A glimpse at Mentor's upcoming cohesive gel form stable implant: in Sweden

Just returned from Sweden where I visited Charles Randquist at his lovely Victoria kliniken in Saltsjöbaden. I was sent there along with other US plastic surgeons, Mindy Haws (Nashville, TN), Stephen Schantz (Lexington, KY) and Kaveh Alizadeh (New York).

We spent an intensive few days learning about Mentor's cohesive gel form stable implant (pictured above), aka the CPG, and also about Allergan's similar 410 implant.

Dr. Randquist's results were excellent, and I learned a few tricks. He took us out to a wonderful restaurant - (Toby Keith was also dining there).

Sweden was fun - albeit rainy and cold. The question is - why send us for training on something not yet FDA approved? Does this mean this implant is coming closer to approval? I hope so and will start using it as soon as available.

Here's a picture of the view from Dr. Randquist's OR in Sweden:


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

Study: 62% of plastic surgeons are also patients

An interesting but not surprising study was highlighted by Baltimore Sun health blogger Kelly Brewington.

"In a survey of 276 members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 62 percent said they had gone under the knife for at least one procedure. Most receive minimally invasive procedures such as laser hair removal chemical peels and Botox -- no word of whether they throw Botox parties. A third had gone under a surgical procedure, with liposuction being the most common."

I wasn't polled by the ASPS for this study, but I would've bumped the numbers up a bit. In the last couple of months I've tried both Ulthera and Zeltiq. Can't wait to show off the final results at the end of December, as both treatments take about 3 months to fully take effect.

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

Cosmetic Surgery Tax Back on the Health Care Bill?

All the way back in July, there was some media hysteria about a 10% cosmetic surgery tax that was mentioned by a Treasury official. As we blogged back then, it was overblown because the Senate Finance Committee had never even discussed such a thing.

In Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's latest proposed healthcare reform bill, a 5% cosmetic surgery tax is being proposed.

From the Associated Press:

"At issue is a proposal in the 10-year, nearly $1 trillion health care draft unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that would slap a 5 percent excise tax on elective cosmetic surgeries and procedures. The plan, projected to raise $6 billion, wouldn't apply to surgery to fix a deformity or injury, but would include procedures such as face lifts, liposuction, cosmetic implants or teeth-whitening.

The plastic surgeons may have seemed like an appealing bunch to pick on given that they had already been skeptical of the Democrats' overhaul proposal. But they say it will be a blow to countless American women — of every income level.

"The common misconception is that this is going to tax wealthy, suburban Republican women," said Dr. Phil Haeck of Seattle, Wash., the president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In fact, he said, of the 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients who are female, 60 percent of them have incomes between $30,000 and $90,000."

It has also proven to be inefficient for the government to collect on cosmetic surgery tax. It is alleged that in New Jersey, where a similar tax is in effect, it costs the state $3.39 for every $1 that is collected.

Whether or not the bill passes, there is probably going to be somewhat of a rush to plan cosmetic procedures before an extra 5% is added onto the bill.

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

Join Our Facebook Fan Pages!

Join our Facebook fan pages! Along with tips, before/after photos, and videos to come from inside our treatment rooms and surgical suites, we are doing a day of giveaways on Friday, November 20.

For Dr. Goldberg's Skin and Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ: NYC Beauty Buzz on Facebook with Dr. Tracy Pfeifer.

For SMAC in Boca Raton: SMAC Boca Health & Beauty Experts.

We will be giving away hundreds of dollars worth of beauty products and spa treatments across the two groups, so if you live near New York City or Boca Raton, join and try to get in on the action on Friday!

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

Evolence officially being discontinued

We blogged a month ago that Evolence, a collagen-based filler that we both like to use in our practices, was in trouble. Specifically, Colbar, the company that makes it and a recent acquisition of Johnson & Johnson, was on the selling block.

Last week Colin Stewart at the OC Register's In Your Face blog reported that the company is officially pulling Evolence from the market. It will no longer be manufactured.

From the article:

"Lambros and J&J said Evolence didn’t produce adverse reactions in patients.

“Evolence has had a lot of good press among injectors,” Lambros said. “I was just at a big plastic surgery meeting in Seattle where they were actively promoting the product.”

Last month, an Israeli newspaper reported that J & J planned to sell Evolence’s manufacturer, the Israel-based subsidiary, ColBar, after it sold only $25 million of the filler in a year, far below expectations.

J & J purchased ColBar for a reported $159 million."

It seems that with all of the cosmetic fillers on the market currently, there wasn't room for one more.

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

The latest and greatest in aesthetic technology at the Strata Medical Event in NYC

Dr. Goldberg and I just taught at a Strata Med Event this weekend in New York. There were about 75 docs there - most dermatologists but other specialties as well.

This was one of the most organized and structured events we have ever done. It was split between didactice and demonstrations, moderated by Irvine dermatologist Dr. Christopher Zachary who missed his calling as a stand up comic!

Also teaching was NY celebrity dermatologist Dr. Doris Day, and my close friend, plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Bass. We discussed Botox, Dysport and newer non-FDA approved botulinum toxinds like Xeomin (Merz) and Puretox (Mentor). Dr. Bass and I did live demonstrations of Botox in the upper and lower face. We also spoke about different fillers including hyaluronic acids - Juvederm, Restylane and Prevelle silk, Radiesse, Sculptra and Evolence (even though J and J just pulled it from the market).

We were pretty comprehensive and did the usual nasolabial folds and lips but also some fun things like Radiesse cheek lifts and chin augmentation and hand rejuvenation. Dr. Goldberg gave a great talk on the state of the aesthetic industry and demonstrated the Syneron e-matrix system and the new Lumenis Lightshear Duet - a super fast and virtually painless hair removal system.

Dr. Day demonstrated the Lumenis Active and Deep FX and Dr. Bass the Palomar system. I demonstrated Sciton's TRL concept and did 2 combination microlaserpeel/profractional treatments. It was a great meeting, and I am looking forward to the next one.

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

Can parrots unlock new secrets in anti-aging?

We offer some retinol-based skin care products at SMAC, including Retinol Night Repair, which doesn't require a prescription and still can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin texture, and smoothness.

I also have several parrots as pets (see above). So imagine my surprise and interest when I saw this great article in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science from researchers in Milan.

Owing to their bright pigmentation and long lives, parrots' feathers apparently have some active molecules that have properties similar to anti-aging molecules like retinol. Studies are being planned that explore this phenomenon, and to develop new substances that are derived from animal metabolisms.

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

NY Times on "Spa Surgeries"

Camille Sweeney at the NY Times wrote a great article looking at the movement to more stringently regulate medical spas (Link).

The article cites an International Spa Association figure that they have increased by 85% to 1,800 across the country.

At our med-spa in Boca Raton, we have spent our medical careers dealing with cosmetic research and medicine. But many of the new med-spas popping up all over the country don't offer that level of expertise.

From the article:

“These places can offer a wonderful opportunity for a consumer to reduce stress and get treatment for the whole body,” said Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association. But, she added, “just because someone is in a white coat, it doesn’t mean he or she is a qualified to perform a procedure on you.”

Dr. Goldberg even got a good line in about laser hair removal: “In New York, legally, even a barber could do it, not that he would,” said Dr. David Goldberg, a cosmetic dermatologist in New Jersey, New York and Florida, as well as a law professor at Fordham University and a legal counsel to the Medical Spa Society."

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

ASPS Wrap Up

We attend a lot of aesthetic meetings and lectures around the world. Here's my account of this year's American Society of Plastic Surgeons meeting, held in Seattle from October 23 to 27.

I attended and lectured at the ASPS annual meeting: attendance was way down this year - owing to the location and sign of the economy. Very few east coast doctors made the trip.

I lectured at a pre-meeting course with my good friend Dr. Barry DiBernardo. We did our usual tag team about lasers in plastic surgery - this course was on facial rejuvenation so we concentrated on skin resurfacing with the Sciton tunable resurfacing laser and fractional carbon dioxide (multiple manufacturers) and Cutera systems.

We spent some time on new technology such as Ulthera - we both are early adopters and see a lot of potential in the technology (see previous posts). I then hustled over to Hot Topics to learn and lecture. Hot Topics is the best part about our annual meeting - all the new stuff.

I spoke about the Zerona laser - a low level laser that is supposed to cause fat loss. I dont see the science behind it and feel it is hype, but am not going to blast it completely until real data is in. My usual crew lectured at Hot Topics as well. Dr. Larry Bass spoke about Zeltiq (BTW my belly is shrinking!!!) and showed the most recent studies. We are really hot on this as well!

Dr. Michael Kane spoke about Revance - topical Botox - should be awesome when it gets approved - no needles! Dr. DiBernardo spoke about a few topics including the science behind laser liposuction. He really should get a gold star for the experimental work he has done on skin tightening with the laser. He also gave a seminar on the water-jet lipo machine that can be used for fat cell grafting.

Most of my days were spent in meetings with industry or committee meetings. Not that much fun and I needed a vacation when I returned. Bottom line from this meeting: nothing that new!

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