Smartlipo™ is the first and only laser lipolysis system to offer a revolutionary and minimally invasive procedure for the removal of fat. Using a high-powered laser, Smartlipo is a new LaserBodySculptingSM procedure with less downtime and side-effects than traditional liposuction.
How does the Smartlipo procedure work? A very small cannula (tube) approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in diameter containing a laser fiber is inserted into the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth delivering the laser’s energy directly to the fat cells, causing them to rupture and easily drain away. The laser energy also interacts with the dermis, resulting in collagen shrinkage.
Due to the cannula’s small size, Smartlipo is a minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia. The laser causes small blood vessels to coagulate immediately on contact, resulting in less bleeding, swelling and bruising – and a quicker recovery time than conventional liposuction. Because general anesthesia is unnecessary, the procedure is very safe, with only minimal side effects.
Who is a good candidate for the Smartlipo procedure?If you have areas of fat that will not respond to diet and exercise, then you’re a candidate for smart lipo. Ideal candidates are in good health, of normal body weight and have realistic expectations for the results.
The Institute of Antiaging Medicine and Skin Spa is one of the first to offer Smart Lipo in Houston Texas. Smart Lipo is a non-surgical Laser Lipo that melts fat and tightens skin. Watch his interview on Channel 11, Great Day Houston July 25, 2007.
Men don't want to accept aging either.
Older Men Look Distinguished? Scratch That
THE deep horizontal lines across his forehead and the yawning crevices between his brows bothered Michael Ross. In younger days, he said, he had baked too often in the sun, using a double record album covered in aluminum foil as a reflector.
''I take care of my body,'' said Mr. Ross, now 42 and a middle school teacher. ''In a tank top and shorts, I look younger than the average 40-year-old. I was concerned that, from the neck up, I didn't.''
That is why Mr. Ross, who lives in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., was on the examining table one recent afternoon in the Great Neck office of Dr. Lyle S. Leipziger, chief of plastic surgery at North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He was there for a procedure that has rejuvenated many a female face of his acquaintance: a Botox tuneup.
On an island where women already jam plastic surgeons' offices, Dr. Leipziger and others have also been seeing a rise in the number of men who want to look fresher or who think that success in the workplace demands a more youthful appearance.
''Men now look in the mirror just as much as women,'' Dr. Leipziger said. ''The desire to look good transcends the sexes.''
Though his thrice-yearly Botox treatments are still not a topic he's very likely to bring up on the golf course, Mr. Ross says male friends frequently comment on how relaxed his face looks, even if they can't quite figure out why.
Men still account for only about one-eighth of the 10 million cosmetic surgery procedures performed nationwide in 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, but their share has risen by 44 percent in the last five years.
''Men have become much more comfortable seeking plastic surgery,'' Dr. Leipziger said.
More than 313,000 Botox injections, the most popular minimally invasive procedure, were given to men last year. Ranking next in popularity were laser hair removal, microdermabrasion and Restylane injections to plump sagging facial folds.
Because men's muscles tend to be thicker than women's, more Botox is needed to achieve the same result.
Dana Leconey Houston TX explains how to choose a Medical Spa
Patients warned to check out medi-spas before treatment
Patients warned to check out medi-spas before treatment
By Jessica Willey
(5/06/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - People used to go to salons for beauty treatments. Now more Americans are heading to medi-spas. Since 1999, the number of these spas has grown from just one to more than 2000. But the procedures performed can be dangerous.
It seems they are popping up all over Houston and their ads are everywhere. Medi-spas offer the latest trends in cosmetic procedures, including one that uses a laser. It gets so hot, it can permanently zap unwanted hair or dark spots on your skin. Sounds simple, but it can come with a cost.
"The dermatologist told me I had second degree burns," said one customer.
Second degree burns, and all this woman wanted was smooth, hair-less skin.
She explained, "You don't want to have to worry about it at all anymore."
She doesn't want us to identify her because, frankly, she's embarrassed, so we'll just call her Susan. She says on February 3rd she went to the American Laser Center in Sugar Land -- the one in the Total Eye Care Center. She was there for a full body laser hair removal treatment. Minutes into it...
"I felt like I was in flames," she recalled. "It was very, very painful."
She says spoke up, but the treatment continued. Immediately she says she had blisters, and scarring soon after that. She went to seek treatment for her burns and started doing her homework.
"It's disappointing that something like this can cause so much damage and it's not fully regulated," she said.
That's right -- we've learned in the state of Texas, there is little regulation when it comes to the use of lasers. The state tracks who has the machines, but does not regulate who uses them.
Dr Bill Novelli explained, "Everybody is jumping into the laser business -- everybody."
That's including many places that don't even have a medical doctor on site.
'If you think about it, the laser can do the same thing as a scalpel," said State Representative Byron Cook. "So to me it's important we have a medical professional involved in this procedure."
American Laser Centers told us Dr. Kathleen Gilmore is its medical director. She's licensed in Texas, a spokesman says, but practices in Michigan.
At the Houston Institute of Anti-Aging where they, too, offer laser hair removal, there is always a doctor. And lately, the institute's director says, he's been correcting mistakes.
Dana LeConey, with the Houston Institute of Anti-Aging, said, "We're seeing probably two to three patients a day who have been coming in whose skin has been damaged by one of these medical spas who don't have a physician on premises."
It is a problem that has gotten the attention of state legislators.
'Because of the proliferation of these, we just need to make sure the machines are safe and the people operating them have been properly trained to do so," said State Representative Vicki Truitt.
Two bills are on the table to make the state laser law more stringent. One (HB 174) would allow anyone to operate a laser machine who is properly trained and certified. The other (HB 3368) would allow only a medical professional designated by a doctor to operate the machine.
We went to the American Laser Center in question, where we were told all the technicians are highly trained. We wanted to talk to the person who had performed Susan's treatment but&
"We're all pretty new here, so none of us were here in February," the manager told Eyewitness News.
And then we were referred to the corporate office. We asked if it was possible for somebody to be burned during a procedure.
Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Piecuch admitted, "It is a possible outcome though very, very unlikely and very rare. In the month of February we did nearly 80,000 treatments at American laser centers and I'm told out of those 80,000 there were 11 adverse reactions."
But he wouldn't talk about Susan's case because of the possibility of litigation. As for those considering similar treatment...
"Buyer beware, when you're talking about treatments for your body," 'Susan' warned. "Definitely do your research."
We've already done some of it for you. Experts say make sure there is a doctor at the medi-spa when you have your procedure and be leery of an ever-changing staff. We've posted more red flags as well as the proposed legislation to make the laser laws more strict. You may also want to check out the spa's track record with the Better Business Bureau.
Male Menopause.(5/13/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - You usually think about middle-aged moms dealing with menopause. But it affects men as well as women.
SYMPTOMS OF LOW TESTOSTERONE
Increased body fat, especially around the waist
Decreased muscle mass
Decreased muscle strength
Decreased body hair
Reduced quality of sleep
Poor response to exercise
Marked afternoon fatigue
Generally poor stamina
Irritable, grouchy mood
Lack of drive and initiative
Feelings of apathy or depression
Decline in memory or concentration
Decline sexual desire
Decline in sexual (erectile) function
Recent diagnosis of osteoporosis
Recent diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
While many of these symptoms can be signs of a wide variety of conditions, the more of them that you have and the older you are the higher the likelihood that low testosterone may be the cause.
Dr. Bill Fisher, a former astronaut, can be found as an emergency physician at busy Memorial Hermann. In between shifts, he's training to climb Mt. McKinley.
"Knowing I have to be in shape or I will fail helps push me along," he said. "I think I need that."
So it may be a surprise to learn this 61-year-old man's man has been going through male menopause.
"I don't think most men are truly aware that this happens," he said. "People joke about it."
But it's real. Starting in the 40s, a man's testosterone can decrease by 1% a year.
"So it's not noticeable," said Dr. Fisher. "It sort of sneaks up on you."
The symptoms will sound familiar: Drop in energy weight gain, especially the spare tire, muscle mass decrease, depression, irritability, and decreased sex drive.
"Enthusiasm and passion for work was down," said Steve Lazzara, who had these symptoms. "I just didn't have the want to it and it kinda faded away and I knew something was going on."
Lazzara went to Dr. Richard LeConey, who had these symptoms himself.
"I was different and I was also gaining weight where I shouldn't be, right in the middle of my gut," said Dr. LeConey.
"They just assume it's just, I'm getting old," said Dr. Fisher.
How can you tell if it's getting old or testosterone? A simple blood test. Lazzara found his was low and started taking testosterone absorbed through the skin. Now at 62, he has more energy, has started a new business, and says the depression is gone.
"It was a weight had been lifted off my shoulders," he said. "It was a tremendous change."
Dr. Fisher, who uses the patch, also felt better.
"I would say it took about a week before I could feel a difference and over about six months, the problem with weight went away," he said.
Doctors use the testosterone creams, gels or patches, which are absorbed through the skin.
"If the dose is correct, there should be no negative side effects," said Dr. LeConey.
But they're talking testosterone replacement.
"This is not taken for body building and it isn't for people with normal levels," said Dr. Fisher.
But when you get the level right, a man can see more muscle and...
"A little decline in the body fat, particularly around the waist," said Dr. LeConey. "Another benefit they've shown is type 2 diabetics, it helps with glucose control.
"Of course, the sexual aspects are there also," added Lazzara.
"There's the grouchy old man prototype or stereotype," said Dr. LeConey.
But that too can go away for many men.
"They feel better about themselves, better self esteem, have a better outlook," said Dr. LeConey.
"It's made a big difference in my life," said Lazzara.
But many men don't know about it.
"This is basic stuff," said Dr. Fisher. "It's just that usually the family doctor and the person whose doing your physical aren't checking for things like testosterone."
(7/20/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - Wrinkles, brown spots, blotchy skin. Did you know 90 percent of the aging to your face comes from the sun? You've heard over and over to wear sunscreen. But what if you didn't or don't? Well, it's not too late to have beautiful skin.
We talked to three Houston women in their 30s, 40s and 50s with beautiful skin now, but several years ago...
"Blotchiness, brown spots from the sun, just my skin kind of falling," said Helane Kenchd, who's in her 50s.
"A lot of fine lines were showing up, discoloration," added Michele Koss, who is in her 40s.
"I never had acne as a child," said Tane Jamail, representing the 30-somethings. "I developed it as an adult."
So what secrets did they discover the rest of us are dying to know?
"They've known for literally millennia that a certain stripping action of the skin stimulates the skin underneath to re-grow," said Dr. Richard Leconey with the Institute of Anti-Aging.
It's a secret even Cleopatra may have known. Egyptian women were said to have used fruit acids on their faces to gently strip away the external layer of the skin.
First, consider retin-a.
"If I were stranded on an island, it would be all about retin-a," said Jamail. "Cause I just don't wanna get old."
Years worth of studies show retin-a rebuilds collagen.
"Collagen is like the steel of the building," said Dr. Leconey. "It's what gives the skin its structural support. The sun messes up that support. The retin-a will help to rebuild that support."
But be warned -- you'll need a doctor's prescription to get it. If your insurance doesn't cover it, a small tube costs about $60. And when you first start using retin-a, your skin may peel.
"I have to use it every three days because my skin is very sensitive and I will look like I'm peeling all the time," said Kenchd.
"What the retin-a does, is it speeds up cell turnover," So the cells that are normally sloughing off at a slow rate. They start sloughing off faster and it shows up as peeling."
Next, make a habit out of softly 'scrubbing' your face.
"Everyone should gently exfoliate or abrade their skin to the degree that their skin can tolerate it," said Dr. Leconey. "Darker skin can tolerate abrasion more than fairer skin."
When you do exfoliate, use a cleanser that contains glycolic acid.
"They're just gentle acids that will exfoliate the top layer of skin," "And it just brightens your skin up, just makes it look smoother, healthier," said Koss.
"I think it's been dramatic," said Kenchd.
"They tell me how pretty my complexion is and I know what it looked like before," added Jamail. "And that just makes me feel so good."
It takes a little work, but think of it an investment in yourself, one that will pay off for years to come.
You can get products over the counter that contain retin-a. Look for the word "retinol."
Below are more ideas that can improve your complexion.
1. Retin A:
Stimulates the production of new collagen and repairs sun damage to skin and reduces wrinkles.
Will need a doctor's prescription
If your insurance doesn't cover it, a small tube costs about $60
You can get products over the counter that contain Retin-A. Look for the word "Retinol"
Do not use if you are pregnant
2. Glycolic Cleansers
Helps to gently strip-away the external layer of your skin
Use a facial buff-pad to exfoliate as much as your skin will tolerate
Many cleansers contain 'glycolic' acids
3. Daily Moisturizer
Look for one that contains ingredients including Vitamin C, DMAE, alpha lipoic acid
Many doctors recommend a cream called "Facelift in a Jar"
Available at the "Institute of Anti-Aging Medicine" (713) 807-1000
4. Microdermabrasion
A more aggressive approach to exfoliating your skin
Like a tiny vacuum for your face
Done at a doctor's office, but there are some 'at home' kits available
5. Chemical Peel
Combination of chemicals applied to your face to help exfoliate dead skin, stimulate new cell growth, and kill bacteria
Done at a doctor's office
Facial peeling will occur for about one week, depending on the level of the chemicals being used
Cost starts at about $100
By Christi Myers
(5/13/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - You usually think about middle-aged moms dealing with menopause. But it affects men as well as women.
SYMPTOMS OF LOW TESTOSTERONE
Increased body fat, especially around the waist
Decreased muscle mass
Decreased muscle strength
Decreased body hair
Reduced quality of sleep
Poor response to exercise
Marked afternoon fatigue
Generally poor stamina
Irritable, grouchy mood
Lack of drive and initiative
Feelings of apathy or depression
Decline in memory or concentration
Decline sexual desire
Decline in sexual (erectile) function
Recent diagnosis of osteoporosis
Recent diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
While many of these symptoms can be signs of a wide variety of conditions, the more of them that you have and the older you are the higher the likelihood that low testosterone may be the cause.
Dr. Bill Fisher, a former astronaut, can be found as an emergency physician at busy Memorial Hermann. In between shifts, he's training to climb Mt. McKinley.
"Knowing I have to be in shape or I will fail helps push me along," he said. "I think I need that."
So it may be a surprise to learn this 61-year-old man's man has been going through male menopause.
"I don't think most men are truly aware that this happens," he said. "People joke about it."
But it's real. Starting in the 40s, a man's testosterone can decrease by 1% a year.
"So it's not noticeable," said Dr. Fisher. "It sort of sneaks up on you."
The symptoms will sound familiar: Drop in energy weight gain, especially the spare tire, muscle mass decrease, depression, irritability, and decreased sex drive.
"Enthusiasm and passion for work was down," said Steve Lazzara, who had these symptoms. "I just didn't have the want to it and it kinda faded away and I knew something was going on."
Lazzara went to Dr. Richard LeConey, who had these symptoms himself.
"I was different and I was also gaining weight where I shouldn't be, right in the middle of my gut," said Dr. LeConey.
"They just assume it's just, I'm getting old," said Dr. Fisher.
How can you tell if it's getting old or testosterone? A simple blood test. Lazzara found his was low and started taking testosterone absorbed through the skin. Now at 62, he has more energy, has started a new business, and says the depression is gone.
"It was a weight had been lifted off my shoulders," he said. "It was a tremendous change."
Dr. Fisher, who uses the patch, also felt better.
"I would say it took about a week before I could feel a difference and over about six months, the problem with weight went away," he said.
Doctors use the testosterone creams, gels or patches, which are absorbed through the skin.
"If the dose is correct, there should be no negative side effects," said Dr. LeConey.
But they're talking testosterone replacement.
"This is not taken for body building and it isn't for people with normal levels," said Dr. Fisher.
But when you get the level right, a man can see more muscle and...
"A little decline in the body fat, particularly around the waist," said Dr. LeConey. "Another benefit they've shown is type 2 diabetics, it helps with glucose control.
"Of course, the sexual aspects are there also," added Lazzara.
"There's the grouchy old man prototype or stereotype," said Dr. LeConey.
But that too can go away for many men.
"They feel better about themselves, better self esteem, have a better outlook," said Dr. LeConey.
"It's made a big difference in my life," said Lazzara.
But many men don't know about it.
"This is basic stuff," said Dr. Fisher. "It's just that usually the family doctor and the person whose doing your physical aren't checking for things like testosterone."
Doctors are very special people. Whether filling our cavities or treating a deadly disease, our doctors are our heros, the ones
Dr. Richard LeConey, M.D.
Institute on Anti-aging Medicine
3120 Southwest Freeway Houston, tx 77098
713-807-1000
Dr. Richard LeConey, with 25 years experience in the practice of medicine, founded the Institute on Anti-aging Medicine in 1996. During the early years of his medical career, Dr. LeConey focused on emergency medicine and family practice. He founded Southwest Emergency Physicians, which by 1985 employed more than 40 physicians in emergency departments throughout Houston. During this same period, he began building his family practice group that still operates four family practice centers in Houston. More recently, however, his attentions have shifted.
After years of observing older patients arrive to the emergency room with the devastating effects of what he knew to be preventable illnesses, he grew increasingly frustrated, realizing that treating patients in the emergency room was too little, too late.
Dr. LeConey and his wife launched the Institute of Anti-aging Medicine, a comprehensive wellness center that emphasizes total health through preventive medicine, nutritional guidance and supplementation and a balanced exercise program. Dr. LeConey proves that ?conventional medicine finally has the ability to alter the aging process.?
Dr. LeConey boosts patients? lack of energy and ebbing sex drive through the use of hormone replacement, vitamins and antioxidants. He prescribes medicines that will lower cholesterol and blood pressure before the problems are insurmountable. Patients receive guidance on nutrition and how to exercise correctly and effectively. Skin care specialists at the Institute also evaluate each patient?s skin type and condition and recommend a comprehensive program to combat the damage of aging and the sun. Being a patient of the Institute of Anti-aging Medicine is life altering in that it is all encompassing ? truly a total wellness program.
While the Institute of Anti-aging Medicine treats both men and women, a significant percentage of Dr. LeConey?s patients are male. As men approach middle age, they experience a decline in vigor and stamina, accompanied by lower sex drive. This is called andropause. It is caused by a gradual yet severe drop in the male hormone, testosterone, similar to a female?s menopause. This loss in testosterone permeates all aspects of a man?s life, from decreased strength and endurance to diminished sex drive to declined work performance and increased fatigue.
Reduced memory, thyroid function and energy, along with increased body fat, sore joints and muscles, emotional instability and low sex drive, are some telltale signs of aging that can be reversed with testosterone and other fundamental hormones. Dr. LeConey closely follows the progress of patients on the wellness program.
Dr. LeConey earned his bachelors degree from The University of Texas in Austin and his doctorate from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He then extended his studies to include anti-aging medicine through two years of post-graduate education. A member of the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists, Dr. LeConey is board certified in both emergency medicine and anti-aging medicine.
Taking years off your hands' age
By Ilona Carson
(9/28/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - If you're bothered by your aging skin, you're not alone. A recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology shows 69% of women say they're worried about looking old. Now there's something new catching on in Houston. It may seem extreme to some of you -- but for those willing to do anything to look younger, it's another weapon to add to their arsenal.
Institute of Anti-Aging Medicine
713-807-1000 Website
Nothing can give away your age more than your hands. Just ask 45-year-old Houstonian Cindi Carr.
She described her hands, "They're really thin. They're just bony and my veins just stick out. They're just like, gross! I hate them, all creaky looking."
Cindi says she works on her body, her hair, her skin, her face, but never thought about how quickly her hands were aging. So now she's doing something drastic.
"I'm having Restylane injected into my hands," she said,
Restylane is a semi-permanent filler. It's mostly been used on the face to fill in wrinkles or add volume. But now, it's catching on in Houston as the hottest way to plump up aging hands.
Dana LeConey, with the Institute of Anti-Aging, explained, "It takes like five, ten minutes. There's no pain, no bruising and it'll plump the hands, take years off your look."
Before the procedure, a deadening cream is rubbed on Cindi's hands so she won't feel the needle. About 20 injections are given along the sides of her tendons, where the skin is especially thin.
"Not even as bad as a bee sting," Cindi said.
It's an easy procedure but it's not permanent. The filler material will disappear within about a year. And it's expensive.
"It could be anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000," Dana said. And what about safety?
Anti-aging specialist Dr. Richard LeConey explained, "The new fillers like Restylane are made with pure hyloronic acid. It's hypo-allergenic to the point of being non-allergenic. I personally have never seen an allergic reaction to hyloronic acid and I believe worldwide it's virtually zero. So they are extremely safe."
Still, if you're considering this, do your homework.
Dana said, "You can go to any dermatologist, plastic surgeon, anti-aging doctor, cosmetic doctor, but definitely do your research."
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, click here
Perlane® restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds). After your treatment, you might have some swelling, redness, pain, and bruising. This will normally last less than seven days. Although rare, red or swollen small bumps may occur. If you have had herpes before, an injection can cause the herpes to return. In rare circumstances, the doctor may inject into a blood vessel, which can damage the skin. To avoid bruising and bleeding, you should not use Perlane if you have recently used drugs that thin your blood or prevent clotting. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under 18, you shouldn’t use Perlane®
It's the start of our relationship week! Find out how to make your love last! Plus, men go through menopause too? Dr. Richard LeConey says they do! Tune in!
Face Lift in a jar Antiage Houston Texas
Houston pharmacy perfects 'facelift in a jar'
Angelina, Natalie, Beyonce and Lindsay -- being young has never been so hot. So how can we all roll back the hands, and wrinkles, of time? Introducing "facelift in a jar"! Dana LeConey, Institute of Anti-Aging Director, explained, "It tones and tightens the muscles that cause your face to get a nice lift." LeConey says the cream contains high levels of ingredients you won't find at the cosmetics counter. "The DMAE tightens the skin, vitamin C which we're delivering at high levels, and alphalypoic acid which is an anti-oxidant and our patients love it," LeConey told Eyewitness News.
About ArteFill®
An innovation in safe, enduring wrinkle correction
Why ArteFill?
Facial wrinkles are a result of the natural aging process. Over time, the skin loses its ability to repair itself as the underlying elastin and collagen fibers break down and lose elasticity. Heredity, UV exposure, and repetitive facial movement can all contribute to the development of facial wrinkles and folds.
ArteFill is the first and only FDA-approved non-resorbable wrinkle filler for the correction of smile lines.
Immediate, visible results with no down time
A simple, in-office procedure
Excellent safety profile1
Results improve over the course of several months and stand the test of time
Usually requires only 1 or 2 treatments
Personalized ArteFill Progressive Enhancement™ (gradual wrinkle correction) helps ensure the look you desire
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple, nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily smooth moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people from 18 to 65 years of age. It is the only treatment of its type approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Take a look at men and women who've had BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments, and see for yourself!
One 10-minute treatment—a few tiny injections—and within days there's a noticeable improvement in moderate to severe frown lines between the brows, which can last up to 4 months. Results may vary.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, which reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those frown lines between the brows to form over time.
In 2005, almost 3.3 million procedures were performed with FDA-approved BOTOX® Cosmetic.
There’s only one BOTOX® Cosmetic. Talk to your doctor to see if BOTOX® Cosmetic is right for you!
Allergan, Inc. Announces Nationwide Availability of Juvederm
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 17, 2007 - Allergan, Inc. (NYSE:AGN), the maker of BOTOX(R) Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A), today announced nationwide availability of its 'next-generation' hyaluronic acid dermal filler family of products, JUVEDERM™ ULTRA and JUVEDERM™ ULTRA PLUS.
"We are pleased to now provide JUVEDERM™ dermal fillers to physicians and their patients across the country," said Robert Grant, President of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc. "We believe that the unique scientific benefits and technologically advanced, smooth formulation of JUVEDERM™ will establish the brand as a leader alongside BOTOX(R) Cosmetic in Allergan's TOTAL FACIAL REJUVENATION™ offering."
The JUVEDERM™ dermal filler family of products provides physicians with the flexibility to tailor each treatment to a patient's particular needs. JUVEDERM™ ULTRA is a highly cross-linked formulation for more versatility in contouring and volumizing facial wrinkles and folds; and JUVEDERM™ ULTRA PLUS is a more highly cross-linked, robust formulation for volumizing and correction of deeper folds and wrinkles.
"In the clinical trials, I found JUVEDERM™ injectable gel to be a smooth-flowing product to inject, providing patients with a natural and smooth correction of facial wrinkles and folds," said Dr. Mark Pinsky, clinical investigator in the JUVEDERM™ dermal filler study. "I have seen similar results with the patients I have currently enrolled in the JUVEDERM™ Experience Trial, and I look forward to providing both JUVEDERM™ ULTRA and JUVEDERM™ ULTRA PLUS dermal fillers to many more of my patients now that the product is widely available. The ease of the injection and its long-lasting smooth and natural results make JUVEDERM™ an important facial rejuvenation tool in my practice."
JUVEDERM™ is the only hyaluronic acid dermal filler developed using the proprietary HYLACROSS™ technology, an advanced manufacturing process resulting in a malleable gel that flows easily into the skin and creates a smooth, natural look and feel. All other hyaluronic acid dermal fillers currently on the market, including Restylane(R) are granular consistency gels. An example of the granular consistency of Restylane(R) (under 2.4X magnification, 0.05 mL) can be seen in the accompanying photo and can be compared to JUVEDERM™ ULTRA and JUVEDERM™ ULTRA PLUS (under 2.4X magnification, 0.05 mL). The clinical significance of the differences has not been established.
Like BOTOX(R) Cosmetic treatment, JUVEDERM™ dermal fillers should only be administered by a trained and qualified health care provider.
Important JUVEDERM™ Dermal Filler Safety Information
In clinical studies, adverse events were usually mild to moderate in nature, did not require intervention and lasted seven days or less. The most common side effects included temporary injection site reactions including redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps and bumps and bruising.
Important BOTOX(R) Cosmetic Safety Information
BOTOX(R) Cosmetic is indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age. BOTOX(R) Cosmetic is the only product of its type approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows. BOTOX(R) Cosmetic should only be administered by a trained and qualified health care provider.
Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc., offers the most comprehensive, science-based, aesthetic product offerings under its TOTAL FACIAL REJUVENATION™ portfolio, including BOTOX(R) Cosmetic; hyaluronic acid and collagen-based dermal fillers; and physician-dispensed skin care products. Allergan Medical also offers the industry's widest range of silicone gel-filled and saline-filled breast implant options for reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery, and leading minimally invasive devices for obesity intervention treatment.
What is Juvaderm?
What Is JUVÉDERM™ Injectable Gel?
As we age, our skin changes. Over time, the natural volume of youthful skin begins to diminish as wrinkles and folds form. But, with Juvéderm™ injectable gel, you don't have to just sit back and let it happen! Recently approved by the FDA, Juvéderm™ injectable gel is a “next-generation” dermal filler. The smooth consistency gel helps to instantly restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your "smile lines" or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds—the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth).
Juvéderm™ is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. Your healthcare professional eases Juvéderm™ injectable gel under the skin to provide a smooth, natural look and feel—so everyone will notice (but no one will know)! In fact, studies show superior results of Juvéderm™ compared to a collagen-based dermal filler.* And, almost 90% of all study volunteers who were treated with both Juvéderm™ injectable gel and another dermal filler* preferred Juvéderm™! In addition, Juvéderm™ injectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be safe and effective for persons of color.
Wrinkle Fillers go to War, Houston Texas
Wrinkle Rivals Go to War
Illustration by Chang Park for The New York Times
Dave Weaver for The New York Times
FACE TO FACE Dr. Joel Schlessinger holds the contenders. He took part in the Juvéderm giveaway.
Mac or PC?
Restylane or Juvéderm?
The last two products, cosmetic injections used to fill out facial creases and hollows, are hardly household names. But when the makers of Juvéderm began giving away their product free to users of Restylane last month, they set off a marketing battle, which some see as the $12-billion-a-year cosmetic medical industry’s budding version of the cola wars.
With an estimated one million Americans using injections to smooth wrinkles and plump up skin, the makers of Juvéderm have invited doctors to enroll up to 10,000 patients in a giveaway program for their product.
Robert Grant, the president of Allergan Medical, which makes Juvéderm, said the free trial program — offered only to patients who have used Restylane, the leading facial filler — will provide the company with feedback about the new product, which was approved in June.
He said the giveaway is also part of a plan to make Juvéderm a household name on a par with the company’s blockbuster cosmetic injection, Botox.
But Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation, which owns the American rights to Restylane, has denounced the giveaway, calling it biased, risky to patients and “a commercial platform under the guise of science.”
To some doctors and industry analysts, the free Juvéderm injections represent the opening salvo in a battle for dominance in the rapidly growing market for cosmetic facial injections, a competition expected to intensify as the F.D.A. approves other products.
Pharmaceutical company sales from fillers last year were estimated to be $250 million, which is up from about $100 million in 2003, said David Steinberg.
That does not include 2005 sales figures for the cosmetic use of Botox, a toxin injected into the skin, which performs a different function: relaxing the muscles underneath wrinkles. The sales of Botox for cosmetic use were estimated to be around $360 million, he said.
Over all, there are no reliable statistics on how many filler treatments are administered because each patient requires different amounts. But Mr. Grant of Allergan said there are 27 million potential American customers for all injections.
Critics said the marketing of these products is an attempt by manufacturers to make cosmetic medical treatments seem less clinical, turning them into consumer brand names like those at department store beauty counters. Dr. Lawrence S. Reed, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan, likened the Juvéderm giveaway to the Pepsi Challenge.
“This is a foolish promotion that is going to start a war of injectables between Restylane and Juvéderm, which, like Coke and Pepsi, are essentially made out of the same ingredients, using slightly different formulas,” Dr. Reed said.
In a youth-dominated, celebrity-obsessed culture, aggressive marketing for medical products that can temporarily or even permanently augment the skin is hardly a surprise.
But with an increasing range of cosmetic medical procedures that promise to unfurrow wrinkles, spackle creases, fatten up lips and plump cheeks and other bits of flesh that abate with age, consumers are likely to have more of a challenge distinguishing the safest and most effective brand of treatment.
At the moment the injectable substances approved by the F.D.A. to fill out facial folds are collagen; several brands of hyaluronic acid; and ArteFill, tiny permanent beads suspended in a collagen solution. Other substances pending approval for cosmetic use include a more viscous hyaluronic acid called Perlane, and Radiesse, a paste containing calcium particles.
“We are in the age of fillers,” said Dr. Paul J. Frank, a dermatologist in Manhattan, who participated in the giveaway program, calling it “an excellent marketing ploy.” Dr. Frank added, “We are going to see much more market competition.”
Both Restylane and Juvéderm are transparent gels made of hyaluronic acid, a complex chain of sugar molecules, which is related to the same substance the human body produces to give structure to the skin. Unlike Botox, which works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles underlying wrinkles, injections of hyaluronic acid temporarily fill out depleted areas, adding volume to the skin.
“Hyaluronic acid is like the Jell-O molds you made as a kid that magically suspended pieces of fruit,” said Dr. Richard G. Glogau, a clinical professor of dermatology. Dr. Glogau has been paid to conduct research for Allergan and Medicis. “You are basically injecting more Jell-O soup into your skin.”
The cosmetic effects of such injections usually last up to six months or more, he said. Side effects have included swelling, bruising and lumpiness
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By Jessica Willey 
