Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Botax Roundup

Usually when plastic surgery is a hot topic in Washington D.C., it's about Senator so and so's alleged facelift. This week, it was popular as an actual political issue.

Reported as a proposed 10% cosmetic surgery tax by Democrats, it was met with a massive wave of publicity. A much smaller wave followed when it turned out that it was never really on the table, but a musing by a Treasury department official.

From Fox News' Speakers Lobby blog:

"OMB spokesman Ken Baer and White House Deputy Press Secretary Reid Cherlin tell Fox this idea actually came from a Treasury Dept official.

Either way, as I reported last night, it appears to be very much off the table. Most members of the Finance Cmte had not even heard of the idea.

Still, the proposal underlines the difficulty negotiators are having in coming up with a way to pay for $1 trillion in health care reform."

The possibility of it was pretty thoroughly debunked on Colin Stewarts' In Your Face blog.
“A number of states have tried to impose excise taxes on cosmetic surgery, with little success. The only state with such a law on the books is New Jersey. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine vetoed a bill to repeal the state’s 6 percent tax on cosmetic surgery gross receipts in 2007, even after the repeal passed unanimously in both the state Assembly and Senate."

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Radiesse Mixed With Lidocaine

BioForm Medical, Inc. announced that it recently received FDA approval for mixing RADIESSE® Dermal Filler with Lidocaine.

At SMAC, we have been mixing Lidocaine with Radiesse, as well as with other fillers, for quite some time.

This process has many advantages. Discomfort to patient is minimized - in fact we rarely use nerve blocks. Patients also get excellent analgesia with topical numbing cream and filler mixed with Lidocaine.


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSkin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Monday, July 27, 2009

Celution 700 System

The Celution 700 System, put out by Cytori Therapeutics, will now be regulated as a medical device by the Food and Drug Administration.

This distinction will allow Cytori to submit a marketing application to the FDA for Celution 700 to be used as a medical device in aesthetic body contouring and/or the filling of soft tissue voids. The company is in the process of determining whether or not clinical studies of this product will be required.

For more information, visit:
http://www.plasticsurgerypractice.com/eReport/2009-07-27_02.asp


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSkin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Patient Safety

The most important aspect of any surgery, especially one being performed in a doctor's office, is patient safety. A recent article about fatalities occurring in doctor's office procedures (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203946904574300971306299860.html) is very concerning. The article highlights the need for regulation among office procedures.

Currently, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) require members to be accredited by a national or state recognized accrediting agency or organization. Here at the Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, we are accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). The ASPS reports that "plastic surgery procedures performed in accredited surgical facilities by board-certified plastic surgeons have an excellent safety record."

At SMAC, we go beyond even these requirements, by using only a board certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Kenneth Kushner, during all of our in office surgeries and during preoperative patient evaluation.

Patient safety is a top priority at the Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center.


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSkin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Shaving off your eyebrows - A new high fashion trend?

It seems that a new trend in high fashion is removing your eyebrows! Runway models are making their eyebrows disappear by either bleaching them or shaving them off. The result is a very androgynous appearance. Research shows that eyebrows are needed both to protect the eyes, and to signal expressions, emotions, and sex appeal to others. While some are concerned that this trend is making people look mechanical and non-human, fashion editors are saying it is in response to the recession. Shaving off your eyebrows is an inexpensive way to get a completely new look.

The article found at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-1200232/Is-new-trend-remove-eyebrows-profound-social-statement--just-daft-fad-Planet-Fashion.html has more information about this new trend, and an amusing group of airbrushed, eyebrow-less celebrity photos.


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSkin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Lifestyle Lift - False Advertising

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo took action against cosmetic-surgery company Lifestyle Lift, which was accused of publishing fake, online reviews of their services. Lifestyle Lift is reportedly paying $300,000 in penalties, and stoping employees from publishing phoney, anonymous reviews of the company's work. Cuomo said that this practice, which led consumers to believe that actual patients were voluntarily posting positive reviews online, is deceptive and illegal. We at Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center are dissappointed in the behavior of the Lifestyle Lift Company.


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSkin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Monday, July 20, 2009

Plastic Surgery News: New Mixture and Topical Botox Both Fight Wrinkles

The FDA recently approved an injection mixing procedure that we have found works great. A method of mixing a wrinkle-fighting injection, Radiesse, with local anesthetic, lidocaine, has produced in clinical trials, and in our office at the Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, patients that are more satisfied with their results, and feel more comfortable with their procedure overall. In our practice, we have found that a combination therapy of this mixing technique and topical treatments is most effective for patients.

A new product by Revance Therapeutics, Inc., Rt001, is currently doing very well in clinical trials. The product, which is basically a topical form of Botox, is being shown to effectively treat crow's feet wrinkles. Patients who have been treated in trials thus far have been satisfied with the results, and report it to be a safe and pain-free procedure.


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSkin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Abdominal Etching Story on WPLG

Last night we were featured on WPLG in a piece on abdominal etching.

Thank you to everyone at WPLG and our patient, Craig, who bravely volunteered to be in the story!

You can watch the story at http://www.justnews.com/video/20111679/index.html


Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca RatonSkin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Saying goodbye to an old friend...

Our beloved former anti-aging specialist Dr. Allyn Brizel passed away this week after a long battle with cancer.

Here is a picture of all of us when our practice was called the Aesthetic Science Institute:
He will be missed by all of us.  He was a pioneer in bioidentical hormone use well before Suzanne Somers came on the scene.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Peter Ajello: Down to his last 30 pounds

This guy has lost about 180 pounds so far. When he loses another 30 to get to 210, I will be able to perform abdominoplasty to remove some excess skin that no amount of exercise can address.

He's been doing it with the time-testing combination of proper dieting and exercise. Here's his latest picture: To find out more about Peter directly from him, check out his website at thineatingchocolate.com.


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Artefill is back

Suneva Medical has confirmed that Artefill is once again available. We broke the news a month ago that the microsphere-enhanced collagen filler was being brought back to market after its original parent company, Artes Medical, filed for Chapter 7 in December.

According to clinical studies, full wrinkle correction lasted for a year with Artefill, while significant smile line correction lasted for at least five years post-treatment.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Monday, July 13, 2009

Iraqi plastic surgeons: Cosmetic procedures are up, Skin Grafts down

The LA Times' Caesar Ahmed did a great piece over the weekend about some very real plastic surgery trends Iraq.

Fortunately for everyone, Iraqi plastic surgeons are spending more time injecting Botox and performing cosmetic surgery, rather than performing skin grafts, reconstructions, and emergency amputations.

""Definitely we are performing more plastic surgery than before, mainly because the security situation of the country has improved," said Rida Ali, a plastic surgeon who estimates that half her patients are seeking cosmetic surgery, compared with less than a quarter a few years ago.

"Our patients get all their ideas from TV, then they come to us and request the operation," said Mahdi Hameed Abood, a senior surgeon at the Wasiti Center for Reconstructive Surgery. "It's good having television as a source of information, but what you see on TV is not always reality. There are special effects, lights. People believe what they see and come to us expecting results that may be unrealistic."

""I believe the Iraqi plastic surgeons are more talented than all the doctors in the region because of the hard circumstances they witnessed," Abood said. "Cosmetic operations are easy now for doctors after the training we obtained from treating the casualties of terrorism.""

We are involved in the non-profit Iraq Star program where veterans can get reconstructive and scar revision surgery to help them return to stateside life. To find out how you can contribute, visit http://www.iraqstar.org.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

It's never too late for a minimally invasive procedure... even before a wedding.

Thank you to Kristi Krueger and Kathleen Corso at WPLG for working with us on this story on last-minute cosmetic surgery options.



Very informative piece that lays out the skin care options a bride (or groom) to be has, from a long-term perspective, the week of, and the day before the wedding.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

From KC: First Twittering of Pediatric Plastic Surgery

Passing it along, Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City is the first to Twitter a pediatric plastic surgery procedure.

From Kansas City.com:

"The patient is 10-year-old Anand Erdenebulgan of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, who suffered severe neck burns in a fireworks accident six months ago.

Plastic surgeon Virender “Vinny” Singhal will begin the two-hour operation about 3 p.m. Residents, physician assistants and other staff will tweet from the operating room.

The hospital’s Twitter site is at twitter.com/ childrensmercy."

We are following the surgery via our own Twitter accounts, @jpoznermd and @drgoldberg.


Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boc


Monday, July 6, 2009

Actress: Steroids are to Athletes as Botox is to Her?

Actress Rachel Weisz (best known for being in The Mummy) is in the news today for comparing the use of Botox and other wrinkle-killing injections to the use of performance-enhancing drugs for athletes.


"Rachel told Harper's Bazaar magazine: "It should be banned for actors, as steroids are for sportsmen."

The distinction that we would like to make is that steroids have known, well documented, life-long complications. Botox, when used solely for cosmetic purposes, has virtually no long-term side effects.

Should they ban makeup, lighting, and photoshop touch-ups on the movie posters?

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Accutane pulled off market 1 day after Jackson death

Buried in the news about Michael Jackson (who may have had cosmetic surgery sometime in his life) was that Roche Holding AG pulled Accutane off the market after losing "at least" $33 million in damages in lawsuits.



According to this Bloomberg article, the lawsuits alleged that Accutane (also known as Isotretinoin) caused bowel disease as a side effect.

Accutane was a very popular option, FDA approved in 1982. We have prescribed it for acne in the past, but many patients were wary of the side effects and opted for lasers instead.

There is no perfect treatment for acne that works for everyone.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ