Botox Vs. Dysport: What's The Difference?

Botox vs Dysport

Originally published on 9/17/2006, updated on 2/11/2021 to include recent studies

Botox and Dysport are both neuromodulators or neurotoxins (forms of botulinum toxin type A) that have been approved by the FDA for minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. The minimally-invasive injectables are equally safe, and both work via the same machinery. Both are neuromodulators temporarily paralyze muscles of the face, which reduces wrinkles and smooths skin.

While both products are used for the same indications and are chemically similar, at that place are a few primal differences between the two. These differences are so great that its important for patients to understand that these products are not interchangeable.

In this mail service we will compare Botox vs. Dysport to expect at their similarities and differences, too equally provide guidance on which neuromodulator is may be best for your specific needs.

About Botox

Botox works the same way Dysport does. The naturally derived toxin blocks nerve signals to your muscles, which results in a more relaxed and softer-looking face. Botox is sectional to the Us market, while Dysport was used in Europe long earlier it received FDA approval.

Botox injections accept identify in your doc'south function and require little to no downtime. Your doctor may first apply a topical anesthetic to reduce injection-site pain. Botox is more often used to treat small areas or fine lines. The number of units needed depends upon the area to exist treated and the severity of the wrinkles.

The results of Botox may have longer to announced, simply Botox besides tends to last longer, upwardly to 6 months. Still a temporary solution for wrinkles, however, repeated injections are required to maintain results.

Before and Subsequently Botox

Virtually Dysport

Dysport is a neuromodulator which, like Botox, is derived from the botulinum toxin. It works by temporarily paralyzing muscles. When your muscles relax, wrinkles that are formed past repeated muscular contractions are minimized.

Dysport is injected under the skin to treat moderate to severe wrinkles. Information technology's not typically used for fine lines. The 11 lines between the eyebrows are normally the face'southward deepest wrinkles, which is why Dysport is frequently used to care for this expanse.

Dysport, like Botox, is a temporary solution for wrinkles. Results last from 3-4 months, at which betoken you'll need a follow-up injection to maintain your smooth expect.

Earlier and After Dysport

Botox vs. Dysport: The Main Differences

The difference between Botox and Dysport comes down to varying formula characteristics:

Dosage: In that location is one important difference between Botox and Dysport: they are dosed differently. It takes three units of Dysport to equal the muscle relaxing strength of one unit of Botox. This stardom is very important, 50 units of Botox does not equal 50 units of Dysport. Delight see a licensed injector for proper dosage.

Dilution: Dysport is diluted differently than botox. So if a patient is used to a certain number of Botox units for a handling they will probable need to increment the number of units when switching to Dysport (or vice versa). However, greater dilution does non mean that Dysport is less effective than Botox. It just ways that a college quantity of Dysport is needed to reach the aforementioned level of result. For clinics that cost the products by the unit of measurement, yous will find that that price per unit of Dysport is typically much lower than the cost per unit of Botox, but to become a similar handling result the final cost may be about the same.

Molecule size: The Dysport formula contains smaller molecules compared to Botox, which may be beneficial. Smaller molecules enable Dysport to work faster than Botox and a larger surface area of spreading. In some areas this is beneficial and in some areas this is non. That is why it is very important to go to a provider who has lots of experience and expertise in proper dosing and placement of your neurotoxin.

Improvidence: Dysport tends to diffuse more than than Botox, causing it to spread to a broader surface area later on it's injected. This means a larger treatment area can be addressed in fewer injections, which tin be beneficial when addressing larger treatment areas. However, this improvidence means Dysport is less constructive in treating smaller areas where more precision is needed or areas with thicker muscles.

Onset: Compared to Botox, Dysport has the quickest "onset" of action; typically requiring 24 hours for all results to be realized. Botox can take upwardly to 72 hours for results to fully establish.

Is Botox Better Than Dysport In Certain Facial Areas?

When Botox is injected, information technology stays put in the injection area. This makes Botox a premiere option for treating smaller, more targeted areas around the lips and eyes. Dysport, on the other mitt, diffuses into larger areas after being injected, significant it spreads further abroad from the injection site. This makes Dysport platonic for treating larger areas, like the forehead, every bit fewer injections are needed to address a larger treatment area.

Here's which neurotoxin is best for addressing common facial areas:

Wrinkles Around the Eyes

Common wrinkles around the optics include eleven lines, the two parallel lines that course between the eyebrows and crow'southward feet. 11 lines are best treated past Dysport, which is typically reserved for deeper wrinkles. Crow's feet are more often treated by Botox, which avoids any 'drift' of the toxin toward the optics.

Brow Lines

Forehead lines are the horizontal lines that extend across the forehead. These are best treated by Dysport, which is recommended for larger areas. Dysport more easily spreads from the injection site, thus treating your lines with fewer injections.

Lip Lines

Lip lines are the vertical wrinkles above the lip, likewise known as smoker'southward lines. Lip lines require an avant-garde, precise injection technique. This makes Botox the amend selection, since the neurotoxin will stay put in the pocket-size surface area into which it was injected.

Medical Applications

Both Dysport and Botox are sometimes used to treat muscle spasms, sweat gland disorders, migraines or TMJ. Their primary utilize, however, continues to be the corrective prevention and treatment of wrinkles.

Similarities Between Botox & Dysport

Over time, fine lines and wrinkles naturally develop in areas of the face due to repetitious muscle contractions from normal everyday facial movements or expressions. For example, smiling and squinting create 'crow'due south feet' around the eyes, while raising your eyebrows results in forehead lines.

Both Botox and Dysport address fine lines and wrinkles past relaxing muscle tissue to the signal where they forbid the muscle from contracting. When either production is injected into a targeted muscle area the nerve impulses that control muscle contraction are temporarily blocked. The resulting subtract in movement and relaxation of muscles reduces the appearance of wrinkles in the area.

The results of both Botox and Dysport are temporary. Afterward a menses of time nervus impulses brainstorm to reach the targeted muscle surface area again, resulting in both muscle contractions and the reappearance of wrinkles and lines. However, an experienced injector tin maintain the positive results of neurotoxins with regular treatment sessions approximately every 3-6 months.

Is There a Deviation in Results?

Botox and Dysport work similarly and have the chapters to provide like results. 1 big departure between these neurotoxins is results onset, that is how soon results are visible. With Dysport, patients may begin to observe results in every bit little as 24 hours after treatment. With Botox, final results may not be noticeable until 72 hours or longer after your injections.

Depending on your treatment, the amount of neuromodulator needed will besides differ. Dysport injections come in smaller units. One unit of Botox is equal to three units of Dysport. This does not mean you'll pay double for Botox. Both drugs are similarly priced, every bit ane unit of measurement of Dysport costs near one/3 of a unit of measurement of Botox. The corporeality y'all'll need depends primarily on your specific cosmetic concern.

Does Botox Terminal Longer Than Dysport?

The results of Botox typically last between 3 to six months from injection. In contrast, Dysport typically lasts for about four months. Effect duration tin can vary from patient to patient equally many variables like treatment location, musculus size, and patient metabolism can play a role

It'southward of import for patients to know that they can extend the results of either Botox or Dysport past undergoing periodic maintenance treatment sessions. It'due south also true that after about a year of undergoing Botox or Dysport treatments, many patients tin get longer between treatment sessions as it takes far less effort (dosage) for the targeted muscles to relax.

Is One Safer Than The Other?

Botox and Dysport are both safety when used as intended. The most common side effects include redness, minor swelling, or itching at the injection site. Droopy eyelids or muscle spasms are rare, moderate side-effects.

Even more than rare is botulinum toxin poisoning. This can occur in those who accept an allergic reaction to the drug, or in those who receive too many injections within a brusque fourth dimension frame. If you experience shortness of breath or difficulty speaking or swallowing afterwards your treatment, contact your physician immediately. Side effects are minimized when you lot visit a board-certified doctor for treatment.

Is Dysport Cheaper Than Botox?

When strictly looking at toll per unit, Dysport is cheaper than Botox. However, the disparity is deceiving equally information technology takes 3 (3) units of Dysport to provide the aforementioned musculus relaxing power as a single (1) unite of Botox. So on a strictly price per unit of measurement basis, Dysport can appear pretty inexpensive (say $five per unit of measurement) compared to Botox at $15 per unit. Withal, the total procedure cost volition even out as information technology takes 3 Dysport units to exist equivalent to one Botox unit.

During an in-person consultation, patients should ask their injector how pricing would differ given the specific results they want.

Studies: Which Is Better?

In the Botox versus Dysport debate, in that location have been patient reviews supporting the superiority of both products. However, these are simply personal reports with no scientific proof supporting the claim.

To date the only report focused on the cosmetic differences between Botox and Dysport was undertaken in 2011 (note the study was funded by Dysport's parent company Medicis Aesthetics). Subjects of the study were injected with Botox on one side of their face up and Dysport on the other side. The study showed a notable difference in wrinkles afterward 30 days, with the Dysport side having fewer wrinkles when the subjects smiled. One problem with this study is that there isn't 1 clinically accepted conversion ratio used to compare the thinner, more diluted Dysport to the thicker, more concentrated Botox. This doubt led Allergan (Botox's parent company) to conclude that researchers simply used more Dysport than Botox, which is highly probable.

Decision

In the cease, the choice betwixt Botox and Dysport may come downwardly to simple preference of both the injector and the patient. At times, skilled injectors may even utilize both products concurrently during a unmarried handling session to most finer produce a patients' desired issue.

More Botox vs. Dysport Comparison Resource

  • RealSelf Q&A Thread – Botox vs. Dysport
  • Botox vs. Dysport report (2007)
  • Botox & Dysport Efficacy Study (2013)
Kelly Wala, RN BSN

Kelly Wala is a Registered Nurse with a Baccalaureate Degree of Scientific discipline in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky Academy. Equally an Artful Nurse Specialist for the past x years Kelly specialized in a full complement of non-surgical aesthetic services such equally facial injectables, laser and light therapy, body contouring, and skin intendance. Kelly was the first in Texas to perform the Injectable Threadlift. Kelly is a Faculty trainer for Allergan Facial Aesthetics and Coolsculpting likewise equally a Faculty trainer for Galderma Facial Aesthetics and Sculptra. Aesthetics

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