Ethyl Alcohol Versus Botulinum Toxin A: A Comparative Study of the Visual and Histopathological Outcomes in the Rabbit Anterior Auricular Muscle Model.

[BACKGROUND] Botulinum toxin has long been known for its paralytic effects at the neuromuscular junction. Although it has been widely used for vascular and nervous tissues, there has been no study of the aesthetic effects of the application of ethanol to muscle tissues to date.

[OBJECTIVE] The authors aimed to demonstrate the effects of the application of ethanol to muscle tissues after an intramuscular injection and to compare the effects of botulinum toxin A (BTA) and ethanol.

[METHODS AND MATERIALS] A total of 28 rabbits were divided into 4 groups (n = 7 each). Botulinum toxin A (5 units) and different concentrations of ethanol (5 cc) were injected into the left and right anterior auricular muscles of all rabbits, respectively. Ear ptosis was assessed, and histopathological examination was performed after all rabbits were euthanized in the eighth week.

[RESULTS] Muscle function was affected earlier in ethanol-treated ears than in botulinum-treated ears; however, the ptotic effect lasted for a significantly shorter duration in ethanol-injected ears than in BTA-applied ears.

[CONCLUSION] Ethanol can block muscle function reversibly and can serve as an alternative to BTA, particularly when rapid results are desirable.