Aesthetic use of botulinum toxin
This section describes the use of botulinum toxin, specifically Dysport, in aesthetic treatments. The section does not contain any, and should not be used as, treatment recommendation. Please contact your healthcare practitioner for further inquiries.
Why toxins?
Our expressions are part of who we are, but as we age our faces don’t always communicate what we want them to.1 Over time, changes to the underlying structure of the skin result in folds and wrinkles that alter the appearance of the face.1 The appearance of glabellar lines (the vertical frown lines between the eyebrows) and crow’s feet can cause our faces to look old, sad, tired or angry, regardless of how we feel.1,2 A disconnect between what our faces express and how we feel can reduce our self-confidence and affect our quality of life.1,2
TREATMENT AREAS
Dysport is a prescription medicine in NZ and is used to reduce the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines (frown lines) and crow’s feet. A qualified healthcare practitioner in your area can provide you with more information on registered indications for Dysport in New Zealand.3
TREATMENT AREAS
Dysport is a prescription medicine in NZ and is used to reduce the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines (frown lines) and crow’s feet. A qualified healthcare practitioner in your area can provide you with more information on registered indications for Dysport in New Zealand.3
Your treatment
Aesthetic treatments with Dysport should only be administered by qualified healthcare practitioners with the appropriate expertise and training.
The product is injected at several points within the treatment area. Exactly when the effect of the treatment will be noticeable might vary slightly between the different toxin brands as well as from person to person. With Dysport, results are usually visible within a few days after treatment3-7, and up to a third of those treated see results within 24 hours5-8. Individual results vary.
There is a small risk that the body will start to produce neutralising antibodies in response to the treatment, which could reduce its effectiveness. To reduce this risk, botulinum toxin products for aesthetic use are usually not given any more frequently than every three months. The duration of the treatment effect varies, depending on the brand of toxin used and the individual, but may last four months or more3,10,11. Dysport has been shown to provide high patient satisfaction (95% of subjects treated) when given Dysport every 6 months.6
Like all medicines, Dysport can cause side effects. Healthcare practitioners should inform patients of risks and side effects before treatment, as well as any contraindications. Please see also the Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) which can be found at www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/CMI/d/dysport.pdf. The information here does not in any way replace professional information from the treating healthcare practitioner.
How it works
Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are seven main subtypes of botulinum toxins, type A-G. Type A is predominantly used in aesthetic treatments.
Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin which reversibly blocks the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine from the nerve endings. This prevents the muscles from contracting, and thereby helps to remove wrinkles formed by repeated facial expressions (frown lines and crow’s feet).
Each brand uses its own potency unit to describe the amount of toxin in their respective vials. The injection doses used in aesthetics are relatively low compared to medical applications, to only produce a local effect in the muscle that is being treated. Only a qualified healthcare practitioner should administer botulinum toxin for aesthetic or medical treatments.
Healthcare practitioners should inform patients of risks and side effects before treatment, as well as possible contraindications. Please see also the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)- www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/CMI/d/dysport.pdf. The information here does not in any way replace professional information from the treating healthcare practitioner.
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References
- Finn CJ et al. Dermatol Surg 2003;29(5):450–455.
- Carruthers A et al. J Cosmet Laser Ther 2007;9(Suppl 1):6–10.
- Dysport Data Sheet
- Rubin MG et al. J Drugs Dermatol 2009;8:439–44.
- Schlessinger J et al. Dermatol Surg 2011;37:1434–1442.
- Brandt F et al. Dermatol Surg 2009;35:1893–1901.
- Moy RM et al. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2009;11(2):77–83.
- Kane MA et al. Plast Reconstr Surg 2009;124(5):1619–29.
- Schlessinger J et al. Dermatol Surg. 2021;47(4):504–509.
- Botox Data Sheet.
- Xeomin Data Sheet.