Wrinkles are folds or creases on the skin. They appear naturally as we age. As we become older, the skin gets thinner, less elastic, and dryer. It cannot protect itself anymore, which is why we have lines or creases. Most people will have wrinkles on their face, back of their hands, arms, and neck. However, aging is not the only cause of wrinkle formation.
Dehydration, smoking, sun exposure, some medicines, genetic and environmental factors can also cause wrinkles. Additionally, certain cosmetic treatments like Botox injections can cause potential botox side effects, which include headaches, bruising, and muscle weakness, although these side effects are usually temporary
Luckily, there are many treatment options for wrinkles. The anti-aging market was worth USD 25.9 billion in 2020. You will now find clinics offering anti-aging treatments throughout the world in the US, Australia, Europe, and Asia. There are clinics in Toronto, Canada, as well.
Botox injections and Dysport injections are two popular options. What are these treatments, how do they work, what is the difference between the two, and which one is safer? Let us find out.
Botox Treatments
The Botox drug is made from the Botulinum toxin protein. The toxin, when injected into your body, will paralyze or weaken your muscles temporarily. This doesn’t allow your muscles to move and reduces the skin wrinkling process. Once the toxin is released, it will block the nerve signals of the muscles, thereby relaxing them.
Botox was the first product where this toxin was used for wrinkle treatment. It is FDA approved. The FDA approved Botox for cosmetic use in 2002, botox treatments for the face are now very popular and are commonly used to treat the lines around the eyes, forehead lines, and fine lines. They can help you get a softer-looking and younger face.
Apart from treating facial wrinkles, Botox also has other applications. For example, it is used to treat uncontrolled blinking, severe underarm sweating, chronic migraine, overactive bladder, strabismus, and cervical dystonia that gives neck pain and muscle spasms.
You can learn more about the best facial fillers for 2021 and Botox injections in Toronto.
Dysport Treatments
Dysport also works in the same way. However, they are both developed from two different toxins. While Botox comes from the onobotulinumtoxinA toxin, Dysport is developed from abobotulinumtoxinA. Dysport like Botox will paralyze the skin when the injection is administered below the skin.
Like Botox, Dysport too will relax the muscles and get the work done. It is good for treating the deepest facial wrinkles. Dysport has also been FDA-approved. It got approval in 2017 but has been popular in Europe for a long time before that.
Differences Between Botox and Dysport
They are chemically similar but still have some differences. For example,
- The dosage differs. Botox needs just a single unit but for Dysport, you will require three.
- The dilution process differs as well.
- Dysport has smaller molecules, which makes it work faster over a bigger area. But this is not always good. It can spread easily to areas that don’t require any treatment. With Botox, you will have more control. Also, Dysport is less effective for treating smaller areas.
Will it Hurt?
Both Botox and Dysport injections don’t hurt. Often, a numbing agent will be applied before the injection is pushed. But it will be quite painless even if no agent is applied. All you will get is a slight stinging sensation at the place of the injection. There can even be a small bump, which is sure to go away in a few days.
Are There Any Side Effects?
There is very little chance of a side effect. In rare instances, there can be a slight headache, drooling, droopy eyelids, pain or swelling at the place of the injection, or excessive eye dryness.
In some cases, the toxin has spread to other body areas. This can happen if you rub the place of the injection. Contact your clinic quickly if you have any muscle weakness, feel any breathing or vision problems, have problems in controlling your bladder, or face issues in swallowing.
So Which Is Safer – Botox or Dysport?
Most people feel Botox is safer. It has been around for a much longer time so has been put to the test by a lot more people. Remember, Botox was approved by the FDA in 2002, while Dysport got it only in 2017. So more clinics have the experience of administering Botox safely in the US and Canada. If you are in Europe, however, you will find many who can give the Dysport injection as it has been there in the continent for a long time.
Also, remember, Dysport has approval for treating just a single facial area – the glabella, or the portion of your face between the eyebrows. Botox has the approval for treating three areas – your forehead, the glabella, and the corners of your eyes.
Botox also gives more long-lasting results. It can work for up to six months, depending on the dosage and the treatment area. After a year or a couple of procedures, you will also need a lower dosage to relax the facial muscles. Dysport, on the other hand, has been approved by the FDA for a maximum of four months. So with Botox, you have a two-month advantage.
If you opt for the Botox treatment, this also means that you need to be injected fewer times, which is always good news. After all, why get injected more than what is necessary? With Botox, you will need fewer clinic visits.
Botox Is More Precise and Is Thus Safer
Botox also provides more precise results. It can treat smaller areas better whereas Dysport is not that effective for them. The Dysport toxin can spread easily to the skin areas where no treatment is required, especially if the injection was administered by someone with limited experience. Remember, more control is required with Dysport.
Their cost is about the same. But since Dysport lasts for only 4 months, compared to the 6 of Botox, you may end up spending more money.
Comparing these two non-surgical, anti-aging treatments, it has to be said that Botox looks like the better option. It is safer, has been around for longer, and has been put to the test by a larger section of the population. Botox treatments to cure wrinkles are now popular throughout the world.