Medical Aesthetics · Frown lines
BOEY vs Botox: Try It, Without a Long Commitment
BOEY is a rapid-onset, short-duration botulinum toxin: it starts working within hours and the effect wears off in about two to three weeks. If you are curious but still hesitant, it can be a way to see how it looks before considering a longer-lasting treatment.
This page is for information and does not replace a consultation. BOEY and Botox are prescription-only medicines; whether either is right for you is always decided by the doctor after an individual assessment.
Book a ConsultationApproved use and availability. BOEY (trenibotulinumtoxinE) was authorised in the European Union in July 2026 for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in adults, when these lines have a significant psychological impact. It is not currently licensed by the MHRA in the UK, so treatment takes place at our clinic in Lisbon.
What It Is
A Different Toxin, from the Makers of Botox
Botulinum toxin comes in several types (serotypes), identified by letters. Botox, which has been used for decades, is a type A toxin. BOEY, developed by Allergan Aesthetics, the company behind Botox, is a type E toxin, authorised in the European Union in 2026.
Both work in the same general way: they temporarily relax the muscle that causes the expression line. The difference is timing. Type E starts working faster and is cleared by the body much more quickly; type A takes a few days to work but its effect lasts for months.
The treatment is carried out by the doctor during a consultation: five small injections between and above the eyebrows, in a session of around 15 minutes, with no downtime.
How It Unfolds
From First Effect Back to Normal
Typical values from the clinical studies. Everyone responds differently.
Movement between the eyebrows starts to soften on the same day.
By the next day, most of the effect is visible.
The time to take a good look and decide whether you like the result.
The muscle gradually regains its usual movement.
We review the experience with you and decide together whether to continue.
Side by Side
BOEY and Botox: the Key Differences
Scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
| BOEY | Botox | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of toxin | Botulinum toxin type E (trenibotulinumtoxinE) | Botulinum toxin type A (onabotulinumtoxinA) |
| Onset | From around 8 hours | 2 to 4 days |
| Peak effect | Around day 7 | Around day 14 |
| Typical duration | About 2 to 3 weeks | 4 to 6 months |
| Approved areas | Frown lines between the eyebrows only | Frown lines, forehead and crow's feet (plus therapeutic uses) |
| Session | ~15 minutes, 5 injection points | 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the areas |
| Downtime | None | None |
| Often suits | First-timers who feel hesitant, people who want to see how it looks, or anyone who needs a short effect | People who already know they like the result and want it to last for months |
Typical values from the approved product information and clinical studies. Units of the two toxins are not interchangeable, so doses cannot be compared directly.
Who It May Suit
When BOEY May Be the Right Conversation
Many people consider treating the line between their eyebrows but hold back out of worry. Those doubts are legitimate: they show you have thought carefully about it.
BOEY
- You have never had botulinum toxin and worry about not looking like yourself
- You would like to see the result before committing for months
- You had a poor experience before, or saw someone with an unnatural result
- You want a short effect, for example around an event or a holiday
Botox
- You have had toxin before and know you like the result
- You prefer an effect that lasts several months, with fewer sessions a year
- You also want to treat the forehead or crow's feet
- You tried BOEY, liked it and want to move to a longer-lasting effect
In the clinical studies, people who moved from BOEY to a type A toxin kept the usual effectiveness of type A, so the switch can be made safely if you and the doctor decide to.
Safety
What the Research Shows and What You Should Know
The BOEY clinical programme included more than 2,000 participants across four trials. In the two main studies, around 73% of people treated (386 of 532) had mild or no lines between the eyebrows at day 7, with an improvement of at least two grades, compared with 0.5% in the placebo group.
The most common side effect in the studies was headache. Less often, in up to 1 in 100 people, a drooping eyelid, a drooping eyebrow or an exaggerated arch at the end of the eyebrow may occur.
It is not suitable if you are allergic to botulinum toxin or any ingredient, have a neuromuscular condition (such as myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome), or have an infection or inflammation at the treatment site. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the decision is always discussed with the doctor. At the consultation we review your medical history and the medicines you take.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Most Common Questions
What if I don't like the result?
That is exactly what this treatment is for: the effect starts to fade after two to three weeks and, after about a month, your expression is back to normal.
Will I have to keep having it?
No. There is no obligation to repeat it. If you like it, the doctor may suggest a longer-lasting toxin; if you don't, you simply stop.
Will I look unnatural?
The aim is to soften the line, not erase your expression. The studies describe natural-looking results, and the assessment is done at rest and on frowning, with a mirror and photographs, so we decide together what to treat.
Can I have Botox after BOEY?
Yes. The studies followed people who moved from BOEY to a type A toxin, with no loss of effectiveness. The right moment to switch is agreed at the review consultation.
Can BOEY treat the forehead or crow's feet?
Not at the moment. BOEY is approved only for the lines between the eyebrows. For other areas, the option is a type A toxin.
Can I have BOEY in the UK?
BOEY is not currently licensed by the MHRA, so it is not available in the UK. It is authorised in the European Union, and we offer it at our clinic in Lisbon after an individual consultation.
Before You Decide
The First Step Is a Conversation
At the consultation we listen to what bothers you, assess the area at rest and in movement and explain the options, including when the best answer is not to treat. If you choose BOEY, we book the review appointment for about a month later on the same day.