Dysport

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Berkeley, CA

dysport

Dysport is an FDA-approved treatment for reducing or eliminating moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles while enhancing your facial features. These products contain purified natural proteins that in small and safe doses, relax the muscles that cause fine lines and wrinkles to appear from repeated movements.

Before & After

About Dysport 

Dysport is a neuromodulator, not a dermal filler like Juvéderm or Restylane. This means that it treats the muscles underlying the skin, not the skin itself. The botulinum toxin in Dysport is able to temporarily block the chemical needed to enact muscular contraction, acetylcholine. Clinicians who use Dysport have extensive knowledge of how much Dysport to use, the locations to inject, and the rate at which to inject it in order to promote youthful, natural-looking skin. 

Dysport is both a wrinkle treatment and prevention tool. Over time, dynamic wrinkles that occur with facial expressions become static wrinkles that stay put even when the face is at rest.  Through muscular relaxation, Dysport doesn’t just stop the skin from folding, but it prevents these lines from becoming permanent, leading to a slower rate of skin aging. As of 2009, the FDA approved Dysport for the treatment of frown lines, also called glabellar lines, and cervical dystonia, a condition where neck muscles contract involuntarily. (2) At Nubo Spa, patients can receive Dysport treatments for: 

  • Frown lines 
  • Forehead furrows
  • Crow’s feet 
  • Skin bands on the neck 

Other uses for Dysport include:

  • Muscle spasms 
  • Excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis) (3)
  • Cervical dystonia 

Dysport vs. Botox

Since its purification process is different from that of Botox, it has also been shown to be just as beneficial, if not more. Though Botox has the same active ingredient, botulinum toxin, the results of Dysport have been shown to last up to five months. Research has also revealed that it may be able to last longer than Botox due to different volume recommendations for injections and the fact that Dysport spreads farther through the injection site. (4)

Personal Consultation 

If you feel that Dysport may be just the solution for you, book a personal consultation with Nubo Spa in Berkeley, California to get an idea of your customized treatment plan. During your consultation, we will review your medical history, any possible allergies and underlying conditions, and listen closely to your cosmetic concerns. Our staff is ready and willing to help you feel good in your skin again

Preparation

Preparation for Dysport is relatively straightforward for most patients. We require that you stop taking blood thinning medications and certain supplements about 1 week before your treatment. This will minimize your chances of bruising and get you the results you want quicker. Immediately before your appointment, come with a clean, makeup-free face and your injector will further cleanse it with alcohol beforehand.

Dysport Procedure

After your injector cleanses your face, they will ask you to make various facial expressions to accurately identify your dynamic wrinkles. They will then mark out the injection locations. The staff at Nubo Spa are incredibly knowledgeable of facial musculature and how each muscle responds to Dysport. 

To begin, your injector will slowly administer each injection into the treatment zone. This allows the medication to not spread too far into other muscles and create a different result. They will also utilize varying amounts for specific areas, at specific depths. 

For the treatment of crow’s feet, they will inject the orbicularis oculi muscle. For frown lines, they will strategically inject around the glabellar complex. These areas contain depressor muscles, meaning that with every contraction, they move downwards. Treatment with Dysport will allow these muscles to relax and lift. Our injectors are careful to not over-inject elevator muscles such as the frontalis (forehead) because the medication may furrow the brows more. To mitigate this, only small amounts at a shallow depth are used to treat fine forehead wrinkles.

The entire Dysport procedure takes an average of 20 minutes, and you will be able to return to your daily activities immediately after, provided you follow your aftercare instructions carefully. 

Is Dysport Injection Painful? 

A large majority of patients do not feel significant discomfort when getting Dysport injections. In addition to the use of ultra-fine needles, Dysport is often administered with a topical numbing cream to help prevent the possibility of pain. Even without the use of numbing cream, injectors are adequately trained to inject with the correct technique in order to provide a comfortable experience. 

Recovery

Since there is no downtime, recovery steps for Dysport are simply following aftercare instructions. You should keep your head elevated for the next 4 to 6 hours after receiving injections. This ensures that the medication doesn’t spread to other facial muscles and result in an unwanted aesthetic outcome. For the next 24 hours, you should avoid showering, touching your face, activities that involve excessive sweating, and exercising. During your appointment, you should consult your injector on skin care tips to better maintain your results. For example, using a daily sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more should limit the effects of sun damage and premature wrinkles. 

Dysport Results

After roughly 3 to 5 days, you will see your long-term results. Most areas maintain the initial results up to 4 months, but in some cases, they may last up to 5 months. Research has pointed out that Dysport tends to last longer than Botox in many instances. (4) Once you feel that you may need another treatment, we will be happy to administer more after this time period is up. 

Corresponding & Complementary Treatments

For those considering another dermal treatment, Nubo Spa offers a variety to support every patient’s needs. Those interested in Dysport may want to learn about the following: 

  • Botox may be a more suitable wrinkle solution, depending on your aesthetic goals. Your provider can speak more in-depth with you about the subtle differences between Dysport and Botox. 
  • Juvéderm and Restylane are hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler that helps diminish wrinkles and provide more volume in areas of hollowness. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a substance that is produced naturally in the skin and joints; it provides lubrication and helps maintain moisture in these areas. After treatment, your skin will stay more hydrated as the HA draws water and binds to connective proteins in the skin- providing more structural support. (5)
  • Sculptra is a dermal filler made of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biocompatible and biodegradable substance for the stimulation of collagen production, a connective protein vital to skin youthfulness and health. Sculptra has been shown to be one of the longest-lasting fillers; research has shown that patients can expect to see results for 1 to 2 years. (6)

Cost of Dysport in the Bay Area

The cost of your Dysport treatment will depend on the volume of medication administered and the number of injections. During your personal consultation, you will be able to discuss the extent of your skin wrinkles and what kinds of improvements you would like to see. Book your consultation at Nubo Spa today by calling (510) 637-9394 or by scheduling an appointment online

FAQ

What is the difference between Botox and Dysport?

Botox and Dysport’s purification and manufacturing processes are different. Since Dysport is more diluted than Botox, it has the potential to spread farther within the muscles. This makes Dysport ideal for a larger treatment area such as the entire forehead. In terms of longevity, Botox tends to last 3 to 4 months, while Dysport can last 4 to 5 months. 

Will I look “frozen” after Dysport?

The right amount of Dysport and the correct depths will produce natural-looking results that feel comfortable. Injectors that overtreat the areas, or have little knowledge of facial anatomy, are at risk for giving patients a “frozen” look. 

What are some side effects of Dysport?

Luckily, all side effects of Dysport are temporary and typically only last 48 hours. This includes bruising, redness, swelling, bleeding and inflammation. Infections are rare because injectors are vigilant about facial cleansing prior to treatment. 

What is the difference between Dysport and dermal fillers?

Dysport is a neuromodulator, meaning that it modifies the muscles beneath the skin so that wrinkles can “relax” and diminish. Dermal fillers target the skin itself and stimulate the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid (connective proteins) to restore skin health and youthfulness. Dermal fillers are also capable of volumizing more hollow and deeper creases due to their ability to hydrate the skin. 

References

  1. Padda IS, Tadi P. Botulinum Toxin. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557387/#:~:text=Botulinum%20toxin%20is%20a%20medication 
  2. Walker TJ, Dayan SH. Comparison and overview of currently available neurotoxins. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology. 2014;7(2):31-39. Accessed August 18, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3935649/#:~:text=Dysport%C2%AE%2FReloxin%C2%AE%2FAzzalure%C2%AE.&text=It%20was%20approved%20by%20the 
  3. Heckmann M, Ceballos-Baumann AO, Plewig G. Botulinum Toxin A for Axillary Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating). New England Journal of Medicine. 2001;344(7):488-493. doi:https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm200102153440704 
  4. Bentivoglio AR, Fasano A, Ialongo T, Soleti F, Lo Fermo S, Albanese A. Outcome predictors, efficacy and safety of Botox and Dysport in the long-term treatment of hemifacial spasm. European Journal of Neurology. 2009;16(3):392-398. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02507.x 
  5. Brandt FS, Cazzaniga A. Hyaluronic acid gel fillers in the management of facial aging. Clin Interv Aging. 2008;3(1):153-159. doi:10.2147/cia.s2135
  6. Sherman RA. Sculptra: the New Three-Dimensional Filler. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2006;33(4):539-550. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2006.09.001