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Wrinkle Relaxers St. Louis
Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are FDA-approved injectable treatments that can soften the lines formed by everyday expressions, such as frown lines, forehead creases, and crow’s feet. At St. Louis Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Troy, treatment is planned around your anatomy and goals by a double board-certified dermatologist.
Double board-certified
Dermatology and Mohs micrographic surgery
Fellowship-trained
Advanced cosmetic and reconstructive training
Physician-owned
Independent practice, never corporate
Troy & Chesterfield
Second location now open
What Are Wrinkle Relaxers?
Wrinkle relaxers, also called neuromodulators, are injectable medications that temporarily relax the small muscles responsible for certain facial lines. They treat dynamic wrinkles: the creases that appear when you frown, squint, or raise your brows. By easing the muscle movement underneath, the skin above has a chance to smooth and soften over the days following treatment.
St. Louis Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery offers the leading neuromodulators, including Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin. They work in similar ways, and no one of them is right for everyone. The best choice depends on the area being treated, how your muscles respond, and your goals, which is part of what your consultation is for. The aim is always a refreshed, natural look that still moves and expresses like you.
What Botox, Dysport & Xeomin Can Treat
Common treatment areas
- Forehead lines
- Frown lines (the “11s” between the brows)
- Crow’s feet (lines at the corners of the eyes)
Advanced facial balancing
Beyond the classic areas, neuromodulators can be used in more advanced ways. Whether any of these is appropriate for you depends on your anatomy and is decided together at your consultation.
- Jawline slimming (masseter): relaxing an overactive or enlarged chewing muscle may soften a square lower face over time.
- Jaw tension and grinding: some patients who clench or grind notice relief when the masseter muscles are treated. This is assessed individually.
- Neck bands and jawline definition: treating the platysma can help smooth vertical neck bands for a more defined jaw and neck without surgery.
- Gummy smile: relaxing the muscles that lift the upper lip can reduce how much gum shows when you smile.
- Chin smoothing: easing the chin muscle (mentalis) can soften a dimpled or “pebbled” chin.
- Non-surgical brow lift: careful placement can gently raise the brow. For more lasting structural change, see our brow lift options.
Your Wrinkle Relaxer Visit
1
Consultation
We look at how your face moves, listen to what you’d like to soften, and recommend which product, and which areas, make sense for you.
2
Treatment
The injections themselves take only a few minutes using a very fine needle. Most patients describe brief, minor pinches and return to their day right away.
3
Results
Softening often begins within a few days and continues to develop over about two weeks. Results are temporary and typically last a few months, depending on the individual.
Results You Can Expect
Most patients see their treated lines soften noticeably, with a rested, refreshed appearance that still looks like them. How much a line improves depends on the depth of the wrinkle and the strength of the underlying muscle, and some areas respond more fully than others. Because results are temporary, maintenance treatments keep the effect going over time. Treatment can be tailored conservatively so you keep natural expression.
Results vary.A consultation is required to determine whether wrinkle relaxers are appropriate for you, and treatment plans are individualized. Neuromodulators temporarily soften the appearance of dynamic wrinkles; they do not stop or reverse aging, and outcomes differ from person to person.
Botox, Dysport & Xeomin
All three are FDA-approved neuromodulators that relax muscle movement to soften dynamic wrinkles, and all treat the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet. They differ in small ways that can make one a better fit for a given patient. Xeomin is a purified formulation with the surrounding proteins removed, leaving only the active molecule, which is one reason it’s sometimes chosen for patients who have stopped responding as well to another product over time. We offer all three, so the decision is based on what suits you, not on what’s available.
| Botox | Dysport | Xeomin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | OnabotulinumtoxinA | AbobotulinumtoxinA | IncobotulinumtoxinA |
| Formulation | With complexing proteins | With complexing proteins | Protein-free (“naked” toxin) |
| Onset | Often within 3 to 5 days | Often within 2 to 4 days | Similar to Botox |
| How long it lasts | Often about 3 to 4 months | Often about 3 to 4 months | Often about 3 to 4 months |
| Common areas | Forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet | Forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet | Forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet |
| Sometimes chosen for | Precise, targeted treatment | Larger areas; may spread a little more | Patients seeking a protein-free option |
Wrinkle relaxers also pair well with other treatments. Many patients combine them with dermal fillers, which restore volume and address static lines that are present even at rest, a different job than relaxing muscles.
Schedule a Wrinkle Relaxer Consultation in Troy, MO
The first step is a conversation about what you’d like to soften and an honest assessment of how Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin could help. We welcome patients from across the region, including O’Fallon and St. Charles, at our Troy office, and our second location in Chesterfield. Call (314) 834-1400 or request a consultation online.
Common questions
Wrinkle relaxer FAQs.
Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin, which is right for me?
All three work well, and no single one is better for everyone. The choice often comes down to the area being treated, how your muscles respond, and whether a protein-free formulation like Xeomin is a better fit for you. Because we offer all three, Dr. Beal’s team can recommend the one that suits your goals at your consultation.
Does it hurt, and is there any downtime?
The injections use a very fine needle and take only a few minutes; most people describe brief, minor pinches. There’s typically little to no downtime. Minor redness or small bumps at the injection sites usually settle within a short time, and you can generally return to your day.
When will I see results, and how long do they last?
Softening often begins within a few days and continues to develop over about two weeks. Results are temporary and commonly last a few months, depending on the individual, the area, and the product. Maintenance treatments keep the effect going over time.
Will I still look like myself?
That’s the goal. An overdone look usually comes from treating too aggressively. Treatment can be planned conservatively to soften lines while preserving natural movement and expression, so you look refreshed rather than “done.”
Is it safe, and what are the side effects?
Neuromodulators are among the most common aesthetic treatments performed, and serious complications are uncommon when treatment is provided by qualified, exceptional professionals. The most common side effects are temporary and minor, such as bruising at an injection site, headache, or, rarely, a temporary eyelid droop. Your provider will review what to expect and answer your questions before treatment.
Refreshed, and still you.
Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin, planned around your face by a double board-certified dermatologist. Troy, MO, and Chesterfield now open.