A comprehensive review, Botulinum Toxin A Myths, Evidence, and Global Media Narratives, published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has highlighted public misconceptions on botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A).
Researchers analysed 513 English-language sources published between 2000 and 2024, including 186 academic studies and 327 media reports. Using artificial intelligence-assisted searches, sentiment analysis and thematic clustering, the study identified eight major categories of myths. Media coverage was predominantly negative, with safety and toxicity misconceptions appearing 3.2 times more frequently than in peer-reviewed literature.
Researchers also found misinformation increased following litigation, celebrity disclosures and regulatory advisories, while new myths, including claims of immune suppression and “patchwork ageing,” emerged after 2019. The authors recommend pre-consultation educational resources, scripted clinical responses, and stronger collaboration between healthcare professionals and media organisations to improve public understanding and counter persistent myths surrounding BoNT-A.