Botulinum toxin A: a 9-month clinical and 3D in vivo profilometric crow's feet wrinkle formation study

The objective of this study was to determine the duration of the effects of a defined dose of BTX-A on crow's feet formation wrinkles.

Twenty-five patients each received one injection of 12 units of BTX-A in the orbicularis oculi muscle on both sides of the face. The results were evaluated at 3, 6 and 9 months. Standardized photographs were taken of the wrinkle formations at rest at each step of the 9-month period following the treatment, and the wrinkles were then rated on photographs by blinded observers. Three-dimensional (3D) in vivo profilometry was also used to quantify the degree of improvement.

Both the self-assessments by the patients themselves and the objective assessments of the 3D profilometry study provided similar results, but the independent observer assessment results were slightly more optimistic. There was a statistically significant difference observed between baseline and the evaluations at both 3 and 6 months.

BTX-A is a safe and effective method for treating crow's feet wrinkles. In both the observer assessment and the 3D skin profilometric assessment, a clear improvement was shown at 6 months.