Scalpel News.

Scalpel News by Joan Kron

Restylane Rumor

Besides filling wrinkles temporarily, injections of Restylane may have an unexpected, long-term anti-aging benefit. Made of hyaluronic acid, Restylane was originally approved by the FDA to treat wrinkles for approximately six months, at which point the acid is absorbed by the body. Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed the results of a study performed on the arms of 11 volunteers, with biopsies taken at 4 and 13 weeks, and came to the conclusion that Restylane "seems to stimulate collagen growth" by placing pressure on and stretching surrounding tissue. This finding supports anecdotal reports by several dermatologists who have noticed that repeat treatments require smaller volumes of the injectable. However, some doctors, including Howard Sobel in New York City, remain skeptical. "If it stimulates collagen, it's not much," he says. The debate could last longer than the filler -- because without a larger, FDA-sanctioned study, Restylane's American distributor, Medicis, cannot use the University of Michigan's findings to make any new claims for Restylane or its thicker sibling, Perlane, which received FDA approval in May.

Scalpel News by Joan Kron

Breast-Surgery Breakthrough

Recovering from breast augmentation generally involves two to three weeks of pain and stiffness. But now a new version of the operation that promises a 24-hour recovery is increasingly in demand. Based on a gentle, more patient-oriented technique developed and published in 2002 by John Tebbetts, a plastic surgeon in Dallas, the surgery takes half an hour with general anesthesia. It involves meticulous advance determination of implant size with a formula of five measurements (rather than the customary trial and error during surgery); near bloodless cutting by electric cautery (because bleeding is the biggest cause of pain); and no traumatic ripping of tissues or touching of the ribs with implements. It works best with an under-breast incision and equally well with saline or silicone implants placed under or over the muscle. ...