Tuesday, February 14, 2006
New beauty treatments will likely be introduced for use this year.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Will 2006 be a groundbreaking year with revolutionary new beauty treatments? While it isn't likely that a clinically proven, safe and effective fountain of youth will be bottled this year, there are some innovations that will lead the news.
Injectable collagen was introduced more than 20 years ago, Botox was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic use in 2003 and the filler market continues to fill up with new players since Restylane, Hylaform Plus and Captique were approved in recent years.
This year, it's likely that at least one injectable filler, Juvederm, will receive FDA approval. Much like Restylane and other hyaluronic acid soft tissue fillers, Juvederm is widely used and adored among doctors in Europe and Canada.
There is bigger news among injectables. More and more uses that you would never expect (including off-label uses) for injectable fillers and denervating agents will be put into play. This will include everything from truly changing facial features with Botox, to treating signs of aging by creating a "space lift" with fillers.
Temporary solutions
More consumers will take appearance enhancements for a test drive through the use of temporary injectables before opting for more permanent surgical solutions. And injectable solutions may find their way toward treating more than facial flaws (would you really fill away your cellulite dimples?).
Regulation will target advertising off-label injectable treatments. Regulators will crack down hard on the importation of illegal injectables (that is, those that are not FDA-approved or part of a documented and controlled clinical trial) and illegal uses of injectables (uses that are far, far off-label).
Breast enhancement
Market release of silicone breast implants may be on the horizon, and that means more than just the availability of silicone breast implants as an enhancement option for women ages 22 and older.
This year will also define two distinct camps about breast enhancement. In one camp you'll see the women whose self-confidence has been enormously enhanced by breast implants and the board-certified plastic surgeons and implant manufacturers who will lead an environment where options and education are the focus.
The second camp will be all about hype: the callus marketers who find slick ways to push a product, and the emotional opponents of cosmetic enhancement who are self-appointed to speak on behalf of all women. Bottom line: Focus on your own body and your own needs, and remember that the only valid measure of safety is independent scientific data.
Breast conserving surgery has taken the lead in breast cancer treatments, most specifically lumpectomy and radiation. Unfortunately this form of treatment still leaves many women dissatisfied with the appearance of the breast, and implants are generally not an option to reshape delicate tissues that have been weakened by radiation treatment.