Botox Cosmetic
Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company
glabella, forehead, lateral canthal lines, platysma bands
Botox vs. Dysport
Last verified 7/30/2026
Dysport
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals; marketed in US aesthetics by Galderma
glabella
Quick comparison
| Attribute | Botox Cosmetic | Dysport |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company | Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals; marketed in US aesthetics by Galderma |
| Active ingredient | onabotulinumtoxinA | abobotulinumtoxinA |
| Commonly treated areas | glabella, forehead, lateral canthal lines, platysma bands | glabella |
| How it works | Binds to motor nerve terminals and inhibits acetylcholine release by cleaving SNAP-25, producing temporary chemodenervation of injected muscles. | Acts at the neuromuscular junction to inhibit acetylcholine release and temporarily reduce activity in injected muscles. |
| Results timing | An effect can begin within 1 to 2 days and commonly strengthens during the first week. | Clinical cosmetic outcomes are assessed after treatment; visible change commonly develops over the first days to two weeks, but individual onset varies. |
| Typical duration | The FDA label describes approximately 3 to 4 months for glabellar-line effect; individual areas and patients vary. | Temporary; the US label limits retreatment frequency to no more often than every three months rather than promising an exact duration for every patient. |
| Downtime | No required recovery period is specified in the label, although injection-site effects can occur. | No formal recovery period is specified, but injection-site reactions and unwanted weakness can occur. |
| Reversibility | Not immediately reversible; the effect usually diminishes as neuromuscular function recovers. | Not immediately reversible; effects generally diminish as neuromuscular function recovers. |
| Pricing basis | Usually priced per Botox Cosmetic unit or, less transparently, by treatment area; Botox units must not be converted to Dysport units. | Usually priced per Dysport unit or by area; raw Dysport-unit prices must remain separate from Botox-unit prices. |
| Regulatory status | FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines, and platysma bands in adults under the current US label. | FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with procerus and corrugator activity in adult patients younger than 65. |
| Major limitations | Static etched lines or volume loss can remain even when muscle movement is reduced. | The US cosmetic indication is narrower than Botox Cosmetic's current label, and static lines or volume loss may persist. |
Manufacturer
- Botox Cosmetic
- Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company
- Dysport
- Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals; marketed in US aesthetics by Galderma
Active ingredient
- Botox Cosmetic
- onabotulinumtoxinA
- Dysport
- abobotulinumtoxinA
Commonly treated areas
- Botox Cosmetic
- glabella, forehead, lateral canthal lines, platysma bands
- Dysport
- glabella
How it works
- Botox Cosmetic
- Binds to motor nerve terminals and inhibits acetylcholine release by cleaving SNAP-25, producing temporary chemodenervation of injected muscles.
- Dysport
- Acts at the neuromuscular junction to inhibit acetylcholine release and temporarily reduce activity in injected muscles.
Results timing
- Botox Cosmetic
- An effect can begin within 1 to 2 days and commonly strengthens during the first week.
- Dysport
- Clinical cosmetic outcomes are assessed after treatment; visible change commonly develops over the first days to two weeks, but individual onset varies.
Typical duration
- Botox Cosmetic
- The FDA label describes approximately 3 to 4 months for glabellar-line effect; individual areas and patients vary.
- Dysport
- Temporary; the US label limits retreatment frequency to no more often than every three months rather than promising an exact duration for every patient.
Downtime
- Botox Cosmetic
- No required recovery period is specified in the label, although injection-site effects can occur.
- Dysport
- No formal recovery period is specified, but injection-site reactions and unwanted weakness can occur.
Reversibility
- Botox Cosmetic
- Not immediately reversible; the effect usually diminishes as neuromuscular function recovers.
- Dysport
- Not immediately reversible; effects generally diminish as neuromuscular function recovers.
Pricing basis
- Botox Cosmetic
- Usually priced per Botox Cosmetic unit or, less transparently, by treatment area; Botox units must not be converted to Dysport units.
- Dysport
- Usually priced per Dysport unit or by area; raw Dysport-unit prices must remain separate from Botox-unit prices.
Regulatory status
- Botox Cosmetic
- FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines, and platysma bands in adults under the current US label.
- Dysport
- FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with procerus and corrugator activity in adult patients younger than 65.
Major limitations
- Botox Cosmetic
- Static etched lines or volume loss can remain even when muscle movement is reduced.
- Dysport
- The US cosmetic indication is narrower than Botox Cosmetic's current label, and static lines or volume loss may persist.
Benefits and trade-offs
Botox Cosmetic
- Movement-driven lines and the pull of specifically injected muscles.
- It does not add tissue volume, replace structural support, fill a hollow, or resurface skin.
- Static etched lines or volume loss can remain even when muscle movement is reduced.
Dysport
- Movement-driven frown lines in the labelled glabellar treatment pattern.
- It does not add volume, replace structural support, or resurface skin.
- The US cosmetic indication is narrower than Botox Cosmetic's current label, and static lines or volume loss may persist.
Details
Open a section for more context. Sources appear beside the claims they support.
Dosing and behaviour
| Attribute | Botox Cosmetic | Dysport |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Binds to motor nerve terminals and inhibits acetylcholine release by cleaving SNAP-25, producing temporary chemodenervation of injected muscles.
| Acts at the neuromuscular junction to inhibit acetylcholine release and temporarily reduce activity in injected muscles.
|
| Typical number of sessions | One treatment visit; repeat treatment is considered after the effect wanes and should follow the product label.
| One treatment visit; the US label states treatment should not occur more frequently than every three months.
|
| Expected result magnitude | Targeted, temporary reduction in selected expression lines; it is not a structural facial-volume treatment.
| Temporary reduction of labelled glabellar-line severity, not facial volumization.
|
| What it primarily changes | Movement-driven lines and the pull of specifically injected muscles.
| Movement-driven frown lines in the labelled glabellar treatment pattern.
|
How it works
- Botox Cosmetic
- Binds to motor nerve terminals and inhibits acetylcholine release by cleaving SNAP-25, producing temporary chemodenervation of injected muscles.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- Acts at the neuromuscular junction to inhibit acetylcholine release and temporarily reduce activity in injected muscles.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Typical number of sessions
- Botox Cosmetic
- One treatment visit; repeat treatment is considered after the effect wanes and should follow the product label.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- One treatment visit; the US label states treatment should not occur more frequently than every three months.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Expected result magnitude
- Botox Cosmetic
- Targeted, temporary reduction in selected expression lines; it is not a structural facial-volume treatment.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- Temporary reduction of labelled glabellar-line severity, not facial volumization.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
What it primarily changes
- Botox Cosmetic
- Movement-driven lines and the pull of specifically injected muscles.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- Movement-driven frown lines in the labelled glabellar treatment pattern.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Treatment experience
| Attribute | Botox Cosmetic | Dysport |
|---|---|---|
| Downtime | No required recovery period is specified in the label, although injection-site effects can occur.
| No formal recovery period is specified, but injection-site reactions and unwanted weakness can occur.
|
| Bruising | Injection-site bruising is possible.
| Injection-site bruising can occur.
|
Downtime
- Botox Cosmetic
- No required recovery period is specified in the label, although injection-site effects can occur.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- No formal recovery period is specified, but injection-site reactions and unwanted weakness can occur.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Bruising
- Botox Cosmetic
- Injection-site bruising is possible.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Risks and limitations
| Attribute | Botox Cosmetic | Dysport |
|---|---|---|
| Documented risks | Unwanted weakness such as eyelid or brow ptosis, asymmetry, headache, hypersensitivity, and rare distant spread of toxin effect with swallowing or breathing difficulty. Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to a botulinum toxin preparation or infection at the injection site.
| Eyelid ptosis, headache, injection-site reactions, hypersensitivity including to cow's-milk protein, infection-site contraindication, and rare distant spread of toxin effect with swallowing or breathing difficulty.
|
| Most likely disappointment | Static etched lines or volume loss can remain even when muscle movement is reduced.
| The US cosmetic indication is narrower than Botox Cosmetic's current label, and static lines or volume loss may persist.
|
| When this treatment may not be appropriate | Do not use with product hypersensitivity or infection at the proposed injection site; additional warnings and patient-specific exclusions require prescriber review.
| Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin product or cow's-milk protein and with infection at the proposed site; prescriber review is required for other warnings.
|
| Provider-dependent variables | Muscle assessment, injection sites, dose, depth, symmetry planning, and management of adjacent-muscle spread.
| Label-appropriate patient selection, dose, injection pattern, anatomy, symmetry, and spread into adjacent muscles.
|
Documented risks
- Botox Cosmetic
- Unwanted weakness such as eyelid or brow ptosis, asymmetry, headache, hypersensitivity, and rare distant spread of toxin effect with swallowing or breathing difficulty. Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to a botulinum toxin preparation or infection at the injection site.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- Eyelid ptosis, headache, injection-site reactions, hypersensitivity including to cow's-milk protein, infection-site contraindication, and rare distant spread of toxin effect with swallowing or breathing difficulty.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Most likely disappointment
- Botox Cosmetic
- Static etched lines or volume loss can remain even when muscle movement is reduced.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- The US cosmetic indication is narrower than Botox Cosmetic's current label, and static lines or volume loss may persist.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
When this treatment may not be appropriate
- Botox Cosmetic
- Do not use with product hypersensitivity or infection at the proposed injection site; additional warnings and patient-specific exclusions require prescriber review.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin product or cow's-milk protein and with infection at the proposed site; prescriber review is required for other warnings.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Provider-dependent variables
- Botox Cosmetic
- Muscle assessment, injection sites, dose, depth, symmetry planning, and management of adjacent-muscle spread.
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- Label-appropriate patient selection, dose, injection pattern, anatomy, symmetry, and spread into adjacent muscles.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Evidence and regulatory status
| Attribute | Botox Cosmetic | Dysport |
|---|---|---|
| United States regulatory status | FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines, and platysma bands in adults under the current US label.
| FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with procerus and corrugator activity in adult patients younger than 65.
|
| Canadian regulatory status | Health Canada Drug Product Database lists Botox Cosmetic DIN 02531445 as approved; Canadian indications and dosing must follow the current Canadian product monograph.
| Health Canada Drug Product Database lists Dysport Aesthetic DIN 02387735 as marketed; use must follow the current Canadian product monograph.
|
| Evidence status | High for product identity, mechanism, labelled indications, contraindications, and labelled duration; outcomes remain dose-, area-, and patient-dependent.
| High for product identity, labelled indication, dose-frequency limit, contraindications, and non-interchangeability; comparative onset or superiority claims are not established here.
|
United States regulatory status
- Botox Cosmetic
- FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines, and platysma bands in adults under the current US label.
- BOTOX Cosmetic prescribing information · accessdata.fda.gov
- FDA approval letter for BOTOX Cosmetic · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- FDA-approved prescription biologic for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with procerus and corrugator activity in adult patients younger than 65.
- DYSPORT prescribing information · accessdata.fda.gov
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
Canadian regulatory status
- Botox Cosmetic
- Health Canada Drug Product Database lists Botox Cosmetic DIN 02531445 as approved; Canadian indications and dosing must follow the current Canadian product monograph.
- Health Canada Drug Product Database: Botox Cosmetic DIN 02531445 · health-products.canada.ca
- Dysport
- Health Canada Drug Product Database lists Dysport Aesthetic DIN 02387735 as marketed; use must follow the current Canadian product monograph.
- Health Canada Drug Product Database: Dysport Aesthetic DIN 02387735 · health-products.canada.ca
Evidence status
- Botox Cosmetic
- High for product identity, mechanism, labelled indications, contraindications, and labelled duration; outcomes remain dose-, area-, and patient-dependent.
- FDA approval letter for BOTOX Cosmetic · accessdata.fda.gov
- Dysport
- High for product identity, labelled indication, dose-frequency limit, contraindications, and non-interchangeability; comparative onset or superiority claims are not established here.
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov
SourcesShowHide
Sources are grouped by treatment so the support for each record stays visible.
Botox Cosmetic
- BOTOX Cosmetic prescribing information · accessdata.fda.gov
- BOTOX Cosmetic US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov, 2024-10-18 · supports 23 fields
- FDA approval letter for BOTOX Cosmetic · accessdata.fda.gov, 2002-04-12 · supports 2 fields
- Health Canada Drug Product Database: Botox Cosmetic DIN 02531445 · health-products.canada.ca, 2025-04-09
Dysport
- DYSPORT prescribing information · accessdata.fda.gov
- DYSPORT US Prescribing Information · accessdata.fda.gov, 2023-07-11 · supports 25 fields
- Health Canada Drug Product Database: Dysport Aesthetic DIN 02387735 · health-products.canada.ca
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