Xeomin in the European market: Thorsten Volker on his experience with Xeomin

Botulinum toxin injections have for many years been one of the most popular and sought-after procedures that aesthetic medicine can offer its patients for rejuvenation. On March 22, in Kyiv, a new drug for botulinum therapy Xeomin was presented, which has been on the European market for more than 10 years and has established itself as a very safe and effective botulinum toxin. , dermatologist, chief physician of the dermatological clinic in Wiesbaden Torsten Volker. In an exclusive interview for estet-portal.com, Dr. Volker spoke about his rich experience with Xeomin.

Botulinum toxin injections are one of the most popular and sought-after aesthetic procedures today. What do you think it is connected with?

First – this is a high efficiency of the drug, including in young patients. Our patients are becoming more aware and more of them want to look beautiful and attractive. Second – as you know, we have a learning curve. I started working with botulinum toxin 20 years ago and we injected in a completely different way.

Now we are creating a more natural result so that patients look refreshed, rested, younger, but without frozen and over-corrected faces.

Third – it is that patients feel better. They see that they do not have wrinkles, they look better, and, accordingly, this increases their self-esteem.

Why do you think pharmaceutical companies continue to create new drugs based on botulinum toxin?

In fact, there are not so many new drugs being created. In Europe and probably in the Ukrainian market, we also have 3 well-known commercial drugs, and all the rest – it's copied. There may be a different package, but, in principle, the idea of ​​the drug remains the same.

What's new on the market – this is a syringe already filled with the drug and the drug already reconstituted in the vial, that is, it will no longer need to be diluted. But it will be the same drug, just a different form of release. What would be really innovative would be a toxin with a longer duration of action, or a toxin for topical application, where it can be simply applied to the skin and injections are not required. But in order to create such an innovative drug, it will still take time.

Tell us about the main benefits of Xeomin?

This drug has been used in Germany for 12 years, my experience with Xeomin is 10 years, I was one of the first to work with this drug. What are the advantages: the drug is easy to store and carry, and if you travel a lot, move from one clinic to another, then there is no need to follow a certain cold chain, that is, the drug does not have to be in the refrigerator all the time.

Xeomin can be transported under normal conditions. I think that Merz underemphasizes this advantage of Xeomin because, from a practical point of view, this is a very important advantage.
Second and most important – safety. Aesthetic procedures are not necessary at all, they are done so that people are simply happier, look more attractive, and therefore it is very important to ensure the safety of drugs. And Xeomin just has the highest security profile. In addition, we inject the protein, as in vaccination. And the problem is that with the introduction of a large amount of protein for a long time, antibodies can be produced in patients. Accordingly, they no longer respond to treatment with the drug. As a doctor, I am responsible for this problem, especially when it comes to young patients who come to my clinic at an ever younger age.
that when a large amount of protein is administered for a long time, antibodies can be produced in patients. Accordingly, they no longer respond to treatment with the drug. As a doctor, I am responsible for this problem, especially when it comes to young patients who come to my clinic at an ever younger age.

that when a large amount of protein is administered for a long time, antibodies can be produced in patients. Accordingly, they no longer respond to treatment with the drug. As a doctor, I am responsible for this problem, especially when it comes to young patients who come to my clinic at an ever younger age.

What are the main features of Xeomin, in comparison with analogues?

The first unique – this is the absolute purity of the drug. You inject only what is required, no additional substances are introduced. Therefore, there are no risks that exist with the introduction of other drugs (for example, the risk of developing antibodies). In addition, the drug is very effective and convenient to store. If a large batch of the drug is purchased, there are no restrictions due to the size of the refrigerator and it can be stored at room temperature.

And what distinguishes Merz – this is excellent research and evidence-based evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of Xeomin.

Which aesthetic treatments can be combined with Xeomin injections?

With everyone! Combination therapy has already been proven in many studies and by many doctors to be safe and produce better results. A Vancouver consensus paper was recently created that looked at the combined use of fillers, radiofrequency, focused ultrasound, and botulinum toxin. These combinations are safe, the only question is the number of sessions: you can combine different techniques within one or more sequential procedures. Several consecutive sessions provide more safety, but if the doctor – an experienced and knowledgeable specialist, he can combine different techniques in one procedure.

The general rule – first, a procedure is done using the so-called energy-based devices, that is, hardware techniques, and then botulinum toxin is injected.

Hardware techniques can cause swelling and a greater spread of the drug, so they are done first, and only then the drug is injected. It is worth noting the new indications for the use of botulinum toxin – it is a treatment for depression and obesity.