crows feet lines or brow pinch, and a forehead with reduced lines that is still able to move. Imagine a BOTOX® or Dysport® treatment that allows you to have natural expressions!
Chemical Peel
Flawless skin has always been the ideal for beauty and as we all age, men and women alike, our skin develops flaws and spots that may not have been there when we were young. But cosmetic products are not marketed to men so there is even more pressure on women to maintain clear, beautiful skin.
There are many types of chemical peels available and they treat many types of concerns, so it can be difficult to figure out which chemical peel is right for you. But the chemical peel is truly an art form with versatile abilities depending on your needs, so it’s vital to understand that for a successful face peel with profound results, you’ll need an expert in performing facial peels who has extensive treatment experience and understands how to combine science and aesthetic planning for the best results possible.
Chemical peels can effectively treat facial concerns like aging skin, fine wrinkles, dark spots, acne, creases, loss of elasticity in the skin, and other concerns. This frequently makes the chemical peel an excellent alternative to surgery that removes excess skin for the lower eyelid. A chemical peel in the eyelid region is a minimally invasive procedure that preserves your natural features while rejuvenating your appearance.
Pigmentation is always an important consideration to any chemical peel. The range in skin colors and complexions is complex, so this is something to consider with your doctor on an individual basis. Fortunately there are many people who can and do benefit from chemical peels. Your doctor can tell you more about skin-types as classified by the Fitzpatrick scale, and let you know what that means for you and your candidacy for a chemical peel. A chemical peel can also help improve concerns with irregular pigmentation.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
How Can I Fix Droopy Eyelid After Botox?
Experiencing a droopy eyelid following a BOTOX® treatment is not normal! If you experience serious ptosis after receiving BOTOX, meaning one eye is 2 mm to 3 mm lower than the other eye, it’s important for you to be assessed by an oculoplastic surgeon. If your ptosis is severe, and you have confidence in your treating physician, there is no harm in letting that doctor assess you. However, while things can happen, this degree of ptosis is very unusual. If you have any concerns about your doctor, it is highly recommended that you consider getting a second opinion.
Iopidine Ophthalmic Drops May Help
Oculoplastic surgeons are trained to assess and follow upper eyelid ptosis. They are familiar and have experience treating upper eyelid ptosis. A prescription for Iopidine (aproclonidine ophthalmic solution) can be helpful in this circumstances. This medication is a glaucoma medicine that can elevate the eyelid a couple of millimeters. The drops can also be used to assess the severity of the ptosis and predict the likely time frame for the resolution of ptosis. Dr. Steinsapir recommends trying the drop twice a day for a week. If the drop is working to open the eye, then it is likely that the ptosis will resolve in 4-6 weeks.
What if the Drops Don’t Work?
If the drops do not cause a change in the position of your upper eyelid, you have a more profound BOTOX-induced upper eyelid weakness. In these cases, the ptosis can last up to three to four months―in very rare cases, this might last even longer. If the drops are not working, don’t keep using them. Instead, try the drops approximately every fifth day or so. Use them twice a day when they work. The drops in no way speed up the final resolution of the upper eyelid ptosis and only appear to be effective when the BOTOX effect is mild.
How Can I Avoid This Kind of Problem?
The incidence of upper eyelid ptosis in the hands of an experienced injector is very, very small. Less experienced injector are more likely to perform a treatment that causes ptosis. It’s important to carefully research a doctor or nurse’s credentials and their track record for successful injections. Looking at one series of eight patients, for example, presented to Dr. Steinsapir in Los Angeles, only one of them had their actual dose of BOTOX recorded in his medical chart. Years ago, when doctors were still trying to understand the best method of BOTOX treatments, upper eyelid ptosis was reported in as many as 5 percent of cases. The incidence of upper eyelid ptosis in the hands of experienced injectors is much less than 1percent. For example, Dr. Steinsapir has treated only three mild cases of ptosis in his last 3,500 treatments.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir trained alongside the inventor of BOTOX and has performed thousands of BOTOX treatments in Los Angeles since 1988 and recently patented his Microdroplet BOTOX technique. He is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Southern California where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in BOTOX, which can be a vital part of your minimally invasive treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
How does BOTOX and the new product Xeomin compare?
Xeomin® is a Botulinum Toxin A, made by Merz Pharmaceuticals that contains the same active ingredient found in BOTOX® and Dysport®. Unlike BOTOX however, Xeomin does not need to be refrigerated before reconstitution. Xeomin isn’t currently approved for cosmetic uses but it is comparable to to BOTOX and Dysport.
Uses for Xeomin
Xeomin is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia, severe neck spasms, or blepharospasm, advanced eyelid spasms. It is not approved for the treatment of wrinkles and crows feet in the United States, but it is used throughout Europe and Canada for this purpose.
Merz, the company that developed Xeomin, reports that clinical studies for cosmetic applications are underway. Doctors are able to use this product in what is referred to as “off-label” manner, meaning that your doctor can prescribe Xeomin at doses and for procedures other than those recommended by the FDA, however in these situations, you are using the product at your own risk. It is possible to obtain treatment for cosmetic indications with Xeomin. Just note that such uses have not been tested rigorously and may pose higher risk than being treated with drugs that are formally approved for treating cosmetic issues such as BOTOX® and Dysport®. Based on studies so far and the use of Xeomin in Europe – where it is available for cosmetic purposes – doctors anticipate that Xeomin will work very much like BOTOX for cosmetic applications.
Botox versus Xeomin
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that Xeomin will be better than BOTOX, or less effective. If you are treated with Xeomin, the dose your doctors uses may be the same or slightly different than the dose used for BOTOX. These products are not bioequivalent and for this reason, treatment may vary.
Like any product introduced into the market as a competitor to existing brands, the use of Xeomin, once it is approved by the US FDA for cosmetic use, will be based largely on personal preference. But as with any Botulinum Toxin A injection, it’s important to remember that only an experienced cosmetic surgeon should perform the procedure. Just as BOTOX and Dysport cannot be administered by an esthetician, an unsupervised nurse, or anyone other than a licensed professional, Xeomin is no different. Do not assume that because it is new and has different dosing and storage requirements than BOTOX, that it can be administered by anyone.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir trained alongside the inventor of BOTOX and has performed thousands of BOTOX treatments in Los Angeles since 1988 and recently patented his Microdroplet BOTOX technique. He is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Southern California where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in BOTOX, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
