FACIAL FILLERS UPDATES
What's New
If you want to know what is on the horizon for facial fillers in America, you only have to look at our colleagues in Europe and Canada for the latest facial fillers. They often have fillers three years prior to US release due to the strict guidelines of the FDA.
Non-surgical breast augmenation
The latest filler Macrolane, a hyaluronic-acid filler for the breast is being used in Europe. It has been tested in Sweeden and Japan for the last seven years. Macrolane will increase breast cup size which lasts between 12 to 18 months. The main disadvanatage of this procedure are cost $6000, lack of permananence, and difficulty monitoring the procedure by mammogram. The advantages of this procedure are that it can augment the breast and contour the breast in a nonsurgical manner.
Latisse
Latisse offers patients the eyelash growth by application of the pharmaceutical bimatoprost to the eyelashs. It should not be used in patients with glaucoma or hypertension of the eye. For more information about Latisse click here.
Newer Versions of "Botox" Expected in US Soon
Botox is a muscle relaxer. Newer versions of botulinum toxin are coming soon under the names Reloxin, PurTox, and Xeomin. Every day there are newer applications found for botox and FDA approval for some of these products will include sweat reduction. While Botox itself has FDA approval for just lines between the eyebrows, its off label uses extend to a variety of uses within the body.
Radiofrequency Botox
GFX frequency is a radiofrequency device which will temporarily paralyze muscles. There is a probe which stimulates the muscle and then relaxes for a period of 18 months to a few years. Botox lasts between 4-6 months. The disadvantage of any new modality is that its uses has not been studied and the long last naturing of the effects. If a botox user has a result that they do not like, it will slowly improve over a period of 4 months and is in effect reversible. However, if a modality creates an unintended effect, it may leave patients with longer undesirable results.
New Version of Botox to Come on the Market
The United States has one of the strictest regulatory bodies in the world, the FDA. As a result, many of the injectable products begin in Europe and Canada. While many patients want to be a part of the latest and greatest, keep in mind that it is a big advantage for you that prior to its use in the United States, the product will have essentially been tested extensively in other countries.
A newer version of Botox is on the horizon, termed Reloxin. Reloxin is being made by Medicis, the maker of Restylane. Some physicians have thought that Reloxin may have a higher diffusion of the product than Botox. However, phase III trials in Europe have not shown that to be the case, at least clinically. Another product on the horizon is termed Purtox which is essentially a purer product with less antigen and theoretically less chance of resistance to the Botulinium toxin. Fortunately, resistance to Botulinum toxin is relatively rare.
Fat Grafting in Breast Augmentation
Fat Grafting in breast augmenation has remained a hot topic. Surgeons who utilize this technique have described avoidance of dealing with implant related problems such as leakage or deflation. The most important drawback with fat grafting is that fat can form calcifications and cysts. While this in and of itself is not a major issue, many times breast cancer is detected by mammogram as calcifications. Most surgeons who utilize this technique think more time needs to be assessed in evaluating its long term consequences and monitoring and use it as more of a reconstructive tool.
Ulthera
Ulthera is a newer modality which uses ultrasound technology to tighten skin and deeper soft tissue. There are several tissue tightening devices on the market and Ulthera is one of the latest. Its uses has been studied in eyebrow lifts but it is attempted to be potentially used throughout the body and face as a tissue tightening device.
LASER-assisted lipolysis, aka SmartLipo
LASER based liposuction is where a LASER ruptures fat cells and the oily portion left behind is removed thorugh an incision by the surgeon. SmartLipo is another closely related procedure which has received various reviews from the medical community. An article by B Katz reported use of a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser to perform this procedure. He found a complications rate of .93% with a series of 537 consecutive patients. Any newer modality, patients should be cautious in chosing a procedure.
Lipodissolve
Lipodissolve is an experimental procedure not approved by the FDA for melting fat. Lipodissolve is banned in the state of Kansas currently. Lipodissolve serves to liquefiy fat. The liquified fat can go anywhere in the body. No studies have demonstrted how or where the medication goes. The main aesthetic issue with lipodissolve is that it may lead to dents or divots which are difficult to repair after its removal.
|
