AESTHETICS & MED SPA
Dysport Injections
Dysport is an injectable neuromodulator that temporarily relaxes the muscles responsible for frown lines between the brows; in the clinical studies the median onset was two to three days. Physician's Plan offers Dysport at four clinics — Rock Hill and Florence in South Carolina, and Hickory and Huntersville in North Carolina — administered by our expert injectors, under the supervision of our Medical Director. Like every botulinum toxin product it carries an FDA boxed warning — please read risks and safety before you book.
What Is Dysport?
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription injectable neuromodulator, the same class of medication as Botox and Jeuveau. A small, precisely placed dose temporarily reduces the muscle contraction that folds the skin above it — when the muscle stops pulling as hard, the line softens.
Its FDA-approved cosmetic use is the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines — the vertical “11s” between your eyebrows — in adults under 65. That is the age range the cosmetic approval covers: in the frown-line studies only 1% of subjects were 65 or older, and the prescribing information reports that efficacy was not observed in them. Because it is a prescription medication, a medical provider with prescribing authority must evaluate you and order it before anyone can inject.
You will read that Dysport spreads further from each injection point than Botox. Comparative studies are inconsistent, and spread is multifactorial — dose, dilution, volume, anatomy, injection technique and the product itself all bear on it. Whether it suits you, and any area beyond the glabellar lines, is your provider’s clinical decision at your consultation.
Dysport vs. Botox: An Honest Comparison
Both are well-established neuromodulators, and we offer both — along with Jeuveau. The differences below are real but modest: variables your injector weighs, not a verdict on either.
| Dysport | Botox | |
|---|---|---|
| FDA-approved cosmetic uses | Moderate to severe glabellar (frown) lines, adults under 65 | Moderate-to-severe glabellar lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines (treated together with glabellar lines) and platysma (neck) bands — temporary improvement, in adults |
| Typical onset | Median two to three days in the studies; a minority respond as early as day one | For frown lines, its label describes the effect beginning one to two days after injection; its facial-line studies measured results at day 30 |
| Spread from the injection point | Often described as wider for Dysport, but comparative studies are inconsistent — spread is multifactorial: dose, dilution, volume, anatomy, injection technique and the product itself | |
| Units | Not interchangeable — different measurement scales entirely. See below. | |
| How long it lasts | Up to four months for frown lines, per the prescribing information | About three to four months for frown lines, per its label |
Read the onset row carefully — it is the one most often oversold: neither product is instant, and the two onset figures come from different measures — patients’ own assessments in the Dysport studies, the label’s description of the drug’s effect on the muscle for Botox — so they do not show that either one is faster. Onset is a poor reason to pick between them.
The unit math, explained plainly
A Dysport unit is not a Botox unit. The manufacturer states it directly: the dose of Dysport is not the same as the dose of any other botulinum toxin product and cannot be compared to it. The labeled dose for frown lines is 50 Dysport units, given as five injections of 10 units; any other dose is your prescriber’s clinical decision. Published comparisons generally put a comparable effect at two and a half to three Dysport units per Botox unit — an estimate, not a validated conversion or a fixed formula.
The consequence: a lower per-unit price does not mean a lower treatment price. The honest comparison is the cost of the treatment.
Are You a Candidate for Dysport?
Dysport tends to be a good fit if you:
- Are bothered by frown lines between the brows — your provider assesses their severity at your consultation
- Are an adult under 65 — the age range the cosmetic approval covers
Planning around an event? Bring it up at your consultation and book well ahead — think several weeks, not several days. Onset varies, and your provider needs room to see how you responded before anything is adjusted. Nobody can promise a particular look by a particular date, and we will not pretend otherwise.
Dysport is not right for everyone, and some health conditions change how closely you are assessed. Please read risks and safety before booking.
Be clear too about the limits. Dysport softens lines caused by muscle movement. It does not restore lost volume, resurface texture, or tighten loose skin. If your concern is hollowing, crepiness or laxity, a different treatment may be more appropriate, and your provider can assess the cause and the options — see our fine lines and wrinkles page.
That distinction matters for our weight-loss patients: substantial weight loss, including on a medically supervised weight loss and HRT program, can be associated with facial volume loss and laxity, which Dysport does not treat. We run both programs under one roof — ask at your consultation whether both concerns can be reviewed at the same visit.
What to Expect
1. Your consultation with a medical provider
Dysport is a prescription medication, so a medical provider with prescribing authority has to evaluate you and decide whether Dysport is appropriate, and at what dose, before treatment is ordered.
2. The treatment
Treatment is typically completed in 15 to 30 minutes. It commonly involves cleansing the area and giving several small injections with a fine needle. Injection discomfort varies and may feel like a brief pinch; topical numbing is available. All injections are administered by our expert injectors, under the supervision of our Medical Director.
3. Afterward
Downtime varies. Small raised bumps at the injection points, mild redness or a small bruise can occur.
Results Timeline and How Long Dysport Lasts
- Days 1–3. In the clinical studies the median onset was two to three days, with a minority of patients responding as early as day one.
- Around 2 weeks. In general aesthetic practice this is the usual point to evaluate the outcome — a clinical convention, not an FDA-label endpoint. Any adjustment informs your next treatment cycle; retreatment is no more often than every three months.
- Months 3–4. Most patients return in this window to maintain their result. The prescribing information describes the effect on frown lines lasting up to four months.
Dose, the area treated, muscle strength and metabolism all affect how long a result holds. Results may vary.
This page is general information about a medical treatment, not medical advice, and not a promise of any outcome.
Risks and Safety
The boxed warning
Dysport carries an FDA boxed warning — the agency’s strongest — about the effect of the toxin spreading beyond the area treated. When that happens it can cause swallowing and breathing problems that are life-threatening, and deaths have been reported. Symptoms can appear hours, days or weeks after an injection: general muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, double or blurred vision, trouble swallowing, hoarseness or slurred speech, loss of bladder control, and trouble breathing. If any of those happen, get emergency medical help right away. The risk of symptoms is probably greatest in children treated for spasticity, but the warning applies to every use of the product, cosmetic use included.
When Dysport is not appropriate
Dysport should not be used if you have had an allergic reaction to any botulinum toxin product or to any ingredient in Dysport, if you are allergic to cow’s milk protein — the prescribing information names that allergy as a contraindication in its own right, and Dysport may contain trace amounts — or if there is an infection where the injection would go. Neuromodulators are generally not used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Tell your provider if you
Tell your provider if you have a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome or ALS: these conditions can raise the risk of clinically significant effects, including severe swallowing and breathing problems, and may make treatment inappropriate after your provider’s assessment. Also mention any past trouble swallowing or breathing, any botulinum toxin injection in the last four months, and every medication and supplement you take. Mention too any drug allergy, and any medicine that can strengthen a botulinum toxin’s effect — certain antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, and muscle relaxants.
Side effects reported most often
In the frown-line studies the most common were a cold or sore throat, headache, pain or a reaction at the injection site, upper respiratory infection, eyelid swelling, a drooping eyelid, sinus infection, nausea and blood present in the urine. You can read the Medication Guide and the complete Prescribing Information at dysportusa.com.
Dysport Pricing & Financing
Dysport at Physician’s Plan is $4 per unit. Because Dysport units are measured on a different scale than Botox units, more units are used for a comparable effect — so the number that matters is the cost of the treatment, not the price per unit. The labeled dose for frown lines is 50 units; any other dose or area is your prescriber’s clinical decision.
Ways to pay
- Cherry — buy now, pay monthly. A quick application with no hard credit check and flexible payment options.
- CareCredit. A healthcare credit card with monthly payment plans, accepted at provider locations nationwide. Subject to credit approval.
- HSA / FSA. We accept both, but cosmetic treatments like Dysport are generally not an eligible expense — check with your plan administrator or tax adviser before using those funds.
- Membership pricing. Our membership includes member pricing on injectables — worth running the numbers if you maintain a 3–4 month cadence.
Full details on every option are on our payment options page.
Dysport at Our Locations
Dysport is offered at four Physician’s Plan clinics — two in South Carolina and two in North Carolina.
- Rock Hill, SC · 803-329-7777
- Florence, SC · 843-629-0099
- Hickory, NC · 828-485-2833
- Huntersville, NC · 704-987-8446
Dysport is not offered at our Charleston-area clinics — West Ashley, Mt. Pleasant and Summerville.
Each clinic page has directions, hours and the full address.
Related Treatments
Dysport is one of three neuromodulators we offer. Compare all of them — including Jeuveau — on our injectables page, read more about Botox, or see the full range of treatments at our med spa.
Dysport FAQs
What is Dysport?
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription injectable neuromodulator that temporarily relaxes the muscles creating expression lines. Its FDA-approved cosmetic use is the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows in adults under 65.
How is Dysport different from Botox?
Less than the marketing suggests. Both are botulinum toxin type A and both are FDA-approved for frown lines; Dysport's prescribing information describes its effect lasting up to four months, and Botox's label puts its frown-line effect at about three to four months. On onset, Dysport's median was two to three days in its studies, and Botox's label describes its frown-line effect beginning one to two days after injection — different measures, so neither figure shows one product is faster. Their units are measured on different scales and cannot be compared. Botox is approved for more cosmetic areas. Physician's Plan offers both; Dysport is available at our Rock Hill, Florence, Hickory and Huntersville clinics. Your provider will tell you which fits your anatomy and goals.
How long does Dysport take to work?
The median onset in the clinical studies was two to three days, and a minority of patients responded as early as day one. Assessing it at about the two-week mark rather than immediately is general aesthetic clinical practice, not an FDA-label endpoint.
How long does Dysport last?
The prescribing information describes the effect on frown lines lasting up to four months, and most patients return every three to four months to maintain their result. Longevity depends on dose, the area treated, muscle strength and metabolism. Results may vary.
Why does Dysport cost less per unit than Botox?
Because a Dysport unit is a different measurement than a Botox unit, not a smaller dose of the same thing. More Dysport units are used for a comparable effect — commonly two and a half to three per Botox unit in published comparisons — so a lower per-unit price does not mean a lower treatment price.
Does Dysport hurt, and is there downtime?
Injection discomfort varies and may feel like a brief pinch, and treatment is typically completed in 15 to 30 minutes. Downtime varies: small raised bumps at the injection points, mild redness or a small bruise can occur.
Who administers Dysport at Physician's Plan?
Dysport is administered by our expert injectors, under the supervision of our Medical Director. Because it is a prescription medication, a medical provider with prescribing authority must evaluate you and order your treatment before any injection takes place.
Can I switch from Botox to Dysport?
It may be possible — tell your provider which product you used, at what dose, how you responded, any adverse reaction you had, and when you were last treated. That history matters: excessive weakness may be exacerbated by another botulinum toxin given before the effects of the previous one have resolved, and the effect of different botulinum toxin products given at the same time or within several months of each other is unknown. Retreatment is no more often than every three months. Your provider then determines a Dysport-specific dose, because the unit scales differ.
Is Dysport safe?
Dysport is FDA-approved. A proper medical evaluation and a qualified injector matter, and Dysport still carries the risks on its label, including an FDA boxed warning: the toxin's effect can spread beyond the area treated and cause muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, vision changes, or trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing, hours to weeks after the injection — get emergency help right away if that happens. Dysport is not used if you have had a reaction to a botulinum toxin product or an ingredient in it, if you are allergic to cow's milk protein — a contraindication the prescribing information names in its own right — or if there is an infection at the injection site, and neuromuscular conditions can raise the risk of serious effects. Common does not mean trivial: the reactions reported most often in the frown-line studies were a cold or sore throat, headache, injection-site pain or reaction, upper respiratory infection, eyelid swelling, a drooping eyelid, sinus infection, nausea and blood present in the urine.
Ready to Talk to a Provider About Dysport?
Tell us about your frown lines and which clinic is easiest. Consultations are free.
Prefer to call? Reach the clinic nearest you: Rock Hill 803-329-7777 · Florence 843-629-0099 · Hickory 828-485-2833 · Huntersville 704-987-8446