Cosmetic Injection Information - Dysport

Dysport is the newest version of botulinum toxin approved for use in the United States. Like BOTOX and Myobloc, Dysport uses the power of a potent neurotoxin to treat neurological disorders and cosmetic issues.

 

Dysport has recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of cervical dystonia. Cervical dystonia is a painful movement disorder that causes muscles of the neck and back to seize up and become uncontrollably contracted. This movement disorder can occur spontaneously or is the unfortunate side effects of certain medications. Cervical dystonia can occur in patients of any age. Dysport is used to treat cervical dystonia by disrupting the chemicals (neurotransmitters) that cause the muscle to contract. With this chemical signal disrupted, the muscle contractions are stopped and the pain and stiffness cease.

 

 

Dysport has also been FDA-approved for the treatment of glabellar lines. This indication is cosmetic—deep glabellar lines are not a health problem but they do cause deep, and sometimes unattractive furrows in the forehead above the nose. This indication, for the treatment of glabellar lines, is the same indication that earned BOTOX Cosmetic FDA approval. And, like BOTOX, Dysport has been used to treat various lines and wrinkles in the face that are due to excess muscle contraction. Dysport has been successfully applied to the treatment of laugh lines, crow’s feet, and other age-related facial changes.

 

Dysport is botulinum toxin type A or abobotulinumtoxinA, which is similar to BOTOX. For comparison, Myobloc is actually botulinum toxin type B. There have been many unsubstantiated claims about the similarities and differences between BOTOX and Dysport. The makers of one product state that cosmetic results are experienced the next day rather than in several days. The makers of the other product claim that allergic side effects are more likely in the competitor’s product. In truth, there are more similarities between Dysport cosmetic treatment and the other type A botulinum toxin than there are differences.

 

In fact the similarities between the two extend even to cost. While the dosing of the two medications cannot be compared head to head, Dysport injections are about a half to a third as potent as BOTOX cosmetic. The trials that have compared Dysport cosmetic have doubled up on the dose to account for this. Thus when Dysport treatment is advertised as less expensive than its competitor, more of the toxin must be administered to achieve the same effect.

 

Unlike Myobloc, Dysport is indicated for treatment-naïve as well as patients that have had other forms of botulinum toxin. This means that Dysport may be the first line treatment for cervical dystonia or deep wrinkles and lines.

 

Dysport is set to roll out in the United States in late 2009 but has been available in other countries for many years. It is not clear what differences truly exist between Dysport and other available botulinum toxin treatments. Consumers are likely to enjoy a cost reduction when Dysport cosmetic reaches the market, especially if future studies do not show real differences between products.

 

If you are considering Dysport injections, ask your dermatologist, neurologist, or plastic surgeon about the differences between the various products and whether one treatment is best suited for you. Also ask about the cost of the various treatments.