Free SEO report for your medical spa or plastic surgery website from Frontdesk SEO.

Frontdesk SEO provides do-it-yourself search engine marketing software for skin clinics and businesses of any size who want to use their existing staff—hence the ‘frontdesk’ monkier—to build search engine rankings, increase visibility for their potential patient population, and drive traffic locally.

Frontdesk has a free SEO report that can give you a feel for how well you’re doing in the cut-throat skin clinic competition online.

And, if you really want to dominate your local skin clinic market, Frontdesk offers outsource SEO packages that’s unique, combining monthly phone interviews, press releases, social media, blogging and article distribution to give you some serious marketing power.

SEO, SEM, Free SEO Report

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The Plastic Surgery Group, LLP (TPSG), of Albany has been sentenced and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $106,686, and a fine of $200,000, in connection with TPSG’s plea of guilty to one felony count of misbranding drugs.

(The Plastic Surgery Group offers cosmetic surgery, laser treatments and cosmetic procedures.)

The company was sentenced in Federal District Court in Albany, along with Doctors William F. DeLuca Jr., Douglas M. Hargrave, Jeffrey L. Rockmore, Steven M. Lynch, and John D. Noonan, who were all sentenced to probation with community service and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $106,686 and a fine of $5,000.

TPSG’s practice administrator, Peter M. Slattery, and supervisory nurse Susan F. Knott were also sentenced and ordered to pay
restitution in the amount of $106,686, and fines in the amount of $1,000 and $500, respectively.

All the individuals were sentenced in connection with their guilty pleas to one misdemeanor count of misbranding drugs.

According to plea agreements, starting in approximately February 2004 and continuing to December 2004, defendant TPSG ceased using the FDA-approved Botox and Botox Cosmetic and began exclusively using a non-FDA approved TRI-toxin on its patients seeking treatments with Botulinum Toxin Type A for facial wrinkles.

Five physicians, whose professional corporations were partners of TPSG (the “treating physicians”), with the assistance of TPSG nurses, injected approximately 150 patients with the unapproved product.

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3-D imaging has emerged as a modern method that helps cosmetic surgeons and patients visualize outcomes.  There is a high demand for a tool that allows people to see what they might look like after cosmetic surgery.  The old days of red and blue tinted glasses are gone, and the newest version of 3-D uses sophisticated computers to create lifelike images. Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks have brought three-dimensional animated features to movie theatres, with blockbuster reviews. Patients are often surprised to find the same technology used in films like James Cameron’s Avatar in their cosmetic surgeon’s office.

Most commonly, 3-D simulations are used to imagine breast augmentation, nose reshaping, and chin sculpting.  Dr. Charles Mok at Allure Medical Spa has been using this tool for the past year and it has changed the way he does consultations with patients.  ”The 3-D simulator helps me to communicate in a specific way and set the patient’s expectations.  When they are realistic about what can be achieved with surgery, they are much happier after having a procedure,” says Dr. Mok. Michelle, mother of four, knew she wanted breast augmentation but was apprehensive about the size; using 3-D imaging we were able to show her what she could expect to look like.  ”After seeing what my outcome would look like and comparing three different sizes.”

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For 2010 Americans dream of cosmetic makeovers that tighten abs and leave a brighter smile, rather than those that erase worry lines and lift sagging facial features.

A poll of 2,227 U.S. adults by Harris Interactive on behalf of RealSelf.com found that more than half of all adults (54%) would choose cosmetic work if money wasn’t a concern, and of those who would have work done, the majority (52%) would choose teeth whitening, followed by tummy tuck surgery and liposuction. Not surprisingly, a majority of women (67%), as well as 40% of men said they would also have cosmetic work done.

Few cite Botox as wanted.

In spite of being the most popular cosmetic procedure in the World, just 6% of the survey respondents who would choose cosmetic treatments indicated a desire to get Botox to treat face wrinkles. However the number rises to 15% among women aged 45-54.

Cosmetic Makeover Wishlist Shows Teeth Whitening Most Wanted

If money were not an issue, consumer interest by gender include:

 

Procedure	% of total	% of women	% of men
Teeth whitening	52	51	55
Tummy tuck	29	39	13
Liposuction	29	34	19
Hair removal	25	31	16
Face lift	14	18	6
Laser skin treatment	13	16	7
Cellulite treatment	12	18	1
Hair replacement	11	5	20
Breast implants	10	15	1
Botox	6	3	8

The survey found the average teeth whiteing cost to be $417.

Looks like Shine Teeth Whitening is hitting the market at exactly the right time.

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Plastic surgery has been overtaken by technology. There are now new iPhone applications that are designed to give your body a total makeover. People contemplating plastic surgery can now get to know what their post-procedure look will be thanks to these apps.

Shafer Plastic Surgery App
a. This was created by New York-based Dr. David Shafer.
b. This is meant for sophisticated, inquisitive and information seeking patients.
c. It has a database of more than 1,000 questions and answers about specific cosmetic surgery procedures.
d. It is available on Apple’s iPhone App Store. There are 2 versions the Lite version and $2.99 version to buy.

iSurgeon App
a. This has been developed by Miami-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer.
b. It combines a game mode that enables users to try their hand at surgery.
c. People can modify images through lip enhancements, breast augmentations and many other improvements.
d. Users can easily simulate plastic surgery by easily modifying face and body features on their phone including Rhinoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Brazilian Buttlifts and Tummy Tucks.

Dr. Denenberg’s iPhone app
a. This is an intuitive new iPhone application developed by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Denenberg.
b. It allows users to view hundreds of before-and-after photos.
c. Users can turn the iPhone around to take their own photos and email them to the doctor with their questions.

BodyPlastika
a. Another iPhone app which allows users to view how they would look after plastic surgery
b. Visit http://www.bodyplastika.com to access this app

But you may want to get a 2nd opinion…

iPhone Apps Help with Plastic Surgery Decisions is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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The worst plastic surgery billboard I’ve ever seen. In fact, it may be the worst plastic surgery ad too.

This is what happens when someone in the laser clinic is doing the marketing and advertising for plastic surgeons.

This plastic surgeons billboard is along I-15 in Utah and I’ve driven past it a few times. Each time shaking my head in utter disbelief that anyone describing themselves as an ‘aesthetic specialist’ could be attached to such bad taste. (And the actual design is worse. Quite obviously the work of a $6 an hour kid that’s still in high school.) How could anyone think that this would move a woman to get plastic surgery?

The Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center is the cosmetic dermatology practice of Dr. Mark Taylor but there’s usually a plastic surgeon to be found. I guess now it’s ‘Dr. Heidi’. According to the Gateway Aesthetic Institue’s web site, Dr. Heidi is actually:

Heidi Regenass, M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon who comes to Gateway Aesthetic from Phoenix, Arizona, where she owned her own successful practice.

Dr. Regenass brings an international flair to cosmetic plastic surgery. Dr. Regenass specializes in plastic surgery procedures that rejuvenate the face and body, enhancing one’s natural beauty.

It may well be that this as was designed by Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Dr. Regenass didn’t have anything to do with it. In that case I feel sorry for her. It’s got to be embarrassing to have your name attached to something this crass and trite.

What the Bad Billboard Project says about Dr. Heidi’s boob job billboard:

My business used to be housed in an office a few feet from this billboard. Only it was a different billboard back then. I was driving by, saw this, and felt like I couldn’t pass it up. It is poorly designed, to be sure, but I’m not sure that matters so much, at least as far as getting your attention. Whether it would actually result in increased sales, I’m not sure. Probably, since many people don’t appreciate good design, either consciously or subconsciously. As for me, I’m thoroughly offended and would certainly never let Dr. Heidi get her dirty paws on me.

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Shine Teeth Whitening is putting your local medical spa or doctor in the teeth whitening business by providing professional teeth whitening services using exactly the same process, materials and trained technicians that serve dental clinics. Shine offers a new way for your local medical spa, laser clinic or cosmetic surgery center to offer the most desired cosmetic treatment directly to your existing clientele… and it’s amazingly easy.

How Shine Teeth Whitening Services Work.

Shine’s teeth whitening kits are easy to use. Any member of your staff can quickly administer the materials we send you to capture precise top and bottom “bite” impressions of your clients in the specialized impression putty and trays we provide to you.

Send the impressions to our lab in the package we provide you. Within 48 hours, we’ll ship the completed custom trays back to you for your client to pick up from your office (or, if you prefer, we can mail the completed kit directly to the customer for you with gel and instructions included.)

A return visit by your customer is another chance to provide additional service and purchases such as extra whitening gel and portable whitening pens to supplement your client’s new custom whitening kit.

The possibilities are endless – and in no time, your ability to provide custom teeth whitening kits at a retail price that is up to 70% less expensive than a comparable kit from a dental office will provide extra satisfaction for your clientele, and thousands of dollars per month in additional revenue for you, with no extra staffing, equipment or training required.

How do you begin? Start with the Shine trial teeth whitening kit – a set of materials we’ll provide you at cost to allow you to sample the impression materials and send your own impressions to our lab to receive your first two custom kits, to see how our service works and experience our custom whitening kits for yourself. When you can see how simple the process is, you can order our kits in quantities of 5, 10, 50 or 100 in order to be ready to offer Shine teeth whitening kits to your customers. The greater the quantity of kits you purchase, the steeper your discount.

Pitch to physicians and medspas: Shine and see what this $300M industry could be doing for you.

Via: Shine Teeth Whitening

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Recently, today.msnbc.com published their list of the 8 craziest beauty treatments of the decade.  While their list certainly includes some treatments that give us pause, some of these aren’t only not crazy, some are even FDA approved.

1 – ‘Different’ facials: Facials come in all shapes, sizes and colors and may use many different materials. There are oatmeal facials, clay facials, and now – fecal facials. Some of the more extreme facial treatments to come out recently include substances many people wouldn’t want to touch, much less put on their faces, including snail secretion, human placenta, and spermine – a substance found in human sperm.

2 – Snake Massage: In Tel Aviv, Israel, you can pay $70 to have six non-venomous snakes placed on your body and enjoy what the spa calls a relaxing massage via serpent. We wonder what Indiana Jones would say.

3 – Fishy Pedicure: Customers have been paying big bucks to feed the fish. Using tiny fish imported from Asia, customers can dip their feet in the fish tank and relax while the fish feed off the dead skin, resulting in smoother feet. 14 states have banned this procedure, deeming it unsanitary as the fish are reused on multiple customers.

4 – Delicious Scents: If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, why not entice him with a food-inspired aroma? From flame broiled meat scented cologne to cheesy flavored lip balm, our choices in scent have grown, for better or worse.

5 – Bootylicious: Buttock Implants have grown in popularity over the past decade thanks in large part to the growth in celebrity backsides. Famously curvaceous women like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez have inspired many women to seek out a more plumped behind and some are turning to cosmetic surgery to get it.

6 – Designer Vaginas: Vaginal rejuvenation procedures have definitely seen a rise in popularity in the past few years. Some plastic surgeons are even including this in a group of procedures referred to as the mommy makeover which often includes tummy tuck, breast lift, and liposuction as well. For many, the procedure is about getting back the pre-baby look and sensation, and is much more than vanity run amok.

7 – Bottled Baths: If water just isn’t doing it for you, how about some sake? In south-central Japan, there’s a medspa where you can bathe in your choice of different spirits including red wine or green tea. While it does sound a little different at first glance, people have bathed with salts and flower petals without so much as the bat of an eyelash. It it really so strange to think of red wine as a bath companion?

8 – Botox: One common misconception about Botox is that it is unsafe or that it’s vanity gone mad as people inject themselves with toxins. Botox has actually been around for years treating people for cervical dystonia, a painful condition which involves spasms of the neck muscles. Botox was used to relax the muscles. It is known to be highly dependable and predictable when dosed and injected properly. It is being used off label to treat migraines and TMJ. We don’t find that crazy at all.

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The San Gallicano Dermatological Institute recently identified two compounds whose individual abilities add up to relief for sensitive skin when combined in a lotion. The first, a gluco-oligosaccharide, helps protect skin from infection without inducing bacterial resistance; the other, a collagen tripeptide, stimulates fibroblast production. The latter component happens to be acquired from fish skin.

Together, when applied topically, study volunteers with sensitive skin experienced a decrease in inflammation, roughness, and trans-epidermal water loss, as well as an increase in the uniformity of skin’s surface. Researchers also found a stabilization in pH.

The demonstrated normalization could mean that this combination will appear in future formulas aimed at treating sensitivity. However, because of the fish-derived portion of the mixture, vegans with sensitive skin would need to continue looking for another option.

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Now, along with other lunchtime procedures such as Botox injections, you can update your smile with a 20 minute procedure that will give you dimples.

If eyebrows act as frames to the eyes, then dimples act as quotation marks to a smile. The latest cosmetic procedure that can add character and a youthful appearance is Dimple Surgery.

A natural dimple exists when there is a small defect in the cheek muscle. When you smile, the skin is pulled down into the connective tissue in the cheek. Now, dimples can be replicated through a simple surgical procedure. Dr. Gal Aharonov explains, “We’re cutting away a small piece of that muscle to make a window, and then tenting the skin down.”

As with any surgical procedure, there are side effects and risks which may include bruising or swelling at the site. Another side effect is the dimple could be there all the time. However, as the surgery heals, the dimple “falls out” and will only be seen when you smile. Recovery is about a month and results are potentially reversible.

Smile on.

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You may have your mom to thank for those wrinkles…

Friends and family say you inherited your mother’s eyes, but plastic surgeons want you to know that you’ve probably inherited her bags and crow’s-feet, too, even if they haven’t shown up yet.

According to members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, women can expect to age just like their moms, as shown in a new study that measured age-related changes in 10 mother-daughter pairs between 15 and 90 years old.

“Studies of facial aging up to the present have largely been observational and subjective,” explained the Loma Linda University research team. “This study applies state-of-the-art facial imaging and three-dimensional computer modeling to measure changes in the aging female face.”

Among the findings: mothers and daughters similarly lose volume in the lower lid in their mid-30s, with common progression throughout their lives.

The knowledge that we’re destined to age like our mothers could help surgeons more acutely personalize procedures by making it easier to visualize what the patient would look like down the road. This could mean more satisfying, longer-lasting results that help keep mom’s wrinkles off your face.

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A few more reasons to kick the habit…

Smoking can make your teeth yellow, dull your skin, make your hair stink, and emphasize little lines around your mouth. But the drawbacks aren’t just an above-the-neck issue.

A University of Michigan study found smoking has an aging effect on every inch of skin. According to researchers, the total number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day and the total years a person has smoked is linked with the amount of skin damage a person experiences from head to toe.

In the past, several studies had been done to measure the premature skin-aging affects of smoking, but they were focused mainly on the face. This is the first study of its kind to show that cigarettes can actually cause your entire body’s skin to wrinkle, yellow and become coarse.

Although there are treatments to help undo these unattractive effects, your appearance, and more importantly, your health, will be better if you simply stop smoking or never start.

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Here are some tips for fighting dry winter skin:

Clean up gently: The products you use to cleanse your can either preserve your skin’s moisture or wash it away. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, facial cleansers and toners containing alcohol tend to strip the skin of its natural oils. Look for moisturizing facial cleansers and mild, fragrance-free soaps or body washes.

Additionally, you’ll want to keep baths or showers short and use warm — not hot — water. Exposure to hot water breaks down the skin’s protective barrier.  Apply lotion within five to 10 minutes after bathing.

Choose a new moisturizer: To help lock in moisture in the winter, you’ll want to switch to an oil-based moisturizer.  Even those with oily skin will want a light oil-based moisturizer. Those with dry skin should use a heavier oil-based moisturizer. Those with combination skin might need multiple products.

When choosing a new moisturizer, be sure to check labels for non-comedogenic ingredients, which don’t cause acne. After you’ve selected a moisturizer, use it at least twice a day — in the morning and in the evening.

Exfoliate often: Sloughing off the dead skin cells at the surface of your skin is helpful because it allows moisturizer to go deeper into the epidermis.  If you over-exfoliate though your dry skin can get irritated and oily skin will react by producing even more oil.  Twice a week is recommended.

Microderm abrasion is a popular spa treatment for removing dead skin cells.

Shave carefully: Using dull blades, going against the grain, skipping shaving cream and applying too much pressure while shaving can irritate the skin, causing cuts, nicks and razor burn. To minimize the effects of shaving on already-dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends shaving after bathing, when the hairs are softest. Use a shaving cream or gel and allow it to sit on the skin about three minutes before starting. Shave in the direction the hair grows, and be sure to change your razor blades every five to six shaves.

Protect your hands: Your hands take a beating in the winter because the skin is thinner and has fewer oil glands. They’re often exposed to cold weather and wind, and the threat of flu tends to make people wash their hands more frequently.  The key to happy hands in winter is reapplying moisturizer frequently.

There also are spa treatments that can help get the hands into tiptop shape. Aberle said some clients ask for microderm abrasion treatments to rid their hands of dead skin. Others ask for exfoliating manicures. A paraffin wax treatment involves slathering the hands in a thick hand cream and then dipping them in the wax to help the moisturizer work its way deep into the skin.

Don’t forget the SPF: You might not be basking in the sunshine for hours at a time, but the sun’s rays can still have a harmful effect on your skin.  To protect your skin, apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to your face and hands 30 minutes before heading outdoors. Consider moisturizers and lip balms with sunscreen blended in.

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Dermatologists have discovered yet another gender inequity…

(HealthDay News)   Women develop more and deeper wrinkles around their mouths as they age than men do.  The disadvantage had long been suspected, but a new study provides “irrefutable scientific evidence,” said Dr. Foad Nahai, a plastic surgeon practicing in Atlanta and editor-in-chief of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal .

The authors of the paper believe they even know why women suffer more in this department.

“The gender differences were most probably due to the amount of appendages [hair follicles, sebaceous glands] and the connections between the skin and muscle of the lips,” explained senior study author Dr. Moshe Kon, head of the department of plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery at University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands.

“We had always had the impression that male skin doesn’t age as rapidly as female skin,” said Nahai. “What we didn’t know, and this study points out, is that one of the reasons that lines are deeper in women is because they have fewer sweat or sebaceous glands, the glands that make the oil that keeps our skin feeling soft … So women are producing less oil, which is protective and keeps the skin smoother.”

Previous studies had not focused in on differences between men and women in the perioral area of the face, meaning the region around the mouth.

Women tend to go for procedures to remedy such wrinkles more often than men, although it hadn’t been clear if women were just worried about how they looked or if their wrinkles were actually worse.

The authors studied the skin around the upper lip in both male and female cadavers, as well as reconstructions of those areas.

Several key differences between men and women emerged: women had fewer sweat glands around the mouth than men; women had fewer blood vessels so less blood flow to that region; the muscles around the mouth are closer to the skin than in men, which may pull the skin in tighter, causing wrinkles; and, although the number of hair follicles were about the same in both genders, men had more sweat glands per hair follicle, again contributing to more relaxed skin throughout aging.

Hormones also seem to play a role in women’s dermatologic aging process.  ”A lot of gender differences in health and disease are related to estrogens,” said Dr. Seth Thaller, chief of plastic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

For instance, estrogens promote healing, meaning that women tend to heal from wounds faster. And postmenopausal women have reduced blood flow, again contributing to lines and furrows. And they experience a decrease in the fat secreted by sweat glands.  Meanwhile, women on hormone replacement therapy have been reported to have fewer wrinkles than those not taking the hormones.  Tissue also gets thinner as people age.  Many existing cosmetic procedures, including fat transfers, can remedy some of these changes, Cheung added.

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My FAVORITE ‘housewife’ from the Real Housewives of New York, Bethenny Frankel, took it all off for a PeTA photo shoot. And girl is looking HOT! From PeTA’s website:

We told you that Bethenny Frankel was going to prove that she’d rather go naked than wear fur … and yesterday, we made it a reality.

The Real Housewives of New York City star stripped down on a rooftop in (surprise!) New York City.

The ad isn’t ready yet, of course, but we couldn’t resist giving you a small preview:

We worked with a top-notch team on this campaign, including celebrity photographer Joseph Cultice at Weiss Artists, stylist Cannon at Judy Casey, makeup artist extraordinaire Ingaborg at Workgroup, and fantastic hairstylist Stacey Weinstein at Loft 26.

The ad will be released this fall, so stay tuned!

This girls in no need of any laser hair removal or liposuction.

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Important info for you and your loved ones….

One person dies from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, almost every hour. Yet melanoma is often successfully treated, if caught early. That’s why thousands of dermatologists across the country offer free skin cancer screenings in their communities through the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program. The program recently reached a milestone – two million screenings have been conducted since the program’s inception in 1985. More than 188,000 suspicious lesions have been detected, including more than 21,500 suspected melanomas, through the program.

“The goal of the AAD National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program is to save lives. We’re certain that there are people who are alive today because they received a skin cancer screening,” said David M. Pariser, MD, FAAD, president, American Academy of Dermatology. “Dermatologists have volunteered countless hours to conduct screenings in locations such as sports stadiums, state and county fairs, and hospitals. The AAD National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program is a key opportunity for dermatologists to educate the public about early detection and prevention of skin cancer while saving lives by finding skin cancers in their earliest, most treatable stages.”

Visit  http://www.aad.org/public/exams/screenings/index.html to find a free skin cancer screening in your area. The Web page also includes a video of what to expect at a screening, an eCard to tell others about free screenings and an eAlert to receive notifications of screenings in your area.

“A skin cancer screening is a non-invasive exam that only takes a few minutes, yet it could save a person’s life,” said Dr. Pariser.

Significantly more than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. One American dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 61 minutes). More than 11,000 Americans die each year from skin cancer, but when detected early, skin cancer has a cure rate of 99 percent.

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Well not exactly, but check out this new procedure….

Zeltiq is a new procedure designed to help patients look and feel their best by helping those who desire spot fat reduction. The procedure is mostly designed for people who are in good shape but may have one or two places they want to get toned up. Often times, there are spots that exercise simply can’t shrink. Zeltiq is able to shrink those areas without surgery.

Dr. Steven Weiner, a Board Certified physician, is one of the first physicians in the US to add Zeltiq to their list of treatments offered. According to Dr. Weiner, patients typically see a 20-25% reduction in thickness. No pain is suffered by the patient and normal daily routines can resume as soon as the procedure is completed.

Zeltiq works by using precision cold therapy to crystallize the fat. The skin over the area to be treated is suctioned between two cooling plates which lower the fat’s temperature to just above freezing. The cold extracts energy from fat causing it to die. Though it is referred to as cryolipolysis, it is not actually “freezing” the fat or the surrounding tissues. Rather, it crystallizes the lipids in fat cells causing the slow collapse of cells as they die. The procedure is biologically selective meaning that it only targets fat cells and only those in the superficial fat layer close to the skin. The body then carries off the dead cells over the course of two to three months so that the result is seen more gradually. Treatment only takes about an hour per treatment area.

“This is truly a remarkable breakthrough in the cosmetic industry,” says Dr. Weiner. “Never before have we been able to see such a distinct reduction in fat tissue, non-invasively until Zeltiq. It is a safe, painless, and effective and is the first true alternative to liposuction or cosmetic surgery,” he added.

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Persistence seems to be the key to helping teens through the acne years.

(LA Times)  More than 40% of teens have acne that’s severe enough to require treatment by a physician, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

The first line of prescription medications include topical retinoids and antibiotics. Using these drugs in combination often produces the best results, but they must be taken for as long as the acne persists, which, for some people, can be many years. Although generally well-tolerated, they frequently cause skin dryness and irritation.

Persistence and patience are required. “Teens want to see the dermatologist today and be better tomorrow,” says Dr. Karl Beutner, associate clinical professor of dermatology at UC San Francisco and co-author of the American Academy of Dermatology’s current acne treatment guidelines. “For medications to be efficacious, they need to be used religiously. It often takes good compliance over a long period of time to see the difference.”

Oral antibiotics including doxycycline and minocycline are also mainstays of treatment, particularly when topical fail.

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Tara Reid (it’s been a while, we know) has starred in American Pie, The Big Lebowski and Van Wilder before becoming most well known for her botched plastic surgery, partying and that one time her boob completely fell out of her dress on the red carpet.

But now she’s trying to stage a comeback. The first step appears to be telling the world her plastic surgery is all fixed and ready for creating more lust in the male of the species. What better way to accomplish that than posing topless for Playboy? Here, we’ll let the the 34-year-old actress explain:

“I got it fixed and now I’m OK and I want people to know I’m OK,” she told New York’s WPIX. ”I’ve had it done for the last five or six years, but people only want to show the old pictures. It’s so unfair. That’s part of the reason why I did Playboy, to show people, ‘Right, look at me. This is how I look now.’ “

Bamm! You go girl.

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Madigan’s complaint claims that Nu U Med Spas try to lure customers into buying “Lipodissolve, which is an injected therapy used to dissolve fat cells.” Here’s the full press release:

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For millions of Americans, the solution to crow’s feet, thin lips, and frown lines is at the end of a syringe, or in a bottle. A quick trip to a medical spa, dermatologist or plastic surgeon for a Botox injection, lip augmentation or chemical peel offers the promise of a youthful look.

But these cosmetic procedures (and the medical expertise that comes with them) don’t come cheap. For a single treatment of Botox, doctors charge about $380; for lip-plumping injections, over $500; and for a chemical peel, a whopping $700.

These high prices are enough for some consumers to take their business away from medical professionals, and go instead to the Web. They are “doing it themselves,” ordering prescription-only products online, and injecting themselves at home.

Laurie D’Alleva, of Mansfield, Texas, is a big fan of “DIY” beauty injections and treatments. She is the face of a DiscountMedSpa.com, a website stocked with what she claims are pharmaceutical-grade cosmetics, similar to Botox, Restylane, and Retin-A. 

Self-injecting botulinum toxin might sound dangerous, but D’Alleva, 39, tries to put her customers at ease with informational videos, complete with tips and pointers on how, and where, to inject. “It doesn’t hurt… It’s easy,” D’Alleva claims in one video, as she stands in front of a mirror and injects her face repeatedly.

Watch the investigation on “20/20″ TONIGHT at 10 p.m. ET

So while there are still a number of people posting on how much the love Laurie D’Alleva and her videos touting the benefits of do it yourself Botox, there are a growing number of people who still have a non-paralyzed thought or two that are coming forward to talk about the problems you might have pumping fillers into your face. Perhaps the do it yourself Botox crew are also attracted to Trepanation. Truly, some people need to be protected from themselves.

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Cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists are asking for patient help to fight the Botox Botax. Here’s what the ASDS (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) is giving it’s members to solicit the support of Botox consumers:

The U.S. Senate health care reform bill  (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) contains a proposed 5 percent tax on “elective cosmetic medical procedures.”  While this may look like an attractive option to Senators looking for ways to pay for health care reform, we know that:

• Cosmetic medical procedures taxes are an unreliable and risky revenue source, which has proved to be a failure at the state level;
• A tax on cosmetic surgery discriminates against working women;
• The definition of cosmetic procedures is arbitrary and almost impossible to administer; and
• enforcement would necessitate review of patient medical records by tax collectors, a clear invasion of privacy.

Please enter your zip code below to be connected to an automatic email system which allows you to send a quick message to your Senator asking him/her to vote against this tax.

Is anyone worried that this ‘Botax’ will hurt your medical spa, skin clinic or cosmetic practice?

Related articles by Skin Clinic MD:

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Photos: Above, recent online photos of Rachel Uchitel. (Photos courtesy of Gala.de and TheImproper.com) Below, Rachel Uchitel yesterday in Los Angeles. (AP photo)

Plastic surgeons and celebrity watchers gave party hostess Rachel Uchitel a once-over as soon as the tabloids thrust her into the spotlight last week as the alleged mistress of golfing great Tiger Woods.

She flatly denies the allegation, but Uchitel’s photos on the Web have provided evidence for cosmetic doctors to analyze. For example, plastic surgeon and blogger Dr. John Di Saia of San Clemente and Huntington Beach wrote:

[Her photos] show her to be an attractive woman who has probably seen the inside of a plastic surgeon’s office before. She seems to have had breast implants at the least from the images we have seen.

The online Plastic Surgery Channel commented on the uncertainties surrounding Uchitel:

Her lips do suggest lip injections, and her chest suggests breast augmentation. Uchitel would likely deny rumors of plastic surgery, just as she has denied other rumors. But, in all cases, she may be telling the truth.

skin clinic, plastic surgery

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A 38-year-old former Miss Argentina died after complications arising from plastic surgery on her buttocks, according to media report Wednesday.

Solange Magnano, the 1994 winner and a mother of 8-year-old twins, died of pulmonary embolism Sunday three days after having a gluteoplasty, a procedure that involves placing implants to enhance firmness. Officials said the injected liquid went into her lungs and brain.    

News of her death shocked her fans. The cause of her death was under investigation, the authorities said.

In the past half decade, the number of people seeking plastic surgery in Argentina has soared by 60 percent, to around 50,000. Estimates say that 1 in 30 Argentines has gone under the knife, making plastic surgeons here some of the most experienced on the globe, attracting large number of medical tourists.

Medical tourism in Argentina has seen a huge jump over the past decade, and is projected to be a 100 billion dollar global industry by 2010, according to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, a U.S. research center focused on trends in the health care system.

Via Xinhuanet

Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Brazillian Buttlift, Plastic Surgery Complications

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Liposuction: Is tumescent or laser liposuction better?

Plastic Surgeons today are using various types of liposuction. I prefer tumescent liposuction with thin cannulas instead of laser lipo. This is a manual method of liposuction that I believe yields the best liposuction result because the surgeon has the most amount of control.

Traditional tumescent liposuction

Tumescent liposuction has been around well over a decade and allows the surgeon to have complete control of the amount of fat being taken out. The  tumescent liposuction technique is mechanical as it involves the surgeon using a long rod called a cannula to extract the fat. The motion is a continuous back and forth rhythm to remove the fat. Since the motions are repeated over the course of 1-3 hours, your surgeon must be in good aeroebic shape to give YOU a good result!  Honestly, this is one reason why some surgeons do not use this technique!

While the basic technique used in tumescent liposuction has not changed, the size of the cannulas used to extract the fat have gotten much slimmer over the years. In the past, surgeons used larger 5mm cannulas , but  this sometimes resulted in lumpy or uneven results. Most surgeons now use 3mm or smaller cannulas.  This will increase the length of the surgery as it does take longer to remove the fat from small cannulas, but the results are well worth the longer surgical time!  The thinner 3mm cannulas produce excellent and consistent liposuction results. With thin cannulas, traditional tumescent liposuction can achieve the smoothest and most even result possible . 

Laser and ultrasonic liposuction

The new technologies for liposuction technique  include laser liposuction and ultrasonic liposuction. They emit high energy that liquefies and destroys tissue around the cannula. I do not think these technologies are worth the risks they pose to the patient. Both of these techniques essentially melt the fat under your skin. As they melt the fat, other tissues are damaged. I am not a fan of damaging tissue or fat cells that are not being extracted.  Often times, the extracted fat could be used for fat injections to rejuvenate another area of the patient’s body.  These technologies destroy that possibility. Additionally, these high energy ultrasound and laser technologies can have complications such as burning, and results can be very unpredictable as it is impossible to tell how much damaged tissue is left behind.

Best technique is tumescent liposuction with slender cannulas

In summary, the best technique available for liposuction is the  traditional tumescent liposuction technique with small diameter cannulas. It has stood the test of time. Sometimes the latest is not the greatest. I perform hundreds of liposuction procedures each year and I do not remember the last time a patient asked for a touch up for lumpiness or unevenness. Thin cannulas give you the best chance to get the result right each and every time!

Ricardo L Rodriguez, MD

Via: Freelance MD

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Liposuction Training Video: Why thin liposuction cannulas give the best result.

Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez is a Yale trained, board certified plastic surgeon specializing in multiple procedure makeovers. He performs unique procedures such as the body lift, Brazilian butt lift, stem cell facelift, endoscopic brow lift, and lip lift. He is Medical Director of his own AAAASF accredited surgery center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Via: Freelance MD

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First, if you’re not blogging for your medical spa,  laser clinic or plastic surgery practice you’re probably still using a rotary-dial telephone. Start.

Your patients are busy, and in order to gain and keep readership on your site you need to provide your existing and potential patients with information that makes their lives better, easier, and less stressful. Laser clinic or cosmetic surgery websites face the temptation of turning every post into a dry marketing appeal. It’s up to you as the physician or clinic owner to overcome that obstacle and provide your med spa patients information about your services in a quick and easily digestible way.

So the question is… How do you do that? Here are seven ways you can engage readers of your med spa or plastic surgery blog and keep them coming back.

1. Offer Real Medical Advice

You’ve got real medical experience, share it. (Yes, you do have to be careful so you don’t get sued but post a clear disclaimer and be smart about your ‘opinion’.) If you like Thermage or Fraxel, say it. The very best way to gain loyal readers is by sharing your knowledge and giving them practical information they can use to make decisions. You can give your readers an instant benefit by avoiding abstract ideas and providing specific tips, advice and tools they can use right away.

2. Talk to Your Existing Patients

You’re already ahead of the game with this one, because your existing plastic surgery or med spa patients already have a connection to you, otherwise they wouldn’t be reading your blog. Better yet, impressing them leads to greater word of mouth referral. Get to know them by keeping an eye on comments (allow comments on your blog and don’t delete them unless they’re way over the line), watching for trackbacks and listening to feedback in other forums. All of this input can be material you can use to make your posts resonate with your individual readers.

3. Share Personal Stories

Business is business and personal is personal, right? Not anymore. Today there is an increasing amount of overlap between the two, and people want to know a little more about the person behind the med spa, laser clinic or plastic surgery center, beyond a cv and medical marketing speak. So give a little of yourself to create a stronger relationship with your readers. Women (and our market is women) want to know that they can trust you. If all you ever post is your latest laser hair removal ad, you’re just not as trustworthy as a the plastic surgeon who loves his kids and has a dog.

4. Go Non-Surgical Again

Throw in an occasional post that’s not exactly med spa or plastic surgery related. If it bombs, it bombs and you know to go a different route next time. But if it is successful, you can insert some comic relief, mindless banter and maybe even a personal story as listed above to give your patients a brief change of pace. Talk about how expensive Botox is. How Thermage charges for every tip you burn. How you worry about providing the best patient care.

5. Keep It Short and Sweet

You could probably write some very long posts when you’re discussing your latest business endeavor or what it took to build out your med spa or plastic surgery practice. If that much information is necessary, split it up into a multi-part series. Use lists, subheads and images to break up heavy content whenever possible.

6. Share The Conversation With Your Patients

Ask directed and specific questions at the end of your posts to encourage reader commentary. For every few posts where you provide advice, throw in a post that asks for the answer. Involving your readers will give them an opportunity to take an active role in your blog. Ask them if they’d like a membership as part of your offering. Talk about your patient referral perks. Ask who they think provides the best patient care. Ask if they can help your med spa provide better care…

7. Give Potential Patients What They Want

Carefully read the comments provided by your existing and potential patients. They are invaluable because they allow you to tailor your posts to the information your readers are asking you to provide. Acknowledge the comments, answer the questions, and address the requests and you’re on your way to building great relationships with your readers.

8. Bonus: Protect Your Med Spa or Plastic Surgery Practice

OK I said seven ways. Here’s a bonus.

Of course I’m not a lawyer… (see how I carfully did that) but your medical opinions are your own. Keep a clearly defined page that states that the content of your site is not to be used as medical advice and shouldn’t be acted on without consulting a physician. There are any number of medical blogs that write about specific cases with this kind of disclaimer in place.

Via: Freelance MD

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If you want to be remarkable you have to provide an experience worth telling someone about.

Of course you looked at the image to the right. It’s an ad for a condom and meant to get your attention.

Word of mouth marketing is one of your best friends as a medical spa. Happy clients bring in their friends and family. But what are you doing to make your medspa stand out? What is it about your clinic that’s worth actually remarking about ‘before’ being asked?

Happy patients who like you are just a base line an a relatively low hurdle if you know anything at all about what you’re doing and have the right IPLs or lasers. But clinics who are really making money have often learned that moving a patient from happy or satisfied to a zealot that actively seeks out opportunites to mention them can double their revenue. (Everyone has a couple of zealots. I’m talking about a large percentage of patients.)

The image above is unexpected and different, so it attracts interest and comment.

If you want to have patients remarking about you, you have to actually be remarkable.

If your laser clinic or plastic surgery center is not generating ‘remarks’ from your patients, do something that does.

Via: Freelance MD

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Active FX laser skin resurfacing is gaining popularity at medical spas, laser centers and skin clinics. It’s main competitors are Thermage, Fraxel, and other skin tightening or laser skin resurfacing treatments.

Here’s an overview of Active FX and some links to more information.

The goal of laser skin resurfacing is simple: replace damaged skin with new, fresh skin. Techniques for skin resurfacing have made enormous advances, allowing nearly everyone to achieve close to flawless complexions. Many systems allow for light, moderate or deep laser resurfacing. The primary targets of laser skin resurfacing include:

• Fine lines and wrinkles of the face, especially around the upper lip, cheeks and forehead
• Loose eyelid skin
• Crow’s feet around the eyes
• Pucker marks (smoker’s lines) and frown lines
• Brown spots and splotchy, uneven skin tone
• Scars, especially acne scars
• Loose skin around the neck and jowls

How it Works

One of the standard laser resurfacing systems, the UltraPulse® CO2 laser delivers thousands of tiny laser pulses in a pattern over the skin. Each pulse heats a column of tissue eliminating pigment discolorations at the surface and creating a zone of heating deep in the tissue. Unique to the UltraPulse Encore, these zones of heating shrink collagen and tighten the skin immediately*. The CO2 laser also offers the benefits of heating deeper layers of skin tissue, thereby stimulating collagen remodeling, tightening* the skin further. Patients can select from a range of treatments depending on the needs of your skin and lifestyle.

What is ActiveFX “fractional” laser resurfacing?

ActiveFX is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. During the procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light is used to smooth out lines, wrinkles and scars, remove brown spots and other irregularities, and tighten the skin. It also stimulates formation of new underlying collagen to continue improvement over time. With fractional laser treatment, only a fraction of the skin’s surface is treated by the laser, leaving small “bridges” of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner.

Is ActiveFX right for you?

Treated areas should be washed twice a day with cool water and a mild soap. Use our lotion twice daily to treated areas for 3 to 5 days or until healing is complete. Treated areas should be protected from direct exposure to sunlight. Sunscreen with SPF greater than 15 should be used at all times on the treated areas.

ActiveFX is ideal for you if you:

• Have a busy lifestyle or cannot be away from work for a long time
• Want noticeable results with minimal downtime
• Want to treat dyschromia, fine lines, wrinkles and skin laxity

What you can expect from ActiveFX

Most physicians perform the procedure in the office with a topical anesthetic cream that is applied 30-40 minutes before the ActiveFX procedure begins. There is little to no pain associated with the procedure – most patients say they feel warmth similar to sunburn. You can drive yourself home after the procedure. With a gentle washing and moisturizing regimen, your photodamaged skin will begin to flake off within 2 days. After about 3-5 days, your doctor will probably let you wear make-up. Pinkness should be gone in about a week.

ActiveFX benefits

ActiveFX treatment produces a dramatic effect on the skin:

• Causes immediate skin tightening
• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and softens deeper frown lines
• Noticeably improves skin tone and texture
• Stimulates new collagen formation and plumps the skin

The results of ActiveFX laser treatment are long-term and, with proper sun protection, can persist for many years. Most effects of treatment become visible right away, whereas others – such as new collagen formation, which leads to continued inner tightening – build up gradually and become more evident over time. Therefore, most people look even better 3-5 months after the procedure.

Additional Information on ActiveFX

http://www.aesthetic.lumenis.com/wt/page/activefx

http://www.lumenis.com/wt/page/pr_1170434066

Redness after IPL & Laser Treatments: DeepFX & ActiveFX

Reliant UltraPulse Fractional CO2 Laser

For Physicians using Active FX: Medical Spa MDs Physician user groups.

Active FX: Physician User Group ~ Medical Spa MD

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In this article, I will give you several tips and tools to evaluate your laser centers culture and operations, so you can successfully navigate any economic downturn… And live to sell another day when the inevitable upturn comes around.

What is the Passion and Purpose of Your Medical Spa?

You reap what you sew. When you engage proactively and passionately in your business you will undoubtedly be successful and see your practice expand. It helps to articulate your passion for your medical spa.

At Assara Laser, our passion is to “help clients look and feel great, not fake.”

Why the Recession Drastically Affects Your Laser Clinics Bottom Line

You’ve probably noticed that generating revenue is not as easy as it once was. There are myriad reasons for this; from the decline in disposable income, to unemployment hitting record highs and tanking real estate valuations. As if these facts were not bleak enough, credit markets are virtually frozen so business owners are finding it nearly impossible to obtain small business loans and lines of credit. Refinancing current loans has become difficult for small businesses.

In short, we’re operating in the perfect storm.

Accepting Reality and Responsibility Today

The easy way out is to close up shop and blame the recession. This will not help you going forward, it will not pay your devoted employees their wages, and most of all, it will not help your clients “look and feel great, not fake.” So, accept responsibility.

The hardships of the recession create a fact-pattern, problem to be solved; not a reason for failure. To paraphrase Michael Jackson, start, first, with the man in the mirror. Think about the following questions. And pay attention – there will be homework at the end of this article!

Finding Your Medspas Winning Competitive Difference?

Let’s be honest. The quality of your laser clinc’s treatments are probably not drastically better than that of your competitors. The proprietary equipment and IPL or laser systems (Thermage, Fraxel, Titan) that you use are, for the most part, available to the competitive skin clinic market at large.

You may believe (and tell clients) that your microdermabrasion treatments are better because you use a diamond-tipped wand or aluminum oxide crystals. You may think that your IPLs or laser hair removal treatments are better because you use cryo-cooling or because you use chilled air cooling, or because you use a diode laser or because you use alexandrite lasers . . .

BUT . . .

Step in to your clients’ shoes. To them, the bells and whistles of your Thermage or Fraxel device don’t matter. Your clients already expect expert advice and cutting edge cosmetic lasers, IPLs and skin tighening equipment, so merely meeting this fundamental requirement is not a winning competitive difference.

What does matter to your clients are presentation, client interaction, customer service, reliability and consistency. Consider this carefully.

What is each of your medspas clients worth?

At Assara Laser, one of the most popular packages is our $449 per month Unlimited Laser Hair Removal Program. On average, a client that signs up for this program will remain a member of the Program for 7 months, depending on the results they wish to achieve. How much is a single unlimited client worth to us?  A client in the program for 7 months, making a monthly payment of $449 is worth $3,143. For many laser clinic owners, a single laser hair removal client is worth more than a home mortgage payment!

Do you treat every single potential laser treatment client that contacts your laser clinic as if they’re worth $3,000?

What is your time and effort worth?

Before my partners and I built Assara Laser, I was an attorney. I still practice corporate law as a labor of love, when a friend or business contact has an exciting deal. I normally discount my rate to about $400 per hour, as law isn’t my primary source of income.

Assume an hour of your time is worth $400.  Assume further that, every time your customers complain, you are willing to give a discount, or a free treatment and that, collectively, free and discounted treatments account for a 20% loss in your revenue. To make up for this lost revenue, how much more work do you have to do?

Well, let’s add 20% to your 10 hour day, which now makes it a 12 hour day. If your annual sales are say $1,000,000 per year, you’ve lost $200,000. This translates into 500 hours more of work you must do to bring your revenue back to status quo!

Is there a big difference between a day that starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. versus ending at 9:00 p.m.  You betcha there is!  Is there a big difference between a loss of $200,000 and a loss of zero. You betcha there is!  And these differences drastically affect your quality of life.

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The Advanced Medical Spa Esthetics Training Course & Study Guide is a two part learning cirriculum for non-physicians.

With 165 pages of quality content, this course is delivered in two parts that include a text book and a study guide. Use this course to train your staff and give them the information they need to make your medical spa a success.

Medical Esthetician Training Manual & Study Guide – $247

Medical Spa MD training manuals and ebooks are excellent resources for laser clinics, skin clinics, laser centers, and medspas.

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If you’re one of the tens of thousands of cosmetic medical practices, laser clinics and med spas advertising online with Google Adwords or Yahoo, don’t be surprised to find that at least some of the money you’re paying every month is sucked out of your marketing fund by click fraud.

The practice of “click fraud” began in the early days of the Internet’s popularity with software programs that automatically surfed Web sites to increase traffic figures. This led companies to develop policing technologies touted as antidotes to the problem. (Some marketing executives estimate that up to 20 percent of fees in certain advertising categories continue to be based on nonexistent consumers in today’s search industry.)

Don’t think it’s already happening to your skin clinic, med spa or laser clinic? Here’s a recent quote from Michael Caruso, CEO of click fraud services vendor ClickFacts in an interview:

“In particularly fraud prone verticals such as finance, class action lawsuits and medical, we see click fraud rates in the 30-45 percent range. These are all categories that see high keyword pricing in the auction model. That makes them particularly tasty for click fraud artists. “If you can make more money from the dark side than the light side of search, there are plenty of people who will take advantage. Plus, it’s not even technically illegal yet.”

There are two main ways that your skin clinics and medical spas marketing budget is being drained by click fraud:

First, your medical spas and laser clinics competitors who see your ad are simply clicking on it, draining your marketing budget and costing you advertising dollars. Second, fraudsters set up ‘affiliate sites’ that run skin clinics ads where they are clicked on by bots or employees. (These sites are the most damaging since you’re paying for every click without any return at all. Click fraud around skin clinics, med spas or laser clinics can be very lucrative since dermatology or plastic surgery clinics are becoming such a competitive market and the payment per click can be as high as $4-6.)

Unfortunately, to keep your medical spas budget safe you have very few tools. (Google just gave advertisers $90 million to compensate for click fraud as the result of a class action suit but you can bet they’re not that Google’s not interested in your individual account. Especially since they’re making money from click fraud when your ads are clicked on.)

Start by limiting your skin clinics exposure. If your dermatology or plastic surgery clinic is still running an Adwords or Yahoo campaign, they allow you to limit the maximum amount you spend in a day. Take advantage of this feature by limiting your maximum cost to what you can afford to spend. You can also look for the tracks of click fraud by examining the reports you might have available to you. Multiple clicks coming from the same IP address are a sure sign of fraud.

(Malaysia has become such a haven for click fraud around medspas and IPL laser treatments.)

If you’re going to run ppc ads, protect your skin clinic, med spa or laser clinic. You can be sure that you’re the only one trying to.

Skin Clinic MD: related articles

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In principle, there's no difference in clinical outcomes bet the Thermage TC and the Thermage NXT. However practically speaking there is because of the shorter lapse time between pulses on the Thermage NXT machine that one can get better results from it than from the Thermage TC.

The effective clinical targets are to heat collagen containing dermal layer to 56-60 degree celsius AND to maintain such temp range for 1-2 mins (though my goal is 2-3 mins long). Therefore the more rapid pulse firing of the NXT device would make it easier for the treater to "get there and stay there" more efficiently. Personally, I don't have such problem using the TC device (by the way, I have both devices). When using the TC device, you want to make smaller sections on the face or abdomen or wherever then start and finish one section at a time. Make sure that within each section that any treated 3cm square per pulse is "re-pulsed" within 30-60seconds, this will ensure that any heated square will be effectively brought to the correct temp range and maintained there for those 2 mins.

One more thing you asked was about the Alma Accent, it is of the "same" monopolar RF platform technically speaking combined with bipolar RF. The difference which I see is with Thermage tips you know for sure they deliver the RF at consistent depth (2.4 mm or 4.3mm depending on the tips STC or DC). With the Alma Accent, I don't think the company has been able to provide the exact information on this thu I heard the depth was about 2.4 also but not any deeper.

More discussions about Thermage and Fraxel at Medical Spa MD.

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Within the last few years the technologies around cosmetic Fractional Skin Rejuvenation or Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing has changed to eliminate many of the older technologies shortcomings. The erbium laser used in the Starlux is divided or ‘fractionated’ into many tiny micro-beams which treats only a portion of the skin (think tiny pin pricks) and leaves the surrounding skin intact and greatly improves the healing time.

These ‘fractionated’ treatment areas are referred to as micro-treatment zones and cause just enough injury to the layers of the dermis to trigger new collagen production and stimulate the replacement of collagen damaged by aging and sun exposure. This production of new collagen ‘fills in’ or ‘plumps’ the underlying dermal tissues and smoothes wrinkles. The surrounding, untreated skin speeds the healing process to a mere 3-4 days. Since most of the pigment cells remain intact, hypo pigmentation is effectively prevented.

Starlux 1540: Palomars New Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing Technology

The Fraxel and Starlux 1540 are non-ablative lasers that don’t actually vaporize or remove the skin. Instead, the laser instantly heats the skin, stimulating new collagen growth.

Results for skin laxity and wrinkle smoothing are less dramatic than with ablative lasers, but the benefit of reduced recovery time and reduced side effects are mean that non ablative laser treatments are often the patients first choice.

Starlux Fractional Ablative Laser Resurfacing In The Near Future

Starlux 2940 fractional ablative lasers now provide the benefits of fractional treatments (less down time and reduced complications) with ablative skin resurfacings benefits (better wrinkle removal and facial rejuvenation) offering patients the best of both worlds.

These newer fractional ablative lasers remove tissue in the micro treatment zone instead of just heating the dermis like the old Fraxel or Starlux 1540.

The benefit of this new form of fractional laser ablation is that more wrinkled, sun damaged skin is removed than with the older laser technologies, and a better cosmetic result is attained. There is some increase in recovery time with redness and pink skin for around 5-6 days. The Starlux fractional ablative lasers still require much less recovery time than the old non fractional erbium and CO2 ablative lasers which actually burned off the top layers of the dermis.

Competing Fractional Laser Technologies

Reliant (the company that makes Fraxel) has launched a new CO2 fractional laser called Repair

Lumenis: CO2 fractional ablative lasers; ActiveFX & DeepFx

Palomar: Starlux 2940 Erbium fractional ablative skin resurfacing laser. Author Resource:- Medical Spa MD is a cosmetic medical community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Aesthetic Physicians with more than 3,500 physician members. Medical Spa MD offers wholesale Botox online and provides information on nonsurgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.

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I’ve seen and head about medical estheticians, medical assistants and even front desk staff administering Botox injections.

It’s not legal, as this story on the prosicution of a medical assistant clearly shows.

If you’re a plastic surgeon or dermatologist running a skin clinic, laser clinic or medical spa you might want make sure that your medical estheticans and medical assistants are well within the guidelines for their individual scope of practice.

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However, Dypsort has actually been available in Europe for therapeutic indications since 1991 and for cosmetic applications since 2001. In April 2009, Dysport (officially known as BoNT-A/D) was approved in the United States for the “temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines.” These are the lines between your eyebrows. However, just like Botox Cosmetic, Dysport can be used “off-lable” for treatment of crow’s feet (squinting lines around your eyes), forehead wrinkles, chemical brow lifts, platysmal bands (neck bands) and sweaty palms and armpits.

The molecule in Dysport is exactly like Botox Cosmetic but is covered by a different coating, which dissociates (dissolves) at a different rate. That is why the onset of action of Dysport is thought to be faster than Botox Cosmetic since the coating comes off faster. In Botox Cosmetic Treatment the usual onset of action is 3 to 7 days where the Dysport onset of action seems to be a few days faster. The dosing is different with Dysport, so there may be some confusion when translating Botox “units” with Dysport “units.” This is why you need to see an injector who has experience specifically in Dysport injections. Also, there is a learning curve with Dysport injections, so you may not initially achieve the same results as you are used to receiving with Botox Cosmetic.

There is also some confusion about the pricing of Dysport with many reports on the Internet and advertising claiming that it is cheaper than Botox Cosmetic. There is a discrepancy in the potency of units. A “unit” of Botox is not equivalent to a “unit” of Dysport, so unit pricing is not comparable. There is a slight savings with Dysport, but it is about 5% – nothing substantial. So, do not expect to go to your plastic surgeon to achieve the same results as Botox Cosmetic for half the price. However, with competition, hopefully prices will come down. Allergan (Botox Cosmetic) is currently offering a $50 mail-in rebate for Botox Cosmetic customers and Medicis Aesthetics (Dysport) is offering a $75 mail-in rebate. With these rebates and introductory pricing, you may be able to get a better deal than your last injection.

In the end, it is great to have another minimally invasive product approved on the market which can give consistent and noticeable results with virtually no downtime and minimal risks.

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People are risking death or serious injury by using an illegal Botox equivalent without prescription, a CBD cosmetic doctor warns.

Dr Mario Soteriou, of Cosmetic Image Clinics, said self-administering the goods obtained at a new US-based online store was equivalent to playing “Russian roulette”.

He said neither the Botox equivalent nor the dermal filler sold on the website was approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, which also decrees the products must only be administered under medical prescription.

The website also sells needles and an instructional DVD to enable buyers to self-administer the do-it-yourself Botox equivalent, with the promise of wrinkle free skin.

The dermal filler is also being marketed with a DIY guide for plump lips.

Dr Soteriou, who has specialised in cosmetic medicine since 2000, said he was “severely shocked” by the shonky website.

He said injectable treatments such as Botox and dermal filler should only be administered by qualified practitioners.

“The big problem with these drugs is that we don’t know what they are made of and they can’t guarantee you safety or results,” Dr Soteriou said. “Self-administering them is essentially like making a life decision without putting any thought into it.

“I wouldn’t even advocate for doctors and nurses to be injecting themselves.

“You are also risking your own death if you have an adverse or severe allergic reaction to the drugs.”

Dr Soteriou believes the website is a “money grab” and fuels people’s desperate desires for quick-fix anti-ageing products.

“I’ve never heard of these products before and I attend a lot of medical conferences to ensure I’m up-to-date with the latest in facial rejuvenation techniques,” he said.

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Via an almost unbeliveable story on Wired: Fake Botox or not, Discount Medspa is going to jail!

A website that sells a prescription drug similar to Botox without requiring a prescription claims it has more than 2,000 customers. Some have learned how to inject the botulism-derived drug into their own faces from YouTube videos produced for the site.
 

Discountmedspa sells a variety of other DIY cosmetic treatments, including prescription Renova, and lip-filling gels. The botulinum toxin-derivative for sale on the site is Dysport, produced by the pharmaceutical company Ipsen and is a competitor of Allergan’s Botox. The site simply calls it “the Freeze.”

A Grand Prairie, Texas, woman, Laurie D’Alleva, who appears to be the site’s proprietor, performs treatments on herself in self-made videos posted to the site’s YouTube channel. In one video, D’Alleva pulls out a vial of what is presumably Dysport and a syringe filled with saline.

“It’s important to remember that you are mixing the potency of the botox,” she says, mixing the contents of the vial with the saline solution. She then injects her forehead and the areas around her eyes.

Ipsen received FDA clearance to sell Dysport in the United States a few months ago, but it’s a prescription medication. It’s the first direct competitor for the branded Botox, which is the most popular cosmetic treatment in America. Doctors did more than 2.4 million Botox procedures in 2008, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In recent years, the vast amounts of money spent on the treatment have attracted scams and knockoffs, which the FDA has had to crack down on. In May, the FDA also ruled the drug needed a tougher “black-box” warning label to reflect an increased understanding of the small, but real risks of the treatment.

In the U.S., it is illegal for anyone but a doctor or nurse practitioner to prescribe drugs to patients and only pharmacists can dispense drugs to people. Yet drug sellers on the internet routinely flout the FDA’s regulations. A review published last month in the Annals of Family Medicine found more than 130 websites offering antibiotics without a prescription. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy tracks thousands of sites that don’t meet its standards for brick-and-mortar shops. LegitScript, a private firm that works with the NABP, has database of 47,633 internet pharmacies; 46,570 of them aren’t up to snuff.

These sites are brazenly circumventing regulations that protect consumers from bad or fake drugs and ensure that the chemicals are used correctly. The laws were designed precisely to prevent Americans with little to no medical training from doing things like buying a form of toxin, mixing it with saline and injecting it into their faces. Yet, precisely that appears to be possible with the help of discountmedspa.com.

Video: The original YouTube video was pulled by DiscountMedSpa on Wednesday, October 28. Wired.com had saved the source and has embedded that video in the story.

In a blog post response to a customer’s skeptical query, Laurie provided the following explanation for the legality of her site and the provenance of her products.

I know there is much information out on the net about fillers and Botox ‘knock-offs’. This is not what I am selling! The products I have are from a company names Ipsen… I have a connection that allows me to get products that are not usually available in the states because I purchase other products in their line. Now the trick is I have to market it and label it under my own brand, to keep them and myself from getting into any legal trouble. It does take a leap of faith, but I assure you I have over 2000 customers now who love the products and are saving literally hundreds of thousands of dollars between us!

“I watched a Doctor on YouTube.com do this to a patient and he warned people not to inject below the eyes however I had to put a smile on my face too,” Lesley commented on a blog post. “The trick to this is to hold a pencil just at the corner of one side of your mouth and inject two units of Freeze at the very bottom of your chin. This will cause your [sic] very end of your mouth to turn up. Then do the other side the same way. If you don’t get it even you may have a crooked smile so be very careful that the injection is placed in exactly the same place as the other side.”

Her recommendation for another user is to “watch YouTube.com and you will learn a lot of some of the Doctors [sic] secrets to recreating your face the way you want to look.”

Other women describe mishaps with over-injecting the drug.

“My Dr. would never inject the crows feet. I did and got GREAT results!” wrote a commenter named Pat. “Unfortunately, I can’t read those little hash marks on the syringe too well and over injected above the brow on one side. A week later I’m now sporting a half closed and swollen eye, and look ready for Halloween!”

the Texas Department of State Health Services released the following statement, but would not comment further.

“The Texas Department of State Health Services is aware of discountmedspa.com through a complaint we received. That complaint status remains open and under review,” the agency wrote.

The complaint was made under the Texas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which regulates the sale of prescription drugs like Dysport in the state.

“Botox is a prescription drug that must be dispensed or sold by a licensee pharmacy and only with a prescription from a licensed practitioner. Any over-the-counter sale of Botox is illegal,” the agency affirmed.

Unbelieveable that people could be so dumb as to inject themselves with Botox… or anything else for that matter. Discount Medspa’s owner is definately headed for the slammer.

Side Note: Medical Spa MDs partner site, Medical Spa RX, is a licensed and regulated phamacy that sells wholesale Botox and other fillers exclusively to licensed medical professionals only.

This was first posted on Medical Spa MD.com. It’s truly amazing what people will do. Injecting yourself in a mirror with Botox has got to be a precursor for the Darwin Awards.

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Have you ever wondered what you would look like with bigger breasts or poutier lips? Now you can find out using a simple app made for the iPhone. There are now two plastic surgery applications for the Apple iPhone that offer users information, games and the chance to see what they would look like with a face lift, new nose, and many other procedures.

The first plastic surgery app – The Shafer Plastic Surgery App – launched in October. It’s the first app of its kind amongst Apple’s 85,000 offerings in the iPhone App Store. It was created by Dr. David Shafer of New York, and taps into more than 1,000 questions and answers about specific cosmetic procedures.

The second iPhone plastic surgery app will soon hit the iPhone App Store, and it’s called “iSurgeon”. iSurgeon was developed by Miami cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer, who is also well known for authoring the 2008 book “My Beautiful Mommy” – a book aimed at helping 4 to 7 year old children cope with their mother’s plastic surgery.

iSurgeon will feature a fun game mode that allows users to try their hand at surgery, giving people the chance to instantly modify images of themselves or their friends through breast augmentations, lip enhancements and dozens of other procedures.

The Shafer Plastic Surgery App is available for $2.99. iSurgeon will be free during its first month of release later in November.

Nice to see that your iPhone can manage more than just phone calls from your plastic surgeon or medical spa.

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Medical Spa MD is now publishing training manuals and books for laser clinics, plastic surgery centers and dermatology clinics.

These medical spa training eBooks are designed specifically for medical estheticians, cosmetic laser and IPL technicians and front desk staff, to provide a consistent environment for new hires and keep the staff informed the latest cosmetic treatments.

It's part of an evolving plan to be able to monetize the huge community of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, laser clinics and medical spas that are part of the community at Medical Spa MD. There are more than 4,000 physician members running laser clinics, medical spas, and skin clinics, and around a million and a half targeted page views, most of which are from physicians (although non-physician numbers are growing).

Medical Spa MD is a community that was started a few years ago and I think it demonstrates how effective you can be if you have information that is not generally available, and know how to build and motivate an online community. Medical Spa MD will never make me rich, but it's an asset that accrues increasing value over time and more than pays for itself with new opportunities.

Medical Spa RX is the sister site to Medical Spa MD and allows these same dermatologists, plastic surgeons and laser clinics to buy wholesale Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and Dysport from Canada and distribute it world wide.

But perhaps the greatest value of Medical Spa MD is simply the trust and goodwill we've grown among physicians. Medical Spa MD's influence and reach is very long, as attested to the numerous leagal threats, phone calls from lawyers, and cease and desist letters we've received.

Medical Spa Training Manuals & Books for Medical Estheticians & Laser Clinic Staff is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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Facelifts have become a common cosmetic surgery for men and women. But surgery patients face a number of unwanted effects. Scarring, extensive recovery time, that artificial "stretched" look, and a permanent result that may be unwanted.

Fortunately, newly developed medical alternatives offer results to people wanting look younger without going under the knife.

As a leader in non-invasive cosmetic medicine, many medical spas, laser clinics and skin clinics now specialize in innovative new medical treatments for a youthful lift without the messy and painful recovery. Some medical spas have developed a unique non-surgical facelift for patients looking to gain the dramatic results of a surgical facelift but avoid a surgical facelift. Non-surgical facelifts include Thermage or Fraxel Skin Tightening followed by their signature Surface Point Lift as the non-invasive, yet exceptionally effective substitute for any surgical facelift. (Botox is also used.)

Thermage is an FDA approved radio-frequency technology that has been proven to tighten and contour the skin and its many underlying tissues without surgery. The treatment has the added benefit of stimulating the growth of new collagen throughout the skin. But there's a caveat. Thermage results are highly dependant upon the way the treatment is administered. Surface has developed specialized protocols that produce results that attract patients from other areas of the country who are looking to achieve maxim results.

Nonsurgical facelifts can be just as spectacular.

Point Lifts were created by specialists in non-surgical cosmetic medicine to replace the traditional invasive facelift. It can also be used for brows, jaw lines, necks, breasts, and even the derriere. They're perfect for the patient who does not want to undergo the harsh effects of a traditional surgical facelift including the associated, frustrating recovery period. Point Lifts are a physician procedure that "lifts" the treatment area in exactly the same was as surgical lifts, only there's no surgery.

The procedure involves placing a small, special suture under the skin through a tiny needle hole, leaving the skin to smooth with its own tension. The theme here is "No cutting. No stretching. No Stitches. No scars!" Most importantly, Point Lifts will not leave the face with that "stretched look" of traditional surgical lifts. Patients can resume their normal activities immediately with only minimal discomfort. Best of all, Point Lifts are completely reversible. Most people never knew they could have a fresh, younger lift without the troubles of surgery.

Avoid A Facelift: Medical Spas, Laser Clinics, Skin Clinics & Laser Treatments. is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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Here's a graphic from a Botox story on CNN.

In the hunt to discover the next blockbuster medical use for Botox, doctors have injected it experimentally into muscles and glands all over the body, making it medicine’s answer to duct tape. According to recent medical journals, physicians have used it to treat chewing problems, swallowing problems, pelvic muscle spasms, drooling, hair loss, anal fissures and pain from missing limbs.

“We see it as a molecule that keeps on giving. As we understand it more, it gives us new ideas of how to use it,” says Dr. Mitchell F. Brin, a neurologist who is the chief scientific officer for Botox at Allergan, the drug’s maker.

No other therapeutic agent “has so many demonstrated uses,” he says.

But some health advocates worry that doctors are widely adopting novel uses for Botox before federal guidance and rigorous clinical studies have established safe and effective dosages for the new treatments.

“It’s trial and error with a nerve poison,” says Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, the director of the health research group at Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group. Last year, the group petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to require a warning label for injectable toxins.

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When it comes to the cosmetic laser field, we can sometimes feel adrift at sea with little more than a compass and the stars to guide us. We're either doing laser treatments according to our laser manufacturers' guidelines, which are conservative and often inadequate to produce excellent clinical results. Or we're trying new laser treatment settings without the benefit of knowing what other doctors have tried.

If we discover something important, we have no forum to discuss this information with our colleagues. Many of us experiment in our clinics, but we don't share our problems, successes, failures and thought processes with anyone. As a result, we make little progress because we don't benefit from others' advances and insights.

This has flattened our learning curves. Innovation-if and when it comes-is slow. This needs to change. And it begins with doctors simply talking to each other. Participating in Internet-based user groups is one of the easiest ways to do this. Such a forum allows us to share our ideas, experiences and opinions so that we can learn from each other.

The collective intellectual capacity among us, as cosmetic laser providers, is tremendous. If we all worked together, we would discover and share treatment protocols that are more effective and less painful, and produce fewer complications. We would discover better ways to reduce and treat complications when they do arise. Our field would become stronger, and we'd become better practitioners.

Unfortunately, cosmetic laser practitioners have little clinical exchange compared to other specialists, such as cardiologists. These physicians have thorough initial training with a three-year residency and a one- to three-year fellowship. They have mentors, classmates and large practice groups so colleagues can talk to one another. Publications and newsletters keep cardiologists abreast of developments in the field. They stay in touch with their academic training centers, attend meetings and are members of professional associations. In short, they communicate and connect.

What Do We As Cosmetic Physicians Have?

Contrast this to cosmetic laser medicine. Unlike cardiologists, we don't have highly developed professional networks. Nor do we have the formal advanced training. Our main professional association is the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), which hosts a yearly meeting and produces a monthly journal. The ASLMS is a great professional society, but it doesn't serve all of our needs.

Another source of education is the laser companies, which provide clinical training, Webinars and Web sites. The trainers teach the basics, but they're limited by company protocols, which are reviewed by corporate attorneys, and designed to prevent problems rather than to get excellent clinical results.

The laser companies' Webinars are lectures designed to sell lasers, not provide advanced training. Luminaries are paid to do the Webinars, but there's no access to them for detailed follow-up questioning.

What's more, we have to sit at our computers for two hours listening to basic, redundant information to glean one useful, advanced clinical tip. The content of the Webinars are not made available in any other format?-written summary, cassette tapes or CDs-so it's not widely accessed.

If we go to aesthetic laser manufacturers company Web sites for resources, the information is basic and limited. The marketing material, of course, is fresh and current, but the clinical material is dated and sparse.

Other resources are trade publications that keep us abreast of issues in aesthetic medicine. But these magazines don't get into the details of treatment protocols and how to get the best results.

Finally, we have independent blogs, such as MedicalSpaMD.com. This blog, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to get information and find out what other providers are thinking and doing. Some doctors who blog on MedicalSpaMD are experienced users who share their expertise and opinions?, all of which are extremely helpful. But the drawback is too few physicians blog about specific topics.

Several Solutions

Working with laser companies is one way to combat this problem. Laser companies can be particularly valuable in the clinical exchange arena. These companies have the resources to start, support and nurture this activity. They know who their users are, they can enlist the knowledge of luminaries, and they have company doctors and scientists who understand the clinical applications of their laser devices. It's important to mix all of these elements in the proper environment to spur the best advances and innovations from these groups.

M. Christine Lee, MD, MPH, writes that upstanding laser companies "put more money and resources into product development than in marketing and advertising. They have a corporate philosophy that's based on building relationships.investing in new technology and research.[and] nurturing forward vision."¹

It seems almost foolish not to work with cosmetic laser companies, especially since many providers are getting clinical results that are suboptimal. Furthermore, many patients are experiencing complications that can be avoided. (See RealSelf.com for patient complaints and see MedicalSpaMD.com for physician complaints.)

Although aesthetic laser companies don't provide the clinical exchange we need, we can find useful models to emulate outside our field. For example, a medical device company produces Philips NetForum. This community connects Philips users from around the globe in a virtual users meeting so they can share clinical experiences, learn from peers and optimize results.

I'm sure many innovations have occurred when users simply share ideas and explore insights with each other via this Internet clinical forum. If we had this resource, our field would advance dramatically.

What We're Doing As Medical Spa Physicians

As a physician, I have a responsibility to take my part in this call to action. As a result, we're now forming clinical exchange meetings at our Cherry Hill, N.J., clinic. We get together twice yearly with doctors from 20 to 30 other clinics to discuss what works and what doesn't. Part of our meeting focuses on business and marketing, and the other part addresses clinical issues.

We also work closely with MedicalSpaMD.com. We are active visitors to this site and frequent contributors. This Web site is so important that we've actually bought an intense pulsed light (IPL) system based largely on the opinions of the Web site's bloggers, many of whom have had experience with several IPL systems.

We're also forming Internet-based user groups on our own. These groups discuss everything from fractionated CO2 systems to injectables to treating patients with skin of color. Doctors from around the country and the world, including Greece, Australia, France, England and India, share their opinions and experiences.

In addition, we're setting up systems in which providers who attend conferences or listen to Webinars write summaries of what they've heard. These summaries can be posted on Medical Spa MD for others to learn from. Once these summaries are posted, other providers can read them and comment on the issues they're discussing. Of course, we cannot overlook traditional methods of clinical exchange. These are still important and should be developed further. Conferences, publications, newsletters and professional associations are excellent ways to communicate and exchange opinions and experiences.

Cosmetic laser medicine is still in its infancy. We haven't yet worked out the best protocols and new technology is continually emerging.

We have to quickly learn the best ways to use all of our technology for optimal clinical results. The best way to do this is to communicate with each other so we can learn what others are thinking, doing and experiencing. When we actively participate in this learning, our field will advance more rapidly and dramatically. This will benefit all of us. True to the Chinese maxim, when the tide rises, all boats indeed rise higher.

Reference

1. Lee CM. Lasers: what every patient should know, and what your doctor probably doesn't. The ultimate guide for the best skin ever. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse; 2006; 163.

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EuroDoc emailed me to ask for a list of physician blogs that I read. While I don't know exactly how to export all the blogs I visit, Here's a partial list of doctors who are blogging on a variety of medical topics, from Family Practice, Cosmetic Surgery, to Oncology.

List of Physician Blogs:

In alphabetical order:

• About a Nurse
• Aggravated Doc Surg
• Anatomy Notes
• At Your Cervix
• Barbados Butterfly
• Bioethics Discussion
• Blogborygmi
• Blood Letting
• Borneo Breezes
• Breath Spa for Kids
• Budding Emergencist
• California Medicine Man
• Cat Scan Man
• Chance to Cure
• Chocolate and Raspberries
• Code Blog
• Corpus Callosum
• Cricoid Pressure
• DB's Medical Rants
• Diabetes Mine
• Doc Around the Clock
• Doctor
• Doctor Anonymous
• Doctor Helen
• Doctor Mental
• Doctor On Call
• Doctor RW
• Dr. Deborah Serani
• Dr. Dork
• Dr. Flea
• Dr. Jest's Case Blog
• Dr. Kannan
• Dr. Pak
• Dr. Wes
• Dust in the Wind
• Emergency Medicine Doc
• Emergiblog
• Examining Room of Dr. Charles
• Fat Doctor
• Fine Art Doctor
• Fingers and Tubes
• Fixin' Healthcare
• Future Dr. House
• Geek Nurse
• Girl MD
• Grunt Doc
• Health Care Renewal
• Health Psych
• Homeschooled Med Student
• In a Doc's Mind
• Information is Free
• Inside Surgery
• It's A Nursing Thing
• Kevin MD
• Kidney Notes
• Knight Doctor
• kt living
• Life in Qualicum
• Live Love Laugh
• Marketplace MD
• Mavistown 3.0
• Mediblogopathy
• Medical Pathetical
• Medlogs
• Medskool
• Medviews
• Mental Notes
• Mexico Medical Student
• Michael C. Hébert, MD – Journal
• Movin' Meat
• Mr. Hassle's Long Underpants
• MSSP Nexus Blog
• Musings of a Dinosaur
• Musings of a Distractible Mind
• Neonatal Doc
• NeoNurse Chick
• NHS Blog Doctor
• Nurse Ratched's Place
• OB/GYN Kenobi
• oncRN
• Orthodoc
• Over My Med Body
• Parallel Universes
• Point and Shoot
• Rangel MD
• Rebel Doctor
• Respectful Insolence
• Retired Doc's Thoughts
• Ripple of Hope
• Scalpel or Sword
• Scared To Health
• Shrinkette
• Stork Doc
• Sumer's Radiology Site
• Surgeon's Blog
• Tales from the Womb
• The Cheeful Oncologist
• The Doctor is In
• The Haversian Canal
• The Healthy Child
• The Mote in the Light
• The Patient's Doctor
• The Star Chamber
• Treat Me With Respect
• Trust Me, I'm a Doctor
• Tundra Medicine Dreams
• Unbounded Medicine
• Unintelligent Design
• Wandering Visitor

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Thermage is FDA approved for tightening and thickening skin without surgery. This non-invasive choice is particularly attractive for patients who don’t want to undergo the more drastic effects of a traditional surgical facelift and its associated recovery period.

Thermage uses a radiofrequency (RF) technology to heat the deep layers of the skin while protecting the skin’s outer layers with a cooling cryogen spray. This deep heating promotes immediate collagen contraction beneath the skins surface and generates new collagen growth over time.

Thermage: Key Points

• Thermage is approved by the FDA for skin tightening and collagen growth.
• Thermage provides an alternative to traditional surgical face lifts.
• Thermage not only treats existing conditions, but is also a preventative treatment for future problems including wrinkles, loose skin and collagen loss.
• Thermage can treat any area of the body but is most commonly used on the face, around the eyes and forehead, cheeks and jowls, and the neck. Results actually increase over time. With maximum results usually achieved up to 6 months after the treatment.
• Thermage “Vectoring” can be used for more specific results. Vectoring uses a second, double row of pulses to tighten skin along specific lines or “vectors”. In this way we can perform eyelifts, neck lifts, bags around the eyes, crows feet, or any part of the face where loose skin is unwanted.

Thermage: Key Benefits

• Thermage tightens skin and stimulates new collagen growth.
• Thermage can be performed in 2-3 hours under local anesthetic.
• Thermage actually “tightens” skin rather than stretching skin.
• The results look completely natural
• The cost is less than traditional, surgical facelifts
• The results are very long lasting or permanent.
• Additional treatments can maximize the effects or just maintain results.

Thermage: Benefits in comparison to traditional surgical face lifts

• No cutting. No stretching. No stitches. No scars.
• Thermage requires no physical recovery time.
• The skin is tightened rather than stretched, eliminating the pulled look that can happen with traditional face lifts.
• The chance of complications or infection is almost nil.
• Thermage can be combined with other treatments like filler injections and Pointé Lifts for more dramatic effects.

Possible Complications with Thermage Treatments:

Thermage complications are very rare. The device contains three computers that constantly monitor the amount of energy being delivered. However, as with any medical treatment there exists the possibility of other results, including:

• Burns; in clinical trials for Thermage less than 1% of patients received any burns. (There were only two that healed completely and without complication). At Surface, we have never seen a burn.
• The effect is less dramatic than the client wants: However, Thermage can be used as a treatment more than once. Results can be improved or enhanced with additional treatments like Botox or Surface Pointé Lifts.

NOTE: Thermage has received mixed reviews from both patients and physicians. In our opinion this is because of the way that Thermage has been marketed to physicians as an "add-on" to their practice. Thermage results are highly dependant upon the treatment you receive. While Thermage is now widely available, our recommendation is that you only have a Thermage treatment from a physician who specializes in non-surgical cosmetic medicine and has a laser clinic, skin clinic, or laser treatment center with experience with this treatment.

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Although this chapter from the Advanced Medical Aesthetics Training Manual wasn’t actually requested in the training manual I wrote for the academy students, I felt it was extremely important for the entire medical spa staff, especially for medical estheticians, to know the difference amongst the various treatments used to alleviate the appearance of wrinkles and folds, and the difference between dynamic and static lines.

Medical estheticians have the most “face time” with clients, examining it with magnifying lenses, treating it with exfolliants, moisturizers, galvanic current, high frequency, various acids, etc. They understand the realm of fine lines and wrinkles and know what can be alleviated with topical treatments such as facials, peels, microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing, and what cannot.

I cannot tell you how many patients call or come into our office with no knowledge of the difference between paralyzing agents such as Botox and Dysport, and dermal fillers. We take it for granted that we know the difference, but injectable products can be very confusing to the lay person. Because the aesthetician works with the client’s skin, they should be well versed in the differences in the two categories of injectables and the products that lie within. Estheticians become your most powerful education source for your clients which ultimately leads to an upsell for them (with possible commission).

Many people think all fillers products are the same, nor do they care to understand the difference between hyaluronic acid or calcium hydroxylapetite. All they truly care about is “how long will it last” and will the “results look fake”. Only with proper education can the medical esthetician effectively and intelligently discuss the differences in the filler products, educate the patient about the effects and lasting results, and help lead the patient to the right product, or combination of products, for their expected outcome.

This information in this chapter is very important for your front desk/phone people as well!

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"Hey jeff, I have a question for you. The ads that appear on the right side of MedicalSpaMD in the "Ads by Google" space, did you subscribe to Ad Sense to get them there? Are they Google Ad Words ads, or are they from a PPC company like Yodle or Reach Local?"

We have a number of advertisers on Medical Spa MD, some of whom use Google and others who want specific placement and visibility who place their medical spa ads directly.

These direct ppc ads are used for a couple of purposes; to pay our hosting and bandwidth costs so we don't have to charge readers, and to pay the fees for other services we use to communicate with Members and fulfill orders. On the other end the advertisers gain access to more than a million and a half page views from a pretty select member community. It seems to be working out pretty well since we're getting an increasing number of businesses who want to become a Medical Spa MD Partner.

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In the first instance, Xin “Faith” He of Natural Beauty in Bellvue, WA told clients she was injecting Botox and the hyaluronic acid dermal filler Restylane when in fact she was injecting counterfeit substances. Her actions led to at least two reported negative reactions since 2004 that required a dermatologist’s or plastic surgeon’s care. One victim (pictured above), who wished to remain anonymous, remarked, “My face looked like Frankenstein’s.”

In the second case, the two owners of Crystal Nails in Burien are charged with offering an official an $800 bribe to overlook a dangerous and unapproved radiation-emitting laser treatment they had imported.

Of course, neither of these Botox injectors were running a real medical spa, skin clinic or laser treatment center. They were just injecting Botox on their own.

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I came across this article from Australia on Botox and Restylane being injected in womens feet.

Bootox? Botox & Restylane injections for women’s high heels. is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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A pointed nose and taut skin seem to have emerged as the two most important assets for Indians going by the number of people opting for rhinoplasty or “nose jobs” and botox injections in the country.

Though there are no official records of plastic surgeries in India, a study of hospital records show that cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty and liposuction have seen an increase of 150 per cent in the last five years.

Other popular surgical procedures include abdominoplasty and male breast reduction.

Among the non-surgical procedures, some of the widely practised procedures include Botox injection, microdermabrasion (a non-invasive procedure that uses a spray of micro crystals to remove the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal younger, healthier-looking skin), collagen injection, laser hair removal and chemical peel.

Vanity is constant as the norther star… So is Botox.

Botox & Nose Jobs becoming more popular in India is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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