As with Botox, Dysport injections are a wonderful treatment for the reduction of wrinkles at the crow’s feet, forehead, and glabella (between the eyes) areas. Injections give the face a refreshed, younger, and more relaxed appearance while still allowing for facial expressiveness. There is no downtime with this quick non-surgical procedure. At our state-of-the-art medical spa, and our team of Medically Certified Aestheticians offer noninvasive Dysport injections.
What is Dysport?
Dysport (aka abobotulinumtoxinA) is an injectable neuromodulator that smooths fine lines and wrinkles for up to four months. It’s FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe frown lines, also called glabellar lines or “11s,” between the eyebrows.
It’s also used off-label to smooth other expression lines, like crow’s-feet and forehead creases. Other common treatment areas include:
- armpits and palms, to reduce excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- platysmal bands, to smooth the neck
- masseter muscles, to treat bruxism (teeth grinding) or narrow the width of the face
- bunny lines on the bridge of the nose
- the depressor muscles of the outer lip, to raise the corners of the lip
- the depressor muscle of the nose, to raise the tip
- the mentalis muscle, to smooth the dimples on the chin
- the upper lip, to correct a gummy smile
- elsewhere on the body, to treat medical conditions due to severe muscle spasticity, including vaginismus (with a 75% success rate according to one study)
Dysport is a form of botulinum toxin type A, so it’s similar to Botox, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. Like its competitors, Dysport works by temporarily blocking the communication between nerves and muscles, to stop injected facial muscles from contracting and wrinkling the overlying skin. The process of blocking muscle contractions doesn’t damage skin or muscle, but it gets rid of crow’s feet, frown lines, and other creases that appear when you make facial expressions.
Beyond smoothing existing wrinkles, the treatment can also be used preventively, to minimize muscle movement and prevent future wrinkles and forehead lines.
What are the pros and cons of Dysport?
Pros
- Injections are quick (10 to 20 minutes) and have practically no downtime, so they’re easy to fit into your workday.
- For some people, Dysport may kick in faster than other injectable neurotoxins.
- Dysport may create a more natural look than other neuromodulators.
- Many people report that it lasts longer than other neuromodulators, and recent studies by Galderma show that Dysport may last up to five months.
- It’s a temporary fix, so if you don’t like the results, you’re not stuck with them—they’ll gradually disappear within a few months.
Cons
- Results aren’t permanent. If you want to maintain the effects, you’ll need about three treatments a year.
- Needle-phobes might be nervous about getting a series of shallow injections, sometimes close to the eyes, mouth, and nose.
- It can only treat dynamic wrinkles like crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles—the lines that form when you make certain facial expressions. These lines are primarily found in the upper face. To treat lines, creases, and folds in the lower face, dermal fillers may be a better choice.
- As with any injection, there are potential risks, such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection—but all of these side effects should be mild or rare.
How much does Dysport cost?
As with any other injection, he cost depends on various factors, including:
- whether it is for medical or cosmetic purposes
- who provides the treatment
- where the treatment takes place
- the number of Dysport units involved
Is Dysport safe?
Dysport is FDA approved and considered safe, in the hands of an experienced injector. As with any injections, bruising can occur. You can minimize your risk by avoiding blood thinners (that aren’t medically necessary) for a week before your procedure. This includes alcohol, fish oil and vitamin E supplements, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin and Advil. If you do develop a headache post-shot, ibuprofen or acetaminophen is generally safe to take.
Neuromodulators like Dysport are contraindicated in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a neurological condition in which antibodies destroy the communication between nerves and muscle, resulting in weakness of the skeletal muscles.
Because both myasthenia gravis and neuromodulators affect the strength of muscles, the combination can create an over-exaggerated and prolonged result. If you have MG, Yuliya suggests alternative treatments like microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), dermal fillers, and laser resurfacing.
What are the potential risks and side effects of Dysport?
According to the manufacturer, the most common side effects of Dysport include bruising at the injection site, upper respiratory infections, headaches, a sore throat, injection-site pain, eyelid swelling, and nausea. Less commonly seen are drooping of the brow and upper eyelid, which are temporary and resolve as the product dissipates. A droopy eyelid can be improved with over-the-counter Naphcon A eye drops, but they shouldn’t be used for more than 4-5 days.
Dysport may trigger an allergic reaction for some people, since it contains a protein found in cow’s milk. (Botox and Xeomin don’t contain cow’s milk protein.) This is not the same thing as lactose intolerance. If you have a cow’s milk allergy, talk with us before considering Dysport.
Although very rare, the most serious side effects of botulinum toxin injections arise from the possibility of it spreading beyond the injection site and triggering symptoms like muscle weakness or spasms; double or blurred vision; and trouble speaking, swallowing, or breathing. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any unusual symptoms after your injections.
It’s important to work someone like us, who has a deep working knowledge of facial anatomy, to help ensure you receive appropriately placed injections and natural-looking results.
What happens during a Dysport treatment?
We will cleanse the treatment area and may offer to apply a numbing cream (though most people find they don’t need it).
Then we will use a tiny needle to inject small amounts of Dysport into the muscles just beneath your skin, to relax them.
You’ll probably feel pinching but no pain during the injections. We may ask you to smile, frown, raise your eyebrows, crinkle your nose, or make other expressions to help identify the exact spots that need addressing. The entire treatment should take 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how many areas you’re having treated.
What can you expect after a Dysport injection?
You’ll likely have some mild redness or swelling at the injection sites. Some people also have light bruising for up to a week. Otherwise, you’ll be able to go about your normal activities.
Headaches, which are more common for first-timers, should go away within a few days and can be treated with ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
We may recommend avoiding exercise or lying flat for a few hours post-treatment, to limit the risk of the drug spreading and creating unwanted effects. For the same reason, don’t rub the injection sites.
When will you see results from Dysport?
It can take about a week for Dysport to take effect, depending on where you were injected and how many units you received.
A typical injection between the eyes is usually around 50 units. With this dosage, results can be visible anywhere from 2 to 14 days after injection.
There are some who report anecdotal trends, as in Dysport and Jeuveau taking effect a little earlier or Xeomin allowing a bit more natural movement. But there’s not a statistically significant difference in onset between toxins.
How long does Dysport last?
The effects of Dysport wear off gradually over about four to six months. To maintain results, we usually tells people to come in two to three times a year.
While all neuromodulators currently approved for cosmetic use in the U.S. are made from botulinum toxin type A, each brand behaves a little differently due to subtle variations in overall formulation.
If your injection wears off within a month, consider asking for a larger dose.
Dysport vs. Botox
Botox and Dysport are both botulinum toxin type A neuromodulators. Both products are injected in similar ways, with no downtime afterward. They also carry similar risks.
Dysport is only officially cleared for the treatment of glabellar lines, even though it’s frequently used to treat other wrinkles. It may also work faster than Botox injections. Dysport results are sometimes visible within 48 hours, while Botox may take up to a week for results to show.
Dysport vs. Jeuveau
Jeuveau is another type of neuromodulator that relaxes or paralyzes the nerves that tell muscles to flex. By keeping muscles from making certain repeated movements, Jeuveau helps prevent new lines from forming and softens those that are already there.
The botulinum toxin A, prabotulinumtoxinA, found in Jeuveau has similar risks and side effects and produces similar results, but the proteins in Jeuveau (and Botox) are considered purer.
Dysport vs. Xeomin
Xeomin, also a botulinum toxin type A neuromodulator, is another injectable approved by the FDA to treat frown lines, but it’s also used off-label to treat other types of facial wrinkles.
Xeomin is unique in that it doesn’t contain additives or preservatives, which decreases the chances of allergic reactions. In some rare cases, continued use of botulinum toxin type A neuromodulators has contributed to possible resistance against certain drugs. The proteins responsible for this reaction are not found in Xeomin.
Can you have Dysport and injectable dermal fillers at the same time?
Yes, you can combine injectables to personalize your treatment with neuromodulators like Dysport. We often refers to this combo as a “liquid lift”.
Neuromodulators can relax frown lines and hyaluronic acid injectables [such as Juvéderm and Restylane] to lift the crease left behind. Studies even show that the results of hyaluronic acid injectables last longer when used in tandem with neuromodulators.
Be aware, however, our general recommendation is to wait to have some other treatments, such as microneedling, if you’re having Dysport. The thought is that it takes two weeks maximum for any neurotoxin to complete set in. Yuliya also doesn’t want the microneedling to possibly disrupt the Dysport placement.
As with any procedure, we recommend consulting with Genesis Cosmetic Laser Center before beginning treatment.
To find out more about your Dysport options, call the scheduling team at Genesis Cosmetic Laser Center at (843) 669-2220 to book your Free consultation with Yuliya.
