Which Botulinum Toxin Brand Is Best? Is Botox Really No. 1?

For aesthetic medicine beginners, botulinum toxin ranks among the top three treatments to try. It can be used on many areas, and its results can last at least six months. By inhibiting muscle movement, it smooths wrinkles, slims the face, and relaxes the calf muscles, shoulders, and neck. But with so many brands, which is the best? American Botox is the most common and the most recommended brand. Is Botox really that good? How does it differ from other brands? Today we look at everything about botulinum toxin!

Botulinum Toxin Brands

Currently, the Taiwan FDA has approved botulinum toxin from 5 brands: Dysport, Botox, Xeomin, Letybo (known as Botulax in Korea), NABOTA, and Neuronox.

(P.S. Actual results and duration still vary with individual constitution and metabolism.)

1. Botox

Developed and manufactured by the American pharmaceutical company Allergan, it received FDA approval in 1989 and has been used worldwide for many years with high name recognition. Botox's botulinum toxin is surrounded by more protective proteins, making it a slower-diffusing formulation, so after injection it has high stability and works better in delicate areas.

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2. Letybo (Botulax)

It is produced by Hugel Pharma, part of Korea's Pacific Pharmaceutical group, received FDA approval and launched in 2009, and is a popular botulinum toxin injectable in the Korean market. The botulinum toxin and the surrounding protective protein structure of Letybo are similar to Botox's, so its stability and results after treatment are comparable to Botox.

3. Dysport

Made in the UK, it received FDA approval in 2009 and is now approved for use in many countries worldwide. Dysport has less surrounding protective protein, so the core botulinum toxin can diffuse more quickly, meaning it takes effect faster after injection, making it suited to relaxing large muscles, such as the masseter, calves, and shoulders.

4. Nabota

Made by the well-known Korean company Daewoong Pharmaceutical, founded in 1945, it received US FDA approval on February 2, 2019, and is also approved by the EU's EMA and the Taiwan FDA. NABOTA is a natural protein extracted and purified with advanced technology, suitable for improving frown lines caused by the corrugator and procerus muscles, and it is all the rage among beauty-conscious people in Korea!

5. Xeomin

Xeomin® from Germany, known as the “angel toxin,” is the world's only type A botulinum toxin product that is purely extracted and free of complexing proteins, which reduces the risk of immune reactions and antibody formation and avoids the situation where repeated injections gradually lose effectiveness or stop working. It is suitable for improving various dynamic wrinkles or relaxing muscles, leaving lines smooth and firm and the skin looking clear and radiant.

6. Neuronox (nicknamed the “miracle toxin”)

Neuronox, the Korean “miracle toxin”, is launched by Medytox, a major Korean aesthetic medicine company favored by well-known Korean star Son Ye-jin. The brand has been on the market for more than 16 years, and was approved for sale in Taiwan by the Taiwan FDA in 2022.

Its product features include an authentic American bacterial strain source, and the botulinum toxin produced from it has a long-lasting effect and is safe and stable, making it very well suited to medical treatment use; in addition, it has launched an affordable 200U vial in Taiwan, so careful spenders can enjoy the miracle without stretching their budget.

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Advantages of Botulinum Toxin

(1) No surgical downtime

There is no surgical wound, so there is no downtime, no need to take time off, and you can put on makeup right away!

(2) A comfortable treatment

Performed by a professional physician, it causes only slight swelling and a slight prickling sensation locally, which is acceptable for many people.

(3) High treatment safety

The type A botulinum toxin widely used in aesthetic medicine today is the smallest and mildest of the botulinum toxins, and is a very safe treatment method.

(4) Gradual, lasting effects

Generally, the effect gradually becomes visible about 1 month after botulinum toxin treatment, and we recommend injections two to three times a year. Clinical studies show that the duration of the effect lengthens as the number of treatments increases.

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Disadvantages of Botulinum Toxin

(1) Mild pain, bruising, and swelling

The most common reaction, caused by the injection itself, usually improves within 1 week.

(2) Double vision, flu-like symptoms, and headache

These are less common.

(3) Stiff expression

Because the muscles cannot contract, the expression may become stiff, the eyebrows may not lift, and the expression may be asymmetrical, for example one eyebrow higher than the other, brows pressing down on the eyes, or even drooping eyelids. (The cause may be incorrect injection sites, excessive doses, or the drug diffusing to unintended muscles, causing weakness, among others.)

American Botox vs. Korean Letybo

Korean botulinum toxin Letybo: for injecting large muscle groups

Five key features of Letybo: high quality, high standards, high efficiency, small wounds, high safety

For injections into the body's large muscles, such as the calf muscles (“radish legs”), trapezius (thick shoulders), deltoid (outer upper arm), or underarm hyperhidrosis, Korean Letybo tends to work better.

American botulinum toxin Botox: dynamic lines and specific facial muscles

Five key features of Botox: high name recognition, high satisfaction, on the market for more than 30 years, small wounds, high safety

For dynamic lines on the face, such as forehead lines, frown lines, and crow's feet, or for specific enlarged muscles, such as the masseter muscle and a square jaw, Botox does a better job of smoothing fine lines on the face, so we recommend American Botox.

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Botulinum Toxin Pricing Secrets Revealed!

How botulinum toxin is priced confuses many people:

Botulinum toxin is priced by the number of units injected (U = unit), so the price varies with how much is injected, and different areas and treatment zones require different doses and levels of complexity, which also affects the price. Common injection sites include the forehead, glabella, around the eyes, and around the lips, among others. In general, 1U of botulinum toxin costs roughly NT$100-200.

When choosing botulinum toxin injections, we recommend consulting an experienced physician and a licensed aesthetic medicine clinic for customized advice based on your facial features and desired results, so be sure to communicate thoroughly with your physician before treatment.

(The table above is for reference; please consult the clinic for actual prices!)

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They are all botulinum toxin, so why do prices differ?

Prices for botulinum toxin treatments on the market differ because the dose needed varies by injection area, and also because of each clinic's pricing strategy and the brand chosen. Basically, as long as consumers choose a legally approved botulinum toxin product that is indicated for the treatment area, they can get good results after treatment.

Furthermore, prices differ between brands because of each brand's characteristics and how long results last after treatment, so before injection we recommend learning about each brand's features and shortlisting a few that suit you, then choosing the final brand through your physician's professional consultation and diagnosis!

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