These days, coming across someone in the spotlight who has had zero injectables feels like discovering a unicorn. Laticia Rolle, a model, influencer, entrepreneur, and podcaster was that rare exception to the rule. She avoided injectables until, “I reached my 30s and I started to see deeper lines — especially between my eyebrows — that just weren’t there before,” she says. That motivated her to begin researching options that felt in sync with her no-fuss beauty and wellness regimen. That’s how she discovered Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA), a double-filtered, anti-wrinkle injection for frown lines.
When I take care of myself, I feel my best, and I’m able to show up for people that I love.
Silver Chang
She chose it because of the simplicity of the formula. According to Jennifer Levine, MD, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City, “unlike the other neurotoxins on the market, Xeomin is free from any complexing proteins associated with the botulinum toxin molecule,” she explains. “Xeomin is made through a unique process that uses two filtration steps to isolate the therapeutic component of the molecule and removes proteins that don’t play an active role in treatment.” For Rolle, this minimalist approach was key to making the move to go beyond her basic beauty regimen. “When I learned about Xeomin from my provider, it piqued my interest and I thought, Why not?”
Silver Chang
Levine explains that Xeomin is a good choice for injectable newbies because some people can form antibodies to the complexing proteins found in other neurotoxins that, over time, can make the injections less effective. This can show up as ‘dose creep’, meaning that you need more units to get the same effect that you previously achieved. “Since patients are getting injected at younger ages than ever before and have the potential to be injected for many years, forming antibodies may be more likely,” Levine notes. “Starting with Xeomin makes more sense.”
Silver Chang
Here, Rolle shares her approach to aging and self-care and her experience with Xeomin, the smart toxin.
Why I Tried Injectables
When I take care of myself, I feel my best, and I’m able to effortlessly show up for people that I love and for my job. Look, we’re all going to age. I feel like, as a woman, it’s important to embrace the process. But if there are things that will make me feel better about my physical appearance, like Xeomin, I’m going to do it with integrity and with intention.
My Experience
I had so many questions, but my doctor quickly put me at ease. I also told him that I did not want to look plastic — that I just wanted to smooth my eleven lines. He gave me a stress ball to hold, did five injections between my brows, and it was done. I started to notice results in just four to five days and I absolutely love how it looks — I still feel very natural.
We’re all going to age. I feel like, as a woman, it’s important to embrace the process.
Silver Chang
The Results: How Xeomin Has Made My Regimen Quicker
At night, I double cleanse and use my serums (sometimes I use a retinol, other times vitamin C or peptides). Before Xeomin, I also did Gua Sha nightly, a massage technique I learned from my esthetician, and had even started taping my wrinkles (a hack that’s supposed to help minimize facial movement overnight) to try and smooth out my frown lines. Then I would journal in bed to decompress. Now, I can skip those last two steps and get right to unwinding. My morning beauty regimen has also gotten a lot simpler. I put on my skincare, a little blush and mascara and I’m out.
Xeomin will definitely be a part of my regimen going forward. The doctor told me re-treatments are usually every three to four months and you want to stay consistent for the best results.
Head-to-head studies evaluating the relative risk of immunogenicity due to the presence or absence of complexing/unnecessary proteins have not been performed.
XEOMIN® (incobotulinumtoxinA) IMPORTANT CONSUMER SAFETY INFORMATION
Read the Medication Guide before you start receiving XEOMIN (Zeo-min) and each time XEOMIN is given to you as there may be new information. The risk information provided here is not comprehensive.
To learn more:
• Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist
• Visit www.xeominaesthetic.com to obtain the FDA-approved product labeling
• Call 1-866-862-1211
Uses: XEOMIN is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in adults for a short period of time (temporary). It is not known if XEOMIN is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. Please see additional Important Safety Information below and Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide at XeominAesthetic.com.
Warnings: XEOMIN may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems anytime (hours to weeks) after treatment with XEOMIN:
• Problems with swallowing, speaking, or breathing can happen within hours to weeks after an injection of XEOMIN if the muscles that you use to breathe and swallow become weak. Death can happen as a complication if you have severe problems with swallowing or breathing after treatment with XEOMIN.
o People with certain breathing problems may need to use muscles in their neck to help them breathe and may be at greater risk for serious breathing problems with XEOMIN.
o Swallowing problems may last for several months, and during that time you may need a feeding tube to receive food and water. If swallowing problems are severe, food or liquids may go into your lungs. People who already have swallowing or breathing problems before receiving XEOMIN have the highest risk of getting these problems.
• Spread of toxin effects. In some cases, the effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas of the body away from the injection site and cause symptoms of a serious condition called botulism. The symptoms of botulism include: loss of strength and muscle weakness all over the body, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing.
These symptoms can happen hours to weeks after you receive an injection of XEOMIN. These problems could make it unsafe for you to drive a car or do other dangerous activities.
Do not use XEOMIN if you are allergic to XEOMIN or any of the ingredients in XEOMIN (see the end of this Guide for a list of ingredients in XEOMIN), had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin products such as rimabotulinumtoxinB (MYOBLOC®), onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX®, BOTOX® COSMETIC), or abobotulinumtoxinA (DYSPORT®) or have a skin infection at the planned injection site.
Before receiving XEOMIN, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
• have a disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease], myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome)
• have had any side effect from any other botulinum toxin in the past
• have a breathing problem such as asthma or emphysema
• have a history of swallowing problems or inhaling food or fluid into your lungs (aspiration) • have bleeding problems
• have drooping eyelids
• have plans to have surgery
• have had surgery on your face
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if XEOMIN can harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if XEOMIN passes into breast milk.
Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Talk to your doctor before you take any new medicines after you receive XEOMIN.
Using XEOMIN with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received XEOMIN in the past. Especially tell your doctor if you
• have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last four months
• have received injections of botulinum toxin such as rimabotulinumtoxinB (MYOBLOC®), onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX®, BOTOX® COSMETIC) and abobotulinumtoxinA (DYSPORT®) in the past. Be sure your doctor knows exactly which product you received. The dose of XEOMIN may be different from other botulinum toxin products that you have received.
• have recently received an antibiotic by injection
• take muscle relaxants
• take an allergy or cold medicine
• take a sleep medicine
Ask your doctor if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is listed above. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.
Possible Side Effects
XEOMIN can cause serious side effects that can be life threatening including allergic reactions. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to XEOMIN may include: itching, rash, redness, swelling, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you get wheezing or asthma symptoms, or if you get dizzy or faint. See “Warnings.”
The most common side effect of XEOMIN in people with frown lines include:
• headache
These are not all the possible side effects of XEOMIN.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about the safe and effective use of XEOMIN
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about XEOMIN that is written for health professionals.
Active Ingredient: botulinum toxin type A
Inactive Ingredients: human albumin and sucrose
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Nicole Catanese is a beauty and wellness editor.
