Wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions don't have to be treated surgically. Neuromodulators, also commonly called wrinkle relaxers, temporarily reduce targeted muscle activity to soften dynamic lines while preserving a natural-looking expression. At the Stern Center for Aesthetics in Bellevue, WA, we offer Botox®, Letybo®, and Daxxify®, giving you several options to customize treatment to your facial anatomy, goals, and preferences.
Experience matters with injectable treatments. Dr. Fredric Stern has performed Botox Cosmetic and facial filler treatments since 1994 and was selected as one of the original Botox Cosmetic instructors in the country. His background as a board-certified ophthalmologist and experienced eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeon gives him a detailed understanding of the muscles responsible for facial expression.
Botox Before & After
What Are Neuromodulators and Wrinkle Relaxers?
Botox, Letybo, and Daxxify belong to a category of injectable treatments called neuromodulators. These products use forms of botulinum toxin type A to temporarily interrupt communication between nerves and selected muscles.
When targeted facial muscles contract less strongly, the overlying skin doesn't fold as much. This can soften dynamic wrinkles — lines created or intensified when you frown, squint, smile, or raise your eyebrows.
Neuromodulators don't add volume beneath your skin. That distinction separates them from dermal fillers, which restore volume or support areas affected by static wrinkles and facial volume loss.
What Areas Can Wrinkle Relaxers Treat?
We plan your treatment based on your individual muscle activity rather than using the same injection pattern for everyone.
Neuromodulators may be used to address concerns such as:
- Frown lines between the eyebrows
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Crow's feet around the eyes
- Neck lines and bands
- Sagging of the lower face
- Other expression-related facial lines when clinically appropriate
The specific product and treatment areas recommended for you will depend on your anatomy, goals, medical history, and the approved indications or appropriate use of each product.
Patient Testimonial
"Thank you Dr. Stern and team! I have had a few procedures now -- Botox, Filler, and Halo Laser -- and the results are better than I imagined! I wanted to look refreshed but not overdone and Dr. Stern accomplished just that. The entire staff is so warm and welcoming, I really look forward to each and every visit!"
Botox® Cosmetic
Botox Cosmetic is the best-known neuromodulator and has a long history in aesthetic medicine. It temporarily reduces muscle activity responsible for expression lines, including moderate-to-severe frown lines.
Botox has been central to the Stern Center's injectable treatments for decades. Dr. Stern began performing Botox and facial filler treatments in 1994 and was among a select initial group of physicians chosen to teach Botox Cosmetic injection techniques.
A Botox appointment generally takes only a few minutes. Results are temporary, with the effect commonly lasting around four months, although duration varies according to treatment area, dose, muscle activity, and individual metabolism.
Botox may also be incorporated into a broader rejuvenation plan alongside dermal fillers or laser treatments when different types of facial aging need to be addressed.
Letybo®: A New Wrinkle Relaxer Option
Letybo® (letibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg) or "K-tox" gives Stern Center patients another neuromodulator option. Letybo is FDA-approved for adults to temporarily improve moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows, also called glabellar lines.
Although relatively new to the United States, Letybo has an established international history. Like other neuromodulators, it works by reducing activity in the muscles responsible for creating targeted expression lines.
Clinical study data reported by the manufacturer show that some patients noticed improvement within one to three days. The manufacturer reports an average time to retreatment of 127 days in a Phase 3 study, or approximately four months. Individual onset and duration can vary.
Letybo may appeal to you if you're interested in exploring an alternative neuromodulator while maintaining the goal of smoother, natural-looking frown lines.
Daxxify®: A Peptide-Formulated Neuromodulator
Daxxify® (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm) is another injectable neuromodulator used to temporarily improve moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows. What distinguishes Daxxify from other available wrinkle relaxers is its peptide-based formulation.
Daxxify may be particularly interesting if duration is an important consideration. In pivotal clinical studies, more than half of participants had none or mild frown lines at approximately six months, and median time for wrinkles to return to their baseline severity was approximately six months. Results still vary from person to person.
Clinical-trial participants also reported measurable improvement within two days, with some seeing results as early as the following day.
Botox vs. Letybo vs. Daxxify: What's the Difference?
All three treatments are neuromodulators, but they aren't interchangeable products. Their formulations, dosing, approved indications, onset, and potential duration differ.
- Botox has decades of widespread aesthetic use and is the product with which many patients are most familiar.
- Letybo offers another FDA-approved option for glabellar lines and brings extensive international clinical use to the U.S. market.
- Daxxify uses a distinctive peptide formulation and may provide a longer duration for some patients.
There isn't one wrinkle relaxer that's automatically best for everyone. Your previous experience with neuromodulators, desired treatment areas, facial muscle activity, preferred treatment frequency, and aesthetic goals can all influence which option is appropriate.
Who Is a Candidate for Neuromodulator Injections?
Age alone doesn't determine when wrinkle relaxers are appropriate. You may consider treatment when expression-related lines begin bothering you, whether they are just starting to become noticeable or have become more established.
Younger adults sometimes use neuromodulators to soften repetitive muscle activity before lines become deeply etched, while older adults may incorporate injections into a broader facial rejuvenation plan.
A consultation is important because botulinum toxin products are prescription medications and aren't appropriate for everyone. Your medical history, medications, treatment area, and goals should be reviewed before injections.
What Happens During a Wrinkle Relaxer Appointment?
Treatment begins with an assessment of your facial anatomy and muscle movement. You'll typically be asked to make expressions such as frowning, smiling, or raising your eyebrows so the areas of strongest muscle activity can be identified.
Small amounts of the selected neuromodulator are then placed into specific muscles using a fine needle. Treatment itself generally takes only several minutes.
Temporary redness, swelling, tenderness, or bruising can occur around injection sites. Your provider will give you product-specific aftercare instructions based on the treatment you receive.
Botox® Cosmetic Before & Afters
How Are Neuromodulators Different From Dermal Fillers?
Neuromodulators and fillers address different components of facial aging.
Botox, Letybo, and Daxxify reduce targeted muscle activity to improve dynamic wrinkles. Dermal fillers add volume and structural support, making them better suited to concerns such as age-related volume loss and certain static folds or creases.
You may benefit from one treatment category or a combination, depending on whether muscle movement, volume loss, or both are contributing to the changes you see.
Why Choose the Stern Center for Botox, Letybo, and Daxxify?
Successful neuromodulator treatment involves more than choosing a brand. Injection location, dosing, facial anatomy, muscle strength, symmetry, and your desired degree of movement all affect the outcome.
Dr. Stern brings more than three decades of Botox and filler injection experience to the Stern Center for Aesthetics. His early role as a Botox Cosmetic instructor and extensive background in eyelid and facial procedures provide a strong foundation for individualized treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all injection pattern.
The addition of Letybo and Daxxify also gives you more options. Instead of automatically choosing the same wrinkle relaxer for every patient, your treatment can be selected according to your goals and response to previous neuromodulators.
Schedule a Neuromodulator Consultation in Bellevue
Whether you've used Botox for years or you're curious about newer options such as Letybo or Daxxify, the Stern Center for Aesthetics can help you understand the differences and develop an individualized treatment plan.
Contact the Stern Center for Aesthetics in Bellevue, WA, or call (425) 455-9100 to schedule your consultation and learn which wrinkle relaxer may be appropriate for you.
