Botox vs Dysport – which injectable is better at reducing the look of facial wrinkles?

For people looking to reduce the look of crow’s feet on their face, it is a minefield trying to decide which beauty treatment to go for. Two of the more popular treatments are Botox and Dysport. Both Dysport and Botox are botulinium toxins, with Botox having been around for longer. In a study published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, the two injectables were compared to discover which was better overall.

90 people were selected to take part in a 30 day trial where both medications were used – one was injected into the right side of the face, and the other into the left side.

The study showed that when the facial muscles were at rest there was no discernable difference between the two products. However Dysport was found to be more effective at reducing crow’s feet wrinkles when the subject was smiling than Botox.

Doctors overseeing the study said that the injection sites were deliberately placed far away enough from each other to ensure that the agents could not affect each other’s results. By injecting both substances into every person, it also ensured that all variables such as age, gender and ethnicity were removed.

Although the results are mildly in favour of Dysport, it should be noted that the results are not definitive. The study was only of a small handful of people and to determine absolutely which substance is better, a much larger, well-controlled, double blind head-to-head trial would need to be done. The study also did not take into account the long-term efficacy of the substances – both are purported to last for several months before top-up injections are required therefore a longer-term trial may show different results. A study on different wrinkles other than just crow’s feet may also have produced different results.

Although the study provides an interesting comparison between Dysport and Botox, the results are by no mean final and more research is required to determine which product really is better. At this stage, it is probably less important for a patient to worry about whether to choose Dysport or Botox and instead focus on finding a reputable surgeon as how well the injections are administered can make a massive difference to the results of the treatment.