One of the big topics of discussion at ASAPS this year was biofilms. Biofilms are a type of bacterial contamination that loves to form on solid, implanted devices like man-made heart valves, contact lenses, orthopedic implants, and yes…breast implants. There is a growing body of research that suggests that these biofilms are linked to the #1 […]
At the recent ASAPS meeting, a number of breakthrough new technologies were presented, as potential alternatives / improvements on the standard liposuction technique. Bear in mind that most of these wonder gadgets are still in the developmental phase, and do not yet have FDA approval. But some of the before & after photos looked pretty […]
Sounds like science fiction, right? – a wrinkle-fighter that works without needles… One of the coolest products in development that I heard about at the ASAPS meeting belongs to a company called Revance therapeutics, based in Palo Alto, California. They seem to be the first ones to have cracked the problem of getting large molecules into […]
One of the hallmarks of unfortunate plastic surgery in many celebrity photos is the overdone lip augmentation. The lips in these photos generally appear overstuffed, like two tubes, or two sausages lying side by side. The real reason that these results are bad is that the idea of creating a beautiful normal lip has gone out the window! […]
As we’ve discussed earlier, Botox injections are the most popular cosmetic procedure overall in the U.S. But Botox is expensive – and Allergan, the manufacturer, has been steadily raising their prices each year. This has created a black market for Botox, with counterfeit and imitation Botox knock-offs. These imitations are not FDA-approved, and vary widely […]
Botox competitor “Reloxin” (sold in Europe as “Dysport”) received its FDA approval today. The FDA decided to approve both the cosmetic indications (for wrinkles) and the functional indications (cervical dystonia) at the same time – and decided that the drug should be sold under the same name for both categories. So, it’s now officially “Dysport” […]
The most important educational meeting for aesthetic plastic surgeons, in my opinion, is the ASAPS annual meeting. It’s happening next week – and yours truly will be there. We’ll hear “what’s hot”, “what’s new” and “what’s not working”. All of the “major league” players of aesthetic plastic surgery will be there, discussing the best ways […]
Hype. Spin. Puffery. Exaggerated claims. Call it what you will – there is a lot of it out there in the world of cosmetic surgery. Unlike most other fields of medicine, the commercial influences on cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine have changed the traditional doctor-patient-medical supplier relationship – and not for the better.Where does the […]
Here’s some interesting data from a press release from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons: “Faced with news of difficult economic times, and a belief that hiring is based on looks, millions of American women are looking at cosmetic medical procedures to give them a competitive edge in the workplace. In a new telephone survey […]
A common question around here from patients is whether they can combine surgeries – say, a tummy tuck with liposuction and a mastopexy – as one might be wanting to do in a “mommy makeover”. To answer this, we have to look at things from 2 different angles: 1) legal – what do the Florida regulations permit, and 2) medical – […]
