Pros And Cons Of Dysport VS Botox – Beautiful With Brains

Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Look, if you’re staring at those vertical lines between your eyebrows or the crow’s feet around your eyes and wondering whether Dysport or Botox is gonna give you better results, you’re not alone. The pros and cons of Dysport vs Botox come down to this: both are effective treatments using the same active ingredient (botulinum toxin type A), but Dysport kicks in faster and spreads more while Botox offers more precision and has way more FDA approvals. In this article, we’re gonna dig into what the actual scientific studies show about how these cosmetic injectables compare – the good, the bad, and what matters for your specific needs.

Dysport Vs Botox: What Are They?

Both Botox and Dysport are basically botulinum toxin injections that temporarily paralyze your facial muscles to smooth out wrinkles. I know that sounds scary but hear me out: when plastic surgeons or medical professionals inject tiny amounts into specific areas, they block nerve signals that make those muscles contract. Less muscle contractions = fewer wrinkles. Pretty straightforward. The thing is, even though they work the same way on a basic level, there are some key differences in how they’re formulated and how they behave once they’re injected into your face. And these differences actually matter depending on your treatment goals.

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Speed: When Do You Actually See Results?

Here’s where Dysport really shines – it works FAST. Like we’re talking 2-3 days fast. Dysport treatments show visible improvement within 2-3 days after injection, while Botox injections typically take 5-7 days for the full effect to show up. Not a huge difference, but if you’ve got a wedding or important event coming up and you’re cutting it close, those extra days matter. So if faster results are your priority, Dysport’s got the edge here. But honestly, we’re talking about a few days difference. Not exactly life-changing for most people.

How Long Does This Cosmetic Treatment Actually Last?

This is where things get interesting because the science is kinda mixed. Some studies show Dysport lasting longer, others show Botox lasting longer, and some show them pretty much equal. For example, one study found that Dysport lasted an average of 106 days compared to Botox’s 85 days when treating hemifacial spasm. That’s like 3 weeks longer, which is actually significant. The DYSBOT trial also showed Dysport lasting 13.3 weeks versus 11.2 weeks for Botox in patients with blepharospasm.

But then you’ve got other research showing Botox providing better and more prolonged efficacy than Dysport for glabellar lines (those frown lines between your eyebrows). So it’s not clear-cut. For cosmetic use in the United States, most medical professionals will tell you both typically last about 3-4 months. Your mileage may vary depending on your metabolism, how strong your facial muscles are, the treated area, and how many units were used.

The Spread Factor: Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Okay this is super important to understand. Dysport spreads more after injection than Botox does. And whether that’s a pro or a con totally depends on what you’re trying to treat.

The science here is pretty solid – research shows Dysport has a lighter molecular weight (400 kDa versus 900 kDa for Botox), which means it diffuses more readily under your skin. One study found that at a 2.5:1 dose ratio, Dysport showed a greater area and larger horizontal diameter in its field of effect at both 28 and 112 days compared to Botox.

Pros of Dysport injections:

• Great for larger treatment areas like forehead wrinkles
• Can cover more ground with fewer injection sites
• Gives a more natural, “blended” look on bigger areas
• Better for treating larger areas of the face efficiently

Cons of Dysport injections:

• Higher risk of affecting muscles you didn’t want to treat
• Can cause unwanted side effects if it migrates to the wrong spot
• Not ideal when you need precision for smaller areas
• Increased chance of issues like eyelid drooping in rare cases

Pros of Botox treatments:

• Stays more localized to the injection site
• Better control for specific areas like crow’s feet or vertical lines between eyebrows
• Lower risk of unintended muscle weakness
• Preferred choice for detailed work around eyes

Cons of Botox treatments:

• Might need more injection sites to cover larger areas
• Can look less natural on big treatment areas like the entire forehead
• Takes more skill to blend properly across forehead lines

But here’s the thing – multiple studies show that dose is actually the most important factor influencing how much these things spread, not which product you use. So a skilled injector who knows their shit can work around these differences.

Side Effects: What Could Go Wrong?

Let’s be real – you’re injecting toxin into your face. There are gonna be some potential side effects. The good news is when botulinum toxin injections are used properly, the incidence of complications is pretty low.

Common side effects for both:

• Pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site
• Bruising (pretty common actually)
• Headaches
• Flu-like symptoms
• Temporary numbness

Clinical trial data shows that in studies for glabellar lines, adverse reactions occurred in 48% of Dysport-treated patients versus 33% of placebo patients. The most frequent were headache, nasopharyngitis, injection site pain, and upper respiratory infections.

Dysport-specific concerns:

• Research found side effects in 19.7% of Dysport patients versus 16.7% for Botox patients
• Eyelid drooping (ptosis) was more common with Dysport in some studies
• Contains cow’s milk protein – if you’ve got milk allergies, Dysport’s off the table
• The increased diffusion means slightly higher risk of the drug affecting areas you didn’t want it to

Serious but rare shit:

• Botulinum toxicity (when the injection spreads to other parts of your body) – symptoms include difficulty swallowing, breathing, speaking
• Muscle weakness beyond the treated area
• Allergic reactions

According to research, there are no long-term or life-threatening adverse effects related to botulinum toxin treatment for cosmetic purposes when used correctly. But you need to see a qualified medical professional – not some random person at a “Botox party.”

Units and Dosing: Why This Matters

Here’s something that confuses the hell out of everyone: Dysport units and Botox units are NOT the same thing. Like, at all. The conversion ratio that most recent scientific literature supports is about 2.5:1 to 3:1 (Dysport:Botox). So if you need 20 units of Botox for your frown lines, you’d need about 50-60 units of Dysport to get similar effects. This matters because these cosmetic treatments are priced by the unit. Dysport typically costs $4-6 per unit while Botox runs $10-15 per unit. At first glance, Dysport looks way cheaper, right? But do the math:

• 20 Botox units at $12/unit = $240
• 60 Dysport units at $4/unit = $240

Yeah. The total treatment cost ends up being pretty much the same for both. Some people end up paying slightly less for Dysport treatments, but we’re not talking huge differences here.

Related: How Many Botox Units Do You Need For Smokers’ Lines?

FDA Approvals: What Can You Actually Use These For?

Botox absolutely crushes Dysport when it comes to FDA-approved medical uses. Botox is approved for all kinds of medical conditions – chronic migraines, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), overactive bladder, various types of spasticity, cervical dystonia, and more. For cosmetic purposes, Botox is FDA-approved for:

• Forehead lines
• Crow’s feet
• Frown lines (glabellar lines)

Dysport’s FDA approval for cosmetic use? Just moderate to severe glabellar lines. That’s it. Now, here’s the reality – doctors use both “off-label” all the damn time for other areas of the face. Off-label just means using a drug for something other than what the FDA specifically approved it for. It’s completely legal and super common in medicine. But if you’re the type who wants everything by-the-book, Botox gives you more officially approved options.

Treatment Areas: Where Each One Shines

Dysport is often the best choice for:

• Larger treatment areas like your entire forehead
• When you want faster results (that 2-3 days onset)
• If you’ve tried Botox and didn’t respond well
• When you want a more “spread out” natural effect
• Covering more ground with fewer shots

Botox is typically better for:

• Smaller areas requiring precision (like crow’s feet)
• Treating multiple different areas in one session (thanks to all those FDA approvals)
• When you need it for medical purposes beyond cosmetic use
• If you have milk allergies (Dysport’s a no-go)
• More predictable, controlled results in specific areas

Which One Should You Choose?

Look, I’ve laid out all the science, but here’s the bottom line: for most people getting cosmetic injection for appearance of wrinkles, both are effective treatments that’ll give you great results if done by someone who knows what they’re doing. A Phase III study found both products equally safe and effective for glabellar lines, with responder rates of 94.5% and 95.6% – basically identical. The “best option” comes down to:

• Your specific needs and facial anatomy
• What area you’re treating
• How fast you need results
• Your individual response (some people just respond better to one or the other)
• Your aesthetic goals
• Various factors like whether you have any allergies

Don’t make this decision based on cost, because the amount of product needed means they end up costing about the same. And definitely don’t choose based on which one your friend swears by – everyone’s facial muscles and metabolism are different.

The Bottom Line

So what’s the verdict on the pros and cons of Dysport vs Botox? They’re both excellent choices for reducing the appearance of fine lines and achieving a more youthful appearance. Dysport wins on speed (faster onset of action) and might last a bit longer in some cases. Botox wins on precision, versatility, and having more FDA approvals for various medical conditions. The best way forward? Consult with a qualified medical professional who can assess your unique needs, look at your facial expressions and the areas of the face you want to treat, and recommend the best choice for your specific situation. You might even find that you’re a good candidate for using both – Dysport on your forehead and Botox around your eyes, for example.