News blog posts and news

Beverly Hills Doctor Uses Human "Lipo-diesel" To Power His SUV

Dr. Alan Bittner, a Beverly Hills doctor who specialized only in liposuction, has been converting the leftover liposuctioned human fat of his patients into biodiesel.

Although this type of fat-recycling may at first seem like a somewhat morbid but environmentally-friendly practice, it's illegal in California to use human medical waste to power vehicles.

According to Forbes.com, Dr. Bittner has been using the fat to power both his Ford SUV and his girlfriend's Lincoln Navigator. He said on the now defunct lipodiesel.com that "the vast majority of my patients request that I use their fat for fuel--and I have more fat than I can use. Not only do they get to lose their love handles or chubby belly but they get to take part in saving the Earth."

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ASPS Study Links Nutrition With Success Of Post-Bariatric Surgery

In the latest issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a study revealed that nutritional health of surgery patients can play a major role in the success of healing and the likelihood of complications. Especially regarding cases of extreme weight loss, the study found that special supplements can probably decrease complications and improve healing.

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Are Injectable Fillers Truly Safe For Off-Label Use?

A recent New York Times article suggests that the use of injectable fillers in non FDA-approved procedures could be a major reason for reported complications.

Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Julius Few believes another possible reason could be "ancillary medical personnel and doctors who lack expertise in cosmetic treatments."

Speculation about filler safety has been a hot topic of discussion since the FDA panel on dermal fillers convened last month. Off-label uses for dermal fillers like Juvéderm or Restylane, such as injections under the eye or in the hands, might be more prone to complications.

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ArteFill's Demise Good For Consumers

In response to the article “Wrinkles Disappear, as Does a Company,” New Jersey plastic surgeon Arthur W. Perry, MD wrote a letter to the New York Times, which was published on December 10, 2008.

Dr. Perry voiced his relief that the Artes Medical failed and believes the "public should be thankful for the removal of Artefill from the cosmetic landscape."

Dr. Perry also said in his letter:

Artefill should never have been approved. As a permanent filler, it violates one of the basic principles in plastic surgery: any foreign substance that doesn’t dissolve must be removable. Artefill can’t be removed without cutting it out.

Swiss plastic surgeons warned us years ago about Artefill and now consumers have voted with their wallets.
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When Botox And Juvederm Are More Important Than Child Care

Wall Street Journal reporter Miriam Jordan recently detailed the struggles of the wealthy as they scale back on spending by eliminating the household help.

Jordan describes how as the economy grew throughout the 1990's, an increasing number of dual-income families grew to rely on domestic help to stay on top of housekeeping and child care.

She shares the story a Los Angeles mother of two who relied on her nanny to take care of her children when she "went on spa trips or outings to get Botox and Juvéderm injections," but has now laid off her housekeeper.

While her daughters suffer depression and sadness over the loss of their long-time nanny, the mother has made her choice clear, saying "nothing deters me from my Botox treatments," although she says she feels "horrible" about laying off the help.

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Allergan Clears First FDA Hurdle For Eyelash Enhancer

After all the cat-fighting between Athena Cosmetics, Athena Bioscience, DermaQuest, Jan Marini and Allergan (maker of Botox Cosmetic) over their eyelash enhancing formulas, Allergan must be having a nice little chuckle to themselves as an FDA advisory panel—the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee—gave their support to Allergan's Latisse on Friday.

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Vaginal Rejuvenation Cream: Viagra For Women?

The promotion of vaginal cosmetic surgery procedures like labiaplasty has stoked street protests, with one activist calling it the medicalizing of women's sexuality that creates new risks, norms and insecurities.

This controversy has apparently had little sway of the entrepreneurial drive of a Santa Monica-based OBGYN who has backed a new nonsurgical alternative: a vaginal rejuvenation cream called Pk24.

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Rhytec Inc. Files Bankruptcy, Leaves Doctors With Useless $79k Device

Doctors who own the Portrait plasma skin resurfacing device sold and distributed by Massachusetts-based Rhytec, Inc. will no longer be able to provide the treatment, because the consumable tip required to provide the procedure is no longer available.

A former employee of Rhytec, Inc. said that termination notices were given to all employees two Wednesdays ago and that he "knew they were looking for funds, but not that they were in such dire straits."

Rhytec, Inc. is the United States sales and distribution arm of UK-based Rhytec, Ltd., where all of the patents and intellectual property behind the technology are housed. Whether the doctors in the US will be able to obtain the required consumable treatment tips and support for their devices is yet undetermined.

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Tampa Plastic Surgeon Crashes Stunt Plane

A Tampa plastic surgeon and his passenger, a 19-year-old man, were both injured when his single-engine plane crashed during landing at Peter O. Knight airport on the Davis Islands.

Dr. Dan Greenwald was flying an Extra 200 single engine craft, and had left mid-morning for a leisure flight around Tampa. As he tried to land, he clipped the 50-foot mast of a nearby sailboat and crashed into the seawall of the Seddon Channel before flipping over and landing on grassy airport land about 50 feet from the runway.

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Expect Deals On Cosmetic Surgery This Christmas

At the recent ASPS conference in Chicago, surgeons participated in a forum titled “Survival Strategies for Tough Economic Times.” Among the strategies discussed were civic participation, fundraisers, promotions and discounted package deals.

The New York Times picked up the story and compared many of the discounts seen at the surgery or dermatologist office to a "supermarket circular."

Beverly Hills dermatologist Don Mehrabi offers "Botox Fridays," during which he cuts prices on the injectable by almost 30 percent.

New York surgeon Dr. Lawrence Reed suggests that the economy has forced surgeons and other medical professionals to seek "creative marketing strategies to stay afloat." Just like any other business struggling in this economy, you need to enhance your appeal and get an edge on the competition.