In UK, Regaining Pre-Baby Body Is A Priority

Immediately following childbirth, it is hard for a woman to regain her pre-baby body. Child bearing can lead to sagging skin, stretch marks, weight gain, cellulite and drooping breast. A new survey conducted by British TV show My Face My Body reveals that 39% of UK women would consider a ‘mommy makeover’ procedure after having children.

The researchers interviewed 326 women and found the top body concerns for women post-pregnancy to be:

Weight-34%
Stretch Marks-24%
Loose Skin-21%
Cellulite-14%
Sagging Breasts-7%


An overwhelming 93% of women admitted that reclaiming their pre-baby body was a priority to them, regardless of whether or not their partner shared their concerns. Of the men interviewed, 71% said they didn’t care about their partner gaining weight after childbirth. On the contrary, 67% of women feared their partners would not find them attractive post-baby.

"While most women enjoy being pregnant and the changes it brings to their bodies, many are concerned about these changes, such as weight gain and stretch marks, becoming permanent,” said My Face My Body presenter Stephen Handisides.

The survey also found that 57% of women would undergo a cosmetic procedure while they were still in the hospital following labor. For a mother who is considering plastic surgery, I urge you to wait at least six months following childbirth to allow the body to heal properly.

For women who are considering plastic surgery as a way to regain their body following pregnancy, the ‘mommy makeover’ is a popular option. The ‘mommy makeover’ can be any combination of procedures including liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast lift, reduction or augmentation.

In our Florida office we see many 'mommy makeovers', with breast surgery, especially breast lifts with implants, being the most popular. The difference in the popularity of aesthetic breast surgery in the U.S. and U.K. may be due to national trends, or even regional trends for South Florida.

Allergan to Pay Over $600 Million Settlement

Allergan, the maker of Botox®, is being forced to pay over $600 million following a civil settlement and charges that marketed the popular drug for off-label purposes. According to the New York Times, Allergan was marketing Botox®—which is currently used to treat wrinkles and hyperhidrosis—for the off-label treatment of migraines.

Botox® is currently not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of migraines. The issue was not that Botox® was being used to treat migraines; it was that doctors were receiving incentives from Allergan if they actively promoted the headache treatment to their patients. The Justice Department issued this statement:

“In 2003, Allergan doubled the size of its reimbursement team to assist doctors in obtaining payment for off-label Botox® injections. Allergan held workshops to teach doctors and their office staffs how to bill for off-label uses, conducted detailed audits of doctors’ billing records to demonstrate how they could make money by injecting Botox®, and operated the Botox® Reimbursement Hotline, which provided a wide array of free on-demand services to doctors for off-label uses. Allergan also lobbied government health care programs to expand coverage for off-label uses, directed physician workshops and dinners focused on off-label uses, paid doctors to attend “advisory boards” promoting off-label uses, and created a purportedly independent online neurotoxin education organization to stimulate increased use of Botox® for off-label indications.”

Allergan, based in Irvine, CA, admitted to marketing unapproved uses of Botox®—including treatment of headaches and blepharospasm—between 2000 and 2005. The company agreed to pay $225 million to resolve civil charges that it endorsed falls Medicare and Medicaid claims, however, they denied liability. The company is schedule to pay between $610-$615 million in the third quarter of 2010, nearly half of Botox®’s $1.3 billion from last year.

Botox® was originally approved by the FDA in 1989 for the treatment in hyperhidrosis and then again in 2002 for wrinkle reduction. There is still concern as to whether or not the settlement will have an effect on the FDA’s decision on whether or not to approve Botox® for migraine treatment. The FDA’s decision is due to be announced at the end of October.

Could Invisible Bra Set Off New Trend?

Cosmetically, women can achieve the appearance of perkier breasts through breast augmentation or breast lifts. A new product, which guarantees a long-term boost, may be something to watch out for.

Breform™ surgical breast support is a new system termed as the “invisible bra”. A polyester mesh material is inserted through surgically under the skin. Breform™ is placed under the epidermis of the breast and stitched to the layer of fat above the breast tissue.

The material, which is cone-shaped, looks like a bra and can enhance the shape of the breast without undergoing surgery. Reportedly, Breform™ feels completely natural and cannot be felt through the breast skin.

Breform™ is inserted under the skin via an incision around the nipple with the assistance of general anesthesia. Just as with any surgery around the nipple, there is the possibility of loss of sensation. Breform™ claims that any lost nipple sensation, however, should return within six months following insertion.

TopNews.co.uk reports that a Breform™ procedure, which is manufactured by Aspide Médical in St Etienne, France, costs and average of 5,900GPD—or $9,100. While Breform™ can be used as an alternative to breast reduction in certain patients; the benefits of the product can also be reaped if used in conjunction with augmentation and reduction.

So what is our take on the invisible bra? Breform™ may be beneficial to ensure optimum results and prevent future sagging in patients who have undergone breast augmentation or reduction. By itself, however, Breform™ does not seem to be worth the investment. Breform™ is currently only available in parts of Europe and Asia, however, it has already received national media attention in the U.S.

Botox® Efficacy Enhanced By Oral Supplements

According to recent research conducted by Charles Soparkar, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., a dietary supplement that combines zinc and phytase increases the effectiveness of Botox® Cosmetic on patients. Plastic Surgery Practice reports that the supplement, trademarked as ZYTAZE™, is patent-pending and may be available to patients as early as this month.

The study analyzed 44 patients who had taken the oral supplements prior to being injected with botulinum toxin (Botox®, Dysport®, or Myobloc®). Forty-one of the 44 patients showed noticeable results. Multiple subjects were being treated for blepharospasm, or eyelid spasms, and had previously responded poorly to the injections.

Soparkar and his team will present the findings at the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery’s 41st Annual Fall Scientific Symposium in Chicago on October 14, 2010.

"Surprisingly, the results showed that in over 90% of the patients studied, the zinc/phytase combination resulted in a remarkable improved responsiveness to treatment of blepharospasm using the same amount of botulinum toxin as previously used," Soparkar told Plastic Surgery Practice.

"The toxins seemed to have greater effect and last longer. Potentially, this could mean using less toxin, offering patients financial savings, greater safety, and more consistent results."

Perhaps future findings will prove that the natural inclusion of diets rich in phytase and zinc can also improve the results of botulinum toxin injections. Pythase can currently be found in many grains and oil seeds, while foods like oysters and wheat germ are great sources of zinc.

Zeltiq Gets FDA Approval for Fat Reduction

Today, CoolSculpting by Zeltiq received FDA approval for non-invasive fat reduction. CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis technology to virtually freeze fat away.

According to the company, CoolSculpting by Zeltiq results in a 20% fat reduction in the treated areas on patients. Results can typically be first seen three weeks following the treatment with maximum results seen over the course of two to four months. The treatment usually takes 1-2 hours and can be repeated over time for more pronounced results.

Prior to the approval of CoolSculpting, there had been a gap in the body sculpting market for a non-invasive fat reduction method that involves no needles and no downtime. By targeting the underlying fat, CoolSculpting leaves the skin tissue intact and unaffected.

The Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey and the Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center in Boca Raton, FL, are home to CoolSculpting by Zeltiq. For more information, feel free to contact our offices with any questions or concerns you may have about CoolSculpting by Zeltiq.


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 Your Diet Prevent Skin Cancer?

Using sunscreen and avoiding sun exposure are two things we stress at our office in Boca Raton. However, living under the hot Florida sun doesn’t make it easy to avoid UVB rays. The good news is that a recent study has found a diet that can help protect against skin cancer.

Dr. Niva Shapira of Tal Aviv University’s School of Health Professions recently contributed to a study published in Nutrition Reviews that found a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants can prevent sun cancer. By penetrating the skin and causing photo-oxidation, sun exposure damages both the immune system and the skin. The Mediterranean diet—which contains foods such as yogurt, fish, and olive oil—is said to fight the oxidizing effects of the sun.

During the study, Dr. Shapira dn Professor Bodo Kuklinski of Rostock University gave two groups of subjects two different beverages to drink: soda and a drink high in antioxidants. The two groups were then exposed to the sun 5-6 hours daily for a period of two weeks.

At the end of the two weeks, the group who drank the antioxidant beverage had fifty percent few oxidation products in the blood than the group who drank soda. The study also found that antioxidants such as carotenoids delay tissue damage that can lead to skin cancer.

According to Dr. Shapira, this information is imperative as free radicals and other environmental factors are now limiting the effects of sunscreen. While avoiding sun exposure is the best advice, it is impossible to do. By combining the use of sunscreen, an antioxidant diet and protective clothing you are promoting skin health.

While omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can be found as supplements, altering your diet to naturally contain these nutrients is the most effective way to reap the benefits.

"In foods, many vitamins and various antioxidants and bioactive ingredients work to support one another and the body's natural protective mechanisms. Synergies between the nutrients in your food, which make a significant contribution to health, may contrast with the relative isolation of a vitamin supplement,” says Dr. Shapira

Following this study, the Israeli Cancer Association included nutritional information as part of the “Smart in the Sun” advisories for the first time this year.

Some foods to avoid include red meat, alcohol, and processed food. Photosensitizing foods, which include parsley, cilantro, figs, dill and celery, can increase the damage done by the sun. Visit the Mayo Clinic’s webpage dedicated to the Mediterranean diet for more information on what suggested foods to eat.