Botox and Dysport are the two most common neurotoxins used in med spas and clinics around the country for erasing wrinkles and fine lines. Botox is, of course, more well-known. But what is Dysport, then? How similar are they and can they be used interchangeably? We’ll explore the differences and similarities in this post.

Dysport vs Botox: What Are The Main Differences?

Both Dysport and Botox are neurotoxins derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The bacterium produces a toxin that is extremely poisonous but when used in very diluted amounts can produce great benefits treating various medical conditions.

Botulinum toxin weakens muscles by temporarily inhibiting their ability to contract. This feature of the toxin has been recognized and used in the beauty industry as a great way to erase wrinkles. When the substance is injected into a muscle whose movement has created a deep wrinkle, the skin that covers that muscle will relax, leading to smooth, wrinkle-free skin.

This feature of Botulinum toxin applies to both Dysport and Botox. So then what are the differences?

Some people believe that Dysport has a feathery effect when injected. It is observed by some injectors that it spreads more throughout the injected area, making the boundaries of the treated area less visible. The effects of Dysport kick in about 3 days after injection while Botox takes up to two weeks.

When reconstituted at the same dilution Botox does not appear to spread as much as Dysport. This is great in areas such as the neck, under the eyes and perioral lines because spread could lead to unwanted results. If your injector is certified and has years of experience, they will inject it so that one can see where it was injected, and which area is untreated. However, novice injectors can make the boundaries much more prominent with Botox. When choosing your injector, don’t forget to check out their before-and-after galleries and how much work they’ve already done.

Another great difference between Dysport and Botox is which areas are FDA-approved for treatment.

Botox is FDA-approved to treat frown lines between eyebrows, wrinkles around the eyes (also called crow’s feet) and lines on the forehead.

Dysport is FDA-approved to treat glabellar lines or frown lines – vertical lines that appear between the eyebrows.

If you want to treat glabellar lines, for which both Botox and Dysport can be used, it will come down to your practitioner’s recommendation and their experience on what will suit you personally.

In some patients an immune response to a specific Botulimum toxin inhibits its function – meeaning there is a small population of people who get no response when the medication is injected. If a patient shows no response to Botox two weeks after it is injected, Dysport may be a better choice for them for their next treatment. Alternatively, if a patient shows no response to Dysport one week after it is injected, Botox may be a better choice for them for their next treatment. Please note you should never inject both in an area at the same time or during the same treatment time period. There are also a handful of people who do not respond to any of the four FDA approved cosmetic neurotoxins.

Side effects of Botox and Dysport

Side effects of Dysport and Botox are the same.

The most common side effect is bruising, but it doesn’t affect all patients. Sometimes, a patient can suffer from a headache after the treatment. A headache usually resolves in 24-48 hours. A very small minority of patients may experience eyelid drooping. This issue will gradually go away in about three weeks.

Sometimes, you can suffer from:

• Tenderness, soreness, pain or skin reaction in the injection area
• Headache
• Nose and throat irritation
• Eyelid swelling or drooping
• Upper respiratory system infection
• Sinus inflammation
• Nausea.

You can combat these issues with over-the-counter analgesics such as Tylenol, though you should always check with your injector regarding which medications you plan on taking.

In extremely rare instances, some people may experience severe and sometimes life-threatening side effects, such as:

• Difficulty in swallowing, speaking and breathing
• Mild pain
• Numbness
• Temporary weakness
• Neck weakness
• Mild nausea
• Flu-like illness
• Double vision
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• Bleeding (in case the doctor injects too deep and hits a blood vessel)
• Fatigue
• Rashes
• Swelling
• These happen in extreme cases, and as emphasized earlier, most patients do not exhibit any side effects, or only experience the mild ones.

Which one should I get?

The product chosen to treat your wrinkles will depend on the areas being treated, your previous injection history, your body’s ability to utilize the medication, the timeframe in which you want to see results and your injectors experience. For the most part, either Dysport and Botox can be used and in the right hands the outcome will be the same.

Even though getting Botox or Dysport is a non-surgical procedure, listen to your medical professional and follow their advice to minimize any discomfort and have the best results possible!

To check out the result of our clients, feel free to browse through our Before and After Gallery!

COMPARISON BREAKDOWN