Archive for the ‘Dangerous Procedures’ Category
NEW FDA RELEASE on Lipodissolve
Posted by: Suzanne Costa in Dangerous Procedures, Face Lifts on April 18th, 2010
The FDA has sent out 7 warning letters to 6 US medical spas (cosmetic medical businesses that operate under the supervision of a licensed health care professional) and one in Brazil. The letters were issued due to the spas issuing false and misleading statements on their websites about Lipodissolve. Lipodissolve is also known as lipozap, lipotherapy, mesotherapy and/or injection lipolysis. Lipodissolve is a procedure where the patient has a series of injections using a cocktail of supplements with the intent of eliminating the fat in the body. It is often used as an alternative to facelifts or liposuction.
According to the FDA, “these Lipodissolve products include statements that they eliminate unwanted fat, have an outstanding safety record, and are superior to other fat loss procedures. Some medical spas also claim that Lipodissolve products can treat medical conditions, such as male breast enlargement, benign fatty growths, and surgical deformities.” There is no current proof that these statements are correct.
The FDA has not approved any drug used in this cocktail which may include: phosphatidylcholine (PC), deoxycholate (DC) and pentoxifylline, lidocaine, aminophylline, calcitonin, isoproterenol, caffeine, vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts. Not all Lipodissolve cocktails are the same and may have some undocumented supplements or herbs in them.
Side Effects Being Watched by the FDA:
According to the FDA, “The overall safety of Lipodissolve products is not known. There are reports in the scientific literature of complications and adverse effects ranging from injection-site reactions (e.g., prolonged swelling, redness, pain), skin reactions (e.g., panniculitis, ulceration, abscess, necrosis, scarring) and skin infections. These adverse events may be attributed to the drugs injected, injection technique, or the formulation of the solution.”
If anyone has any adverse effects with Lipodissolve, they are asked to contact the MedWatch program (FDA voluntary reporting program). You can reach them by calling 800-FDA-1088 or electronically at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.
Comparing Apples to Oranges:
Although it is good to keep the public informed, it is very difficult to compare a few side effects to sometimes fatal consequences with liposuction. With liposuction surgery, 25% of the patients have complications and 7% of them are considered major. There have been some fatalities with liposuction and some near fatalities, as with the comedian, Kathy Griffin.
Note: There have never been any documented deaths with Lipodissolve or mesotherapy in the US.
Cost of Thermage
Posted by: Suzanne Costa in Dangerous Procedures, Face Lifts, Thermage on January 12th, 2010
Thermage is one of the most popular alternatives to plastic surgery for men and women hoping to look younger and create a better self-image. However, many surgeons/doctors note that it is one of the least effective treatments, and advise patients to consider other options before choosing to try Thermage for facial rejuvenation.
Thermage--is it worth the cost?
This product is considerably safer than procedures such as Botox, lipolysis injection, and even the traditional facelift. Thermage has a very short downtime when compared to more invasive and expensive procedures, but some patients report that the costlier options work somewhat better. In fact, while nearly three-quarters of facelift patients were very satisfied with their results, as compared to only just over one-third of Thermage patients.
That said, for some, the cost is the biggest concern. Going with a method that may not produce results that are as noticeable is preferable to paying much more than you can afford for something that you know will work. For these, make sure that you check with a doctor before undergoing any type of treatment, to make sure it will not interfere with any medicines or plans that he/she has you under presently.
How effective the Thermage treatment is really depends on how skilled the surgeon is/is not. Those that have more experience with the treatment do a better job than someone who is unfamiliar with it, obviously. Sometimes it pays to spend a little more for someone who really knows what he or she is doing.
The cost of Thermage depends on who does it and where you go to get it. The better and more qualified the provider the more you should expect to pay. However, as mentioned before, sometimes it is worth a little more money to get more noticeable results. On average, patients should expect to pay between $2000 and $2500, depending on the city/country they call home. Bigger cities cost slightly more in some cases.
Patients should remember that it can take up to six months to see the maximum result of the treatment, and it will have to be repeated every two years or so in order to maintain a youthful appearance. If you believe Thermage is right for you, consult with a doctor to find licensed providers in your area.
