Crow’s feet are often the first wrinkles we get. These wrinkles around the eye, which are also sometimes called smile lines, can be a bit tricky to treat in a way that looks natural. However, there are two excellent options for treating crow’s feet: Botox and Dysport. When expertly applied, these can both be a great way to diminish or eliminate the appearance of crow’s feet.
Wondering which crow’s feet treatment might be right for you? While both Botox and Dysport can be excellent crow’s feet treatments, the one that’s best for you will likely depend on your unique body and aesthetic goals. To help you get a better idea of the advantages of these two treatments, and to help you decide which might be right for you, let’s take a closer look at Botox and Dysport. First, we’ll cover what Botox and Dysport are, then we’ll look at the differences between the two when treating crow’s feet.
What is Botox?
You’ve probably heard of Botox, as it’s one of the most popular cosmetic treatments today. But what exactly is Botox? While many people think that Botox is the name for a type of treatment, Botox is actually a brand name for an injectable, purified form of botulinum toxin that’s made by a company called Allergan. Botox has been around for quite a while— it’s been FDA-approved since 2002.
Botox is most commonly known for it’s wrinkle-reducing effect. When Botox is injected into the muscles, it blocks chemicals that cause facial muscles to contract. This causes the muscles (and the skin on top of the muscles) to relax, which smoothes out the skin.
While Botox is best known for treating wrinkles, it actually has many applications. In addition to improving the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, Botox can be used to treat excessive sweating, migraines, overly prominent jawlines, and more.
What is Dysport?
While most people have heard of Botox, Dysport is less well-known. Dysport is a newer treatment (it was FDA-approved in 2009) and it hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as Botox, but it does have many of the same applications.
Dysport is an injectable treatment that is made of the same thing as Botox: botulinum toxin. However, Dysport has a slightly different chemical make-up and it’s made by another company. Dysport is made by Medicis, which is the same company that makes Restylane.
So, if Dysport is made of the same thing as Botox, does it work the same way? Yes and no. Dysport works like Botox to relax the muscles, which can reduce wrinkles. But Dysport is made of smaller molecules of botulinum toxin than Botox, so it applies a bit differently. Dysport tends to diffuse more than Botox, which means that it spreads to a wider area once applied. This can be a pro or a con, depending on the area of the face Dysport is used on and your desired results.
Botox vs. Dysport for Treating Crow’s Feet
Botox and Dysport are both made of a purified form of botulinum toxin. Because of this, they work to treat crow’s feet in a similar way, though these treatments have some differences due to their individual chemical make-up.
First, let’s look at how Botox and Dysport are similar when treating crow’s feet. Both Botox and Dysport work to treat crow’s feet by relaxing the muscles underneath the crow’s feet area. When either of these injectable treatments is applied to the muscles under the crow’s feet, these muscles will relax. The skin smoothes and the muscles cannot contract. This can reduce the appearance of some wrinkles and stop dynamic wrinkles from forming.
Now, how are Botox and Dysport different? These two wrinkle treatments are very similar but they do have some differences. For one, Dysport spreads more easily than Botox does, due to its smaller molecules. It also can sometimes start to work more quickly, showing initial results as soon as 2 to 3 days after your treatment. However, you do often need to use more Dysport than Botox to get similar results.
Do the differences between Botox and Dysport mean that one is better than the other? Not really. At the end of the day, these injectable treatments are fairly similar and how they are applied is generally much more important than which one is used. It’s important that you go to an experienced doctor, like Dr. Zadeh, who understands how each of these injectables apply and can skillfully use them to reduce or eliminate your crow’s feet.
Are There Other Treatment Options for Crow’s Feet?
Botox and Dysport are two of the most effective treatments for reducing or eliminating the appearance of crow’s feet. However, there are some other cosmetic treatments you can use to treat crow’s feet. Additionally, you can take preventative measures against crow’s feet by using certain skin care products or making lifestyle changes.
First, let’s talk about some med spa treatments that are excellent for rejuvenating the skin. These treatments can be used to soften mild crow’s feet and can also be used alongside Botox or Dysport to enhance treatment results. Microneedling is one excellent skin-rejuvenating treatment. Microneedling works by stimulating collagen production, which firms and smooths the skin, restoring a more youthful appearance. Chemical peels can also be used to soften the appearance of crow’s feet, as they both remove dead skin cells and stimulate collagen production.
Then, there are numerous things you can change about your habits or add into your skin care routine to improve the overall look of your skin, protect your skin, and improve elastin health. First, let’s talk about the most important skin protector: sunscreen. It’s vital that you use a good sunscreen every day in your skin care routine, as sun damage from sun exposure speeds up the aging process.
Other types of sun protection that can help protect from sun damage include wearing a hat in the sun and wearing sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses can help protect from crow’s feet in two ways: by providing another layer of UV ray protection and by helping you avoid squinting in the sun. Repeatedly squinting can cause dynamic wrinkles, wrinkles caused by repetitive facial expressions, in the crows feet area to appear or worsen.
Lastly, let’s talk about other skin care products that can improve the overall health and appearance of your skin. First, you should always keep your skin well moisturized. Dry skin actually does not cause wrinkles, though that is a common misconception. However, wrinkles can be much more noticeable on dry skin, so moisturizing can improve the appearance of wrinkles. To moisturize your skin, use a dermatologist recommended moisturizer daily and consider using a heavier moisturizer if your skin is very dry. Also, use a dermatologist recommend eye cream daily on dark circles and the crow’s feet area. An eye cream will help ensure your under eye area is well moisturized, which can reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. Another thing that can help your skin retain moisture is a hyaluronic acid serum, which will replenish skin moisture.
Other skin care products that can improve the overall look of your skin include retinol and vitamin C serums. Retinol can stimulate collagen production over time, helping to to plump and smooth the skin. Retinol can also even pigmentation and speed up dead skin cell turnover. Vitamin C serums can protect your skin from damaging free radicals, even dark spots caused by sun damage, and promote collagen production.
Which Crow’s Feet Treatment is Right For You: Botox vs. Dysport
So which should you choose to treat your crow’s feet: Botox or Dysport? Everyone’s face is unique, as are their aesthetic goals. Both Botox and Dysport can both work well to treat crow’s feet but which might be right for you will depend on your unique body and your goals for your treatment.
If you’d like to reduce your crow’s feet with Botox or Dysport, contact us today to make a consultation appointment. At your appointment, Dr. Zadeh can help you decide which treatment would be best to reach your desired end result.