Michelle Rupp: Rebecca Denniston joins us now from the Dermatology Group of Arkansas and we are talking about Botox or alternatives to Botox. So, let’s first start by just answering the question, what is Botox?
Rebecca Denniston, PA-C : Yes. So, Botox is basically a brand name for botulinum toxin. Yes. So when you see Botox, it’s kind of a brand name? There’s a couple of other names as well. So Xeomin, Jeuveau, and Dysport. They’re all kind of in this botulinum toxin family. And what it is, it’s a neuro modulator and it works to paralyze a subset of muscles. So, wherever you inject it into the musculature, it’s going to paralyze those muscles And the reason we do that is to prevent fine lines and wrinkles or treat fine lines and wrinkles. The Botox in particular, it typically kicks in in about a week to two weeks once you have the injections done and then it lasts for about 3-4 months on average. And then it is something you have to keep up and you have to keep doing so it’s not a permanent fix for fine lines and wrinkles, but it definitely works very well.
MR: So, once you start you need to be ready to commit.
RD: Yeah. I mean there are patients who they come in you know every once in a while and have it done. But at that 3-4 month mark when it starts wearing off your wrinkles are going to come back.
MR: They start coming back. Okay. So, what if we don’t want to inject this botulinum toxin into our face? Are there other products or procedures that we could achieve something similar?
RD: Yes. So, kind of yes and no, there’s nothing that’s going to identically give you the same results as Botox as far as the long term results and all that. But there are some products that can help one of them is higher on IQ acid. So hyaluronic acid works by drawing water into the skin and therefore it plumps the skin and improves fine lines and wrinkles. So that’s kind of going to be the main thing that would mimic similar to what Botox would be doing. But you’re still going to be making those movements. You’re still going to have some fine lines and wrinkles but they’re going to look a little bit more plump and full and better. But it’s a short-term treatment. So, it’s something you would have to do every day.
MR: Is that something we can purchase over the counter?
RD: Yes, you can. Yeah, so there’s quite a few product lines now that offer hyaluronic acid that’s built into, you know, say your sunscreen or your moisturizer but high ironic acid serum by itself is going to give you probably the best bang for your buck. And so, there’s quite a few brand SkinCeuticals is a really popular one, but there’s lots of ones on the market.
MR: Any other procedures maybe that might be an alternative?
RD: Yeah, definitely. So, procedure wise you want to think about increasing your collagen production. Okay, so with Botox, you’re paralyzing the muscle and then therefore you don’t make that movement with procedures such as laser and Micro. Needling you’re stimulating collagen growth to hopefully fill in those fine lines and wrinkles. But it’s typically a series of treatments with laser and micro-Needling they’re working to create micro needle sized holes in the skin. So, you stimulate your body’s own wound healing processes and therefore you stimulate collagen and so those definitely work. But again, you’re still making that movement. But a lot of people really go more towards you know, laser and micro kneeling because they don’t want to foreign substance in their bodies. And so, it’s a you know an easy way to achieve results without doing something like that.
MR: Can you take collagen and still achieve some of those results. I hear of people who might take it put it in their coffee or take supplements or are we talking about two different things here?
RD: Yeah. So, there are no studies to date that really show the efficacy of collagen taken orally. Maybe down the road there will be something but for now there’s really nothing that says yes if you take this product, you’re going to get results in your skin or your nails and such like that.
MR: Okay, and one more question about the Botox and this might be an old wife’s tale. But does it help with people who suffer from migraines?
RD: Yes, so there is definitely an FDA approved treatment for migraines using Botox and so those typically are going to be done by a neurologist. So, most dermatology offices are not going to do that procedure. But as far as FDA indications for Botox migraines are one of them. And then there’s certain areas on the face that are FDA approved for Botox. So, your forehead lines, your glow Bella which are your 11 lines in the center and then around your eyes and those are all on label FDA approved.
MR: Or you could just not smile and then you don’t have to worry about having lines.
RD: Yeah, because I mean if you think about the majority of our aging comes from the musculature in our face and so as you move, you’re going to get fine lines and wrinkles over time. So, a lot actually more and more people are doing Botox for prevention. So younger people are coming in wanting to prevent the fine lines and wrinkles so maybe they don’t have much yet, but they don’t want to get the fine lines and wrinkles. Yeah.
MR: Okay. Becca is there anything else you’d like to add?
RD: Yeah. I mean I think one of the big things with Botox to think about is if you decide to do it, it’s not permanent. So, if you do it and you don’t like it, you just don’t do it again. But it’s becoming more and more of a popular procedure but there’s definitely alternatives like we talked about.
MR: Okay, Alright, great information. Thank you for joining us today and thank you so much for joining us. We’ll see you back here next week for more AFMC TV.
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