Does Dysport Last Longer Than Botox?
When it comes to wrinkle treatments, Botox is a household name. It’s something most people are familiar with, but it is not the only option. Dysport is an alternative to Botox. But many people have questions. Does Botox last longer than Dysport? Which is better? Let’s look at some of the differences.
Dysport
Like Botox, Dysport is used to soften wrinkles and frown lines. It is a neurotoxin that limits muscle movement in the treated area. This decreases the appearance of wrinkles that occur when muscle contract, including frown lines, crows’ feet, and forehead wrinkles. Dysport can also be used to lift the corners of the mouth, raise the eyebrows, decrease chin dimpling, slim the face by reducing bulky jaw muscles, and reduce neck lines.
How Long Does Dysport Last?
Clinical studies have shown that Dysport lasts up to four months. On average, there is no difference in how long wrinkles stay away with either Botox or Dysport. It really depends on your body. Some patients find that Dysport lasts longer for them and others see better results with Botox. Or you may not notice any difference at all between the two treatments.
Results
Botox and Dysport are both absorbed by nerve endings in the treatment area. This occurs soon after injection. By blocking the transmitter from the nerves, they prevent muscle contractions. With Dysport, most people see effects 2-3 days after treatment. With Botox, effects are typically seen after 3 days. Full effects result in 2-3 weeks with both.
Effectiveness and Risks
Dysport and Botox are equally effective at reducing wrinkles. Dysport treatment does require more units than Botox, but when appropriately dosed, they give equal results.
Dysport has a feathering affect, which is unique. As you move away from the center of injection, the effects gradually taper off. This could be good or bad, depending on the case. Dysport could spread to a muscle that we don’t want to treat if it is near the treatment area. This could occur in the lower aspect of crows. The lower outer edge of the crow’s feet is relatively close to the upper end of one of the muscles required for smiling. If too much Dysport was injected, it could spread and cause a crooked smile.
Another problem area could be the chin. One way to reduce chin dimpling is to lift the corners of the mouth. But this requires precision. Any drift of medication could affect the muscle used to speak and smile. For the purpose of clarity, Botox could spread as well but it is more likely to occur with Dysport due to the feathering effect.
Natural Results
One of the biggest benefits of Dysport is the ability to create a more natural appearance. Because it naturally feathers its edges, the difference between treated and untreated areas is much more subtle, giving you a more natural appearance.
With the forehead and crow’s feet in particular, patients see an obvious and abrupt transition between the treated and untreated areas with Botox. For example, when these patients lift their eyebrows the center of the forehead is smooth but there are wrinkles around the edge. This causes the treated part of the forehead to look like a rectangular box. This can be prevented by placing small amounts of Botox around the edges to blend the two areas together, but Dysport does it naturally.
Cost
The cost of Dysport and Botox are pretty much the same. You need more units of Dysport to achieve the same results as Botox, so per unit Dysport is cheaper. However, the final price ends up being the same. Since the companies that synthesize these products run promotions occasionally, one product may be cheaper than the other at that time.
Schedule a Consult for Botox or Dysport in Tysons, VA
There really is no “better” choice here. It will depend on several factors including the area to be treated, the individual response of the patient, the injector’s familiarity of the products, and more. A highly skilled injector can get great results with either product and the only way to find out which will work best for you is to try them both out. If you are ready to say goodbye to wrinkles and fine lines, contact Cosmetic Dermatology Center online or call (703) 827-8600 today!