For many years, Botox has been an alternative name for Botulinum Toxins. Botulinum Toxins are neuromodulators are tiny proteins that block communication between the nerves and muscle cells, resulting in the immobility of muscles. Botulinum Toxins are widely used in aesthetics and medical applications.
Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are brand names under the umbrella of neuromodulators. Today we’ll look at each of them and see if there’s any difference.
| Botox | Dysport | Xeomin |
| Botox is the first neuromodulator released to the market. Like we said in the beginning, it is the most popular brand names among the three. Botox was FDA approved in 2002 on the forehead, crow’s feet, and other fine lines on the face.
Botox contains the main ingredient Botulinum Toxin, and also small amounts of albumin and sodium chloride. Botox can last 4-6 months on average. |
Dysport produces the same result as Botox. It first arrived in Europe in the late 90s, and later became FDA approved in 2009.
In addition to Botulinum Toxin, Dysport contains other inhibitors and muscular blocking agents. Where Dysport differs from Botox is the size of the dosage. Dysport spreads more than Botox per injection site. The advantage of the bigger dosage is that Dysport covers larger surface area at a time. Dysport is approved to last up to 4 months. Dysport also activates faster than Botox. |
Xeomin is the youngest among the three brands and was only FDA approved in 2011.
Both the Dysport and Botox contain complexing proteins. In contrast, Xeomin is without the molecular makeup and thus it is the purest. This means Xeomin is more suitable to people with skin sensitivities because there are fewer proteins to interact with the body, hence lower allergic reaction or natural resistance. A lack of additives means Xeomin may work faster than the other two. |
Safety & Efficacy
Because Botox is the first to appear in the market, it has the longest track record. But it doesn’t mean the other two aren’t as safe and effective. Since the other younger brands have been in the market for more than a decade, there are sufficient studies which show Dysport and Xeomin are equally safe and effective. Each has been consistently proven in clinical trials and then worldwide application
As they all have the same active ingredient, they carry the same side effects such as injection site pain, irritation and temporary bruising. These side effects usually go away in hours or few days. It’s essential to seek medical advice from an experienced injector and follow the instructions to prevent the chance of developing any unwanted irreversible side effects.
Usage
All three brands are proven to work and safe to use in all applicable areas. Xeomin is similar to Botox when measuring units to units, whereas Dysport requires more units per injection site.
Given the slightly different property in dosage, your injector may use Dysport for larger surface areas such as forehead and Botox for smaller focused areas such as Crow’s feet or Marionette Lines.
Reaction Time
Botox and Dysport are considered “heavier” because they contain added proteins to enable longer lasting time. However, these protective proteins may also shield the active part of the neurotoxin thereby minimizing product effectiveness.
Both Botox and Xeomin require up to two weeks for full effects and in most cases Dysport has a much quicker onset for those patients wanting faster results. Results of Dysport may appear as soon as 2 days after injection, compared to 7-10 days for Botox and 5-6 days for Xeomin.
When initially deciding on which brand to use, consult with a highly experienced injector. Botox, Dysport and Xeomin differ in administration technique and injection skills are necessary to determine the proper dosage in order to achieve the best result.
(The facts you see on this page is intended for general purposes only, are not a guide to treatment and are not intended to nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question.)
