Do you have unwanted wrinkles or expression lines on your face that cause you to feel self-conscious? Perhaps you are seeing the effects of aging in your skin and would like to look more youthful and energized. If you deal with any of these problems, then you are not alone. Many are looking for a non-invasive, fast-acting way to diminish the signs of aging within their complexion. If you are seeking a solution, you may have heard of Dysport, which is just one of the many skin treatments we offer here at Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery & Longevity Center.
You may wonder what Dysport is and what the key benefits are of this injection. In this article, we will address these common questions. We will also discuss some other conditions it can treat, who qualifies as a candidate, and what you can expect from your treatment.
What Is Dysport?
Dysport is an injection of a neurotoxin called BobotulinumtoxinA, or ABO, that causes a temporary reduction in muscle activity by blocking the nerve activity in the muscles. This injection can be used in different areas of the body, such as the face, neck, arms, and legs.
How It Works
ABO is a neurotoxin, which means it inhibits neuron control over the communication between neuron across a synapse. This simply means that it keeps neurons from being able to communicate with each other. It achieves this by binding to nerve muscles to block the transmission of signals between the brain and the muscle, keeping the muscle from contracting.
It is injected into the affected area directly by one of our qualified doctors and works to relax the muscles instantly, softening the surface of the skin and preventing further development of wrinkles or occurrences of spasms.
Uses
This injection has many uses that can help with both cosmetic and health conditions. These include aging skin, cervical dystonia, and limb spasticity.
Aging Skin
Dysport is more commonly used as a cosmetic treatment for wrinkles and lines in the face as a result of aging. One of the most commonly known conditions is glabellar lines, which are the vertical lines that appear between the eyebrows as a result of scowling, frowning, or even intently focusing while listening or reading. The injection will keep the muscles involved in these actions from moving, preventing the lines from worsening.
It can also be used to prevent and get rid of crow’s feet, droopy noses or mouth corners, and sagging neck skin. The injection will fill in the area around the muscles, reducing and eventually eliminating their appearance for a more youthful, smoother look.
Cervical Dystonia
There are many neurological disorders that can cause involuntary muscle spasms, and these spasms can have a major detrimental effect on one’s quality of life. One of these conditions is cervical dystonia, which is also known as spasmodic torticollis.
This painful condition causes the muscles in the neck to contract involuntarily, which causes your head to turn or twist to one side and even tilt forward or backward uncontrollably. By using the injection to block the movement of the muscles, you can avoid the painful sudden muscle spasms that come with this condition.
Limb Spasticity
Limb spasticity can occur in both children and adults when the nerve cells that are responsible for carrying messages from the brain to different body parts are damaged. This can cause the affected muscles in the limbs to receive the wrong signals, making them tense up and contract. This leads to tightness and stiffness in the muscles and can affect your ability to perform even the simplest of tasks. Some common health conditions that cause limb spasticity include cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), and stroke.
The botulinum injection can be used as therapy for this condition. It is injected directly into the affected leg or arm muscles by one of our qualified specialists, allowing it to block these wrong signals from the brain temporarily. This keeps the muscles from tightening or contracting for months at a time. It can be used for the upper and lower limbs for adults and for the lower limbs for pediatric patients over two years old.
What Are the Key Benefits of Dysport?
Now that you know what the Dysport injection is and how it works, you will also need to know the benefits of this treatment. This will help you further in your decision-making process. Many users choose this treatment because it is non-invasive, safe, convenient, and effective. It can also help improve the quality of your life and provide a pleasing cosmetic result.
Non-Invasive
There is no need to have any surgery using this treatment because of the nature of the injection. The doctor will inject the ABO directly into the muscles of the affected area, so there is no need to cut through any skin or tissues to get to any muscles. This also keeps the post-treatment downtime and recovery period to a minimum.
Safe
Neurotoxins are safe when injected in small amounts, and each injection typically only contains up to 0.05 milliliters of ABO. This ensures that you will not receive too much and prevent negative effects on your skin and muscles.
Convenient
The treatment is all done in-office without requiring hospitalization or an overnight stay. In fact, one treatment may take only 10-20 minutes, allowing you to move on with the rest of your day!
Effective
Though it only takes a short time to complete the injections, most patients see improvements in as little as 2-3 days. And you won’t have to retreat often, because initial results can last for up to four months before you may need another injection.
Improved Quality of Life
Having wrinkles, lines, or sagging skin can cause you to feel self-conscious as you live your life. Using this injection can help to improve the way you feel about your appearance and make you feel more self-confident. And if you’re looking for the treatment as a means of therapy, you can have relief from painful muscle stiffness and spasms for months at a time.
Cosmetics
Because such a small amount of solution is injected, you can achieve a very natural end result. The more you exercise the muscles after the injection, the more the solution will work into them, softening them and smoothing out the skin. This prevents the development of the notorious “frozen look” that keeps your muscles from moving naturally when nearby muscles are engaging. You will still be able to keep smiling, frowning, and laughing naturally without any wrinkles or lines.
Who Is a Candidate for Dysport?
There are several factors that decide who qualifies for the treatment and who does not.
Who Is a Candidate
If you have wrinkles or sagging skin on your face or neck and would like to achieve a more youthful look, then you can benefit from this treatment. ABO is typically recommended for people who have moderate to severe glabellar lines. If you’re looking to the injection as therapy for a muscle condition, then you may qualify as long as you are two years of age or older depending on your health condition.
Who Is Not a Candidate
Though it can be used for other conditions like spasticity for children, this injection can not be used on children younger than two years of age. It also can not be used on adults with a cow milk protein allergy, an allergy to any of the ingredients in the ABO, or an infection of the skin at the injection site.
There are some conditions, however, that you can consult with your doctor over to see if you can still undergo treatment. Some of these conditions that may or may not prevent you from being a candidate include:
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding
- Active cold sores
- Neurological Disorders
- Muscle weakness
- Surgery in the affected area
- Deep facial scars
- Sagging eyelid folds
- Droopy eyelids
- Mild glabellar lines
- Inflammation at the injection site
- Oily, thick skin
It is always important to have a consult with your healthcare provider before the treatment to discuss all medications, allergies, and conditions before proceeding with treatment. This will help you determine if you’re a candidate or not so that treatment can be completed safely and effectively.
The Treatment Process
If you feel that Dysport will benefit you and you qualify as a candidate, then you can successfully begin treatment. There is a process to follow to make sure the treatment is safe and efficient.
The Consult
You will first need to have a consult with one of our qualified doctors in which you disclose your medications, past and current health history, and past surgical and treatment history. In this appointment, the doctor will also conduct an examination of your skin and use this information to determine if you are a candidate. If you are a candidate, the doctor will answer all your questions and give you pre-treatment instructions.
Before Treatment
You will be directed to avoid any over-the-counter blood-thinning medications as well as some herbal supplements like Ginkgo Biloba, garlic, vitamin E, and omega-3 capsules for 5-7 days before treatment.
You will want to avoid any anti-aging products like AHAs, glycolic acid, Retinols, Retinoids, and Retin-A 2-3 days before treatment, as well as any hair removal products or actions like tweezing, waxing, or bleaching. You also want to avoid drinking any alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before treatment and arrive at your appointment with a clean, bare face.
During Treatment
During treatment, the doctor will apply a mild anesthetic before the injections. The doctor will then inject 0.05 milliliters of ABO in up to five areas around the eyebrows and forehead to treat frown lines. If you are having other areas treated, the doctor will inject directly into those muscles using a safe, pre-determined amount of ABO.
After Treatment
There are several steps you can take after treatment to make sure it is as successful and comfortable as possible.
Things to Do
After treatment, it is recommended that you exercise the muscles around the area(s) treated to help work the solution into the muscles. You may take Tylenol or another acetaminophen if needed. You also want to make sure you apply plenty of sunscreen in the days afterward.
Things to Avoid
You may be instructed not to lie down for a few hours after treatment. You also want to avoid strenuous activity and long periods of bending over immediately after the injection. Do not put excessive pressure on the area that was treated for the first few days, especially when applying makeup or cleansing.
Avoid any extended UV exposure until any changes in the skin have subsided. Don’t receive any other skincare or laser treatment at least 24 hours after your injection. You also want to avoid alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours.
Your Journey to Younger Skin
We understand how important your skin is to you and how much having wrinkles, lines, or unwanted spasms can impact your life. It is our goal to help you achieve the skin that you desire. If you have any further questions about Dysport or want to see if you qualify as a candidate, set up a consult at Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery & Longevity Center in Noblesville, IN, Shelbyville, IN, Danville, IL, Healdsburg, CA, and Ukiah, CA. We look forward to helping you with your skincare needs.