Background: Legacy recommendations suggest that vials of botulinum toxin be used within 24 hours of reconstitution and in a single patient. Current standard of care is consistent with storage after reconstitution and use of a single vial for several patients.
Objective: To develop expert consensus regarding the effectiveness and safety of storage and reuse of botulinum toxin.
Materials and methods: The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery authorized a task force of content experts to review the literature and provide guidance. Data extraction was followed by clinical question review, a consensus Delphi process, and validation of the results by peer review.
Results: After 2 rounds of Delphi process, the task force concluded by unanimous consensus and with the highest level of confidence that a vial of toxin reconstituted appropriately can, for facial muscle indications, be (1) refrigerated or refrozen for at least 4 weeks before injection without significant risk for contamination or decreased effectiveness and (2) used to treat multiple patients, assuming appropriate handling.
Conclusion: The standard of care, which allows for use of botulinum toxin more than 24 hours after reconstitution and in more than 1 patient per vial, is appropriate and consistent with the safe and effective practice of medicine.