Botox vs Other Neurotoxin Brands

A clinician in blue gloves holding two prepared syringes, one in each hand
Seven botulinum toxins hold a US licence. They are not interchangeable, and their units cannot be converted between products.

“Botox” has become the word people use for any wrinkle-relaxing injection, but it is one brand among many. Eleven botulinum toxin type A products are compared here, six you can legally receive in the United States, and five you cannot.

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All of these products work the same way: they block the nerve signal that tells a muscle to contract, which softens the lines that muscle creates. What separates them is formulation, how far the product spreads from the injection point, how long the effect lasts, and, most practically, whether a clinic in your country can legally buy it.

The single most useful distinction is availability. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, Daxxify and Letybo are FDA-approved and sold to licensed US providers. Neuronox, Innotox, Liztox, Coretox and Rentox are widely used in South Korea and other markets but are not approved for sale in the United States. If a US clinic offers you one of those five, that is a serious warning sign about where their product is coming from.

At a glance

BrandAvailable in the USTypical durationWhat sets it apart
BotoxYes, FDA approved3–4 monthsThe reference product. FDA approved for medical use in 1989 and cosmetic use in 2002.
DysportYes, FDA approved3–4 monthsSpreads slightly further from the injection point, which some injectors prefer on larger areas like the forehead.
XeominYes, FDA approved3–4 months, some report 5–6The “naked” toxin: its label describes the neurotoxin separated from its accessory proteins. Across 2,649 trial patients, 0.3% were positive for neutralising antibodies and no patient lost response because of them. The label states that assay differences rule out comparing those rates against other brands, so the popular claim that it resists antibodies better is not established.
JeuveauYes, FDA approved3–4 monthsApproved for cosmetic use only. Manufactured by Daewoong and sold as Nabota outside the US.
DaxxifyYes, FDA approved6–9 monthsUses a peptide stabiliser instead of animal or human proteins. Much the longest-lasting option.
LetyboYes, FDA approved3–4 monthsThe newest FDA-approved toxin in the US, approved for frown lines.
NabotaYes, as Jeuveau3–4 monthsThe same product as Jeuveau. Made by Daewoong in South Korea, launched in the US in 2019 under the Jeuveau name.
NeuronoxNo3–4 monthsWidely used in South Korea and Southeast Asia. Not approved for US sale.
InnotoxNo3–4 monthsShips as a pre-mixed liquid rather than a powder needing reconstitution. Not approved for US sale.
LiztoxNo3–4 monthsA newer Korean toxin. Not approved for US sale.
CoretoxNo3–4 monthsFormulated without animal-derived proteins. Not approved for US sale.
RentoxNo3–4 monthsKorean botulinum toxin type A. Not approved for US sale.

How to choose

If you want the longest gap between appointments
Daxxify is the only product here lasting 6–9 months rather than 3–4. Fewer sessions a year, though the per-session price is usually higher and not every clinic stocks it.
If you have stopped responding to Botox
A small number of long-term patients develop antibodies that blunt the effect. Xeomin contains no complexing proteins, which is the reason injectors often suggest it in that situation.
If you are treating a large area like the forehead
Dysport’s slightly wider spread can mean smoother coverage across a broad muscle. On small, precise areas that same property is a drawback, which is why many injectors keep both.
If price is the deciding factor
Compare the total for your treatment, not the per-unit rate. Dysport units are not equivalent to Botox units, a comparable result typically needs roughly two and a half to three times as many, so a lower unit price does not mean a lower bill.
If a clinic offers you a toxin not approved here
Neuronox, Innotox, Liztox, Coretox and Rentox cannot be legally sold to US providers. Being offered one means the product was obtained outside the regulated supply chain, with no guarantee of what is in the vial.

A note on Nabota, which sits in neither list

One product in this cluster does not fit the approved-or-not split above. Nabota is made in South Korea by Daewoong, and under that name it is not sold in the United States. The same product is, however, licensed and sold here as Jeuveau. So if you have read about Nabota and wondered whether you can get it in the US, the answer is that you already can, under a different name and through a US distributor.

How to compare two neurotoxins properly

Three things actually differ between brands, and price is not usually the interesting one.

Unit scales are not interchangeable. Dysport units are not Botox units. A clinic charging less per Dysport unit is not necessarily cheaper, because your treatment needs more of them. Compare the cost of treating your area, not the headline rate, and use our units and dosing guide to work out what your treatment is likely to need.

Onset and duration vary. Some products begin working faster, and Daxxify is formulated to last longer than the others, which changes how often you return and therefore your annual cost rather than your visit cost.

Formulation differs. Xeomin is sometimes described as a "naked" toxin because it carries no accessory proteins, which is relevant if you have developed resistance to another product. For the mechanism behind all of this, our complete Botox guide covers how the toxin works on the nerve.

If you want the full brand-by-brand detail rather than the summary, the Dysport guide and Daxxify guide each go deeper than the comparison pages do.

All 38 guides in this category

Other NeurotoxinsHow Long Does Jeuveau Last? The Label Does Not Say, and That Matters Other NeurotoxinsJeuveau by Area and Units Other NeurotoxinsJeuveau Before and After Other NeurotoxinsWhere to Get Jeuveau, and How to Check the Vial Before It Is Mixed Other NeurotoxinsWhere to Get Letybo, the Newest Approved Toxin Other NeurotoxinsWhere to Get Daxxify, and the Question to Ask About Duration Other NeurotoxinsWhere to Get Xeomin, and the Storage Rule That Decides Who Carries It Other NeurotoxinsHow to Pronounce Xeomin, and Every Other Neurotoxin Name Other NeurotoxinsXeomin Treatment Areas, and the 64 Unit Ceiling Other NeurotoxinsWhich Neurotoxin Lasts Longest? What All Six Labels Actually Say Other NeurotoxinsLetybo vs Dysport, Xeomin, Daxxify and Jeuveau Other NeurotoxinsLetybo Price and Cost Per Unit A masked person in a blue glove holding up a small unlabelled glass vialOther NeurotoxinsKorean Botulinum Toxins A close-up of a clinician in a surgical cap and mask, one eye visible, against a plain grey backgroundOther NeurotoxinsXeomin Side Effects A gloved hand holding a graduated syringe of yellow solution against a pale background, with the barrel markings clearly legibleOther NeurotoxinsXeomin Units and What It Costs A fine needle entering the skin at the outer brow, held by a gloved injector, with a small spot of blood at the entry pointOther NeurotoxinsHow Long Does Xeomin Last? Three graduated syringes holding differently coloured contents, lying with their needles converging on a pale blue surface, millilitre markings visibleOther NeurotoxinsXeomin vs Dysport A gloved clinician injecting the forehead with a graduated syringe, with white marker dots visible across the treatment areaOther NeurotoxinsDysport Units vs Botox Units A gloved injector steadying the skin at the tail of the eyebrow while placing an injection with a graduated syringe, with small white marker dots visible on the skinOther NeurotoxinsThe Ultimate Xeomin Guide A gloved clinician holding a graduated syringe above a patient lying on a treatment couch, steadying her head with the other handOther NeurotoxinsHow Long Does Dysport Last, and How Fast Does It Work? A fine-gauge graduated syringe held at the outer corner of the mouth, with white marker guide lines drawn on the surrounding skinOther NeurotoxinsDysport Treatment Areas A gloved clinician placing an injection near the outer brow of a patient wearing a surgical cap, against a plain white backgroundOther NeurotoxinsDysport Side Effects A graduated syringe with numbered unit markings held in gloved hands beside a patient’s faceOther NeurotoxinsHow Much Does Dysport Cost? A gloved hand holding four small glass vials, each with a graduated syringe inserted, against a plain backgroundOther NeurotoxinsDysport Before and After, Day by Day A gloved clinician moving a handheld skin treatment device across a patient’s foreheadOther NeurotoxinsDysport Aftercare Gloved hands drawing solution from a small glass vial into a syringeOther NeurotoxinsWhere to Get Dysport, and How to Vet the Injector Gloved hands drawing solution from an inverted glass vial into a syringeOther NeurotoxinsRelfydess: The US Status A gloved hand holding a graduated syringe of pale yellow solution against a plain background, with a droplet at the needle tipOther NeurotoxinsThe Ultimate Letybo Guide Two prepared syringes lying beside small glass medication vials on a pale blue surfaceComparisonDysport vs. Botox: The Comparison Guide A single glass vial and a prepared syringe photographed on a plain blue backgroundComparisonBotox vs. Xeomin: The Comparison Guide A medication vial standing between two prepared syringes on a pink backgroundComparisonDaxxify vs. Botox: The Comparison Guide A gloved hand holding four prepared syringes fanned out against a pink backgroundComparisonBotox vs. Jeuveau: The Comparison Guide A single fine-gauge syringe photographed upright against a soft pink backgroundComparisonBotox vs. Letybo: The Comparison Guide A prepared syringe lying diagonally across a plain pink backgroundComparisonBotox vs. Nabota: The Comparison Guide A woman in profile against a white background, with a small syringe held to her cheekboneIn-depth guideThe Ultimate Dysport Guide: How It Works, Timeline, Results, and Aftercare A woman in profile against a white background, with a small syringe held to her cheekboneIn-depth guideThe Ultimate Daxxify Guide: How It Works, Timeline, Results, and Aftercare A syringe photographed against a deep blue backgroundOther NeurotoxinsJeuveau A woman pressing her fingers against her cheekOther NeurotoxinsBotox Alternatives, Compared

Frequently asked questions

Which botulinum toxin brand is best?
No single brand is universally best. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, Daxxify and Letybo all work through the same mechanism and produce broadly comparable cosmetic results when dosed correctly. Daxxify lasts materially longer at 6–9 months; Xeomin is protein-free; Dysport spreads a little more. The skill of the injector matters more than the brand on the vial.
Which Botox alternatives are actually available in the United States?
Six products are FDA approved and sold to licensed US providers: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, Daxxify and Letybo. Nabota is the same product as Jeuveau. Neuronox, Innotox, Liztox, Coretox and Rentox are not approved for US sale, so a US clinic cannot legally obtain them through the normal supply chain.
Are units interchangeable between brands?
No. Each manufacturer defines potency differently, so units are brand-specific. Dysport typically requires roughly two and a half to three times as many units as Botox for a comparable result, while Xeomin is dosed roughly one to one. Always compare the total cost of your treatment rather than the headline per-unit price.
Why do so many botulinum toxin brands come from South Korea?
South Korea has an unusually large domestic aesthetics market and several established manufacturers, including Daewoong, whose Nabota is sold in the US as Jeuveau. Korean-approved products such as Neuronox, Innotox, Liztox, Coretox and Rentox are common in Asian markets but have not been through the FDA approval process for US sale.

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Sources

Every figure on this page was read from the documents below rather than from a clinic or a manufacturer's marketing. They open in a new tab so you can check any claim here against its source.