On Tuesday, November 18, members of the Food and Drug Administration will meet with a panel of outside experts to review the various complications that have resulted from cosmetic dermal filler injections.

Products like Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse and others that continue to flood the market will be a focus.  Over the last six years, the FDA has received roughly 900 reports about complications related to injectable wrinkle-fillers.  Is this a reason to be concerned?

It might sound alarming, but the complications and side effects associated with fillers are still extremely rare.  Demand for wrinkle reducers like Botox and fillers like Juvederm has exploded in recent years, leading many improperly trained persons to administer them in non-medical settings.

The majority of industry professionals will attribute most of the reported complications to situations like these.  There are also well known, labeled problems that can occur on an infrequent basis, like minor swelling or allergic reactions, with the latter being a subject of greater FDA interest.

According to a recent MSNBC news article, Allergan spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove said “no serious problems were seen in clinical trials of Juvederm, and the most common complaint since its approval was swelling in 0.4 percent of patients.”  Also, Food and Drug Administration officials noted that the “reports had several limitations such as failing to say when the problems started.”

Safety and proper training is of the utmost importance with almost any cosmetic procedure, so we recommend that all patients seek a knowledgeable plastic surgeon with the right qualifications.

For more information on the FDA panel discussion, the briefing is located here.

In the past, most cosmetic surgeons wouldn’t blink an eye if one of their patients admitted to being a smoker while scheduling a surgical procedure. Now, many refuse to perform surgery that requires skin to be shifted — for example, a face lift, tummy tuck or breast lift — on a smoker.

“Nicotine causes the tiny blood vessels in the skin to clamp down or constrict, which reduces blood supply to the skin,” said Dr. Darshan Shah, a plastic surgeon in Bakersfield, California. The lack of blood supply can cause poor healing, infection, bruising and scarring.

If you are interested in cosmetic surgery, Dr. Samaha is a qualified plastic surgeon in Boston. During your consultation, he will discuss your medical history. If you are a smoker, check out this government website that provides tips on how to quit smoking.

Do you want to surprise your loved ones with the perfect Valentine’s Day gift this year?

Let us help you find that perfect gift - a Skin & Wellness Center gift certificate. Imagine just how special your loved ones will feel after receiving a customized facial or a relaxing therapeutic massage from one of our highly trained medical estheticians.

Our gift certificates can be purchased for any amount and used towards a specific service or any of our skin care products or mineral make-up.

Stop by our office today, to purchase your gift certificates in time for Valentine’s Day. If you are unable to stop by, feel free to call us at the office, (617) 786-7600 and we can process your payment over the phone and mail the certificates to you. And, to show you our appreciation, when you purchase a gift certificate between today and February 14, 2008, we will give you a Valentine from all of us, good for $15 off your next product purchase or service.

Sincerely,
–Debbie, Kathy, Laura, Linda, Martha, Maureen, Tracey, & Dr. Samaha

Rediscover the skin you were born with by using the Clarisonic MD Professional Skin Care System. Created by the lead inventor of the Sonicare toothbrush, the Clarisonic MD is designed to keep your skin looking young, vibrant, and healthy. With three speeds, and two different heads, the Clarisonic MD cleanses deeply and gently to clear your pores for better absorption of vital nutrients.

Treat yourself to a rejuvenating facial treatment. The perfect facial can brighten your mood, invigorate and tone your skin. Deep relaxing cleansing provides maximum benefits to your health and well being.

Enjoy gentle muscle massage using aromatic massage oils. Let us improve your circulation, ease muscle aches and tension.

Boston Plastic Surgery invites you to allow yourself to be pampered. Our staff is available to assist you in scheduling an appointment. Please ask about our monthly specials.