Botox and Dysport are two of the most popular injections for smoothing wrinkles. They look very alike on paper, so it is easy to wonder if one is better. This guide explains, in plain English, what Botox is, what Dysport is, how they differ, and how to pick the right one for your face.
Short answer: neither one is better across the board. Both are botulinum toxin type A. Dysport tends to start working a little sooner, and Botox has more FDA-approved uses. Which one suits you depends on the area you are treating and how your face responds.
Botox is the brand name for onabotulinumtoxinA, a purified protein made from botulinum toxin type A. A trained provider injects very small amounts into specific facial muscles. The medicine blocks the signal that tells the muscle to contract, so the muscle relaxes and the lines above it soften. The effect is temporary and wears off over a few months.
Botox was first approved by the FDA for medical use in 1989 and for cosmetic use in 2002. Today, Botox Cosmetic is FDA approved for adults for four areas:
Those four areas are listed on the current FDA label for Botox Cosmetic. (Source)
Dysport is the brand name for abobotulinumtoxinA. It is also a botulinum toxin type A, and it works the same basic way as Botox: it blocks the nerve signal to a muscle so the muscle relaxes. It is made differently, which is why its units are different from Botox units.
Dysport was FDA approved for cosmetic use in 2009. Its cosmetic label covers the “11” lines between the eyebrows in adults under 65. It is also approved for medical uses, including cervical dystonia (painful neck muscle spasms) in adults and muscle spasticity in people 2 years and older. Providers also use Dysport on other areas, such as the forehead and crow’s feet, based on their clinical judgment, but those areas are not on its FDA label.
Every time you frown, squint or raise your eyebrows, tiny muscles under the skin tighten. Over the years, that repeated movement etches lines into the skin. Botox and Dysport interrupt the nerve signal that makes those muscles tighten. With the muscle quiet, the skin above it relaxes and looks smoother.
That means they work best on movement lines, the ones that show up when your face is active. They are not the right tool for every kind of line:
| Botox | Dysport | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | OnabotulinumtoxinA, botulinum toxin type A | AbobotulinumtoxinA, botulinum toxin type A |
| FDA cosmetic approval | 2002. Now frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines and neck bands | 2009. Frown lines (adults under 65) |
| When it starts working | About 2 days in one study | About 18 hours to 2 days in the same study |
| Full effect | About 3 days in the study, with the final result often by 2 weeks | About 2 days in the study |
| How long it lasts | About 3 to 4 months | About 3 to 4 months. One study found it lasted longer at 4 months in two areas |
| Spread | Looked similar to Dysport when doses were matched | Looked similar to Botox when doses were matched |
| Units | Its own units | Its own units, not interchangeable with Botox |
| Medical uses | Many, including chronic migraine and severe underarm sweating | Cervical dystonia and spasticity |
| Allergy note | Not for people allergic to any botulinum toxin product | Also not for people allergic to cow’s milk protein |
This is one of the clearest differences. In a study of 20 people, researchers injected Dysport on one side of the forehead and Botox on the other, using a 2.5 to 1 dose ratio, and tracked each side. Dysport started working sooner on every measure:
Both products get to the same place. Dysport just tends to get there first, which can matter if you have an event coming up. (Source)
Most people can expect results from either product for about 3 to 4 months, then movement slowly returns. Length depends on the area treated, how strong your muscles are, and how quickly your body processes the medicine.
One study compared the two on opposite sides of 85 people’s faces. At 4 months, the Dysport side still showed improvement more often in two areas:
That does not make Dysport “longer lasting” for everyone. The gap showed up differently in each muscle, which is why a provider assessing your own face matters more than a general rule.
You may have heard that Dysport spreads further, so it suits big areas like the forehead, while Botox stays put, so it suits small spots like crow’s feet. It is a popular rule of thumb, but the research is less clear. In the same 20-person study, once the doses were matched, researchers found no difference in the area affected.
In practice, the dose and the injection technique shape where the medicine goes at least as much as the brand does. That is why your provider adjusts both for your treatment area.
You will often see a rule that 1 unit of Botox equals about 3 units of Dysport. The real picture is less tidy. The FDA labels for both products say their units are specific to each product and cannot be compared or converted. A review of the evidence, which looked at medical uses such as spasticity and cervical dystonia, found that a ratio of 3 to 1 or even lower can be considered appropriate, and noted that the right ratio has been debated for years. Its authors suggested using a lower ratio as a guide and adjusting it to each person’s response. (Source)
What this means for you:
This is the one place where the difference is not subtle. Botox is FDA approved for many medical uses beyond wrinkles, including chronic migraine prevention and severe underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis). Dysport does not carry either of those approvals. If you are looking at migraines or underarm sweating, that is a Botox conversation, not a Dysport one. TMJ treatment is an off-label use of either product, so it is worth talking through with your provider. You can read more on our tox treatments page.
Side effects are similar for both products, and most are mild and short-lived.
Common:
Rare but serious. Both labels carry a boxed warning that the medicine can spread beyond the injection area. Get urgent medical care if, in the hours to weeks after treatment, you notice any of these:
The biggest safety factor is usually the person holding the syringe. Choose an injector who knows facial anatomy and dosing well.
Tell your provider about your health history before treatment. Botox or Dysport may not be right for you if:
These cautions come from the FDA labels for both products.
Neither product wins outright. Use this as a starting point, then let a provider assess your face.
Botox may be the better fit if:
Dysport may be the better fit if:
Either can work well if your provider matches the dose to your muscles and your goals.
At The Art of Beauty, tox is never one product for every face. Every patient’s muscle movement, facial structure and goals are assessed before we decide which product, and how much, makes sense. To learn more, see our tox treatments and wrinkle treatments pages, browse the Botox and injectables FAQ, or look at our financing options. Not sure which one makes sense for you? That is exactly what a consultation is for. No pressure, no upsell, just an honest answer based on your face.
It is the umbrella term for wrinkle-relaxing injections made from botulinum toxin, such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Daxxify and Jeuveau. Botox and Dysport are the two most widely known.
Neither is automatically cheaper. Pricing is per unit, and Dysport usually takes more units than Botox for the same area, so the final cost depends on your treatment plan. Ask for a total price for your area, not a per-unit price.
They treat the same kinds of lines, the ones caused by muscle movement, such as frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. Their FDA labels differ: Botox Cosmetic covers four areas, while Dysport’s cosmetic label covers frown lines.
In a 20-person study, 80 percent of people rated Dysport injections as less painful than Botox on the opposite side of their face. That is one small study, and pain tolerance varies a lot, so it should not be the deciding factor on its own.
Yes. Plenty of people switch, sometimes because of availability and sometimes because of how their results felt. Your provider will adjust the dose, since units are not interchangeable one to one.
Both have similar safety profiles when injected by someone who knows the anatomy and dosing. The bigger safety factor is almost always the injector’s skill, not which product is in the syringe.
It is not common practice, mostly because tracking results and troubleshooting side effects gets harder when you cannot tell which product is responsible for what. Most providers pick one per session.
Neither is a “starter” product. A smaller, more conservative dose, whichever you choose, matters more for a first treatment than the brand does.
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