Daxxify
Botulinum toxin type A The newest of the main brands in US clinics.
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Daxxify vs Dysport
Daxxify is the one sold on lasting longer. It is a botulinum toxin type A, given as a few small shots into the frown lines. Dysport is the same kind of toxin, and it has been in use much longer. No trial has ever compared the two directly, so the duration numbers quoted for each are not measuring the same thing.
At a glance
| The difference | Daxxify | Dysport |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Botulinum toxin type A | Botulinum toxin type A |
| What else is in the vial | A stabilising peptide, no albumin | Human serum albumin and lactose |
| Cost | Launched at a premium price | Varies by clinic |
Dysport
Side by side
The differences that matter
What it is
Daxxify
Botulinum toxin type A
The newest of the main brands in US clinics.
Dysport
Botulinum toxin type A
Long established in the US, and used in Europe before that.
How it is given
Daxxify
Several small shots
Spread across the frown lines between the brows.
Dysport
Several small shots
Spread across the same area.
What else is in the vial
Daxxify
A stabilising peptide, no albumin
Daxxify uses a small lab-made peptide to hold the toxin steady. It is the only main brand with no human blood protein in it.
Dysport
Human serum albumin and lactose
It may also contain traces of cow's milk protein.
How long it lasts
Daxxify
About 24 weeks in its own trials
Half the people treated still had lines rated none or mild at 24 weeks. Both the doctor and the patient judged that. The label itself states no duration.
Dysport
Up to four months
That wording is on the label, so the FDA reviewed and approved it.
Who should not have it
Daxxify
Infection at the site, or a past reaction
A past reaction to any botulinum toxin also rules it out.
Dysport
The same, plus a cow's milk allergy
The milk rule is specific to Dysport. It is a hard stop, not a preference.
Cost
Daxxify
Launched at a premium price
That price was cut about a year after launch. What you pay now varies a lot by clinic.
Dysport
Varies by clinic
It has been on the US market for years and is widely available.
Who tends to be happy with it
Daxxify
- Best for — People who dislike returning often, and will pay more for the chance of a longer gap.
- The mindset — You want fewer visits a year.
Dysport
- Best for — People who want a long track record and wide availability.
- The mindset — You would rather have the familiar option.
About the six-month number
Daxxify
The six-month number comes from Daxxify's own trials. In its two main trials, half the people treated still had frown lines rated none or mild at about 24 weeks. That is a real finding from a real trial.
Dysport
It is not a comparison with Dysport. Dysport's "up to four months" is label wording the FDA reviewed. Daxxify's 24 weeks comes from its maker's own analysis. The two sets of trials did not enrol the same kind of people, and they did not check the result at the same moments.
What "no albumin" means, and what it does not
Daxxify
Daxxify is the only one of these products with no human blood protein in it. The other brands use human serum albumin, a protein taken from donated blood, to keep the toxin stable in the vial.
It is not evidence that Daxxify is safer or works better. Albumin has a long safety record in the other products. No study has shown a health benefit to leaving it out.
The fine print
Daxxify
Daxxify was approved in 2022, and has been in US use since then. Cervical dystonia, a neck muscle condition, was added in 2023.
Daxxify's launch price was cut within about a year, and the company was later sold.
Dysport
Dysport was approved in 2009 and has been in US use since then, after earlier use in Europe. It is also approved for cervical dystonia and spasticity. Its cosmetic approval is written for adults under 65.
More photographs
Dysport
A neurotoxin injection between the brows. Only a small volume goes in at each point, and the effect builds over the following days rather than immediately.
Common questions
Questions Patients Ask
Which lasts longer, Daxxify or Dysport?
Daxxify is the one marketed on a longer result, and its own trials support a longer result than a placebo. But no trial has ever compared Daxxify against Dysport directly, so there is no honest way to say how much longer, or whether it would hold up in a head-to-head. Treat the comparison as untested.
Is Daxxify stronger than Dysport?
No. The unit numbers look different — 40 for Daxxify, 50 for Dysport — but a unit means something different in each brand. You cannot read strength from the number of units.
Why does Daxxify cost more?
It was launched at a premium price on the basis of lasting longer. That price was reduced within about a year of launch, so what you pay now varies a lot by clinic.
Can I switch from Dysport to Daxxify?
Yes. Your injector recalculates the dose, because the units are not interchangeable. Tell them what you had last time, how many units, and how long it lasted.
Is either one approved for forehead lines?
No. In the United States, both are approved only for the frown lines between the eyebrows. Injectors do treat the forehead with them, which is legal, but it is off-label.
Can I have Dysport if I am allergic to milk?
No. Dysport may contain traces of cow's milk protein, and a milk allergy is listed as a reason not to use it. Daxxify does not contain milk protein. Tell your injector about any food allergy before you are treated.
Does Daxxify contain human blood products?
No. It uses a lab-made peptide to keep the toxin stable instead of human serum albumin. Dysport and most other brands do contain albumin.
Safety to keep in mind
In the United States, both are approved for one cosmetic use only: the frown lines between the eyebrows. Neither is approved for forehead lines or crow's feet. Injectors treat those areas anyway, which is legal and common, but it sits outside what the FDA reviewed.
Labelled doses for the frown lines are 40 units of Daxxify and 50 units of Dysport. Each brand's units belong to that brand alone, and both labels state that their units cannot be converted into any other brand's units.
Which safety warning should I know?
Botulinum toxin can cause drooping or weakness. Seek urgent care for trouble swallowing or breathing. Discuss the specific product’s warnings with your injector.