The biggest difference between Dysport and Botox lies in their formulations.
Dysport
is much more diluted and spreads faster compared to Botox, making it ideal for larger surface areas such as the forehead. Botox, on the other hand, is much more powerful, making it incredible for small areas and annoying wrinkles such as crow's feet. Since they are made by different manufacturers, that leads to different costs, formulations and dosages.Dysport is thought to have a slightly faster onset time than Botox (approximately two to three days compared to three to five). For people who find that a neuromodulator no longer produces the desired effect, switching to one of the others may help. Botox is a neurotoxin called OnabotulinumToxin and Dysport is a neurotoxin called AbobotulinumToxin. The amount of neurotoxin you need is measured in doses called units.
For example, reducing forehead lines can take 10 to 20 units of Botox, while reducing neck wrinkles can take 50 to 100 units. Bielfield says the results of Dysport can be seen as soon as three days after treatment, since Dysport is a smaller molecule and can settle in muscle faster than Botox. On the other hand, it can take seven to 10 days until the full effect of Botox is shown. Dysport's faster results can be beneficial for situations where you have an event coming up and want a change in a few days.
On the other hand, Dysport is only approved by the FDA for the treatment of glabellar lines, particularly those that are moderate to severe. Anything else is technically unofficial, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad or dangerous. As for medical use, since Botox is approved and studied more to treat medical conditions, providers tend to use Botox instead of Dysport for conditions such as chronic migraines or hyperhidrosis. During your consultation, discuss your specific cosmetic goals and any previous treatment history.
For example, if you have already been treated with Botox or Dysport, you can continue with the same treatment from now on or change it. Even if you're happy with the results you've achieved with Botox or Dysport, you can try the other type to see if you get longer-lasting or more natural-looking results with the other option. Botox and Dysport are chemically similar neurotoxins and produce comparable results when used for cosmetic purposes. Ultimately, whether you should opt for Botox or Disport is a personal decision. Talking to a licensed dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon can help you decide which one is best for your needs, and you can always try the other option in the future if you want. And like Botox, Dysport is one of the most widely administered prescription cosmetic injectables to smooth expression lines between the eyebrows without changing the look or movement of the rest of the face. However, the disparity is misleading, since it takes three (units) of Dysport to provide the same muscle relaxation power as a single unit of Botox.
If a patient is used to a certain number of Botox units for a treatment, they will likely need to increase the number of units when switching to Dysport (or vice versa). This makes Dysport ideal for treating larger areas such as the forehead since fewer injections are needed to treat a larger treatment area. Both Dysport and Botox are public-pleasing anti-wrinkle treatments because they are relatively painless and have an ultra-fast recovery time. However, this spread means that Dysport is less effective at treating smaller areas where more precision is needed or areas with thicker muscles. The recommended dose of Dysport is up to 50 units divided into five portions injected into the target area. Like Botox, Dysport is an injection of botulinum toxin which means it relaxes muscles to create a natural smoothing effect on wrinkles and fine lines.
Therefore, if you've tried anti-wrinkle creams and treatments and you don't get the effect you want, Botox or Dysport may be a good option for you. In conclusion, both Botox and Dysport offer similar results when used for cosmetic purposes but there are some differences between them that should be taken into consideration when deciding which one is best for your needs. Talking to a licensed dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon can help you decide which one is best for your needs.
