Direct comparison
| Feature | Botox | Dysport |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | onabotulinumtoxinA | abobotulinumtoxinA |
| FDA approval (cosmetic) | 2002 | 2009 |
| Onset | 3–7 days | 2–3 days |
| Full effect | 10–14 days | 7–10 days |
| Duration | 3–4 months | 3–4 months |
| Dosing conversion | 1 unit | ~2.5–3 units |
| Spread pattern | More localized | Slightly wider diffusion |
| Best for | Small/precise areas | Larger areas (forehead) |
Which one lasts longer?
In clinical practice, duration is essentially a tie. Most patients see 3–4 months from either product. Some studies suggest Dysport may last marginally longer for some patients; other studies find no meaningful difference.
If you are experiencing significantly different duration between the two, the most likely explanations are dosing (were the units converted correctly?), placement (did the injector adjust technique for the different spread pattern?), or your own metabolic response to that specific molecule.
When we recommend Dysport
Dysport tends to be our recommendation for:
- Large forehead treatments where slightly wider spread evenly softens the whole area
- Patients in a hurry — a wedding or event where the 2–3 day faster onset matters
- Patients who did not respond well to Botox — a small percentage of patients see better results from Dysport
- Heavy sweaters, athletes — some clinicians see slightly longer duration from Dysport in these patients (evidence is mixed)
When we recommend Botox
Botox tends to be our recommendation for:
- Small, precise areas like the lip flip, chin dimpling, or fine lines around the eyes where localized effect matters
- Patients who have responded well to Botox in the past — no reason to switch
- First-time patients who are more likely to have brand familiarity and prefer the well-known name
- Areas near the brow where you want minimal spread risk
The dosing conversion question
Because Dysport is measured in different units, more units are used per session. A typical Dysport conversion is 2.5–3 Dysport units for every 1 unit of Botox.
So a patient who normally receives 25 units of Botox would receive roughly 60–75 units of Dysport for equivalent effect. This is why Dysport "unit prices" appear lower — the per-unit price is lower because you need more units. Per-treatment cost is generally comparable between the two.
Any practice quoting you Dysport at "the same per-unit price as Botox" is either confused or misleading you. Ask for the per-treatment price, not the per-unit price, when comparing.
What about Xeomin, Jeuveau, and Daxxify?
Xeomin is a third botulinum toxin type A product without the complexing proteins that Botox and Dysport carry. Some clinicians prefer it for patients concerned about antibody resistance. Duration and onset are comparable to Botox.
Jeuveau ("Newtox") is FDA-approved for glabellar lines and marketed at a slightly lower price point. Duration and onset are comparable to Botox.
Daxxify is a newer product with clinical data suggesting longer duration — results typically last 3–6 months. Trade-offs include higher per-treatment cost and less real-world experience compared to Botox and Dysport. We use it selectively for patients who have consistently short Botox duration.
At Plump we carry all six FDA-approved neuromodulators — Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, Letybo, and Daxxify — priced per unit with rates posted openly. Your injector recommends the product that matches your anatomy, onset preference, and longevity goals rather than defaulting to whatever is on the counter. VIP members get member per-unit pricing built into their plan across every product.