Just this month, the FDA decided to officially grant Allergan another approved indication for the use of Botox: the treatment of Crows’ Feet. The approval was granted after the FDA reviewed data for effectiveness and safety of Botox in the crows’ feet area in a placebo-controlled study of over 800 patients. Of course, physicians have […]
Earlier this year, the FDA approved a new type of silicone gel breast implants, with a thicker type of silicone gel on the inside. Although they’re not at all related to the popular squishy colored candy, one surgeon from L.A. nicknamed them “gummy bear implants”, and the name has stuck. Technically, gummy bear implants are […]
New data suggests that one year after quitting smoking, your risks of a smoking-related surgical complication are the same as a non-smoker. The study, published in JAMA Surgery, looked at over 600,000 adult patients between 2008 and 2009, and assessed the effects of current and past smoking (>1 year prior) on postoperative outcomes. The authors tracked 30-day postoperative mortality, […]
Today, the FDA announced the approval of the “MemoryShape” breast implant, made by Mentor. This is the teardrop-shaped implant, filled with the latest generation of form-stable silicone gel. It’s certainly a home-run for breast reconstruction patients, and may be useful for some breast augmentation patients as well. Mentor now joins Allergan and Sientra with implants […]
Daily use of sunscreen can prevent wrinkles and slow the aging of the skin, according to a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The researchers looked at 900 Australian adults younger than 55 (mean age, 39), and randomized them to four treatments: – daily broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 15+) plus beta carotene supplementation, – daily […]
While most people are familiar with Restylane and Juvederm, you might want to get to know the new kid on the block, Belotero Balance. Just like Juvederm and Restylame, Belotero is an FDA-approved filler that is also made from hyaluronic acid gel. But it’s manufactured a little differently, and has a smooth and soft consistency. It’s quite […]
In the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a new study casts serious doubt on the benefit of taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements for heart health. The study found that after 5 years of taking the omega-3 supplements daily, there was no reduction in the rates of heart attack, stroke or death, compared to those […]
Here in the U.S.A., it seems we’re the last to get new medical devices. Sometimes, that’s a good thing – as in the FDA preventing the notoriously problematic PIP silicone breast implants from being sold here. Other times, it’s just a frustrating and slow wait for good products. As a plastic surgeon, you can feel […]
It’s been suspected for a while that Prozac and its cousins in the SSRI family have a nasty side effect that’s pretty important for people who are having surgery to know about: there seems to be more bleeding, and a higher chance of postoperative hematomas requiring a second surgery, if you take these medications around the […]
It’s not a surprise to anyone that all medical tests and procedures are not created equal. Some tests are more accurate, others less so. Some medications are very effective, and others not so much depending on the situation. With this in mind, the American Board of Internal Medicine and its associated specialties have recently developed […]
