Botox can reduce post-operative pain in women who get silicone implant breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, according to Dr. Allen Gabriel, who presented his study at the recent International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Congress. Dr. Gabriel, a plastic surgeon in Vancouver, Washington, did a 30-patient clinical trial for this off-label use of Botox that [...]

The FDA approved a new botulinum toxin type A on August 2 for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia and blepharospasm. XEOMIN is the third product of this kind to be approved in the U.S., after Botox and Dysport. XEOMIN’s approval is based on the results of two U.S. clinical trials. A study cited [...]

A specialty bio-pharmaceutical company in California is conducting clinical trials on a Botox product that can be applied to the skin in cream form—no needles necessary, according to WCBS-TV in New York City. Revance Therapeutics says that it will be two years before trials of their product RT001 are complete; then it is up to [...]

Botox has been approved in the U.K. as a tool for preventing chronic migraine headaches. Best known as a wrinkle treatment, it can now be used on migraine patients in the U.K. who have headaches at least 15 days a month, including migraines on 8 days, according to Allergan’s press release. The clinical trial involved [...]

Everyone knows that Botox fights wrinkles; a new study shows it could also fight pain in some patients with a debilitating nerve compression disorder called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Researchers at Johns Hopkins reported that patients treated with a single, low-dose injection of Botox in a neck muscle had a reduction in short-term pain. The [...]

If Allergan Inc is an accurate meter of demand for plastic surgery then an economic recovery is definitely in the works for plastic surgeons. First quarter earnings for the Botox maker are way up. Second quarter forecasts, according to the Wall Street Journal, are way ahead of expectations.  Given the procedure statistics just released by [...]

Despite the optimistic economic news of this week, job seekers tell us the market is still a tough environment to navigate.  In Seattle, we’ve had more than one patient comment about it and share suspicions that their age, or appearance has negatively affected their job prospects.  While she may have been half-joking, my neighbor told [...]

Do your eyes appear swollen morning and night? Do you exhibit under eye bags or dark circles?  Perhaps it is time to do something about it.  You shouldn’t have to live with such a condition – especially one so treatable!  Besides, if you don’t seek treatment, it’s possible that symptoms may become more noticeable. Dr. [...]

A new Botox competitor from Ipsen and Medicis Pharmaceutical has received FDA approval for treating wrinkles and dystonia.  Plastic surgeons and dermatologists may have the drug available for cosmetic use in just 30 – 60 days. Rather than rebranding the drug ‘Reloxin’ as planned, Medicis decided to retain its original European name, Dysport The April [...]

By now, it’s been firmly established that Botox injection can effectively smooth out facial wrinkles, and we’re grateful for that.  But is that all we should expect from the drug? Doctors once thought off-label use of Botox – which was originally developed for treating muscles spasms – would be fairly limited. If you do a [...]