What Is Dysport®?

The active ingredient in Dysport® is a protein called botulinum toxin, specifically abobotulinum toxin-A. This protein is a neurotoxin, meaning it interferes with nerve function.

Botulinum toxin was discovered due to very high amounts historically causing a disease called botulism. However, today’s regulated cosmetic doses only use trace amounts of botulinum toxin proteins, which are safe for human use. Your body will naturally process the toxin after a few months with no unwanted side effects.

Dysport® is FDA-approved to treat facial wrinkles and has been rigorously tested in several independent studies.

What Can Be Achieved With Neuromodulators?

TREAT EXISTING FACIAL WRINKLES

Muscle-related wrinkles, sometimes called expression lines, occur when repeated facial movements cause wrinkles to form around your eyes, between your brows, or across your forehead. Neuromodulators can also treat wrinkles in areas that move when you smile, frown, squint, or raise your eyebrows.

PREVENT FUTURE WRINKLE FORMATION

In cosmetic use, botulinum toxin blocks particular nerves in facial muscles that cause contraction and tension. This reduces the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and prevents new wrinkle formation. Experienced neuromodulator providers use precisely mapped injection sites to target the problematic muscles. This provides a natural look that doesn’t leave your face feeling “frozen.”

How is Dysport® used?

CONSULTATION AND CANDIDATES

You can find out if Dysport® is your best option by scheduling a consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons. They will examine your concerns and evaluate your needs. During this consultation, your board-certified plastic surgeon will ensure that Dysport® is the right treatment option for you. They will also answer any questions you have about the injectable treatment.

Ideal candidates for Dysport® injections are in good health and unhappy with the appearance of dynamic wrinkles on their forehead, eyebrows, or around their eyes.

DYSPORT® INJECTIONS

Dysport® treatments are quick, convenient, and straightforward. It takes just a few minutes for our providers to map out your injection sites and complete the injection process.

Neuromodulator injections use thin needles to inject the product into your facial muscles.

Dysport® can treat the following types of wrinkles:

Glabellar lines (vertical “eleven” lines between the eyebrows)
Transverse lines (horizontal lines across the forehead)
Crow’s feet (wrinkles that stretch from the edge of the eyes out towards your ears.

COMBINATION PROCEDURES

Dysport® may not be your best option if your wrinkles are due to skin laxity or sun damage. In these cases, we may recommend dermal fillers or laser resurfacing instead.

You may also consider other injectable treatments.

If none of these options provide the results you desire, you may want to consider facelift surgery, eyelid lift surgery, or brow lift surgery.

WHAT IS RECOVERY LIKE AFTER DYSPORT®?

You may experience some minor side effects like redness or sensitivity at the injection site. Overall, the injection is practically painless and has few associated risks. The syringes used to inject neuromodulators are thin and designed for comfort.

WHEN WILL I SEE MY DYSPORT® RESULTS?

The results of Dysport® typically last between three and four months before additional injections are required. Periodic injections are required to maintain a wrinkle-free appearance. Due to the gentle nature of these injectables, having regular treatments poses no added risk.

Your Advanced Aesthetics neuromodulator provider can work with you to create a maintenance plan that meets your needs and keeps you looking your best. You can adjust your doses or schedule at any time if your aesthetic goals change.

Can topical treatments address my wrinkles?

If skin exfoliation, sunscreen, and skin moisturizers are not adequately treating your wrinkles, then they may be caused by contracting facial muscles (instead of sagging skin or loss of collagen). The best way to address these muscle-formed wrinkles is with an injectable neuromodulator like Dysport®.

If your wrinkles are caused by a loss of collagen, dermal fillers can help.

Is Dysport® different from Botox® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a widely recognized brand name in the world of botulinum toxin injectables. Many people use “BOTOX” as a blanket term for all botulinum toxin-based wrinkle relaxing injectables. However, there are some subtle yet vital differences in the formulas for BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport®. These differences may make one injection or the other more appropriate for various clients.

Dysport® uses a different type of botulinum toxin (abobotulinum toxin-A) than BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinum toxin-A). Dysport® has fewer proteins in the formula, which can reduce the risk of side effects.

It can take two or three times as many units of Dysport® to reach the same potency as a single dose of BOTOX® Cosmetic. This makes Dysport® a better choice for people who have light lines, want more subtle results, or have never used injectables before.

How much is Dysport®?

The cost of Dysport® will vary depending on the amount required, your wrinkle’s severity, and the size of the treated area. Dysport® prices are generally lower per unit compared to BOTOX® Cosmetic due to the lower protein content. Dysport® is generally more cost-effective than BOTOX® Cosmetic for treating forehead wrinkles.

However, it may take more doses of Dysport® to achieve similar results as BOTOX® Cosmetic. Therefore, we typically advise that patients who need a more potent formula choose BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Do Dysport® injections hurt?

Dysport® injections should not hurt. Patients may experience a minor pinching sensation but no pain. Following your injections, your injection sites may feel slightly sore for a few hours.

How long do neuromodulator treatments take to perform?

Most patients are in and out of their appointment in about half an hour. Patients can return to all normal activities right away.

Can neuromodulators be used over time?

A significant difference between Dysport® and BOTOX® Cosmetic is that patients who receive continuing injections exhibit less antibody development over time.

Antibodies that develop in response to foreign proteins like botulinum toxin can cause the body to process the protein faster. Your Dysport® results will not last as long if you build up a resistance to the main ingredient.

Researchers believe that the BOTOX® Cosmetic formula includes more of the extra molecules that trigger your antibody response. As your body becomes accustomed to botulinum toxin, your results will not last as long. Dysport® delays this resistance by achieving cosmetic results with less botulinum toxin per unit. This prevents your body from building antibodies against botulinum toxin as quickly.

If you plan to have injectable treatments for a long time, building up resistance may be something to consider when considering Dysport® vs. BOTOX® Cosmetic.

What are the risks of Dysport®?

Dysport® may be more likely to “spread” over a small area around the injection site compared to other neuromodulators. The evidence for this is currently inconclusive. If botulinum toxin spreads from the injection site, it may trigger rare but potentially life-threatening side effects.

These symptoms include:

Difficulty talking, swallowing, or breathing
Muscle weakness or dizziness
Blurred or double vision

The board-certified providers at Advanced Aesthetics have significant expertise in neuromodulator injection placement. They will limit your exposure to risks as much as possible.

Lesser risks associated with Dysport® include: