What’s the Best Way to Combat Laugh Lines?

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Dr. Brent Rosen

Surgery, fillers, or topical options?

They’re one of the most prominent, and least loved, signs of aging – it’s only a small comfort that they’re supposed to mean you’ve had a happy life so far. Nasolabial wrinkles – or, more commonly known as “laugh lines” or “smile lines” – are the wrinkles that connect the edges of your lips to the edges of your nose. Some people take pride in their laugh lines, but plenty more would sooner see them vanish.

If you’re one of the latter, you might be asking: what’s the best way to accomplish that?

It basically comes down to three options: surgical, injectables, and external skin care. Surgical options, such as facelifts or cheek implants, are the most permanent, but also the most expensive. Plus, being surgical procedures, there’s an element of risk involved. Injectable options like Botox and Juvederm are less risky, but also less permanent, and will still cost a pretty penny. For the more frugal, there’s creams with retinol, like Retin-A. Retinoids are effective in preventing collagen loss, a chief culprit in the formation of laugh lines.

With all of these options, what’s the best choice? When it comes to the maximization of results-per-cost, and the minimization of risk, the injectable option comes out on top. Juvederm won’t last as long as a surgical option, but it can last upwards of 12 months before it needs topping off – at around $450 per cheek, that could work out to just $900 per year to keep laugh lines at bay. Basically, the injectable option yields the best results at the best price, with minimal risk to you.

However, only you can truly know what’s right for you, be it surgery, injectables, topical treatments, or even just letting yourself age naturally. Well, you and your cosmetic surgeon – book a consultation and see what they think about your options. Hopefully, you’ll leave their office smiling.

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Frownies v. Botox – What Comes Out on Top?

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Dr. Brent Rosen

Are both wrinkle-removers made equal?

If you’re familiar with the lives and careers of Hollywood starlets like Marlene Dietrich, Raquel Welch, or Joan Crawford, you’re also probably familiar with “Frownies” – adhesive strips meant to pull back wrinkles on the face, leading to a more youthful look. Actresses like these and more used them in the golden days of Hollywood, and they’re still around today. But, could Frownies be an alternative to Botox?

New York Magazine columnist Gina Grey recently put Frownies – or more accurately, a more modern alternative, Furlesse – to the test, with herself as the guinea pig. She wore the Furlesse patches for a week as she slept, to see if they could reduce or even prevent visible wrinkles.

She found that the strips did visibly diminish the appearance of facial wrinkles – so long as she was wearing them. Once removed, her wrinkles reappeared. According to a New York dermatologist quoted in the piece, the patches could potentially prove useful in stemming wrinkles by preventing involuntary facial movements while we sleep, but would take a lot longer than a week to show results.

And since the effects are only noticeable while the strips are worn, it means they won’t do you much good beyond the pillow – unless you’re willing to wear them out on the town. Actresses like Dietrich and Crawford did wear the strips in real life, hidden beneath wigs, but Way says, “unless he’s lost his sense of sight and touch, or is completely clueless, any guy will notice that you have these on.”

If you’re looking for more long-term results that are noticeable in your everyday life, and the idea of wearing adhesive strips 24/7 doesn’t appeal to you, there’s no contest – Botox wins out. Though, as with any cosmetic procedure, it shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Book a consultation with your cosmetic surgeon before you decide.

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Juvederm Voluma™ XC Unanimously Supported by FDA Advisory Committee

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Dr. Brent Rosen

As a treatment option for cheek augmentation

Allergan, Inc., the makers of Botox and Juvederm, might wind up with the first and only hyaluronic dermal filler on the market that the FDA unanimously recommends for cheek augmentation and rejuvenating age-related loss of facial volume.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration’s General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee recently voted unanimously in favor of recommending Allergan’s facial filler Juvederm Voluma™ XC as a treatment to restore cheek volume, and that the benefits of the procedure far outweigh the potential risks.

This doesn’t mean the product is officially approved by the FDA…not yet, anyway. The findings of the committee aren’t binding in any way, but the FDA considers their opinion when deciding whether or not to approve a new drug or treatment. If it is approved, it will be the only treatment on the U.S. market for cheek augmentation with such a robust amount of approval from the FDA. If approved, Allergan plans to launch Juvederm Voluma™ XC in the later part of this year.

As we get older, sub-dermal tissue in the face can lose its volume, causing a sunken, tired appearance. Injectable fillers like the hyaluronic acid-based Juvederm can fill in these empty spaces, revitalizing the face and bringing back a youthful fullness. If you’re curious about dermal fillers, contact your cosmetic surgeon to book a consultation.

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Be on the Lookout for Fake Botox

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Dr. Brent Rosen

FDA advises consumers on spotting the difference

Botox is popular choice among patients looking to slow the signs of aging partly because of how how quickly and easily the procedure can be undergone, compared to more invasive alternatives. But Botox is not quick or easy to make – the product is made according to rigorous specifications and undergoes stringent quality control before it reaches the consumer.

Well, the official product, anyway.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to be on the lookout for counterfeit Botox. “FDA cannot confirm that the manufacture, quality, storage, and handling of these products follow U.S. standards,” said the agency, according to this Reuters article.

The product, which the FDA says is being sold under the names “Online Botox Pharmacy,” “Onlinebotox.com” and “Onlinebotox,” is being shipped from foreign sources, and is not approved for sale in the United States. Despite the name, most of these products are being solicited via fax.

Allergan, the makers of Botox, said that besides breaking federal law, the fraudulent Botox’s contents and the conditions of its storage and handling can’t be vouched for, making it potentially ineffective, or worse, unsafe.

Lawmakers are hard at work writing bills that would better track and oversee what prescription drugs are moving through the distribution chain. In the meantime, if you’re interested in Botox, but are wary of counterfeit product, feel free to bring up your concerns with your cosmetic surgeon during your consultation. As a patient, it’s your right and your duty to be as informed as possible before undergoing any procedure. A long-practiced and trustworthy surgeon will be happy to put your fears to rest and make you feel comfortable with the product they make available.

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