Dysport vs Botox – 2023 guide. Which is better? How to choose and what to look for?

appearance of Botox
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Anti-aging is one of the most common search terms on the internet, and it isn’t only women doing the searching. Men too, are aware that there are potential ways to look younger for longer through potions, lotions, and procedures. If you have carried out your own searches on anti-aging,  then it is very likely that you will have come across both Botox and Dysport.

Botox has become known as the generic word for such injectable treatments but in fact, Botox is a brand name, as is Dysport. Botox and Dysport are both types of anti-aging injectables manufactured with botulinum toxin. Though both (and other brands) are sometimes used to treat medical conditions such as muscle spasms, their more common use is as a cosmetic treatment to rejuvenate skin by tackling facial wrinkles and fine lines. These lines form as skin loses collagen (the substance that keeps skin plump and tight) as we age.

Though both Dysport and Botox achieve a similar result, there are some key differences in the two products.

What is the difference between Botox and Dysport?

Both products are FDA approved, have few side effects, and are considered safe. Though both Botox and Dysport share a similar active ingredient, the aforementioned botulinum toxin, there are small differences that can be identified which might make a patient want to select one over the other. Let’s examine some of these key differences:

Dysport 

● The biggest thing to take note of when it comes to Dysport, is that it is currently only approved for use on the glabella and not as a general facial treatment. The glabella is the specific area of the face that is in between the eyebrows. When a person frowns, lines extend upwards vertically, rising toward the forehead. This is classed as the glabellar line area of the face.

● Dysport is recommended primarily for patients who are suffering with moderate to severe cases of glabella wrinkles. Those with less pronounced lines in this area are not commonly assigned Dysport as their treatment.

Botox

● As you might imagine simply due to the more recognizable name in the culture and industry, Botox is an option that has been approved to treat a much wider range of facial areas.

● As well as the aforementioned glabellar lines, Botox injections can also be used to treat forehead lines high up on the face, crow’s feet around the eyes, and other areas where frequently used facial muscles create lines, such as the corners of the mouth (smile lines).

how Botox is done on the chin
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How long does Dysport last vs Botox?

Before opting for either treatment, it is important to understand that neither Dysport nor Botox is a permanent solution. Indulging in this kind of cosmetic surgery is not one visit, single fix situation. These treatments have an effect for a scheduled amount of time, after which you will need to make another visit to have a second, third, fourth injections, etc. Those who opt for an injectable lifestyle treat their cosmetic visits in the same way that you would treat a hair salon appointment. Here are some comparisons for how long both treatments last.

Dysport

● The effects of a Dysport injection tend to start appearing two days after the procedure.

● On average, the wrinkle fading results of a Dysport treatment will last somewhere in the region of three to four months depending on the severity of your wrinkles before the injection. After this time, you will need to return to your clinic for maintenance top ups.

Botox

● The effects of a Botox injection are usually noticeable within a week of initial treatment, but it can sometimes take up a month for the full result to become apparent.

● The best case scenario for a Botox injection lifespan is six months, but more commonly, patients find themselves booking an appointment for new injections at around four to five months.

Which is safer, Dysport or Botox?

Those who are seeking to find out the safer of the two between Dysport and Botox in Toronto will be pleased to learn that both treatments are considered to be equally safe. They have both been board certified as effective temporary non-surgical treatments for moderate to severe facial wrinkles, so your decision can be based more on things like cost and longevity rather than a matter of scientific safety.

What is more expensive, Botox or Dysport?

As with all cosmetic surgery, the final cost of both Botox and Dysport injections depend on the areas of the face that are being treated, and the number of treatments needed. On average, Dysport commands a cost of around $450 dollars per session, whereas the average price for a full course of Botox injection is around $550. This average difference in price isn’t very large, but the final cost of any treatment will always depend on the specific circumstances of each patient.

Does Botox have more FDA approved indication than Dysport?

As mentioned above, Dysport is currently only approved for treatment of wrinkles in the glabella area between the eyebrows. In comparison, Botox can be used on many more areas of the face including forehead lines and crow’s feet. If you are seeking treatment anywhere other than the glabella, then Botox is going to be recommended over Dysport.

What is better, Botox or Dysport?

In conclusion, the question of which treatment is better is going to be down to several different factors for each individual patient. Whilst Dysport is cheaper on average, it is only available for procedures on that one specific area of the face. If your glabellar lines are your area of concern, then Dysport might be the better option for you.

If your wrinkles are on any other part of your face, then Botox is a better choice. It lasts slightly longer and might be more readily available at the clinic that you choose.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, Dysport and Botox are both effective non-surgical wrinkle treatments that produce similar results for varying lengths of time. Neither injections cause any pain during the procedure, and though Botox is slightly more expensive, it is also more popular in the wider culture.

Botox can take slightly longer to take effect, but it makes up for it with a longer-lasting visual effect compared to Dysport. Neither treatments require a long recovery period. The last caveat to remember is that neither Dysport nor Botox are recommended for women who are pregnant.

Photo by Sam Moqadam on Unsplash, & Atikah Akhtar on Unsplash

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