A NEW type of ‘Botox’ that works almost instantly and lasts over half a year is set to hit UK clinics as early as next month.
Relfydess, the latest jab, claims to faster and outlast other injectables available in Britain.
Medics call the an “exciting advancement”; in the anti-ageing world.
The experts think the jab could save youth-chasing Brits hundreds of pounds a year – if, they say, it works as well as the studies suggest.
The injection is set to be rolled out by licensed practitioners in some UK clinics from May.
Unlike traditional and similar toxin treatments, which can take up to a week to show full effects, manufacturer Galderma says Relfydess delivers visible results for some within just 24 hours.
Currently, toxin treatments in the UK cost between £100 and £400 per session, with most patients needing top-up appointments every three to four months when the effects wear off. This can add up to hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds annually.
Relfydess, however, lasts longer, with trials suggesting it can keep at bay for over six months – over twice as long as standard treatments.
“For patients, this could potentially halve the need for costly booster sessions,”; said Amish Patel, an aesthetics pharmacist and owner of Hodgson Pharmacy in Longfield, Kent.
“It's not like clinics can charge you double the price for coming in half the amount of times.”
Alluzience, another toxin already available in the UK, offers long-lasting results of up to six months, falling slightly short of the wrinkle-free duration promised by Relfydess.
The new treatment was given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on January 31.
It means the medicine is deemed safe and effective and can now be prescribed privately in Britain for the first time.
NEED REAL-LIFE RESULTS
Despite enthusiasm around the new product, practitioners are cautious about the potentially “overpromising” trial results.
“Relfydess represents an exciting advancement in aesthetic medicine, offering patients a faster-acting and longer-lasting option for wrinkle-smoothing treatments,”; Dr Olya Vorodukhina, aesthetic practitioner & founder of Angels Twelve clinic, in Nottingham, said.
“However, personally, before making any firm conclusions, I need to try the product in practice, see real-life results, and, most importantly, hear feedback from my patients.
“Real-life outcomes are far more important than clinical data alone in assessing the true impact of any new treatment.”;
Pharmacist Amish added: “Any new toxin is always exciting for us, we will certainly be getting it into our clinical and look to test it on patients to how it compares to similar treatments.
“New toxins have sometimes in the past overpromised and underdelivered, so hopefully this one will be more promising.”
Ashton Collins, director of Save Face, a government-approved register of accredited practitioners, said the treatment could be “very beneficial” to some patients.
She said: “Once licensed for use in the UK, it may prove to be more cost-effective for those who have to undergo treatment every 12 weeks.
“We urge anyone considering any time of wrinkle relaxing treatment to seek out a Save Face accredited practitioner for a face-to-face consultation.”
WHAT IS BOTOX?
Botox is a licensed, trademarked product made from botulinum toxin type A that temporarily relaxes muscles to smooth wrinkles.
The toxin itself has been used in medicine for decades to treat various conditions, including , , , and .
Other botulinum toxin products, Dysport and Xeomin are also available, offering similar benefits.
Legally, all botulinum toxin products are .
This means they are illegal to advertise and can only be prescribed face-to-face by a doctor, nurse prescriber, pharmacist prescriber, or dentist.
While injections can be given by others, they must be performed under the direct supervision of a prescriber, who is responsible for the results.
Flying Eze has reached out to The Joint Council For Cosmetic Practitioners for comment.
