Xeomin removes protein found in other injectables, says a Chicago plastic surgeon who has employed the product with sensitive patients.

By Tonya Johnson

Julius Few, MD, founder of The Few Institute of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Chicago and The Few Initiative for Children, has been practicing for more than 20 years. These days, most of his clients are high-profile celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, who recently became the new global face of Xeomin.

Plastic Surgery Practice interviewed Few to get his insights on Xeomin, the #daretoselfcare movement, COVID-19, and personal self-care anti-aging beauty tips that he has shared with Paltrow and others.

PSP: HOW HAVE YOUR PATIENTS BENEFITED FROM USING XEOMIN?

FEW: The purified neurotoxin is clinically proven to treat frown lines by injection and at the same time has been a benefit to my most sensitive patients. I have used Xeomin in a patient who wants a neurotoxin effect and had used other brands with allergic response. Xeomin has been able to serve these patients without issue due to the removal of unnecessary protein. 

PSP: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO INTRODUCE THE PRODUCT TO PATIENTS?

FEW: The purity of the product is important and really resonates with the new patient looking for the least potentially reactive way to stop unwanted frown lines between the brow. 

PSP: WHAT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM YOUR CLIENT GWYNETH PALTROW AND OTHERS ABOUT THE PRODUCT RESULTS?

FEW: They really like the soft touch effect of Xeomin, and the fact that less is often more; movement is not the enemy. The goal, and all that is needed in most cases, is to reduce—not eliminate—movement for clinical efficacy with natural results. 

PSP: WITH MILLENNIALS BECOMING MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT ANTI-AGING PREVENTION METHODS, WHAT’S THE YOUNGEST PATIENT THAT YOU HAVE TREATED WITH XEOMIN?

FEW: Early 20s can be a great starting point for Xeomin, using smaller more preventative dosing; again not freezing the face but rather looking at the given patient’s genetic predisposition for frown lines and treat accordingly. If someone has little movement and no wrinkling in their 20s, they do not typically need a neurotoxin. 

PSP: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST AESTHETIC CONCERNS OF YOUR PATIENTS?

FEW: My patients want to look the way they feel, not done or fake. They are trying to look the best they can but not as if they are obviously doing cosmetic treatments. Plausible deniability is the goal. 

PSP: HOW HAS YOUR AESTHETICS BUSINESS SURVIVED DURING COVID-19?

FEW: The #daretoselfcare movement (led by Gwyneth Paltrow) is really resonating with people now, given we are all traveling much less for pleasure and eating out less, the focus has really moved to the empowerment and enhancement of self-care. It is about time, and this represents a positive outcome from the COVID-19 pandemic. I have never worked out more in my life, and many of my patients are doing the same. 

READ MORE ABOUT FEW’S PARTNERSHIPS: SCITON VIRTUAL USER SUMMIT GOES DIGITAL AND GIVES BACK

PSP: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOP SELF-CARE, BEAUTY TIPS YOU’VE SHARED WITH PALTROW AND OTHER PATIENTS?

FEW:

  1. Prevention of age-related change.
  2. Internal health translates to external health.
  3. State of mind is more important than external change.
  4. Less is more with cosmetic medicine.
  5. For a given cosmetic issue, the goal should be an 85% to 90% correction, not more; otherwise you risk the fake look. 

Tonya Johnson is associate editor of Plastic Surgery Practice.