Posts Tagged ‘Botox’
Update on the Cosmetic Procedures Tax: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist
Friday, January 15th, 2010
As you may the recall, the Senate healthcare reform bill originally proposed a 5% tax on cosmetic medical procedures, which would have unfairly impacted the cost of many elective treatments like Botox and Restylane injections. However, with encouragement from the Amercian Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the American Medical Association (AMA), public support and other public entities this tax has been replaced in the revised Senate bill. The new bill proposes a 10% tax on indoor tanning services instead. Not only will this generate billions of dollars over the next ten years, but it will support public health by discouraging indoor tanning, which is known to cause skin cancer. Treating skin cancer only adds to healthcare costs and can be prevented. This tax will help on both fronts.
Both the House and Senate bill are now headed to conference committee hearings for deliberation.
Eye Rejuvenation Event December 4th! Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
Join us Friday, December 4th from 8am to 4pm for our holiday eye event!
Enjoy 20% off eye treatments and select eye products from Latisse, Neocutis and Colorscience.
Refreshments will be served along with complimentary under eye treatments. There will also be a raffle for a free Botox treatment to treat crow’s feet, so be sure to drop by the office.
Hope to see you there!
Botox Cosmetic is Still Safe! Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist
Friday, August 14th, 2009
The new FDA warnings on Botox have caused undue alarm. The FDA recently approved a new warning on Allergan’s Botox and a similar product about the possibility of life-threatening breathing and swallowing problems. It is important to know that these warnings are referring specifically to off label medical uses where extremely high doses of Botox are used to treat spastic conditions in children with Cerebral Palsy.
Botox Cosmetic is still FDA approved for the treatment of glabellar or “frown lines” and is administered in much smaller doses for this aesthetic use. The doses of Botox are significantly greater for medical uses than for an aesthetic procedure.
More than 13 million aesthetic procedures with Botox Cosmetic have been administered since the product was FDA approved in 2002 in the United States for treatment of moderate to severe “frown lines” in adults 18 to 65. Botox Cosmetic, when used in the indicated doses and administered to specific small muscle groups has not been linked to serious side effects.
There is a new botulinum product called Dysport on the market that is also approved for aesthetic procedures. Its dosing is slightly different than Botox Cosmetic. To avoid confusion, the FDA wants to call attention to the different dosing instructions with Dysport and decrease the risk of any side effects. This and increasing off label use of Botox to treat conditions ranging from muscle spasms to Raynaud’s disease prompted the FDA to enact new warnings.
When administered by a professional for aesthetic procedures, Botox is still an extremely, safe, simple effective way to smooth wrinkles and lines.
Patient Education Day and Sale on Latisse & Vivite Products: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
Please stop by our office for a sale and special patient education event from 9am to 4pm on Friday, July 10th!
Representatives from Allergan (the makers of Botox Cosmetic and Juvederm) will be at our office to answer questions and discuss their products. We will be offereing promotional pricing for Latisse, the first and only FDA approved product to grow your own eyelashes longer, thicker and darker. Our in office sale will also extend to the Vivite skin care line, Clinique Medical Lip Balm and the new collagen building lip treatment.
Appetizers and refreshments will be served throughout the day, so please join us for this great event!
Important Info about Botox and Dysport (Reloxin)
Monday, May 4th, 2009
The FDA has recently approved the cosmetic use of a new brand of Botulinum Toxin Type A, known as Dysport or Reloxin. Dysport is a competitor to Botox, which up until now was the only FDA approved wrinkle reduction product of its kind. Dysport claims to take effect more quickly and could potentially be lower in price than Botox. It will hit the cosmetic market within the next two months.
The approval of Dysport comes at a time when the FDA has issued new labeleling requirements for all botulinum based drugs, including Botox. Both products must now carry labels warning that they have the potential to spread to other areas of the body after injection with possibly serious risks. I want to assure my patients that when used as directed by a trained professional the cosmetic use of these products is safe! The new labels are a reaction to unapproved or “off-label” use, such as overdosing to treat leg or arm muscle spasms. This unapproved medical use should not be confused with the cosmetic application. The small amounts used for wrinkle softening and underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis) are safe and not linked to any harmful migration or serious adverse reactions. I am more than satisfied with the long-term safety studies of this material for aesthetic purposes. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the office.
A “Happy” Side Effect from Botox?
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
Remember the old saying, “Just smile, you’ll feel better”? Well, there is now research suggesting that relaxing negative facial expressions with Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) could improve your mood! A recent article in Time Magazine highlights two studies wherein patients reported less depression after receiving Botox injections. The theory behind Botox as a “mood enhancer” is that by reducing negative expressions you reduce negative feelings - frowning less makes you feel better. Another reason to love Botox! I look forward to more studies and hearing further evidence on this potential benefit.
