Efficacy and safety of long-term repeated treatment of facial wrinkles with botulinum toxin A

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of long-term repeated treatment of facial wrinkles with application of botulinum toxin A (BTXA). Methods A total of 52 patients had received 8 injections in seven years with BTXA against facial wrinkles, including forehead wrinkles, fishtail lines, glabellas wrinkles, and nasal dorsum transverse wrinkles. Besides day 1 (baseline) and day for the next injection (end-point), follow-up visits were scheduled on 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after every injection. The therapy effect and safety were evaluated. Results For all the patients, it began to take effect on day 3 or 4 after the treatment and best effect appeared on 1 month post-treatment. Patients' selfevaluation as grade 1 for the improvement of forehead wrinkles, fishtail lines, glabellas wrinkles and nasal dorsum transverse wrinkles, accounted for 100%, 97.1%, 99.8% and 99%, respectively. Correspondingly, cases as grade 2 accounted for 0, 2.9%, 0.2% and 1.0%. Grades 3 to 5 had not been reported. With the repetition of treatment, the efficiency increased. The average of effective duration was (7.8±1.1) months, which lasted longer with the injection times increased (r= 0.256, P= 0.02). Adverse reactions observed in the previous several injections, including ecchymosis, feeling of tightness, rigid expression and severer wrinkles near the injected site, which were mild and the incidence rate decreased after the following injections (r= 0.850, P= 0.01). Severe adverse effects, such as allergic reaction,headache, blepharoptosis and dysraphism of eyes had not happened in all the 52 patients. Conclusion Long-term repeated application of BTXA against facial wrinkles is safe and the efficacy is confirmed. The approach can be applied repeatedly to those who have indications and good tolerance. Key words: Botulinum toxin A (BTXA); Injection; Therapy