Dysport vs Botox: What's the Difference and Which is Best for You?
Botox and Dysport are both solutions to many of the same issues. Each is effectively used to tackle common skin complaints like dynamic fine lines, wrinkles and creasing.
So, when it comes to Dysport vs. Botox, which is better?
What are the differences between the two products and is there an advantage to choosing one over the other? We’re going to go over the differences, benefits and other factors that can help you choose the right product for your skin.
Dysport vs. Botox
Botox may be more familiar to you and that’s because it’s been around a lot longer, but Dysport is also a neurotoxin. Neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport block signals from the nervous system to the muscle, thereby paralyzing it and relaxing and smoothing any fine lines the targeted muscle’s movement might have caused.
Each of these products is made from Botulinum toxins and used in very minute quantities in cosmetic procedures.
Both Botox and Dysport are considered non-surgical and non-invasive treatments that have little to no recovery time. Administered by quick injections, both are effective in reducing the visible complications of ageing skin. Neither of these injectables is meant to be permanent and both require maintenance to continue seeing results.
There are many ways in which these two products are similar, but they are different products. Let’s go over some of the differences between Dysport vs. Botox.
About Botox
Botox is a well-known cosmetic treatment used to treat the signs of ageing in the skin. Like Dysport, it is made with the botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin that paralyzes the targeted muscle to smooth out fine lines and droopy skin above. First approved by the FDA in 1989, botox is a drug that is used in many medical applications including uncontrollable blinking, overactive bladders, severe sweating and more.
Our Austin Botox injectables aren’t just effective, they’re easy, minimally invasive and non-surgical. The drug is administered by small injections at the site of wrinkles or fine lines. There’s no need for surgery, nor a hospital. You can get your treatment done right there in your practitioner’s office in about 15-30 minute appointments.
Patients report feeling a small pinch but no significant discomfort. A cosmetic Botox treatment lasts a few minutes, meaning the appointment for your Botox procedure will be over quickly.
The results of your Botox procedure can begin to be visible within about a week, with the full impact of the drug becoming apparent after about two weeks. You’ll notice fine lines have become smoother, fewer wrinkles are visible and creasing is minimized. You may experience some bruising and tenderness and minimal bleeding at the injection site.
Swelling can occur, but side effects are usually gone within a few hours or within a day. All told, you might spend around $550 per treatment, based on the average cost of Botox procedures nationwide. If you’re interested in finding out if Botox is for you, Learn More About Botox Injections in Austin.
Botox Before and After Results
About Dysport
Similar to Botox, Dysport treats the signs of ageing in the skin, with a specific focus on the glabellar lines on the forehead. Dysport is also a minimally invasive injection made with the botulinum toxin that was approved by the FDA in 2009. Aside from its cosmetic uses, Dysport can be used to treat cervical dystonia as well as upper and lower limb spasticity.
This is a non-surgical injectable treatment and can be done from the comfort of your doctor’s office. During your Dysport procedure, your practitioner may apply a topical numbing agent to prevent any discomfort. After that, you’re just minutes away from smoother, more youthful-looking skin. Each injection takes mere moments, meaning your procedure will be over in a snap.
The results of a Dysport treatment will be noticeable within a couple of days. Your recovery time is nearly nonexistent with the most common side effects reported being mild bruising, tenderness and redness that subsides after a day. You can get right back to your day-to-day business after your procedure is complete. The average cost of a Dysport treatment is approximately $450 per session and the results can last for months. Learn More About Dysport Injections in Austin if you want to know whether or not you’re a Dysport candidate.
Dysport Before and After Results
Dysport vs. Botox: How Are They Different?
While Dysport and Botox are similar in many ways, they are two different products. Let’s take a quick look at how these two non-surgical cosmetic injectables differ.
Dosing
Botox and Dysport are both sold by unit, but Dysport units are slightly smaller than Botox units. What Botox can accomplish using 10 units, Dysport will need 25-30 units, meaning your Dysport dosage will likely be higher. However, Dysport units cost less and for certain applications, such as glabella lines, or frown lines on the forehead, Dysport is specialized and can be more effective.
Concentration
Another difference between Dysport vs. Botox is that Botox contains larger protein particles than Dysport, which is what causes this difference in concentration between the two products. These discrepancies make each of these cosmetic treatments perfect for different applications.
Diffusion
Dysport diffuses much more easily than Botox thanks to its higher dilution and smaller protein particles. This diffusion makes Dysport perfectly suited for larger areas of skin, like the forehead, while Botox can sometimes be the better choice for localized fine lines and wrinkles. Patients often describe Dysport feeling softer and more natural than botox from an experience perspective.
Cost
The cost of the procedure is another area where Botox and Dysport often differ. A unit of Botox costs more than a unit of Dysport due to its heavier concentration. Dysport, on average, will run you about $450 per treatment, whereas Botox has an average in the US of about $550 per treatment. Your total cost, however, is going to depend on numerous factors, including how many areas you’ll be targeting, how many units will be required to obtain the results you want to see and what sorts of lines and wrinkles you’re looking to tackle. It’s best to speak with one of our med spa Austin professionals for a consultation to find out your cost.
Results
Whether you choose Dysport or Botox, you’re going to see results quickly. If you’ve received Dysport injections, you’ll notice results within just a few days. Dysport before and after photos can be taken just days apart. Botox results can start to appear within a week, with the full effects taking up to 2-3 weeks to be maximally noticeable. Your Dysport and botox results can last anywhere from three to four months.
Where is Botox and Dysport Most Effective on the Face?
As a result of the differences in dilution and protein size found in Dysport and Botox, each product is well suited for different areas of the face. Let’s cover some of the most common signs of ageing and find out which of these injectables is more effective in their treatment when it comes to Botox vs. Dysport. What is Dysport better at treating? What does Botox do best? Let’s find out!
Forehead Lines
Your forehead and lines that appear on it generally affect a larger area of skin, making Dysport the best choice for this treatment most of the time. Dysport spreads with greater ease than Botox, making it perfectly suited for larger areas of skin.
Crow’s Feet
Again, Dysport is, more often than not, perfectly suited for this application thanks to its ability to diffuse with ease. It can tackle more wrinkles with fewer injections as it spreads out.
Eye Wrinkles
Wrinkles that appear around the eyes are more localized and tend to gather in smaller areas of the skin. That makes Botox the best choice for the treatment of most wrinkles around the eyes, as it tends to stay closer to the injection site, diffusing far less easily than Dysport.
Lip Lines
For smaller, more localized lines around the lips, Botox can be the best choice thanks to its tendency to stay put better than Dysport. However, if your lip lines affect a larger area around your lips, Dysport will be more effective, spreading easily and tackling more with each injection.
Other Medical Uses
While most commonly known for cosmetic procedures, Dysport and Botox are also used to treat medical conditions that can be debilitating to the sufferer. Botox treats excessive sweating, overactive bladders, neck spasms and lazy eyes. Dysport is useful in the treatment of neck spasms as well and also offers relief to those suffering from spasticity in the lower and upper limbs.
Is Botox Safer Than the Dysport?
Both Botox and Dysport are FDA approved for the cosmetic treatment of wrinkles and fine lines. They have been recognized as safe in the treatment of the visible signs of ageing. As the two are both made using the botulinum toxin, they are equally safe and come with very limited side effects.
Which Lasts Longer, Dysport or Botox?
When it comes to how long your results last, Botox wins out with the effects of treatment lasting up to six months but with higher dosing. How long does Dysport last? This product can last between three to four months. When comparing Dysport versus Botox, Botox lasts longer.
Is Dysport Cheaper Than Botox?
Dysport does cost less per unit compared to Botox but Botox results last longer, which means you need fewer treatments to maintain your results when you’ve chosen Botox. The difference between Botox and Dysport when it comes to cost over time can be negligible depending on which areas you’re treating and how many units your treatment requires.
Can I Use Both Botox and Dysport?
Yes, you can use both Botox and Dysport for your cosmetic treatment. In fact, in some patients, it might be the best way to go, given that some areas that need treatment may be small and more localized, while others are more spread out. Dysport is more effective in broader areas of skin, while Botox is effective in needling down into smaller sections of the face.
Final Thoughts
At first glance, Dysport and Botox seem like the same injectables with different names. Made from the same active ingredient and used to treat similar cosmetic complaints, there are a lot of similarities.
But when it comes to Dysport vs. Botox, there are also some big differences. Botox may cost more per treatment but lasts longer and you will likely need a lower dosage. Dysport can cost less per treatment but you’ll have to get those injectables more often, with a higher dosage, as the results tend to fade a little sooner than those we see from Botox. Dysport is a more effective treatment when tackling the signs of ageing in larger areas, whereas Botox gets down into the smaller wrinkles and finer lines.
The best way to choose between the two is to consult with your trusted Austin fillers practitioner who will develop a fully customized treatment plan for you, with the intent of reaching your unique aesthetic goals. Speak with a professional today to find out which treatment is best for you.
