Botox Vs Dysport

Botox Is Not the Only Game in Town Anymore

People are starting to recognize the name Dysport as a Botox alternative. We’ve had patients ask for it by name. How does Dysport stack up in the Botox vs Dysport battle? Very well actually! And some in our office think is it quite preferable!

What is Botox and how does it work?

eyelid plastic surgery We have both dynamic and static wrinkles that develop as we age. Dynamic wrinkles are the ones that result from places in our face where we move our muscles to create an action. You smile and your eyes squint. You squint or scowl and your forehead furrows. When you are a child those wrinkles disappear as soon as the expression does. In your twenties you may notice they linger for a moment. In your thirties you may rub the spot to make them go away. In your forties…

Botox, and products like it, let the underlying muscle causing the dynamic wrinkle to relax fully. As we age those muscles have a hard time letting go of their contraction, and so that tight, wrinkled state hangs around. If you can let the muscle fully relax, then the skin overlying the muscle can fully smooth. Ta da! Less wrinkles.
So what about all those people on TV that look like their faces don’t move at all—their facial muscles are frozen as a Disney cartoon. The more Botox you inject, the greater amount of relaxation you induce. Sometime people on TV really don’t want ANY wrinkles visible at ALL. So those people want more injectables than the average person. It may not be that they got a bad Botox job, it just means that they got what they wanted and you would never want that.
That is why it is so important to go to a trusted doctor that listens to you. Dr. Petersen starts out conservative to make sure you don’t get more correction than you bargained for. Then you can always add more units of a given injectable if you need more. Once you get the correction you are after, having a record of your magic formula allows you to get predictable results time and time again.

Xeomin as an Alternative

Botox isn’t the only injectable on the market. It was definitely the first and has gained worldwide popularity. But just as Kleenex isn’t the only facial tissue, just the most recognized, Botox has some competition that is gaining on them quickly.
Xeomin is made by Merz Aesthetics. Merz also makes Radiesse and Belotero. Xeomin units are measured in the same way that Botox units are measured. That means 30 units of Botox is equivalent to 30 units of Xeomin. The advantage of Xeomin is that we have noticed a faster onset of correction. Botox may take 7-10 days to see the full effect of treatment and we have seen Xeomin take only 2-3 days. Also because Xeomin is a newer product, Merz tends to run more specials that we can pass on to you. And who doesn’t love a special!?

Botox vs Dysport?

dysport-logo1 box Dysport is made by Galderma. Under the Galderma umbrella you also find Restylane in all its variations, and Sculptra. Dysport units are different from Botox units. So keep that in mind when it comes to pricing. 30 units of Botox is roughly equivalent to 50 units of Dysport. So in Dr. Petersen’s office Botox costs $10/unit and Dysport costs $4/unit. The advantage of Dysport is that we have noticed it tends to also have a faster onset of effects. Patients have said they think it results in a smoother appearance. One patient said, “My forehead just looks so soft.” That is what has made it a favorite of our staff. We’ve also seen Dysport last longer—up to even 6 months for some patients.
Injectables are an important part of your preventative regimen. Like wearing sunscreen everyday prevents damage to your skin, toxins used regularly, prevent dynamic wrinkles from getting worse and becoming static wrinkles. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.