Top 5 Alternatives to Botox

What is Botox?

Botox is a drug that is administered through injection to treat skin wrinkles. It is technically a name brand for the toxin that is made by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The reason that Botox is so prevalent is because it was the first one developed. Botox works by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles, which means the muscles can no longer contract.

This relaxes the muscles, and consequently the skin that lays on top. The wrinkles in the area then relax and soften. This method works best for crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, and frown lines. That being said, many of our customers ask about alternatives so we have listed our top 5 below.

The Alternatives

Topical

One such remedy is a topical solution like a cream or a lotion that claims to remove wrinkling over a period of application. Creams may make the skin appear smoother and firmer, and they add moisture, all of which may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Some products reduce the visibility of wrinkling by trying to activate the skin’s collagen. This is done with a chemical called retinol and creams containing it must be used for six months before measurable results. Creams may also cause dryness, redness, peeling, and may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Not all creams treat all patients the same and results may vary.

Other Injectables

There are other injectables similar in nature to Botox that work as alternatives. These include Dysport and Myobloc. Dysport is very similar to Botox, using the same toxin, but it seems to act a bit faster than Botox. Myobloc uses a different toxin, and as a result does not last as long as Botox or Dysport (three to four months rather than five to six).

Another surgical option is injectable fillers. These fillers are also inserted into the skin via needles but build facial structure to fill out deep wrinkles. These all come with the same risk as Botox does, such as infections, and other medical issues.

Infrared

Many find success with reducing wrinkles by measured exposure to LED red lights. This can be applied both at home or at a medspa. The key to the treatment is the light waves between 700 and 1000 nanometers, which is the infrared light wavelength. These devices can be bought online, or accessible through other medspas. The main drawback with this treatment is that the effects are not as dramatic as the other treatments available.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture being used to treat wrinkled skin is a relatively new idea. It is all natural, the treatment seeming to work because it activates the body’s natural healing process to create new collagen. It also seems to tighten muscles behind the skin. The main drawback is that there have only been limited studies into its effectiveness and length of results.

Skin Rejuvenation Treatments

Sun damage, skin disorders, aging, and even your genetics can affect the way your skin looks on your face and on your body. These elements can contribute to textural irregularities such as wrinkling or acne scars, pigmentation changes like sunspots, liver spots, or even visible blood vessels.

Moreover, skin sometimes just loses tone, feels less firm, or even just loses that healthy looking glow that is in younger skin. Fortunately, through skin rejuvenation there is a solution to these problems. There are many ways to treat these issues and a combination of treatments may be recommended depending on your skin type, age, goals, and several other factors. A consultation with us at one of our clinics will help to determine the best course of action for treating your skin. These treatments may include anything between aggressive skin resurfacing to simple topical treatments.

Unlike Botox, or other treatments, skin rejuvenation treatments work to do more for your skin than simply reduce wrinkling, and it is noninvasive. There is no downtime and very little risk of side effects. It is also the best in technological treatments and is FDA cleared. For example, one of our treatment methods at LightRx is called Sofwave™. Sofwave™ works similarly to how all non-invasive skin tightening treatments work, by heating up the skin and activating the body’s natural healing process to regenerate collagen.

However, Sofwave™ stands out with the unique Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology SUPERB™ that delivers the heat to the correct depth of the skin at 1.5mm in the mid dermis. This is the type of precision you can expect with all our skin rejuvenation treatments.

Most of our treatments work best with some amount of effort towards weight loss, and skin rejuvenation treatment is no different. Proper dieting and exercising can amplify the effects of treatments such as laser lipo, skin tightening, and skin rejuvenation two or three-fold. If you are interested in our treatments, then give us a call and schedule a consultation.