Daxxify: What to Know About the New Botox® Alternative

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

If you follow the aesthetics industry closely, you’ve probably heard about a new Botox® brand called Daxxify.

Daxxify is not actually a new Botox brand. It’s a Botox alternative with a different chemical formulation (daxibotulinumtoxin a), manufactured by a different pharmaceutical company (Revance Aesthetics).

Daxxify is the newest botulinum toxin product approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat glabellar lines, also known as frown lines or ‘11’ lines. Like Botox, Dysport, and other similar medications, it also has great potential to treat other types of facial wrinkles and lines.

So, is Daxxify better than Botox? Is it safer, riskier, or neither? Read on for all the details.

What Is Daxxify?

Daxxify is a cosmetic treatment similar to Botox and its alternatives. It’s derived from botulinum toxin type A, as are all competing neuromodulators.

Daxxify is FDA approved to treat just one cosmetic complaint (glabellar lines) but can be used off-label in ways similar to Botox Cosmetic, to cover a range of common cosmetic complaints. Studies are ongoing to determine its efficacy in treating musculoskeletal conditions like excessive sweating, chronic migraine, and urinary incontinence.

Daxxify vs. Botox: Differences & Similarities

Let’s be clear: Daxxify and Botox have much in common. Their similarities include:

Mechanism of action. Like Botox, Daxxify works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles near the injection site. This may reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and other abnormalities caused by overactive face, head, and neck muscles.

Indications. Daxxify can be used off-label for a wide range of cosmetic complaints, although it’s currently only FDA-approved for one use case.

Injection procedure and recovery. Daxxify injection is an in-office procedure that typically takes less than 30 minutes. Recovery time is minimal, with most patients resuming normal activity within 24 to 48 hours.

Daxxify does differ from Botox in two key ways:

Duration of results. Due to technical differences in its formulation, Daxxify’s results generally last longer than Botox and other similar neuromodulators. The window of action is typically 6 to 9 months, compared with 3 to 6 months for Botox.

Vegan formulation. Daxxify is the first botulinum toxin-based neuromodulator that contains no human or animal byproducts.

Should You Get Daxxify or Botox?

It’s not really fair to say one of these medications is better than the other. They’re just different, and the best choice for you depends on your specific needs and circumstances.

When choosing between Daxxify or Botox, keep these things in mind:

Daxxify lasts longer. Daxxify treatment lasts 50% to 100% longer than Botox, on average. That’s largely a good thing because it means fewer treatments and more time between touch-ups, but it can be a disadvantage if you’re not happy with the results. Botulinum toxin treatments can’t be reversed in the same way hyaluronic acid filler treatments can be.

Daxxify isn’t FDA-approved for as many uses. Some injectors won’t be comfortable using Daxxify off-label, so Botox may be your only choice for certain procedures.

Your injector may not be as comfortable with Daxxify. This will change with time, but for now, aesthetic professionals are less familiar with Daxxify. Some may be hesitant to use it at all.

Whichever treatment you choose, always work with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who has completed advanced botulinum toxin injection training. While no injector is perfect, working with a highly trained and experienced professional minimizes your risk of unwanted side effects or complications.