Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40864048›Full record

ArticleToxins2025

Are Post-Care Recommendations Following Upper-Face Botulinum Toxin Treatment Scientifically Necessary? A Retrospective Study Based on 5000 Patients.

Adriano Santorelli, Giovanni Salti, Maurizio Cavallini, Salvatore Piero Fundarò, Matteo Basso, Martina Ponzo, Stefano Avvedimento, Stefano Uderzo

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Toxins, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Adriano Santorelli"Santorelli and Partners", Via Raffaele Morghen, 88, 80129 Napoli, NA, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0500-461X
Giovanni SaltiIndependent Researcher, Via Claudio Monteverdi, 2, 50144 Firenze, FI, Italy.
Maurizio CavalliniAgorà, Via dei Ciclamini, 23, 20147 Milano, MI, Italy.
Salvatore Piero FundaròIndependent Researcher, Viale Schiocchi, 40, 41124 Modena, MO, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8152-197X
Matteo BassoIndependent Researcher, Via Galata, 37/4, 16121 Genova, GE, Italy.
Martina PonzoResidency Program in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Campus Biomedico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, RM, Italy.ORCID 0009-0003-1109-4209
Stefano Avvedimento"Ospedale Cardarelli", Via Antonio Cardarelli, 9, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6002-6454
Stefano Uderzo"Santorelli and Partners", Via Raffaele Morghen, 88, 80129 Napoli, NA, Italy.ORCID 0009-0009-9459-9256

Funding

A.I.T.E.B not applicable
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatient care following botulinum toxin injections has long been guided by anecdotal instructions, often based on theoretical considerations. This study evaluates the necessity of extended post-treatment instructions by analyzing outcomes and satisfaction in patients who followed only a 10 min precaution protocol. MATERIALS AND

methodsA retrospective, multicentric study was conducted across six Italian centers, analyzing 5014 patients treated with botulinum toxin for upper facial wrinkles between 2015 and 2020. Outcomes included adverse effects-particularly upper eyelid ptosis-and patient satisfaction. Follow-up was performed at two weeks.

resultsNo cases of upper eyelid ptosis were observed. Among 4000 patients who attended follow-up, adverse effects occurred in only 5.99%, notably lower than rates reported in the literature. Of the 2010 patients who completed the satisfaction questionnaire, 90% reported being very satisfied. These findings support the safety of limiting post-treatment instructions to 10 min.

conclusionsOur findings indicate that omitting extended post-injection instructions does not negatively impact patient satisfaction or complication rates. Given the toxin's rapid internalization and localized effect, extended behavioral restrictions may be redundant. However, the absence of a control group and lack of statistical analyses limit the strength of these conclusions. In addition, this is a short-term study. Future prospective, randomized trials are needed to develop evidence-based post-care protocols to optimize esthetic outcomes, patient safety, and long-term efficacy.

Indexed as

AftercareBotulinum ToxinsBotulinum Toxins, Type ANeuromuscular AgentsSkin AgingAdultAgedBlepharoptosisFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeBotulinum ToxinsBotulinum Toxins, Type ANeuromuscular Agentsaesthetic medicinebotoxbotulinum toxin type Aeyelid ptosisforehead wrinklesinjection protocol

Identifiers

PMID40864048
PMCPMC12390119

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.