Interview with Dr. Fincher: Cosmetic Surgery

Interested in cosmetic surgery and have questions?  Check out my other blog as I might have asked the same questions you have been wanting to know:

http://youthfultips.blogspot.com/2010/01/dr-fincher-dermatologist-special.html

 

Internet Purchased Fillers?

Did you know you can purchase fillers from the internet?  If that doesn’t scare you, it should.   I found a website that requires no prescription and claims to be the exact same fillers and botox that you get professionally. 

One of the products is called BxTA “derived from botulinum toxin type A.  The crystallized and lyophilized toxin is a valued drug for neurological disorder and cosmetic treatments.”  It’s also injected into the muscle.  They also claim, “with the supports of various clinical reports, BxTA could effectively improve the appearance of crow’s feet (smile lines) around the eyes, frown lines between eyebrows (glabellar lines) and horizontal forehead lines.  It can also be applied on nasal scrunch (bunny line). The improvement could last for 3 to 6 months.”  Their dermal filler is called Reyoungel.

Here is an excellent article on why you should not purchase these products from the internet or from unqualified people: http://www.locateadoc.com/articles/botox-at-a-bargain-dangers-of-bargain-botox-injections-1461.html

 

 

A New Cosmetic Filler: Radiesse

Radiesse is a fairly new cosmetic filler made of calcium microspheres suspended in a water-based gel.   Radiesse is different from collagen and normal fillers with hyaluronic acid.   Because of its design, it’s expected to curtail, if not eliminate, allergic reactions.   Radiesse claims to not only reduce medium and deep lines and wrinkles but it als provides a fuller look where it’s used.  This new filler possibly eliminates some plastic surgery facelift procedures.

According to the Radiesse website, this filler also stimulates the body to produce new collagen.  They also state that it’s more effective than Restylane based on a 60 subject clinical trial.  Radiesse also provided greater subject satisfaction over Juvederm and Perlane based on a 205 subject trial.

 Realself  had some real testimony on the Radiesse which was not favorable but remember that not all procedures work for everyone.   It’s unfortunate nonetheless when anyone suffers from something like this.  Medicadepot also lists a story on over 930 media reported complaints bad procedures on fillers in general during a five year period.   To keep it in perspective, last year1.36 million women and 84,000 men were treated with dermal fillers.

More information on the Radiesse clinical trials:

1. Based on a clinical study of 205 patients who were treated with a regimen of RADIESSE, Juvéderm and Perlane fillers. Patients were provided with a questionnaire and asked to rate the level of satisfaction at 4, 8, and 12 months post second injection. Patients were provided a yes/no questionnaire to address recommendations of RADIESSE dermal filler or other products at 4, 8, and 12 months.  Moers-Carpi, M. M., Vogt, S., Santos, B. M., Planas, J., Vallve, S. R., and Howell, D. J. (2007). A multicenter, randomized trial comparing calcium hydroxylapatite to two hyaluronic acids for treatment of nasolabial folds. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 33: S144–S151.

2. Based on a clinical study of 60 patients who were treated with a regimen of 2 injections 3 months apart with RADIESSE and Restylane fillers. Masked evaluaters measured effectiveness at 3, 6, and 9 months psot second injection. Moers-Carpi, M. M., and Tufet, J. O. (2007). Calcium hydroxylapatite versus nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid for the correction of nasolabial folds: A 12-month, multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, split-face trial. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 34, 1–6.

3. Data on file. Based on a split-faced nasolabial fold trial of 60 patients who were treated with a regimen of 2 injections 3 months apart with RADIESSE and Restylane

 

Botox Special in Atlanta

I was looking for Botox specials and ran across this one at the Emory Health Care Center for those of you who live in Atlanta.    All you have to do is complete the online form and you will receive one of these specials.

What I found very scary is you can buy this stuff online via other websites.   I’d stick to the paid professional and skip the savings over health!

Offers:

$50 off Botox® or Injectable Fillers
Complimentary Facial with any Botox® or Dermal Filler
Complimentary GloMinerals Mascara with Latisse purchase
Complimentary FaceMD sunblock with any facial treatment

http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/departments/facial_center/special-offers.html

 

Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals Hand Lipid Replenishing Treatment Giveaway

The Gilt Group has Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals on sale ending midnight on August 3, 2009.  Not familiar with the Gilt Group?  They provide various types of samples from the manufacturer/designer at a fraction of the cost.  I’ve purchased GoSmile from them previously and was very happy with the product.  I spot checked the GoSmile from other internet stores and Gilt had it cheaper.

Click on the link below, create a sign in, review the products, come back to this post and list which product(s) you like or would like to try for a chance to win Perricone Hand Lipid Replenishing treatment.  Drawing will end August 31, 2009.

http://www.giltgroupe.com/invite/judy682000

HAND LIPID REPLENISHMENT (2.5 fl oz): A quick penetrating therapeutic cream that goes the distance. Dry hands are instantly recharged with moisture while never feeling slippery or sticky. Benefits continue wash after wash. Patented DMAE enhances muscle contour helping hands look more youthful.

 

Botox for Migraine Relief

 

As a migraine sufferer, I was very interested in hearing more about Botox’s relief for migraines.  I was going to blog about this a week ago and on the front of Yahoo was a story on plastic surgery and Botox.    The University of California presented a study back in 2000 on the benefits of Botox injections and reported that 75% of the patients in the study experienced migraine relief for three to four months post injections.  What is important to note, they only had 24 patients in the study which is a very small number and doesn’t lend a lot of statistical weight. 

I’m still leary of Botox even though it’s purified and diluted from the form that causes serious illness and death.  To get the effects for migraine relief, the Botox is injected into the muscles of the brow, eyes, forehead, the side and back of the head.  The findings of the study found that it required 80 units of Botox which equates to around $350 or more and typical insurance will not cover it but hey, what a reason to give your spouse to treat your migraine while looking good!

There are two clinical trials running right now that are looking for patients.  Keep in mind they have to have a placebo so you might get that and have no effects but given clinical trials are free, it’s worth a shot if you have migraines.

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=botox+and+migraine

The two trials are out of Yale:  

• Investigation of Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin A (Botox-Allergan Inc) in Migraine Headaches
• The list of inclusion and exclusions are on the site along with contact information.  

 

CellCeuticals Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser FREE Giveaway WINNER ANNOUNCED!

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHIRLEY FOR WINNING THE CELLCEUTICALS GENTLE SKIN CLEANSER GIVEAWAY!   I SENT SHIRLEY AN E-MAIL AND IF SHE DOESN’T CONTACT ME BACK IN 48 HOURS, I WILL USE RANDOM.ORG TO DRAW A NUMBER NUMBER.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED COMMENTS AND TO CELLCEUTICALS FOR THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

Interested in trying out a Cellceutical product but unsure if you will like it?  Now is your chance to WIN a free full size product.  CellCeuticals Biomedical Skin Treatment Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser is up for grabs!

To enter, just place a comment on this post and one person will be chosen on August 15, 2009.

Good luck!

 

Medicis’ Future Alternative Choice to Current Botox?

Possible good news for Botox users as Medicis signed a $104,000,000 licensing deal with Revance Therapeutics for a new Botox therapy.   This preclinical Botox therapy might erase wrinkles for longer periods in comparison to regular Botox treatments.  Medicis states that RT002 is an investigational neurotoxin that combines botulinum toxin type A molecule with the TransMTS peptide technology.  What they have found is that the TransMTS technology may enhance the delivery which in turns, might make it last longer. 

The efficacy data from a Phase IIb study of RT001 is positive relative to crow’s feet.  

Read more here about RT001 from www.datamonitor.com:

Revance Therapeutics, a specialty biopharmaceutical company, has reported that RT001, a topical botulinum toxin type A, under investigation for the treatment of crow’s feet wrinkles, demonstrated efficacy and safety in a US Phase IIb clinical study.

According to Revance, the randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, dose-finding study showed efficacy compared to placebo at primary and multiple secondary endpoints. This is reportedly the most recent Phase II study to demonstrate the efficacy of RT001 and the results are consistent with earlier Phase II studies conducted in the US and internationally. More than 200 patients have been treated with RT001 and it has been safe and well tolerated.

RT001, Botulinum Toxin Type A topical gel, an investigational product, is designed to reduce crow’s feet wrinkles by temporarily relaxing the muscles around the eye. Unlike other procedures that require several injections in the sensitive periorbital area, RT001 gel is simply applied by the physician and then wiped off after the procedure, the company said.

Dan Browne, president and CEO of Revance, said: “We are very pleased with our progress and the data generated from our Phase II clinical program. It represents an important milestone for the company as we proceed to our end of Phase II meeting with the FDA later in 2009.”

 

CellCeuticals® Two Week Review

It’s been two weeks since I first started using the CellCeuticals® Skin Care products. Although CellCeuticals® was very generous in providing the products for my use and review, I am not including their generosity to influence my overall review.

First off, as I previously wrote, I found the customer service I received from CellCeuticals® to be a step above from any company that I have had interactions with and I’m not easy to please at times (FTD can vouch for that in their failed attempt at providing customer service to a botched order).   Their products were delivered in rapid speed and the packaging was sophisticated and professional.  Keep in mind that I have bought several anti-aging products ranging on the low end to the very expensive.  Obviously, I have not found one I liked yet other than Botox but I have serious reservations about the long term use of Botox so I opt for other means.

The five products ranged from a daily cleanser (Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser) to a one-to-two times a week micro-abrasive product (NeoCell Micro-Resurfacing Skin Treatment) to three types of moisturizers (Cer-Active Moisture+Barrier Repair Skin Treatment, Extreme Defense Anti-Cell Damage Skin Treatment, CellGenesis Regenerative Skin Treatment).

The products are easy to use and are similar to most every other beauty regiment out there which was nice that I didn’t have to remember which steps to take on which day and so forth.   I also found that you did not need a lot of product and therefore, if I sign up for the membership, I wouldn’t run out before the next shipment arrived.  I love the Micro-Resurfacing Skin Treatment and found that although I have sensitive skin that cannot tolerate some products, my face did very well with CellCeuticals® brand of products.  The moisturizers left my skin soft, not greasy and I saw a more radiant glow when I woke up in the mornings which I hadn’t seen since I was in my 20 and early 30’s.  I had already noticed a visible decrease in the area where crow’s feet like to appear and to verify, I asked my oldest daughter and she thought my skin looked better and thought the wrinkles were diminishing.  I did find that I still had to use my Proactive for acne as I had a flare up when I first started to use CellCeuticals® as I quit using Proactive to fairly test the products.

I chose CellCeuticals® due to one of the founders, Dr. Garth Fisher, being a high profile plastic surgeon and was the original phyisican for Extreme Makeover.  According to the CellCeuticals® website, he was also one of the top selected plastic surgeons in the US.

The non-membership charge is $120 (free shipping/handling) for the five products with a risk free money back guarantee.  If you opt for the membership program, it’s $39.95 (plus shipping/handling) each month with a new kit delivered every 60 days.

My decision is to continue using CellCeuticals® and provide another update in 30 days and will subscribe as a member if the benefits continue.

Be on the lookout for a contest on my blog for one free product!

*NOTE:  I was not paid or compensated for my review.

 

Pentapeptide-18 and Acetyl hexapeptide-8: Bye Bye BOTOX?

Peptides, short chain proteins naturally occur in the skin, act mostly as messengers that signal peptides or hormones.   For peptides to help to promote or stimulate skin cells, the correct processed type of peptide has to be part of the beauty product.  There are various types of peptides and some claim to have powerful anti-aging benefits for both wrinkles and stretch marks and are simliar to the effects of Botox.

Pentapeptide-18 and Acetyl hexapeptide-8 are examples of peptides that act similar to Botox that relaxes the muscles thus tightening the skin and reducing the visible appearance of wrinkles.   

Perricone MD has pentapeptide-18 and they have a product they market as “Perricone MD Pigment Corrective” Perricone MD Pigment Corrective and in pill form as Perricone MD Pigment Corrective Dietary, 30 day 30 ea that is claimed to be “A treatment that lightens discoloration while improving skin’s elasticity. What it is formulated to do: Perricone MD Pigment Corrective is a safe and effective way to reduce brown spots and hyperpigmentation while preventing new spots from surfacing. An infusion of DMAE provides firming action, restoring elasticity to skin. The complexion is left looking bright, toned, and radiant. What else you need to know: This paraben-free formula delivers optimal results when used with Perricone MD supplements.”

Acetyl Hexapeptide 3 is a non-toxic amino-peptide that was developed to reduce wrinkles and the signs of aging.  Acetyl Hexapeptide 3 temporarily halts or reduces the over production and release of neurotransmitters that cause and control the muscles in the face to contract.  Kal has a product called Wrinkox that features Acetyl Hexapeptide 3 but no customer reviews yet.

Striagen-DS (Myotrixyline 17% Komplex) 6oz Targeted Anti-Aging Dermal Therapy Striagen-DS (Myotrixyline 17% Komplex) 6oz Targeted Anti-Aging Dermal Therapy is costly and has only one very positive review.   Here is the product description:

“Introducing a new and revolutionary anti-aging skin care treatment that can compete with the efficacy of cosmetic injections but leaves aside the risks, the injections and the high cost. Many products make the anti-wrinkle claim but Striagen-DS is not a mere moisturizer cream dressed up with obscure plant extracts and other inactive ingredients. Striagen-DS contains all of the most advanced and latest ingredients in skin and wrinkle repair. Responding to the growing demand for alternatives to botulic toxin (cosmetic facial injections) and cosmetic surgery, Newton-Everett Cosmeceuticals® has developed Striagen-DS – Targeted Anti-Aging Dermal TherapyTM. What makes Striagen-DS different is that the ingredients it contains work in synergy to restore the youthful appearance of your ageing and damaged skin on a long-term basis. For the first time, Striagen-DS combines the most powerful anti-aging cosmetic compounds and peptides available on the market, into one product, to fight the signs of dermal aging and help restore youthful skin. In its search for innovative approaches to reverse the visible signs of ageing, Newton-Everett CosmeceuticalsTM has combined four of the most scientifically advanced and powerful molecules and peptides including Matrixyl 3000® (Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3), Argireline® (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), Pepha-Tight®, Myoxinol®, StrialastinTM and Collagen. Also added are Vitamins C and E.”

Everett in a FAQ states effects are immediate in terms of  feeling it act but significant changes are expected to be seen after 30 days and it has to be applied daily.  More information can be found here:  http://www.quick2you.com/store/display_info.cfm?piid=977&title=Frequently%20Asked%20Questions&getwhat=Faq 

 Anyone try any of these products?  I have tried a Perricone product before and liked it but didn’t stick with it.