News blog posts and news

Johnson & Johnson Kills Evolence, Cosmetic Wrinkle Filler

A division of Johson & Johnson, Ortho Dermatologics, sent out notice (below) that Evolence--a wrinkle filler--was being taken off the market and the product is up for sale. The Ortho website for Evolence is said to be "under construction." 

Evolence has failed to gain traction in a market crowded with alternatives like Restylane and Juvederm. On RealSelf.com patients have complained about Evolence results more than any comparable wrinkle treatment, with 35% saying Evolence was "worth it."

The most recent Evolence posting by a patient complained about lumps:

"Ughh...I am so scared. Had two syringes of Evolence injected 4 days ago (nasolabial folds) and I have a hard bumpy line on one side with redness and the other side looks maybe 25% better but with red bumps...and it still hurts. I am feeling very disappointed and worried that those bumps and lumps will stay...I don't look better at all!!!"

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New National Trend Data For Cosmetic Surgery And Treatments

Noses in Northeast, Tummy Tucks in the South, Breast Reductions in the Pacific Northwest

Despite the down economy, cosmetic procedures continue to be a hot topic across the country as people research various treatments they may consider in the future. But does where people live affect what’s hot and what’s not in cosmetic makeovers? Our geographic based search data suggests the answer is “yes.”

Here are some highlights:

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Buying Botox From A Canadian Pharmacy - Who's Doing It?

Search Google for Botox information and you're very likely to run across ads promising heavy discounts on self-administered Botox injections.

Most sites appear under web addresses using keywords like Canada+pharmacy, clearly suggesting that buying Botox from Canada will help you skirt regulations in the US that prevent the sale of Botox direct to consumers.

Misleading marketing

Our staff examined a few of these sites (and blocked the advertisers from appearing on RealSelf.com's Google ad placements), after seeing clear signs of misleading marketing as well as learning from our doctors that buying Botox online without a prescription is dangerous and potentially lethal.

Botox sellers that actively promote using Google Adwords program include:

• discountmedspa.com
• canadadrugpharmacy.com
• CanadaPharmacyOnline.com
• CanadianPharmacyMeds.com
• pretique.com
• CanadaDrugCenter.com
• AxonMedicalSupplies.com
• NorthWestPharmacy.com

One of these sellers, called pretique.com is largely representative of what you can find at these sites. Confusing information, manipulative page descriptions, and FAQs suggesting self-injecting drugs is easy and low risk. 

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Claim Check: Botox Can Cure Migraine Headaches Too!

The Claim: Botox injections can help "correct" migraine headaches by targeting their trigger.

The Background: RealSelf experts have actually been asked about this for a while, but a just-released study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), says that 57 percent of the patients who were treated with a surgical procedure similar to a forehead lift (and prepared for the surgery with Botox) reported "complete elimination" of their migraine symptoms a year later. And 83 percent of the surgery patients experienced a 50 percent reduction in symptoms after the year.

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Will Your Botaxes Pay For Health Care Reform?

To fund new health-care initiatives, rumors abound that US Senators are considering a tax on elective cosmetic procedures like Botox. Call them the "Botaxes" or "vanity taxes," as these revenue generators were called in the past.

Attempts by state legislatures to tax cosmetic surgery to subsidize health programs and close budget gaps are relatively few. In 2004, New Jersey passed the first Botax law; the state levied a 6% tax on cosmetic procedures including hair transplants, chemical peels and liposuction. Plastic surgeons in New Jersey complained bitterly about the taxes, namely because they believed that patients would simply take their business to another tax-free state and that revenue projections for the tax were overstated.

In fighting against the NJ tax, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) worked to dispel the perception that cosmetic surgery is for the wealthy, and thus a fair purchase to tax. The organization's surveys found that most cosmetic procedures are paid for out-of-pocket by middle-income-earning, working women.

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Toronto MD Accused Of "Lack Of Judgment" In Lipo Death Hearing

In the first day of a disciplinary hearing investigating the 2007 death of Krista Stryland after liposuction, the lawyer for Ontario's medical oversight group said that Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar (right) exhibited a "fundamental lack of knowledge and a marked lack of judgment" in the Stryland case and others.

Carolyn Silver, the lawyer for the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, alleged that before Stryland (left) died on the table following liposuction in 2007, Dr. Yazdanfar left her in an "obviously unstable condition," and moved on to her next surgery patient.

Dr. Yazdanfar's lawyer says the allegation is "simply not true" and that the complication involved could have happened to any certified plastic surgeon.

The American Society for Plastic Surgeons has published guidelines stating that no more than 5 liters of fat and fluids should be removed during liposuction. A review of 40 of Yazdanfar's cases revealed that she allegedly removed more than five liters in over half of the cases, and in some she removed nearly double the recommended maximum amount.

The 39-year-old family physician began performing cosmetic procedures in 2000; she was ordered in May 2009 to immediately cease treating patients, including all pre-operative and post-operative appointments, pending the outcome of the case.

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Beer Just Might Be Good For Your Skin, And Other Skincare And Beauty News

RealSelf's roundup of the latest in beauty and skincare news from the trades and papers:

1. Could beer actually help make you more beautiful?

Beer: Not so good for your gut, might be good for your skin. So says this piece, which suggests brewer's yeast and other components of beer might help acne and are loaded with antioxidants. Lots of big words here, but interesting. (Shill alert: They're also selling brewer's yeast skin products.) [TruthInAging]

2. Once more, with feeling: Sunscreens don't increase melanoma risk.

Some recent controversial studies have claimed zinc oxide and other sunscreen components actually harm the skin and increase the risk of melanoma. Here's a definitive debunk. [NYTimes]

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Botox Passing Rebates Onto Consumers, Rolls Out Limited Time $50 To $100 Back

Ever noticed a doctor advertise they're a Botox "platinum plus" or "diamond" provider? This distinction has nothing to do with Botox skills, and everything to do with buying and selling Botox to consumers.

Doctors achieve status with Allergan by getting points for every Botox vial they purchase. The levels range from "silver" all the way up to diamond.  Rumors are Allergan is working on a super premium category for their ultra-important practices.

Besides a framed certificate and bragging rights, high Botox volume medical practices also get benefits like doctor finder listings on the Botox Cosmetic website, media training and support, as well as a lab coats that say Botox, Botulinum Toxin Type A.

Botox rebates to the doctor

The incentive most important to medical practices are rebates. We've been told some offices can receive up to 9% rebates (annually) plus 10 to 15 "bonus" vials per quarter.  That is, they get a check back from Allergan as well as free Botox that can be then marked up to regular prices. For the wrinkle filler Juvederm the rebate checks can be even more generous. Our sources tell us the rebate can be as high as 20%, and 1 free box (2 syringes are in each Juvederm box) for every 5 purchased from Allergan.

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Alli Diet Pills (orlistat): 31 Side Effects Reported, Liver Damage Concerns

The heavily marketed diet program Alli may be worse than not worth it. Since April the UK's regulatory agency (MHRA), has received 31 reports of side effects linked to orlistat (the active ingredient in Alli).

GlaxoSmithKline chooses to call Alli side effects "treatment effects", which include headaches, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, depression and fatigue.

More seriously, the UK's Mail reports Alli is being investigated for causing liver damage.

Alli users on the Alli web community (allicircles) complained as far back as 2007 of elevated liver enzymes. For instance, FiolaKitty states :

My doctor still thinks it's the alli. We're gonna test my liver with me being off of it for a month. I was researching fatty liver and a possible cure is losing weight and lowering your cholesterol. Obviously Alli is helping me with that, but I've learned enough to do it without the pill.

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Yep, Filipino Prez Has Breast Implants, And Other Beauty And Skincare News

RealSelf's roundup of the latest news from the trades and papers:

1. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo had implants after all.

Call it Implant-gate: A spokesman for President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines looked like a real boob over the weekend after admitting the Prez did have breast augmentation 20 years back, after initially saying she hadn't. Good news: She had lumps checked, and they're fine. [ABS-CBN]

2. Diabetes drug Actos could help psoriasis "significantly."

File under odd drug-fellows: Indian derms have found the diabetes drug Actos could lead to a 64% reduction in psoriasis severity when added to psoriasis treatment Soriatane. Dr. Sunil Dogra of Chandigarh, India, says Actos could be a "safer alternative" to other added-in therapies. [Skin and Allergy News] 

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