Dysport is the first competitor to Botox in the U.S., but has been used in Europe in for several years. These products seem relatively similar; a great analogy is Coke versus Pepsi. Competition can only be a good thing for pricing, though, and that should become evident over the next couple of years, as more products are released.
That being said, the major differences between Dysport and Botox seem to be the following:
1) A faster onset of effects is noted with Dysport in some patients. Whereas Botox may take 3-7 days to take effect, some patients who receive Dysport see results in a day.
2) Some studies indicate a slightly longer duration of effect, but not all of them. Clinical experience in the U.S. over the next several months will help guide consensus on this.
3) The dosing for Botox and Dysport is different. A Botox unit is not equivalent to a Dysport unit. The converision is approximately 2.5 Dysport units to 1 Botox unit, but there is some variation between the upper and lower face, as well as variations based on the patient’s facial muscle mass.
A recently published study showed Dysport is highly effective in women, as well as highly effective and longer lasting in African Americans. It also demonstrated that Dysport was highly effective in patients who previously had a good response to Botox.Right now is a great time to try Dysport – our office is offering $50 off your initial treatment. If you’ve had a good response to Botox in the past, or have simply wanted to try it, the time may be right to try Dysport.