Botox is one of the many trade names for botulinum
Aesthetic and medical botulinum treatments are performed with botulinum toxin, or botulinum. Botulinum toxin is a prescription product sold under many different trade names. The most informed beauty consumers may even be able to list the trade names of botulinum toxin: Dysport, Botox, Azzalure, Bocouture.
What may be confusing is that the trade name Botox has over the decades become the generic name for botulinum. Even today, people all over the world are undergoing 'botox' treatments - despite the fact that a large proportion of these 'botox' treatments are carried out with something other than the Botox brand of botulinum toxin.
In everyday language, Botox means any botulinum toxin, in much the same way that a post-it note means any sticker in colloquial language, explains Emilia Sundqvist, MD.
Does the brand matter?
Sometimes you hear people claim that one brand of botulinum toxin is better than another in terms of function or duration. There are woefully few scientific studies on the subject, and the results of these few studies are contradictory.
According to one study, Dysport botulinum toxin would be superior to Botox for horizontal forehead furrows and frown lines at the corners of the eyes. Another study came to the opposite conclusion. According to an updated study, the most likely conclusion is that the brand makes no difference. Instead, it's the dosage that matters. Of course, further extensive research is needed, as the studies to date have been rather limited.
If the botulinum toxin is administered and injected as directed, it will work. The brand does not matter, the correct dosage does.
However, there may be individual differences
Everyday experience has shown both our customers and ourselves that individual differences do exist. Although the decision to treat is ultimately made by the doctor who writes the prescription, we always listen carefully to the client's preferences.
If you've found that one brand suits you better than others, you'll probably want your botulinum treatment to be done with your favourite brand. Tell your treatment provider!
"Why are you diluting the botox?"
Undiluted botulinum toxin is a harmful substance, after all, it is a neurotoxin. When the substance is diluted with saline, the neurotoxin becomes a medicine. So the saying "quantity makes the poison" also applies to botulinum toxins.
If the trade name of the botulinum toxin is Botox, Vistabel, Azzalure or Dysport, it is always diluted. The word dilution is not to be shied away from," says Emilia.
Almost every brand of botulinum toxin has its own dilution and dosage instructions. If you prepare the medicine as directed and inject the right amount in the right place, it will work.
I had 20 units of Botox injected into my frown lines. A friend had 50 units of Dysport injected in the same place. Was I fooled?
Everything has gone as it should. You have both been given the prescribed amount of medicine. The unit amounts of different brands of botulinum toxins cannot be compared directly - at least not without a little maths.
This may cause confusion, as botox amounts are reported in many different ways. Different pharmaceutical companies have different units, and sometimes botulinum amounts are expressed in millilitres. So in your own data you may come across
- to operating units
- For BOTOX units
- Speywood units
- in millilitres
Your friend's 50 units are Speywood units, and your 20 units are BOTOX units. However, both of you have received the same amount of the active ingredient, botulinum toxin. Neither of you was cheated.
