Patient satisfaction after the treatment of glabellar lines with Botulinum toxin type A (Speywood Unit): a multi-centre European observational study

Abstract

Background: Whilst the efficacy and safety of glabella complex treatment with botulinum toxin type A (Speywood Unit) [BoNT-A (s.U)] has been comprehensively studied, there are very few trials on patient-reported outcomes and patient satisfaction associated with this treatment.

Objective: To assess the level of patient satisfaction 3 weeks and 4 months after the treatment of glabellar lines with BoNT-A (s.U).

Methods: This is a multi-centre, prospective, non-interventional observational study carried out in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Subjects were eligible if the investigator had already decided to prescribe BoNT-A (s.U), according to the labelling. Subjects completed a questionnaire at both 3 weeks and 4 months after treatment.

Results: About 533 subjects completed at least one of the two questionnaires. About half of the subjects (47.9%) were naive to BoNT-A treatment of the glabella, while 50.6% had previously received another product. A high level of satisfaction was observed after the treatment, with 94.7% and 89.6% of subjects being satisfied or very satisfied with the aesthetic outcome at week 3 and month 4, respectively. Treatment was safe and well tolerated, as directly determined in the survey. Major reasons for satisfaction included the positive aesthetic outcome, a natural appearance, a rested look and comfort of injection. Most subjects felt the treatment brought them 'harmony', 'self-esteem/confidence' or 'youth'. Of the subjects who had previously been treated with another product, 51.2% considered the results obtained in the present study with BoNT-A (s.U) were better.

Conclusion: Treatment of the glabellar lines with BoNT-A (s.U) led to a high level of patient satisfaction and a more positive self-perception up to 4 months after the treatment, regardless of whether the patients were naive or not to BoNT-A treatment.