Botox May Reduce Post-Operative Pain of Breast Reconstruction

August 31st, 2010 by copywriter

Botulinum toxin may help minimize post-operative pain in women who undergo breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, according to plastic surgeon Dr. Allen Gabriel, who presented his study at the recent International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Congress.

The doctor conducted a 30-patient clinical trial for this off-label application of Botox, demonstrating that botulinum toxin type A can address post-operative pain.

Breast reconstruction (using silicone breast implants) typically involves the positioning of a temporary expander implant between layers of the chest muscle, which is filled with water to create a pocket where a permanent implant will reside. Pain can result from muscle contractions and spasms in response to the expansion.

Dr. Gabriel, along with his collaborator Dr. G. Patrick Maxwell, theorized that Botox injections could offer relief by temporarily paralyzing the muscle so that fewer spasms occur, resulting in less pain.

The clinical trial assigned 30 breast cancer patients—who all planned a mastectomy with silicone implant breast reconstruction—into two groups: one group had Botox injected into the chest muscle and the other received injections of saline solution as a placebo.

After surgery, the women who received the Botox injections were reportedly more comfortable than those who received placebo. The doctors measured patient responses three times during and after the procedure, noting that during days 7 to 45 of the recovery period, those that received Botox injections used significantly fewer doses of narcotics and muscle relaxants.

Read more about this topic on Medscape

Survey Reveals Worldwide Cosmetic Surgery Trends

August 16th, 2010 by copywriter

For the first time ever, data has been collected on worldwide number of cosmetic procedures performed by plastic surgeons.  Thanks to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, we can better understand the growth of this medical specialty through an international survey.

The most popular cosmetic surgery, according to the data, is liposuction, followed by breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty and tummy tuck.  Although procedures varied among different countries, the U.S., Brazil, China, Mexico, India and Japan represented the bulk of the top five surgical procedures.  The total estimated number of cosmetic procedures performed by board-certified (or equivalent) plastic surgeons was 17,295,557.

Interestingly, plastic surgeons reported more non-surgical procedures than surgical procedures, with the most common treatment being botulinum toxin injections (Botox or Dysport).

The survey data was released in time for the 20th Biennial Congress of ISAPS, which is taking place right now in San Francisco.  Read more on isaps.org or prnewswire.com

Triplets Undergo Lumenis Laser Treatment on ABC 20/20

August 16th, 2010 by copywriter

The Bern triplets were once again shown on ABC’s 20/20 discussing their story of loss and rehabilitation. The sisters suffered severe burns at an early age. After years of living with scars and skin damage, they were successfully treated with the Lumenis laser. Each sister has undergone three laser treatments to resurface the skin and reduce the signs of their traumatic burn injuries.

Watch first two segments of their story on 20 / 20 ABC News.

German Pharmaceutical Introduces New Botulinum Toxin

August 3rd, 2010 by copywriter

The German pharmaceutical company Merz is making strides in the U.S. market for aesthetic medicine.  Yesterday the company announced FDA approval for NT-201, a drug now called XEOMIN.  Along with the recently FDA approved Dysport and popular Botox®, it’s the 3rd botulinum toxin to get FDA approval for treatment of cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.

A related company press release said,  “XEOMIN does not require refrigeration prior to reconstitution,” a difference they say could “simplify product distribution and storage, and help ensure product integrity at the time of injection.”

In January, Merz announced the acquisition of California based Bioform Medical, maker of the popular Radiesse dermal filler.  They say it’s a transaction that “advances Merz’s strategy of becoming a leading player in aesthetic medicine.”  Once the transaction is complete, Bioform will be renamed Merz Aesthetics and two new dermal fillers, Belotero® and Novabel®, will be introduced.

Update on Operation Rainbow Involvement

July 28th, 2010 by copywriter

Dr. Ljung is currently involved in medical missionary work with Operation Rainbow. His most recent trip, to Villahermosa, Mexico, was in May of this year.  Upon arrival to Mexico, Dr. Ljung, along with Dr. Michael Goldwasser (also from Wilmington, NC) had about 90 cases awaiting their care.  Common procedures include reconstructive surgical procedures to treat cleft lip and palate, burns, and other congenital defects.

These mission trips are an effort that Dr. Ljung and Dr. Goldwasser hope to carry out on an annual basis.  Next season’s trip will be in Honduras.

About Operation Rainbow (via operationrainbow.org)

Led by Dr. Michael Goldwasser, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and Dr. Talmage Raine, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, the team consists of anesthesiologists, anesthetists, speech pathologists, medical students, nurses, trained laypersons, and coordinators. Since its founding in 1992, this reconstructive surgical team has conducted 1-2 medical campaigns annually, working primarily in Central and South America, Mexico, the Philippines, and now expanding into Asia and Africa. Operation Rainbow is pleased to have been affiliated with this group throughout its 16-year history.

Market for Injectable Wrinkle Fillers Is Rapidly Evolving

July 26th, 2010 by copywriter

Recent years have brought many changes to the market for non-surgical wrinkle treatments such as fillers and products made with botulinum toxin.   The most recent changes include the introduction of lidocaine to popular hyaluronic acid fillers Juvederm and Restylane, and the announcements that several collagen-based fillers will be discontinued.

Both Allergan and Johnson & Johnson, announced that they will no longer produce their respective collagen products (the human-derived CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast, the bovine Zyderm and Zyplast for Allergan; the porcine Evolence for Johnson & Johnson).

For many years, collagen was the filler of choice for plastic surgeons and dermatologists. However, the hassle of skin allergy testing and the short-term results provided by these products made them inferior to the new fillers that are available today.

The popularity of non-animal hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers (known as replacement fillers because they replace lost volume) and PLLA and PMMA fillers (known as stimulatory fillers because they stimulate collagen and fibroblast production) has been strong in the recent past. Products like Juvederm, Perlane, Restylane and Radiesse currently dominate the US market.  Physicians says these fillers are simply more versatile, longer-lasting, bulkier, and better for deep-volume filling than collagen.

What will the world of fillers look like in the future? It’s difficult to say but change is certainly underway in the offices of plastic and cosmetic surgeons.

Summer Skin Care Important for Those With Rosacea

July 26th, 2010 by copywriter

Summertime is supposed to be for fun in the sun, but for many Americans the season can bring an increase in the unwanted symptoms of rosacea. It is estimated that over 16 million Americans suffer from this skin di­sorder.  According to a recent survey by the National Rosacea Society (NRS, at Rosacea.org), many people find that warm weather and sun exposure exacerbate their condition.

Hot tub sound like a relaxing indulgence?  Rosacea can make the elevated temps and bubbling water a flare-up opportunity. In fact, many summer leisure-time activities are on the list of possible flare-up triggers. Both steam and dry saunas, tanning beds, grills, bonfires, and even heavy exercise can worsen rosacea symptoms.

Can you still enjoy your summer with worries about heat-triggered flare-ups? Yes, with the right precautions, says noted professor of dermatology, Dr. Joseph Bikowski. First, see a physician for treatment options and therapy recommendations. Secondly, do all you can to stay as cool as possible. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat and avoiding sun exposure during the peak heat hours (from 10AM to 2 PM) as well as applying sunscreen with sufficient SPF all year round are necessities. You might also be able to reduce flushing by sucking on ice chips, using a personal fan and bathing in cooler water during the summer.

In addition, the doctor recommends keeping a diary of how and where flare-ups occur in order to learn the environmental causes that worsen your rosacea. Many rosacea sufferers agree that flare-ups can often be prevented with attention to these details.

Allergan Announces Beginning of “Latisse Wishes Challenge”

July 1st, 2010 by copywriter

Allergan Inc, maker of Botox, Juvederm and Latisse, just announced the latest promotion to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  In the Latisse Wishes Challenge, they’re asking people to donate $20 or more to the Make-A-Wish foundation in exchange for a Latisse free trial certificate.

The first 10,000 people who donate to Make-A-Wish will receive a Latisse free trial certificate.  Maybe you remember last year’s campaign led by Brooke Shields.  This year, the campaign is led by lifestyle designer Kathy Ireland, professional ballroom dancer Chelsie Hightower and style guide Bobbie Thomas.  Watch the video to learn more about the campaign and see important product information about Latisse.

“With approximately 1.5 million bottles sold since launching the product a little more than a year ago, LATISSE is giving back by helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant the wishes of children. Through the campaign, we will double each individual’s donation, with a maximum donation of $250,000, through October 31,” said Robert Grant, President of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc.

Welcome to the New Azalea Coast Plastic Surgery Blog

February 25th, 2010 by admin

Thanks for visiting our new blog.  Here you will be able to find information on plastic surgery news, recent trends, special offers, and the latest events happening at our office.  We want to stay in touch with our local community and present news that will be relevant to our patients.

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