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Skin Speaks Blog
Archive for the ‘Botox’ Category
Monday, July 26th, 2010
 A new special report titled “The Beauty Advantage” on Newsweek.com argues that the quest to look good isn’t just a vain pursuit.
Newsweek surveyed 202 corporate hiring managers and found that 56 percent of them said qualified but unattractive candidates are likely to have a harder time getting a job. More than half recommended spending as much time and money on “making sure they look attractive” as on perfecting a résumé.
When the hiring managers were asked to rate nine character attributes in order of importance for job candidates, looks came in third, after experience and confidence—and before where an applicant went to school.
The report also includes an interactive feature called “The Beauty Breakdown,” which estimates what a lifetime of cosmetic maintenance will cost a “modern diva.” Gathering data from a number of sources—including the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and Allure magazine—it looks at beauty costs from the tween years through 50 plus for American women, coming up with a lifetime total of $449,127.
For those in their 30s and 40s that included treatments like microdermabrasion, Botox, lip plumping, and laser varicose vein treatments, in addition to hair care, waxing, and tanning. For women over 50, chemical peels and deep line wrinkle fillers were added to the regimen.
For the lifetime total, the amount spent on the face was estimated at just over $314,000, more than treatments on hair, the body, and hands and feet combined.
In today’s economy, spending money on these treatments may not be “frivolous,” the magazine notes.
“Economists have long recognized what’s been dubbed the ‘beauty premium’—the idea that pretty people, whatever their aspirations, tend to do better in, well, almost everything. Handsome men earn, on average, 5 percent more than their less-attractive counterparts (good-looking women earn 4 percent more),” the report says.
Dr. Carney’s Skin Speaks Spa M.D., with five locations in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, offers a range of treatments to help you look your best, including Botox, chemical peels, and wrinkle fillers. (image via Newsweek.com)
Tags: anti-aging, Botox, chemical peel
Posted in Botox, In the news, Wrinkle Fillers | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
 Botox is known for its ability to smooth wrinkles when injected into the face, but Johns Hopkins researchers may have found another use that goes beyond the cosmetic.
The researchers found that patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), a painful and debilitating nerve compression disorder, reported a significant reduction in short-term pain after receiving a single, low-dose injection of Botox in a neck muscle.
Researchers say the study suggests that Botox could be a noninvasive alternative to rib-removal surgery—the syndrome’s treatment of last resort.
“There haven’t been many alternatives to the use of surgery to treat this syndrome,” says Paul J. Christo, M.D., M.B.A., an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author. “Botox seems to be an effective treatment that avoids surgery’s obvious drawbacks, such as its invasive nature and long recovery time.”
Since the effect from Botox lasts only a few months, repeated injections would be necessary to maintain the results, and repeated treatments may lead to development of antibodies to the compound in some patients. That would mean the toxin would no longer block pain, and therefore not all patients are candidates for Botox, says Christo.
As potential therapeutic uses grow, Botox’s use as a cosmetic procedure remains popular. According to 2009 statistics from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery it was the number one less-invasive cosmetic procedure performed last year in the United States and is one of the procedures Dr. Carney performs in his Twin Cities locations.
Read the full release, Botox Eases Nerve Pain in Certain Patients, at the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. You can also read some of Dr. Carney’s answers to questions about Botox, including the use of Botox for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) at Real Self.
Tags: Botox
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Thursday, November 5th, 2009
The latest reports from Wall Street say Allergan and Medicis, makers of Botox and Dysport, respectively, are posting increased revenues this quarter.
Analysts suggest that Botox and Dysport sales contributed significantly to that growth. Revenues for Dysport manufacturer Medicis last quarter increased 31 percent from the same period last year, according to CNN Money. “We are encouraged by the positive physician and patient response to DYSPORT” said CEO Jonah Shacknai.
Although other new products have given Medicis a boost, a very similar pattern is being seen with Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc. WSJ reports that a 3 percent increase in Botox sales helped Allergan’s third quarter profit rise 8.3 percent. New medical uses of Botox have the potential to increase Botox sales even further in the future, pending FDA approval of course.
Although there’s been a positive response to Dysport in Minneapolis, the brand awareness of Botox is still a major factor affecting sales, and that probably won’t change anytime soon.
Tags: Botox, Dysport
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Sunday, October 4th, 2009
Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc has filed suit against the United States FDA, contending that marketing restrictions placed on off-label Botox are not beneficial for physicians or patients.
Although Botox is typically used (and approved) to treat wrinkles on the face and forehead, other treatment applications (approved and non-approved) are wide-ranging. 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 use they please.
According to Allergan representatives, the lawsuit is not intended to increase sales of Botox, but rather increase the physician’s ability to access information regarding the safety (risks, benefits, dosing, patient selection) of off-label Botox use.
Some of the most common Botox treatments aside from wrinkle reduction are for hyperhidrosis, muscle spasms around the eye, and cervical dystonia.
Posted in Botox, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
 Although people are definitely becoming more optimistic about the economy these days, competition on the job market is still fierce. We’ve had more than a few patients at our Minneapolis locations say they suspect their age, or appearance is affecting their job prospects to some extent.
Everyone is looking for an advantage to land a good position, and many have turned to their hair stylist for a new look, or their local surgeon for Botox or Dysport wrinkle injections. When you have to compete with young adults just out of college, who often accept a much lower wage, you need to present yourself in the best possible light.
Men and women are using some of their extra time to get a little touchup with injectables like Botox or Restylane, and some even go as far as having eyelid surgery. Botox is the most popular non- invasive cosmetic procedure in the U.S. More than 5 million treatments were done just last year. The cost of a single treatment will vary, and it pays to keep an eye out for monthly specials and events.
If you are going for treatments prior to a job interview, give yourself at least 1 week to heal and let the treatment take effect. Remember, doing well on an interview is not only about how you look, but whether you exude confidence about yourself and your ability to do the job.
Posted in Botox, Wrinkle Fillers | No Comments »
Monday, July 13th, 2009
Come in now to one of our Twin Cities locations to receive a 50 dollar rebate on Botox Cosmetic.
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Thursday, July 9th, 2009
 Our dermatology clinics have seen a significant number of patients seeking Botox treatment for excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis.
A research study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (March 2008) compared Botox with topical treatments using aluminum chloride for treatment of hyperhidrosis. In a clinical trial, 25 patients were given topical treatment and 25 were given Botox. The authors reported, “At week 4, 92% of the subjects in the Botox group achieved treatment response compared with 33% of the subjects in the AC group.”
The researchers concluded that Botox was “superior” to topical agents for the treatment of hyperhidrosis, but also revealed that “treatment with aluminum chloride was effective and tolerated in 29% of patients.” So Botox is by no means the only option; there are other products available that may be less expensive and potentially helpful in providing relief. However, if you have already tried several products and have not seen significant changes in your excessive sweating, we do suggest therapeutic treatment with Botox.
We have proposed 2 treatment levels for this therapy. From experience we know that a vial (100 units) of Botox is maximum dosage used in each underarm, palm of hand, or sole of foot. However, we also recognize that 1/2 of this dosage (50 units) is quite effective as well.
Unfortunately, we’ve found that few patients are getting insurance coverage for using Botox, despite the supporting research and FDA approval for this indication. We do offer CareCredit financing options and competitive pricing. For more information, contact Skin Speaks/Advancements in Dermatology.
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Monday, June 1st, 2009
 The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has given us a bit of insight about patients who choose wrinkle treatments. Last March, researchers sent questionnaires 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.”
Approximately 70 percent of the respondents claimed that Botox and dermal fillers played 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.
A full summary of the results is available (in MS Word) here. For more information on wrinkle treatments in Minneapolis, see our homepage.
Posted in Botox, Wrinkle Fillers | No Comments »
Saturday, December 13th, 2008
A $1.1 billion dollar deal was announced on December 1 for giant Johnson & Johnson to acquire breast implant and cosmetic specialities supplier, Mentor corporation.  Analysts say that recent market turmoil and the consumer spending slump may have forced the deal.  While breast implant procedures have dropped off significantly in the current market, non-invasive procedures like Botox have maintained strength. which could be good news for both companies.
By late 2010, Mentor (which will stand alone post-acquisition) is expected to receive FDA approval on a new wrinkle-relaxing, injectable neuroxtoxin called PurTox.  The product should place Mentor (and J&J) in direct competition with Botox manufacturer Allergan.
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Monday, August 4th, 2008
Some things are worth buying only the best: shoes, chocolate, cosmetic procedures. A recent news story hammered home just how important it is to find a qualified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. A Huntington Beach, California physician was reprimanded for injecting non-FDA approved botulinum toxin into ten patients. He and about a hundred of his colleagues had bought the cheaper black market Botox at medical conventions without realizing it wasn’t approved for use in patients.
If you are interested in Botox in the Minneapolis area, see dermatologist Patrick Carney in Edina, Burnsville, Crystal, or Robbinsdale.
Skin Speaks Spa MD is the number one Botox and Juvederm provider in the Midwest.
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