Daxxify

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma and Napa

Daxxify at PSS in Greenbrae

FDA-approved neuromodulator Daxxify relaxes facial musces and smooths facial wrinkles. Daxxify is a new neuromodulator formulated to treat frown lines. These are, the vertical lines that form between the eyebrows. This injectable provides longer-lasting results than Botox and other botulinum toxin neuromodulators. Studies show that effects last up to six months, in comparison to the traditional three to four months for other neuromodulators. (1) (2)

You may be content with your injectable treatment – in which case, we recommend that you continue to do what makes you happy. However, if you find yourself desiring an anti-aging solution that lasts longer and requires fewer touch-up treatments, Daxxify may be right for you!
The team at Plastic Surgery Specialists helps patients explore a wide variety of surgical and non-surgical treatments so that they can address their aesthetic concerns with the most effective approach. Daxxify offers a new, effective non-surgical anti-aging solution to reduce wrinkles while offering longer duration between treatments.

About

DaxibotulinumtoxinA or “Daxi” for short, Daxxify is similar to other neuromodulators such as Botox, Jeuveau, Dysport, and Xeomin. It’s also derived from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum and is used to treat dynamic wrinkles. These are the lines and wrinkles that are caused by the muscle contractions when we smile, frown, squint or even wrinkle our nose. Unfortunately, as we age, these lines become more prominent and visible even when the face is at rest.

Daxxify is a newer treatment that can prevent these pesky lines from setting in. Since it hit the market, it’s attracted attention for its duration and efficacy. Patients need only two treatments per year, as opposed to the three or four that other neuromodulators require to maintain results. The effects of Daxxify have been studied in thousands of individuals, and studies show that the average duration of effect is approximately 5 to 6 months. (1) (2) Common side effects are similar to those of other neuromodulators, the most common being headaches and mild discomfort at the injection site. (2)
While Daxxify has only been approved for the treatment of frown lines, it has the potential to treat other facial wrinkles in addition to medical conditions Botox treats. Frown lines appear vertically on the forehead between eyebrows and are also known as glabellar lines, or the “11s.” Daxxify helps to relax the forehead muscles for a calmer, more relaxed look.

The Daxxify Difference: How Does Daxxify Compare to Botox?

Both Botox and Daxxify block the nerve signals that cause facial muscles to contract. These contractions form “dymamic” wrinkles on the face because of repeated movement. Botox and DAXXIFY are produced differently however,, and contain different forms of the botulinum toxin. 

Botox is made with onabotulinumtoxinA, while Daxxify contains daxibotulinumtoxinA, a more highly purified form of the toxin. 

Injectable neurotoxins are formulated with proteins that help keep the active ingredients stable, so that they will be effective after they’ve been reconstituted in the vial and prepared for injection. These proteins bind to the toxin molecules so that they are evenly distributed in the solution. After it’s been injected into the muscle, the toxins bind to the neuromuscular junction: where the nervous system communicates with the muscles. Once there, it blocks the release of acetylcholine, the chemical that signals the muscle to contract. Muscles don’t get the message, and skin stays smooth!

Daxxify is formulated with a special peptide that is positively charged. Just like your hair sticks to a balloon, this results in an electrostatic charge allows it to better “cling” to the part of the nerve tissue that communicates with the muscle. Botox on the other hand, requires the addition of human serum albumin to keep it stable. DAXXIFY eliminates the need to use human or animal products like other neurotoxins. The used in DAXXIFY also allows it to work more effectively for a longer period of time.(1)

Currently, Daxxify is FDA-approved to treat glabellar lines, while Botox is FDA-approved for the treatment of glabellar lines; forehead lines; crows feet; and medical issues such as upper limb spasticity, cervical dystonia, overactive bladder, and excessive sweating. (3) 

Benefits

Benefits of Daxxify include: 

  • Smooths frown lines
  • Quick and convenient procedure
  • No use of human or animal products
  • Safe formulation with proprietary stabilizing peptides
  • May have other cosmetic and medical uses as research continues
  • Injections last up to six months, longer than all other neuromodulators

Candidates

You may be a good candidate for Daxxify if you are generally in good health and haven’t had adverse reactions to other neurotoxins. Candidates should not be pregnant or breastfeeding. This procedure is ideal for patients familiar with injectable treatments and who desire the convenience of fewer follow-up treatments for maintenance. 

Since Daxxify lasts about six months, patients should be aware that neurotoxins cannot be reversed after injection, so they will have to wait until the injectable wears off naturally.  

Personal Consultation

During your consultation, you’ll meet with our aesthetic nurses who specialize in cosmetic injectables. You’ll learn about your options for treatment, and we will listen to your concerns and goals! We will examine your face to determine if Daxxify or another aesthetic treatment is best

to address your aesthetic concerns. From here, we can develop a personalized treatment plan. If you are ready to take the next step with a one-on-one consultation, contact us at our Greenbrae office location at (415) 925-2880. In the meantime, check out our blog, where we share educational tidbits and more about how our non-surgical and surgical procedures are helping to change patients’ lives!

Preparation

Injectables are minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures that can take less than 15 minutes to complete. Although Daxxify doesn’t require nearly as much preparation as more invasive surgical procedures, you should still pay close attention to the guidelines to ensure the best possible results. You’ll be given instructions and have any

questions answered before your injection session. As with other injectable treatments, it’s best to avoid NSAIDs, vitamins, and supplements that lead to increased bruising and bleeding. 

Procedure

The Daxxify injection procedure is similar to that of other neuromodulators. The steps are as follows:

  • The treatment site is cleaned.
  • Daxxify is injected into the treatment sites using an extremely small needle. Treatments are comfortable, but you may feel a small pinch, and some areas can be more sensitive than others. 
  • After the injection, you may experience mild redness or swelling at the injection sites, but it usually resolves in a few days. 

Recovery

Daxxify requires no downtime for recovery. In fact, you can return to most activities immediately. A few things to remember as you recover include:

  • Stay sitting upright for a few hours after treatment.
  • Wait at least 24 hours before additional facial procedures.
  • Avoid rubbing the treatment area to prevent the spread of botulinum toxin to other areas of the face.
  • Avoid exercise until at least the morning after treatment. Exercise can increase blood pressure and thus the risk of inflammation as well.

Results

Daxxify works! You’ll see a difference in a few days, and final results in about a week. Results last up to six months for most patients, so you can enjoy smoother skin and free your schedule. 

Cost of Daxxify at PSS

Like other injectables, Daxxify is sold by the unit, and can cost less than Botox due to the product’s logevity. Initial treatments cost more than Botox, but ultimately can save money because of the duration of the treatment. Ultimately the price of your injection session will depend on your goals and how many units are needed to address your concerns. We’ll discuss pricing during your personal consultation. 

FAQ

Why does Daxxify use a peptide as a stabilizer?

All neurotoxin treatments need a special ingredient that stabilizes the active ingredients so that they can effectively bind to the neuromuscular junction. This is where the chemical signals from the nervous system are released in order to tell the muscle to contract. Once the release of this chemical, called acetylcholine, is prevented, the muscles are unable to contract. Peptides stabilize the botulinum toxin A in Daxxify so it may effectively smooth frown lines. Botox utilizes human serum albumin (HSA) to stabilize it, while Dysport, another neuromodulator that treats frown lines, uses both HSA and protein in cow’s milk. What makes Daxxify unique relative to other neuromodulators is that its peptide technology stabilizes the botulinum protein without the use of human and animal products.

Does Daxxify hurt?

Daxxify injections are administered using an extremely small needle (similar to that of other neuromodulators). Patients express mild discomfort and describe a pinching feeling that dissipates after treatment. You may also experience mild tenderness at the injection site that resolves within a few days. 

References

  1. Solish N, Carruthers J, Kaufman J, Rubio RG, Gross TM, Gallagher CJ. Overview of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection: A Novel Formulation of Botulinum Toxin Type A. Drugs. 2021 Dec;81(18):2091-2101. doi: 10.1007/s40265-021-01631
  2. Bertucci V, Solish N, Kaufman-Janette J, Yoelin S, Shamban A, Schlessinger J, Snyder D, Gallagher C, Liu Y, Shears G, Rubio RG. DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection has a prolonged duration of response in the treatment of glabellar lines: Pooled data from two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 studies (SAKURA 1 and SAKURA 2). J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Apr;82(4):838-845. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.06.1313. 
  3. Bach K, Simman R. The Multispecialty Toxin: A Literature Review of Botulinum Toxin. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2022 Apr 6;10(4):e4228. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000004228.