Symptoms of aging are often signs of a life well-lived. For example, the time you spend smiling or laughing now could show up as lines on your face over time. Other facial expressions can also impact your appearance, resulting in lines around the forehead and eyes. While these wrinkles may be a reminder of time spent with friends and family, they often appear long before you are ready to show your age to the rest of the world. That’s where injectable treatments like Dysport can be helpful. Many of our surgeons at the California Society of Facial Plastic Surgery offer this treatment to patients that want to refresh they look without resorting to surgical procedures right away.
Dysport falls into the category of injectable treatments known as neuromodulators or wrinkle relaxers. Botox and Xeomin are two additional products that fall under this umbrella. All these formulations contain trace amounts botulinum toxin. When administered directly into facial muscles, the medication relaxes the muscles to smooth away resulting wrinkles. These medications have been used for decades, both in the medical and cosmetic spheres, so you have peace of mind in knowing they are both safe and effective in reversing your signs of aging.
Is Dysport Right for You?
Dysport works on dynamic wrinkles – a specific type of facial line that forms as a direct result of repeated facial expressions. These creases typically develop in the following areas:
- Across the forehead
- Between the eyebrows
- In the outer corners of the eyes
While these are the FDA-approved uses for Dysport, the medication can also be administered off-label to correct a gummy smile or create symmetry in a brow that has started to droop. Some of our surgeons also offer this service to their patients.
While Dysport offers superior results in smoothing away dynamic wrinkles, it is not effective on other signs of aging like sagging skin or lines in the lower area of the face. Known as static wrinkles, these creases are typically due to loss of collagen in the mid and lower face, which is a natural part of the aging process. Without collagen to support the underlying dermal structure, skin becomes lax and the lines around the nose and mouth form. While Dysport is not useful for this problem, our surgeons also feature a variety of dermal fillers to treat static wrinkles, which can even be administered during the same appointment as your Dysport injections in most cases.
Who Should Inject Your Dysport?
While Dysport injections have become a common anti-aging treatment, not everyone that offers these procedures also provides the same level of experience and expertise. With a variety of formulations to choose from, it is critical to select a provider with the knowledge necessary to know which product will work the best for you based on the subtle differences between them. At the same time, an injector with an intricate knowledge of facial anatomy will know precisely where to target your injections to ensure the best possible outcome. Your local directory of surgeons from the California Society of Facial Plastic Surgery is an excellent resource to help you find the right surgeon for you.
About the Dysport Procedure
Dysport injections are not uncomfortable, and they usually take just a few minutes to complete. Your provider will target the muscles using a fine needle quickly administering the medication to the appropriate location. Keep in mind that when you have your Dysport injections, your provider will be focused on relaxing the muscles without compromising your ability to make natural facial expressions. Precision is essential for an optimal result. Once your injections are completed, you will be allowed to return to nearly all your daily activities right away.
What to Expect after Your Dysport Injections
Dysport injections do not require any anesthesia beforehand, so you will be able to leave your appointment and drive back to your office or other activities. While a small number of patients experience mild bruising or swelling around the injection sites, most do not have any telltale signs they just had a cosmetic procedure performed. Your doctor may advise you to avoid lying down or participating in strenuous exercise for a few hours after your treatment to keep the medication from spreading to other areas of the face. This is usually the only restriction after a Dysport procedure.
It is not unusual to see some preliminary improvement immediately after your Dysport injections. That refreshed appearance will continue to improve in the days following your procedure and last up to three or four months. If you want to maintain your more youthful look indefinitely, schedule regular treatment sessions with your provider.
Dysport is a safe and effective anti-aging treatment that is appropriate for both men and women. Now is the time to schedule your consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon to find out if Dysport is the right choice for you. Find your surgeon here at the California Society of Facial Plastic Surgery today.