What Are the Types of Botox, and How Is Dysport Different?

One of the things I am asked most before an appointment is: "Which Botox do you use?" The question underneath is really curiosity about the brand. Types of Botox is the common name for products such as Dysport, Botox, Xeomin and Azzalure, which all contain the same active ingredient, botulinum toxin, but differ in their unit system, spread and time to onset.

In this article I will compare these products from a healthcare perspective, without exaggeration. My aim is not to enter a "which is better" debate but to understand together which one suits your face and expectations. The decision is made by the examination, not by advertising.

What are the types of Botox?

People talk about "Botox" as if it were a single product. In fact, the word comes from a brand name, Botox, and over time it has become the name of the whole group. The types of Botox we use today consist of several different licensed products.

The names you will come across most often in Turkey are Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Azzalure. All four use botulinum toxin type A to temporarily reduce muscle movement. The difference between them lies in how the molecule is packaged and how it behaves in the tissue.

That is why "which is the strongest brand?" is usually the wrong question. The right question is: "which product and dose suit my area and my muscle structure?" I can answer that after analysing your face in motion.

What is Dysport, and how is it different from Botox?

Let me answer the question "what is Dysport?" as simply as possible: Dysport is a brand of botulinum toxin containing the active ingredient abobotulinumtoxinA, used for purposes similar to Botox. It is of French origin and has been used worldwide for many years.

Botox, on the other hand, contains onabotulinumtoxinA. Both products do the same job, but their molecule size and formulation are not the same. These small differences change the dose calculation and sometimes when the first effect is seen.

What I observe in practice is this: in some patients Dysport starts working a few hours to a day earlier. This is not an advantage, just a characteristic. Some patients like a quick onset; for others it makes no difference at all.

Botulinum toxin brands: what is on the market?

The easiest way to see the differences between botulinum toxin brands is to put them side by side. The table below summarises the four products by active ingredient, unit logic, spread and typical onset time. The figures are averages and vary from person to person.

Brand	Active ingredient	Unit system	Diffusion (spread)	Typical onset
Botox	OnabotulinumtoxinA	Its own unit (reference)	Middle	2-4 days
Dysport	AbobotulinumtoxinA	~2.5-3 times the Botox units	Wider	1-3 days
Xeomin	IncobotulinumtoxinA	Close to Botox	Middle	3-4 days
Azzalure	AbobotulinumtoxinA	Similar to Dysport	Wider	1-3 days

According to Wikipedia's article on botulinum toxin , all of these products come from the same neurotoxin family and temporarily block transmission between muscle and nerve. In other words, the basic working principle is shared; the detail lies in the formulation.

What sets Xeomin apart is that the complexing proteins around the molecule have been removed. It is debated whether this "pure" structure may reduce the likelihood of developing resistance in some patients. Azzalure shares the same active ingredient as Dysport and is mostly preferred at aesthetic doses.

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Where does the difference between Dysport and Botox begin?

The difference between Dysport and Botox shows itself mainly in three areas: units, diffusion and onset. On the unit side, the units of the two brands do not mean the same thing; a Dysport unit is on a "smaller" scale than a Botox unit. That is why a higher number of units is used with Dysport for the same effect.

Diffusion describes how far the toxin spreads from the injection point into the surrounding area. Dysport generally spreads a little wider. This can be practical in large areas such as the forehead; in sensitive, narrow areas such as around the eyes, the doctor chooses injection points with this spread in mind.

There is also a small gap in onset time. I explained in detail when the first effect settles and when the full result becomes visible in my article on how long Botox takes to settle . Whatever the brand, the general framework in my article Is Botox permanent? still applies to how long the result lasts.

Which brand is preferred in which situation?

There is no fixed prescription here; if there were, there would be no need for an examination. Still, I can mention some tendencies. With large forehead muscles, a product with wider spread can make the job easier. In patients who want very fine adjustment and to preserve their expressions, a more controlled spread is preferred.

In patients who have not responded to a brand before, or who have developed resistance over time, formulations without complexing proteins may come into consideration. For someone being treated for the first time, we usually make a practical choice based on the area and the budget.

In short, the brand is only one part of the equation. The dose, the choice of injection points and your muscle anatomy are at least as decisive as the product. Even if two patients receive the same brand and the same number of units, the results will not be exactly the same.

Does the brand change the result?

In the right hands, the difference between Botox brands is not as dramatic as you might think. As ISAPS data also show, this treatment is performed safely millions of times worldwide with different brands. In the hands of an experienced doctor, the gap between brands closes almost completely.

What really makes the difference is how the person performing the treatment reads your face. A wrong injection point or too high a dose can produce an unnatural result even with the "best" brand. A good plan, on the other hand, can produce a beautiful result even with an ordinary product.

That is why I recommend focusing on choosing the doctor rather than obsessing over the brand. If you were happy with a brand, it makes sense to continue with it; but to avoid regrets, what really needs attention is technique and communication. If you want to see why managing expectations matters, my up-to-date botox prices article can also help with planning.

Who should choose the brand?

The short answer: you and your doctor together. Your job is to share your expectations and any previous experience. My job is to assess your face in motion and recommend the right product, dose and technique for the area.

This is not a one-off decision either. We review the result of the first session together and, if necessary, fine-tune the brand or the dose in the second session. As we see how your body responds, the plan becomes even more personal.

Botox treatments are, for me, about softening the lines that bother you without changing your expression, not about putting a product name forward. If you want to clarify which type of Botox suits you, use the Contact page to reach my clinic in Caddebostan and arrange a preliminary consultation.

What to watch out for when switching from one brand to another?

Some patients who have used one product for years want to switch. There is nothing wrong with that, but the switch needs a little care. What I do most often is note how long the previous brand lasted for you and how satisfied you were. This information helps me set the dose more accurately with the new product.

When switching, it is not right to copy one patient's experience directly onto another. A product that worked wonderfully for a friend may not give the same result with your muscle structure. That is why I treat the first switching session as a kind of calibration; we read the result together and make small touch-ups if needed.

Whatever the product, aftercare follows the same logic. Not rubbing the area in the first hours, staying upright and avoiding intense exercise are recommendations that apply regardless of brand. These shared rules help the result settle properly.

Last updated: 25.08.2026

Dr. Melis Ülger is a Medical Aesthetics Specialist who plans botulinum toxin treatments individually and independently of brand at her practice in Caddebostan.

The medical information in this article has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Melis Ülger, Medical Aesthetics Specialist.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dysport or Botox better?

Neither is absolutely better than the other. Both contain the same active ingredient; the difference lies in units, spread and onset time. Which one is right for you is decided at the examination, based on your area and your expectations.

Can I change brands between sessions?

Yes, you can switch to a different brand at the next session. The dose is recalculated because the unit systems are not the same. The decision to switch is made after reviewing the previous result together.

Does Dysport start working faster?

In some patients Dysport may start working a few hours to a day earlier. This varies from person to person and does not mean it is superior. The full result still settles within a few days.

Why is Xeomin called “pure”?

In Xeomin, the complexing proteins surrounding the molecule have been removed. It is debated whether this structure may reduce the likelihood of developing resistance over time. It is not a feature everyone needs; it depends on the doctor's decision.

Why are the unit numbers of different brands not the same?

Each brand has its own unit scale. For example, a Dysport unit is on a smaller scale than a Botox unit. That is why comparing unit numbers directly is misleading.

Does the choice of brand affect the price?

The product used and the number of units needed can change the total cost. Even so, price should not be the only criterion when choosing a brand. The priority is a safe result that suits your area.

Dr. Melis Ulger

Medical Aesthetics Physician

With modern medical aesthetic approaches, I address your aesthetic concerns by offering personalized solutions and support you to gain a timeless appearance.

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