What Cuts out Crows Feet the Best?

Botox is so common now that it is interchangeably used as a verb and a noun in everyday conversation. But the introduction of Dysport has taken away some of it's business. With loyal customers on both sides, which is truly the best choice to freeze your wrinkles? 

Researchers from the Maas Clinic and University of California, both in San Francisco, enrolled 90 people for a "split face" study.  Doctors injected Botox into one side of the volunteers' faces and Dysport into the other. It specifically monitored the effects each drug had on "crows feet."

The researchers evaluated the results - along with asking the volunteers which product they favored. In the end, both researchers and volunteers preferred Dysport. Both conclusions came after volunteers contracted their facial muscles by smiling, etc. to see the effects. Neither side showed differences when the face was at rest.      

The RealSelf doctors also think that Dysport has a few perks.

"Both Botox and Dysport are botulinum toxin type A proteins and work in a similar fashion," says New York dermatologist Dr. Nelson Novick.  "Dysport may diffuse (spread) over a wider [area] from the injection sites than Botox. The advantage here may be that you can treat broader areas, such as the forehead and underarms (for hyperhidrosis, i.e. excessive sweating), with fewer needle sticks.

"At least theoretically, some people who have become 'resistant' to Botox, usually after repeated treatments, may respond to Dysport," he adds.

Colorado dermatologist Dr. Shawn Allen agrees. "Both are the same product, botulinum toxin A, a derived protein that works by relaxing targeted muscles. The Dysport protein is slightly smaller so it works quicker. The differences I have seen and that are reported in the literature include a faster onset and a cheaper price."

At an average price of $375 for Dysport vs. $425 for Botox, that's a reasonable savings.  Couple that with potentially quicker result and maybe patients will soon be saying "I just went to my doctor's office and got 'Dysported.'" Somehow, it doesn't quite have the same ring.

Perhaps those smooth-faced celebs who claim to avoid Botox are using Dysport instead? Then it's not an actual lie.  Hmmm...

The full study is published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. Time notes that "the makers of both Botox and Dysport — Allergan Inc. and Medicis Aesthetics, respectively — were asked to help fund the study, but only Medicis paid for the research."

Photo Credit: Dysport by Dr. David Mabrie (lead)