Dysport has been used for years in over 26 countries and will be available in the US in July of 2009. It is the first FDA approved drug of its type to compete with BOTOX, which also uses the botulinum toxin. According to Facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr. David Mabrie, Dysport, also known as Reloxin in other markets, offers similar wrinkle smoothing improvements as BOTOX Cosmetic with additional benefits. It has been found to take effect within the first day or 2 of treatment, instead of the 3 to 5 day delay typically involved with BOTOX Cosmetic. The skin begins smoothing out as treated facial muscles relax. Also, improvements from Dysport have been found to last months longer than those from BOTOX Cosmetic, especially in younger patients.
It should be noted, according to Dr. Brian Biesman, Coalition leader and Assistant Clinical Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, "Both temporarily modify the action of facial muscles, smoothing out undesirable lines between the brows, across the forehead or crow's feet to restore a more youthful, less stressed appearance. But they are not interchangeable, they have distinct dosing differences."
Dysport, manufactured by Ipsen LTD, is an injectable used to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and frown lines in the face. It is made using small amounts of botulinum toxin Type A, the neurotoxin that causes the paralytic illness botulism. Used in very small, controlled amounts, the toxin relaxes the muscles in the face thereby allowing the overlying skin to relax, and voila, no more wrinkles. Dysport is also used to treat hyperhydrosis, or excessive sweating, in the armpits, thereby avoiding those embarrassing underarm stains. Dysport also has a non-cosmetic version which is used to treat severe muscle spasms in the face and neck.
