What Is Dysport?
Dysport®, an injectable cosmetic treatment, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009. Prior to this, Dysport treatment had been used in Europe since the early 1990s and licensed in 60 countries.
Dysport injections are an alternative to the wildly popular Botox®. As a result, many of you may have not heard of this newcomer. Dysport is made from the same neurotoxin as Botox—botulinum toxin type A, which is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Dysport injections work by temporarily limiting your muscle activity through blocking acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that initiates muscle contraction.
How Does Dysport Differ from Botox?
Like Botox, Dysport can be used to treat forehead furrows, frown lines, and crow’s feet. And while both Dysport and Botox are very similar, Dysport molecules have smaller dimensions, making its units of measurement different than Botox. The major differences between Dysport and Botox are:
- Dysport treatment lasts longer than Botox. In some clinical studies, Dysport treatment lasted as long as 6 to 12 months, while Botox generally lasts anywhere from 3 to 4 months.
- Dysport injections have a quicker onset of action than Botox—1-2 days vs. 3-5 days, respectively—which may appeal to individuals looking for last minute improvements prior to an important social event or business meeting.
- Dysport diffuses farther from the injection site than Botox (1-3 cm vs. only 1 cm, respectively), which translates into fewer Dysport injections and added comfort.
- Dysport is 1/3 the strength of Botox, which means practitioners have to use more volume to get the same result.
In many clinical studies both the patient and the doctor were unable to tell if the results were due to Dysport or Botox. Ultimately, it is far more important to consider who is injecting your Dysport or Botox than which of these two products you are using.
What Are the Benefits of Dysport?
There are numerous benefits of Dysport treatment, including safe, simple, and effective treatment of wrinkles; rapid administration (less than 15 minutes) with no down time (patients may resume regular activity immediately after treatment); rapid clinical results (1–2 days), and minimal side effects.
What Are the Side Effects of Dysport?
Side effects associated with Dysport injections may include pain at the injection site(s), local numbness, infection, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising. Additionally, Dysport may be more likely to lead to the development of antibodies that neutralize the nerve toxin, preventing it from decreasing muscle activity.
Contact Precision MD today for a free consultation to see if you are a candidate for Dysport injections.
