BOTOX VS DYSPORT: WHICH INJECTABLE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Maybe you’ve started to notice fine lines and wrinkles when you look in the mirror…or, maybe you fret over them all the time. Either way, if you;re wondering whether you should seek cosmetic treatment over it, the answer is almost certainly yes!

Injectables are an excellent, relatively non-invasive option for treating fine lines and wrinkles. Two of the most common (Botox vs Dysport) just happen to be especially useful, but they have distinctly different applications.

Let’s find out why, shall we?

EFFECTS OF AGING ON YOUR SKIN AND BODY

We all begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles as we age. It’s a natural process that occurs because we make a series of repetitive muscle movements when we laugh, frown, or make other facial expressions. It’s unreasonable to expect you can go through life without laughing or expressing your emotions, so these wrinkles generally can’t be avoided entirely.

There are factors other than facial expressions working against you, too. As you age, your body begins to produce less collagen, the substance that promotes elasticity. Even if you don’t frown a lot, you may develop wrinkles simply because your skin no longer has enough collagen to support its natural shape.

So, let’s dig deeper. What can we do about it? Botox and Dysport are designed to stop your facial muscles from contracting in a way that moves your skin. Both injectables are inserted just beneath the surface of the dermal, resulting in a decrease in small muscle movement.

Neither injectable, when applied properly, will paralyze your muscles or your face. You should still have the ability to consciously move your muscles. If not, you need to find a new injector!

BOTULINUM TOXIN INJECTIONS AND TREATMENT

Botox and Dysport are similar in that both injections are derived from the botulinum toxin. Neurotoxins like these are prescribed to treat certain health conditions because they reduce muscle spasms, which is exactly why they work so well for wrinkles. When used earlier in life, these products can effectively slow or even prevent fine lines. Later in life, they can help to smooth them back out and reduce their appearance.

The main difference between Botox vs Dysport is in the “trace proteins” found within each. It’s not necessarily that the proteins make one injectable superior to the other (at least, not in general), but that the protein content makes each more appropriate for different treatment areas. They are both otherwise considered to be safe injectable options with no downtime.

A CLOSER LOOK AT DYSPORT

Dysport is rather limited when it comes to the areas in which it can be used. This formulation is only FDA-approved to be used in the space between your eyebrows, otherwise known as the glabella. That’s the place between your eyes that wrinkles when you scrunch up your face or frown.

Dysport injections are not used for every case of glabella wrinkles. It is reserved for cases that are considered moderate to severe. Your dermatologist or injector can help you tell the difference between mild, moderate, and severe glabellar wrinkles.

A CLOSER LOOK AT BOTOX

Botox is FDA-approved to treat not only glabellar lines, but also for forehead wrinkles and the crow’s feet around your eyes. The number of Botox injections needed will depend on the area(s) being treated and the severity of the wrinkles.

BOTOX VS DYSPORT OFF-LABEL USES

It is common for medications to be used in ways that they were not originally approved for, especially if a doctor thinks it is appropriate to do so based on a patient’s condition. Injectables like Botox and Dysport are no exception. Both are often used in slightly off-label manners to create the effect a patient is looking for.

Your injector may consider using either product around your nose and mouth to help with your marionette lines (the lines that run down the side of your nose to your mouth). People with gummy smiles may also use these products just beneath the nose to prevent the lip from curling back as much when they speak or smile, reducing the appearance of the gums. Botox and Dysport have both been used below the face, too, especially when treating lines around the neck and cleavage areas.

IS ONE INJECTABLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER?

Not necessarily. Dysport is a thinner solution with smaller particles. This is somewhat ideal in small zones because the smaller particles may take effect faster. Dysport’s thinner formulation also allows it to spread faster, which is super for larger surface areas. People tend to see results from Dysport injections within 24 hours, but researchers are still trying to determine if the results last as long as Botox.

Botox, on the other hand, is significantly thicker. The molecules are larger and don’t spread out as much after injection. This makes Botox a much better option for smaller areas that need a more precise level of treatment. Results from Botox injections are usually apparent within 72 hours.

Cost-wise, you’ll find the two aren’t much different. Dysport tends to be priced lower per unit, but the thinner consistency sometimes means you need more product to get your desired results. You could ultimately end up paying the same for either product simply because you’d need to pay for more of one versus the other.

SO, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?

There’s no real reason to choose between one product and the other if you are treating multiple areas. Talk to your injector about your concerns and the results you’re hoping to achieve. An experienced and skilled practitioner will carefully assess your skin and your needs and will very likely use both products together. The combination of the two is more likely to bring about the smooth look you’re hoping for.

Botox and Dysport are currently the two most popular neurotoxin products on the market. Others are emerging, with more in the pipeline for FDA approval, but these are considered the safest and most effective at the moment. At the end of the day, who you choose to inject your treatment is far more important than which of these is being used.