The adjunctive usage of botulinum toxin

BACKGROUND. Botulinum toxin is a safe, helpful adjunct to many other treatments for facial rejuvenation. Used together, the final result is more polished and refined. In addition, botulinum toxin can be used to maintain the surgical laser results by preventing dynamic facial muscular action re-establishing expressive wrinkles and folds. OBJECTIVES. We describe the facial areas best treated with botulinum toxin and our adjunctive techniques so that the cosmetic physician can easily incorporate these into their practice. RESULTS. The aesthetic results are improved with the combination of botulinum toxin and the surgical or laser procedure over either modality alone. CONCLUSIONS. We believe that there are many new treatment options for combined therapy with botulinum toxin, laser resurfacing, and surgical procedure in periocular and facial rejuvenation that the aesthetic physician can easily incorporate into their practice. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.