Botox – Types of Injectables

Over the past few decades, the use of Botox as a treatment for sagging or aging skin has become very common. The use of Botox injectables has, in fact, become one of the most popular forms of treatment designed to help people reduce or eliminate wrinkles and give their skin a healthy youthful appearance. What many people do not realize is that there are actually four different types of Botox injectables available for use in the U.S:

• Botox from Allergan
• Dysport from Ipsen Ltd.
• Myobloc from Solstice Neurosciences
• Xeomin from Merz

Why So Many Types of Botox?

Botox from Allergan was actually the first version of this type of injectable to receive FDA approval and as such it seems that no matter which product is used it is referred to as a “botox” treatment. In reality, each of these forms of treatment has all been developed from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The big difference is that each is created from a different strain of the bacteria.

Each of these versions of botoxhave their own very individual molecular structure. This difference in structure allows them to become attached to different areas of the nerves. The versions by Allergan, Dysport, and Xeomin are all made from Botulinum bacteria type A, the version offered by Myobloc is the only one currently made from the Botulinum bacteria type B.

Effects of the Different Types of Botulinum

As the various forms of “botox” are designed to attach to the nerves in different ways, the results tend to vary. Along with this, dosages for the different injectables will vary not only based on the area being treated, but also on the chosen variety. For example, one unit of Botox by Allergan is not the same as one unit of the Myobloc version.

Those who opt for botox treatment as a way to rejuvenate their skin and eliminate or reduce wrinkles will also find that the duration of the effects of these botox injectables will vary not only from one patient to the next but also by the choice of injectable.