Botox or Dysport?

People often ask me what I prefer: Botox or Dysport? My answer is unoriginal: I love both of these products. But it's important that the love is mutual.

What's the difference between them? The active ingredient is botulinum toxin type A.

Dysport was developed by the French company Ipsen, while Botox is from the American company Allergan. And it's called Botox only in countries… How should I put it…))) here, basically) In Europe, it goes by the commercial name Vistabel. So it's a mistake to lump everything under the term “Botox.” It's like calling any brand of diapers “Pampers” or referring to any SUV as a “Jeep.”

The safest area to work with the toxin is the upper third of the face. What do we do? We fix excessive muscle activity – eliminate frown lines, thinker lines, pride lines, achieve a smooth forehead, and lift the brow line. All other areas are off-label.

Nevertheless, we can address crow's feet near the eyes, bunny lines (wrinkles on the nose bridge), gummy smiles, puckered chins, perioral wrinkles (barcode lines around the lips), neck platysma… And, of course, the serious social issue of hyperhidrosis.

Next, a very important question: at what age? The most favorable period is 25–45 years. Earlier – no need. Later – more attention and reduced dosage. Although in countries… How to say… Not here, basically))) the toxin is even injected into teenagers with written parental consent. And then, over a few years, a young and hyper-emotional girl learns to control her facial expressions, avoiding skin creases.

And thirdly, what I'd like to say. The product “lasts” 4 months! Everything else is muscle memory. On average, patients repeat this procedure every 8–12 months. And, of course, lifestyle, adherence to recommendations, and client habits matter here. Since the procedure is dose-dependent, the number of units injected into the correction area also affects the duration of the effect. Moreover, the product must always be FRESH. That is, diluting it and injecting over a month – NO, NICHT, NEIN.

And for dessert!!! (slowly and syllable by syllable) The toxin is not used for lip volume correction!!! So the phrase: “She got her lips done with Botox, silly girl!” is very incorrect.

And let's not forget the famous saying by Michel Pistor: “Rarely, little, and in the right place.”

Svetlana KIRICHUK — dermatologist