Botox, Dysport and Xeomin in Beverly Hills: Why the Dose Map Matters More Than the Brand
Most people who book a neuromodulator appointment are not asking for a new face. They are tired of a scowl that reads as anger in photographs, forehead lines that catch makeup by noon, or a past treatment that left the brows heavy and the expression flat. They want to look rested, and they want to still look like themselves.
Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are three FDA-approved forms of botulinum toxin type A. Each one temporarily relaxes the specific muscles that fold the skin into expression lines, softening frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet within days and with no recovery period. At the Beverly Hills practice of Dr. Daniel Golshani, treatment is planned by a plastic surgeon who operates on these same muscles: the corrugators in brow lifting, the orbicularis oculi in eyelid surgery, and the platysma in neck surgery.
That surgical view shapes every dose. Dr. Golshani maps which muscles are overacting, which ones are holding the brow up, and how much movement should stay, then matches the product to the patient. The goal is a face that still moves, without the lines.
A Medicine With a Long Clinical Record
Botulinum toxin type A has been in medical use far longer than most patients realize. OnabotulinumtoxinA first received FDA approval for therapeutic use in 1989. Its cosmetic form, Botox Cosmetic, was approved for frown lines between the brows in 2002, for crow’s feet in 2013, for forehead lines in 2017, and for vertical neck bands in October 2024. Dysport was approved for frown lines in April 2009. Xeomin followed in July 2011, and in July 2024 it became the first neuromodulator approved to treat forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet in a single session.
That record explains the treatment’s reach. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons counted 9,883,711 neuromodulator procedures in 2024, the most of any minimally invasive cosmetic treatment in the country.
How Neuromodulators Change the Face
A neuromodulator blocks the release of acetylcholine, the chemical signal a nerve uses to tell a muscle to contract. The treated muscle relaxes, and the skin above it stops folding. Over the following months the nerve endings form new connections, movement returns, and the effect fades.
This is why neuromodulators work on dynamic lines, the ones created by movement. Lines that remain etched at rest after years of folding may soften with repeated treatment, but deeper creases often need facial fillers or resurfacing with laser treatments.
The anatomy matters more than the product. Facial muscles work in opposing groups. The frontalis is the only muscle that raises the brow, while the corrugators, procerus and outer orbicularis oculi pull it down. Overtreat the frontalis and the brow drops. Relax the depressors selectively, and the brow can rise slightly, an off-label technique often called a chemical brow lift. Every dose is a decision about which side of that balance to favor.
Botox, Dysport and Xeomin: One Molecule, Three Formulations
All three contain botulinum toxin type A, and all three work through the same mechanism. Their differences lie in formulation, labeling and how individual patients respond.
Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) has the longest clinical history and the broadest cosmetic labeling, covering frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet and platysma bands. Its label lists a duration of approximately three to four months for frown lines.
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) showed a median onset of two to three days in its pivotal trials. Its units are dosed on a different scale, with 50 units as the labeled dose for frown lines.
Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) is purified to remove the complexing proteins found in the other two products. Research suggests those proteins may contribute to antibody formation in some patients, so Xeomin is often considered for people whose response to other products has diminished.
No single product is best for everyone. The choice depends on muscle strength, past response, timing and how the patient wants to look in motion.
Areas Treated
On-label areas include the vertical frown lines between the brows, horizontal forehead lines, crow’s feet and, for Botox Cosmetic, prominent vertical neck bands. Dr. Golshani also treats several areas off-label, meaning the use is common in practice but not specifically labeled by the FDA. These include masseter slimming and clenching, a subtle upper-lip flip, downturned mouth corners, chin dimpling and gummy smiles. Masseter treatment is often planned alongside chin and jawline contouring.
When a Neuromodulator Is Not Enough
Neuromodulators relax muscle. They do not lift descended tissue, replace lost volume or tighten loose skin. A brow that has dropped from tissue descent rather than muscle pull is better served by an endoscopic brow lift. Hooded upper lids call for eyelid surgery. Neck bands can be softened with Botox Cosmetic for a few months, but when bands come with laxity, a neck lift using Dr. Golshani’s Corset Platysmaplasty addresses the platysma itself. Hollowing from volume loss responds to the G-Stem Lift, his stem-cell-concentrated facial fat grafting technique. For patients not ready for surgery, neuromodulators combine well with fillers and a chemical peel as part of a non-surgical facelift.
What an Excellent Result Looks Like
An excellent result is one no one can name. The brows sit at their natural height and keep their arch. Surprise still reads as surprise, and a smile still reaches the eyes, with crow’s feet softened rather than erased. Friends say you look rested, not different. The effect fades evenly, and each visit refines the dose map instead of repeating it.
Why Beverly Hills Patients Choose Dr. Golshani for Botox, Dysport and Xeomin
Patients who come to Dr. Golshani for neuromodulators have often been treated somewhere else first. Some left with a heavy brow, a forehead that no longer moved, or results that wore off unevenly. They are looking for someone who treats the face as anatomy, not as a menu of units per area.
Dr. Daniel Golshani, MD, FACS is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with nine years of elite post-medical school training across two surgical residencies and two subspecialty fellowships. His training includes plastic and reconstructive surgery at UCSF and a reconstructive microsurgery fellowship at the USC Keck School of Medicine, and his surgical practice includes endoscopic brow lifts, eyelid surgery and Corset Platysmaplasty, operations performed on the same corrugator, orbicularis oculi and platysma muscles that neuromodulators relax. His injection plans reflect that operative view: each dose is placed according to what the muscle does, what opposes it, and what the face needs to keep.
His practice at 9301 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 410 in Beverly Hills serves patients from Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, West Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, and internationally.
Your Botox, Dysport and Xeomin Journey: Step-by-Step
Step 1 — The Consultation
Dr. Golshani studies your face at rest and in motion as you frown, raise your brows, squint and smile. He asks what you have had before and how it wore off. He also reviews your medical history, including neuromuscular conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding, recent toxin treatment and medications that can interact with botulinum toxin. You leave with a product recommendation, a dose plan and a quote, and treatment can often happen the same day.
Step 2 — Preparation
If your physician approves, pause nonessential supplements and medications that thin the blood, such as fish oil, vitamin E and ibuprofen, for several days to reduce bruising. Never stop a prescribed blood thinner without your prescribing doctor’s guidance. Avoid alcohol the day before, arrive without makeup on the treatment areas, and book at least two weeks ahead of any major event so the full effect has settled.
Step 3 — The Procedure
Treatment takes place in the private office suite at 9301 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 410, on the same floor as Rexford Surgical Institute, the AAAHC-accredited facility where Dr. Golshani performs his surgical procedures. Dr. Golshani or a licensed member of his clinical team, working under his supervision, cleans the skin, applies ice or topical numbing if you prefer, and places small doses with a very fine needle. No anesthesia is needed, and the visit usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Step 4 — Recovery
There is no downtime, and most patients return to work immediately. Small raised spots at the injection points fade within about an hour, and any bruising usually clears within a week. Stay upright for four hours, do not rub or massage the treated areas, and skip strenuous exercise for the rest of the day. Dysport often begins working within two to three days, while Botox and Xeomin typically take three to seven days, with the full effect at about two weeks. A follow-up at two weeks allows small adjustments. Results typically last three to four months, and treatments should not be repeated more often than every three months.
Contact Us Today About Botox Treatments in Beverly Hills
Contact us today to learn more about Botox, Dysport, and the other cosmetic treatments we offer in our Medi-Spa and to schedule an appointment for your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Botox and Dysport Injections
What are Botox, Dysport and Xeomin?
Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are prescription injections of botulinum toxin type A that temporarily relax the muscles behind expression lines. All three are FDA-approved for frown lines between the brows, and Botox and Xeomin are also approved for forehead lines and crow’s feet. Dr. Golshani chooses the product and dose to soften lines while keeping natural expression.
How much do Botox, Dysport and Xeomin cost in Beverly Hills?
The cost depends on how many units your treatment needs, and you receive an exact quote at consultation. For scale, the FDA label dose of Botox Cosmetic is 20 units for frown lines and 24 units for crow’s feet, while Dysport’s labeled frown-line dose is 50 units. Because units differ between brands, compare the cost of the full treatment rather than the price per unit. Cosmetic treatment is not covered by insurance.
Which is better: Botox, Dysport or Xeomin?
No single product is better for every patient. Botox has the longest record and the most cosmetic approvals, Dysport often starts working sooner, and Xeomin contains no complexing proteins, which can make it a sensible switch if another product has stopped working as well. Dr. Golshani recommends one based on your muscle strength, past results and timing.
How long does it take to work, and how long does it last?
Most patients see results within two to seven days, with the full effect at about two weeks, and results typically last three to four months. Dysport often begins working at the earlier end of that range. Treatments should be spaced at least three months apart.
Is there any downtime?
There is no downtime, and you can return to work right away. Small bumps fade within about an hour, and any bruising usually clears within a week.
Who is a good candidate?
Good candidates are healthy adults bothered by lines that appear when they frown, raise their brows, squint or smile. Treatment is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for people with neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, or with infection at the injection site.
What are the risks?
Most side effects are minor and temporary, including bruising, mild headache and small bumps at the injection points. The most common unwanted effect is temporary drooping of an eyelid or brow, seen in about 2 percent of patients in a large Dysport trial, which resolves as the product wears off. All botulinum toxins carry an FDA warning about distant spread of toxin effect, though no confirmed serious case has been reported for Botox Cosmetic at recommended cosmetic doses.
Will I look frozen?
No, not when the dose is planned around your anatomy. A frozen look usually comes from overtreating the forehead or ignoring the muscles that pull the brow down. Dr. Golshani doses to soften lines while preserving movement, and patients who want a lighter effect can start conservatively and adjust at the two-week visit.
Can Botox treat neck bands instead of a neck lift?
Botox Cosmetic can soften prominent vertical neck bands, an FDA-approved use since October 2024, but the effect is temporary. It does not correct loose skin, fat beneath the chin or a blurred jawline. When those are present, a neck lift with Dr. Golshani’s Corset Platysmaplasty treats the platysma muscle directly and lasts far longer.
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