Last week, we brought you the first segment from the ASAPS series of videos about breast augmentation. Here’s a newer episode in the series in which a patient discusses her satisfaction with breast implants and the reaction of her peers.

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Sometimes in the pharmaceutical world, drugs make their way to the market in an unexpected manner.  It might surprise you to hear what some of the most popular drugs were intended to treat (Viagra anyone?).  In the case of the new eyelash enhancer Latisse, researchers at Allergan Inc. took note of a particular ‘complication’ associated with one of their widely used glaucoma drugs.

The topical prostaglandins lumigan caused a condition called “hypertrichosis,” characterized by darkening, thickening, and lengthening of the eyelashes.  The effect was caused by a chemical component called bimatoprost.

Two important precursors to the development of Latisse occurred after that point, when the FDA gave clearance for Lumigan:

$2 million worth of Jan Marini skin research product was seized by the FDA.  The product in question – Age Intervention Eyelash – evidently contained bimatoprost, which was unapproved for cosmetic use at the time. Allergan later filed a patent infringement suit against Jan Marini and several other companies that had tried to market bimatoprost in their eyelash enhancing drugs.

Doctors began prescribing Lumigan ‘off-label’ to enhance the eyelashes of their patients.  But Lumigan wasn’t formulated for cosmetic use and many believed more research was needed to confirm the safety of topical prostaglandins for cosmetic use.

Research and clinical trials are exactly what Alllergan did.  278 healthy adults with minimal to moderate eyelash prominence applied bimatoprost or a placebo to their lash line.  The results were favorable; researchers observed “statistically significant differences in eyelash growth and resulting patient satisfaction” while only 3.6 percent experienced itchy eyes and redness, and only 2.9 percent experienced skin hyperpigmentation.

Latisse received FDA approval late last year for the treatment of ‘inadequate’ eyelashes.  For information on Latisse in Bellevue, Washington, contact Overlake Plastic Surgeons.

Do you remember when collagen first received FDA approval over 20 years ago?  If so, you might recall the hope people had about looking better, but also the fear about side effects and painful injections. Now, we have a wider, safer variety of fillers to choose from that really get results.

Wrinkle fillers can be injected into deep wrinkles, folds, lines, or fill-in areas that have lost volume, like thin lips and sunken cheeks.  Using a filler will often allow one to postpone surgery.

Now the most common question is, “Which one should I choose?”

Below is a list and brief description of 5 popular dermal fillers:

• Restylane – a hyaluronic acid based filler touted as “the world’s best-selling dermal filler.” We use it as indicated, for correcting moderate facial wrinkles and folds.
• Perlane – very similar to Restylane, it is designed primarily for treating deeper and more severe wrinkles and folds.
• Radiesse –this thick compound is made with (natural, biocompatible) calcium based microspheres in water based gel.
• Prevelle Silk – this hyaluronic acid gel filler is commonly used for lip augmentation treatments.
• Juvederm – Like Perlane, this popular filler is designed for treating deeper wrinkles and restoring volume to the face. Juvederm provides a smooth, natural look.
• Sculptra – a poly-L-lactic acid filler that was FDA approved to treat facial     lipoatrophy – the loss of facial tissue. Sculptra is often used to fill in hollowness in the cheeks and other imperfections like nasolabial folds.

If you’re considering treatment with any of these wrinkle fillers, consult with a qualified surgeon that you trust.  For help choosing the right product, or for more information on the risks and benefits, contact the Bellevue office of Dr. Michael Leff.

This month, we’ll be posting a series of videos from the the American Society for Aesthetic and Plastic surgery called “Real People. Real Surgery.” In this first segment, a woman recalls her reasons for choosing breast augmentation.

A crucial point she covers is about educating yourself on the procedure and the risks. “I had fears to begin with, but my fears lessened the more information that I gathered” she recalls. If you’re interested in breast implants, you would be wise to do some research; read the ASAPS literature, speak to a qualified surgeon, or see our breast augmentation page.

Since the FDA has approved silicone breast implants safe for use in the United States, many women have more options for breast augmentation than they did ever before. Saline implants have been widely used for many years now for basic breast augmentation – with good results, however, under certain circumstances some women were allowed to have silicone implants until their universal approval in November of 2007.

Silicone breast implants offer the benefit of feeling more natural, weighing less – which reduces the chance of ptosis – and do not ripple when bending over. This has been a major complaint of saline implants for some time. However, saline implants have the benefit of requiring a smaller incision and in some cases are able to be place through the belly button, reducing the chances of a visual scar.

Safety has often been a question of concern for women seeking breast augmentation with regards to their implant choices. Both Saline and Silicone have been extensively studied over the past decade for their rate of rupture, capsular contracture, studies on breast cancer, auto immune deficiency syndrome and overall affect on the human body. In fact, the silicone breast implant has been studied more and tested more than any FDA approved drug and medical device on the market today.

The two major manufactures of breast implants in the US are the Mentor Corporation and Allergan. Both companies provide a complete list of options in their breast implants choices – from high profile to low profile to smooth round to contoured textured. The options may seem confusing for women seeking breast augmentation, however, during the consultation visit most of these questions can be addressed with the surgeon.

The fact the there are a multitude of choices now for breast implants, women should take the time to research their options prior to scheduling their surgery. If you are wishing to know more about breast augmentation and your breast implant choices please contact Bellevue Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Leff for your free consultation.

The FDA has just announced the approval of a new prescription based treatment called Latisse for the treatment of hypotrichosis of the eyelashes. Hypotrichoiss is another name for having inadequate or not long enough eyelashes. Allergan, the manufacture of Latisse, has spent years developing this ophthalmic solution and has seen exceptional results in their clinical trials. Available only through a doctor, Lattise is a once-daily prescription treatment applied to the base of the upper eyelashes with a single use – sterile applicator. Users can expect to see darker, fuller, longer eyelashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results in sixteen weeks. Continual treatments are required to maintain the effect.

To learn more about Latisse and whether it is right for you, call Overlake Plastic Surgeons in Bellevue, Washington at (425) 454-5133 today.

Would you like to fill in those lines for the holiday but are on a budget. Try Prevelle Silk. Each syringe is only $225.00 per syringe!

Restylane/Perlane by one syringe get the second at half price. Buy two, get a third free. Receive an additional one hundred dollars off from the manufacturer until Jan, 5 2009.

Receive $75.00 of Botox and Juvederm now through December 24th. 2008

Payment plans available through Capital One and CareCredit. Visa, Mastercard & American Express accepted.

The Mentor Corporation just announced that they just completed the first of three clinical phase trials with it’s prified botulinum Type A neurotox for the reduction of fown lines. This completed study involved over 400 test patients at ten different study sites in the US. These subjects received a single treatment with PurTox or a placebo.

The satisfaction with the outcome of treatments was measured using a standard global assessment tool and safety was assessed by adverse event tracking. A very large percentage of the test subjects expressed a high degree of satisfaction with their outcomes due to treatment with this new drug.

Source: Mentor Corporation

Fall Special at Overlake Plastic Surgeons: take off the years with an upper eyelid lift! 1/2 off when added to a neck and cheek lift. This is a $900.00 value. New surgery patients who schedule surgery on their consultation date will receive a free syringe of Juvederm® injectable filler. Please contact our office today for further information.

Dr. Michael Leff is a board certified plastic surgeon residing in Bellevue, Washington.