ReviewDermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]2018
Botulinum Toxin in Aesthetic Medicine: Myths and Realities.
Review in Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 80 citations in OpenAlex.
- How to Treat Skin Quality: A Consensus-Based Treatment Algorithm and Expert Guidance.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Guideline
- Use of Botulinum Toxin for Androgenic Alopecia: A Systematic Review.Skin appendage disorders · 2022Pooled it
- IncobotulinumtoxinA in the Treatment of Upper Facial Lines: Results From Two Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Studies.Aesthetic surgery journal · 2025Trial
- Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Liquid AbobotulinumtoxinA Formulation for Moderate-to-Severe Glabellar Lines: A Phase III, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled and Open-Label Study.Aesthetic surgery journal · 2022Trial
- Italian Expert Consensus on the Efficacy and Safety of High Doses of Incobotulinum Toxin A (BocoutureDermatology and therapy · 2026Review
- Botulinum Toxin Injection to Treat Bruxism in a Child: A Case Report and Technique Description.Cureus · 2026Article
- Efficacy and Safety of IncobotulinumtoxinA for the Simultaneous Treatment of Upper Facial Lines: A GRADE Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2026Review
- A Refined Injection Strategy for the Upper Third Using Incobotulinum Toxin A to Enhance Facial Harmony and Preserve Natural Expression.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026Article
- Development and Humanization of a Camelid-Derived Neutralizing Nanobody Targeting Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A.International journal of nanomedicine · 2026Article
- Exploring Nonresponse to Botulinum Toxin in Aesthetics: Narrative Review of Key Trigger Factors and Effective Management Strategies.JMIR dermatology · 2025Review
- Personality Traits and Motivations of Chinese Adults Seeking Cosmetic Botulinum Toxin Injection.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2025Article
- Botulinum Toxin in Aesthetic Medicine: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Methodological Quality of the Top 100 Cited Publications.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2025Article
- Ultrasound-Guided Botulinum Toxin-A Injections into the Masseter Muscle for Both Medical and Aesthetic Purposes.Toxins · 2024Review
- Tailored Indications for Different Neurotoxins.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2023Article
- Office-based facial plastics procedures: Neuromodulators.World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery · 2023Review
- Article
- Review
- Botulinum Toxin A in the Management of Acne Vulgaris: Evidence and Recommendations.Aesthetic surgery journal · 2022Article
- Emerging Trends in Botulinum Neurotoxin A Resistance: An International Multidisciplinary Review and Consensus.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2022Article
- Toxicology and pharmacology of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins: an update.Archives of toxicology · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSeveral formulations of Botulinum toxin serotype A (BoNT-A) for aesthetic indications are available, with numbers likely to increase. Preparations are not interchangeable, based on dose unit comparisons.
objectiveNumerous myths and misconceptions regarding the use of BoNT-A for aesthetic indications have arisen, which this review aims to lay to rest. MATERIALS AND
methodsThis review assesses evidence for and against each of the most common myths regarding BoNT use in aesthetics.
resultsBoNT-A neurotoxin/protein complexes are irrelevant to the toxin's therapeutic/aesthetic indications. BoNT-A neurotoxin/protein complexes do not influence movement from injection site or immunogenicity. Any relationship between neutralizing antibody formation and clinical response is complex and clinicians should consider other factors that may induce an apparent loss of clinical response. Diffusion appears predominately, perhaps exclusively, dose dependent. Careful placement and correct dosing optimizes likelihood of good outcomes. Manufacturers recommend reconstitution of products with sterile nonpreserved saline. However, compelling evidence suggests that reconstitution using preserved saline dramatically improves patient comfort without compromising efficacy. Several post-treatment instructions/restrictions are widely used despite the lack of evidence, but muscle activity after injection may be beneficial. Cooling the treatment area might hinder BoNT-A translocation and should probably be abandoned.
conclusionThe existing evidence suggests that experienced users should achieve equivalent results regardless of BoNT-A formulation, but additional, well-designed, adequately powered, controlled randomized studies should be performed.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.