Relfydess: What is it and how does it work?

If you follow the world of aesthetics, you may have started hearing a new name: Relfydess.

But what actually is Relfydess, how does it work and how is it different from the other botulinum toxin medicines you may have heard of?

Here’s the straightforward version, without the jargon.

What is Relfydess?

Relfydess is a prescription-only medicine containing botulinum toxin type A.

Botulinum toxin works by temporarily reducing the nerve signals that cause a muscle to contract. When injected into specific facial muscles, this can reduce muscle movement and, as a result, temporarily improve the appearance of certain facial lines.

In the UK, Relfydess is licensed for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines (the vertical lines between the eyebrows) and lateral canthal lines (the lines at the outer corners of the eyes, often called crow’s feet) in adults under 65 where the severity of these lines has an important psychological impact.

So, despite what you may see discussed online, Relfydess isn’t simply a general-purpose cosmetic product. It is a prescription medicine with specific licensed indications.

So, is Relfydess the same as Botox?

This is one of the most common questions.

Relfydess and Botox are both medicines containing botulinum toxin type A, and they work in broadly the same way. However, they are different prescription medicines, with their own formulations, product information and dosing.

Importantly, the units used for Relfydess cannot simply be compared with the units used for another botulinum toxin product. One unit of one product does not automatically equal one unit of another.

So if you have previously had treatment with another botulinum toxin medicine, the dose isn’t something that can simply be converted across.

How does Relfydess work?

Think about what happens when you frown.

The muscles between your eyebrows contract and the skin above them moves. Repeated facial movement over time can contribute to lines becoming more noticeable.

Botulinum toxin temporarily interrupts the nerve signal responsible for that muscle contraction. The muscle therefore becomes less active for a period of time.

It doesn’t permanently change the muscle and it doesn’t work by filling a line. Instead, it temporarily reduces muscle activity in the area where it has been administered.

As the effect wears off, nerve and muscle activity gradually returns.

How quickly does Relfydess work?

This is an area where the clinical trial data are particularly interesting.

Galderma’s READY clinical trial programme included more than 1,900 participants across four Phase III studies, looking at areas including frown lines and crow’s feet.

In the READY-1 study, which looked at moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows, 39% of participants reported seeing an effect as early as Day 1.

In READY-2, which looked at lines around the outer corners of the eyes, 34% reported an effect from Day 1.

The clinical data therefore show that some people can notice an effect within the first 24 hours.

That doesn’t mean everyone will wake up the next morning with their final result, though. Individual responses vary and the effect develops over time.

The studies also demonstrated improvement over the following days and weeks, with the clinical effect followed for up to six months.

It’s worth remembering that clinical trial results describe what happened in a study population. They don’t guarantee that every individual will experience exactly the same speed of onset or duration.

How long does Relfydess last?

This is another question where it is important to look at the evidence rather than promises made online.

The READY clinical trials followed participants for six months. Galderma reported that up to 75% of participants maintained improvements at six months in the studies looking at frown lines and crow’s feet.

That doesn’t mean that everyone will have the same duration of effect.

And this doesn’t mean that the results will look the same at week 2 as they do at week 20.

Your individual response can be influenced by a number of factors, including your facial muscles, the area being treated and how your body responds to the medicine.

So, while six months is an important clinical trial finding, it shouldn’t be interpreted as a guarantee that an individual treatment will last for six months.

Can Relfydess be used on other areas of the face?

This is where things can get a little confusing.

The UK licence for Relfydess covers specific areas of the face, but prescription medicines can sometimes be used outside the conditions or areas included in their licence. This is known as off-label prescribing.

Off-label prescribing is not unusual in medicine. There are many situations where a licensed medicine may be used outside its licence when a suitably qualified prescriber considers this appropriate for an individual patient and there is sufficient evidence or clinical experience to support its use.

Botulinum toxin medicines are no different.

So, while Relfydess has specific licensed indications, a suitably qualified prescriber may, where clinically appropriate, choose to use it in other areas of the face or neck as an off-label treatment.

That does not mean those areas are included in the product’s licence. It means the medicine is being prescribed outside the terms of that licence based on the clinician’s assessment of the individual patient.

Off-label doesn’t automatically mean experimental or unsafe. Equally, it shouldn’t be treated as a blanket endorsement for using a medicine anywhere.

The prescriber needs to consider the available evidence, the individual patient, potential risks and benefits, their own competence and experience, and whether the proposed treatment is appropriate.

For the patient, this is one reason why a proper consultation matters. You should understand what medicine is being prescribed, where it is being used, whether that particular use is within or outside its licence, and why your prescriber believes it is appropriate for you.

Is Relfydess safe?

Relfydess, like any prescription medicine, has potential side effects.

Commonly reported effects include pain during injection, headache and reactions around the injection site, such as bruising, swelling or redness. Other possible effects include temporary eyelid or brow drooping, dry eyes, visual symptoms and muscle weakness.

More serious reactions are very rare, but botulinum toxin medicines can occasionally cause effects beyond the intended treatment area.

This is a useful reminder that, despite botulinum toxin treatments being commonplace in aesthetic medicine, they are still prescription medicines and should be treated as such.

Who shouldn’t have Relfydess?

There are circumstances where Relfydess shouldn’t be used, including certain neuromuscular conditions, an infection at the proposed injection site or an allergy to botulinum toxin or one of the ingredients.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding are also relevant. The current product information states that Relfydess should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Your medical history therefore matters.

A consultation with an appropriately qualified prescriber allows your health, previous treatments, medications and individual circumstances to be considered before any decision about treatment is made.

Why the practitioner matters

Something that can get lost when aesthetic treatments are discussed online is that the medicine is only one part of the picture.

Botulinum toxin injections require an understanding of facial anatomy, muscle movement, injection technique and potential complications.

There is also a significant difference between knowing where a product can technically be injected and understanding where it is clinically appropriate to inject it.

This becomes particularly important when treatment is being considered outside the licensed indications.

A responsible prescriber should be able to explain what they are proposing, why they think it is appropriate, whether the proposed use is licensed or off-label, and the potential risks and benefits.

The bottom line

Relfydess is a UK-authorised prescription medicine containing botulinum toxin type A.

It temporarily reduces activity in specific muscles and is licensed for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe lines between the eyebrows and at the outer corners of the eyes in certain adults under 65.

The clinical trial data show that some people notice an effect as early as Day 1, with improvements continuing to develop over the following days and weeks.

Like other prescription medicines, Relfydess can also be prescribed off-label when a suitably qualified prescriber considers this clinically appropriate. This can include areas of the face or neck that are outside the medicine’s licensed indications.

Ultimately, the important questions aren’t simply “Which toxin?” or “How quickly does it work?”

They’re also “Is this appropriate for me?”, “Who is prescribing it?”, “Where is it being used?” and “Is the proposed treatment based on sound clinical judgement?”

Those clinical decisions should always come before the product.

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for general information and does not constitute medical advice. Relfydess is a prescription-only medicine. Individual suitability should always be assessed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.