Botox is a word that all of us are familiar with. Botox helps you look younger with a procedure that can be performed within your lunch break. But have you heard of Xeomin? Xeomin is the newest competitor of Botox and is touted to be an improvement over Botox. Let’s find out all about it to see who wins the Xeomin vs Botox battle.
Xeomin vs Botox – Which is better?
Before we head to the discussion about which is better, let us see what are the similarities between the drugs and how they both work.
- Both Xeomin and Botox are sourced from the same bacterium – clostridium botulinum.
- Both are neurotoxins that work by paralyzing the muscles in the area they are administered. The signal from the nerves to the muscles is blocked by these drugs. This prevents the muscles from contracting and expanding at that area.
- Both the drugs have received FDA certification.
Why another drug when they have so many similarities, you may ask. The drugs may have a lot of similarities, but they differ in their chemical make up and also in the most important factor- the price point. This gives the consumers an additional choice and option when considering a neurotoxin to fight wrinkles.
How is Xeomin different from Botox?
- Botox has additional proteins in it other than the botulinum bacteria. Xeomin, on the other hand does not have any surface proteins. This enables Xeomin to work faster and more effectively once it is injected into the skin.
- Since it does not have additional proteins, the body does not go into an overdrive to produce antibodies when Xeomin is administered. The fewer the antibodies, the better the effect of the drug on the nerves and muscles. This also ensures that there is little or no allergic reaction from the body to the injection.
How is Xeomin Advantageous over Botox?
- Since Xeomin contains the bacteria in the purest form, it is considered to be more effective. Also, since it has little additives, it is more easily accepted by the body.
- Since it is not weighed down by excessive proteins, Xeomin moves faster in the skin and is useful in areas where you need to cover a larger surface. For the same reason, it is better to use Botox when you need to cover a smaller region since you do not want the drug to spread in unwanted areas.
- It works as an effective alternative for women whose bodies have become immune and resistant to Botox.
- It is more cost effective compared to Botox. With cost being one of the most important differentiation points when it comes to making a purchase or decision, the scales are tilted in favor of Xeomin since it is cheaper.
- Xeomin remains in the system for longer than botox, giving you results that last more than 6 months, while Botox can give you results that last less than 6 months.
Before and After pictures of Botox
Before and After pictures of Xeomin – over a period of 4 months
Both the drugs have the similar effect, albeit to different degrees in different individuals. For a layman, except for the cost, they are almost similar in all other respects. If you have used Botox for long and have turned resistant to it, then Xeomin is an alternative you should try. If you are going in for the shots for the first time, then it is totally your call since both Botox and Xeomin have benefits of their own – one being a market leader while the other being cost effective. There is no way to say who wins the Xeomin vs Botox war.
Read more about another neurotoxin alternative called dysport here
Image credit: Featured, 1, 2
