Is Warm Botulinum Toxin Still Safe to Use? 

Is Warm Botulinum Toxin Still Safe to Use? 

Here’s What the Science Says 

With summer in full swing, we’ve received a few questions from customers noticing their botulinum toxin vials feeling warm upon delivery. We completely understand the concern and we’re here to clear things up with transparency and science-backed information. 

1. What Is Botulinum Toxin, Really? 

Botulinum toxin is a purified neurotoxic protein derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. In the world of aesthetics, it’s widely used to temporarily relax muscles and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

To ensure stability, most botulinum toxin products are freeze-dried (also known as lyophilized). This process removes moisture in a vacuum, leaving a powder that’s highly stable - even when exposed to a range of temperatures during transit. 

2. How We Package Toxins for Safe Delivery 

We go to great lengths to protect the integrity of your products: 

• Every vial is packed in an insulated foam box to reduce exposure to external heat. 

• Ice packs are included in every shipment to help maintain a cool temperature. 

• Orders are shipped quickly to minimize transit time, especially during hotter months. 

3. But What If It Feels Warm? 

Let’s Talk About the Science 

Short-term exposure to warmth during shipping does not degrade the quality of freeze-dried botulinum toxin. And there’s solid research to back that up: 

• Smart & Rush (1987): Freeze-dried botulinum toxin remained effective even after being exposed to 85°C for one minute. Degradation only occurred after prolonged exposure to extreme heat (e.g., 60°C for hours). 

• Dressler & Bigalke (2017): Even reconstituted toxin stored in a fridge for a year remained potent. 

• Frevert (2015): Some formulations are designed to be stable without refrigeration and still perform well. 

• Jankovic et al.: One type of botulinum toxin retained full activity after a full month at 60°C—far hotter than any shipping environment. 

In short: warm doesn’t mean ruined. 

Conclusion: 

4. When Your Package Arrives — What Should You Do? 

• Refrigerate it promptly at 2–8°C. 

• Never freeze the toxin. Freezing can damage its protein structure and reduce efficacy. 

• When stored properly, your toxin remains stable and effective through its shelf life. 

 5. What If I Don’t See Immediate Results After Injection? 

It’s completely normal for botulinum toxin to take some time to show results. Here's what to keep in mind: 

✔ Effects generally begin around 3 - 7 days post-treatment 
✔ Peak results are seen around 2 to 4 weeks 
✔ Several factors influence results: 
  – Your individual metabolism 
  – Injection depth and technique 
  – Muscle size and strength 
  – Dosage used 

So if results aren’t visible right away, give it time - heat during shipping isn’t to blame. 

6. References 

1. Smart, J.L., & Rush, P.A.J. (1987). In-vitro heat denaturation of Clostridium botulinum toxins types A, B and C. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 22, 293–298. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1987.tb00490.x 

2. Dressler, D., & Bigalke, H. (2017). Long-term stability of reconstituted incobotulinumtoxinA: how can we reduce costs of botulinum toxin therapy? Journal of Neural Transmission, 124(4), 415–418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1767-y 

3. Frevert, J. (2015). Pharmaceutical, biological, and clinical properties of botulinum neurotoxin type A products. Drugs in R&D, 15(1), 1–9. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40268-014-0077-1 

4. Jankovic, J., et al. Stability of botulinum neurotoxin type A devoid of complexing proteins. (Various supporting stability data summarized across publications). https://doi.org/10.1504/TBJ.2011.041815