Botulinum toxin type A gives adjunctive benefit to periorbital laser resurfacing.

Objective: Periorbital aging and lines are a result of intrinsic skin aging, ultraviolet damage, and repetitive action of periorbital muscles. Rejuvenation of this area should therefore be optimized by combining treatments that approach the different causative factors.

Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of combining Botox injections (18 units per area) with ablative laser resurfacing versus laser resurfacing alone without Botox in the treatment of periorbital rhytids.

Results: We have concluded a bilateral study comparing the effects of Botox versus saline placebo injections to the periorbital areas before and following erbium: YAG laser resurfacing of the areas in 33 patients. The results demonstrated that the Botox-treated side with laser resurfacing improved significantly more than the contralateral area treated with saline and laser in diminishing periorbital rhytids as well as textural, pigmentation, and other features of periorbital skin aging.

Conclusion: This study illustrates the benefits of a combined approach to treating periorbital skin aging.