Analysis of data from multiple studies has found that a large proportion of patients report looking an average of five to six years younger than their current age after treatment for multiple upper facial lines with Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A, Allergan, Inc.).(i) As many as 63 percent of patients receiving Botox reported looking younger than their current age after treatment for upper facial lines -- i.e., moderate to severe glabellar lines (the vertical "frown" lines between the brows, often referred to as the "11s"), crow's feet, or multiple facial lines in the forehead area -- compared to just 23 percent of patients receiving placebo. The findings were presented today at the American Academy of Dermatology Academy '06 meeting in San Diego.

"Patient satisfaction is a key measure of success when using Botox to treat facial lines, but clinical trials usually rely on physician assessments to measure treatment results," said Steven Fagien, M.D., an aesthetic oculoplastic surgeon in Boca Raton, FL and one of the study investigators. "The studies included in our analysis are the first to accurately and reliably assess the patient's own self-perception of age following Botox treatment. Using this approach, we found a sizeable proportion of patients perceived they looked younger than their current age following treatment with Botox -- an outcome that is an important goal for many patients seeking medical aesthetic treatments."

For this analysis, data from 249 patients treated with Botox or placebo from five clinical studies were analyzed. Using the Self-Perception of Age (SPA) measure to directly assess each patient's perception of his or her own age-related appearance, patients in each of the clinical studies were asked to indicate whether they feel they look their current age, younger than their current age, or older than their current age. The SPA scale was administered both pre-treatment and at four weeks post-treatment.

At week four post-treatment with Botox Cosmetic, 39 percent of patients receiving 20 U for glabellar lines, 44.8 percent of patients receiving 12 U for bilateral treatment for crow's feet, and 62.5 percent of patients receiving 64 U for multiple upper facial lines reported looking an average of five to six years younger relative to their current age. In comparison, only 23 percent of patients receiving placebo reported they looked younger at week four post-treatment.

"Patients treated for multiple facial lines perceived that they looked younger than those who were treated with Botox for glabellar lines or crow's feet alone. This suggests that the overall, subtle smoothing in the appearance of facial lines achieved by treating multiple areas may be an important factor in a patient's perception of looking younger," said Alastair Carruthers, M.D., a cosmetic dermasurgeon in Vancouver, Canada and a co-investigator in the study. "In Canada, where Botox is approved for the treatment of multi-facial lines, I have found that by using the SPA questionnaire with my patients I can work with them to set appropriate expectations and goals for treatment to ensure optimal results."

This study was funded by an unrestricted grant from Allergan, Inc.

(i) Carruthers A, Carruthers J, Cox SE, Fagien S, Finn JC, Kowalski JW, et al. Patients' self-perception of age after botulinum toxin type A treatment of upper facial rhytids: results across multiple studies. Presented at the American Academy of Dermatology '06 Meeting (July) in San Diego, CA. [Poster P2401]

Alastair Carruthers; Steven Fagien
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