NY Plastic Surgeon on Crow’s Feet: Botox or Dysport?

Botox Cosmetic has been the gold standard for facial wrinkle removal for years. Today’s most popular wrinkle treatment, Botox is facing some stiff competition from newer treatments, including Dysport, Restylane, Juvaderm, Radiesse and Sculptra. As Manhattan facial plastic surgeons have begun to develop long-term experience with these newer products, they are discovering that Botox is not always the best choice for every type of facial wrinkle. As Dr. Edward Kwak explains on the ESK website, removal of dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles is more effectively achieved with different skin fillers. Botox can no longer be considered the one-size-fits-all solution to facial wrinkles.

A recent study compared the effectiveness of Botox and Dysport, two different kinds of botulinum toxin used to treat dynamic wrinkles, in alleviating crow’s feet. Dysport was found to be somewhat superior to Botox in erasing the tiny lines that gather at the outer corners of the eye. However, it is important to note that the study, recently published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, was limited to a 30-day trial of only 90 participants. A lengthier trial of a larger cross-section of patients will be required to determine whether Dysport can maintain its edge over Botox in larger trials and over the long term.

Study participants were injected with Botox on one side of their face and Dysport on the other. While there was no discernible difference when facial muscles were at rest, both researchers and patients preferred the Dysport side during normal activities. The results took many plastic surgeons, who typically use the two products interchangeably, by surprise as both they and their patients have found the products to produce comparable results. Cosmetic surgeons also noted that some patients have a personal preference for one product over the other. Bottom line? Heed your facial plastic surgeon’s recommendation.