Microbotulinum: A Quantitative Evaluation of Aesthetic Skin Improvement in 62 Patients

Background: Microbotulinum refers to the systematic injection of tiny blebs of diluted botulinum toxin at repeated intervals into the skin. This targets the superficial fibers of the facial muscles, and weakens their insertion into the undersurface of the skin, which is responsible for the fine lines and wrinkles on the face. The authors present a pilot study based on quantitative evaluation, by means of a skin-scanning technology, of the aesthetic improvement of skin texture, microroughness, and enlarged pore size in a patient group treated with microbotulinum injections for cosmetic purposes. Methods: The treatment was performed using a 32-gauge needle to deliver injections on a regular 1-cm grid from the forehead to the cheek and down to the jawline. Results: Sixty of the 62 patients completed the study. All analyzed parameters improved significantly (p < 0.0001) at 90 days with respect to the pretreatment time point (skin texture, -1.93 +/- 0.51; microroughness, -2.48 +/- 0.79; and pore diameter, 2.1 +/- 0.43). Best results have been obtained in patients aged between 42.7 and 46.8 years, and standard deviation calculation allows us to recommend it in patients aged between 36.5 and 53 years. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that intradermal botulinum toxin injection, or so-called microbotulinum, is a safe and effective method to treat skin flaws. Because of the high satisfaction rate among both physicians and patients, further studies are indeed mandatory to determine the optimal number of units needed for a longer and lasting effect with this particular novel dilution.