Dysport AT DERMACARE SAN DIEGO

You may take excellent care of your skin, protecting it from the sun and using high-quality skincare products. However, it is difficult to counter the effects your facial expressions – laughing, frowning or squinting – can have on your appearance. The muscles used to make these faces can also cause lines to form, particularly around the eyes and upper face. The best way to address these wrinkles is by treating the muscles that create them, through injections of a prescription medication known as Dysport.

Dr. Jeff Birchall and the staff at Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics offer Dysport injections to patients looking to refresh their appearance and erase signs of aging without surgery. As an expert in injectable treatments, Dr. Birchall is uniquely qualified to offer a safe and effective procedure, with results that will last for many months. This comfortable treatment takes just a few minutes to perform, and patients are back in action as soon as they leave our office.

How does Dysport Work?


Dysport is a prescription medication modeled after its predecessor Botox. Like Botox, this formulation contains trace amounts of botulinum type A, which is used to ease the constriction of muscles in the face that lead to the formation of some types of wrinkles. In addition to its cosmetic uses, Dysport has been approved to treat some types of medical conditions, including spasticity (involuntary, continuous muscle contractions), and cervical dystonia (a painful condition of the neck).

When Dysport is placed into a muscle, it interrupts the communication between the nerve impulse and muscle so that the brain can no longer tell the muscle to contract. This is the same process whether the medication is used for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes. The effect on the nerve and muscle is only temporary, lasting just a few months in most cases. However, this treatment is safe to repeat at regular intervals to ensure your positive results are maintained.

What does it Treat?

Wrinkle relaxers like Dysport are designed for use on dynamic wrinkles – the lines that form when you make some facial expressions. In the beginning, the lines only appear when you smile or squint, but over time, they can become a permanent fixture on the upper face. Dysport is an effective treatment at any stage, smoothing away the wrinkles by relaxing your facial muscles. You will retain your ability to make natural expressions, but with fewer lines and a more youthful appearance overall.

Dr. Birchall and our staff will assess your cosmetic needs to determine whether Dysport is the right treatment for you.

Specific treatment areas where Dysport might be recommended include:

  • Forehead lines
  • Glabellar lines that form between the eyebrows
  • Crow’s feet extending from the outer corners of the eyes
  • Bunny lines that develop on the upper part of the nasal bridge
  • Gummy smile due to a thinning upper lip

Botox vs. Dysport

While Botox and Dysport have numerous similarities regarding their formulation and results, there are subtle differences between the two that might dictate one treatment over the other. Dysport is crafted of smaller molecules that may diffuse more once it is injected into a treatment area. This may make it a preferable treatment in some areas but not others. Dysport also tends to have a quicker onset, but the results may not last as long. Because Dr. Birchall is an expert injector of both Botox and Dysport, he will be able to recommend the best treatment for your precise needs.

How is it Administered?

Injections of Dysport take just a few minutes to administer and typically do not cause much – if any -discomfort. Dr. Birchall will strategically place the medication directly into the muscle, rather than the wrinkle itself, to ensure the best result. There is absolutely no downtime after a Dysport treatment, which means you can schedule a treatment session over your lunch hour and return to work without significant signs you just had a cosmetic treatment performed.

Are There Risks Associated with Dysport Injections?

When an experienced injector administers Dysport, risks associated with the procedure are minimal. Occasionally, a patient may experience some mild bruising or swelling at the injections sites, which usually subsides within a matter of days. At Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics, we have never seen more severe side effects with any of our patients.

How Soon Will I See Results and How Long Will They Last?

Results may be evident right away, but most patients will see their full results about two to five days after their Dysport injections. The smoother, more youthful look should linger for three to four months, and at that time, you can choose to have another treatment session to keep the positive results going longer. Some patients find that after a few treatment sessions, they can stretch their injections out a bit further as the muscles seem to “train” to relax after a period.

If you are ready to reverse signs of aging but would like to achieve your goals without surgery, Dysport might be the right treatment for you. To learn more about this procedure, contact Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics today in Carlsbad at 760-472-5088 or in Rancho Bernardo at 858-943-2443.