Ten Years Later, Uses for Botox Continue to Grow

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Becky

uses for BotoxBotox has been making our faces smoother for ten years now.

Approved by the FDA to treat frown lines between the eyebrows in April 2002, in the past ten years the uses for Botox have grown through new approvals and off-label treatments. Allergan, the maker of Botox, says that last year about 51% of sales came from therapeutic uses and 49% from aesthetic uses.

The most recent news is that Allergan filed applications for approval to sell Botox as an overactive bladder treatment. New data showed that the injectable significantly reduced daily incontinence episodes compared to a placebo injection, according to the Wall Street Journal.

A Brief History of Botox

Botox for cosmetic applications was developed by ophthalmologist Jean Carruthers and her husband, according to USA Today. While treating a patient with it for facial muscle spasms in 1987, the patient told Carruthers she had missed a spot. “It’s just every time you treat me there, I get this beautiful, untroubled expression,” the patient told her.

An idea formed, as Carruthers knew that frown lines between the eyebrows were hard to treat. She wondered if a botulinum toxin could be the answer.

From there, she and her husband, a dermatologist, spent several years experimenting and investigating, resulting in the FDA approval of Botox for treating frown lines ten years ago.

According to Allergan, today Botox is approved for 25 different indications, including neck pain for adults with cervical dystonia; symptoms of severe underarm sweating; and headaches in adults with chronic migraine.

Botox for Crow’s Feet

Allergan reports it will be seeking approval for the use of Botox on crow’s feet. Many aesthetic physicians — including dermatologists, oculoplastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons — already use Botox for crow’s feet and other aesthetic purposes, such as softening neck bands, as off-label treatments.

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The Study of Genes Could Lead to Better Facial Treatments

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Becky

genes and aging Researchers are examining how genes affect aging, with the hope of improving facial rejuvenation treatments for patients.

According to Dr. Zoe D. Draelos, a dermatologist at Duke University, the science of genomics, the study of genes, may be the key to better skin care in the future.

“There is ground-breaking research underway to determine the differences between old and young genes,” said Dr. Draelos. “The hope is that by understanding how to make old genes act younger and how to keep young genes from getting old, we can better advise our patients on caring for their skin.”

For instance, researchers have looked at how genes are expressed in older and younger skin and how our diet may affect our genes. Dr. Draelos said that these studies are working to determine how certain ingredients can produce changes in the skin over time.

Scientists are also studying aquaporins, the proteins in the cell membrane that regulate the flow of water, in order to understand how ingredients such as glycerin interact with them. Glycerin, which is a popular ingredient in skin care products because of its ability to moisturize the skin, is being researched for its potential to improve skin care products, according to Dr. Draelos.

“This next generation of genomic-based research is helping us determine not only what ingredients may work best for specific skin types, but how what we eat now and throughout our life can affect our skin as well,” said Dr. Draelos. “Science holds the key to helping us make better recommendations based on this newfound knowledge.”

As scientists work to improve skin care products, patients can also improve their skin with a number of non-surgical procedures, including chemical peels and injectables.

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Combination Injection May Improve Facial Fat Grafting Results

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Becky

fat grafting results A new case study found that fat grafting results improved when fat was combined with platelet-rich fibrin matrix, known as Selphyl, according to Cosmetic Surgery Times.

Facial fat grafting adds volume to your face using your own natural fat. Fat is removed from one area of the body, such as the abdomen or the buttocks, and is then processed to remove excess fluids, before being injected into the face.

The Selphyl system used in the study takes a small amount of the patient’s blood to prepare the platelet-rich fibrin matrix, which is combined with the patient’s fat before being injected back into the body.

The case study examined a 37-year-old woman who had fat taken from her outer thighs and grafted on two sites on her abdomen. One site had her injected fat and the other had her fat combined with Selphyl.

Eight weeks later, the tissue was examined. Both sites had viable fat, but the site where the fat was mixed with Selphyl had an increase in blood vessels, which is crucial to improving the chances of long-term fat survival.

Fat Grafting Results Can Vary

During facial fat grafting, it’s not possible to predict how much fat will survive after the procedure, as fat has a tendency to become re-absorbed into the body. Therefore, a follow-up visit may be needed to monitor results.

The study’s authors noted that variability of graft survival (typically 50–70%) is considered a downside to the procedure, but the case study shows that adding Selphyl to fat could improve the survival rate.

“The result of this case study indicates that fat mixed with Selphyl may improve graft survival by increasing both neovascularization and total cell number,” the authors concluded.

Read the study’s abstract in the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, and learn more about facial fat grafting in Sacramento.

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Surgeons Apply Facial Techniques to Hand Rejuvenation

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Becky

hand rejuvenation Surgeons are taking common non-surgical cosmetic facial procedures and using them for hand rejuvenation, according to the New York Times.

As we age, our hands lose fat, volume and elasticity; because the skin is thinner and more translucent, you begin to see the underlying tendons and veins. Years of sun exposure cause brown spots to appear.

Luckily, cosmetic techniques can turn back the clock — even for our hands.

“The hands are a hot new area,” said Dr. Neil S. Sadick, a dermatologist in New York City. “Now that we have the face so well treated, we’re looking at the hands, neck and décolleté.”

Hand Rejuvenation Techniques

For lost volume, fillers, such as Radiesse or Juvederm, can be injected under the skin on the hand to plump it up.

Intense pulsed light or CO2 laser resurfacing are options for removing sun spots.

Dr. Sadick listed several other techniques that can be used for the hands as well, including:

  • Fraxel laser to remove wrinkling or discoloration.
  • Thermage to tighten the skin.
  • Sclerotherapy to treat varicose veins.

However, Dr. Sadick did not recommend surgery on the hands. He said that surgical removal of excess skin is not an option for the hands since it causes scarring and doesn’t heal well. In addition, there’s a higher risk of complications.

Dr. Amy Wechsler, a dermatologist, said the most important thing to do is to apply sunscreen to your hands.

“Treat your hands like you treat your face. People wash their hands so much these days that they’re washing off their sunscreen,” she said. Her tip? Keep a small sample size of sunscreen in your handbag and reapply after washing.

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Women Embrace Curves and the Procedures That Enhance Them

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Copywriter

Social media websites, the media, and the beauty industry have all shown signs that a curvy figure is in vogue again.

Cosmetic surgeons, noticing this evolution in beauty perception, have developed procedures to meet the desires of patients who want a more voluptuous figure.

RealSelf.com, a website where patients and surgeons share information about cosmetic procedures, found that searches related to butt augmentation rose dramatically in 2011 – increasing 39 percent. They say it’s the “fastest moving topic on the site in terms of overall consumer interest.”

With the rise of procedures like the Brazilian butt lift, in which a patient’s own fat is transferred to enhance the shape and size of the buttocks, women are looking to enhance other areas as well.

Is Thigh Augmentation the Next Trend for Curves?

A recent study in the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery explored thigh augmentation, a procedure that uses a custom implant. “Breasts are getting bigger, buttocks are getting fuller, and there is increasing demand for a fuller, more curvaceous look to the thighs,” report the authors.

During their study, 18 women received the implants to achieve a fuller appearance in the thighs. The procedure involves surgical insertion of a custom-made lateral thigh prosthesis, which enhances the curves of the lateral thigh area.

The authors reported high patient satisfaction. There were no major complications associated with the procedure during the study, and they found that implants helped women achieve a fuller look in the thigh.

Realistically, there are probably more women looking for less volume on their thighs. For them, a thigh lift might be the right procedure. A thigh lift reshapes the contour of the inner and outer thighs by removing excess skin. In some cases, a limited amount of fat is removed with liposuction.

Traditional Procedures for Enhancing Curves

Some of the most popular procedures have always been about enhancing a patient’s curves and contours. For example, many women who are dissatisfied with the size, shape and fullness of their breasts often turn to breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants.

Other curve-enhancing procedures include buttock augmentation with implants, calf augmentation and pectoral augmentation.

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