Botox vs. Dysport — What’s the Real Difference?
There’s a lot of information to sort through as a consumer in the medical aesthetics space. There are seemingly countless products, brands, treatments, and therapies, and many of them claim to do the exact same thing … only better than the competition. One of the most common questions we get from clients in this areas is: “Botox vs. Dysport — which one is better?” Hopefully this week’s blog will help!
Botox vs. Dysport: The Basics
Botox and Dysport are both classified as cosmetic neurotoxins (aka, products that soften fine lines and wrinkles). However, they are made by two different pharmaceutical companies. Botox is manufactured by Allergan, while Dysport is manufactured by Galderma.
Botox was first to the U.S. market, receiving FDA approval for cosmetic use in 2002. Dysport was initially the brand of choice in Europe, and was officially approved for U.S. use in 2009. This means that Botox got a “head start” in terms of marketing and brand recognition, and it’s often why it’s the only product those new to aesthetics have heard of.
Botox vs. Dysport: The Real Deal
The biggest difference between Botox and Dysport is time to results. Botox typically takes between 12-14 days to final results. Dysport fully “kicks in” by about day 7. Both last an average of 3-5 months, depending on the client’s lifestyle and metabolism. Dysport is often cheaper per unit, but more is used, meaning the price difference to the client is negligible.
Should You Switch To Dysport instead of Botox, or Vise-Versa?
Botox vs. Dysport often comes down to personal preference (think, Coke versus Pepsi. People like what they like!). Many new clients are more comfortable starting with Botox — and therefore will keeping using it — for no other reason than it’s a name they’ve heard. Consumer psychology tells us that brand recognition is 90% of the game, regardless of whether other identical — if not superior — products exist.
The only time we strongly recommend one product over the other is if a client wants to see results asap, in which case we’ll recommend Dysport. We also may recommend switching things up if you’re finding that your treatments aren’t lasting as long as they used to. This could mean your body has built up a tolerance, and switching to a slightly different product will kick start your body’s response again.
One final note!
If you did not like your outcome with one of these products (for example, “I prefer Botox. Dysport froze my face!”), this is almost definitely an issue with the injector — not the product. So don’t be discouraged!
More questions about Botox vs. Dysport? Reach out!
