Wrinkle-smoothing botulinum toxin type A injections are the most common non-invasive aesthetic procedure in the U.S. And, while they are colloquially called “Botox,” there are actually four different BoNT-A injectables FDA-approved for cosmetic use.
Just as brands like Band-Aid have become synonymous with adhesive bandages, Kleenex with tissues, and Wite-Out with correction fluid, “Botox” has been the colloquial term for botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections since it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines (i.e. the frown lines between the eyebrows) in April 2002.
But Allergan’s wrinkle smoother isn’t the only BoNT-A injection in town. There is a quartet of cosmetic neurotoxins on the market — Botox®, Dysport®, Jeuveau®, and Xeomin® — that each contain the same active ingredient (BoNT-A) and is FDA approved to treat the same aesthetic concerns.
