Botox injections can reduce wrinkles with half as many sessions after 20 months

Patients receiving Botox Cosmetic treatments can reduce wrinkles with half as many sessions after 20 months, according to research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute. The results were presented at a meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Washington, D.C., and published in the June 2011 edition of the scientific peer-reviewed journal Dermatologic Surgery.

The study aimed to determine if less frequent Botox Cosmetic treatments provide longer-lasting reduction of glabellar rhytids, commonly known as brow furrows. Roger Dailey, M.D., F.A.C.S., head of OHSU's Casey Aesthetic Facial Surgery Center, studied 50 women ages 30 to 50, who received regular Botox injections for two years. The findings have important implications for patients, patient satisfaction and cost of treatment.

"We found that after a patient receives Botox Cosmetic injections every four months for two years, the frequency of treatments can be changed to six months with comparable wrinkle-reducing results and high patient satisfaction," said Dailey. "Patients who are unwilling to undergo Botox treatments every three months indefinitely because of cost, convenience or other concerns may reconsider if they could achieve similar results with two to three treatments per year."

Glabellar wrinkles are often distressing to patients because they signify aging or can be misconstrued to signal stress, anxiety, annoyance, disapproval or anger. Based on previous studies, doctors advised patients who wished to reduce wrinkles to have Botox injections every three months to maintain wrinkle-reducing benefits. While a schedule of every three months is likely to achieve the best results in the least amount of time, this study makes it clear that there are other excellent treatment schedules.

Dailey's research also demonstrates that the injections have a wrinkle-preventing - or prophylactic - effect.

"Patients who begin receiving Botox between their 30s and 50s are able to prevent dynamic wrinkles from forming and eliminate existing wrinkles," said Dailey. "Observations during our subjects' final visits also suggest that further wrinkle prevention could be achieved with continued treatment beyond two years," he added.