Clinical Benefits of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection: Beyond Glabellar Line Effacement?

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) is standard of care for glabellar lines ameliorization. DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI) is a new BoNTA with a unique formulation representing the latest advancement in BoNTA technology. There is an unmet need for patients to understand the full potential of BoNTA treatment and new technologies. OBJECTIVE: To update clinical data supporting the use of DAXI for glabellar lines within the context of clinical experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A narrative review of the literature and summary of clinical experience with DAXI. RESULTS: The DAXI clinical trial program reflects clinical experience post-FDA approval, with DAXI demonstrating rapid onset, high patient response rates, and extended treatment duration versus conventional BoNTAs. Clinical observations suggest that DAXI has limited diffusion from the injection site, enabling more localized control of muscle activity and greater improvements in wrinkle severity. DAXI enables practitioners to exert greater finesse in their injections and in predicting changes to eyebrow shape and position and achieve improvement in skin quality. CONCLUSION: Advances in BoNTA technology can provide patients with greater options for treatment outcomes. The potential for enhanced localized effects with DAXI may contribute to more precise and targeted effects on muscle activity and additional aesthetic benefits to patients.

Effectiveness and Safety of Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA) Dermal Fillers for the Correction of Moderate-to-Severe Nasolabial Folds in People of Color: Post Hoc Subgroup Analyses of US Pivotal Clinical Data.

BACKGROUND: People of color (POC) are often underrepresented in clinical studies evaluating the safety and effectiveness of aesthetic products, including hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, for which there is to date limited clinical data in POC. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of a new line of dynamic resilient HA fillers (RHA; Revance, Nashville, TN) for treating moderate-to-severe nasolabial folds (NLFs) in POC vs non-POC. METHODS: Post hoc subgroup analyses compared the efficacy and safety of POC vs non-POC subjects treated with RHA2, RHA3, or RHA4 for correction of moderate-to-severe NLFs in the pooled per-protocol population (N = 217) in 2 clinical trials. Evaluated population cohorts were classified by Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) (high FST [IV-VI] vs low FST [I-III]) and by subject-reported race (non-White vs White) relative to baseline at 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. RESULTS: POC consistently showed greater improvement in wrinkle severity and higher responder rates compared with non-POC, which reached statistical significance at several measured time points. Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale scores and subject satisfaction ratings were similar for POC and non-POC and remained high throughout the course of the study. Treatment-related adverse event rates were generally lower for high FSTs vs low FSTs, with no reported cases of keloidal scarring. CONCLUSION: The RHA line of dynamic fillers is well tolerated and effective for the correction of moderate-to-severe NLFs in POC and can be confidently used in this important and growing patient population.See the abstract translated into Hindi, Portuguese, Korean, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, and Taiwanese online here: https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjad251.

Comparison of Hyaluronidase-Mediated Degradation Kinetics of Commercially Available Hyaluronic Acid Fillers In Vitro.

BACKGROUND: The ability to degrade hyaluronic acid (HA)-based fillers with hyaluronidase allows for better management of adverse effects and reversal of suboptimal treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the enzymatic degradation kinetics of 16 commercially available HA-based fillers, representing 6 manufacturing technologies. METHODS: In this nonclinical study, a recently developed in vitro multidose hyaluronidase administration protocol was used to induce degradation of HA-based fillers, enabling real-time evaluation of viscoelastic properties under near-static conditions. Each filler was exposed to repeated doses of hyaluronidase at intervals of 5 minutes to reach the degradation threshold of G' ≤ 30 Pa. RESULTS: Noticeable differences in degradation characteristics were observed based on the design and technology of different filler classes. Vycross fillers were the most difficult to degrade and the Cohesive Polydensified Matrix filler was the least difficult to degrade. Preserved Network Technology products demonstrated proportional increases in gel degradation time and enzyme volume required for degradation across the individual resilient hyaluronic acid (RHA) products and indication categories. No obvious relationship was observed between gel degradation characteristics and the individual parameters of HA concentration, HA chain length, or the degree of modification of each filler when analyzed separately; however, a general correlation was identified with certain physicochemical properties. CONCLUSIONS: Manufacturing technology was the most important factor influencing the reversibility of an HA product. An understanding of the differential degradation profiles of commercially available fillers will allow clinicians to select products that offer a higher margin of safety due to their preferential reversibility.

Bridging the Gap: Sustained Treatment Effect of Glabellar Lines With Twice-A-Year Treatment With DaxibotulinumtoxinA.

BACKGROUND: To achieve natural-looking outcomes when treating dynamic lines with botulinum toxin (BoNT), retreatment must be timed such that the patient maintains a relatively constant aesthetic outcome. Although first-generation BoNT products require retreatment with 3- to 4-month frequency to avoid discontinuous correction, the average patient returns for treatment every 6 months, when these toxins have generally fully worn off. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the number of days a typical patient treated with daxibotulinumtoxinA for injection (DAXI) or legacy BoNT products will spend undertreated or uncorrected in a given calendar year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Median time for maintaining glabellar lines in the "none" or "mild" severity range was compared for approved doses of onabotulinumtoxinA (ONA; 120 days) and DAXI (168 days). RESULTS: The average patient treated with 40U of DAXI every 6 months can expect to be uncorrected (with "moderate" or "severe" glabellar lines) for 14.5 days between visits compared with 61.5 days for 20U of ONA. CONCLUSION: An extended duration BoNT product can be expected to create greater consistency in aesthetic outcome and minimize the discontinuous correction commonly seen with first-generation BoNT products for patients treated twice a year, without requiring a change in patient behavior regarding visit frequency.

Integrative Assessment for Optimizing Aesthetic Outcomes When Treating Glabellar Lines With Botulinum Toxin Type A: An Appreciation of the Role of the Frontalis.

Despite the perception that treatment of glabellar lines with botulinum toxin A is straightforward, the reality is that the glabellar region contains a number of interrelated muscles. To avoid adverse outcomes, practitioners need to appreciate how treatment of 1 facial muscle group influences the relative dominance of others. In particular, practitioners need to understand the independent role of the frontalis in eyebrow outcomes and the potential for negative outcomes if the lower frontalis is unintentionally weakened by botulinum toxin A treatment. In addition, practitioners must recognize how inter-individual variation in the depth, shape, and muscle fiber orientation among the upper facial muscles can affect outcomes. For optimal results, treatment of the glabellar complex requires a systematic and individualized approach based on anatomical principles of opposing muscle actions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. This review provides the anatomical justification for the importance of an integrated assessment of the upper facial muscles and eyebrow position prior to glabellar treatment. In addition, a systematic and broad evaluation system is provided that can be employed by practitioners to more comprehensively assess the glabellar region in order to optimize outcomes and avoid negatively impacting resting brow position and dynamic brow movement.

Immunogenicity of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection in Glabellar Lines.

DaxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm for injection (DAXI), a novel botulinum toxin type A formulation, contains a purified 150-kD core neurotoxin (daxibotulinumtoxinA) and proprietary stabilizing peptide (RTP004), and is approved for glabellar line treatment. As with any biologic product, DAXI may potentially be immunogenic and elicit unwanted antibody formation, possibly resulting in partial or complete treatment failure. The immunogenicity of DAXI was assessed in 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose studies and an open-label safety study of up to 3 repeat treatments. Of the 2737 evaluable patients, none developed neutralizing antibodies to daxibotulinumtoxinA and 0.8% developed treatment-related nonneutralizing anti-daxibotulinumtoxinA-binding antibodies. Of evaluable patients exposed to RTP004 with either DAXI or placebo, 1.3% developed treatment-related anti-RTP004-binding antibodies, which were mostly transient. No patient developed binding antibodies to both daxibotulinumtoxinA and RTP004. All patients with treatment-related binding antibodies to daxibotulinumtoxinA or RTP004 achieved a clinical response (none or mild glabellar line severity) at Week 4 following each DAXI treatment cycle. The duration of clinical response was not different between treatment cycles when antibodies were detected vs when they were absent. Although the analysis population was small compared to the number of patients likely to receive repeated treatment in clinical practice, these results suggest that DAXI administration at the approved glabellar lines dose has low immunogenic potential and that nonneutralizing antibodies to daxibotulinumtoxinA or RTP004 occur infrequently and often transiently, and have no impact on clinical efficacy, safety, or duration of action. Real-world data encompassing larger numbers of patients is needed to substantiate these results.

Impact of Glabellar Injection Technique With DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection on Brow Position.

BACKGROUND: Precise injection technique is vital for avoiding suboptimal eyebrow position when treating glabellar lines with botulinum toxin type A. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of glabellar injection technique on eyebrow position in patients treated with DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI). METHODS: This retrospective post hoc analysis involved 60 adults who received a single treatment with DAXI 40 U to the glabella and had standardized facial photography. Median vertical and horizontal displacement of the brows (at rest) at baseline and 2 weeks after glabellar injection were measured. Brow position outcomes were evaluated by an oculoplastic surgeon and expert anatomist. Investigators were interviewed to ascertain individual injection techniques. RESULTS: Precise injection location and depth, and median resting brow position following treatment varied between investigators. Positive brow outcomes were achieved with deep DAXI injections into the medial corrugator, superficial lateral corrugator injections placed between the midpupil and lateral limbus, and deep midline procerus injections. Glabellar injection technique that more precisely targeted the corrugator muscles resulted in longer glabellar line treatment duration compared to a less targeted technique. Medial corrugator injections above the medial brow; lateral corrugator injections administered deeply or more medially, toward the medial third of the brow; and procerus injections superior to the inferomedial brow tended to be associated with suboptimal outcomes that were more apparent during dynamic expression. CONCLUSIONS: Aesthetically pleasing brow outcomes and greater duration of efficacy can be achieved with an injection pattern that precisely treats the anatomic location of the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles, avoiding the frontalis.

Impact of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection on Brow Position and Frontalis Muscle Activity Following Treatment of Glabellar Lines.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) injections for the treatment of facial lines may lead to pleasant or undesirable changes in eyebrow height and position. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of glabellar injection of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI), a novel BoNTA formulation, on eyebrow position and frontalis activity. METHODS: This study involved the post hoc analysis of adult patients from the Phase 2a forehead lines (FHL, N = 60) and open-label safety (OLS, N = 175) studies who received a single dose of DAXI 40 U to the glabella and for whom facial photographs were taken at rest and at maximum eyebrow elevation. Median vertical and horizontal displacement of the brows and median forehead strain (an objective quantitative assessment of frontalis activity) from baseline to 2 weeks after glabellar DAXI injection were measured. RESULTS: Two weeks after glabellar DAXI injection, vertical eyebrow movement (at rest) of the lateral brow was observed. In both studies, vertical movement was greatest in the lateral (0.6-0.9 mm) and mid (0.5-0.7 mm) brow regions; movement in the medial brow was negligible (0-0.23 mm). In both studies, a graded reduction in forehead strain was observed 2 weeks post glabellar DAXI injection, with the greatest reduction being in the lower segment (FHL, -73%; OLS, -82%). Treatment with DAXI showed improvements in FHL wrinkle severity. CONCLUSIONS: Glabellar injection of DAXI showed a positive reduction in dynamic frontalis activity that maintained or had a positive effect on eyebrow position. Vertical movement of the brow was suggestive of an improved eyebrow shape with a mild lateral arch.

Progressive Improvement in Static Glabellar Lines After Repeated Treatment With DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection.

BACKGROUND: DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI) is a novel botulinum toxin in development that has demonstrated efficacy on dynamic glabellar lines. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of repeated DAXI treatment on static glabellar lines. METHODS: This post hoc analysis included adults with moderate or severe dynamic glabellar lines who were treated with 40U DAXI in the SAKURA clinical program. Glabellar line severity was evaluated through validated subject and investigator scales. RESULTS: Overall, 568 subjects received 3 DAXI treatments. Most subjects were White (92.3%) and female (85.7%). At baseline, 9.0% and 27.3% of subjects had no static glabellar lines based on subject and investigator assessment, respectively. Four weeks after DAXI Treatment Cycle 1, the proportion of subjects with no static glabellar lines increased to 57.9% and 64.8% based on subject and investigator assessment, respectively. At Week 4 after DAXI Treatment Cycles 2 and 3, the proportion further increased to 68.7% and 71.5%, respectively, based on subject assessment and 75.0% and 77.6% based on investigator assessment. CONCLUSION: Subjects who received repeated DAXI treatment showed progressive improvement in their static glabellar lines. The extended duration of therapeutic benefit with DAXI on dynamic glabellar lines likely provides a long period of muscle inactivity/hypoactivity, during which dermal remodeling can occur.

Prior Botulinum Toxin Treatment Does Not Impact Efficacy or Safety in Clinical Trials: Analysis of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection in the SAKURA Program.

BACKGROUND: Pivotal studies of approved botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) formulations for treatment of glabellar lines have mostly included treatment-naive participants, and the impact of prior BoNTA treatment on efficacy and safety is not well documented. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether prior BoNTA treatment affects efficacy, duration of response, and tolerability for treatment of glabellar lines. METHODS: Adults with moderate or severe glabellar lines treated with DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI) or placebo from the randomized, double-blind SAKURA 1/2 trials and the open-label SAKURA 3 safety study were analyzed by prior BoNTA treatment status. Efficacy was evaluated using investigator and participant assessments. RESULTS: In this analysis, 609 participants (52.2% BoNTA-experienced) from the SAKURA 1/2 trials and 2,380 (38.0% BoNTA-experienced) from the SAKURA 3 study were evaluated. Proportion of participants with none or mild glabellar lines and duration of response were similar between the BoNTA-naive and BoNTA-experienced cohorts in both the DAXI and placebo groups. The incidence of adverse events was also comparable regardless of prior BoNTA treatment status. CONCLUSION: Efficacy and tolerability were similar with DAXI and placebo regardless of prior BoNTA treatment. Assuming an appropriate washout is observed, future BoNTA trials should enroll both treatment-experienced and treatment-naive participants to reflect clinical practice.

A Large, Open-Label, Phase 3 Safety Study of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection in Glabellar Lines: A Focus on Safety From the SAKURA 3 Study.

BACKGROUND: SAKURA 3 was a Phase 3, open-label, repeat-dose safety study of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI); a component of the largest Phase 3 clinical development program of an aesthetic neuromodulator in glabellar lines. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of DAXI (40U) up to 3 treatments for moderate or severe glabellar lines. METHODS: Eligible subjects rolled over from the placebo-controlled trials (n = 477) or were de novo (n = 2,214) and received 1 to 3 treatments over a maximum of 84 weeks. Safety and efficacy were evaluated at least every 4 weeks up to Week 36 (Treatments 1 and 2) and Week 12 (Treatment 3). Select subjects could be retreated after Week 12 if glabellar lines returned to baseline. RESULTS: Safety results are reported for 2,691 subjects, of which 882 received a second treatment and 568 a third. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 17.8% of subjects, which were generally mild and resolved. No serious AEs were treatment-related. Eyelid ptosis occurred in 0.9% of treatments. Adverse events were consistent across treatments and no new safety signals were observed. CONCLUSION: The safety of DAXI in this large open-label safety study confirms the findings from the pivotal Phase 3 trials, providing reassurance in its overall safety profile.

DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection for the Treatment of Glabellar Lines: Efficacy Results From SAKURA 3, a Large, Open-Label, Phase 3 Safety Study.

BACKGROUND: DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI) is botulinum toxin Type A formulated with a novel peptide excipient. Two pivotal, single-treatment, placebo-controlled trials demonstrated efficacy and safety for moderate or severe glabellar lines. OBJECTIVE: To further evaluate DAXI in a large, open-label, repeat-treatment study. METHODS: Subjects (n = 2,691) were enrolled from the preceding pivotal trials or de novo and received 40U DAXI. Those who received repeat treatments could be retreated when they returned to baseline on the Investigator Global Assessment-Frown Wrinkle Severity (IGA-FWS) and Patient FWS (PFWS) scales at/after 12 weeks and up to 36 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: High (>96%) response rates (none or mild severity) on the IGA-FWS scale were seen after each of the 3 treatments, with peak response between Weeks 2 to 4. At Week 24, ≥32% had a response of none or mild severity. Peak response rates of ≥92% were observed at Weeks 2 to 4 on the PFWS scale. The median duration for return to moderate or severe severity was 24 weeks. The safety profile was favorable and consistent with previous trials. CONCLUSION: DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection efficacy was highly consistent across treatment cycles. These results confirm the previously observed efficacy rates and duration of response.

Maximizing Panfacial Aesthetic Outcomes: Findings and Recommendations From the HARMONY Study.

BACKGROUND: Aesthetic medicine has evolved from targeting individual treatment areas to a global approach of panfacial rejuvenation. HARMONY was the first clinical study to systematically demonstrate positive physical and psychosocial impacts of panfacial treatment. OBJECTIVE: Provide evidence-based guidance on treatment strategies to help maximize outcomes in patients seeking panfacial rejuvenation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study sites with the lowest (n = 2) and highest (n = 2) improvements based on FACE-Q Satisfaction with Face Overall scores were analyzed to understand differences in treatment strategy that may contribute to incrementally greater patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The highest scoring sites exhibited greater improvement in all patient-reported outcomes and investigator-assessed measures related to dermal filler treatment compared with the lowest scoring sites. The highest sites favored lateral malar augmentation and used less volume medially versus the lowest sites. In the lower face, the highest sites used greater volumes and more HYC-24L than HYC-24L+. Initial treatment volumes were more conservative at highest than lowest sites; greater volumes were used by highest sites in touch-up treatments. CONCLUSION: Product usage trends common to the highest scoring sites (including injection volume, injection sites, and product selection) may provide guidance on best practices for a panfacial approach to aesthetic treatment to maximize patient satisfaction.

Personal (Self) Perceptions of Submental Fat Among Adults in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Satisfaction with discrete facial areas influences self-perceptions of attractiveness, self-esteem, and quality of life. Currently, there is a lack of understanding of how the submental area impacts feelings and behaviors. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the effects of submental fat (SMF) on feelings/emotions and actions/behavior among adults in the United States. METHODS: Online health-based surveys recruited approximately 400 adults (18-65 years) in each of 5 categories based on the respondent's assessment of their SMF. Respondents either agreed or disagreed with 17 statements regarding their feelings/emotions and actions/behaviors related to the area underneath their chin. RESULTS: Overall, 1996 respondents were included (equal distribution of males/females; mean age, 41.9 years). Even a slight amount of chin fat was associated with negative feelings and behaviors. As SMF increased, so did the number of respondents reporting negative self-perceptions such as being embarrassed by the area under their chin. In general, a greater percentage of female compared with male respondents reported negative feelings and behavioral changes due to their submental area. CONCLUSION: Excess SMF can have a substantial negative effect on a person's feelings of attractiveness and behaviors. Reduction of SMF may not only improve one's appearance, but also may enhance one's self-esteem.

Lip and Perioral Enhancement With Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers in Individuals With Skin of Color.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with skin of color are underrepresented in studies of lip and perioral enhancement. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness and safety of hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler treatment for lip and perioral enhancement in subjects with skin of color. METHODS: Data were pooled from subjects with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV, V, or VI in 2 pivotal studies of HA dermal fillers. Photonumeric scales were used to assess lip fullness (5-point scale) and perioral lines and oral commissures severity (each 4-point scales). Safety was assessed by injection site responses recorded in patient diaries and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: The cohort comprised 72 subjects (median age: 49.5 years; 95.8% female). Mean lip fullness improved from baseline by 1.1 points at 3 months after treatment; 85.0% of subjects were responders (≥1-point improvement). Of subjects treated for perioral lines (n = 12) and oral commissures (n = 56), 90.9% and 46.4%, respectively, were responders. Injection site responses were generally mild or moderate in severity, resolved within 2 weeks, and were consistent with those expected for HA dermal filler treatment. The most common AEs were injection site mass (19.4%) and bruising (12.5%). CONCLUSION: Lip and perioral enhancement with HA dermal fillers is effective and safe in subjects with skin of color.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Self-Assessed Facial Aging in Women: Results From a Multinational Study.

BACKGROUND: Racial/ethnic variations in skin structure and function may contribute to differential manifestations of facial aging in various races/ethnicities. OBJECTIVE: To examine self-assessed differences in facial aging in women by race/ethnicity and Fitzpatrick skin phototypes. METHODS: Women aged 18 to 75 years in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia compared their features against photonumeric rating scales depicting degrees of severity for 10 facial aging characteristics. Impact of race/ethnicity (black, Hispanic, Asian, and Caucasian) and skin phototypes on severity was assessed. RESULTS: In total, 3,267 women completed the study. Black women reported the least severe facial aging; Caucasian women reported the most severe facial aging, with Asian and Hispanic women falling between these groups. Similarly, women with a skin phototype V/VI reported lesser aging severity than women with phototypes I through IV. More than 30% of black women did not report the presence of moderate/severe aging of facial areas until 60 to 79 years; most Hispanics and Asians did not report moderate/severe facial aging until 50 to 69 years and Caucasians, 40 to 59 years. CONCLUSION: In this diverse sample, black women reported less severe aging of facial features compared with Hispanic, Asian, and Caucasian women. These results were supported by Fitzpatrick skin phototype analyses.

Myths and Knowledge Gaps in the Aesthetic Treatment of Patients With Skin of Color

Background: Misperceptions about facial aesthetic treatments in individuals with skin of color (SOC) may influence treatment selection. Objective: We aimed to identify knowledge gaps and myths concerning facial aesthetic treatment in individuals with SOC. Methods: A PubMed search identified articles concerning patients with SOC receiving facial aesthetic treatments. The experience of experts in aesthetic treatment of patients with SOC was also considered. Results: Knowledge gaps included not seeking injectable filler treatment of lips, risk of developing keloids with injectable filler treatment, risk of hyperpigmentation precluding surgical procedures and nonsurgical injectable filler treatment, melasma being a minor cosmetic concern with limited treatments, and racial/ethnic groups being homogeneous with respect to facial characteristics and aesthetic concerns. Dispelled myths included perceptions that: individuals with SOC do not need sunscreen; dermal fillers and neuromodulators are not necessary or useful for patients with darker skin; laser treatments cannot be used on darker skin; facial products are unnecessary; and only medical providers with SOC can understand how to treat patients with SOC. Conclusions: Knowledge gaps and myths concerning facial aesthetic treatment in individuals with SOC exist. These patients may undergo various facial aesthetic procedures safely and effectively, as long as nuances in treatment approaches are recognized. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(7):616-622.

Aesthetic Treatment Positively Impacts Social Perception: Analysis of Subjects From the HARMONY Study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of facial aesthetic treatments not only enhances physical appearance but also psychological well-being. Accordingly, patient-reported outcomes are increasingly utilized as an important measure of treatment success. Observer-reported outcomes are a relevant yet often overlooked measure of treatment benefit. OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of panfacial aesthetic treatment on the perception of an individual in a variety of social contexts. METHODS: A total 2000 men and women (aged 18-65 years) participated in an online study designed to capture the blinded observer's social perception of pretreatment and posttreatment patients who received panfacial aesthetic treatment in the HARMONY study. Perceptions relevant to character traits, age, attractiveness, and social status were evaluated. Observers were divided into 2 groups. Single image respondents (n = 1500) viewed 6 single, randomized patient images (3 pretreatment, 3 posttreatment), and paired image respondents (n = 500) viewed 6 pretreatment and posttreatment image pairs. RESULTS: Single image respondents reported significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of agreement that posttreatment subjects appeared to possess more positive character traits (eg, healthy and approachable), were more socially adept, younger, more attractive, more successful at attracting others, and possessed a higher social status. Paired image respondents also reported a higher level of agreement for posttreatment images being aligned with positive character traits, representative of a younger and more attractive individual, and one with a higher social status. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the positive impact of minimally invasive panfacial treatment extends beyond enhancing physical appearance and highlights the importance of social perception and observer-reported outcomes in aesthetic medicine.

Relationship Between Midface Volume Deficits and the Appearance of Tear Troughs and Nasolabial Folds.

BACKGROUND: Understanding interrelationships among aging facial features is important in facial aesthetics as a global treatment approach becomes standard. OBJECTIVE: Examine empirical relationships between midface volume deficit and severity of tear troughs (TTs) and nasolabial folds (NLFs) in women and men of different racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: A web-based study was administered to health panel members (aged 18-75 years). Participants compared their midface volume, TTs, and NLFs against photonumeric scales depicting degrees of severity. Linear regressions were conducted to assess the relationship of midface volume on severity of TTs and NLFs, controlling for demographic factors. RESULTS: Of 4,086 participants (80.0% female), 3,553 had complete data. Increasing severity of midface volume deficit was associated with increasing severity of TTs and NLFs in both sexes (all p < .001). Race/ethnicity was associated with differences in severity in all 3 facial areas, although specific differences between races/ethnicities varied for women and men. Progression rates of severity differed between racial/ethnic groups. Correlations between midface volume deficit, TTs, and NLFs were positive and significant (all p < .001). CONCLUSION: Midface volume deficit was associated with severity of TT deformity and NLFs after controlling for age and other demographic variables.

The Male Aesthetic Patient: Facial Anatomy, Concepts of Attractiveness, and Treatment Patterns.

BACKGROUND: The number of nonsurgical aesthetic procedures performed in men is growing rapidly. However, there are limited data on treatment principles and goals for the male aesthetic patient.

OBJECTIVE: To review the objective data available on male aging and aesthetics and to synthesize with expert opinion on treatment considerations specific to male patients.

METHODS: Expert advisors met to discuss anatomical differences in male versus female facial anatomy related to aging, facial treatment preferences in aesthetically oriented men, and current dosing data for facial injectable treatments in male versus female patients.

RESULTS: Symmetry, averageness, sexual dimorphism, and youthfulness are generally accepted as factors that contribute to the perception of attractiveness. There are differences between men and women in facial anatomy, concepts of attractiveness in the context of masculinity and femininity, and treatment objectives. A communication gap exists for men, as evidenced by the lack of information available online or by word of mouth about injectable treatments.

CONCLUSIONS: Approaches to aesthetic consultation and treatment should differ between men and women based on the fundamental dissimilarities between the sexes. Educating men about available aesthetic treatments and about the safety and side effects associated with each treatment, as well as addressing concerns about their treatment results looking natural, are key considerations.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(1):19-28.