Botox versus Dysport - What's the Difference?

July 14, 2009 - PRLog -- An update from Dr. Tanne.

(Livingston, NJ) This past Saturday I went to a meeting to learn more about Dysport, the new injectable treatment for wrinkles.  I wanted to update everyone about what Dysport is, and what is the same and different about it versus Botox.
This new injectable treatment for wrinkles is made from the same neurotoxin (botulinum toxin type A) as Botox. Dysport has been used to smooth wrinkles in Europe, South America, and elsewhere for several years. It was originally developed in the 1990s to treat neuromuscular disorders.
Dysport does now have the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States and may become very popular. Botox is currently the most popular cosmetic procedure in the US and Dysport is posed to compete directly with this market leader.
The differences between Botox and Dysport are actually very small.  Both drugs contain the same main ingredient: the botulism toxin. Like Botox, Dysport temporarily immobilizes the muscles that cause facial wrinkles. The drug specifically targets the glabullar muscles of the forehead—the ones that create frowns. What it’s doing is really blocking the signal between the nerve and the muscle, so when you tell yourself to frown, the muscle really never gets that message.  

Injected in small amounts, Dysport and Botox offer the same results with the same side effects, too, mostly bruising at the site, which rarely happens.
Dysport diffuses a bit farther than Botox from the injection point: one to three centimeters compared to Botox’s one centimeter. This means that fewer injections are needed, but it also means that the health professional doing the injections must be very skilled to ensure that the drug does not spread to nearby muscles and cause eyelid and/or eyebrow drooping or other unwanted side effects.
There are other differences in the botulinum toxins as well.  Dysport™ seems to have a faster onset, with results beginning to appear within one to seven days of treatment (day three being the median), while Botox takes between three and ten days to become effective (day five being the median).
One of my patients’ main concerns is the cost of Dysport compared to Botox. Dysport is approximately 1/3 the cost of Botox; however, it is also 1/3 the strength. This means you will need about three times as many units of Dysport to get the same results as you would with one unit of Botox. As a result, the cost of a Dysport treatment will most likely end up being the same as Botox.
As I see it, ‘the jury is still out’ as to whether Dysport will become as popular as Botox.  Stay tuned for more updates about this exciting new product and other products as they become available.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at info@cosmeticlasermd.com or at my office at 973-716-900.
Sincerely,
Susan Stevens Tanne, M.D.
Medical Director, Cosmetic Laser MD

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About Dr. Tanne and Cosmetic Laser MD.
Susan Stevens Tanne, M.D. specializes in laser and aesthetic medicine. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, completed her medical training at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Saint Vincent's Medical Center in New York. At Cosmetic Laser MD she combines the science of aesthetics with the art of renewal creating excellence for her patients.
Dr. Tanne will evaluate your specific skin care needs and provide a comprehensive program to achieve optimal results, giving you the healthy, beautiful and refreshed look you desire.
Dr. Tanne is a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, a member of the International Society of Cosmetic and Laser Surgeons and the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. She is also recognized by the American Board of Laser Surgery. She is a Gold Level BOTOX Provider, participating in the Botox Cosmetic Benefits Program, and a member of the BOTOX Cosmetic® Physicians Network.