Effectiveness of botulinum toxin (type-A) administered by the fixed-site dosing approach versus the muscle area identification.

INTRODUCTION

Botulinum toxin is widely used in glabellar musculature. The authors express the need to individualize the approach by means of muscular identification to improve effectiveness. Despite these guidelines, the fixed-point technique is still used.

OBJECTIVE

Comparison of effectiveness of botulinum toxin administration in the glabellar zone by using fixed-site application versus objective-muscle-identification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prolective dynamic cohort study. Patients (after previous informed consent) were assessed on their facial expressions, level of satisfaction, re-interventions, adverse effects, dosage, dilution, and number of injections. All patients who experienced either of both techniques of botulinum toxin administration (fixed-site or objective-muscle-identification) were subjected to followup by the following parameters: statistical analysis: student's t Test (inter-group mean comparisons), paired student's t test (intra-group mean comparisons), χ (2) with Fisher exact text.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients were evaluated (31 fixed-site approach, 31 objective-muscle-identification). No patient abandoned the trial during followup. Fixed-site injections required larger doses (16 vs 12 U, p = 0.001), greater volume (0.48 vs. 0.37 ml, p = 0.001), and more application sites (4 vs 2, p = 0.001), compared to the objective-muscle-identification approach. Under the objective-muscle-identification technique, facial expressions were better attenuated (52 vs 65%, p = 0.001), with a higher initial satisfaction level (6 vs 9, p = 0.001) and final satisfaction level (9 vs 9.9, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Botulinum toxin application is more effective when administered through the objective-muscle-identification approach (less frowning, lower doses, less fixed sites injected, and patients more satisfied at the end).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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