In this post:

When considering Relfyess vs Botox, Relfydess offers faster onset (39% of patients see results within 24 hours) and longer duration (75% maintain results at 6 months) compared to traditional Botox’s 3-5 day onset and 3-4 month duration.
The complex-free formulation using PEARL technology eliminates complexing proteins, potentially reducing immunogenicity risk with 0% neutralising antibody formation in clinical trials.
Ideal candidates for Relfydess include resistant patients, high-motion individuals, and efficiency-seekers, though practices should consider gradual implementation and patient education strategies.
Economic benefits extend beyond per-unit costs, with longer treatment intervals improving practice efficiency, though initial adoption requires careful consideration of staff training and inventory management.

The aesthetic medicine landscape is constantly evolving. In 2025, patients are increasingly becoming frustrated with botulinum toxin treatments that only last a couple months. They want an alternative that works faster and lasts longer. This is where Relfydess comes in, Galderma’s latest entry into the UK market.

But beyond the marketing claims and clinical trial headlines lies a more complex question: does this new toxin actually offer the superior outcomes it claims to? When comparing Relfydess vs Botox, who comes out on top? In this blog post, we’ll dive into the advantages Relfydess might have over traditional botulinum toxins like Botox and whether it’s worth implementing into your practice.

We recently started using Relfydess in our Liverpool-based aesthetics practice Smileworks, and the results have already been incredibly promising. But as medical professionals, we understand that our responsibility extends far beyond simply pushing the newest product. It’s important to understand when, why, and for whom these innovations like Relfydess truly benefit.

What is Relfydess?

Both Relfydess and Botox contain botulinum toxin type A, the purified protein derived from Clostridium botulinum that temporarily blocks acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions. However, the similarities largely end there.

Relfydess distinguishes itself through PEARL technology, a manufacturing process designed to preserve molecular integrity during production. This results in what Galderma calls a ‘complex-free’ formulation, meaning the active toxin exists without the complexing proteins found in traditional botulinum toxin preparations.

These complexing proteins in conventional products like Botox were originally thought to protect the toxin during storage and transport. However, they may also influence diffusion patterns and potentially contribute to immunogenicity over time. Relfydess removes these proteins entirely. This, in theory, creates a more predictable, targeted treatment with reduced risk of antibody formation.

The ready-to-use liquid formulation represents another practical advantage. Unlike powder formulations requiring reconstitution, Relfydess arrives pre-mixed, eliminating variables in preparation and potentially reducing degradation from improper mixing techniques.

Relfydess vs Botox

Onset of Action

Clinical trial data suggests Relfydess demonstrates faster onset compared to traditional toxins. The READY trials reported 39% of patients showing visible improvement within 24 hours, with peak effects occurring around day seven. This contrasts with Botox’s typical 3-5 day onset period.

More compelling is the consistency of onset across patients. Early reports indicate Relfydess may provide a more predictable timing of results, which could prove valuable for long-term patient planning and satisfaction.

Duration of Results

Perhaps the most appealing claim surrounding this new toxin is the duration of results. Clinical trials report 75% of patients maintaining meaningful results at six months, with some showing effects even at day 180. This represents a substantial improvement over the typical 3-4 month treatment cycles.

For injectors, this extended duration could translate into improved patient satisfaction and potentially better treatment economics, assuming the cost differential doesn’t negate the longevity benefits.

Who Suits Relfydess?

The short answer is anyone who is suitable for traditional botulinum toxin injections will be suitable for Relfydess. Any and all patients will enjoy the longer-lasting results and a faster onset. However, there are some patients who would be especially good candidates for the new toxin. These include:

Resistant Patients: It’s not uncommon for some patients to develop a partial resistance to Botox, especially if they’ve gotten it for decades. These patients may benefit from Relfydess’s complex-free formulation and may see improved outcomes compared to Botox.
High-Motion Individuals: Patients with particularly active facial muscles, including men or women with stronger muscle mass, may benefit from the longer duration of Relfydess. These patients often express frustration with the frequent top-ups required with Botox.
Efficiency-Seekers: Busy professionals who value longer intervals between treatments may prefer the longer-lasting results they get from Relfydess, even if it comes with slightly higher upfront costs.

Even though Relfydess comes with clear benefits to Botox, some patients may be hesitant to switch over to a new toxin. These patients may be those who are already satisfied with Botox, those who are cost-conscious (Relfydess will come with higher fees), and those who actually prefer results that fade quickly.

It’s these types of patients who might need a bit more explaining of the benefits of Relfydess over Botox, and even then, some may still be committed to sticking with Botox.

Safety Profile & Immunogenicity

Safety profiles between Relfydess and Botox appear remarkably similar in clinical trials. Common side effects like injection site reactions, temporary bruising, and rare instances of eyelid ptosis occur at comparable rates.

The immunogenicity data presents Reflydess’s most compelling advantage. Clinical trials reported 0% formation of neutralising antibodies, even in patients with prior exposure to other botulinum toxins. Additionally, only 1.1% developed treatment-emergent anti-drug antibodies, none of which proved clinically significant.

This reduced immunogenicity potential could prove crucial for long-term treatment success, particularly in patients who have regularly gotten toxin treatments over many years. However, longer-term real-world data will be essential to confirm these promising early results.

No cases of secondary non-response were observed in trials, suggesting consistent efficacy even with repeated treatments. This means a significant advantage for maintaining long-term patient satisfaction.

Economic Considerations for Your Practice

The economic implications of adopting Relfydess extend beyond simple per-unit costs. Longer treatment intervals could reduce appointment frequency, potentially improving practice efficiency while maintaining revenue through premium pricing.

At Smileworks Liverpool, we’re currently keeping our prices for Relfydess the same as our Botox prices to ease patients in the transition. This gives patients time to get to know and adjust to the new toxin and its differences from Botox. This is what we recommend other practices do when initially implementing Relfydess.

However, initial adoption costs include staff training, inventory management for multiple products, and patient education about the new option. Eventually, it might make sense to up the price of Relfydess once your patients and staff have adjusted to the change, especially since patients will be coming in less frequently than they had been with Botox. Whether you use Relfydess vs Botox is a decision that will vary practice-to-practice. For our practice, Relfydess was a no-brainer, but ultimately, you must do what is best for your practice and its patients.

So Should You Implement Relfydess?

The early evidence supporting Relfydess is very promising. The combination of a faster onset, longer duration, and reduced immunogenicity risk is compelling for many patients frustrated with the limitations of traditional botulinum toxin.

In our opinion, Relfydess represents a genuine advance in botulinum toxin technology, and we’re excited to bring this revolutionary, new toxin to all of our facial aesthetics patients. What’s best for our aesthetics practice might not be what’s best for yours, so be sure to consider whether Relfydess would appeal to your patients.

The future of aesthetic medicine lies not necessarily in choosing between Relfydess vs Botox, but in understanding when each product serves your patients best. Both options remain valuable tools in an injector’s toolkit, and the choice of which to use should always be guided by clinical evidence, experience, and individual patient needs.

Are you a patient interested in the long-lasting results of Relfydess? We offer Relfydess at our Liverpool-based aesthetics practice Smileworks, available to book right now.

If you want training in how to inject with Relfydess, HUB founder and lead instructor Dr MJ is available for one-to-one mentoring sessions. These training days are fully customiseable, and you’ll receive personalised instruction based on your skill level and goals. We also have a host of other facial aesthetics courses to suit your needs, from a beginner Botox & Lip Filler Course to the essential Facial Ultrasound Course. See our full course offerings here.

Join us at the HUB today. Let’s shape the future of aesthetic medicine together and ensure safe, effective, and transformative results for every patient.

Want to try out our courses before committing? Take advantage of our free trial for a taste of what learning at the HUB is like.

Related blog posts:

Nasolabial Fold Filler Gone Wrong: Causes, Fixes & Prevention
Botched Tear Trough Filler: Dr MJ’s Top Tips for Correction
Chin Botox: The Best Fix for Dimpled or Pebbled Chins
Botulism from Botox: What Aesthetic Practitioners Need to Know