Dysport vs. Botox: what's the difference?

Dysport may be new in the U.S. (on the market since only April, 2009), but it has been battling Botox head to head in Europe and elsewhere for several years already. Here's what we know so far about the battle of these big boys in the nonsurgical esthetic arena: Both Botox and Dysport are botulinum toxin type A proteins and work in a similar fashion. Dysport may be minimally less expensive, but not enough so to make any significant difference cost-wise to the consumer.

Dosing is different than Botox, but this is a technical consideration for the doctor to know and is not really relevant to the patient. Dysport may begin to work a bit faster than Botox, by as much as one to two days earlier, which may be an advantage if you have a big party a couple days later and need a really quick fix; otherwise, this isn't of much practical importance. Botox and Dysport may last about the same time, although there are some who claim that Dysport lasts a bit longer, but not significantly much longer.

The beneficial effects of both Botox and Dysport can be prolonged, sometimes for quite some time longer than the ordinary four to six month duration, by suggesting that the patient undergo a series of three or four initial treatments, spaced at four month intervals. It seems that the continual presence of the Botox or Dysport in the muscle tissue during that period "teaches" so to speak the muscles of facial expression not to contract as actively as they did before treatment. It is this learned "lesson" that is believed responsible for the more prolonged response seen in many people, even after all the toxin has been metabolized away by the body.

At least theoretically, some people who have become "resistent" to Botox, usually after repeated treatments, may respond to Dysport. I have already had one such patient in my Manhattan practice. Dysport may diffuse (spread) over a wider 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.

The flip side is that tighter narrower areas, for example, under the eyes or under the eyebrows, must be carefully treated to insure limiting spread beyond the desired treatment areas. In conclusion, the jury is still not in on any significant differences between the two products other than they are produced by different manufacturers. For now, the choice of which agent you will be treated with may depend upon the doctor's comfort level and experience with each product and the particular needs of the patient.

Dysport is another form of Botox with few differences. Dysport becomes effective up to 24 hours after injection because it is a smaller protein, whereas Botox may take up to a week to be effective because it is structured slightly different.What is important is that both Dysport and Botox contain the main active ingredient called Botulinum Toxin Type A, which creates effectively the same results with patients. Some patients prefer Dysport because they say it gives them a more natural look.

Dysport and Botox are both botulinum toxin type A and work as a neuromodulator to inhibit muscle contraction.  Cosmetically both products are used to target muscles that cause unwanted wrinkles from dynamic muscle contraction in areas such as the forehead, “11” lines between the brows and crows feet.  While dysport is newer to the US market it has been used in Europe for several years and is now approved for use in the US.
Dysport and Botox are used similarly in practice but have a few unique traits:

Onset:  The onset of Botox is typically 5-7 days,  whereas onset of Dysport is 2-3 days

Duration:  Both products last approximately 3-4 months. 

Cost:  The cost of Botox and Dysport is about the same.  While unit cost of Dysport is lower than Botox, more Dysport is required per treatment when compared to Botox, thus cost is comparable.

The key to any injectable treatment is seeking out a provider well versed in anatomy and technique as the application of the product is the biggest determining factor to a favorable outcome.

There are three main toxins we use for cosmetic purposes. Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. In addition there is myobloc that is commonly used for medical issues where neuromodulators are useful. They all have the same active ingredient which is botulinum toxin created from a bacteria. 
Essentially these products give similar results in trained hands. We can make them work properly by diluting them to similar effectiveness and by placing them in certain locations. 
Pricing likely varies by practice. For instance we use a lot of both products so the companies are able to give us a deal due to large quantity purchase. We then are able to pass those savings onto the patient.
Find an injector you trust, be clear with your goals.
Hope this helps,
Best of luck,
DrC

Both Botox Cosmetic brand from Allergan and the Dysport brand from Ipsen are both serotype A botulinum toxin. Clincially they are quite similar and doctors have had to become familiar with the usage of Dysport as there is no exact conversion formula from the number of Botox units to Dysport units. The onset of action might be just one day quicker than Botox but duration of effectiveness of similar. I discovered the above findings for myself with patients who had Botox injected on one side of their face and Dysport on the other and had me examine them every day for the first week, then once per week for a month then once per month.Dypsort has been on the market distributed by Medicis since it's approval by the FDA in 2009 but has a small market share compared to Botox Cosmetic. The cost may vary depending on the practice offering it and the city in which one lives.Although it is a good product, I have not found any advantages of Dysport over Botox clinically for my patients.The information provided in Dr. Shelton's answer is for educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice.  The information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with a qualified health professional who may be familiar with your individual medical needs. 

Dysport and Botox are both "wrinkle relaxers" or neuromodulators.  They are two subtle variations of the same basic chemical compound (abobotulinum toxin type A vs. onabotulinum toxin type A).I have used both on many patients, and I find that the differences between the two are minimal.  There are some minor pros and cons to each one in theory, but in the day to day reality of helping patients soften the lines that bother them I see very little difference overall.Dysport sometimes can offer a slightly softer end result which is one reason that I enjoy using it.They key is to find the right dose and the right injection pattern that works best for each individual patient.  A great result can be achieved with either product.  Rarely I will find that some patients tend to respond better to one versus the other as far as the length of time that the effect lasts.  Most people get the same duration of around 3 months or slightly longer whether they are using Botox or are using Dysport.