Posted: April 13, 2026
Did you know that Botox is a product brand and not an actual treatment? Botox is a term loosely used on social media platforms and the internet, giving the impression that anything injected into the face is Botox. There is quite a bit of misinformation regarding Botox, and I’d like to spend the time to provide insight into the actual Botox product, the difference between Botox and its competitor, Dysport, and what an injectable treatment actually looks like.
By: Kaitlyn Stevie, NP
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Neuromodulators is a broad term for a collection of product brands in the US that are used to decrease muscle movement. Currently, there are six FDA-approved neuromodulators- Botox and Dysport being the most widely used and well-known. Neuromodulators are injected to prevent or decrease the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that signals muscles to contract and make facial expressions. Ultimately, dynamic wrinkles are softened, and with consistent use, future lines are prevented from forming.
Botox and Dysport both have FDA-approved areas of the face that the products can be injected into. However, it is common in the practice of medicine to use products off-label. This means that Botox and Dysport are commonly injected into areas of the face by providers throughout the US safely and effectively.
The three most commonly treated areas include: forehead, frown (aka: glabella or “11’s”), and the crow’s feet. Other areas include the lower face, such as the masseters, mentalis (chin dimpling), perioral area, bunny lines, gummy smile, downturned corners of the mouth, platysmal bands, and a turned-down nose tip. Over the past few years, there have also been trends highlighted on social media platforms regarding “trap tox” or “barbie tox”.
It is important that your provider discuss the FDA-approved areas of the face and if they will be treating any non-FDA-approved areas. In addition, when you arrive for a Botox or Dysport treatment, offices will require a consent to be signed for the treatment that includes the on-label and off-label uses of the products.
There is definitely a difference between Botox and Dysport! Think of comparing Botox and Dysport like comparing Coke and Pepsi. Botox and Dysport are both neuromodulators, and they both work very similarly, but they have a few differences that can cause a patient to prefer one over the other. The biggest difference is the core active protein amount.
All neuromodulators are measured in nanograms. Think of this measurement like milligrams of a medication like Advil- the higher the amount of milligrams, the more effective the drug is. Dysport has 0.27ng of core active protein, whereas Botox only has 0.18ng of core active protein. The higher active protein dose in Dysport leads to a faster onset and longer duration of results for most patients.
There truly is minimal downtime when it comes to Botox or Dysport injections. It is important to wait a few hours before working out, and understand that bruising from the treatment may happen. Outside of that, it is an easy treatment to incorporate into your daily routine. You can still use the same skincare products and apply makeup. You will want to hold off on facials and massages for 7-10 days to ensure none of the product moves.
Due to the higher active protein content, Dysport typically takes effect more quickly than Botox. For some patients, the difference in onset time is less than 24 hours, whereas for others it is a couple of days. Dysport is usually fully kicked in by day 10, whereas Botox is fully kicked in by day 14. If you are ever crunched for time and wait until the last minute to schedule a neuromodulator treatment before a big event, it is likely that Dysport will provide faster and better results in such a short timeline.
It is recommended to get Botox and Dysport injections every 90 days, never sooner. Both products are FDA-approved to be injected every 90 days. Injecting sooner than the 90-day mark consistently can cause the products to become less effective. It is important to note that even though the treatments are 90 days apart, your results will not be maintained for the entire 90-day cycle. It is common that the product effectiveness will begin to wear off around the 8 or 10 week mark.
Yes, it is definitely safe to switch from Botox to Dysport and vice versa. Most patients find they have a preference between the two and will exclusively use the product that works better. At Atalo Aesthetics, 90% of our patients prefer Dysport. I do have a handful of patients who find both Botox and Dysport work equally for them and will switch back and forth between the two products often. Regardless of which product you use, the most important thing to remember is to ensure 90 days have passed between treatments.
By offering both Dysport and Botox at Atalo Aesthetics, we ensure Atalo is a practice where practitioners are focused on personalized results, and patients have treatment options. Injectables are an investment in your skin health, so it is important that you are achieving realistic and ideal results. And if you’re local to Cincinnati and need a little guidance, we’re happy to point you in the right direction! Schedule a consultation with one of our providers!
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