Nabota
A Korean-made botulinum toxin Made by Daewoong in South Korea. Sold as Nabota across Asia and much of the world, and as Jeuveau in the United States.
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Dermapedia / CompareProcedures
Nabota vs Botox
Nabota is a South Korean botulinum toxin, and it is the same product sold in the United States as Jeuveau. If you have seen both names, they are one drug with two labels for two markets. Botox is the original brand and the most studied one. Both relax the same muscles the same way, so for most people the choice comes down to what the clinic stocks and what it charges.
At a glance
| The difference | Nabota | Botox |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Korean-made botulinum toxin | The original botulinum toxin brand |
| What it actually does | Relaxes the muscle under the line | Relaxes the muscle under the line |
| What it is used for | Cosmetic lines, mainly | Cosmetic and medical |
| How long until it works | A few days to start | A few days to start |
| Cost | Usually cheaper than Botox | Usually the priciest |
Botox
Side by side
The differences that matter
What it is
Nabota
A Korean-made botulinum toxin
Made by Daewoong in South Korea. Sold as Nabota across Asia and much of the world, and as Jeuveau in the United States.
Botox
The original botulinum toxin brand
Made by Allergan. It has been used in medicine since the 1980s and in cosmetic work since the early 2000s.
What it actually does
Nabota
Relaxes the muscle under the line
It blocks the nerve signal that tells a facial muscle to contract, so the skin above stops creasing.
Botox
Relaxes the muscle under the line
The same mechanism. There is no difference in how the two work in the face.
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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What it is used for
Nabota
Cosmetic lines, mainly
It is marketed for wrinkles. Frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet are the usual sites.
Botox
Cosmetic and medical
The same wrinkle work, plus long-standing medical uses such as migraine, heavy sweating and muscle spasm.
How long until it works
Nabota
A few days to start
Full effect at about two weeks. Some injectors say it comes on slightly faster, but the difference is small.
Botox
A few days to start
Full effect at about two weeks. Judge either one then, not on day three.
How long it lasts
Nabota
Around three to four months
Botox
Around three to four months
What it will not do
Nabota
Nothing for loose skin
It softens lines caused by movement. Sagging, hollowing and sun damage are untouched.
Botox
Nothing for loose skin
Same limit. Toxin works on muscle, not on skin that has descended.
The downside
Nabota
Less familiar to many injectors
Outside Korea and Asia, some clinics have far less experience with it. Where you get it also matters, because Nabota-branded vials are widely sold online to non-clinics.
Botox
You pay for the brand name
It is usually the most expensive toxin in the room, and part of that is the name.
Cost
Nabota
Usually cheaper than Botox
Often the lower-priced option on a clinic's menu, and cheaper again in Korea and Thailand.
Botox
Usually the priciest
Priced per unit. Ask what a full treatment of your areas costs rather than the unit price.
The at-home or drugstore version
Nabota
None
Botox
None
Who each suits
Nabota
- Best for — Someone comparing prices, or being treated in Korea or Southeast Asia.
- The mindset — You want the same effect without paying for the best-known name.
Botox
- Best for — Someone who wants the most familiar option, or has a medical reason as well.
- The mindset — You would rather use the product every injector has used the most.
The naming, in one place
Nabota
Nabota, Jeuveau and prabotulinumtoxinA are all the same product. Nabota is the name it carries in South Korea and most other markets. Jeuveau is the name it was given for the United States. prabotulinumtoxinA is the generic name of the drug itself.
Botox
Botox is a brand name too, not a category. The drug in it is onabotulinumtoxinA. People use "Botox" the way they use "Hoover", to mean any wrinkle injection, which is why the comparison confuses people in the first place.
Where you buy it matters more than the brand
Nabota
Nabota vials are sold widely online, and that trade is the real concern with this brand. Because it is cheaper and made outside the United States, it turns up on wholesale sites aimed at anyone with a card.
Before you book
More photographs
Botox
Common questions
Questions Patients Ask
Is Nabota the same as Botox?
No, they are two different brands of the same type of drug. Both are botulinum toxin type A and both relax the muscles that crease your skin. Nabota is made in South Korea by Daewoong; Botox is made by Allergan.
Is Nabota the same as Jeuveau?
Yes. Jeuveau is the name Nabota was given for the United States market. It is one product with two labels, and the generic name is prabotulinumtoxinA.
Does Nabota last as long as Botox?
For most people, yes. Both usually run about three to four months. Your dose, your muscle strength and how much you exercise change that number more than the brand does.
Is Korean Botox safe?
Nabota is a regulated product used widely in Korea and dozens of other countries. The real question is where you get it, because vials are also sold online to buyers outside clinics. Be treated by a licensed injector who buys through proper supply channels.
Why is Nabota cheaper than Botox?
Mostly brand and market. Botox has the longest history and the strongest name, and it is priced accordingly. A lower price on its own does not mean a weaker product.
Can I switch from Botox to Nabota?
Yes, and injectors do it often. The units are measured differently between brands, so your injector will work out a new dose rather than copying your old unit count.
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.