The main active ingredient for Dysport, as well as for Botox, is a refined form of botulinum toxin type A. The toxin acts as a neuromuscular blocker that inhibits muscle tension and spasming, which can create the appearance of facial wrinkles in the forehead, crow's feet around the eyes, and creases between the brows. Unlike Dermal fillers, Dysport and Botox injections are actually injected into muscles beneath the skin's surface. The refined toxin relaxes facial muscles, and causes the skin surface to smooth out as a result.

 

Although Botox and Dysport are both botulinum type A molecules, they are manufactured somewhat differently. As a result, they have some subtle differences in their clinical effects. Some of the reported differences with Dysport are that it has a faster onset of action than Botox. Rather than waiting for up to a week for Botox to work, Dysport appears to work in just a day or so. Another important difference is that the effect of Dysport is reported to last longer than Botox, sometimes by a month or more.  However, it should be pointed out that no studies have ever been done yet that compares Dysport to Botox in a head-to-head comparison. Therefore, the longer lasting benefits of Dysport are largely anecdotal, but may well be real. Apparently, fewer allergic reactions have been reported with Dysport because fewer antibodies react to the toxins, when compared to equal treatments of Botox. These benefits, coupled with reduced price, could give Dysport a clear advantage over Botox treatments. 

 

 

Dysport came to the U.S. following the partnership of Dysport's manufacturer, Ipsen, with Medicis, the pharmaceutical company that developed filler favorites Restylane and Perlane. Dysport was intended to be marketed under the brand name "Reloxin" for U.S. patients. However, the FDA ruling stated the treatment's original name, Dysport, would be used instead.