The Changing Face of Beauty

PARIS, January 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- 80% of European women believe that aesthetic beauty treatments are acceptable investments

IMCAS -- Merz Aesthetics today releases further intriguing insights uncovered by its 'Face Value' Beauty Report. Four out of five surveyed European women think that it's 'the norm' to spend money on aesthetic procedures like dermal fillers, botulinum toxins, and laser treatments to maintain their looks as they grow older. No longer just reserved for the super-rich or Hollywood elite, two thirds of the respondents admit that they will have a procedure at some point in their adult lives.

These key findings revealed as part of the comprehensive study of almost 3,000 women from across France, Spain, Italy, Russia and the UK remarkably show just how much attitudes toward aesthetics procedures are changing.

The detailed 'Face Value' report explores all aspects of the aesthetic beauty procedure market, everything from attitudes toward cost to the necessity for clinically-tested safety and one of the most arresting research areas looks at the lengths women will go to in order to get the treatments they want. Despite the fact that economists predict that we are in a continued recession, 29% of women with experience in using facial injectables admit they would buy fewer or cheaper groceries to pay for a treatment while 31% say they would seek out a second or better paying job.

And the reason for all of this? Unsurprisingly, it is skin imperfections and the dreaded, age-accentuating wrinkles that are the things women would like to change most when it comes to their faces. Of the 53% that admit to already having wrinkles, 62% have actively sought out treatments to reduce their appearance and keep clear and crevasse-free complexions.

All of the above feeds into a new found notion that beauty can very much be controlled - in the process dispelling old assertions that when it comes to our looks we have no choice but to settle for what we've got. Similarly, the idea that having aesthetic procedures is overly vain seems to be becoming antiquated, too. The data reveals how:

• 80% of women think beauty is under each person's control and can be shaped or enhanced (an important fact given 95% would like to improve or alter one or more of their facial features)
• Over two thirds of women (69%) do not think it's superficial in any way to have an aesthetic procedure
• Nearly one half of women (45%) now consider aesthetic procedures to be a necessity and not a luxury.

Commenting on the findings, Pat Altabilla, Vice President, Global Marketing, Merz Aesthetics said, "Women are and always have been under a lot of pressure to look their best. There are numerous things they can do to maintain their appearance and having aesthetic procedures with injectables is just one option - what's refreshing though is that the stigma surrounding them seems to be disappearing. Facial injectables have already helped millions of women deal with their wrinkles, and we believe that figure will continue to rise as more women appreciate the positive effects of investing in this form of beauty maintenance."

About the Survey
The survey, conducted online in late 2010 by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Merz Aesthetics included 2,939 women from France (n=543), the United Kingdom (n=524), Italy (n=667), Spain (n=701), and Russia (n=504) who have experience with, or interest in, using facial injectable treatments of dermal fillers and/or botulinum toxin.  Women were asked a variety of questions about their thoughts and feelings related to what makes a woman beautiful, their own personal beauty, and the role of aesthetic procedures in maintaining their appearance.  For more information on survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Lauren Brunt, Medical Dynamics, +1(646-599-8613)

About Merz Aesthetics
Merz Aesthetics Inc. is a division of the German-based company Merz which was founded in 1908. Merz Aesthetics Europe, with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, operates subsidiaries in 16 countries and cooperates with more than 30 distributors worldwide.

Company founder Friedrich Merz researched the effects of revitalizing skin care essences, and the company introduced the world's first anti-wrinkle treatment in 1953. Merz Aesthetics brings a century of healthcare expertise, cutting-edge products and unparalleled service to the field of aesthetic medicine. This legacy continues today with Merz Aesthetics innovative portfolio of products which are designed to empower consumers to achieve their personalized beauty ideals.

Merz Aesthetics' product portfolio includes Radiesse®, a volumising filler, the Belotero® family of hyaluronic acid fillers, and Bocouture®, a Botulinum toxin type A free from complexing proteins, for the temporary improvement of glabellar frown lines. Physicians can expect Merz Aesthetics' to deliver superb efficacy and optimal safety, while consumers can expect products that complement any personal beauty regimen while delivering a proven long-lasting, natural look.

For more information, please visit http://www.merzaesthetics.com

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us - and our clients - stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com.

Bocouture®4 units/0.1 ml powder for solution for injection. Active substance: Botulinum toxin type A (150 kD), free from complexing proteins. Prescription-only medicine!

Qualitative and quantitative composition: One vial contains: 50 LD(50) units of Botulinum toxin type A (150 kD), free from complexing proteins, Human albumin, Sucrose.

Therapeutic indications: For temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe vertical lines between the eyebrows seen at frown (glabellar frown lines) in adults below 65 years when the severity of these lines has an important psychological impact for the patient.

Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to Botulinum neurotoxin type A or to any of the excipients, generalised disorders of muscle activity (e.g. myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome). Presence of infection or inflammation at the proposed injection site.

Bocouture® should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.

The use of Bocouture® during lactation cannot be recommended.

Undesirable effects: Usually, undesirable effects are observed within the first week after treatment and are temporary in nature. Localised pain, tenderness, itching, swelling and/or haematoma can occur in conjunction with the injection. Temporary vasovagal reactions associated with pre-injection anxiety, such as syncope, circulatory problems, nausea or tinnitus, may occur.

Common (>/=1/100,<1/10): headache, muscle disorders (elevation of eyebrow), sensation of heaviness. Uncommon (>/=1/1,000,<1/100) : bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, influenza, depression, insomnia, facial paresis (brow ptosis), vasovagal syncope, eyelid oedema, eyelid ptosis, blurred vision, tinnitus, nausea, pruritus, skin nodule, muscle twitching, muscle cramps, injection site reactions (bruising, pruritus), tenderness, influenza like illness, fatigue (tiredness). For adverse reactions reported with the comparator product containing conventional Botulinum toxin type A complex of equal potency see Summary of Product Characteristics.

General: In rare cases, localised allergic reactions, such as swelling, oedema, erythema, pruritus or rash, have been reported after treating vertical lines between the eyebrows (glabellar frown lines) and other indications. For undesirable effects when treating other indications with Botulinum toxins see Summary of Product Characteristics.

Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, 60048 Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Phone: +49-69/1503-1.

Date of revision of the text: July 2010 (in Germany). Further information is provided in the Summary of Product Characteristics and in the Package Leaflet.

SOURCE Merz Aesthetics