Michael J. Will, MD, DDS, FACS • Phone: 301.874.1707
Cosmetic Surgery • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Archive for the ‘Injectables’ Category

Consumers Choose Hyaluronic Acid Fillers; Collagen Fillers Discontinued

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 by editor2

InjectablesThe trend toward hyaluronic acid injectables may be part of the reason that collagen fillers will be gone from the U.S. market at year’s end, reports the latest issue of Dermatology Times.

In late 2009, Johnson & Johnson announced that it was discontinuing its collagen filler Evolence, and in January 2010 Allergan announced it would be discontinuing its collagen line of fillers at the end of the year. Allergan actually halted production of its collagen products in 2009, but manufactured sufficient inventory to meet estimated market demand through the end of 2010, according to Kelly Lao, manager of corporate communications.

“The discontinuation of the sale of our collagen products … is in response to declined market interest … since the introduction of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers like Juvéderm have become more popular,” Ms. Lao says.

“There is an overwhelming popularity of the new kid on the block: the hyaluronic acids. They have been embraced universally, and suddenly collagens aren’t as popular,” concurs Dr. Seth L. Matarasso, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco

The popularity of hyaluronic acid products is due to several factors:

  • Longer-lasting results
  • Appear to give a better fill
  • Some contain lidocaine for less painful injections
  • Upcoming improvements will provide more volume and contour-changing ability and the ability to fill deeper lines

Hyaluronic acids products include Restylane, Juvéderm, Radiesse, which are all available at Will Surgical Arts in the Frederick County area in Maryland.

Dermatologists prepare for departure of collagen from U.S. market” is online at Modern Medicine.

Does Botox Affect Emotions?

Thursday, June 17th, 2010 by editor2

Woman smilingDo people who undergo Botox treatments experience weaker emotions? A new study published in Emotion, a journal of the American Psychological Association, examined if Botox injections have an effect on emotional experience.

In order to test if feedback from facial expressions influence emotional experience, Barnard College Professors Joshua Davis and Ann Senghas, who led the research, compared the impact on self-reported emotional experience of those with Botox injections, which paralyze muscles of facial expression, and a control group with Restylane injections—a cosmetic filler that does not affect facial muscles.

According to the abstract, “When examined alone, Botox participants showed no pre- to post-treatment changes in emotional responses to our most positive and negative video clips.”

However, between-groups comparisons showed Botox participants exhibited an overall significant decrease in the strength of emotional experience.

“With the advent of Botox, it is now possible to work with people who have a temporary, reversible paralysis in muscles that are involved in facial expressions,” said Davis. “With Botox, a person can respond otherwise normally to an emotional event, e.g. a sad movie scene, but will have less movement in the facial muscles that have been injected, and therefore less feedback to the brain about such facial expressivity. It thus allows for a test of whether facial expressions and the sensory feedback from them to the brain can influence our emotions.”

The findings suggest to the researchers that feedback from facial expressions is not necessary for emotional experience, but may influence emotional experience in some circumstances.

Read the “The effects of BOTOX injections on emotional experience” abstract to learn more. Dr. Will offers both Botox and Restylane injections at his Ijamsville, Maryland office.

Study Investigates Botox as Treatment for Tennis Elbow

Monday, April 26th, 2010 by newseditor

Botox has potential as a treatment for chronic tennis elbow, according to a study appearing in the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

Physicians in Tehran studied the use of Botulinum toxin for treatment of chronic tennis elbow, a condition also known as lateral epicondylitis. Results show that Botox can reduce the pain of tennis elbow at rest but as a side effect, it may also cause weakness in finger extension.

At the Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, a randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 48 patients.  They were injected with either Botox or saline, the placebo.  Injection sites were customized for each patient’s anatomy.

When Botox injections were performed with anatomic measurements as a guide, they “significantly reduced pain at rest in patients with chronic refractory lateral epicondylitis.”  Due to the side effects, the treatment may not be appropriate for patients who require finger extension.

Read more online from the journal of the Canadian Medical Association

Restylane Manufacturer Launches Skin Care Line

Monday, April 12th, 2010 by newseditor

Q-Med, manufacturer of Restylane, announced their new line of skincare productsRestylane_wrinklefiller last week during the World Congress for Anti-Aging Medicine in Monaco. The new line of products is said to contain the same patented NASHA technology used in Restylane injectable filler, which they say adds a pleasing consistency while preserving moisture and luster in the skin.

Q-Med explains their intentions with the new skincare line on their website:  “The secret to beautiful skin is balanced skin hydration combined with a healthy and protective skin barrier. Restylane Skincare combines these two qualities in an innovative series of creams [that] supplement the effect of injectable Restylane products.”

NASHA – Why Restylane is Effective

Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid is the secret to Restylane’s success. Hyaluronic acid serves many important functions in many areas of your body. Because it can bind water, HA hydrates the skin and lubricates the joints. The stabilization process allows Restylane to produce enduring results.

While Restylane has been around longer than most wrinkle fillers, it’s not the only product to utilize HA. Products like Prevelle, Hydrelle and others are now widely available for similar purposes. However, according to Q-Med, these fillers are far from being Restylane clones.

The least modified competing products are still considerably more chemically changed than the NASHA gels. Competing products are either not as viscous as the NASHA gels, which means that they cannot build and retain volume in the same way, or they are considerably more chemically changed.

The new Restylane Skincare line should be available in Sweden and Europe this summer. If these products become available here in Maryland, we will be sure to let you know.

Botox as a Headache Treatment? Researchers Say Yes

Sunday, February 21st, 2010 by newseditor

botox-urbanaBotox may be used to relieve migraine headaches, according to new research published in Archives of Dermatology. Botox injections “at doses appropriate for cosmetic purposes may be sufficient to prevent migraine attacks” concluded authors of the study.

An article on Bloomberg.com says Allergan applied for FDA clearance for this treatment application.  However, researchers say they can’t explain how Botox works to relieve headaches. One co-author of the study, Rami Burstein says, “[Botox] may block the signals in sensory nerves located on the outside of the head.”

New Juvederm XC Said to Be More Comfortable

Monday, February 15th, 2010 by newseditor

A new Juvederm formula was recently introduced to the market, Juvederm Ultra XC, which juvederm_graphwill be advertised as a more comfortable, yet equally effective alternative to other wrinkle filler treatments. Containing 0.3% lidocaine makes the treatment area numb very quickly, possibly decreasing the need for topical anesthetic.

Other wrinkle fillers such as Prevelle Silk have been introduced with lidocaine, but not every cosmetic surgeon has embraced these new age fillers. When Prevelle first received FDA approval in 2008, the response was lukewarm. “The issue with a hyaluronic acid filler with lidocaine is that it doesn’t work until you actually start injecting patients, and these injections are so quick, by the time the lidocaine takes effect, you’re almost finished” said Dr. Joe Niamtu to Cosmetic Surgery Times.

The introduction of lidocaine or Juvederm XC won’t allow surgeons to abandon traditional methods of pain control, but the results cited for Juvederm XC do sound positive.

FDA approval was based on data from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial in which 72 patients received 1 of the 2 formulations in each nasolabial fold. Results showed that more than 9o% of participants reported less procedural pain when treated with Ultra XC when compared to non-lidocaine Juvederm.

Botox for a Breast Lift? News Team Investigates

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 by admin

maryland_breastliftA news station in Ohio recently aired this story on their evening broadcast, asking about the so-called Botox-Breast Lift; is it effective or a waste of money?

As cosmetic surgeon Mark Mandell-Brown explains, the basic idea behind the procedure is to relax certain muscles and change the patient’s posture in order to simulate a lifting of the breasts.

Although the breast lift is common, and Botox is practical and effective, most reputable surgeons will tell you the so-called Botox Breast Lift is not a cost effective treatment people should consider.

Reporter Liz Bonis asks, “Are we just throwing away 300 dollars [with this procedure]?

“Yes,” says Dr. Mandell-Brown.

Is there any research to support that this would be even remotely effective?

“No. In reality, the tissue’s too heavy for that to happen.”

Click here to read more about breast lift surgery in Urbana, Maryland.

Allergan Inc Files Suit Against FDA, Disputes Marketing Restrictions

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 by admin

allerganPharmaceutical co. Allergan Inc’s recently filed suit against the Food and Drug Administration contends that marketing restrictions placed on off-label Botox go against the best interest of patients and physicians.

Botox is commonly used – and FDA approved – for treating wrinkles on the face and forehead, but a wide range of alternative treatments have been successfully administered.

Doctors have used Botox to treat hyperhidrosis, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, and many other problems.

U.S. law permits physicians to administer medicine for whatever use they deem appropriate. However, doctors aren’t allowed to advertise or market medicine for any application under the sun.

The marketing restrictions placed on off-label Botox have evidently hindered Allergan’s ability to distribute safety information related to off label uses of Botox. The current lawsuit is intended to increase the physician’s ability to access safety information such as possible risks, benefits, dosing, patient selection, etc. and according to Allergan, is in no way intended to boost Botox sales.


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