News blog posts and news

Injecting Yourself With Lube - Never A Good Idea

To save money, a Minnesota woman ordered a $10 bottle of personal lubricant and injected it with syringes bought at her local pharmacy into her face and lips.

She bought the silicone from a website which clearly stated the product was to be used externally as a personal lubricant.

After injecting herself, she thought she had done a good job, but within a day the liquid began pooling in her face.

Home facial plumping wasn't a bargain

"I really though that I was getting a bargain and I really didn't do my homework like I should have," stated the woman. A little homework would have pointed out other highly publicized botched injection jobs done at home.

She now faces thousands of dollars of medical and travel expenses to correct her mistakes, which may not be fixable.

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RealSelf Teams Up With The American Academy Of Facial Plastic And Recontructive Surgery

Today we're excited to announce an agreement we've made with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) to provide our community with access to the 2,700 surgeons who are members of the organization. All AAFPRS members are board certified with a focus on surgery of the face, head and neck. 

As many of our community members know, primarily only board-certified doctors can participate on RealSelf, to ensure the answers you receive to your questions come from only the best.  Today's annoucement solidifies the idea that surgeons who are members of the AAFPRS are some of the best in the business. 

As of today, over 10,000 questions have been asked by the community on topics ranging from how much does a facelift cost to what are my options for teeth whitening.  We believe that asking these questions and getting answers from a variety of physicians will help those considering a cosmetic procedure, or those who have already had one, make better decisions. 

Have a question you want answered?  What are you waiting for - ask away!

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At-home Laser Treatment Of Eye Wrinkles Gets FDA Approval

Soon you may be zapping your wrinkles with a laser--in front of your bathroom mirror. Last week Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. received FDA approval for an at-home laser to treat eye wrinkles. 

The company isn't releasing many details of the product, including the exact launch date or any images of what the device may look like. 

They have, however, confirmed that the laser will cost hundreds of dollars and will come to market through retail partner Johnson & Johnson. 

Current wrinkle treatments by laser require a doctor office visit

Current laser treatments for eye wrinkles include the Fraxel laser. The cost of Fraxel is over $2,000, giving an opportunity to a device maker that can offer an alternative at a lower price point.

Appearing on Fox News, medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegal noted that while the home eye wrinkle laser was safe, he doesn't believe it work as effectively as doctor-administered laser treatments. However, Siegal predicts the demand for home wrinkle treatments will make the new device popular.

That said, a past attempt by Nulase to sell a home laser hair removal device was largely unsuccessful.

New wrinkle treatments

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Lasik Risks Are Real Says The FDA

Doctors and clinics performing LASIK surgery should consider themselves warned: properly inform consumers of the risks associated with the Lasik.

As reported by Reuters, the US FDA warning comes on the heels of a meeting held over a year ago on the topic where a number of Lasik patients came forward with complaints related to their laser eye surgery. Side-effects detailed included double vision, blurriness, and depression. 

While 87% of RealSelf community members consider their LASIK "worth it", some of the Lasik reviews highlight downsides: 

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Teen Botox: Turn 18 And Get A Botox Birthday Present

Upon turning 18 years old, Margaret King treated her daughter Jodie (shown in white) to Botox Cosmetic injections.

The teens decision to get Botox injections was based on the observation that her forehead appeared wrinkled in comparison to her peers: "My friends' faces all looked much smoother."

While the US FDA approves of the use of Botox on those 18 to 64 it's extremely unusual --as in, never reported by a doctor or patient on RealSelf.com-- for teenagers to get Botox for cosmetic purposes.

What do you think. Is Botox for teens a legitimate self-esteem booster or going too far?

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Breast Pills And Creams: A Hoax That Carries Real Health Risks

Marketers offering breast enhancement or reduction solutions that promise results equivalent to surgery is an age old scam. 

Over 20 years ago the US FDA warned consumers, and especially teens, that breast enlargement alternatives to surgery were frauds.

"For decades, millions of dollars have been spent on devices, creams and lotions advertised as breast developers. All wasted. There is no device or system of exercise that will increase the size of the breasts. At best, devices promoted as breast developers merely strengthen and develop the muscles that support the breasts, and exercising these muscles will not appreciably increase breast size."

Breast experts agree: breast pills, herbs or creams don't work

"With Alexia, these problems will stop, WITHOUT painful surgery! And Permanently! With smaller and lighter breasts you’ll feel like you're walking on air!" - website advertising Alexia breast reducing pills

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Threadlift Study Confirms What Consumers Knew All Along

Threadlift is dead, and the facial plastic surgeons have declared it so.

Threadlift was marketed as a non-surgical alternative to face lift that could delay the need for surgery, and was FDA approved in 2005. In September 2008, we illustrated the downturn of its popularity (See Threadlift Falling Out of Favor With Consumers)

Only 12% of those who reviewed Threadlift surgery on RealSelf.com said it was worth it. One said undergoing a threadlift was the "worst mistake of [her] life," and another said "I wish I never had the procedure done. The thread ripped the collagen in my face and now I look like I have a deep hole in my face."

Surgeons can't even see the improvement

A new study in the May/June 2009 issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery looked at 33 patients who had a Threadlift, 23 of whom had another procedure like Botox or fillers at the same time. Four plastic surgeons who were not aware of what kind of procedure the patients had undergone rated their "aesthetic improvement," on a scale of 0 for no improvement, to 3 for considerable improvement.

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Dysport: A Sporty Vacuum, Or A Long-anticipated Botox Alternative?

Unscientific consumer research about Dysport points to the uphill battle Medicis' marketing department will face in the process of branding Dysport, their newly FDA-approved Botox alternative.

Consumer marketing challenge for Dysport

Using a poll on Facebook, we asked, "What do you think of when you hear the name Dysport?" We received some pretty choice answers:

• Nothing pleasant...something from Southpark?
• A disease or disorder of some sort
• Sporty vacuum?
• I wonder if it is a word. A dysfunctional dock?

A Medicis representative, not so amused by the name associations, had to correct us on the pronunciation at the ASAPS conference in Las Vegas last week.

"Dysport is pronounced 'DISS-port,' not 'DIE-sport!'" From the responses we received, it seems of higher importance to make certain consumers don't confuse Dysport with a new Dyson vacuum cleaner.

FDA giveth Dysport approval and taketh away Reloxin

We asked Medicis, "Why the name change?" and were told by a representative that "Reloxin was the proposed U.S. name for Ipsen’s botulinum toxin product for aesthetic use, but the product will now be marketed under the name of Dysport."

In private discussions with Medicis employees, there is an acute awareness that having Dysport brand name forced upon them by the FDA poses serious challenges to their marketing to consumers.

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35,000 Years Ago, Beauty Was A Full Figure And Curves

At first it may look like a chicken that got overcooked (that's what we saw), but this ancient figurine of a woman discovered in Germany sheds light on early human perception of beauty and sexuality. 

The finding reported in Nature and described by the Science section of the New York Times indicates that 35,000 calendar years ago, people were inspired by large bosoms and curvy proportions.

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Quick Fix: 25% Of Women Open To Cosmetic Surgery

The Associated Press recently released a poll regarding women's perceptions of their bodies and health in general. The survey found that approximately 50% of women in America have negative feelings about both their weight and their figure. 

One of the more interesting results from the survey found that 25% have considered getting some type of cosmetic surgery, with a tummy tuck as the most desired treatment. Breast augmentations come in second.

Women appear to be looking for a quick fix instead of committing to long-term changes.

• Just 8% of women eat the recommend number of fruits and vegetables daily

• Women only spend 20 minutes on any type of daily exercise, while most spend around 27 minutes on their beauty regime

•  Exercise-related purchase and services amount to just $17 a month for most women, while they are spending upwards to $50 on beauty items and services.

But is cosmetic surgery worth it?

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