Reconstituted Dysport is officially good for up to 24 hours when stored in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). After that window, the manufacturer says to discard any unused solution. In practice, many providers use reconstituted Dysport well beyond that timeframe, but the official guidance is clear and conservative.
The Official 24-Hour Window
The FDA-approved label for Dysport states that once the powder is mixed with saline, it should be kept in its original vial, refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F, protected from light, and used within 24 hours. Any solution remaining after 24 hours should be thrown away. Reconstituted Dysport should never be frozen, as freezing damages the protein structure that makes the product work.
This 24-hour rule applies regardless of the dilution ratio used. Whether a provider mixes the vial with a smaller or larger volume of saline, the clock starts the moment saline enters the vial.
What Providers Actually Do
The 24-hour recommendation is the manufacturer’s official position, but real-world practice often looks different. A survey published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that roughly 69% of physicians routinely store reconstituted botulinum toxin for longer than one week. Across those practices, not a single case of infection was reported, provided standard sterile injection techniques were followed.
This gap between the label and clinical practice exists because the 24-hour guideline is partly a legal and regulatory safeguard. The manufacturer tested stability out to 24 hours and set the cutoff there. It doesn’t necessarily mean the product becomes ineffective or dangerous at hour 25. But it does mean that any use beyond 24 hours is technically off-label, and the manufacturer no longer guarantees potency or sterility.
Does Potency Decline Over Time?
The active protein in Dysport is sensitive to heat, light, and physical agitation. Keeping the vial refrigerated and still slows degradation significantly. One study reviewed by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery tested reconstituted toxin that was continuously agitated in a refrigerator for up to 42 days. Even under those harsh conditions (the vial was being flipped back and forth 30 times per minute), the toxin retained measurable biological activity weeks later.
That said, “measurable activity” in a lab setting is not the same as full clinical potency. A vial sitting calmly in a fridge for a few days likely retains most of its strength, but there’s no precise data telling you it’s 95% effective on day three or 80% effective on day seven. The degradation curve depends on temperature consistency, whether the vial was contaminated during reconstitution, and how many times a needle has been inserted into the stopper.
How Dysport Compares to Botox
Botox carries the same 24-hour recommendation after reconstitution: refrigerate and discard after one day. The two products use the same type of active protein (botulinum toxin type A) from different manufacturing processes, so their stability profiles are similar. Neither product should be frozen once mixed, and both need consistent refrigeration to maintain their effectiveness.
The key practical difference is in unit sizing. Dysport vials come in 300 or 500 unit sizes, while Botox typically comes in 50, 100, or 200 unit vials. Because Dysport vials are larger, there may be more leftover solution after a single patient’s treatment, which is partly why this storage question comes up so often.
Storage Tips That Protect Potency
- Temperature: Keep the reconstituted vial between 36°F and 46°F. The middle of a dedicated medical refrigerator is ideal. Avoid storing it in a door compartment where temperatures fluctuate.
- Light exposure: The FDA label specifies protecting reconstituted Dysport from light. Keeping it in its original box or wrapping the vial helps.
- No freezing: Freezing and thawing destroys the protein. If your refrigerator runs cold enough to freeze liquids, move the vial to a warmer shelf.
- Minimal agitation: Rough handling, shaking, or repeatedly drawing from the vial can degrade the toxin faster. Gentle handling matters.
- Sterile technique: Every time a needle punctures the vial’s rubber stopper, there’s a small risk of introducing bacteria. Fewer punctures mean lower contamination risk over time.
If you’re a patient, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Dysport works best when it’s freshly mixed and used the same day. A reputable provider will reconstitute Dysport shortly before your appointment rather than pulling a days-old vial from the back of a fridge. If you’re curious about a provider’s practices, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask when the vial was mixed.