There’s no denying the fact that wrinkles will, at some point, begin to form on your face, no matter how diligent you are about staying out of the skin and stimulating new collagen and elastin production. Wrinkles form for several reasons, but those related to repeated facial expressions like frowning, smiling, and squinting can seem more pronounced than others.
Thankfully, injectables like Botox and Dysport can soften these wrinkles for smoother skin. But how do you know if Dysport vs. Botox is better for you? And what are the pros and cons of each? Here, we dive into the different wrinkle-reducing options, how they work, and what you can expect from each so you can decide if Dysport vs. Botox is best for you.
What is Botox?
Botox is a popular neuromodulator derived from the bacterium clostridium botulinum. When injected into areas of the face affected by repeat muscle movement, Botox can reduce or even fully erase fine lines and wrinkles. Botox works by blocking signals between the nerves and muscles that signal the muscles to contract, making a wrinkle. With less ability for the muscles to contract, the skin starts to smooth out, and fewer wrinkles are visible. Although Botox was the first FDA-approved muscle relaxer to inhibit wrinkle formation, it remains the most popular.
What is Dysport?
Like Botox, Dysport is a temporary wrinkle-relaxing injectable that can help lead to smoother skin. It works similarly to Botox and even has the same active ingredient, but it has a more diffuse point of action, meaning it’s better for treating larger areas. Dysport has added proteins to the formulation, which lowers its molecular weight. Yet, it, too, is FDA-approved to treat facial wrinkles for cosmetic purposes.
The Difference Between Botox and Dysport
There are a lot of similarities between Botox and Dysport, but also a few critical points of differentiation between Dysport and Botox. Although Botox and Dysport work towards the same end goal, they differ in their structural components. Botulinum toxin type A comprises both Botox and Dysport, but each features different types and amounts of proteins, ultimately affecting the diffusion of the injectable and, therefore, its effectiveness. Some patients find that Dysport diffuses a little too much, and Botox is more of a controlled result, especially in smaller areas, which is why many prefer Botox over Dysport.
Since different manufacturers make Dysport and Botox, not only are the formulations different, but so are all the doses and, therefore, the costs. And, because the concentration of Dysport vs. Botox is not 1-1, you may need more Dysport to achieve the same effect as Botox. Overall, the unit price of Botox vs. Dyposrt isn’t all that different, but if you need more Dysport to achieve what Botox can, the overall cost of your treatment may be more expensive.
The areas you want to treat may also influence which injectable is best for you. Since Botox doesn’t spread nearly as fast or far as Dysport does, it is often injected into smaller, more concentrated areas like the lip lines, crow’s feet, areas between the eyebrows, and other smaller areas. Dysport is sometimes considered a better choice for larger areas, like the forehead, but that doesn’t exclude Botox from being used there—it works well, too.
How to Choose Between Botox and Dysport
Choosing between Botox and Dysport can be a hard choice to make, but ultimately, you should trust what your injector recommends and is most familiar with. At Charette Cosmetics, we prefer Botox over Dysport, which we find the best injectable option for our patients. One of the many reasons we use Botox over Dysport is because it diffuses less, so it’s easier to pinpoint smaller areas where wrinkles are present to smooth them away.
Even though the injection process is the same for both Botox and Dysport, it’s essential to understand that Botox can effectively treat a wide variety of mild to moderate expression-related wrinkles.
The results may be seen faster with Dysport (about two to three days compared to five to seven with Botox), yet both last anywhere from three to four treatments. Botox, which tends to peak around the second week, may be the better choice if you don’t want the results to kick in so fast that the wrinkle-reducing effects wear away too soon. Or, if you’ve long been a Dysort user and are no longer happy with the results, maybe it’s time to give Botox a try.
