Dr. Diaspro recently published an article on micro injections of Botox to improve skin texture and roughness.

Botulinum toxin – best known by the brand name Botox – is a popular treatment to reduce facial lines and wrinkles. Over the years, plastic surgeons have explored alternative approaches to maximize effectiveness while minimizing side effects of botulinum toxin injection, including smaller doses and more-diluted concentrations.

Now a team of plastic surgeons is developing an innovative, less-invasive injection technique – using many tiny doses of botulinum toxin injected in a grid pattern just under the surface of the facial skin. In a preliminary report, this micro-dose technique provides objective improvement in skin texture and roughness, backed up by a high patient satisfaction rate.

This technique is a safe and effective method of facial rejuvenation, yielding objective improvements of about 20 percent in skin texture, roughness and pore size, according to Dr. Diaspro in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

The new, less-invasive technique uses a series of tiny aliquots of botulinum toxin A injected just under the skin surface. The injections follow a one-centimeter grid pattern, extending from the forehead to the cheek and down to the jawline.

The researchers used a specialized, high-resolution “skin scanner” system to provide objective data on how the micro procedure performed in improving the skin appearance. Graded on a 10-point scale (0 being best, 10 being worst), average skin texture improved from 6.0 to 4.0, while scores for skin roughness improved from 7.5 to 5.0. There was a similar and significant reduction in enlarged pore size.

The improvements were backed up by subjective ratings: 90 days after micro-dose treatment, 95 percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their results. As in any botulinum toxin procedure, the effects were temporary, lasting up to 120 days. After that, treatment would need to be reported in order to maintain the improvement.

The results of this technique appeared best in middle-aged patients. The researchers emphasize the need for further studies to determine the optimal dose of botulinum toxin to produce a longer-lasting effect at the dilution used.

Dr. Kenneth Hughes does provide Botox in his clinic as well.