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Dysport in Arlington Heights: who it suits, and when we’d pick Botox instead
At Skinovatio’s Arlington Heights office, Dysport is injected by Charles Samuel, FNP-C, our nurse practitioner, in a treatment room in Suite C. It’s FDA-approved for the frown lines between the brows in adults under 65, which is where we use it most. Your visit takes 10 to 20 minutes, and you’ll see the full effect at two weeks.
For forehead lines, crow’s feet, and neck bands, Botox carries the label, so that’s usually where we’ll start. You may have read that Dysport spreads wider and kicks in faster. The research doesn’t support either claim, and neither is how we choose a product for you.
What Dysport is, and what it’s approved for
Dysport is a botulinum toxin type A made by Galderma and Ipsen. Like Botox, it’s “an acetylcholine release inhibitor and a neuromuscular blocking agent,” which means it stops the nerve from telling the muscle to contract. The muscle relaxes, and the skin over it stops creasing.
Its FDA approval is narrow. Dysport is approved for moderate to severe glabellar lines, the vertical 11s between the brows, “in adults less than 65 years of age,” and in its trials it “reduced the severity of glabellar lines for up to four months,” per the Dysport prescribing information. Botox Cosmetic, by contrast, is approved for frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines, and, since October 2024, neck bands, per the Botox Cosmetic label.
Off-label doesn’t mean unsafe or unusual. Dysport is commonly used on the forehead. Off-label means the product wasn’t studied for that area in the approval trials, and we’ll tell you before we inject it. You’ll find all five neuromodulators we carry on the Botox and neuromodulators page, with the unit ranges by area.
Does Dysport spread more or work faster?
First, spread. A 2018 review of the evidence in Dermatologic Surgery concluded that “diffusion appears predominately, perhaps exclusively, dose dependent,” and that the protein complexes around the toxin “do not influence movement from injection site,” per Dover and colleagues. In other words, how far any of these products travels comes down to dose and placement, not brand.
Next, speed. A randomized double-blind comparison found onset at about three days for Xeomin versus about five for Botox and Dysport in women, and slower in men, per Rappl and colleagues. Other trials disagree with that ranking, though, so the most accurate summary for every brand is “a few days, with the full effect at two weeks.”
That’s why we don’t choose Dysport for spread or speed. We’ll suggest it when the area is its labeled one, when you’ve had it before and liked it, or when the nurse thinks it suits you. You’ll find the full side-by-side, including units, in our Dysport vs Botox post. Also note that 1 Botox unit is not 1 Dysport unit (the head-to-head trial used a 1-to-3 ratio), so comparing per-unit prices between them isn’t meaningful.
Who Dysport tends to suit
Your main concern is the 11s. Frown lines between the brows are Dysport’s labeled area, so it’s a straightforward choice.
You’ve had Dysport before and were happy with it. We won’t switch brands without a reason.
You’d like an alternative after an underwhelming Botox result. Sometimes the answer is dose rather than brand, and the nurse will tell you if that’s the case. A switch is still a reasonable next step.
For older clients, we’ll discuss expectations first. Dysport’s label is for adults under 65, and none of the geriatric subjects in its trials met the success endpoint. Botox’s own trials showed a 39 percent responder rate at day 30 in patients 65 and older versus 83 percent under 65, per its label. Muscles respond less with age, whichever brand you choose.
When we’d suggest Botox instead
For forehead lines and crow’s feet, when you’re starting fresh, Botox and Xeomin carry the label, so one of them is our default there. For neck bands, only Botox Cosmetic is approved, so we’ll use Botox. Lip flips, the masseter, bunny lines, and a brow lift are off-label for every brand, so the nurse will recommend a product based on your goals and history.
Some lines aren’t a neuromodulator question at all. If the crease is still there when your face is relaxed, a toxin softens the motion that made it but doesn’t fill it. For those lines, we’d look at dermal filler instead.
Your appointment, results, and timing
Your visit takes 10 to 20 minutes for one to three areas. You’ll sit upright while the nurse marks the points, and then it’s a few quick pinches with a very fine needle. Ice or vibration is available if you’d like it, and numbing cream isn’t needed.
Afterward, you’ll notice small bumps at the injection sites for 15 to 30 minutes, and sometimes a pinpoint bruise. The American Academy of Dermatology’s advice is “do not rub or massage the areas where you received the injections” and “wait two hours before you engage in strenuous physical activity,” per the AAD’s botulinum toxin FAQ. If you do get a bruise, it lasts about a week. The 2018 review found most other post-treatment rules “are widely used despite the lack of evidence,” so we keep ours short: avoid rubbing, hold off on face-down massage that day, and keep in mind that alcohol and ibuprofen mainly matter for bruising.
The first softening takes a few days to show. The full effect arrives at 14 days, which is when we’ll check your result together and decide on any touch-up. It holds about three to four months.
Book at least two weeks before an event or photos. Our Arlington Heights office also serves patients from Schaumburg and Barrington, and parking is free. You’ll find directions and the map on the Arlington Heights office page.
Dysport in Arlington Heights, from appointment to wear-off
- Day 0 A 10 to 20 minute visit, small bumps for 15 to 30 minutes, and avoid rubbing the area
- Days 3 to 7 First softening as the muscle quiets
- Day 14 Full effect, and when we check whether a touch-up would help
- Months 3 to 4 Movement returns, a good time to rebook
Your questions, answered
Who injects Dysport at Skinovatio Arlington Heights?
Charles Samuel, FNP-C, our nurse practitioner, in a treatment room in Suite C at 3375 N Arlington Heights Rd, under medical direction. Every visit starts with a consult and a written plan.
Can I get Dysport the same day as a consult?
It’s often possible if there’s no medical reason to wait, so mention it when you book. Either way, plan two weeks ahead of any important photos.
Does Dysport work for the 11s?
Yes. The frown lines between the brows are its FDA-approved area, and in its trials Dysport reduced the severity of those lines for up to four months. You’ll see first softening in a few days and the full effect at two weeks. It’s approved for adults under 65, and older clients tend to respond less to every brand, which we’ll discuss at your consult.
How do I book Dysport?
You can use the book button on this page, which opens our online scheduler in a new tab, or call us at 847-637-5882, 10 to 6, Monday through Friday. We take a small non-refundable deposit that comes off your treatment. When you arrive, park in the free lot and look for Suite C.