Glabellar lines (also called frown lines) between your eyebrows can make you look old, tired, and angry all the time. Dysport injections are a minimally-invasive cosmetic treatment that can correct these frown lines. Dysport gives you natural looking results that are visible almost immediately and are long lasting. It is a prescription injection treatment that is highly effective in smoothening and treating forehead lines (moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows) without giving you an unnatural "done," windswept, or frozen look. Please keep reading to learn more about Dysport injections and how they compare to other botulinum toxin injections such as Botox injections.
What is Dysport?
Dysport belongs to a group of medications called neuromodulators or anti-wrinkle injections. Specifically, it contains botulinum toxin. Botox is one of the best known botulinum toxin products. However, after the runaway success of Botox, many other companies have developed injectable products for the treatment of glabellar lines (lines between the eyebrows). Dysport is one such treatment.
For many years, Dysport was popular in the European market and over 65 other countries worldwide. Dysport and Botox compete in the US market also after the FDA approved Dysport in 2009. Dysport is now used globally as an effective treatment of glabellar lines (wrinkles and fine lines in the glabellar region between the eyebrows). Both Dysport and Botox are approved for medical conditions besides the cosmetic use.
It is worth noting that both Dysport and Botox contain the same active ingredient, i.e., botulinum toxin type A. However, they are not interchangeable because they have different concentrations.
How do Dysport injections work?
Dysport injections work by temporarily blocking the nerve signals from the facial muscles at the injection site. This leads to a relaxation of the facial muscles. Repeated muscle movement and facial expressions are responsible for the development of dynamic wrinkles in the glabellar area. Therefore, botulinum toxins like Dysport and Botox work by relaxing the facial muscles and preventing muscle contractions, which in turn leads to a smoothing of the skin in the area.
It is worth noting that Dysport is only approved for use in the glabellar area between the eyebrows where it can treat severe or moderate wrinkles (glabellar lines or forehead lines). Your aesthetic medical professional or dermatologist may use a combination of Dysport and Botox if you wish to address wrinkles in other parts of your face. In such a situation, your provider can inject Dysport to treat severe glabellar lines and use Botox or other botulinum toxin products for other areas such as crow's feet lines near the eyes, forehead lines, and lip lines.
As far as Dysport injections go, they are given at 5 points between the eyebrows to treat moderate to severe frown lines. This causes temporary muscle weakness and prevents the muscle activity that causes the formation of frown lines, leaving you with natural looking results.
Who is a candidate for Dysport injections?
Any adult between the ages of 18 and 65 years of age is a good candidates for Dysport if they wish to improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. However, some people may not take Dysport treatment, such as those with allergic reactions to botulinum toxin or any of the other ingredients in Dysport. Other names for botulinum toxins include Botox, Xeomin, and Myobloc. You also cannot take Dysport injections if you have allergic reactions to cow's milk protein.
This treatment is not suitable for anyone who has an active infection or inflammation at or near the injection site. It is also not recommended for people with deep facial scars, asymmetry of the facial muscles, muscle weakness, droopy eyelids, or prior surgery.
You should give your doctor a complete list of your medications because there can be drug interactions between these products and your other medications.
How long do Dysport injections last?
The results of Dysport injections are typically visible 2-3 days after the treatment and can last for up to 5 months. You should know that Dysport and Botox only block muscle contractions temporarily, so they produce temporary improvement in wrinkles. You need repeat treatments after 4-6 months to maintain your results. Also, Dysport and Botox cannot prevent more wrinkles from forming due to the natural aging process.
The treatment itself takes 10-20 minutes to perform and there is minimal to no downtime after your treatment. You can go back to all routine activities right away.
What results can I expect from Dysport?
Studies have shown that 95% of patients are satisfied with only two treatments per year to treat their frown lines. Around 97% of patients feel Dysport gives them natural looking results, and 95% feel happy and confident after the treatment. Last but not least, 97% of patients say they would do it again.
While individual results can vary, chances are that you will achieve similar results from your Dysport botulinum toxin injections.
Is Dysport safe?
Dysport is approved for use in more than 65 countries around the world and has a safety profile supported by 25 years of clinical experience. It is made by the French pharmaceutical company Ipsen in collaboration with Galderma Laboratories.
Nonetheless, like all cosmetic treatments, Dysport carries some risks. The spread of toxin effect can occur with all botulinum toxin products, where distant spread of the toxin extends beyond the target muscles and treatment area, i.e., beyond the injection site, and causes problems. The symptoms of a spread of toxin effect can occur hours or even weeks after the treatment and may include serious complications like swallowing and breathing difficulties, muscles weakness, lower limb spasticity, blurred vision, double vision, drooping eyelids, changes in voice or hoarseness, trouble speaking clearly, or loss of bladder control. While rare, in severe cases, these problems, such as difficulty breathing, can be life threatening.
You can reduce your risk of complications from Dysport injections by making sure you choose an experienced and certified aesthetic medical professional (board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon) to perform the prescription injection.
Can you combine Dysport with other treatments?
Yes, indeed, it is quite common for patients to get a combination of treatments along with Botox or Dysport, such as injectable dermal fillers to replace lost volume or augment certain parts of the face. Fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane contain hyaluronic acid, which is a natural hydrating compound found in the skin. The combination of Botox or Dysport and fillers is often called a “liquid facelift" and can allow some people to avoid or delay major surgery such as facelift surgery. However, the results are a temporary improvement as opposed to facelift results that last 10 years on average.
Dysport injections can also be combined with other cosmetic treatments. For example, a cosmetic procedure like laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, dermabrasion, microneedling, or HydraFacials. The timing of the various treatments will need to be mapped out carefully with your aesthetic medical professional to get the most out of each cosmetic procedure. Usually providers recommend that you complete a treatment like Dysport, and then later come back for another treatment to complement your Dysport results or address some other problem.
What are the possible side effects of Dysport?
Injection of botulinum toxin (Dysport or Botox) can cause a mild and temporary inflammatory reaction at the injection sites, with the most common side effects being pain, swelling, redness, and itchiness. This usually resolves within a week. The most common adverse reactions that occur after Dysport injections include injection site pain, injection site reaction, headache, nausea, nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection, eyelid edema (swelling), eyelid drooping, and blood in urine. You should tell your doctor if you experience any severe reactions, and you should seek emergency medical care for swallowing or breathing difficulties or any signs and symptoms that indicate a distant spread of toxin.
Botox vs Dysport: What's the difference?
Both Botox and Dysport contain the same active ingredient - botulinum toxin type A. Both are used to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, besides treating medical conditions like cervical dystonia. However, there are some key differences between Dysport and Botox. You will get the answers to all your questions about Dysport and Botox in the FAQ below.
FAQ
Is Dysport stronger than Botox?
There is a difference in the level of botulinum toxin concentration in each product. Botox is more concentrated than Dysport by almost 3 times. Therefore, Botox is stronger than Dysport. Your doctor may need to use more Dysport to treat a target area compared to Botox.
Which is cheaper - Botox or Dysport?
As mentioned, Dysport is more diluted than Botox and you need more units to treat an area. However, this does not mean that Dysport treatment is more expensive. This is because the per unit price of Dysport is considerably cheaper than Botox. But since you need more units of Dysport than Botox, the price works out to almost the same.
The average cost of injections such as Dysport and Botox is around $400 per session. However, the exact cost will depend on the treatment area (s) and number of units of the product used.
Botox vs Dysport: Injection Sites
Dysport behaves differently than Botox, i.e., it spreads faster and to a larger surface area than Botox. This means you need fewer injections to cover the target treatment area. You should leave it to your doctor's experience to decide whether you need Dysport, Botox, or a combination of both.
Botox vs. Dysport: Which is better for wrinkles and frown lines?
Your doctor may decide to give you Botox for lip lines and crow’s feet and Dysport for moderate to severe frown lines. In general, the high concentration and slow spread of Botox makes it ideal for smaller areas. Dysport, on the other hand, works well for larger areas like the forehead because it is fast acting and spreads quickly.
Botox vs Dysport: Results
Dysport results are visible in 2-3 days and last for up to 5 months, at which time you need to go back for repeat injections to maintain the treatment effects. Similarly, the results of Botox injections are visible within a week, but the full effect can take up to a month. Botox results last for 4-6 months on average.
Dysport vs Botox: Injection Site Pain
Both Botox and Dysport are performed with very fine needles and are relatively painless. Most people feel just some slight pressure at the injection site. Your doctor will numb the sites for Dysport or Botox injections with a topical numbing agent (numbing cream) or ice to make the injections more comfortable.
Botox vs Dysport: Procedures
Both are minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in a doctor's office and take around 30 minutes to complete. Unlike traditional surgical facelift procedures, the results are visible almost immediately and there is no downtime or recovery time. You can drive yourself home after the treatment and resume all routine activities.
Dysport and Botox Doses
The FDA recommended dosage for Dysport injections for the treatment of glabellar lines is up to 50 units placed at five separate points in the target area.
The number of Botox units depends on the area being treated and the desired results. Typical Botox doses are 20 units at 5 injection sites for glabellar lines, 40 units at 10 injection sites for glabellar and forehead lines, 24 units at 6 injection sites for crow's feet lines, or 64 units of Botox for injections in all three areas.
Dysport and Botox Aftercare
Your doctor will recommend that you avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours after your Dysport and Botox injections. You should avoid rubbing or massaging the treatment area to prevent distant spread of toxin effects. Do not lie face down for 4-6 hours. You also need to avoid strenuous exercise or activity for 4-6 hours. It is a good idea to avoid direct sun exposure for the first 24 hours.
Dysport vs Botox: Effectiveness
Both Dysport and Botox are safe and effective injectable treatments with excellent success rates for temporary treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles. The effects of Dysport tend to be seen sooner, but Botox can last longer, especially in a smaller treatment area. You will need follow-up injections with both Dysport and Botox in order to maintain the results.
Dysport vs Botox: Treatment Area
Botox is approved for treating forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, and glabellar lines. Dysport is approved only for glabellar lines between the eyebrows. Besides aesthetic applications, both are also used to treat medical conditions like migraine headaches, excessive sweating, neck spasms, involuntary eyelid fluttering, etc.
Dysport and Botox: Side Effects
Since both Dysport and Botox contain the same active ingredient, botulinum toxin type A, the side effects are similar. The most common side effects include pain and swelling at the injection site, headache, and upper respiratory tract infection. More serious complications include droopy eyelids, dry eye, muscle weakness, trouble swallowing, and trouble breathing.
How to find a Dysport provider
If you want to obtain a temporary improvement in crow's feet, forehead lines, and glabellar lines, Botox and/or Dysport may be right for you. The MeTime app makes it easy to find aesthetic medical professionals who offer Dysport and Botox injections near you. You can chat with experts, share photos, get quotes, and much more. Download the MeTime app today and see what Dysport and Botox can do for you.
