Dysport San Francisco

Aging is inevitable, but wrinkles are not. Today, men and women can find relief from early to moderate facial aging symptoms through injectables like Dysport. Injectable treatments offer patients many benefits. For example, with injectables, treatments are convenient and results are nearly immediate, long-lasting, easily maintained and very natural looking. Best of all, injectables, such as Dysport, are incredibly safe and also let patients delay more invasive treatments, often indefinitely.

Dysport, for those unfamiliar with the treatment, works like Botox, and primarily fights dynamic wrinkles in the upper third of the face. While the injectable improves many of the same symptoms as Botox, the two treatments are not perfect replacements of one another. Also, many patients have questions about how Dysport works and which treatment they should have to enjoy the best possible results. We’ll answer these questions here so you can come in for your Dysport treatment at our San Francisco practice confidently and quickly enjoy the rewards.

How does Dysport work?

Dysport is an incredibly effective treatment in the battle against dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are the lines which form whenever we make facial expressions. When we laugh, squint or frown, our muscles naturally flex and fold the skin. These stress lines can eventually become permanent as we repeat these expressions daily throughout our lives.

They can become permanent, but if you want to smooth these lines away, you have options, and one of them is Dysport.

Dysport is a neuromodulator, like Botox, which relaxes the muscles which receive the injections. Once your muscles relax, you will instantly see smoothing in the skin affected by these muscles, and virtually instant rejuvenation. With Dysport, you can improve the wrinkles you have and also prevent new ones from forming. Dysport is administered through injection, so treatment is fast and comfortable, and your resulting look can be easily maintained through periodic follow-ups. Also, if you don’t like your new look (which is rare), you can stop treatment at any time with no side effects.

How safe and effective is Dysport?

Dr. Maas and a team of expert scientists designed the clinical trials that lead to the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Dysport™. The team at The Maas Clinic^TM participated in the clinical trials beginning in 2003, looking at the safety and effectiveness of the product over this time period with thousands of treatments and long-term follow-up of treated patients. With this experience, The Maas Clinic^TM team found that Dysport had several advantages over BOTOX® in some patients.

These benefits included a slightly earlier onset of action (most patients notice improvement in two days, rather than up to a week for Botox to take effect) and, more importantly, in many patients, the duration of wrinkle and frown reduction was seen to be longer. The main takeaway is this: if you want to reduce facial wrinkles in the upper face, you now have two effective options to choose from, instead of just one.

What can Dysport treat?

Dysport is an FDA-approved injectable treatment intended to improve several facial aging features in the upper face, including glabellar (“11”) lines between the eyes, crow’s feet around the eyes as well as lines in the forehead area. While Dysport’s uses are currently limited to these particular issues, it is an ideal treatment to have as part of a comprehensive procedure to improve all aspects of the face.

How does Dysport differ from Botox?

Both Dysport and Botox are neuromodulators, which relax the muscles which they treat and produce the smooth skin and anti-aging benefits that individuals seek. They are intended for — and most effective at — improving the lines and wrinkles in the upper third of the face, around the eyes and in the forehead region. The products are not identical, of course, and there are subtle differences in the way the two neuromodulators behave once administered to the skin.

First of all, the dosage requirements differ between the two products, and Dr. Maas has worked extensively with Dysport and fully understands how to dose Dysport, so patients get the level of rejuvenation they expect, consistently. Additionally, Dysport diffuses in the tissues more than Botox does, which is another critical factor that your injector must understand, as Dr. Maas does. This aspect of the injectable makes Dysport a better choice for patients wishing to treat broader areas of the face.

Dysport also offers patients a slightly earlier onset so they can enjoy their benefits more quickly and, in some cases, the treatment produces a smoother result than does Botox. These factors combined make Dysport a viable alternative to Botox, but they don’t always make Dysport the best choice in treating your facial aging concerns. While the final choice of injectable is always yours to make, Dr. Maas will make sure that you fully understand the differences between the two products and give you his recommendation of which to select, based on his vast experience treating facial aging symptoms in a variety of individuals.

Which is better — Botox or Dysport?
If you have been treated for wrinkles with BOTOX®, your treatment with Dysport™ injections will be very similar. In our extensive experience with Dysport™ at The Maas Clinic^TM in San Francisco, most patients treated with the product have reported that the treatment was identical to their treatment experience with BOTOX®. One of our staff members in the trial had previously had BOTOX® treatments lasting the normal three to four months. With the Dysport™ treatment, our staff member had persistent wrinkle and frown reduction for eight months.

Not all patients will experience this improved treatment longevity and some patients who receive BOTOX® treatments can have long durations of effect, as well. Many patients will prefer to stay with the reliability and brand of BOTOX®, which has proven to be a tremendous product over time. We are pleased to offer both great products in our office and, with the greatest experience in the country using Dysport™, we feel confident that patients who choose Dysport will be pleased with their results.

Can I have both Botox and Dysport in a single treatment session?
For a variety of reasons, we don’t recommend this, and you can have substantial, satisfying rejuvenation by having either treatment alone, so you will never need to have both Botox and Dysport together. In addition, there is the possibility of introducing some risk by combining the two. Specifically, patients could expose themselves to tachyphylaxis by having a treatment that mixes Dysport and Botox.

During tachyphylaxis — although this phenomenon is as yet not well studied in relation to Botox and Dysport — it is possible that the body could reject and attack the treatments as a foreign substance, much as it would a virus, impeding your results and inviting other complications. Safety is our main focus at The Maas Clinic^TM, and we would never suggest anything other than a safe, proven an effective treatment path to achieve your results.

How does Dysport differ from dermal fillers?

Dysport is an injectable treatment, like dermal fillers, but the similarities stop there. Dysport, as we’ve mentioned above, rejuvenates the skin by relaxing the muscles leading to “dynamic wrinkles.” Dermal fillers, on the other hand, provide their rejuvenation by restoring lost volume to the skin as well as boosting collagen and elastin, the internal building blocks of the skin that sustain healthy skin tone and hydration.

Because these two products work differently, you can have them together and enjoy comprehensive benefits in a single facial rejuvenation session. Ask Dr. Maas to share the benefits of a combined treatment with you in maximizing your rejuvenation and satisfaction.

What will happen during my Dysport treatment?
One of the greatest benefits of Dysport is that it is literally a treatment that you can have over your lunch hour. In fact, you can have your Dysport treatment in as little as ten to 20 minutes, on average. Your actual treatment time will depend on several factors, among them, how much rejuvenation you need and how much skin you wish to be treated. Dr. Maas can give you a reasonable estimate of your session length during your consultation after examining you. Receiving the injections is generally very comfortable for most individuals; however, if you’re concerned about pain, Dr. Maas can apply a topical anesthetic to areas being treated. This will extend your treatment session (since you will have to wait for the anesthetic to take effect) but will give you an even more comfortable experience. Don’t hesitate to ask about a numbing agent if you have any concerns.

Is there any downtime after having Dysport?
You will have very little downtime after Dysport. You will be able to go back to work, school and social activities immediately after treatment, but you may have some temporary side effects, including mild pain and swelling. These symptoms generally subside within one to two days, on their own. Exceptions are very rare but consult Dr. Maas anytime after your office visit if you have concerns.

What results can I expect from Dysport and how long will my results last?
Patients who have Dysport can expect to see their results in as little as three days and often sooner. Results include substantially smoother skin in treated areas, with improvements appearing in the upper facial area. Results are not permanent but are easily maintained with regular follow-ups. Dr. Maas will provide you with a schedule to follow to maintain your results so you can continue to look refreshed and revived all year long. Your results will typically last three months before follow-ups are needed.

Why You Should Visit The Maas Clinic^TM Before Having Your Dysport Treatment

Men and women in the San Francisco area have Corey S. Maas MD^TM and the staff at The Maas Clinic^TM available to help them get started on a safe and personalized course of treatment to improve facial aging symptoms and a host of other common but treatable problems now.

Dr. Maas looks forward to answering all of your questions personally and getting you the face and body treatments you want quickly with outstanding results. You can look younger, more energetic and vital now with Dysport — and you can extend your rejuvenation through many complementary treatments.

Corey S. Maas MD^TM and the staff at The Maas Clinic^TM look forward to meeting you and helping you look your very best now! Call The Maas Clinic^TM now at (415) 567-7000 to schedule your in-person consultation with Corey S. Maas MD^TM.

Had Dysport treatments at the Maas Clinic^TM before? Attend our monthly Beauty Valet^TM events to get your maintenance treatments without the wait. Learn more on our Beauty Valet^TM page.

The information about Dysport was reviewed by Corey S. Maas MD^TM. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.