Dysport

Dysport®

Dysport® offers flexible and directed treatment of overactive muscles and their associated facial lines.  Used especially for lines of the upper face - horizontal forehead, between eye frown, and crowsfeet by the eyes - it can also be used in a numer of other applications.

Produced in England by Ipsen as a botulinum toxin A like the Botox® produced by the US based company Allergan, it has been widely used especially in the Commonwealth countries for many years to treat major muscle problems and spasms. 

When by chance someone in the USA found that treating muscular spasms about the eye the patient's forehead lines also resolved, the cosmetic applications suddenly presented themselves.  Since the early 1990s this use has grown year by year to be a major usage.

Initially found as a problem contaminant with improperly bottled or canned food,  botulinum toxin is produced by a bacteria.  As the most potent naturally occurring toxin in nature its first application was in stock-piling as a germ warfare agent.

The useful medical applications were found later.

How Does It Work

By attaching very strongly and selectively to the chemical releasing sites of nerve endings for skeletal muscles and sweat glands it blocks the nerve action causing the muscle to contract once the residual neurotransmitter chemical in the nerve ending is exhausted.

It remains strongly bound in the releasing site for a long time.  The nerve meanwhile will produce new active sprouts to allow it to keep contracting the muscle.  This it does over a few months and the muscle action returns.

Attempts have been made to give botulinum toxin frequently to cause long term muscle atrophy as occurs when nerves are cut in plastic surgical and other situations.  But function still will return over time.

Eventually the original blocked site will break down the Dysport® again and it will resume working - the new sprouted ends retract.

What Can Be Treated

As mentioned:

• The frown lines in the between the eyebrows and the associated horizontal lines across the top of the nose
• The horizontal lines in the forehead - "the worry lines"
• The crowsfeet creases at the outside of the eyes

How Long Does It Last

Most people will get three or so months from their first treatment.

About half the people continuing to use Dysport® will get progressively longer times of effects lasting many months.

Others will continue around three monthly.  It is determined by the nerve sprouting activity.

Other Areas Of Interest

• The vertical muscle bands in the neck creating the "turkey neck"
• The downturn of the corners of the mouth to allow a more free resting smile
• Fuller areas of muscle at the corners of the jaw to reduce square jaw appearance

Excessive Sweating Problems

Excessive localised sweating problems not responsive to other treatments will repond for quite some time to local injections under the skin.

Areas like the underarms, palms of hands or soles of feet work well.

There is some cost associated with these treatments as they require a large total dose.

Dsyport® offers great relief for unwanted lines and sweating problems.®

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You will need to pay for this medicine and the doctor’s consultation. Dysport treatment lasts about four months and after this time further courses of treatment may be necessary. Discuss with your specialist if Dysport is right for you. Dysport is a Prescription Medicine containing 500 units of Clostridium botulinum Type A toxin–haemagglutinin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your specialist about the benefits/risks of this procedure in cosmetic medicine.

Cautions: Presence of infection at site of injection and glaucoma. Dysport should only be used with caution under close supervision in patients with subclinical or clinical evidence of marked defective neuromuscular transmission. Teratology and other reproductive studies have not been performed and Dysport's safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been established. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning or redness at injection site, local muscle weakness including drooping eye lids, lack of feeling and nausea. If you have side effects or concerns speak to your doctor.

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