Men make up an increasing number of dermatology patients seeking cosmetic procedures. According to data from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgery, 9%-10% of all cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2013 were on men, a 104% increase since 2000. Botulinum toxin is currently the most common minimally invasive cosmetic procedure performed in men. While the overall percentage of men undergoing treatment, compared with women, is relatively small, more than 385,000 botulinum toxin treatments were performed on men last year in the United States, an increase of 310% since 2000.
Dr. Naissan Wesley
Studies have shown that men often require more units of onabotulinumtoxinA than women when treating the glabella. In a 2005 study by Alstair and Jean Carruthers, 80 men were randomized to receive 20, 40, 60, or 80 units of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox or Vistabel). The 40-, 60-, and 80-U doses were consistently more effective than the 20-U dose was in reducing glabellar lines (duration, peak response rate, and improvement from baseline). I find this to be true in my practice. Men may often require 20-60 U in the superficial corrugator and procerus muscles, compared with 20-30 units of onabotulinumtoxinA in the same muscles in women. For the frontalis muscles, I may use 5-20 U in men, compared with 5-10 U of onabotulinumtoxinA in women, but I take care not to inject too inferiorly to avoid a heavy brow or brow ptosis. The orbicularis oculi muscles often require the similar doses of between 6-15 U (most often 12 U/side) depending on degree of muscle contraction and severity of rhytids.
Dr. Lily Talakoub
In addition to differences in botulinum toxin dosing between men and women, placement of toxin also may vary. Placement in the superficial corrugator, procerus, frontalis, and orbicularis oculi muscles are often the similar and patient dependent, based on a visual assessment of where their muscles move/contract. The superficial corrugator may insert more laterally in some men, and the brow is often straighter or less arched. The difference in injection site is often at the lateral brow. In women, botulinum toxin is often injected at the lateral brow at the junction where the lateral superior portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle and frontalis meet, in order to help give the brow a "lift." Men, however, often do not want raised or arched brow. Therefore, an injection is often placed about 1 cm above the lateral brow to maintain brow position and avoid overarching, or what some may regard as feminization of the male brow.
The depressor anguli oris and orbicularis oris muscles are injected less frequently in men than in women in my practice because of seemingly decreased rhytid formation in men in these locations. The platysmal muscles may be injected in men, but their average age is older compared with women who receive injections in this location.
Dr. Talakoub and Dr. Wesley are co-contributors to a monthly Aesthetic Dermatology column in Skin & Allergy News. Dr. Talakoub is in private practice in McLean, Va. Dr. Wesley practices dermatology in Beverly Hills, Calif. This month’s column is by Dr. Wesley.