Xeomin® (Botox® Alternative) Parker, CO

Xeomin® is a Botox® alternative that temporarily softens frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet in adults, and it’s available to patients of Parker Dental Implant and Specialty Center in Parker, CO. Like Botox, Xeomin relaxes the muscles that crease your skin when you frown, raise your eyebrows or squint. We use Xeomin rather than Botox, and your first visit starts with a consultation so our prosthodontist, Dr. Isra Ahmed, can see whether it’s right for you.

Request an Appointment

A provider in a blue glove holds a white marking pencil after mapping five small white dots between a woman's eyebrows for frown line treatment.

Xeomin is part of the cosmetic and functional dentistry we provide to patients of our Parker practice. Along with the three FDA-approved areas of the upper face, Dr. Ahmed offers it for several off-label uses, including a gummy smile and jaw clenching. We also treat those two concerns in other ways through gummy smile treatment and teeth grinding treatment.

What Is Xeomin?

Two-panel illustration: on the left, a nerve ending releases teal signal dots into a contracted muscle beneath a deep skin crease; on the right, the dots stay in the nerve ending, the muscle is relaxed and the crease is faint. — How it works: a nerve ending releases a chemical messenger (teal dots) that makes the muscle contract and crease the skin above it (left). Xeomin keeps the nerve from releasing it, so the muscle relaxes and the line softens (right).

Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription injection of botulinum toxin type A made by Merz. It blocks the nerve signals that tell a targeted muscle to contract, so the muscle relaxes and the lines it creates in the skin above it soften. The effect is temporary, which is why treatment is repeated to maintain it.

Xeomin vs. Botox

Xeomin and Botox® Cosmetic both contain botulinum toxin type A, but they’re different products made by different companies. Xeomin is purified to the active toxin without accessory proteins, while Botox Cosmetic contains the toxin together with several accessory proteins. Units of one brand also can’t be converted into units of another, so when you compare prices, compare the total cost of a treatment rather than the price per unit.

Areas We Treat With Xeomin

Face diagram with teal zones on the frown, forehead and crow's feet areas and gold zones under the outer brows, on the sides of the nose, beside the nostrils, above the upper lip, on the chin and at the jaw angles. — **FDA-approved:** frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet.
**Off-label:** brow lift, bunny lines, lip flip and lip lines, gummy smile, chin and jawline.
Zones are approximate. Dr. Ahmed plans the exact injection sites at your consultation.

Three of the areas below are FDA-approved uses of Xeomin, and the rest are off-label. Off-label means the FDA hasn’t approved Xeomin for that use or determined that it’s safe and effective for it. Providers generally may still prescribe an approved drug for an unapproved use when they judge it medically appropriate for their patient.

FDA-Approved Areas

Xeomin is FDA-approved to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe upper facial lines in adults:

Frown lines (“11s”), the vertical lines that form between your eyebrows.
Forehead lines, the horizontal creases that appear when you raise your eyebrows.
Crow’s feet, the fine lines that fan out from the outer corners of your eyes when you smile or squint.

Additional Areas (Off-Label)

Brow lift: small injections near the outer brow relax the muscles that pull it down, which can lift the brow slightly and open up the eye area.
Bunny lines: treatment can soften the wrinkles that form along the bridge and sides of your nose when you scrunch it.
Lip flip and lip lines: relaxing the muscle around the mouth can roll the upper lip slightly outward or soften vertical lines above the lip.
Gummy smile: when an overactive upper lip is part of the cause, relaxing the muscle that lifts it can lower the lip slightly, so less gum shows when you smile.
Chin: relaxing the mentalis muscle can smooth a pebbled, dimpled or “orange peel” chin.
Jawline: relaxing the masseter, a powerful chewing muscle along the side of the jaw, can slim a jawline that looks square because the muscle is large, and it may ease clenching and grinding.

Xeomin for Jaw Clenching and Teeth Grinding (Off-Label)

Side-view illustration of a man's face showing the masseter chewing muscle in red at the side of the jaw, with a gold zone in its lower back portion below a dashed line from the earlobe to the corner of the mouth. — The masseter (red) is a powerful chewing muscle at the side of the jaw. Jaw injections generally go in its lower, back portion (gold), below a line from the earlobe to the corner of the mouth.

Relaxing the masseter muscles with Xeomin may lower the force of your bite. Xeomin isn’t FDA-approved for teeth grinding or TMJ disorders. Research on botulinum toxin type A, the type of toxin in Xeomin, suggests it may ease jaw pain and reduce how often grinding happens for some people. Published reviews also say the studies so far have limitations that prevent firm conclusions, and one review recommends it only as a last-line option.

Jaw injections carry their own risks. Reviews note that the effect can spread to nearby muscles and make your smile uneven, and that repeated treatment may weaken the chewing muscles enough to affect the jawbone. Xeomin also doesn’t put a protective layer between your teeth, so it doesn’t replace a custom night guard if you need one. If a slimmer jawline is part of your goal, that change develops gradually over several weeks to a few months.

Your Prosthodontist in Parker

Dr. Isra Ahmed, DDS, prosthodontist at Parker Dental Implant and Specialty Center in Parker, CO — Dr. Isra Ahmed, DDS, prosthodontist

Dr. Isra Ahmed, DDS, is a prosthodontist. Prosthodontics is a dental specialty that has been defined by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards. Dr. Ahmed completed her three-year prosthodontics residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. You can read more about her background on her bio page.

When we plan cosmetic care, we look at how the teeth, gums and lips work together. Dr. Ahmed has also completed botulinum toxin training through the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, and she holds a certificate from the Academy.

What to Expect at Your Xeomin Visit

Your first visit starts with a consultation of about 30 minutes. Here’s what to expect:

1We review your health history and medications, and Dr. Ahmed evaluates your face and talks with you about your goals.

2She maps the injection sites and plans the dose for each area, so you know how many units your plan includes before anything begins.

3You review and sign consent forms, and we take photos before treatment.

A gloved hand holds a gauze-wrapped cold compress to a relaxed man's forehead as he sits back in a treatment chair with his eyes closed. — Cold compresses are one of the ways we keep you comfortable during treatment.

4If Xeomin is a good fit and you’re ready, treatment can begin the same day.

5About two weeks later, a follow-up visit lets us check your results and make any enhancements that are needed.

Comfort During Treatment

You may feel a slight burning sensation with each injection. To keep you comfortable, we use ultra-fine needles, cold compresses and vibration that helps distract from the needle. If needles make you anxious, tell us when you book, and see our page on overcoming dental anxiety.

Before and After Your Appointment

These steps help lower the chance of bruising and keep Xeomin in the muscles where it was placed. If the instructions you receive at your visit differ, follow those.

Before Your Appointment

Come in healthy. If you’re sick or have a skin infection in the area to be treated, call us to reschedule.
Skip alcohol and caffeine for at least 24 hours beforehand. Alcohol can thin the blood and raise the risk of bruising.
Pause blood-thinning pain relievers and supplements if you can, ideally for two weeks before and a few days after treatment. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, vitamin E and ginkgo biloba.
Keep taking prescribed medicines. If you take a prescription blood thinner or a daily aspirin your doctor recommended, don’t stop it without talking to that doctor first, and let us know you take it.
Plan around big events. Book at least two to four weeks before a wedding, photos or another special day so any bruising has time to fade.

After Your Appointment

For the first four hours, stay upright, avoid touching or rubbing the treated areas, and skip exercise, hot tubs, saunas and sun.
Avoid hats, visors and headbands or anything else on your head that could shift the product.
Skip makeup for the rest of the day. The injection sites take about 24 hours to heal, and you can wash your face as usual that night, as long as at least four hours have passed.
Wait a few days before getting a facial, chemical peel or massage.
Give it two weeks before judging your result, and keep your follow-up visit.

Xeomin Results, Side Effects and Safety

When You’ll See Results

Xeomin timeline: treatment day, stay upright and don't rub for 4 hours; days 2 to 10, Xeomin usually starts to take effect; about 2 weeks, full result for most areas plus your follow-up visit; about 3 months, typical length of results; every 3 to 4 months, maintenance appointments. — Typical timing. Everyone is different, and jawline slimming takes longer.

Xeomin usually starts to take effect within 2 to 10 days, though everyone is different, and for most areas the full result shows at about two weeks. Jawline slimming takes longer, as noted above. Results typically last about three months, and how long they last varies from person to person, partly because of differences in muscle tone. To maintain results, appointments are usually scheduled every three to four months.

Possible Side Effects

In clinical trials of Xeomin for upper facial lines, bruising where the needle went in was the most common side effect. Headache was also reported, and a drooping brow or eyelid can occur, though it’s less common. Those trials didn’t include the off-label areas. Because Xeomin can relax muscles near the injection site, treatment around the mouth can temporarily affect your smile or how your lips move.

Mayo Clinic’s list of possible side effects for Botox, a related product, also includes pain or swelling at the injection site, flu-like symptoms and watery or dry eyes. It lists a crooked smile or drooling and infection at the injection site, too. Ask us about the risks for any area you’re considering.

Like all botulinum toxin products, Xeomin carries an FDA boxed warning that its effects may spread beyond the injection area. Its Medication Guide warns that Xeomin may cause serious side effects that can be life-threatening. Call us or get medical help right away if you notice any of these after treatment, since they can appear hours to weeks later:

Trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing
Muscle weakness all over your body
Double or blurred vision, or drooping eyelids
A hoarse or changed voice, or loss of bladder control
Wheezing, dizziness or feeling faint, which can be signs of an allergic reaction

If you notice muscle weakness, vision changes or drooping eyelids, don’t drive or do anything else that could be dangerous. You can read the full Xeomin prescribing information and Medication Guide on the National Library of Medicine’s DailyMed site.

Is Xeomin Right for You?

Don’t get Xeomin if you’re allergic to it or any of its ingredients, including human albumin and sucrose. The same goes if you’ve had an allergic reaction to another botulinum toxin product or have a skin infection where the injection would go. Before treatment, tell us about all of your health conditions and medicines, especially if you:

Have a nerve or muscle condition such as ALS, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome
Have breathing problems, such as asthma or emphysema, or a history of swallowing problems
Have drooping eyelids or have had surgery on your eyes or face
Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
Have had side effects from another botulinum toxin product, or received one in the last four months
Recently received an antibiotic by injection or inhalation, or take muscle relaxants, allergy or cold medicine, or sleep medicine

Why Choose Our Practice

Front desk and reception area at Parker Dental Implant and Specialty Center in Parker, CO, with framed certificates on the wall. — Our front desk at 11005 South Parker Rd. in Parker.

Choosing where to get Xeomin comes down to who plans it and how. Here, Dr. Ahmed evaluates your face, maps every injection site and sets the dose for each area. A follow-up visit about two weeks later lets us check how your treatment settled.

If clenching is part of what brought you in, you’re also in a dental office. We can check your teeth for signs of grinding and, when it makes sense, protect them with a custom night guard made in our in-house dental laboratory.

How Much Does Xeomin Cost?

For first-time patients, Xeomin is $8 per unit. Dr. Ahmed sets the number of units for each area at your consultation, so your total depends on your treatment plan.

Cosmetic treatment often isn’t covered, but your insurance may provide payment for all or part of the services, so we’re happy to review your benefits with you. Details on fees and payment are in our financial and office policies. For questions about pricing, call us at (720) 522-2000.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’d like to soften frown lines, forehead lines or crow’s feet, a consultation is the place to start. Call us at (720) 522-2000 or request an appointment online. Our office is at 11005 South Parker Rd. in Parker, CO 80134, and you can also reach us through our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from Botox to Xeomin?

Yes, unless you’ve had an allergic reaction to Botox or another botulinum toxin product, which Xeomin’s Medication Guide lists as a reason not to receive it. Tell us which product you had and when, since the guide also asks you to mention any other botulinum toxin product received in the last four months. Units don’t convert between brands, and your Xeomin dose may differ from doses of other products, so Dr. Ahmed plans your units at your consultation.

How many units of Xeomin will I need?

For the FDA-approved areas, Xeomin’s label sets maximum recommended doses of 20 units for frown lines and 20 units for forehead lines, which are treated together with frown lines. For crow’s feet, it’s 24 units, or 12 per side. Off-label areas don’t have labeled doses, and Dr. Ahmed sets the units for every area at your consultation.

Can I go back to work after Xeomin?

Most likely, yes. You can usually return to normal activities right after treatment, as long as you follow the aftercare steps above. The injection sites themselves take about a day to heal.

Is a lip flip the same as lip filler?

No. Lip filler is a dermal filler injected to add volume to the lips. A lip flip uses a small amount of Xeomin to relax the muscle around the mouth so the upper lip rolls slightly outward. It doesn’t add volume, and it’s an off-label use of Xeomin.

Can I get Xeomin while pregnant or breastfeeding?

It isn’t recommended. Xeomin’s prescribing information says that, based on animal data, it may cause fetal harm, and its Medication Guide says it isn’t known whether Xeomin passes into breast milk. Mayo Clinic also notes that, as a rule, health care providers don’t recommend Botox, a related product, during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, tell us before booking.

Does Xeomin work for everyone?

Not always. Results vary from person to person. Xeomin’s clinical trials for upper facial lines used a strict measure of success. Thirty days after treatment, with the muscles fully tensed, both the investigator and the patient had to rate the lines as none or mild and at least two grades better. Many people treated didn’t reach that bar, though no one given a placebo did. Your two-week follow-up is when we check your result and decide whether an enhancement makes sense.

What happens if I stop getting Xeomin?

The effect wears off as nerve signals to the treated muscles return, so the muscles regain their usual movement and the lines they create gradually reappear.

XEOMIN® is a registered trademark of Merz Pharma GmbH & Co KGaA. BOTOX® is a trademark of Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company.