This Dermatologist Has Been Treating With BOTOX® Cosmetic (OnabotulinumtoxinA) For 20 Years—Here Are 4 Things He Wants You to Know

San Francisco dermatologist Seth Matarasso, MD has been practicing aesthetic dermatology for three decades, and is experienced in delivering aesthetic neurotoxin injections. BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.

Please see Important Safety information below, including Boxed Warning.

With the brand celebrating 20 years since its first FDA approval, for moderate to severe frown lines in adults, it’s especially important to highlight the more than 20 years of research behind BOTOX® Cosmetic, making it the most studied product of its kind.1, 2 Since the first FDA approval, BOTOX® Cosmetic has continued to help drive the immense growth that the market has witnessed by pushing for more research, more data, and better understanding of patient needs, ultimately leading BOTOX® Cosmetic to expand its indications and be the only neurotoxin FDA approved for three areas: moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines in adult patients.3-6

Here, Dr. Matarasso walks us through BOTOX® Cosmetic’s history.

Talk to your doctor about BOTOX® Cosmetic and whether it’s right for you. There are risks with this product. The effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

Science Is Paramount

Dr. Matarasso says he’s used BOTOX® Cosmetic on patients for 20 years. “There is only one BOTOX® Cosmetic. It is the only product of its kind FDA approved for the temporary improvement in the appearance of three areas: moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines in adult patients.”3-6

“From a medical perspective, it’s great seeing the continued investment that is placed behind BOTOX® Cosmetic. Allergan Aesthetics has a tenured team that has accumulated a wealth of knowledge from research and development over the years,” says Matarasso. “As someone who is in the room treating patients day after day, it’s definitely reassuring to know that Allergan Aesthetics is always listening and taking feedback into consideration to ensure that patient needs stay at the forefront.”

BOTOX® Cosmetic is the #1 studied product of its kind, and it has been approved for use in 98 countries.2,7 “Whether you’re a first time patient or someone who has been treated before with aesthetic neurotoxins, there is research and development behind BOTOX® Cosmetic,” he says. 

(Continued Important Safety Information) Alert your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness can be a sign of a life-threatening condition. Patients with these conditions before injection are at the highest risk. Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

BOTOX® Cosmetic Delivers Predictable Results

“My patients request BOTOX® Cosmetic by name because they know they can trust it and can predict the results we achieve. It is one of the most popular treatments in my practice,” he says. 

Dr. Matarasso highlights the predictability of results with BOTOX® Cosmetic as another draw to both providers and patients. “The procedure, the technique, is consistent and delivers predictable results. Patients and providers can trust that BOTOX® Cosmetic results are subtle and predictable,” he says. 

“Many patients don’t know if they have moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet, or frown lines, and are unsure if they should talk to their healthcare provider about BOTOX® Cosmetic to see if they are an appropriate candidate. In reality, BOTOX® Cosmetic is a brand that many people get treated with. Our moms and sisters, our neighbors, and friends; the men in our life,” says Matarasso. 

(Continued Important Safety Information) Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection-site pain, fatigue and headache. Allergic reactions can include rash, welts, asthma symptoms, and dizziness. Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

Seth Matarasso, MD

Noteworthy Nuances 

“Having worked directly in the medical aesthetics industry, I have seen firsthand how much BOTOX® Cosmetic has grown as a brand. It is one of a kind with three indicated areas FDA approved to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines in adults.”

In a 2018 survey, 8 out of 10 physicians (n=484) reported they use BOTOX® Cosmetic when injecting a neurotoxin for themselves or family members.9

Additionally, the manufacturing process of BOTOX® Cosmetic is unique. Allergan Aesthetics owns start-to-finish development—from drug substance development to manufacturing and distribution.10 The company adheres to strict quality and safety standards, reflected in a compliance record that exceeds global standards, and has its own unique manufacturing fingerprint and unit of measurement that cannot be replicated or compared to any other product.11

(Continued Important Safety Information) Talk to your doctor about BOTOX® Cosmetic and whether it’s right for you. There are risks with this product. The effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

BOTOX® Cosmetic Is Continuing to Develop

“BOTOX® Cosmetic is continuing its clinical development. What’s amazing is that the brand is working closely with healthcare providers like myself to understand the industry.”

BOTOX® COSMETIC IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND APPROVED USES

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic:

• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months.
• Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing. 

BOTOX® Cosmetic dosing units are not the same as, or comparable to, any other botulinum toxin product.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow’s feet lines, and/or forehead lines.

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX® Cosmetic. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Do not receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; have trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you 

have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.

Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc®, Dysport®, or Xeomin® in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth; discomfort or pain at the injection site; tiredness; headache; neck pain; and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids and eyebrows, swelling of your eyelids and dry eyes.

APPROVED USES

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

To report a side effect, please call Allergan at 1-800-678-1605.

Please see BOTOX® Cosmetic full Product Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.

References

Data on File. AbbVie. FDA Product Approval Information, 2019.

Data on File. AbbVie. Botulinum Toxin Peer-Reviewed Publications, 2021.

BOTOX® Cosmetic Prescribing Information, July 2020.

Dysport® Prescribing Information, 2020. 

Xeomin® Prescribing Information, 2020. 

Jeuveau® Prescribing Information, 2020. 

Data on File. AbbVie. Annual Neurotoxin Monthly Tracker Report, December 2021.

Data on file, Allergan, 2018; Country Approvals Worldwide Marketing Authorization.

Data on File, Allergan, Neurotoxin Monthly Tracker, July 2018.

Data on File, Westport, p2A, October 2020

Data on File, AbbVie, Botulinum toxin type A products are not interchangeable, 2014. 

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