WHAT IS DYSPORT?

This injectable treatment for wrinkles is made from the same neurotoxin (botulinum toxin type A) as Botox. Dysport (formally Reloxin) received the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a wrinkle treatment in the spring of 2009, but it has been smoothing out facial folds and lines in Europe, South America, and elsewhere for several years. Like Botox, this injectable was originally developed in the 1990s to treat neuromuscular disorders.

Dysport is similar to Botox, although some research suggests that Dysport may be faster-acting and longer-lasting. It also spreads farther from the injection site, thus allowing a broader area of small wrinkles (such as the “crow’s feet” lines that splay out from the corners of the eyes) to be treated with fewer injections. This latter feature has a disadvantage, however. Unless skillfully applied, Dysport may spread to nearby muscles, such as those in the upper eyelids, that you don’t want relaxed. That’s why it’s essential that you receive these treatments from an experienced practioner.