Posts Tagged ‘Botox’

FDA Approves Botulinum Toxin for Therapeutic Treatment

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

InjectablesThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved XEOMIN, a botulinum toxin type A for treating adults with cervical dystonia or blepharospasm. This is the third product of this kind to be approved in the U.S., after Botox and Dysport.

Dystonias are movement disorders in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.  Focal dystonia, which includes cervical dystonia, and may be characterized by twisting of the neck, and blepharospasm, or excessive eyelid spasm, is estimated to affect about 295 out of one million people in the U.S., according to a study conducted in Rochester, Minnesota.

The FDA approval of XEOMIN, a product of Merz Pharmaceuticals, is based on the results of two U.S. clinical trials. In a study cited in the Journal of Neurological Sciences on the efficacy and safety of XEOMIN, it showed “non-inferiority” to Botox when used in the same doses to treat cervical dystonia. The study concluded that XEOMIN is a safe and effective treatment for the disorder.

XEOMIN is the only botulinum toxin that doesn’t require refrigeration prior to reconstitution, and Merz therefore believes this may “simplify product distribution and storage and help ensure product integrity at the time of injection.”

Earlier this year, Merz announced it would be acquiring BioForm Medical, a leader in the dermal filler market in the U.S. and Europe with its Radiesse dermal filler. Following completion of the acquisition, Merz and will be renamed “Merz Aesthetics.”

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Company Aims to Make “No-needle” Botox a Reality

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Botox cream before & after photosRevance Therapeutics, a bio-pharmaceutical company in California, is exploring a “no-needle” Botox product that could be applied to the skin in cream form, reports WCBS-TV in New York City.

There are still two years of clinical trials to go for the product, called RT001, after which the FDA will decide whether to approve the drug.

The cream is being tested for use on crow’s feet, and patients in the early trials tended to see a moderate reduction in wrinkles around their eyes after using the product for about a month.

While having a non-injectable alternative to Botox may seem like a no-brainer, some doctors point out the potential dangers. In an interview with WCBS-TV, New York City dermatologist Dr. David Colbert says he worries that such a product would be so popular that black market versions would be sold online without oversight and that the potential muscle paralyzing effects could be dangerous.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea, but I’m more concerned about the welfare of people who would use it irresponsibly,” Colbert says.

Others feel differently. Dr. Scott Newman, a plastic surgeon in New York City, told  WCBS-TV that he feels the potential benefit is worth the risk. “It’s like the holy grail. If you can get a wonderful result with less downside, why wouldn’t that be an attractive option?”

Dr. Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon in Michigan, had his own thoughts on the product’s potential that he shared on his website: “I think a huge application of this topical botulinum toxin is in sweat reduction. Could you imagine an antiperspirant stick with this product that lasts several months with each application and leaves no residue? I’d buy it!”

The segment can be view on WCBS-TV’s website at http://wcbstv.com/video, by searching for “Botox cream.” (Pictured: before & after use of RT001 for 28 days; image via WCBS-TV)

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Study Investigates if Botox Affects Emotions

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Woman smilingA study published in the June 2010  issue of  Emotion, a journal of the American Psychological Association, examined if Botox injections have an effect on emotional experience.

To test if feedback from facial expressions influences emotional experience, Joshua Davis and Ann Senghas, Barnard College professors who led the research, compared the impact on self-reported emotional experiences of a group who had Botox injections, which paralyze muscles of facial expression, and a control group who had Restylane injections, a filler that does not affect facial muscles.

The abstract says, “When examined alone, Botox participants showed no pre- to post-treatment changes in emotional responses to our most positive and negative video clips.” However, comparing the Botox group to the Restylane group showed that 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 that feedback from facial expressions is not necessary for emotional experience, but may influence emotional experience in some circumstances.

The study is titled “The effects of BOTOX injections on emotional experience” and the abstract is available online. Dr. Lo offers both Botox and Restylane injections at his Tucson, Arizona office.

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Botox Cosmetic Has Potential as Migraine Headache Treatment

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Botox, the ultra popular injectable drug might be used as a treatment for severe migraine headaches in the future, according to research recently published in Archives of Dermatology.

Researchers recommend the alternative use of Botox: “at doses appropriate for cosmetic purposes, [Botox injections] may be sufficient to prevent migraine attacks” wrote authors of the study.

Writers for Bloomberg news say pharmaceutical company and Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc has applied for FDA clearance to market Botox as a headache treatment.  However, researchers say they cannot fully explain how Botox works to relieve headaches. One co-author of the study, Rami Burstein says, “it may block the signals in sensory nerves located on the outside of the head.”

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Happy New Year to our patients and friends!

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

We hope all of our readers and patients are having a wonderful holiday season. Here at Aboutfaces Cosmetic Surgery, we are grateful for the activities and accomplishments over the past year, some highlights are:

 - a very successful open house event,

- bringing in the first and only Fraxel Repair laser to Tucson,

- Sculptra!

- an ever-growing family of patients who keep us busy with everything from aesthetician treatments to injectables to surgeries.

We hope to see you in the New Year!

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Dysport rebates in December!

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Another reason to celebrate in the month of December!  Dysport treatment rebates for $75.00 which expires on December 31st 2009. (There is no limit on units)… Bonnie at our office is standing by to schedule your apt!

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Botox Sales Increase Despite Competition and Slow Economy

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Tucson BotoxAllergan Inc. posted an 8.3 percent rise in profit last quarter, despite lower projections and competition from Dysport, the latest Botox alternative.

Surprisingly, both pharmaceuticals, Allergan and Medicis, grew during the third quarter, and analysts partially attribute their success to the popular cosmetic treatments.

According to CNN Money, revenues for Dysport manufacturer Medicis last quarter were 30 percent above last year’s figures.  “We are encouraged by the positive physician and patient response to DYSPORT,” said Medicis CEO Jonah Shacknai.

To the surprise of many industry experts, Dysport didn’t manage to hurt sales of Botox.  Aided by a 3 percent increase in Botox sales, “Allergan’s third quarter profit rose 8.3 percent” reports the Wall Street Journal.  New treatment applications are also moving toward FDA approval, which could drive sales further.

Although there’s been moderate interest about Dysport in Tucson, Botox still dominates with much stronger brand awareness.

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Allergan Sues FDA to “Market” Off Label Botox

Monday, October 5th, 2009

allerganAllergan Inc., manufacturer of Botox cosmetic has filed suit against the U.S. FDA, arguing that restrictions placed on marketing off-label Botox work against the best interest of patients and physicians.

Although Botox is typically used (and approved) to treat wrinkles on the face and forehead, a wide range of other treatment applications exist.

The FDA announced last year that Botox complications had been linked to off-label use, particularly in children treated for limb spasticity.  According to current U.S. law, physicians are permitted to administer medicine for any application they deem appropriate.  They aren’t however, allowed to market medicine for any application they please.

Such marketing restrictions have apparently hindered the pharmaceutical company’s ability to distribute safety information related to off-label Botox use.  The suit is intended to increase the physician’s ability to access safety information such as possible risks, benefits, dosing, patient selection, etc. and is in no way intended to increase sales of the drug.

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$50 Botox Rebate Now at our Tucson, Arizona office

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

botox_rebate



Stop in to About Faces Cosmetic Surgery to receive a $50 rebate on Botox treatment!

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ASAPS Asks Patients: Why Use Botox or Wrinkle Fillers?

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

A survey conducted by researchers from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has given us some insight about patients who choose wrinkle treatments. Researchers sent questionnaires last March to 687 patients who had received Botox and/or dermal filler treatment. 

The following statistics illustrate the opinions of the ‘typical’ patient. Who is the ‘typical’ patient?  According to the survey results, she is “a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.”

Roughly 70 percent of the respondents claimed that Botox and dermal fillers play an important role in their cosmetic routine.

When asked what their motivation was for pursuing Botox treatment, 34 percent said their appearance looked “stressed” or “angry”. Others said that a friend, family member, or their physician had recommended it, or they were preparing for a social event. 66 percent said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year. 72 percent of the respondents chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows.  

When asked about their motivation to use hyaluronic acid fillers, the majority (63 percent) of patients reported a desire to remove facial wrinkles and folds – mostly the nasolabial folds that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth.

Nearly 70 percent of the respondents who had been treated with Botox also opted for dermal filler treatment.

A full summary of the results is available (in MS Word) here.

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