August 25, 2025
3 min watch
Key takeaways:
- Cosmetic botulinum toxin A injections should be done in the “shoulders of the crease” to reach the target muscle tissue.
- Botulinum toxin can be safely refrigerated for up to 2 weeks with no efficacy loss.
MINNEAPOLIS — Eye care providers who administer botulinum toxin A injections can benefit from three quick tips related to injection site location, storage and patient education, according to a speaker.
“When you’re doing injections of the botulinum toxin, make sure that you’re doing the injection on the shoulders of the crease if you’re doing cosmetic injections,” Leonid Skorin Jr., OD, DO, MS, FAAO, FAOCO, a consultant to the Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, Minnesota, told Healio, “because then you’re actually injecting into the muscle tissue that is causing the crease in the first place.”
Also, partially used vials of botulinum toxin can usually be kept longer than the 4 hours recommended by manufacturers, Skorin said.
“There are multiple studies that have shown that you can refrigerate it — not freeze it — and the efficacy remains the same for up to 2+ weeks,” he said.
Finally, patients sometimes expect an “instantaneous result” from the injection and need to be educated on the true timeline, Skorin said.
“Reassure the patient that they will start noticing some effect about 3 to 4 days after, and that maximal effect doesn’t occur until about 2 weeks,” he said, adding the effects “will only last them somewhere from 3 to 4 months, depending on which particular botulinum toxin you’re using.”
Sources/Disclosures
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Skorin L. Ophthalmic and neurologic uses of botulinum toxin. Presented at: Optometry’s Meeting; June 25-28, 2025; Minneapolis.
Disclosures:
Skorin reports no relevant financial disclosures.
