UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE, YOU HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD OF BOTOX
There is a reason why Botox injections are the most popular cosmetic treatment in the world: it is an easy, safe, and very effective wrinkle treatment. Botox received FDA approval over 20 years ago for the treatment of forehead wrinkles, and since then has gone on to be approved for treating wrinkles in many areas of the face. Botox has now become a household name, like Kleenex or Band-Aid. But what about Dysport, is it the red-headed stepchild, is a a Chinese knock-off or generic? No! Not at all.
Botox and Dysport are both the same neurotoxin called Botulinum toxin type A, but they are attached to a different carrier molecule. Essentially, a carrier molecule is like a microscopic Uber that takes the neurotoxin where it needs to go- the nerve ending. Both Botox and Dysport work by blocking the impulse from a nerve to the muscle which causes wrinkles in areas like the 11’s or the crow’s feet. There have been several clinical studies which compared Botox and Dysport head to head, and at the end of the day there was no statistical significance in how long it took either to begin working, how well either one treated wrinkles, or how long either lasted. However, anecdotally, some patients find that Dysport does begin to “kick in” a couple of days sooner than Botox. This is thought to be because the carrier proteins (Uber drivers) of Dysport are smaller, and theoretically can reach the target nerve ending faster.
Also due to this difference in size, Dysport tends to diffuse outward into the tissues more than Botox. This quality can be both good and bad: in some areas broad diffusion is great, in others, not so great. For example, diffusion in the Crow’s feet can be very helpful to give an even, soft look. In the upper forehead where precise targeted injection is necessary to keep the brow in the proper position, diffusion is not a good quality.
Many patients experienced with injection end up preferring one over the other, as they become very happy with their results using a particular product. Similarly, some injectors have a personal preference, and get amazing results using their favorite toxin. Personally, I love both Botox and Dysport and recommend them based upon the goals of my patients. For those who want a nice soft look around the eyes, I recommend Dysport. For patients who want to target the vertical 11’s or horizontal lines on the forehead, I recommend Botox. This is just my own preference having injected thousands of patients.
SO WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR YOU?
Both last 3-4 months and both are incredibly effective at reducing wrinkles. What I hope you take away from this post is the importance of discussing your goals with your injector, and using the knowledge you hopefully gained here in order to make the best decision together.
To see if Botox, Dysport, or other injectables and neurotoxins are right for you, request a consultation on this website or give us a call at (804) 775-4559.
