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FDA-approved in July 2009 for frown lines and crow's feet, this simple wrinkle treatment can effectively restore a more youthful, relaxed appearance in men and women.
Treatment with Dysport involves the injection of a minuscule amount of clostridium botulinum toxin A and works by temporarily relaxing select facial muscles, limiting their ability to fully contract, and effectively smoothing and reducing the appearance of frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. After treatment, all untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.
Until now, BOTOX® Cosmetic was the only FDA-approved treatment that actually "released" expression-related wrinkles and inhibited the contraction of underlying muscles. Our clients are very pleased with the aesthetic improvement BOTOX Cosmetic offers.
And now, at The Skin Center, we are happy to offer our clients in Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio the widest assortment of age-erasing technologies in the tri-state area so that the most suitable treatment may be suggested for their unique needs and expectations.
If you are considering a Dysport® cosmetic treatment, we invite you to call our office at 1-800-429-1151 to schedule a Complimentary Skin Evaluation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What happens during a treatment?
Dysport® cosmetic treatments are simple to perform and usually take less than ten minutes per treated area. During the appointment, our experienced medical provider will discuss the area(s) of concern and ask you to make certain facial expressions so that select muscles may be isolated, marked and effectively treated.
A topical desensitizing agent will be applied and usually takes effect within minutes, making the treatment virtually painless. Using a tiny micro-needle, a miniscule amount of botulinum will be injected very precisely into select facial muscles.
What can I expect afterward?
You may resume normal activities immediately after treatment as long as you maintain an upright position and avoid any pressure on the area for at least 4 or 5 hours.
The results of the treatment are not instant. Improvement is gradual and usually begins within 2 to 3 days with the final result achieved in about a week or so. In most cases, the treated wrinkles will relax and soften, producing a younger, well-rested appearance.
Although the improvement varies with each person, the result may last 4 to 5 months or longer.
Who is an ideal candidate?
In general, the best candidates for Dysport® cosmetic treatments are women and men who are...
- Interested in softening "expression related" facial wrinkles.
- In good physical and psychological health.
- Realistic in their expectations.
- Not using anabolic steroids.
The above is only a partial listing of the criteria that our medical staff will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you.
Are there any side effects?
Some patients may experience mild bruising or swelling at the injection site, or a mild headache. These conditions are temporary and gradually subside within a day or two.
In a small percentage of patients, the active substance can migrate and weaken nearby muscles. This may cause the eyebrow or upper eyelid to droop. This condition is temporary and corrects itself without treatment within weeks.
Are there any limitations?
Although Dysport can offer temporary softening of expression-related wrinkles, it is not a treatment for age-related wrinkles, sun-damaged skin or sagging skin.
Wrinkles related to aging may be treated with injectable facial fillers,CoolTouch III™ Gentle Laser treatments, or with a series of exfoliating facial peels. Individuals with excess skin may benefit from Thermage® or a QuickLift™ facelift which have become popular among men and women in their late 40s and 50s.
What is the difference between Dysport and BOTOX Cosmetic?
Dysport is the newest competitor to BOTOX Cosmetic in the U.S., but has been used in Europe for several years. There are also two other Botox alternatives currently being studied for release in the U.S.; one made by Mentor and the other by Merz. All of these products seem relatively similar, with no major differences. Competition can only be a good thing for pricing, however, and hopefully that will become evident over the next couple of years.
Based on review of past clinical studies, the most notable differences between Dysport and BOTOX seem to be the following:
- A faster onset of effects is noted with Dysport in about some patients. Whereas BOTOX may take 3-7 days to take effect, some clients who receive Dysport see effects within two or three days.
- Some studies indicate a slightly longer duration of effect, but not all of them. Clinical experience in the U.S. over the next several months will help guide consensus on this.
- Dysport is slightly less expensive. The cost per bottle to the physician is about 5-10% less.
- The dosing for BOTOX and Dysport is different. A BOTOX unit is not equivalent to a Dysport unit. The converision is approximately 2.5 Dysport units to one BOTOX unit, but there is some variation in treatment of the upper and lower face.
- Clinical trial reviews show Dysport having a tendency to migrate further from the injection site than BOTOX. This means is that there may be increased chance for relaxation of muscles in the face that you don’t want to relax. This being said, choosing an experience medical provider becomes even more important.
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