Daxxify is a treatment similar to Botox that promises to alleviate the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines for much longer.
The call Daxxify, is a kind of “new botulinum toxin” that promises to last much longer than traditional botox. It basically works like traditional Botox, being a treatment that works with a neuromuscular blocking agent that temporarily “freezes” moderate and severe wrinkles.
Botox was for a long time the only aesthetic procedure that aims to smooth wrinkles and expression lines. But apparently its days are numbered, as Daxxify treatment was recently approved by the FDA, the food and drug regulatory agency in the United States.
Despite being similar treatments, The main difference between Daxxify and Botox is the duration of the effects. This is because the new product promises effects that last twice as long as Botox. Next, we will better understand how Daxxify works.
What is Daxxify?
The scientific name of Daxxify is daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm and it is an acetylcholine inhibitor and a neuromuscular blocking agent. Therefore, the toxin is indicated for the temporary treatment of wrinkles and expression lines in adults.
Furthermore, Daxxify is a long-acting neuromodulator that is stabilized with Peptide Exchange Technology™ (PXT), and therefore has a long-lasting effect. In patients who tested the treatment, the results lasted an average of 6 months, and in some patients it lasted 9 months.
To give you an idea, in other traditional neuromodulators, such as Botox, the duration of the effects of applying the toxin does not last more than 3 to 4 months.
How it works?
As it is a neuromuscular blocker, Daxxify works by blocking cholinergic transmission from the neuromuscular junction. In other words, inhibiting the release of acetylcholine. Basically, the treatment uses the toxin to paralyze the nerves responsible for moving the facial muscles.
In this way, without contracting or moving the muscles of the face, wrinkles and expression lines are smoothed and their appearance is temporarily reduced. However, unlike Botox, Daxxify does not use proteins attached to the toxin molecule, but rather peptides, and therefore there is no need to use substances of animal origin.
“Studies have shown that Daxxify innovates because it ‘exchanges’ proteins for peptides. These molecules warn about losses of collagen and elastin (skin support fibers). And as it is a substance that the body recognizes, it does not lead to the production of antibodies and, therefore, there is no risk of intolerance. This is one of the reasons why peptides have longer-lasting effects,” dermatologist Karine Cade explains further to the Metrópoles website.
It is precisely because it is a peptide that Daxxify improves the reception of the neurotoxin by the nervous membrane, and therefore increases the internalization of the medicine. Therefore, it takes longer to act.
What are the side effects?
However, despite being an innovative and very exciting treatment for fans of anti-wrinkle treatments, and also because it has been approved by the United States FDA, Daxxify can also have side effects. The most common are:
- reaction at the injection site, such as pain, swelling, redness, among other reactions
- facial numbness
- headache
- ptose palpebral
- facial paresis
- headache
So to avoid possible problems like these, the dose and frequency of treatment should not exceed that recommended by the manufacturer. Furthermore, special care must be taken when using the treatment in case of existing cardiovascular disease.
Furthermore, medical attention should be sought immediately if the patient experiences adverse symptoms such as difficulty breathing or speaking, as well as swallowing.
What are the differences between Daxxify and Botox?
The first and most relevant difference between the two treatments is the duration. In the case of Botox, injections tend to last 3 to 4 months at most. Daxxify can maintain its effects for six months, and in some patients it lasted up to 9 months.
This happens because Botox uses proteins attached to the toxin molecule, while Daxxify uses peptides. This is what guarantees the greater durability of the new treatment.
These results and benefits of Daxxify were proven through a long 3-phase study that analyzed 2,700 patients and 4,200 treatments. As a result, the study proved that a single injection of Daxxify was very effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Finally, despite being a very encouraging novelty, to date, the American company Revance Aesthetics, which is the manufacturer of Daxxify, has not yet requested registration of the treatment in Brazil. Therefore, there is still no forecast for the treatment to start being sold here, but it shouldn’t take long.
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