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Canada Changes Botox Labeling To Include Risk Of 'Distant Toxin Spread'

Botox and Botox Cosmetic in Canada will now include new information on the label concerning the risk of distant toxin spread, a rare side effect where the toxin spreads to other parts of the body.

Health Canada’s recently completed safety review of Botox and Botox Cosmetic products included 13 reports of adverse reactions suggestive of distant toxin spread associated with Botox and Botox Cosmetic, none of which were was medically confirmed as distant toxin spread. All but one of those 13 adverse events were associated with Botox Therapeutic.

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Possible Link Between Botox And Birth Defects

The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported about a case in which a child born deaf and blind was linked to the mother's use of an anti-wrinkle treatment similar to Botox during pregnancy.

The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia reminded its membership to follow the prescribed guidelines for the use of Botox, which warns that the product is not to be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Los Angeles facial plastic surgeon Michael A. Persky, MD said that "there have not been any studies showing that Botox is responsible for birth defects."

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Man Attempts To Reclaim Breast Implants By Stabbing Ex-girlfriend

28-year-old Thomas Lee Rowley is on trial in San Bernardino county for ambushing his ex-girlfriend and attempting to reclaim the breast implants he paid for by stabbing her outside her mother's home.

Rowley allegedly told his former roommate, "I'm gonna cut 'em out and get 'em back." He stabbed ex-girlfriend Shanon Perry six times in the head and torso, injuring her brain and puncturing her implants which were eventually repaired.

Perry, who nearly died from the assault, testified that she paid for half of the surgery herself.

Rowley is on trial for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, stalking, burglary, and false imprisonment.

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Buyer Beware: Portrait Plasma Resurfacing Device $20K On Ebay

Since Rhytec, Inc. filed for bankruptcy late last year and discontinued support for current owners of the plasma resurfacing device, the consumables have been appearing on eBay. The unit itself recently appeared on eBay at the low low price of $20,000, reportedly from a medical spa in the Phoenix area that closed its doors.

Before you start thinking about hiding a Portrait in your garage, be aware that the seller has to verify that the purchaser is authorized to do so by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state and local regulatory agencies.

That means you can't buy the Portrait and resurface yourself at home, but the seller either doesn't know that the company is now defunct, or doesn't want buyers to know that, because he says in the listing that if you buy the device, "you can probably put it under some sort of service contract with the manufacturer or service company."

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A Ray Of Hope For Severe Cellulite Reduction

What are the best ways to get rid of cellulite? Medical experts are quick to deliver a disappointing dose of reality. "There are a lot of expensive treatments for cellulite - none with lasting results and most that are a complete waste of money. Beware of the marketing," explains Bay Area plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Williams.

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Doctor Offering Botox Calls It A Fraud

In an unusual contradiction, a doctor offering Botox calls Botox a fraud and a scam.

Dr. Vijay Sharma, a Mumbai, India doctor offering plastic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic procedures goes on record to say that Botox is “the biggest fraud” in aesthetics, stating,

“In the case of frequent use, the damage to the muscles may force a patient to undergo a face-lift at an early age. This scam allows for doctors and dermatologists to set themselves up for a steady income from their patients.”
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Thermage Changes Company Name To 'Solta Medical', Launches New Branding For Thermage

Thermage Inc., has changed its name to Solta Medical Inc. and unveiled a new logo, along with a new logo and website for the Thermage product.

The company bought Reliant Technologies, maker of the laser resurfacing device Fraxel, for $87.5 million in a cash and stock deal last year.

The new ticker symbol will be "SLTM" and is listed on the Nasdaq.

In a press release, President and Chief Executive Stephen J. Fanning said "the name and ticker symbol changes are a great start to the New Year and a key milestone in the integration of the acquisition of Reliant Technologies Inc."

The design of the new Thermage site is a significant departure from its previously clinical style.

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Latisse Eyelash Enhancer Enters Marketplace

Last month, the FDA approved Allergan's accidentally discovered eyelash-enhancing drug, Latisse. What started out as a clinical trial for a known glaucoma treatment turned out to have a highly desired side-effect - significantly longer eyelashes.

When the glaucoma eyedrop known as Lumigan entered its third phase of clinical trials, Allergan researchers noticed the drug's eyelash-enhancing effects and the company soon started considering the cosmetic applications that could be derived from it's active ingredient, bimatoprost.

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Kythera Seeking FDA Approval For Fat-Dissolving Injections

Fat dissolving injections aren't a new concept in the cosmetic medical arena. Mesotherapy practitioners claim that their injections of various remedies have been dissolving fat since the technique was invented in France over fifty years ago.

Kythera Pharmaceutical's January 6 press release announced that their new drug (currently known as ATX-101) was "safe and tolerable and demonstrated statistically significant efficacy versus placebo." Their tests were performed on chin and jawline fat in a double-blind and placebo-controlled study of 157 patients.

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Thermage Acquisition Of Reliant Technologies' Fraxel Complete

Thermage Inc. has closed its acquisition of Reliant Technologies Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal worth approximately $66.2 million based on current share prices.

Reliant’s sales team of about 75 individuals will be combined with Thermage’s to help boost marketing efforts of the combined companies, allowing sales staff to sell both Thermage and Fraxel in one call.

Reliant has vacated its offices in Mountain View and is moving to Hayward, where Thermage is expanding to accommodate Reliant, including a new custom clinic.

California-based Thermage (THRM) bought the Mountain View company for approximately $25 million in cash, 23.6 million shares of Thermage common stock, and the assumption of up to $7 million of net debt, subject to post closing adjustments.

Thermage shares were trading at $1.42 Tuesday afternoon. They were trading at more than $2.50 in July, when the deal was announced.