Botulax
A botulinum toxin type A from Korea Made by Hugel. It has been the leading toxin brand in South Korea for years and is exported widely.
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Botulax vs Botox
Botulax is a botulinum toxin made in South Korea, where it is the best-selling brand. The same toxin is sold in the United States under a different name, Letybo, so a vial labelled Botulax is not the version approved for use here. Botox is the original brand and the one most American clinics stock. No trial has compared the two directly, and the honest summary is that they are close relatives with different labels.
At a glance
| The difference | Botulax | Botox |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A botulinum toxin type A from Korea | The longest-established botulinum toxin |
| What it is used for | Lines that appear when you move | Lines that appear when you move |
| How long until it works | Two to four days to start | Three to four days to start |
| Cost | Cheaper per vial outside the US | Priced per unit or per area |
Botox
Side by side
The differences that matter
What it is
Botulax
A botulinum toxin type A from Korea
Made by Hugel. It has been the leading toxin brand in South Korea for years and is exported widely.
Botox
The longest-established botulinum toxin
The version most of the published research used, and the one most US clinics keep on the shelf.
The name question
Botulax
Sold as Letybo in the United States
Same maker, same active ingredient, different brand name for the American market. A vial labelled Botulax is meant for other countries.
Botox
One name in every market
Botox is Botox wherever you have it, which removes this particular confusion.
What it is used for
Botulax
Lines that appear when you move
Frown lines between the brows, forehead lines, crow's feet.
Botox
Lines that appear when you move
Approved in the US for specific movement lines; other areas are treated off-label.
How long until it works
Botulax
Two to four days to start
Full effect at about two weeks, as with the others.
Botox
Three to four days to start
Judge the result at two weeks, not on day three.
How long it lasts
Botulax
About three to four months
The reported range is the same. Nothing has been published showing it outlasts Botox.
Botox
About three to four months
Movement returns before the line does.
Are the units the same
Botulax
No
Its units are its own. A dose written for one brand cannot be copied across to another.
Botox
No
Same point in reverse. The injector has to know which product is in the syringe.
The downside
Botulax
Vials sold online cannot be traced
Nobody can confirm how a vial bought online was stored, or that the contents match the label. Counterfeits of popular Korean brands are a known problem.
Botox
The usual toxin trade-offs
Bruising and headache for a few days are common. If the toxin spreads slightly past the target, a brow or eyelid can droop for weeks until it wears off.
Cost
Botulax
Cheaper per vial outside the US
Price is the reason most people ask about it in the first place.
Botox
Priced per unit or per area
Ask which way your clinic charges before you agree to treatment.
The at-home or drugstore version
Botulax
There is none
It is an injected prescription drug, and there is no topical form of it.
Botox
Peptide serums borrow the name
"Botox in a bottle" creams sit on the surface of the skin. The muscle is several millimetres down, and a cream cannot reach it.
Who each suits
Botulax
- Best for — Someone treated in a country where Botulax is approved and supplied through a clinic.
- The mindset — A different label on a close relative, not a different class of treatment.
Botox
- Best for — Anyone who wants the brand with the longest record and the widest availability.
- The mindset — Predictable, well documented, and easy to compare between clinics.
Same toxin, two labels
Botulax
Botulax and Letybo are the same product sold under different names. One name is for the Korean and export markets, the other for the United States.
It also explains why a Botulax vial in a US clinic is a red flag. The approved route into the country carries the other name on the box.
Before you book
More photographs
Botox
Conditions treated
Botox
Hyperhidrosis
A grid of small injections that block the nerve signal reaching the sweat glands in that patch of skin. It starts working within a few days to a week and lasts several months before it needs repeating. Underarm injections are well tolerated; palms and soles hurt more and are usually done with numbing, and palm injections can cause temporary weakness of grip. It is an approved medical treatment for severe underarm sweating, not a cosmetic one, and insurance often covers it once antiperspirants have been tried and documented.
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Rosacea
Very small amounts injected into the surface of the skin, not the muscle, to reduce flushing and background redness. Early studies are encouraging and dermatologists do use it for stubborn flushing. It is off-label for rosacea, it is not usually covered, and it wears off in a few months.
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Wrinkles and Fine Lines
The reliable treatment for lines caused by movement — frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. It relaxes the muscle that folds the crease, so the line softens over about two weeks and returns as the effect wears off at three to four months. It does nothing for lines that are already there at rest, and nothing for sagging.
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Common questions
Questions Patients Ask
Is Botulax the same as Botox?
No. Both are botulinum toxin type A, but they come from different makers and have their own unit strengths. Botulax is made in South Korea by Hugel.
Is Botulax available in the US?
Not under that name. The same toxin from the same maker is sold in the United States as Letybo, so a vial labelled Botulax is not the version approved for use here.
Does Botulax last as long as Botox?
The reported duration is the same, about three to four months. No trial has compared them directly, so any claim that one lasts longer is not backed by a study.
Are Botulax units the same as Botox units?
No. Each brand has its own unit strength, so a dose written for one cannot simply be copied across to the other. The injector has to know which product is in the syringe.
Why is Botulax cheaper?
It is priced for markets outside the United States, and vials bought online skip the licensed supply chain. That is where most of the price gap comes from.
How can I tell if a Botulax vial is genuine?
If it was bought online, you generally cannot. Counterfeit versions of the popular Korean brands circulate, and there is no way to confirm how a vial was stored on its way to you.