MyBeautifulBody.com Newsletter 8-May-07

What’s new in Cosmetic Surgery?

The big story in cosmetic surgery today is the FDA’s approval of Silicone Breast Implants after they were pulled from the market 14 years ago.  Both the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the two largest and most respected plastic surgery membership organizations, applauded the FDA’s decision.

There are two manufactures who received an “approval by conditions” letter by the FDA, Allergan Corporation and Mentor Corporation.  Both companies have been conducting long-term trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of silicone gel-filled implants.  The “approval by conditions” means the implants were FDA approved on the condition that Allergan and Mentor meet several requirements including continuing their implant study through the next 10 years (see www.breastimplantsafety.org/ImplantOptions/trials.php for more about these and other FDA conditions).

Dr. Mentz has been making news lately with what he calls the Liquid Facelift.  Many find the proposition of surgery scary or would just rather stave off surgery for one reason or another.  If you are one of these people a liquid facelift may be the answer.

A Liquid Facelift is the technique of using the different injectable pharmaceuticals and devices on the market to achieve a more youthful appearance.  Nothing can achieve the same results as a facelift but the proper use of these products in combination can provide many with the youthful appearance they were looking for.

So what exactly is an injectable pharmaceutical or device?  The most recognizable name on the market today is BOTOX Cosmetic®.  This highly purified protein is skillfully injected into the facial muscles that cause fine lines and wrinkles.  The protein reduces those muscles’ mobility, thereby reducing the fine lines.  The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently reported 3,181,592 BOTOX® treatments were performed last year. 

In contrast, 1,593,554 injections of hylaronic acid were performed in 2006.  Don’t let the name scare you.  Hylaronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found the human body.  As you age your skin’s ability to produce hylaronic acid is reduced.  Restylane® and Juvederm® are the two leading hularonic acid products on the market.  Both are injected into the skin in the area of wrinkles giving new volume to the skin thereby reducing the appearance of the facial lines.

The down side of BOTOX®, Restylane® and Juvederm® is there temporary nature.  All last anywhere from two months to nine months.  How long they last depends on your unique anatomy and metabolism.  Those wishing a more permanent result may decide to go with another filler not classified as a hylaronic acid but rather a synthetic collagen type substance called calcium hydroxylapatite.  The FDA has approved this product for use as a dermal filler of certain facial lines.  Studies show this product may last anywhere from six months to three years.

The Liquid Facelift is the use of one or all of these products to give a patient a more youthful look.  The best results are achieved by those practitioners that have not only been highly trained but who perform these injections daily.  Dr. Mentz has hand picked and trained his nurse practitioner, Renée Arriaga, FNP, to perform these injections as well as other services within his clinic at The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery.  To learn more about the Liquid Facelift, these injectables, Renée’s education and qualifications go to http://www.mymedispa.com/.  Renee has performed thousands of injections and has made hundreds of patients very happy people.

Face Lift or Soft Tissue Fillers?

The effects of aging occur gradually and many who suffer from the effects of age on the face find themselves in the position where they are not quite ready for a facelift but desire some improvement.  Modern medicine has responded with several non-surgical answers to this dilemma.  For over 20 years women and men alike have relied on BOTOX® to reduce facial wrinkles, one of the most common signs of age.  Today there are a range of what are called soft tissue fillers that are injected into wrinkles and/or hallow areas of the face to give it back the fullness it once had.

As the years have passed, new and better fillers have hit the market.  Some of the more popular ones today include:

• Hyaluronic acid which included Restylane® and Juvéderm™
• Collagen
• Calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse®)
• Polyactate (Sculptra®)

In addition to BOTOX® and the soft tissue fillers mentioned above fat grafting is another great way of restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking face.  Fat grafting is the process of harvesting your own fat cells from one area of your body and transplanting those cells to another.  Although this process is very safe and there is no risk of an allergic reaction, the number of fat cell that survives the transplant can be a bit unpredictable.  However, for many the use of one’s own tissue is an appealing alternative to the fillers listed above.

When considering any of the procedures listed above remember that each product is different in its chemical make-up, longevity and cost.  Your surgeon can educate you on their differences and help you make the best choice.

These fillers are the simplest and least expensive method of re-contouring the face but are not a replacement for a facelift.  These fillers can be used for smoothing out wrinkles, giving you fuller lips, correcting hollowness around the eyes or cheeks, smoothing out the jaw line, and correcting a deep furrow.    

Laser hair reduction has been around for over 30 years.  Laser hair removal works by causing localized damage to dark target matter.  Basically the dark matter (or melanin in the hair follicle) absorbs the light energy better then the lighter matter.  Early lasers worked best when there was a large differentiation between the skin tone and the hair color.  Pale individuals with light hair and dark skinned individuals were not good candidates for laser hair reduction. 

The introduction of the long pulse Nd:YAG lasers with its longer pulsewidths and wavelengths have made it possible to treat patients with darker skin tones and those who have but a small differentiation in skin tone to hair color.  Please not that hair with no melanin is still not treatable nor does the Nd:YAG technology offer “permanent hair removal”. 

Lasers built for the purpose of hair reduction can only penetrate 2 millimeters deep into the skin.  The majority of the dermal papilla, the only structure of the hair that can reproduce a new root system, is found approximately 4-7 millimeters deep.  Therefore, given enough time most if not all hair will return.  The Food and Drug Administration acknowledges that there is currently no hair removal procedure that is permanent and will not permit the use of the term “permanent removal”.  Anyone claiming otherwise should be approached with skepticism.  The FDA has approved a few lasers to claim “permanent reduction”.  These few lasers have proven their superior hair reduction efficacy to the FDA and have been certified to make that claim.

At ACPS we are proud to own two Nd:YAG lasers approved by the FDA to claim “permanent reduction”.  The Candela corporation’s Gentle:YAG is among the safest and most efficacious lasers on the market.  Whether you are fair skinned, dark skinned or well tanned, the GentleYAG can eliminate your need for shaving or waxing.  It’s suitable for the delicate small areas like the upper lip and the large areas of a man’s back.