Fine lines and wrinkles are a natural part of aging. After twenty-five, our body’s collagen production begins to slow. As we laugh, cry, and make memories with the people we love, the years begin to show. Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to accept it. With a little help, moderate and even severe wrinkles can be smoothed, and you can enjoy a refreshed, youthful appearance for years to come.
With advanced medical aesthetics, the challenge becomes deciding which procedure is right for you. The two most popular options for wrinkle relaxers are Botox and Dysport. Both products have been used for years and have proven to be safe and effective options for reducing the look of ageing.
Let’s review both options to help you decide if Botox or Dysport is the right choice for you.
When we frown, squint, or make any facial expressions, our nerves produce a neurotransmitter called Acetylcholine. This compound activates our muscle receptors, causing our muscles to contract. Botox and Dysport work by blocking the release of Acetylcholine and thus preventing our muscles from contracting. This results in the appearance of smoothed and relaxed wrinkles. After an injection, your nerves will still function normally, but the muscle contractions are temporarily decreased to reduce the look of fine lines. This is great for both treating existing wrinkles and to prevent the formation of new ones.
We will begin with highlighting the features that these two products have in common. Both Botox and Dysport are made from a base protein called botulinum toxin A, derived from Clostridium botulinum. Both products have been processed and purified to be 100% free of any bacteria and are safe for injection. The refinement of botulinum for medical use was initially targeted towards treating spasmodic muscle contractions, however, it quickly became popular for cosmetic indications. By relaxing the movement of certain facial muscles, it was soon realized that botulinum is a very safe and effective treatment to slow the look of ageing, and restore one’s youthful appearance.
With both Dysport and Botox, the treatments are very safe and convenient. Trained aesthetic medical professionals perform the injections in the comfort of your local clinic.
Both procedures consist of small injections carefully placed into the facial muscles treated. In both cases, the injections take around 15 minutes from start to finish, and there is minimal downtime and discomfort.
It is important to note that after either treatment, Dysport or Botox, clients can head back to their workplace after a couple of hours without others noticing.
Women and men in North America have been familiar with Botox for many years. It was the first botulinum toxin product to market. In Canada, it’s use has been approved for more than 30-years. The FDA officially approved its use for cosmetic purposes in the United States in 2001. Dysport, on the other hand, was a much more European product. The FDA approved its use in the United States in 2009, and in Canada, it was approved for cosmetic use in 2014. Since then, women and men in North America have been experiencing the dramatic results Dysport and Botox can have in reducing the look of ageing. However, aside from the differences in familiarity, there are some other key variances to consider.
While the onset and duration of treatment can vary from client to client, as a general rule, Dysport’s effects are seen sooner than Botox. Most clients report significant results within 1 to 3 days of the procedure. With Botox, clients can often expect to wait a little longer, with most seeing its effects starting in 3 to 7 days. If you are looking for a little touch-up right before a big event, Dysport is the more reliable option.
Botox is reconstituted with a smaller ratio of bacteriostatic saline to active protein, resulting in a more concentrated solution than Dysport. As a result, there is less diffusion around the injection site, making it a more targeted treatment process. These properties mean that Botox tends to be the better choice for treating areas where the muscles are thicker and where specific muscles are targeted. Botox is a good choice for masseter reduction, smile lifts, and gummy smiles.
As Dysport has a more dilute reconstitution, it has a higher diffusion parameter. This property allows it to spread more efficiently to treat larger areas, making it better-suited for parts of the face where the muscles are thinner and more muscle groups are treated. Dysport is an excellent choice for treating forehead lines, frown lines, and crows feet.
When you have a Botox or Dysport treatment, a registered nurse or a doctor will use a very fine needle to inject units of the active protein into specific muscles that contract to create wrinkles. Botulinum then works to relax each of the muscles and prevent fine lines from forming.
If you follow the aftercare procedure routinely, most clients can expect the effects of Botox and Dysport to last between three to four months. Of course, it will ultimately depend on how quickly your body breaks down Botox or Dysport. With repeated injections, the effects of the botulinum may last longer and you may require less product at each subsequent visit to achieve the same results.
Now that we have looked at some of the differences between these two reliable wrinkle relaxers, here is a summary of the primary distinctions to keep in mind when choosing between Dysport and Botox.
Dysport has a quicker onset of action than Botox. This means that you may start seeing the results in as little as a day, whereas the effects of Botox may take three or more days to start becoming visible.
Dysport being more diffuse will spread and have a calming effect on all the muscles near the injection area. Botox, on the other hand, being more concentrated, is excellent for targeting particular areas as it stays very close to the injection site. Dysport is good for treating forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and crows feet. Botox is good for treating enlarged masseters, smile lifts, and gummy smiles.
With both Botox and Dysport, a few factors determine how long the effects will last. The estimated effectiveness for both Botox and Dysport is between three to four months. Everyone’s body reacts differently, and some people clear the treatment faster than others. To ensure the longest possible duration, you should follow the aftercare procedures closely and ensure you get regular botulinum treatments every three to four months.
At Yin Aesthetics, Dr. Yin provides her clients with a product that combines both the longevity and diffusion capacity of Dysport and the concentration of Botox. She does this by reconstituting Dysport with a lower ratio of bacteriostatic saline to active protein, resulting in a more concentrated version of Dysport. This product houses the long duration of action of Dysport and the strong concentration of Botox, allowing her clients to experience the best of both worlds.
Both Dysport and Botox, being minimally invasive, are considered safe forms of treatment. Nevertheless, as with any procedure, there is a potential for side-effects, however small. It is important that you are aware of these before deciding if a particular treatment is right for you.
With Dysport and Botox, the most common potential side effects include:
These side effects usually clear within a few hours to a few days after treatment. If they persist longer, you will want to consult your physician. In rare instances, an eyelid drooping condition known as Ptosis could form following the procedure. If this happens to you, please inform Dr. Yin right away for a follow-up assessment.
If you have further questions about Botox, Dysport, or any of the other age-defying treatments that we offer, our team is here to guide you through the process. We can help you find the right solutions to keep you looking your very best. Book a virtual consultation with Dr. Jennifer Yin to discuss your needs and a potential treatment plan.
110 Nelson Street
Oakville, ON, L6L 3H9
(289) 813-5980
yin.medaesthetics@gmail.com
Unit 311, 15 Mountain Avenue South
Stoney Creek, ON, L8G 2V6
(289) 813-5980
yin.medaesthetics@gmail.com