You know that “Are you tired?” comment you’ve gotten when you’re not? Or the way your brow can look a little stern in pictures your friends post? That’s more muscle habit than mood.
If you’re ready to take the edge off those lines—without changing how you move your face—Dysport is a simple nudge in the right direction. It quiets the spots that keep tugging on the skin, so that you look a bit smoother.
At Total Aesthetics in Westport, Dr. Joseph O’Connell does the injections himself. He’s calm, and he explains the plan in terms everyone understands. He watches how your brow and eyes actually move, starts light, and checks in a couple of weeks later to make sure it landed the way you wanted. Short visit. Clear aftercare. No drama—just a realistic path to looking rested on your regular Tuesday.
Dysport smooths dynamic wrinkles—the lines and wrinkles that show with motion. When you frown, squint, or lift your eyebrows, overactive muscles crease the overlying skin. Dysport lowers that pull. Your face still moves; it just folds less. That is the goal: natural-looking softening that respects facial expressions.
Dysport belongs to the neuromodulator family. The active ingredient is botulinum toxin type A. It is an FDA-approved product for glabellar lines in adults. On-label, the plan uses five injections across the frown complex. In the hands of a surgeon, that map is precise: a small dose for each point, with position and depth tailored to the way your frown forms. Dysport is FDA-approved for that pattern; other areas we discuss below are considered off-label in the cosmetic space. Knowing that line matters. It shapes consent and expectation.
Dysport is built for the upper face, where motion writes lines across thin skin. The classic zone is the glabella—the “11s” between the brows, where vertical lines can cut a stern look into the center of your face. Those are frown lines. On-label, we treat that spot with five injections, placed across the corrugator and procerus groups to soften the scowl without dropping the brow.
Beyond the glabella, many plastic surgeons employ Dysport for patterns that suit a motion-based tool:
We will state what is on-label, what is not, and why a given procedure fits your face. If lost volume, hollow under-eyes (dark circles), or deep folds drive your concern, injectable fillers—most often hyaluronic acid—enter the conversation. Fillers replace shape; neuromodulators reduce motion. Different tools, different jobs.
Neuromodulators block the nerve signal that tells a muscle to contract. Less muscle activity means the overlying skin bends less with each motion. Over a run of weeks, the face reads smoother. The wrinkles formed by movement soften. Many patients notice a change in just a few days, with full softening near the two-week mark. Results then hold for about three to four months, shaped by dose, injection map, and your own biology.
Dysport and Botox sit in the same family. Each uses botulinum toxin type A, with different unit scales and spread characteristics. Units across brands are not interchangeable. That is one reason a surgeon maps, measures, and sets units needed for you—not for a textbook face.
Good candidates want motion-based lines eased while keeping real expression. Most healthy adults qualify. We will pause if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have an infection at planned injection sites, or if certain medical conditions raise risk. We also review medications and supplements that may increase the risk of bruising.
Every neuromodulator carries rare but real warnings, including symptoms of spread beyond the target. A trained doctor knows how to screen, dose, and follow you. A patient-first plan explains what to watch for and when to call.
You can also explore resources from professional groups, including the Connecticut Society of Plastic Surgeons, as you learn about care in our region. Our team welcomes those questions.
Consultation today starts with measurement and an honest talk about aesthetic goals. We take photos and test expression. We watch how your brow peaks, where your forehead creases, and how your smile fans lines at the corners of your eye. We mark a treatment plan with clear points and an estimate of units needed. This map lets you see the logic behind each decision.
Comfort matters. A topical numbing cream is available. Many people skip it because the needle is fine and the passes are quick, yet it remains an option. No general anesthesia is used. The procedure is a set of precise injections at the mapped points with careful depth control.
When the glabella is the main concern, the on-label plan uses five injections across the frown complex. If we add crow’s feet or forehead work, we show you how those zones relate to brow support so you can understand the tradeoffs. You will leave with clear aftercare and a follow-up plan in case small refinements are useful at the two-week mark.
You can head back to your day after treatment—minimal downtime is part of why patients pick this path. Follow simple rules: keep fingers off the injection sites, avoid tight headwear, stay upright for a few hours, and hold intense workouts until the next day.
Most patients begin to notice softening in just a few days. The face continues to smooth over the next week. By two weeks, the change is clear in photos and mirrors. Results can hold for three to four months. We schedule the next round no sooner than twelve weeks, and we plan the pace so you do not fall off a cliff between visits. The aim is steady, low-drama maintenance.
No two faces move the same way. A compact forehead with light pull will not need the same plan as a broad brow with strong downward vectors. The frown complex can be different from side to side. That is why the units needed vary by person. The point pattern matters as much as the number. We pick specific muscles, then decide how much to give each one.
There is another reason to set the dose with care: the unit scale for Dysport is not the same as the unit scale for Botox. Counting units across brands is not a head-to-head comparison. A surgeon can explain where those differences matter and where they do not. The goal is calibrated change, not a race to a high unit count.
Dysport and Botox both ease motion to soften lines. Choice can come down to prior response, area, and injector preference. Some faces respond a bit faster to one product. Some hold shape better with another. In the clinic, that shows up as smoother frown lines, calmer forehead lines, and gentler crow’s feet without a frozen look.
Dermal fillers—often hyaluronic acid—do something else. They address lost volume and deeper folds that sit there at rest, like laugh lines or hollow tear troughs that cast dark circles. Fillers can also refine lip shape or cheek support. When sun damage drives the complaint with pigment and texture shifts, we move to skin-focused cosmetic treatments that help collagen production and tone. Skin color and texture are not injection problems. They need a different lane.
That is the map we use in care: one lane for motion (Dysport, Botox, and friends), one lane for shape (injectable fillers), one lane for facial rejuvenation that treats the skin itself. The strongest results come from mixing lanes with intent, not from pushing one tool to do every job.
Those are the vertical lines that make a face look stern when you are relaxed. On-label care hits the frown complex with five injections at mapped points. Softening here can change the mood of the entire upper face.
We address forehead lines and horizontal forehead lines when the brow sits in a stable place. We balance the dose so the forehead smooths without dropping the brow. A mild lift at the tail of the brow can open the eye when the anatomy allows.
Softening the fine spokes at the outer eyes can give a calmer smile on photos while keeping warmth in motion.
If the scrunch at the upper nose steals attention, small doses can help.
For a small subset of people, vertical bands frame a face that looks tight on top but drawn below. We discuss options for that pattern where it makes sense, and we cover where a surgical approach gives a better long-term fix.
Hairlines, brow shapes, and muscle strength vary with sex and with age. Men often need higher doses in the frown or forehead. Women may benefit from more careful shaping at the lateral brow. The map fits the person. That is how we keep character while easing lines.
Common effects include small marks at the injection sites, a short headache, and a tiny bruise. We give a bruise plan that covers timing, arnica, and how to line up treatment with events on your calendar. Eye comfort and brow support guide the pattern on the upper face. If anything feels off, you call us. That open line matters.
Uncommon events include lid or brow drop and rare symptoms tied to the spread of toxin effect. We discuss those risks in plain language. The point is not to create fear. The point is to show you how a medical team manages risk, sets dose with respect for anatomy, and gives you clear signs that should trigger a call. That is the difference between non-surgical procedures in a spa vibe and non-surgical care inside a plastic surgery practice.
Neuromodulators are not a cure for skin laxity or heavy lids. When the brow sits low or extra skin folds over the lash line, a surgical fix can serve you better than another round of toxin. A small brow lift can move the frame of the eye in a way injections cannot. Upper eyelid surgery can remove extra skin that throws a shadow and crowds your gaze.
Because your injector here is a board-certified plastic surgeon, you hear that truth upfront. If a surgical lane would give a better outcome, we say so. The right path is the one that helps you achieve your goal with the least drama and the most durability.
Plan a calm day. Keep fingers away from the injection sites. Stay upright for a few hours. Skip a hot yoga class or an all-out lift session until tomorrow. If you wear tight headbands or hats, give the forehead a break that first night. Makeup can return once the skin settles. A cool pack can help a tender spot. A bruise is rare and tends to be small if it occurs. We will send a short list that fits your day.
Your visit is surgeon-led from the start. We map function, not just dots. You see how each point protects brow support or opens the eye. You hear what Dysport can do and what it cannot. And if your goals change, we have options—from neuromodulators and dermal fillers to a surgical approach when that makes more sense for the long run. We keep the plan honest, and we keep it yours.
We serve Westport, CT, New Canaan, and the wider Fairfield County community. Set your consultation, and we will map motion, confirm points, and walk you through the plan. You can book online or call the office to schedule your consultation today. From there, we set a pace that fits life, not the other way around.
Total Aesthetics in Westport and Fairfield County
Most people notice softening in just a few days, with a clear shift by two weeks. We time follow-ups with that window in mind.
Yes. It is an FDA-approved product for the treatment of glabellar lines in adults. Other cosmetic zones are off-label in the U.S.
On-label glabella care uses five injections across mapped points. We explain why each point matters.
A topical numbing cream is available. Many people skip it. The needle is fine, and the passes are quick.
Plan on three to four months. We do not re-treat sooner than twelve weeks.
Yes. Injectable fillers solve lost volume and folds at rest. Dysport solves motion. The two often work best together.
No. Unit scales differ. We set the dose for the brand we use and your face, not by a fixed unit number across products.
Small bruises can happen. We review prep and timing around events, then give a plan that reduces the chance you’ll see one.
No. Dark circles come from shadow, pigment, thin skin, or volume loss. That points to skin care, light resurfacing, or hyaluronic acid filler in select cases.
That is where it shines. Some neck and lower-face patterns can be considered on a case-by-case basis with a clear safety plan.
The first step towards a new, beautiful you is to schedule a personal consultation.
Along with providing the highest level of care, no effort is spared to create an environment where each patient is nurtured and cared for as an individual. Use our form to contact Dr. O’Connell with questions about any of our aesthetic or plastic surgery procedures.
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Total Aesthetics proudly serves patients from Westport, New Canaan, Bridgeport, Greenwich and all of Fairfield County Connecticut.
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