My Own Dysport Challenge

If you're anything like me you're always looking for the next best thing (the iPhone 4 has basically ruined my life, my 3Gs will never look the same to me), but when it comes to choosing injectables, I want to know everything that's available to me and what it can do. Medicis, the company that makes Dysport, has a promotion right now called the "Dysport Challenge" where they offer rebates for trying out their product instead of the competing anti-aging injectable - Botox. With the option of "loving it" or "leaving it" I figured it was time to give it the old college try.

As my 25th birthday quickly approaches (tomorrow, AH!) I've been treating myself to preventative-aging procedures to take care of some of the fine lines that I had on my forehead. I was so happy with the results from those treatments I figured it was time to move on. I have a bad case of what I like to call "Jay Leno Chin". The muscle on my chin is so strong that it both makes my chin look larger than it actually is and makes the skin below crease under into an unattractive line that from a profile view can be mistaken for another chin (thanks for passing that on, Dad). Dr. Carol took me into her room and after two small injections I was on my way to subtracting a chin.

The rumor out there is that Dysport has a faster onset than Botox. In our practice we've noticed it's a Coke/Pepsi situation, it works differently for different patients, some people like it better than Botox and vice versa. At first I was confused as far as how many units I needed. Dr. Carol explained to me that I would need 2-3 times as many units of Dysport as I would with Botox, but with the lower price of Dysport will make my final total comparable to Botox. With the current Dysport challege (a $75 rebate!) it gave me the incentive to try this product and decide for myself what worked best for me. Whoever is injecting you (Dr. Carol or Allyson) can give you a better idea of how many units you would need, which product would be best for your body and what is the most cost effective for whatever your budget may be.

I've had the Dysport in my chin for about 3 weeks now and though others may not notice the difference, the way I feel about the way I look is monumental. As far as the "loving it" or "leaving it" put me down for love!

Medical Grade vs. Over-the-Counter Skin Care

Skincare is the first step to improving your skin. However, in order to get results, medical grade skincare is superior to products which can be purchased over-the-counter at the grocery, pharmacy or department store. Medical grade products are made up of proven ingredients that are purchased with a medical license and only available through physicians. These products are developed through clinical research and the amounts of active ingredients (what's actually going to make changes in your skin) are much higher than what over-the-counter products are legally able to contain. Simply put: higher amounts of active ingredients = better skin!

Think of it like buying a new Kate Spade bag at Nordstroms verses buying a Kate Spado bag on the streets of New York. You get what you pay for, so to speak, and with medical grade products you are getting A LOT more! Medical grade products contain the purest form of performance ingredients and are created from the newest technology. Hence, true cosmeceuticals are not sold over-the-counter. Over-the-counter products are often sold at lower prices, but only at the expense of cost cutting in raw materials which ultimately sacrifices the quality and efficacy of the product.

The other major difference between medical grade and over-the-counter skincare is the ability of the product to penetrate the skin. Many over-the-counter products sit on the surface of the skin, while medical grade products penetrate the epidermis to work deeper in the skin. Just like whitening your teeth at the dentist office verses useing whitening strips from Wallgreens - medical grade prodcuts can do so much more than what is available over-the-counter.

Medical grade products are worth it! They are safer, more efficacious, better quality, and proven through science.