Dysport (medically known as abobotulinum toxin type A) is a natural, purified protein used to treat overactive muscles. Dysport has been used to treat muscle disorders in the United Kingdom since 1990. Dysport is FDA-approved for the treatment of wrinkles.
The cost of Dysport is determined by your healthcare professional and will vary based on the amount of product used and frequency of injections. Dysport is priced similarly to other botulinum toxin products that are commercially available.
You can only get Dysport from a doctor’s prescription. Dysport must be administered by a primary physician, dermatologist, cosmetic aesthetician, plastic surgeon or other healthcare professional licensed to administer Dysport. Find a doctor near you.
There’s only one FDA-approved Dysport. Be sure to ask your specialist to see the packaging of your product to make sure it’s authentic.
- Look for the full product name on the front and sides of the packaging.
- Make sure the seal on the product is intact.
- Make sure the product isn’t expired.
- Check the Galderma logo at the top left corner of the package.
- Find the barcode and distribution statement on the bottom of the package.
Although office visits can vary, the dysport treatment procedure generally takes 10 to 20 minutes.
- Both Dysport and Botox are forms of botulinum toxin type A
- Both products have been used in Europe for almost 20 years to treat certain types of muscle disorders
- Botox received FDA approval for cosmetic use in the United States in 2002. Dysport recently received FDA approval
- Both products are safe and effective in the treatment of wrinkles on the face
- Dysport is a smaller molecule, so the units are different than Botox (i.e., 20 units of Botox equal 60 units of Dysport)
- Dysport works faster (in only 1-3 days vs. 4-7 for Botox) and has FDA approval for a four month duration (vs. 3-4 months for Botox)
- Dysport is a better value per unit than Botox
Dysport is injected with a small needle in tiny amounts to specific areas. Dysport is usually sold to clients by the unit.
The number of units necessary for an effective treatment varies, both by the individual and the area treated. Men usually need a few more units than women to achieve the same effect. At Evolutions, it is common to use 60-72 units of Dysport for the glabellar region (the frown lines), 30-42 units of Dysport for the forehead, and 30-42 units of Dysport for the peri-orbital area (“crow’s feet”). If you have had a Dysport treatment in any of these areas and have received significantly more units, you may have received more Dysport than is necessary for an effective treatment.
It is important to note that Botox and Dysport are measured differently (much like feet vs. meters). This difference is accounted for in the pricing.
Dr. Terry Perkins, Santa Barbara Cosmetic Surgeon and Founder of Evolutions Medical Spa did a live demonstration of injecting Dysport – Santa Barbara’s new anti-wrinkle treatment of choice – on a medical spa client at their 5 year anniversary open house. Other interested clients gathered to watch.
For wrinkle treatments, the effects of Dysport typically last 3-4 months. However, with repeated treatments, the effects may last up to 6 months.
Though both are commonly used to treat wrinkles, Dysport treats the cause of the wrinkle (the overactive muscle) whereas dermal fillers are used to treat the symptom (the wrinkle itself). Oftentimes both Dysport and dermal fillers can be used in conjunction with each other to improve the overall result.
The skill level of the administering clinician is very important. There is an artistic element involved with Dysport injections in order to ensure that the client achieves effective wrinkle reduction while still maintaining a natural look. Also, if a clinician is not highly-trained, they may need to inject more Dysport to get the same effect. Thus, sometimes an attractive per unit price may end up costing you more money.
Evolutions’ owner and medical director, Dr. Terry Perkins, is one of the country’s foremost experts on Botox®. He was selected to be one of only 16 physicians in the United States to evaluate Botox® in the FDA study that led to its approval for cosmetic uses. Dr. Perkins has performed thousands of Botox® injections and has pioneered the threading technique for maximum effectiveness. Furthermore, all of the injecting clinicians at Evolutions have been personally and extensively trained by Dr. Perkins on facial anatomy, Botox® theory, optimal injection locations/techniques, and practical application.
Absolutely, as long as you receive true Dysport (made by Ipsen Group, distributed in the U.S. by Medicis Inc) and have it administered by a well-trained clinician. In fact, because Dysport is such a safe, quick (the procedure usually takes only 10-15 minutes), easy, effective, and relatively affordable treatment, it is now easily the most popular medical cosmetic procedure in the country. Although Dysport is a new treatment in the U.S., given its success in Europe over the last 20 years, it will likely be as popular as Botox within a short period of time.
Dysport treats overactive muscles by blocking the signals that tell those muscles to contract. This can be done partially or totally, depending on the desired effect. The effects of Dysport are temporary and typically last between 3-4 months.
Typically not, though the most common dysport side effect is minor bruising in the treated area. For a full list of potential side effects, you should have a consultation and review an informed consent form.
Yes, Dysport is a highly effective treatment to smooth wrinkles. Dysport is approved in 69 countries and has 25 years of clinical experience worldwide.6*
Find out why 97% of women treated with Dysport say they’d do it again.7†‡
*Includes therapeutic and aesthetic uses. †Subject’s satisfaction and self-perception reported 3 weeks after treatment (n=531). ‡Design: Multicenter, prospective, non-interventional observational study conducted in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom (n=533). Subjects were eligible if the investigator had decided to prescribe Dysport according to the labeling. Subjects completed questionnaires at 3 weeks and 4 months after treatment.
Photo courtesy of DysportUSA.com
Yes, Dysport has been clinically demonstrated up to 5 months. 1-3*
In 3 clinical studies of people whose between the brow frown lines were rated “moderate” or “severe” by a specialist before their treatment with Dysport 4*:
30 days after treatment, a majority of Dysport users† (55%, 52% and 60% in each of the 3 studies vs. 0% of users treated with placebo) and their specialists both thought their frown lines improved by at least 2 grades to a rating of “none” or “mild” at maximum frown.
30 days after treatment, the majority of Dysport users (88%, 85% and 86% in each of the 3 studies vs. 4%, 4% and 0%, respectively, of users treated with placebo) had their frown lines rated by a specialist as “none” or “mild” with at least a 1-grade improvement at maximum frown.
30 days after treatment, the majority of Dysport users (74%, 79% and 82% in each of the 3 studies vs. 9%, 1% and 2%, respectively, of users treated with placebo) rated their own frown lines as “none” or “mild” with at least a 1-grade improvement at maximum frown.
Dysport is used in 69 countries around the world. 5*
Ask your specialist if prescription Dysport is right for you.
Dysport may not be right for you if: you have surgical changes to your face, very weak muscles in the treatment area, your face looks very different from side to side, the injection site is inflamed, you have droopy eyelids or sagging eyelid folds, deep facial scars, thick oily skin, or if your wrinkles can’t be smoothed by spreading them apart.
See below for Dysport Important Safety Information and Medication Guide.
*GL-1 and GL-3 evaluated subjects for at least 150 days following treatment. Based on a ≥1-Grade GLSS improvement from baseline utilizing data from two double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pivotal studies (GL-1, GL-3) in a post-hoc analysis.
†User = Clinical trial subject.
References
- Data on file. GL-Y-97-52120-719 (GL-1) Clinical Study Report. Fort Worth, TX: Galderma Laboratories, L.P., 2007.
- Data on file. GL-Y-97-52120-718 (GL-3) Clinical Study Report. Fort Worth, TX: Galderma Laboratories, L.P., 2007.
- Data on file. MA-35497. Post Hoc Analysis. Fort Worth, TX: Galderma Laboratories, L.P., 2017.
- Dysport for Injection Package Insert. Fort Worth, TX: Galderma Laboratories, L.P.; January 2019.
- Data on file. Ipsen World-Wide Marketing Authorisation Status. Fort Worth, TX: Galderma Laboratories, L.P., February 2017.
If your Dysport treatment is administered properly by a highly-trained clinician, you will still be able to make expressions. Depending on the area treated, it may be appropriate to only weaken the muscle movement. You can discuss this with your clinician prior to treatment. The vast majority of clients are extremely happy with the results of a Dysport treatment. The most common comment made by friends and family of clients after receiving Dysport is that they appear to be more “rested.”
Spread of Toxin Effects: In some cases, the effects of Dysport and all botulinum toxin products may affect areas of the body away from the injection site. Symptoms can happen hours to weeks after injection and may include swallowing and breathing problems, loss of strength and muscle weakness all over the body, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, or loss of bladder control. Swallowing and breathing problems can be life threatening and there have been reports of death. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre‐existing before injection. These effects could make it unsafe for you to drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.
Yes. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you have surgical changes to your face, very weak muscles in the treatment area, any abnormal facial change, injection site inflammation, droopy eyelids or sagging eyelid folds, deep facial scars, thick oily skin, wrinkles that can’t be smoothed by spreading them apart, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal and other natural products. Using Dysport with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines while taking Dysport without talking to your doctor first.
Especially tell your doctor if you: have received any other botulinum toxin product, such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Botox® (onabotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA), in the last four months or any in the past (be sure your doctor knows exactly which product you received, have recently received an antibiotic by injection, take muscle relaxants, take an allergy or cold medicine, or take a sleep medicine.
The most common side effects are nose and throat irritation, headache, injection site pain, injection site skin reaction, upper respiratory tract infection, eyelid swelling, eyelid drooping, sinus inflammation, and nausea. Ask your doctor if Dysport is right for you. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Dysport Full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide at DysportUSA.com.
Do not have Dysport treatment if you: are allergic to Dysport or any of its ingredients (see the end of the Medication Guide for a list of ingredients), are allergic to cow’s milk protein, had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product, such as Myobloc®, Botox®, or Xeomin®, have a skin infection at the planned injection site, under 18 years of age, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The dose of Dysport is not the same as the dose of any other botulinum toxin product and cannot be compared to the dose of any other product you may have used.
Tell your doctor about any swallowing or breathing difficulties and all your muscle or nerve conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease], myasthenia gravis, or Lambert‐Eaton syndrome, which may increase the risk of serious side effects including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing. Serious allergic reactions have occurred with the use of Dysport. Dry eye has also been reported.