New Orleans - It's the latest hot shot in the fight against wrinkles and it could mean erasing those fine lines just got a little less expensive.
In a world where so many equate youth with beauty, some will do anything to smooth things over on their face. And for those not wanting to go under the knife, Botox has been king of that market for more than a decade.
Now Botox finally has its first and only rival.
It's called Dysport. It has been widely used in Europe for more than a decade, but just recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dysport not only acts like Botox, it's made from the same toxin. Both are injected and both temporarily relax the muscles in the face, but that's where the similarities end.
Dr. William Coleman, a Metairie plastic surgeon says, "One of the differences is it comes on very quickly. If you do a Botox injection, it takes 1 to 2 weeks to see the benefits. Dysport can kick in in 2 to 3 days. So, if you see me on a Wednesday and you're going out on a Saturday, it might be an advantage."
Dr. Coleman also says Dysport seems to diffuse more readily than Botox, which means you may need fewer injections to do the trick.
Early results show it may even last a little longer in some patients.
Dr. Karman Khoobehi says there's another foreseeable side effect.
"It's a little bit cheaper and i think it's going to put the pressure on the other company to become a little more competitive."
Some doctors say Dysport could cost 10 to 15 percent less than Botox, depending on the area being treated.
Botulinum carrying drugs like Botox and Dysport can cause serious problems if they spread to other parts of the body.
