WRINKLE TREATMENT UPDATE- THE PERFECT CHEMICAL BROW LIFT

WRINKLE TREATMENT UPDATE- THE PERFECT CHEMICAL BROW LIFT, IMCAS 2013

Few things get me more excited than the tips on perfecting the chemical brow lift I came back from Paris with. 

This is because anti wrinkle injections are the most popular of all the cosmetic medicine treatments done at Skin Temple, and around the world in 2012.

The global economic downturn since 2008 has left many cosmetic and plastic surgeons bemoaning their reduced revenue, but in the world of non surgical skin treatments business is doing ok, with many people opting for non surgical options such as anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and laser skin treatments.

Anti-wrinkle injecting might look easy enough to most people, and on face-value (pardon the pun) it's certainly not a technically difficult procedure, but there are some real pitfalls for both novice and experienced injectors. 

Take a look at any celebrity filled magazine and you'll be sure to find an example of someone who looks good, but slightly odd, and chances are they are having a cosmetic treatment that could be done better by a very experienced injector.

For example, take a look at Kylie Minogue's right eyebrow, Nicole Kidman's frown and forehead areas, and Kim Kardashian's cheeks.  All of these features look slightly odd to me..not particularly unattractive, but distinctly in the odd basket.  

Nicole Kidman's eyebrows are nicely lifted in the outer parts (the standard chemical brow lift) but significantly lowered in the inner parts by the standard frown treatment technique she appears to be a fan of.   

 This can sometimes make her look a little odd, and will cause sagging of the inner upper eyelid skin as she ages.  Her forehead is remarkably immobile for a woman of 45years old, and again, such complete lack of expression reduces her ability to communicate with her audience and exacerbates the low position of her eyebrows.

A better aesthetic treatment would specifically address the problem of medial brow ptosis and lift both ends of brows equally.  This is the technique that was discussed at IMCAS Paris 2013, and since my return I've been trying it out on a number of patients prone to this problem, with excellent results!

Not everyone needs or suits this technique, but for those that do, or have put off having anti-wrinkle treatments for fear of looking slightly odd, it's fantastic news. 

Anti-wrinkle injections: American XXXXX VERSUS French XXXXXXX...which is better?

XXXXX** VERSUS XXXXXXX**....THE JURY GIVES THEIR VERDICT

IMCAS 2013, Paris

Numerous studies from both the USA and Europe were completed and posted in a number of peer-reviewed scientific journals in 2012, looking at data comparing the use and effects of American Xxxxx and French Xxxxxxx.  Some studies also included the German toxin, Xxxxxx, soon to hit Australian shores in early 2014.

The remarkable and most notable outcomes of these papers was the consistency of the findings.

As a result, we can now reliably state that:

• Xxxxxxx has a faster rate of onset than Xxxxx

• Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx have near identical maximal effects.

• The conversion for Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx units is generally 2.5:1, but in some areas of the face may be closer to 2:1.

• Xxxxxxx has a longer duration of effect compared to Xxxxx, by several weeks in most published studies

• Xxxxxx is identical to Xxxxx in terms of dosage units, onset, peak effect and duration.

Diffusion continues to be discussed, with most published articles commenting on the importance of toxin concentration when measuring and especially comparing diffusion.

Overall, I'm predicting that Allergan, makers of Xxxxx, will be under significant pressure to lower the cost of Xxxxx vials in Australia by the end of the year.

Otherwise, they risk losing very significant market share as the scare campaign against Xxxxxxx backfires when people realise what advantage it has over Xxxxx in terms of value for money.

The main caveat for consumers in the toxin turf war, is to find an injector experienced in BOTH Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx.  Only unbiased injectors are capable of giving unbiased opinions, in my opinion!

Sadly, there was also data presented that looked at the prevalence of counterfeit product being sold online.  Truly horrifying to see what is actually in some of this stuff!

It's difficult for consumers to know if they are being injected with legitimate product. 

One tip worth remembering though is that these products can ONLY be sold to REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. So that nurse who's offering half-price "Xxxxx" injections from her own home, or the local hair salon, is definitely not operating a legitimate business.  The product may well have been purchased online, and she/he most certainly won't be covered by any insurance (medical negligence or public liability) in the event of any adverse complication if the product is later found to be contaminated.

You know what they say, don't you?  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably IS too good to be true!  

**Apologies to those confused by the changes made to the brand names in this post.  For legal reasons, I am unable to use the exact names of the anti-wrinkle injections used in Australia.  That is because I am a medical practitioner.  If I was a beauty therapist, or any other unregistered health practitioner of any kind, or in fact just a regular member of the public, I would be able to mention all of those by name.  No wonder it is increasingly difficult for the public to get accurate and unbiased information on cosmetic treatments in Australia!  Censorship of public health information is rampant in Australia when it comes to cosmetic medicine.