Skip to main content

The Aesthetic Channel is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

  • Informa PLC
  • About us
  • Investor relations
  • Talent

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

 
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
Home
  • Topics
  • Nonsurgical Procedures
  • Surgical Procedures
  • Practice Management
  • Aesthetic Education

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Study examines storing, using reconstituted botulinum toxin A

  • Lisette Hilton
May 5, 2015
  • Cosmetic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Dermatology, Modern Medicine Feature Articles, Modern Medicine News, Neurotoxins in Facial Aesthetics, Nonsurgical Procedures

Storing vials of reconstituted botulinum toxin A (Botox, Allergan) for four weeks after patient administration results in no detectable bacterial or fungal contamination, according to a new pilot study.

“Although findings of several studies indicated that reconstituted botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) retained efficacy during storage for several weeks, there was insufficient evidence that sterility was maintained for this duration. Regardless of potency, contamination remained a concern for physicians who treat patients with reconstituted BTX-A after the recommended period by the manufacturer,” the study’s lead author Teissy Osaki, M.D., and Ph.D. candidate at the division of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, tells Cosmetic Surgery Times.

Dr. Osaki and colleagues evaluated the contents of 88 reconstituted vials of BTX-A after clinical administration of an aliquot and subsequent storage of the remaining contents under refrigeration for four weeks.

Research suggests the practice of storing and using reconstituted BTX-A is somewhat common.

“…an online survey of BTX-A utilization among members of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery indicated that most physicians (68.6%) routinely store BTX-A for a longer period (more than one week after reconstitution) than the 24-hour period recommended by the manufacturer,” Dr. Osaki says.

But this study by no means supports the practice. The authors of the study do not recommend utilizing reconstituted BTX-A beyond the period indicated by the manufacturer, according to Dr. Osaki.

“Our study was a pilot study…,” Dr. Osaki says. “Future multicentric studies that evaluate a larger number of vials and other possible contaminants are needed, and the results of these additional future studies may support the storage of reconstituted BTX-A for longer than the period recommended by the manufacturer.”

Note: There were some errors in the published version and an erratum will be published in the next edition of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, according to Dr. Osaki.

Osaki T, Osaki MH, Osaki TH, Sant'Anna AE, Yu MC, Hofling-Lima AL. Absence of bacterial or fungal growth in vials of reconstituted botulinum toxin type A after storage. Aesthet Surg J. 2015 Feb;35(2):189-93. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25717119

Related Articles

  • New cosmetic surgery trend: Gender-neutral procedures
  • Facial plastic surgery in men enhances perception of attractiveness, trustworthiness
  • Talent & Techniques: New energy-based solutions for male sexual health
  • More men undergo plastic surgery as the daddy-do-over trend rises in popularity
  • Avoiding seasonal highs and lows

Resource Topics rightRail

  • Resource Topics
  • Partner Content
  • Advances in Aesthetic Technology
  • Aesthetic Lasers
  • Fat Reduction
  • Vaginal Rejuvenation
  • Wrinkle Treatments
There is currently no available content. Please check back soon.

Current Issue

The Aesthetic Guide November/December 2019
Nov 22, 2019 Vol 22 No 6
Digital Edition
Connect with Us
  • Column 1
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Column 2
    • Editorial Info
    • Editorial Board
  • Column 3
    • Advertising Info
  • Column 4
Copyright © 2019. All rights reserved. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC.
Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use

We've noticed that you're using an ad blocker

Our content is brought to you free of charge because of the support of our advertisers. To continue enjoying our content, please turn off your ad blocker.

It's off now Dismiss How do I disable my ad blocker?
❌

How to disable your ad blocker for our site:

Adblock / Adblock Plus
  • Click on the AdBlock / AdBlock Plus icon on the top right of your browser.
  • Click “Don’t run on pages on this domain.” OR “Enabled on this site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Firefox Tracking Prevention
  • If you are Private Browsing in Firefox, "Tracking Protection" may casue the adblock notice to show. It can be temporarily disabled by clicking the "shield" icon in the address bar.
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Ghostery
  • Click the Ghostery icon on your browser.
  • In Ghostery versions < 6.0 click “Whitelist site.” in version 6.0 click “Trust site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
uBlock / uBlock Origin
  • Click the uBlock / uBlock Origin icon on your browser.
  • Click the “power” button in the menu that appears to whitelist the current website
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".