BOTOX® vs. Daxxify®: Which Treatment Is Right for You?

While many products and treatments are available to keep your skin looking its most radiant and youthful, it can be challenging to narrow down the right one.

For those wishing to reduce the fine lines and wrinkles common with aging and repeated muscular movements, BOTOX® Cosmetic, a medical-grade botulinum toxin, has been the gold standard for more than 20 years.¹ However, as of 2023, Daxxify® has entered the market. Both BOTOX and Daxxify are neuromodulators, which means they modify the activity of nerve cells.² The two treatments work similarly, but with some key differences.

Comparing BOTOX and Daxxify

Here’s an easy overview of the differences between BOTOX and Daxxify. While their origin and uses are similar, they have slightly different results.

Cost of BOTOX and Daxxify

BOTOX. The national average cost* for a single treatment of BOTOX is $420. However, the cost ranges from $95 to $3,142, depending on a variety of factors.⁹

Daxxify. The cost of Daxxify treatments may also vary depending on the provider, area and other factors. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, all botulinum toxins cost around $435 per treatment on average, but Daxxify may be slightly more expensive because it lasts longer and requires fewer treatments.¹⁰

Key Differences Between BOTOX and Daxxify

• BOTOX. Botulinum toxin, derived from the bacterium clostridium botulinum, is an injectable, non-surgical treatment that has been used by dermatologists and other cosmetic professionals since 2000 to help reduce wrinkles, as well as to treat neurological, urological and dermatological medical conditions.⁵
• Daxxify. DaxibotulinumtoxinA is a newer injectable neuromodulator designed to relax the muscles of the forehead, only in clinical use since 2023. It was formulated specifically to treat the glabellar lines of the forehead (between the brows), though it is often used off-label for other wrinkles.³

While both BOTOX and Daxxify are comprised of botulinum toxin type A, BOTOX uses accessory proteins to stabilize the product, while Daxxify uses a custom-engineered peptide that is not derived from animal byproducts.⁶

Both BOTOX and Daxxify work by blocking the nerve signals that tell muscles to contract. They do this by preventing access to specific proteins in the body that release the neurotransmitters that allow muscles to tighten, smoothing out wrinkles that come from muscle contractions (this is also why it can help with muscle spasms and chronic pain).⁵

Different Effects of BOTOX and Daxxify

If BOTOX works so well, why bring another similar treatment to the market? It turns out that Daxxify’s 35-amino acid peptide extends the duration of the results significantly longer than BOTOX.¹¹ By attaching the peptide to a vegan (non-animal, non-human) protein, it has a longer-lasting effect on muscles, requiring fewer treatments than BOTOX for similar results.³

With BOTOX, you can see results within four to seven days, while Daxxify takes effect as soon as two to three days, on average, after treatment. Both brands will reach their full result after approximately two weeks.⁶

Areas BOTOX and Daxxify Treat Best

BOTOX has multiple uses for relaxing the lines of the face and neck. The most common areas to treat with it are:⁸

• Bunny lines (nasalis muscle, on either side of the nose)
• Chin (mentalis muscle)
• Crow’s feet (lateral canthal lines at the eyes)
• Forehead (horizontal frontalis muscle)
• Frown lines (vertical glabellar lines between the eyebrows)
• Jawline (masseter muscle)
• Neck (platysmal bands)

Daxxify was approved specifically to treat the appearance of glabellar lines, otherwise known as those “angry 11s” that run between the eyebrows.³ However, some physicians do use it off-label to treat other areas of the face, including:¹²

• Above the brows
• Crow’s feet
• Forehead lines
• Other facial wrinkles caused by repeated facial movements

How the Results Vary

Though these two neuromodulators are similar, the real clincher for some in deciding between them is how long they last — BOTOX results will last about three to four months, while Daxxify can last between six and nine months.⁶

While both BOTOX and Daxxify can also help people who suffer from a condition of excessive sweating known as hyperhidrosis, Daxxify requires fewer injections to see better results.⁶

However, there’s another consideration beyond results. BOTOX has been around for more than 20 years and has many research studies to back up its efficacy and safety. Daxxify has been FDA-approved only since 2022, so it hasn’t had the same time to rack up studies and results. Additionally, though physicians do use it off-label, it is FDA-approved only to relax the glabellar lines of the forehead.¹

Recovery Time for BOTOX and Daxxify

Though BOTOX and Daxxify are non-surgical treatments, they are both injected into the muscle with a needle, so there can be swelling, redness and irritation at the injection sites. After both BOTOX and Daxxify, you can expect slight redness or possible swelling at the injection sites for up to 24 hours, on average.⁷

You should be able to return to regular activities and routines within hours to one day, though it’s recommended to minimize exposure to heat and sun, alcohol and intense exercise. Also, avoid massaging or manipulating the treatment area for several days after treatment.⁴

Side Effects of BOTOX and Daxxify

The most common side effects of BOTOX and Daxxify are mild redness and swelling at injection sites.⁷ You may also experience small red bumps, flu-like symptoms, headache, bruising or temporary facial weakness — but those are less common.⁴

More rare but serious side effects can include:¹³

• Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction)
• Blepharoptosis (drooping upper eyelids) and ectropion (lower eyelid drooping)
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle hypotonia (frozen muscles that were not part of the treatment area)
• Ophthalmological changes (changes to vision)
• Soft tissue edema (swelling)

If you experience any of these side effects, contact your doctor immediately.

Number of Treatments Needed

Per treatment area, you can expect to need slightly more sessions of BOTOX to achieve the same effects as Daxxify.⁶

• BOTOX. About one treatment per target area every three to four months.
• Daxxify. About one treatment per target area every six to nine months.

Best Candidates for BOTOX and Daxxify

No matter which of the two neuromodulators you choose, you must be sure you’re in excellent health and have cleared the injections with your medical provider.

Good candidates for BOTOX include those who:

• Are new to neuromodulator injections⁶
• Don’t mind a shorter frequency between treatments⁶
• Seek a more well-researched and tested neuromodulator on the market¹
• Want to smooth wrinkles in key parts of the face and neck, such as forehead, cheeks, chin and neck⁸

Good candidates for DAXXIFY include those who:

• Have already used neuromodulators and understand the effects¹²
• Have experienced BOTOX resistance (typically related to the animal byproducts in BOTOX)⁶
• Want the safest, FDA-approved use of a product.¹
• Want to go longer between treatments⁶
• Want to treat the glabellar wrinkles between the brows³

How Dysport Compares to BOTOX and Daxxify

Another neuromodulator treatment, very similar to BOTOX and Daxxify, is Dysport®, the second such product ever to come onto the market. It’s typically less expensive than BOTOX but requires more units — it comes in vials of 300 to 500 units, whereas BOTOX comes in 50 to 100 units. As a result, it is more expensive than BOTOX or Daxxify.¹⁴

Its effect time is comparable to BOTOX, lasting around three to six months, with an average of four. It also contains more of the active ingredient than BOTOX. Only Daxxify has the peptide stabilizer, which allows for longer-lasting results, so Dysport is ultimately a more expensive alternative to BOTOX and not as long-lasting as Daxxify.¹⁴

Choose a Treatment That Works to Reduce Your Fine Lines and Wrinkles

While both BOTOX and Daxxify offer a non-surgical and relatively quick and painless treatment to smooth and rejuvenate your face, they do have slightly different timelines and results. People who are comfortable with neuromodulators or have experienced BOTOX resistance might want to jump on the Daxxify bandwagon, while those newer to this kind of treatment might want to stay with the tried and true, BOTOX.

Financing Cosmetic Treatments With the CareCredit Credit Card

When getting BOTOX or Daxxify treatments or another cosmetic procedure, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Paypal, The Washington Post and more.