Serial Injections of Cryopresrved Fat at -196'C For Tissue Rejuvenation, Scart Treatment, and Volume Augmentation

Physicians and patients continue to seek the best way to achieve a more youthful appearance through volume augmentation. Fat grafting (removing unwanted fat from other areas of the body and then injecting fat in desired area) has proven to be a very effective way to achieve volume augmentation, but it often requires multiple treatments. A group in Japan has evaluated the efficacy of using cryopreserved (frozen) fat for repeat injections, thus obviating the need for harvesting fat again. This technique shows promise and may be able to be used in the United States if centers are developed in the US that offer this fat freezing service for a reasonable fee. There will likely be more research in this area as it presents a unique opportunity to use more fat with less harvesting procedures. To view the complete journal, click Injections Journal

The Efficacy and Safety of Early Postoperative Botulinum Toxin, A Injection for Facial Scars

A recent study published out of Korea showed that treating repaired wounds with botulinum during the early post-operative period improved the ultimate appearance of the scar. Botulinum works by reducing muscle movements in the area that it is injected. The researchers theorize that minimizing muscle pull on the wound helps to keep the resulting scar from widening. There are also other studies that have shown reduced inflammation in wounds treated with botulinum. This study shows promising findings, however, the scars that were being compared between treatment and non-treatment groups may not have been equal and the time of follow up was relatively short (6 months). Scars generally take 12-18 months to fully mature. Nevertheless, the results are certainly interesting and will likely result in further research in this area. To view the complete journal, click Botox Journal

Botulinum Toxin Type A Products Are Not Interchangeable

This article was a review article that looked at why Onabotulinumtoxin A (Botox), Abobotulinumtoxin A (Dysport), and Incobotulinumtoxin A (Xeomin) are not interchangeable.  One component that makes each of these three Botulinum toxin products unique is their manufacturing process.   Xeomin is the purist of the botulinum toxins and contains only the 150 kilodalton neurotoxin; whereas, both Botox and Dysport contain the neurotoxin and accessory proteins. Each product also has differing drying processes as well as differing inactive substances that are added for bulk and stability. Another component that varies between these three botulinum toxins is how their unit testing is conducted to determine strength and median lethal dose.  For example, each company uses a different diluent for lethal dose testing which has been shown to impact strength.  Research has been variable when comparing these products.  For the most part, onset of action is similar between these three botulinum toxin products and duration of action was also similar lasting about 3-4 months. Antibody formation was very low among the three products (0-3%), but no comparative clinical trials have been performed. Studies comparing diffusion and spread by measuring anhidrotic activity via the starch test had variable results.  Research has also been inconsistent when comparing the potency between products and a single dose ratio has been difficult to determine. To view te complete journal, click Botulinum Type A Products 

The Microbotox Technique

Surgery used to be the only available treatment for the aging lower face and neck; however, today, noninvasive procedures such as botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are gaining in popularity. The “Nefertiti Lift” became a common method to produce a visual effect of a “mini lift” using Botox. The “Nefertiti Lift” is named after the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, who was well known for her distinct and elegant jawline. It involves deep injections of Botox along the inferior mandible (jawline) and platysmal (neck) bands.

This article compares the “Nefertiti Lift” to a different procedure called the Microbotox technique. Microbotox consists of the injection of microdroplets of Botox into the dermis to improve the different lower face and neck aging components.  Overall, patients were satisfied with both techniques and rated themselves as improved. The study showed evidence that the Mmicrobotox technique is useful and mainly effective in treating jowls and the neck volume, in contrast to the Nefertiti technique, which is more effective on platysmal bands. To view the complete article, click Microbotox Technique