Dysport is a type of botulinum toxin injection that’s specifically meant to treat glabella lines — the facial lines that form in the area around the eyebrows. As a non-invasive wrinkle treatment, it has a lot of similarities with another botulinum toxin type: Botox treatments.

But does Dysport last longer than Botox, and what kind of treatment should you ultimately choose as a wrinkle relaxer? On average, a patient can enjoy their Botox results longer compared to a Dysport injection, but each type of wrinkle relaxer can offset this difference with its own benefits.

Why the Results From a Dysport Injection and a Botox Injection Last Differently

Botox and Dysport are injectables designed to inhibit muscle movement and muscle contraction by using botulinum toxin — a neurotoxin that can freeze any facial muscle in place. Regular application of these injectables can help reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, as well as treating other conditions like excessive sweating, muscle spasm, and overactive muscles.

On average, a Dysport injection will last for about three to four months, while a Botox treatment can last from four to six. While both of them use the same neurotoxin to prevent folds and lines from forming in the skin, they do have minor differences that can affect how long they last.

Dysport and Botox both use botulinum toxin for wrinkle treatment, but it’s the differences in the botulinum toxin type that can make one last longer than the other. It’s important to keep in mind that neither Botox treatment nor Dysport treatment lasts for a long time since the body is constantly making new neurotransmitters to counteract the neurotoxin. Each treatment’s unique formulation means that it can only affect muscle contraction and muscle movement for so long, which is why the length of their results differ.

Factors That Can Affect How Long Your Wrinkle Treatment Lasts

Botox results and Dysport results will always differ from patient to patient, and while you can generally expect that Dysport will fade shorter than Botox treatment, some factors can change that.

Here are some factors that can affect how long your Dysport treatment lasts:

1. The Facial Wrinkles Being Treated

A botulinum toxin injection can be used to treat a wide variety of facial lines such as frown lines, crow’s feet, and laugh lines. However, Dysport in particular is best suited for glabellar lines, forehead lines, and forehead wrinkles found in the upper half of the face. Because they’re all a type of dynamic wrinkle — wrinkles that form when the face is making an expression — these lines tend to be deeper and more difficult to treat.

This is why Dysport is better suited for patients who have severe wrinkles on their skin, like glabella lines and forehead wrinkles. Because the botulinum toxin type used in Dysport is stronger, it’s an excellent cosmetic treatment to use to limit muscle movement and muscle contraction on that specific injection site.

If you have a lot of severe wrinkles like forehead lines around your treatment area, then you may find that your Dysport treatment lasts longer than usual. Depending on the exact Dysport units specified by your dermatologist, your results may last longer compared to a Botox cosmetic treatment.

2. Other Conditions Involving Facial Muscle

While primarily known for their use as a cosmetic procedure, both Botox and Dysport can also treat certain skin conditions like overactive muscles and excessive sweating. If a patient has these conditions, the neurotoxin is more likely to fade as the treatment area is more active than usual.

But if you’re only getting a Dysport treatment specifically for forehead wrinkles, then your Dysport units are more likely to last longer than a Botox injection. Because Botox results are more suited for general use on facial muscle groups around the face, Dysport treatments are better at holding deep folds like glabellar lines on the face without exposing you to the dangers of botulinum toxicity.

3. How Often the Patient’s Facial Muscles Move

Aside from overactive muscles, another way that your body can quickly burn through Dysport units is how expressive you are in your daily life. Frowning, laughing, smiling, and other facial expressions make dynamic wrinkle formation more likely, which makes the neurotoxin work more to keep the muscles relaxed and wrinkles less likely to form.

Admittedly, this can be a more difficult thing for the patient to keep an eye on, but there are some things that they can do to make this easier to manage. For example, stress is one significant factor that can cause your face to become too expressive when you frown or grimace. Lifestyle also plays a role in how often you use your facial muscles — the more active you are, the more neurotransmitters your body manufactures on your face.

While it’s impossible for a patient to completely freeze their facial expressions, most dermatologists would recommend following wellness routines that can reduce the amount of strain and movement that your facial muscles go through every day. For most patients, this usually comes in the form of mindfulness exercises and meditation. However, for cases like overactive muscles or involuntary spasms, medical intervention may be a better option.

4. Lifestyle and Other Environmental Factors

Aside from the physical makeup of the patient and how often they use their facial muscles, their lifestyle and environment also play a key role in how long a Dysport treatment lasts. One of the most significant factors that can affect the efficacy of any injectable is sunlight exposure, which is largely dependent on your lifestyle.

If you live a fairly active life mostly spent outdoors, sunlight exposure can weaken the skin cells found in your face, which can also affect any wrinkle relaxer that you’ve used to stop muscle movement. While the body can recover from repeated sun damage with the right products, sun damage also takes a toll on Dysport treatments. Repeated sun exposure can drastically shorten the time you can enjoy your visible results and will require repeat treatments more often.

The best way to avoid this is to limit your sun exposure and make sure that you keep your skin healthy with treatments that can help it resist the daily wear and tear that you go through every day. Your dermatologist may recommend better products that you can use to make sure that your Dysport results last longer.

One thing to note about these factors is that while they can apply to Dysport treatments, they can also equally apply to Botox results. That’s why coordinating with your dermatologist or aesthetician about the type of injection you’ll get can make all the difference in the results and how long they’ll last.

Which Wrinkle Relaxer Should You Choose?

Since Dysport doesn’t last as long as Botox, should you choose a Botox injection over Dysport treatment? The answer isn’t that simple.

One of the most significant differences between Botox and Dysport is that while Botox can last a few more weeks compared to Dysport, it takes longer for the effects to show on your face. This can be an issue for some patients who want immediate results or need some sort of buffer between their injections and any follow-up treatments.

Botox injections have a compounding effect, so a patient can maintain their results with fewer injections over time. Because a patient can start their Botox treatments early, it’s much simpler for the body to become accustomed to the level of neurotoxin in the skin, which makes it slower at forming wrinkles even if the patient misses a reapplication session.

On the other hand, Dysport treatments are better suited for a patient who has moderate to severe wrinkles on their face, especially if they’ve been caused by age. The exact formulation of botulinum toxin used in Dysport makes it especially effective at treating deep wrinkles and folds around the glabella, but it’s less effective with mild lines around the face. Other benefits normally associated with Botox injections, like decreasing droopy eyes or excessive sweating, are less studied with Dysport treatments.

High-Quality Cosmetic Treatment for Facial Lines at Anand Medical Spa

Wrinkle treatment doesn’t require a plastic surgeon or an invasive cosmetic procedure to go well. With an alternative like a Botox injection or a Dysport injection, you can get rid of facial wrinkles without any need for incisions or surgery. The important thing to keep in mind is that you need regular treatments of botulinum toxin injection to get the best results.

With years of experience with facial rejuvenation treatments, the Anand Medical Spa can help severe wrinkles, glabella lines, and other facial lines. As a specialist with non-invasive cosmetic treatment, we pride ourselves on providing top-notch medical services and customer service.

If you want to know more about other ways to treat facial wrinkles like using a dermal filler, contact us today to schedule a consultation.