What is Botox®?
Botox® is a nonsurgical, anti-aging treatment that is injected directly into the muscles between the brows to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Botox® is FDA-approved to clinically treat the crow’s feet area around your eyes, frown lines in between your eyebrows, and forehead wrinkles.
What is Dysport®?
Dysport® is a newer alternative to Botox® but is in the same family of neurotoxins called botulinum toxin type A. The difference between Botox® and Dysport® is in the protein that surrounds and stabilizes the toxin in Dysport®. Botox® has a much larger protein molecular structure surrounding its main toxin whereas Dysport® has a fraction of the size of the protein surrounding the toxin. Therefore, Dysport® technically has less potential for any allergic or immune reactions and has a much quicker onset of action.
The duration is the same for both neurotoxins. Some patients may build an “immunity” to Botox®, meaning that they have stopped responding well to Botox® over several years. Those patients may consider switching over to Dysport®.
How Does Botox® and Dysport® Work?
When the facial muscles between your eyebrows contract, your skin moves along with them which forms creases until the muscles return to the resting position. These are called “dynamic” wrinkles or lines because they happen as a result of the way a person’s face moves. Over time, and after many repeated movements, those creases can deepen significantly.
Botox® and Dysport® work by blocking the signal from the nerve to the muscles, ultimately resulting in a reduction of muscle activity and temporarily preventing contraction of the muscles that cause frown lines and other wrinkles. With just one injection into each of the five points between and over the eyebrows, Botox® and Dysport® can smooth wrinkles and help you feel your best.
Botox® and Dysport® at Ageless MD
At Ageless MD, we offer anti-aging micro-droplet injections that slow down your aging process. Along with offering the FDA-approved uses of Botox® and Dysport® at our office, other common applications are to reduce fine lines around the lips from years of smoking, dimpling of the chin, nonsurgical brow lift, and reducing “bunny lines” around the bridge of the nose. Botox® and Dysport® can also be used to narrow the lower face by injecting the jaw muscles responsible for chewing and biting down as well as to slim down the calf muscles.
Your Ageless MD provider will discuss your treatment goals and perform a facial analysis to determine the appropriate number of units for you. The actual injection process takes about 10 minutes. Some patients report that being injected feels like a pinch; if you are concerned about discomfort, your provider may apply ice to the area prior to injecting.
How Long is the Recovery Time After Treatment?
You can resume your day as you normally would after treatment. There is minimal downtime and your provider may give you specific aftercare instructions following your Botox®/Dysport® treatment.
When Will I See Results?
You may begin to notice the effects of the neurotoxin within 3-5 days with the full result seen approximately 10-14 days after injection. The results typically last at least 2-3 months and up to 4 months. It is important that patients realize that the outcome of each type of treatment will vary by patient.
Side Effects of Botox® and Dysport®
Common side effects seen in clinical research of Botox® were that 3% of patients experienced eyelid drooping in the frown lines studies and 1% of patients experienced eyelid swelling in the crow’s feet studies. Other possible side effects of Botox® and Dysport® include but are not limited to: pain and/or irritation at the injection site, headache, dry mouth, tiredness, neck pain, eye problems, nausea, nose and throat irritation, sinus inflammation, and upper respiratory tract infection.
Please see the Important Safety Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide and speak to your provider.
Visit our office located in Tustin, CA. Dr. Tsay and our providers at Ageless MD provide the best Botox®, Dysport®, cosmetic filler, and Sculptra injections in Orange County.
