Posts Tagged ‘botox’

Post-Divorce Plastic Surgery? Consider Carefully

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

People get plastic surgery for many different reasons, but should divorce be one of them? While post-divorce plastic surgery can be a means of reclaiming one’s self-confidence, it may be that some are using the procedures to get revenge on their former spouses, according to ABC correspondent Ashleigh Banfield.

Women have been in a long-term relationship may feel uncomfortable returning to the dating scene after ending their marriage. Aging gracefully is often more difficult for women than for men, as past pregnancies can leave stomachs looking stretched and saggy, and stress can add frown lines and other wrinkles.

Many women feel that their return to the dating scene can be eased by such procedures as facelifts, Botox, liposuction, and tummy tucks. Dermatologist and post-divorce surgery patient Dr. Marina Peredo says that a breakup can make a woman feel vulnerable. It’s important to take the steps necessary to feel comfortable in your own skin.

And a lot of women are doing just that. Dr. Jon Turk, a plastic surgeon, says that about a fifth of his clients are recently divorced women. He says that he always advises a cool-down period before proceeding to surgery:

“Patients who come in who are bitter or angry about their divorce and looking to use surgery to make their spouse jealous or to just fill some type of emotional void, those are the ones that I think we need to counsel really carefully.”

Some of Dr. Turk’s patients feel that revenge is a perfectly good reason to get plastic surgery, and ultimately that’s something that every woman might need to decide for herself. But tread carefully: surgeries have long-lasting effects on the body and often require weeks of recovery. Women who have undergone a divorce may be emotionally fragile and should carefully consider whether surgery is something that they truly want.

Botox or Facial Filler? How to Reduce Wrinkles Without Surgery

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

While Botox is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world, with 5.4 million procedures performed last year in the United States alone, facial fillers have become very trendy in recent years. Products like Juvederm, Sculptra, and Artefill are continuing to redefine how we think about wrinkles. Each product has unique benefits that are worth considering.

All of these products work by being injected into the face over the course of about 15 minutes. The benefit of injectable treatments is that there is no downtime, as patients can usually return to their routine immediately after the procedure. Typically, the only side effects are what you might expect for an injection, such as redness, bruising, or stinging, which pass soon afterwards.

Botox is best suited to treating forehead lines, frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet, lines between the upper lip and nose (perioral wrinkles), and wrinkles on the neck. All of these areas can be treated through targeted injections that relax certain muscles and allow others to pull the skin tighter than before.

Facial fillers are best used on smile lines and wrinkles below the mouth. However, they can often be used for other wrinkles and creases on the face, as well as for augmenting lips and filling out hollow cheeks.

Some fillers, such as Restylane, Elevess, Perlane, and Juvederm, use hyaluronic acid for striking results that last up to 6 months. All are highly effective on smile lines and other facial wrinkles, although each is formulated differently and suited to unique purposes. For example, Juvederm is especially well-suited to filling out lips, while Perlane contains no animal proteins whatsoever.

Other fillers last much longer than Botox and hyaluronic acid-based fillers. Sculptra lasts for up to two years and works by replacing lost collagen. Artefill, however, lasts longer than most (if not all) other facial fillers. It provides permanent support thanks to special microspheres that are injected along with the collagen and provide a framework for new collagen deposits. The microspheres are not absorbed into the skin, so that they may provide lasting support for a number of years.

Each product has unique benefits that are best suited to different patient needs, desires, and timeframes, so it’s always important to discuss your needs with a qualified plastic surgeon to find the injectable treatment that’s right for you.

Botox Helps Migraine and Cerebral Palsy Sufferers

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Botulinum toxin injections, commonly known as Botox, are by far the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure on the market today, with 5.4 million procedures performed in 2010. Botox restores a youthful appearance to the face by temporarily paralyzing certain facial nerves so that other muscles are able to pull the skin tighter than before.

However, there are alternative uses for Botox that may surprise you, as its unique ability to paralyze muscles with simple injections has improved the lives of spinal migraine and cerebral palsy sufferers.

The Mayo Clinic recently discovered that Botox helped a woman suffering from a rare type of migraine when little else had worked over the course of 25 years. Low cerebrospinal fluid headaches are caused by spinal fluid leaks that cause the brain to sag within the skull. The pain caused by low cerebrospinal fluid headaches can range from slight to overwhelming, and many people who suffer from these migraines find that existing therapies don’t help. Lying down is often the only way that they have to feel better.

Botox was administered to numb the nerve after the woman and doctors had exhausted all their options, and to everyone’s surprise, she made a strong improvement. While the pain is not completely gone, it has largely subsided, and the patient finds it easier to live a normal life.

On the other side of the globe, Australian children living with cerebral palsy have been engaging in a highly successful Botox treatment program. The injections relax the leg muscles of cerebral palsy sufferers, allowing them to walk with supports, leading to a huge improvement in their quality of life. The injections have also proven useful in alleviating leg pains and cramping that afflict the children.

Cosmetic Surgery Increasingly Popular Among American Men

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Recent statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) indicate that the number of American men who had cosmetic procedures in 2010 increased by 2 percent over the previous year. With over 1 million cosmetic procedures performed on men last year, this means an increase of more than 20,000 procedures. The numbers also reflect the changing priorities and perspectives of American men.

There was a decline in rhinoplasty, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, although these procedures remain among the most popular. The most popular surgical procedure is rhinoplasty, and the most popular minimally invasive procedure is Botox.

Here are the top 10 surgical procedures that increased in popularity among men last year:

  1. Facelift (14% increase)
  2. Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) (11% increase)
  3. Soft Tissue Fillers (10% increase)
  4. Botulinum Toxin Type A (9% increase)
  5. Liposuction (7% increase)
  6. Breast Reduction (6% increase)
  7. Eyelid Surgery (4% increase)
  8. Dermabrasion (4% increase)
  9. Laser Hair Removal (4% increase)
  10. Laser Treatment of Leg Veins (4% increase)

The rising popularity of facelifts lies mostly among men in their 50s and 60s. As the baby boomer generation ages, men often find that even healthy lifestyles can’t prevent sagging neck skin. The increase of breast reduction surgery means that more men under 30 are no longer willing to be embarrassed by their large breasts.

But don’t think that the growing popularity of cosmetic surgery among men comes from celebrities and elites. Dr. Stephen Baker, an ASPS member from Washington, D.C. who is quoted in the report, says that the typical male cosmetic patient is “an average guy who wants to look as good as he feels…. Most of my patients are ‘men’s men,’ the kind of guy you might not think would have plastic surgery.”

Facial Plastic Surgery Stats Show Increase in Non Invasive Treatments

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Statistics about facial cosmetic treatments show that in 2010, about 75 percent of the procedures performed were non-surgical, which may confirm an often discussed trend toward non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

The stats come straight from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), and they show a 45 percent increase in the number of facial procedures performed over the last two years, representing a 16 percent annual increase in non-surgical facial procedures.

“Non-surgical procedures are an excellent option for some people, with the added benefits of lower costs and shorter recovery time; two things that are consistently important to those considering facial plastic surgery,” said Dr. Jonathan M. Sykes. “We have been seeing a trend over the past few years that people who want to look and feel younger and rejuvenated are turning to non-surgical, less invasive procedures to obtain the refreshed look they want.”

Based on the AAFPRS survey, the hot procedures of 2010 were non-surgical procedures like Botox and Restylane injections. Among surgical procedures, the most popular were rhinoplasty, facelift and eyelid surgery.

Females received the majority of facial procedures in 2010 (83 percent), but the most popular procedures varied by age. For women 35 to 60, the top surgical procedures were brow lift, facelift and eyelid surgery, while a nose job was the top surgical procedure performed on women under 35. Botox, injectable fillers nose jobs, and hair transplants were the most common facial procedures performed on men in 2010.

The AAFPRS survey also reported an increase in ethnic patients: two out of five surgeons said they had an increase in their Asian American and Hispanic patients last year.

You can read more of these survey results at www.aafprs.org.

New Botulinum Toxin Granted FDA Approval This Week

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Merz Pharmaceuticals announced yesterday that FDA approval was granted for XEOMIN, a drug containing botulinum toxin.  The new drug is indicated for the treatment of cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.  Along with the relatively new Dysport and ubiquitous Botox®, Xeomin is the 3rd product of this kind to receive clearance in the U.S.

Two clinical trials were cited during the approval process, along with studies that compared XEOMIN to Botox®.  According to a study cited in the Journal of Neurological Sciences, [XEOMIN] showed “non-inferiority” to Botox® when used in equivalent doses for the treatment of blepharospasm.

The difference between XEOMIN and its competitors, according to the manufacturer Merz Pharmaceutical, is that “XEOMIN does not require refrigeration prior to reconstitution. “  The company says this could “simplify product distribution and storage, and help ensure product integrity at the time of injection.”

Merz is also acquiring Bioform Medical, a California company that manufactures Radiesse dermal filler.  The German company seems poised to create a significant presence in the U.S. aesthetics market.  When the acquisition of Bioform Medical is complete, the company will be rebranded “Merz Aesthetics.”

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