Botulinum Toxins for Facial Lines: A Concise Review

Abstract

This is a concise review of the uses of botulinum toxins (BTXs) in dermatology and cosmetic procedures. It is a clinical rather than a basic science, pharmacological review. BTX had been initially used for selectively reducing and balancing periorbital muscle activity; thereby, reducing childhood strabismus and blepharospasm. This clinical research was initiated by Dr. Alan Scott over 40 years ago. BTX type A (BTX-A) was serendipitously observed to reduce forehead frown lines in patients being treated for blepharospasm. Extensive clinical research and development resulted in widespread aesthetic uses for BTX-A by reduction of selected hyperfunctional facial muscles. BTXs are also used for reduced localized hyperhidrosis. A topical BTX-A is being developed as a potential alternative to injected BTX.

Introduction

The first medical use of botulinum neurotoxin (BTX) was described by Dr. Alan Scott during the 1970s, when BTX type A (BTX-A) was used for reducing over-activity of selected periocular muscles in patients with strabismus [1, 2]. Following this observation, BTXs have been increasingly studied for a wide variety of other therapeutic and aesthetic uses. In the late 1980s, Drs. Jean and Alastair Carruthers observed a reduction of dynamic lines on the forehead of a patient being treated for blepharospasm. They reported their observation in 1992 [3]. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using BTX-A for upper facial lines in the USA confirmed their reduction of lower forehead lines for approximately 4 months [4, 5].

These initial observations were followed by double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of several hundred patients in the USA, which demonstrated that BTX-A was safe and effective for reducing the severity of glabellar (lower forehead vertical frown lines) [6, 7]. A significant improvement was observed a few days after treatment and the mean duration of treatment was in excess of 4 months. This study utilized appropriate doses of onabotulinumtoxinA, with a total of 20 onabotulinumtoxinA units for the lower forehead frown lines. Other studies confirmed that BTX-A is also effective for lateral periorbital lines [8], infraorbital lines [9], nasal lines, terional area, the jaw line, and the platysma.

BTXS

There are two main serotypes of BTXs that are used clinically; the most commonly used being BTX-A. BTX type B (BTX-B) has a much shorter duration of effect than BTX-A, but is occasionally used if therapeutic resistance to BTX-A is observed [10]. BTX-A and -B are also effective at reducing sweating in areas such as the axillae [11, 12]. BTX-A treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis has been approved in numerous countries in addition to the USA. A recent study of hyperhidrosis found that the benefit of duration of BTX-B was longer to that seen after intramuscular treatment, but still less than BTX-A [13].

The transport of the BTX-A is by rapid uptake of the light chain of the toxin into the neuromuscular junction, and the presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release is thought to be one mode of action of BTX-A (Fig. 1). As a result, BTX-A results in localized, reversible muscle relaxation (1). Some facial lines result from repetitive contraction of facial muscles and, as BTX-A reduces muscle action, one cause of facial lines is, thus, reduced [4–7].

Fig. 1.

Possible mode of action of BTX-A. BTX-A botulinum toxin type A, SNAP-25 synaptosomal-associated protein 25, SNARE SNAP receptor, VAMP vesicle-associated membrane protein

For the treatment of hyperhidrosis, BTX-A activity is the result of the inhibition of the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that controls emotional, non-thermoregulatory sweating [11, 12]. However, one of the practical problems with BTX-A treatment is its variable duration of benefit against hyperhidrosis. Those patients that have a long duration of benefit (i.e., 9 months or longer) find the treatment worthwhile, whilst those with short duration (i.e., 4 months or less) are less inclined to continue.

Facial Injection Sites for BTX-A

The sites of injection used to improve facial lines and, therefore, some signs of facial aging are (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7): (A) upper face: horizontal forehead lines, vertical forehead lines, supraorbital lines, periorbital (crow’s feet) lines, infraorbital lines, and paranasal lines [13]; (B) lower face: perioral lines, vertical rhytids above the upper lip, and turning down of the angles of the mouth (melomental folds) from depressor angulae oris muscle; (C) vertical neck bands produced by platysmal muscle activity can also be reduced with BTX-A [14].

Fig. 2.

Onset of action of onabotulinumtoxinA

Fig. 3.

Onset of action of abobotulinumtoxinA

Fig. 4.

Duration of benefit of onabotulinumtoxinA can be measured 6 months post-treatment

Fig. 5.

Selection of toxin based on clinical features. This patient has focal deep glabellar lines and requires brow elevation. The patient was a good candidate for onabotulinumtoxin A, which was given at 2 and 4 units per site (×10) resulting in a total of 32 units administered

Fig. 6.

Selection of toxins based on clinical features. This patient has a broad forehead, transverse lines but no brow elevation is required. The patient was a good candidate for abobotulinumtoxin A, which was given at 5 and 10 units per site, resulting in a total of 115 units administered

Fig. 7.

A lower facial indication for BTX-A. a This patient had mentalis dimples for which 15 units of abobotulinumtoxinA was administered to the mid mentalis. b The same patient 4 weeks post-treatment. BTX-A botulinumtoxinA

Different Types of BTX-A

Two different commercial types of BTX-A have been available in Europe since the 1990s. The two types are produced by different bacteria with differing fermentation and purification processes, and also have different potency and diffusion. The dilution and dosing have been investigated, and estimated conversion ratios of one type of BTX-A to the other have been proposed [15, 16]. This has been purified by a propriety process to remove inactive proteins. More recently, incobotulinumtoxinA has been available in Europe.

Side effects from BTX-A are local at doses used for aesthetic indications, e.g., bruising, and brow and/or eyelid ptosis. Side effects are usually the result of inexpert injection of BTX-A, for example, injections of too high a dose of BTX-A to the lower lateral forehead may result in both brow ptosis as well as upper eyelid ptosis. Injections too low to the infraorbital area may result in upper lip and lower facial ptosis. Facial asymmetry may also occur; these side effects are usually temporary but can be of understandable concern to patients [17]. Rare side effects include headaches, paraesthesia, muscle and brow “heaviness,” diplopia, dry eyes, dysphagia, and dysarthria. The physician injecting BTX-A should be trained to try to avoid and correct these problems.

Resistance to BTX-A is a rare problem and the mechanism is unknown, but may involve antibodies blocking the uptake or action of BTX-A. The incidence of acquired resistance is currently not determined. BTX-B can be used in cases of therapeutic resistance.

Combination Treatments with BTX-A

Combination treatments are selected for appropriate patients to rejuvenate the aging face [17]. Examples of these combinations include administration of BTX-A prior to laser treatment with resurfacing lasers [17] or fractionated lasers (Figs. 8, 9). BTX-A is ideally delivered at least 1 week prior to laser treatment, which enables the hyperactive muscle action to be reduced; thereby, reducing the cause of facial lines. In addition, as one theory of skin rejuvenation with these laser systems is the stimulation of neocollagenesis, it is likely that less-folded skin following BTX-A leads to more uniform neocollagenesis [18].

Fig. 8.

Combination of treatments: hyaluronic filler in the upper cheeks, lips; polylactic acid over the lower face; BTX-A in the forehead, crow’s feet, and neck; fractional laser treatment to the face and neck. BTX-A botulinumtoxinA

Fig. 9.

A summary of how to incorporate BTX-A in a treatment program. BTX-A botulinum toxin A, IPL intense pulsed light

Other situations where combination treatments are useful is the combination of BTX-A and dermal fillers in problems such as deep vertical lower forehead lines. Here, BTX-A alone will improve, but not clear, the deep furrows that are present in some patients. The use of BTX-A plus temporary fillers can give a more prolonged effect than using the filler alone [19]. Similarly, the use of BTX-A to the upper lip area together with a filler in the upper lip can provide an adjunctive benefit to the correction of upper lip lines. Dermal fillers and BTX-A can also be combined in lower facial areas where the BTX-A is injected into areas such as the depressor angulae oris and mentalis muscles, and the filler injected into melomental folds.

Recent Quantitative Studies of BTX-A for Facial Lines

In the UK, onabotulinumtoxinA and abobotulinumtoxinA have been used for approximately 20 years. Results from quantitative studies show that the onset and duration of benefit is variable when different BTXs are compared [20]. This is not surprising, as different BTXs are individual molecules with different molecular weights. It has been shown that onabotulinumtoxinA and abobotulinumtoxinA have similar benefits, although in a recent study, abobotulinumtoxinA was found to be slightly (at a 1:3 ratio) more efficient than onabotulinumtoxinA for crow’s feet [21].

More recently, incobotulinumtoxinA has been approved for dystonia. Further studies are required to assess comparative efficacies of incobotulinumtoxinA and onabotulinumtoxinA. A recent study suggested the equivalent efficacy of 1 unit of onabotulinumtoxinA to 1 unit of incobotulinumtoxinA; however, this was only a 12 week study [22] and further comparisons would be desirable.

Different BTXs Approved in Europe and USA

A comparison of molecular characteristics and product approvals of BTXs can be seen in Table 1, and myths and truths in Fig. 10.

Table 1.

Molecular characteristics and approvals of botulinum toxins

Product	Toxin type	Molecular weight (kDa)	pH	Approved for forehead lines	Approved for hyperhidrosis	Approved for medical indications, e.g., cervical dystonia, blepharospasm
onabotulinumtoxinA	A	900	~7	EU + USA	EU + USA	EU + USA
abobotulinumtoxinA	A	500–900	~7	EU + USA	No	EU + USA
incobotulinumtoxinA	A	150	~7	EU	No	EU
rimabotulinumtoxinB	B	700–900	5.6	No	No	EU + USA

Fig. 10.

Myths and truths of BTX-A. Abo-A abobotulinumtoxinA, BTX-A botulinum toxin A, Ona-A onabotulinumtoxinA

Topical BTX

Topical BTXs continue to be investigated mainly in Mexico and North America. A novel gel delivery system is also available, which has been developed for delivering a 150 kDa BTX-A formulation (developed by Revance Therapeutics, Inc., Newark, CA, USA) Studies have so far mainly focused on treating axillary hyperhidrosis and crow’s feet areas [23], with this formulation showing effective and very promising results. Studies comparing the efficiency and duration compared with injectable BTX-A will be of interest.

Conclusion

BTX-A is a safe and effective treatment for the reduction of hyperfunctional facial muscles that cause facial lines. In addition, it is also a treatment option for the control of localized hyperhidrosis.