Increased frequency of botulinum toxin procedures, 38 percent suspected of developing resistance
Feb 27, 2025
On the 27th, the Committee on Safety Use of Botulinum Toxin (Chairman Moon Ok-ryun, hereinafter referred to as the Committee) announced the results of the "2024 Botulinum Toxin Consumer Survey".
According to the survey results, botulinum toxin procedures in Korea are becoming high-dose and frequent, while the number of consumers experiencing reduced effects or suspected of developing resistance has increased.
The committee conducted a botulinum toxin-related consumer survey of 1,000 women aged 20 to 59 in Korea from 2023 to 2024.
According to the report, the percentage of consumers receiving more than two toxin procedures in one year increased from 56% in 2023 to 59% in 2024, while the percentage of consumers receiving more than one site procedure at a time also increased from 51% to 55%.
Heo Chang-hoon, a dermatology professor at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (a committee member), said, "In this survey, the number of consumers who said they experienced a decrease in toxin effect increased slightly by 1% compared to 2023 to 75%, while the proportion of consumers who said they were suspected of developing resistance also increased slightly by 2% to 38%, and the number of consumers suspected of resistance is estimated to increase as botulinum toxin treatment becomes high-dose and frequent." he said.
Park Je-young, CEO of Apgujeong Oracle Dermatology Department (member of the committee), said "As an encouraging part of this survey, the percentage of people who were informed about the 'difference in the possibility of resistance' during treatment counseling increased to 36% in 2023 and 46% in 2024, and medical staff's efforts to explain the possibility of resistance in the medical field seem to be improving." In fact, 86% of respondents said they had heard of resistance in 2023 and 92% in 2024 said 'yes', indicating that awareness of resistance is increasing. In addition, when asked if they had ever received questions or guidance about their past history during botulinum toxin consultation, the percentage of consumers who answered that they had always received questions or guidance was still only 23%, the same as in 2023, emphasizing that counseling on appropriate doses, appropriate cycles, and appropriate products is essential based on their past history between medical staff and patients.
Chairman Moon Ok-ryun of the Specialized Committee on Safe Use of Botulinum Toxin under the Korea Risk Management Council said "Botulinum Toxin is one of the most common procedures in Korea, but the results of this survey show that awareness and efforts on how to use it safely and properly are still lacking."Consumers must consult with experts sufficiently for smart botulinum toxin procedures, and through this, it is necessary to establish a safe culture of toxin use for both medical staff and consumers" he stressed. The committee plans to continue various activities to create a safe botulinum use environment in the future, it said.
Detailed research results can be found on the recently opened committee web page's business introduction and research data bulletin board. Through its website, the Commission is more easily providing consumers, medical staff, and related industry workers with a variety of information for safe use of botulinum toxin. In particular, information such as an appropriate cycle for each toxin treatment site, possible side effects, and product-specific differences can be checked through the 'Mytoxin Checklist'. Consumers can check these checklists before the procedure and conduct botulinum toxin procedures more safely through consultation with medical staff.
'Botulinum toxin Safety Use Specialized Committee' was launched in October 2023 as a subcommittee under the Korea Risk Management Council to raise awareness about the safety of botulinum toxin in Korea and to form the correct culture of botulinum toxin use. Honorary Professor Moon Ok-ryun of Seoul National University is the chairman, and it consists of a total of six professional members, including Heo Chang-hoon, a dermatology professor at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Park Je-young, CEO of Apgujeong Oracle Dermatology Department.
According to the survey results, botulinum toxin procedures in Korea are becoming high-dose and frequent, while the number of consumers experiencing reduced effects or suspected of developing resistance has increased.
The committee conducted a botulinum toxin-related consumer survey of 1,000 women aged 20 to 59 in Korea from 2023 to 2024.
According to the report, the percentage of consumers receiving more than two toxin procedures in one year increased from 56% in 2023 to 59% in 2024, while the percentage of consumers receiving more than one site procedure at a time also increased from 51% to 55%.
Heo Chang-hoon, a dermatology professor at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (a committee member), said, "In this survey, the number of consumers who said they experienced a decrease in toxin effect increased slightly by 1% compared to 2023 to 75%, while the proportion of consumers who said they were suspected of developing resistance also increased slightly by 2% to 38%, and the number of consumers suspected of resistance is estimated to increase as botulinum toxin treatment becomes high-dose and frequent." he said.
Park Je-young, CEO of Apgujeong Oracle Dermatology Department (member of the committee), said "As an encouraging part of this survey, the percentage of people who were informed about the 'difference in the possibility of resistance' during treatment counseling increased to 36% in 2023 and 46% in 2024, and medical staff's efforts to explain the possibility of resistance in the medical field seem to be improving." In fact, 86% of respondents said they had heard of resistance in 2023 and 92% in 2024 said 'yes', indicating that awareness of resistance is increasing. In addition, when asked if they had ever received questions or guidance about their past history during botulinum toxin consultation, the percentage of consumers who answered that they had always received questions or guidance was still only 23%, the same as in 2023, emphasizing that counseling on appropriate doses, appropriate cycles, and appropriate products is essential based on their past history between medical staff and patients.
Chairman Moon Ok-ryun of the Specialized Committee on Safe Use of Botulinum Toxin under the Korea Risk Management Council said "Botulinum Toxin is one of the most common procedures in Korea, but the results of this survey show that awareness and efforts on how to use it safely and properly are still lacking."Consumers must consult with experts sufficiently for smart botulinum toxin procedures, and through this, it is necessary to establish a safe culture of toxin use for both medical staff and consumers" he stressed. The committee plans to continue various activities to create a safe botulinum use environment in the future, it said.
Detailed research results can be found on the recently opened committee web page's business introduction and research data bulletin board. Through its website, the Commission is more easily providing consumers, medical staff, and related industry workers with a variety of information for safe use of botulinum toxin. In particular, information such as an appropriate cycle for each toxin treatment site, possible side effects, and product-specific differences can be checked through the 'Mytoxin Checklist'. Consumers can check these checklists before the procedure and conduct botulinum toxin procedures more safely through consultation with medical staff.
'Botulinum toxin Safety Use Specialized Committee' was launched in October 2023 as a subcommittee under the Korea Risk Management Council to raise awareness about the safety of botulinum toxin in Korea and to form the correct culture of botulinum toxin use. Honorary Professor Moon Ok-ryun of Seoul National University is the chairman, and it consists of a total of six professional members, including Heo Chang-hoon, a dermatology professor at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Park Je-young, CEO of Apgujeong Oracle Dermatology Department.
|
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
