McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
When a new wrinkle-relaxing treatment comes to market, it often generates a lot of buzz but at McKeown Medical, we prefer evidence over hype.
Date posted — 23.10.25
Although all of these new drugs come to market with clinical trial evidence to support the manufacturing claims, we know that pharmaceutical companies often have a way of getting trials to say what they want them to say. What we are really interested in is what happens in the real world, and that’s what we wanted to find out.
Around six months ago, we began offering Relfydess, a next-generation botulinum toxin that promised faster onset, longer duration, and a smoother aesthetic finish compared to traditional products like Botox® and Azzalure®. To understand whether these claims translate into real-world results, we conducted a structured patient satisfaction survey: first shortly after we introduced the product to assess the short term impact, and again nearly six months later. The goal was to find out whether patients genuinely noticed a difference in how Relfydess works and lasts compared to their usual toxin treatment.
When we first introduced Relfydess earlier this year, initial feedback from our patients was promising. Many reported that their results appeared to take effect slightly sooner than they were used to and described a particularly “crisp” or “polished” look to the final result.
The main drawback at that early stage? The injections themselves were more uncomfortable than those from conventional toxin formulations. This is consistent with what we expected based on the product’s formulation, which has a different pH and lacks certain buffering ingredients used in traditional toxins.
Encouraged by these early impressions, we wanted to assess whether these perceived benefits held true over time. You can read the full early results here.
We have now approached the same patients who were treated in the first month of us offering Relfydess and 62 patients responded, all of whom had previously used other botulinum toxins before switching to Relfydess. We asked three simple questions:
Here’s what our patients said.
This result confirms what many patients reported early on: a noticeably quicker onset. For busy patients who like to see results promptly before a special event, this may be a meaningful advantage.
More than half of patients preferred the aesthetic finish achieved with Relfydess. The most common description was a “refined” or “cleaner” look, suggesting subtle qualitative differences in how the product diffuses in facial muscles and how movement settles over time.
Durability is one of the key areas where Relfydess claims superiority, and our data seems to support that — at least modestly. Over half of patients felt their results lasted longer, with only a small minority perceiving shorter duration.
These findings build on our earlier short-term impressions and suggest that Relfydess delivers tangible advantages for a majority of patients, particularly in terms of faster onset and potentially improved longevity. This is not in manufacturer sponsored clinical trials but in a real world setting.
However, as with all aesthetic treatments, results vary between individuals. Those who already achieved excellent outcomes with their previous toxin may find the differences subtle. For others, especially those who had started to feel their results weren’t lasting as long as they once did, Relfydess appears to offer a welcome improvement.
We also continue to monitor the issue of injection discomfort. While most patients find it tolerable, we’ve adapted our injection technique by adding in a small amount of local anaesthetic to help reduce stinging and will continue refining this as experience grows.
The takeaway is clear: Relfydess is not simply a marketing gimmick – it appears to offer real, patient-perceived benefits. That said, it’s not necessarily the right choice for everyone. Our team will continue to offer a range of botulinum toxin options, tailoring each treatment to your goals, comfort level, and previous experiences.
If you’re curious about whether Relfydess might be a good option for you, we’d encourage you to book a consultation with one of our clinicians to discuss your aesthetic goals in more detail.
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Relfydess is one of the most talked-about and exciting new arrivals in the world of aesthetic medicine — a next-generation...
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Relfydess is one of the most talked-about and exciting new arrivals in the world of aesthetic medicine — a next-generation...