Botox vs. Dysport in the Bay Area: Differences, Cost, and Which to Choose

At a Glance

Feature	Botox	Dysport
Manufacturer	Allergan (maker of Juvederm)	Galderma (maker of Restylane)
Onset	3–5 days (full effect 10–14 days)	24–48 hours (full effect 10–14 days)
Duration	3.5–4.5 months	3–4 months
Per-unit cost (Bay Area)	$11–$20/unit	$4–$6/unit
Units per full upper face	30–50 units	75–125 units

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What Is Botox?

Botox and Dysport are both botulinum toxin type A — the difference is onset speed, not safety or effectiveness. Botox is made by Allergan (maker of Juvederm) and costs $11–$20 per unit depending on city. Results typically last 3.5–4.5 months for most patients, slightly longer than Dysport on average.

Botox is the more precise choice for targeted treatments like crow's feet, lip flip, and brow lift. Most experienced Bay Area injectors default to Botox for areas where control matters over spread.

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What Is Dysport?

Dysport kicks in 1–2 days faster than Botox, while Botox results tend to last slightly longer. Dysport spreads slightly more than Botox after injection, which some injectors prefer for large forehead areas but avoid for precise treatments.

Dysport is typically $4–$6 per unit in the Bay Area, but requires more units per area. Total treatment cost comes out within 10–15% of Botox — usually a $50–$100 difference per session.

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Key Differences

The fastest onset matters if you are treating for a specific event. Dysport's 24–48 hour onset beats Botox's 3–5 day window, with both reaching full effect at 10–14 days. If you have a wedding or important event in five days, Dysport is the more reliable choice.

A full upper-face Botox treatment uses 30–50 units at $14/unit, totaling $420–$700. The same result with Dysport uses roughly 75–125 units at $4.50/unit, totaling $338–$563. The gap is real but rarely exceeds one tank of gas.

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Which Should You Choose?

Most experienced Bay Area injectors work with both products and will recommend one based on the area, your history, and their preference. Ask which they inject more frequently — confidence and repetition with a product matters more than brand loyalty.

Both products are FDA-approved with decades of clinical data and are stocked by most Bay Area med spas. Neither is definitively safer — injector skill matters far more than product brand.