Botulinum toxin type A changed aesthetic medicine more than any filler or peel ever did. It softened frown lines without surgery, slimmed bulky masseters without downtime, and even quieted migraines that stole entire days. If you are sorting out the differences between Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin, you are already past the billboard slogans and into the details that matter: how each product behaves in real skin and real schedules, how the injection strategy shifts from one brand to the next, and where cost and longevity intersect with your goals.
I have treated hundreds of faces with all three. They are close cousins, yet they are not interchangeable taps on a soda fountain. Each brand has a specific personality, shaped by its formulation, diffusion profile, dosing units, and how the body responds over repeated sessions. The best choice depends on the lines you want to smooth, the muscle patterns behind them, and the look you want two weeks from now, two months from now, and at month five.
Same molecule, different wrappers
Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin share the same active neurotoxin, botulinum toxin type A. The toxin blocks acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. The effect is temporary weakness of the targeted muscle, which in aesthetic practice means fewer folds when that muscle contracts. The core science is the same. What changes is the packaging.
Botox Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) and Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) carry accessory proteins along with the neurotoxin. Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) is “naked” toxin, free of complexing proteins. The proteins do not drive the effect directly, but they may influence diffusion and the body’s immune recognition. In practice, this means Botox and Dysport sometimes feel a touch “stickier” under the needle, while Xeomin flows clean. On the face, differences show up in spread, onset, and edge crispness rather than in some night-and-day divide.
Onset, intensity, and how results build
People ask how fast each brand kicks in because a wedding, a board meeting, or a photo shoot rarely respects the ideal timeline. Botox usually begins to show at day 3 to 5, strengthens by day 7, and peaks around day 14. Dysport often starts faster. In many patients it shows a noticeable change by day 2 to 3, with a strong effect by day 7. Xeomin tends to mirror Botox for onset, though a few patients feel it a day sooner.
That faster Dysport onset feels particularly valuable for frown lines in someone who can never stop scowling in photos, or for the forehead when there is a last-minute event. If we need a preview before a large dose to the masseter for jawline slimming, Dysport can also be helpful. Still, onset differences are measured in days, not weeks. If you are planning a first-time treatment, schedule the botox consultation and procedure at least two weeks before a big event so the results have time to settle and any touch up fits comfortably.
Unit conversions and why price tags mislead
This is where the internet causes trouble. A “unit” is not the same across brands. A simple conversion we use clinically is this: 1 unit of Botox is roughly equivalent to 1 unit of Xeomin, while Dysport is less potent per labeled unit. To achieve a similar effect, 2.5 to 3 Dysport units often match 1 unit of Botox or Xeomin. Exact ratios vary by area and injector technique.
So, if you see a botox price at $12 per unit and Dysport at $4 per unit, it does not mean Dysport is one-third the cost. It likely pencils out closer to parity. Real botox cost also depends on the units needed for your muscle activity. A strong frontalis may take 12 to 20 units of Botox for forehead lines, a heavy glabella can require 20 to 30 units, and crow’s feet around each eye might need 6 to 12 units. The botox price you pay mirrors anatomy, not just brand.
If you are comparing “botox specials” or “botox deals,” ask two questions: how many units are included, and which areas are covered. I have seen elegant results delivered with modest units, and I have seen bargain treatments that underdose every muscle and leave patients disappointed. A lower upfront botox price can turn into repeat visits, extra botox sessions, and more downtime if the plan was wrong from the start.
Diffusion patterns and the art of soft edges
Think of the face as neighborhoods separated by borders. The brow is one border. Treating the glabella without softening the brow depressors can create a spock eyebrow overarch. Treating the crow’s feet and ignoring the zygomaticus can flatten a smile. The way a product spreads inside these neighborhoods matters.
Dysport often has a slightly broader spread at similar effect levels. This can be great for crow’s feet, where a hazy fan of lines benefits from a smooth gradient rather than a hard stop. Botox and Xeomin can feel more contained, creating a crisp edge that is helpful when we want to avoid diffusion into the upper eyelid or when treating tiny dimples in the chin. Xeomin in particular can be precise for micro-dosing in the lip area for a subtle “botox for lips” softening of vertical lip lines without heavy lip flattening.
None of these patterns override injection technique. Dilution, depth, and injection mapping do the heavy lifting. A careful injector can make Dysport behave neatly and Botox spread just enough. Still, if a patient is repeatedly showing a faint drop in one brow during the first week, I will often test a switch to a product with less perceived spread and adjust the botox injection process to a more superficial, fractionated pattern.
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" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" >Durability, maintenance, and the calendar you live by
In typical cosmetic use, all three brands last about three to four months, with a noticeable tail that can stretch to five or six for some areas and patients. High-movement zones like lips, bunny lines, and certain foreheads tend to wear off sooner. Masseter treatments for jawline slimming and botox for TMJ can last longer, often five to six months, because those muscles tolerate higher doses and build slower return of strength.
I advise most patients to plan a botox maintenance schedule of three to four sessions per year. Regular maintenance avoids big swings from frozen to fully expressive and keeps creases from digging in. A botox touch up two weeks after a first session can address any asymmetry or under-correction, but frequent touch ups after that usually mean the base plan needs revision.
Some patients feel Dysport outlasts Botox; others argue the opposite. I have found durability differences from brand to brand are generally small and overshadowed by dosing, placement, and how expressive your face is at work, the gym, and on weekends.
Safety, side effects, and the comfort of routine
Across thousands of injections, the most common botox side effects are mild: tiny injection-site bumps that fade in 20 minutes, small bruises that resolve within days, and transient headaches in about 1 to 2 percent of patients. Heavier brows or a slight eyelid droop occur rarely and resolve as the product wears off. The key is prevention: measured dosing, avoiding injection too close to the levator in the upper eyelid, and discussing any past droops so we can alter the plan.
Bruising risk increases with blood thinners, fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, and certain anti-inflammatories. If your medical team approves, pause those a week before your botox treatment. Alcohol the night before increases bruising and swelling. Ice immediately after injection helps. For most people, botox downtime is just the time it takes to walk back to the car. Makeup after two hours is fine. Skip hard workouts for the rest of the day to reduce spread and bruising. That small restraint pays off in cleaner edges and fewer touch ups.
Complexing proteins in Botox and Dysport have raised questions about antibody formation with heavy or repeated use. True neutralizing antibodies are rare in cosmetic dosing. Xeomin’s lack of accessory proteins is attractive to patients concerned about immunogenicity, and I tend to favor it in those who receive frequent or high-dose botox sessions for medical use, such as botox for migraine or botox for hyperhidrosis. Still, for cosmetic dosing patterns, long-term satisfaction rates are high across brands.
How I choose for each area of the face
Glabella, the classic “11s” between the brows, is the anchor of most botox aesthetic plans. Here, I want reliable strength and predictable spread. All three products perform well. In a first timer with a deep crease, I often start with Botox because I know exactly how it stamps down the corrugator and procerus with clean borders. If they want faster onset, Article source Dysport is Cherry Hill NJ botox a reasonable first choice.
Forehead lines require a lighter touch, because we do not want a heavy brow. In tall foreheads or people who rely on the frontalis to keep the lids open, I use fewer units spread wider and higher. Xeomin or Botox give me fine control. Dysport can still excel, especially if the horizontal etched lines are broad and I am using micro-dosing across the sheet of muscle for a natural look.
Crow’s feet around the eyes are often kinder with a little more diffusion. Dysport can produce a flattering blend. Botox, placed superficially in a fanned pattern, can match that look and reduce smile-line bunching without flattening expression. Patients who squint a lot will often need more units no matter the brand.
Bunny lines on the sides of the nose are tiny and local. Xeomin’s clean behavior makes these easy to tame without lower lid spread. For “botox for under eyes,” I am careful. True under-eye injection is delicate because of thin skin and the risk of smile changes. Micro-doses just under the lash line can soften crepe, but it is not a fix for hollowness, which belongs to fillers or energy devices.
Lips, for a subtle lip flip, require micro-dosing into the orbicularis oris. Less is more. Xeomin or Botox shine here. In people who whistle for a living, singers, or wind instrument players, I usually avoid this entirely to preserve function.
Chin dimpling from an overactive mentalis responds well to precise points of Botox or Xeomin. The goal is to smooth the peau d’orange without heavy mouth changes. The neck, especially for platysmal bands, requires careful mapping and conservative dosing to avoid swallowing or voice changes. I gravitate toward Botox or Xeomin for neck bands because I can see and feel the edge while inserting the needle. Dysport also works well with an experienced hand.
Masseter slimming and botox for jawline contouring are high-impact but not beginner territory. Here, doses land higher and deeper. All three brands can sculpt the lower face beautifully when the bite is assessed properly. Grinding or TMJ symptoms often improve alongside the aesthetic changes. Expect the botox timeline to stretch, with visible slimming around week four to six, and better definition by month three. Results typically last five to six months, and longevity improves with successive sessions as the muscle de-trains.
Forehead lifts and lateral eyebrow lift effects come from balancing depressors and elevators. Small doses under the tail of the brow and careful relaxation of the glabella can open the eyes. Overdo it, and the arch is cartoonish. Underdo it, and nothing happens. Product choice matters less than mapping, but I most often reach for Botox or Xeomin for precise brow work.
Medical uses that change the conversation
Botox for migraine and botox for sweating are different animals than crow’s feet. For chronic migraine prevention, the PREEMPT protocol outlines a pattern of injections across the head and neck using 155 to 195 units of onabotulinumtoxinA every 12 weeks. The goal is medical relief, not cosmetic lift. For hyperhidrosis of the underarms or palms, doses and patterns also increase, and the effect can last six to nine months. Insurance sometimes helps with medical indications. Dysport and Xeomin also have roles here, but many insurers and clinics standardize to Botox for these protocols due to trial data and reimbursement patterns.
Procedure, recovery, and what a first visit feels like
A solid botox consultation starts with how your face moves. I ask patients to frown, lift the brows, smile big, and clench their teeth. I palpate to feel muscle bulk and watch where lines crease at rest. If you are considering “botox near me” and comparing providers, look for a botox specialist who talks more about your muscles than about a cookie-cutter number of units.
Preparation is simple: clean skin, no active infection, and a brief pause on blood-thinning supplements if your doctor agrees. The botox procedure steps are quick. I mark discreet points, cleanse, use a tiny needle, and inject small volumes. Most visits take 10 to 20 minutes. Pain is minimal. After care is light: stay upright for four hours, avoid hard workouts and saunas until tomorrow, skip facials for two days, and refrain from rubbing the injected areas.
Botox recovery is not a recovery so much as a grace period. Expect the lines to soften gradually. If you are chasing a botox natural look, do not judge the outcome on day two. The surface can look calm while deeper activity is still settling. By day 14, we evaluate. If we need a botox touch up for symmetry or an area that resisted, that is the moment to do it.
Before-and-after reality checks
Good botox before and after photos tell a story of movement, not just stillness. The best “after” images show a relaxed face and also an expression shot. A frozen forehead without forehead lines can look odd if the eyebrows never rise during speech. The goal is botox for wrinkles that still respects the way you communicate. I caution patients to avoid chasing the flattest possible result if they rely on their brows for expression or their smile in public roles. A surgical facelift moves skin and fat pads. Botulinum toxin guides muscle behavior. Each has a job. If someone wants a tight jawline and lifted midface, botox vs facelift is not a fair comparison; they solve different problems.
Combining with fillers and energy devices
Botox and dermal fillers often pair well. Softening dynamic lines first can reduce the amount of filler needed and improve filler longevity in the glabella, temples, and perioral area. For etched-in forehead lines, a small amount of hyaluronic acid placed superficially can complement botox wrinkle reduction. If skin laxity is the main issue, energy devices like RF microneedling or ultrasound do the heavy lifting. There is no such thing as botox skin tightening in the true sense. Toxin can mimic tightness by reducing movement, but it does not shrink collagen. As a rule, I treat with toxin first, then fillers, then energy, spaced a few weeks apart. The sequence avoids migrating products and confusing swelling with true results.
Cost, value, and how to shop wisely
Botox cost varies by market, injector experience, and the clinic’s model. Per-unit pricing can run from about $10 to $20 for Botox, $4 to $8 for Dysport, and $10 to $18 for Xeomin, depending on geography and overhead. Flat area pricing is common for the glabella or crow’s feet. Beware of rock-bottom ads. Product integrity, proper reconstitution, time spent mapping, and sterile technique are not where you want corners cut.
You will see “botox offers” or loyalty programs from manufacturers. These can be reasonable if you are already a candidate for that brand. They do not replace clinical judgment. The best value is a plan that meets your needs in two sessions a year rather than four, and results that satisfy you without a parade of touch ups.
What satisfaction looks like at three and twelve months
Most botox patient reviews cluster around three themes: natural look, predictable wear-off, and no surprises during big life events. When we get the dose and map right, the botox results are boring in the best way. No midday heaviness, no smile changes in photos, no lopsided brows on Zoom. After a year, patients usually know their botox longevity by area and how often they want to refresh. Some schedule like clockwork every 12 to 14 weeks. Others stretch to 16 to 20 weeks for forehead and do masseter twice a year.
For men, dosing trends higher due to muscle mass. For women with thinner skin and high brow movement, doses trend lower and spread wider. There is no single “male” or “female” plan. Face shape, muscle pull, and aesthetic goals dictate the map.
Common myths and practical truths
Botox does not accumulate forever in your system. Its effect fades as the nerve sprouts new connections. You do not need to start early to prevent aging, but earlier in the life of a wrinkle is easier than later. There is no reliable “botox without needles” option that replicates injection results. Creams with pep in their names improve texture and tone, not muscle-driven lines.
If you stop treatments, the muscles return to baseline and the aging curve continues. You do not suddenly look worse than if you had never started. That myth persists because your eye gets used to the smoother version of you.
When I switch brands and when I do not
If someone reports that Botox feels slow to kick in and they have an event coming, I switch to Dysport for the next session. If a patient shows a tiny brow drop every time with Dysport despite perfect mapping, I switch to Xeomin or Botox and fractionate more. If someone needs frequent high doses for medical indications and is worried about immunogenicity, I favor Xeomin and monitor response. If someone is thrilled with their current brand and the plan is dialed in, I do not change a thing.
A concise comparison you can use in the chair
- Onset: Dysport often the fastest by a day or two. Botox and Xeomin settle by day 7 to 14. Diffusion: Dysport may spread a touch more, helpful for broader areas. Botox and Xeomin can feel more precise. Durability: Similar across brands, usually 3 to 4 months, longer in large muscles. Units and cost: 1 Botox unit roughly equals 1 Xeomin unit; 2.5 to 3 Dysport units equal 1 Botox unit. Per-unit prices differ, total cost often comparable. Edge cases: Xeomin may be preferred when minimizing accessory proteins, Dysport when faster onset matters, Botox when you want the most studied reference behavior.
A patient story that captures the trade-offs
A television producer in her late thirties came in with two weeks until a live event. She had strong 11s, early forehead creases, and deep crow’s feet from years on set squinting at monitors. We divided strategy. Dysport to the glabella and crow’s feet for speed and gentle spread. Xeomin in the forehead in a low-dose, high-pattern map to keep her brows lifting naturally on camera. Two weeks later, the 11s were quiet, the smile lines softened but still moved, and the forehead read as “rested” without the shine of a locked muscle. Three months afterward, she scheduled a repeat with the same recipe. At month four, the crow’s feet returned first, which we touched up selectively. She paid attention to her timeline and built the maintenance into her production calendar. That sense of control is the real botox benefit for busy professionals.
Final guidance for choosing between Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin
Start with your goal and your calendar. If you are new to treatment, prioritize a botox consultation with an experienced injector who can explain muscle balance and show real botox before and after examples that match your face type. Be open to any of the three brands. All can deliver a natural, subtle result when matched to the right area and dose. If speed matters, Dysport often wins by a whisper. If you want crisp edge control or you are mindful of accessory proteins, Xeomin is a strong option. If you value a long track record and you are building a broad plan that includes medical uses, Botox remains the reference point.
The rest comes down to craft. The botox injection process is not just pushing product. It is a map tailored to your anatomy, an honest conversation about botox risks and precautions, and a maintenance plan that respects your life. When those pieces line up, the differences between brands narrow, and the outcome looks like you on your best day, not like someone else entirely.