Apparently the FDA has approved Reloxin, which is another botulinum toxin type A.  Reloxin has been sold in other countries under the name Dysport.  It is intended to compete with the wildly successful Botox.  

This type of product works by relaxing the muscles into which it is injected.  For cosmetic use, I want to relax muscles that cause that wrinkles when activated.  For example, the muscles that cause “frown lines” between the eyebrows are generally a good target for this.  Sometimes patients tell me that they are perceived as tired or angry when they are not.  Generally we target muscles in the upper half of the face (some of these are considered “off-label” use, much like using an antibiotic approved for pneumonia to treat sinusitis).  Usually lines in the lower half of the face are better treated by dermal fillers.

You can see some examples at the Botox website.  Or the animations on my website may be helpful.

I should say that there is some misinformation about botulinim toxins…while they are a “toxin”, so is aspirin (in the wrong dose) and so is alcohol.  Used appropriately, botulinum toxins have a tremendous safety record.  My staff and I are happy to discuss this more.

It will be interesting to see how Reloxin fits in the market.  There WILL be differences from Botox, and so one may be more attractive than the other for certain situations or for different reasons.  Stay tuned!