How to Understand the Differences between Botox and Dysport

It wasn’t too long ago that Botox was the reigning wrinkle injection, but today newer products like Dysport have entered the scene to challenge Botox. It can be confusing for the average consumer to untangle the differences between to products that seem to serve the same purpose. If you know that you want to receive a neurotoxin injection to help your muscles relax and release those stubborn forehead and brow wrinkles, just consider the unique characteristics of Botox and Dysport so that you know which is best for your exact skin situation.

The Similarities

The easiest way to describe the relationship between Botox and Dysport is to explain that they are both apples, but one is a Granny Smith and one is a Gala. They both serve the same purpose and have the same general properties, just with a few distinctions. Both Botox and Dysport are made with botulinum type A neurotoxin, and they are both injected into the face to relax muscles so that they can’t contract and cause wrinkles.

In terms of use, Botox and Dysport are both recommended for injection every 3-6 months since the effects do wear away, and in double-blind clinical studies both products proved to create desirable results.

So What’s the Difference?

Many people relate this debate to the one of Coke vs. Pepsi. Certain people swear by one brand or the other, but at the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference. Dysport’s biggest difference from Botox is that is offers greater variability in size and molecular weight of the proteins, causing it to diffuse more and spread over a broader area after injection. This is a positive attribute when treating large areas like crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles, but could potentially limit Dysport’s effectiveness in smaller, more sensitive areas.

It has been observed that Dysport can show results a few days sooner than Botox,  in 2-5 days rather than 4-7. On the other hand, it is currently being whether Dysport can last as long as Botox before breaking down.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, both of these products can be used to provide desirable and attractive results. After experimenting with both of them, you might find that you have a favorite, but they are both high quality, reliable products.