Botox ® Losing Ground in the War of Injectable Wrinkle-Toxins?

DALLAS, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- A tense consumer product battle is underway throughout the U.S., but Americans appear very relaxed about it.

The ongoing battle of the facial wrinkle smoothers--Botox ® Cosmetic by Allergan, and Dysport ® marketed by Medicis—began in May of 2009 with newcomer Dysport ® entering Allergan territory--vying for market segment of the multi-billion dollar facial wrinkle treatment industry created by Allergan's wonder-toxin Botox ®. Against the backdrop of recent U.S. economic downturns, Botox® sales remained strong while medical consumers put off costlier cosmetic surgical options--perhaps not wanting to reveal their concern about the state of their retirement plans. With Medicis' marketing acquisition of Dysport, Medicis and Allergan are comparably matched with neurotoxins and hyaluronic acid dermal filler families. On the one side is Allergan's Botox ® and Juvederm ®; on the other-- Medicis' Dysport ® and Restylane ® /Perlane ®--much like the opening scene of 'Westside Story'.

Allergan has maintained a defensive stance until this point, by combining Botox users from thousands of individual physician loyalty campaigns into one consumer marketing mega-database from which to launch their new 'Botox ® Brilliant Distinctions ™' program. Botox ® Brilliant Distinctions™ is a customer loyalty program where points from various Allergan product treatments (such as Juvederm®) can be used toward other Allergan products/treatments of the patient's choice. In contrast to Allergan, Medicis has taken a decidedly 'in your face' approach with 'The Dysport ® 'Love it or Leave it Challenge'--designed to tempt the loyalty of American Botox ® users. Aesthetic patients are invited to first try Dysport ® and sign up to receive a $75 rebate check. Participants then vote whether they 'love it' (Dysport ®) or prefer to 'leave it'. Three months after their Dysport ® trial, they may purchase their next wrinkle treatment with the choice of Dysport ® or Botox ®, and register to receive a second $75 rebate, regardless of which wrinkle smoothing product was preferred.

Jeffrey Adelglass, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical and Surgical Director for SKINTASTIC Medical and Surgical Rejuvenation Centers in Plano, Texas and Uptown Dallas, Texas, comments on the state of the battle of wrinkle relaxers taking place in his own aesthetic medical practice: "My patients are taking the fullest advantage of these trial offers and rebates, and are indeed trying both wrinkle products--some are switching over to Dysport ®, but many are staying with the Botox ® they know. There are distinct benefits to each of the treatments; they do behave slightly differently. What's great is that our patients are then able to use these savings toward their 'wish-list' of other image-correcting treatments at SKINTASTIC like laser body sculpting, face lifts, dermal fillers and fractional skin resurfacing." Dr. Adelglass cautions that care should always be taken when selecting an aesthetic treatment provider. "Before taking the 'challenge,' consumers should verify that their cosmetic injector is a licensed medical professional with plenty of experience administering both Botox ® and Dysport ®. I highly suggest researching the doctor's neurotoxin experience level with Allergan or Medicis directly, before ever visiting their office." D/FW area Botox Brilliant Distinctions™ members or Dysport ® Challenge participants: Dr. Adelglass has enhanced the Dysport ® Challenge for his patients by offering an additional $100 instant savings on Restylane ® (by Medicis) or Juvederm ® (by Allergan) treatments at his SKINTASTIC medical spas--on top of Brilliant Distinctions savings and 'Love it or Leave it' rebates. To receive a printable copy of that offer by email, visit: http://www.skincentives.com.

For further information, contact: Pamela Fox, Director of Communications for SKINTASTIC Medical and Surgical Rejuvenation Centers, at 972-620-3223, ext. 130.

SOURCE SKINTASTIC Medical and Surgical Rejuvenation Centers