Injectable Fillers are NOT without hazard

ZThis recent patient  posting on an internationally popular cosmetic website illustrates the often understated consequences of filler injections. Patients  are advised to research the reputation of their practitions very carefully.  As illustrated below facial filler injections is not like a visit to the hairdresser.                    

www.realself.com/review/massachusetts-ma-injectable-fillers-expressions-injectable-filler?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=GlobalNLSuperSuperStar&utm_campaign=NL2XDayAM%202015-02-07

It Ain't So Easy! Filler Risks, Side Effects and Catastrophies

Images from:
http://www.aestheticadvancements.com/news-detail/?act=148


The advertising makes it all look so easy and risk free. Well guess what-it's not the case. Lumpy and poor aesthetic outcomes are very common with filler injections. Filler injections can also lead to severe skin loss requiring skin grafts and even blindness.  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/cosmetic-fillers-can-cause-blindness-when-injected-into-the-forehead-new-report-warns-9177128.html    https://ispub.com/IJAM/9/1/14758    http://www.realself.com/question/restylane-injections-blood-vessel-occlusion-left-eye-90blind

It is very important that patients seeking fillers see experienced and well qualified injectors. Unfortunately many doctors and nurses performing this work are frankly substandard and limited in their training. Poor aesthetic outcomes are frequent and not always easily reversed.  http://www.realself.com/question/horribly-lumpy-lips-juvederm-hyaluronidase-injection-worse-permanently-ruined

Patients be warned:-- choose carefully when seeking out filler injectors. The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery trains doctors to an advanced level with a view to Diploma and Fellowship attainment.    http://www.accs.org.au/

"Blended" Hyaluronic Filler-a wonderful new filler innovation!

 Cosmetex 2014 http://www.cosmetex.org/qld2014/ was our annual 3 day cosmetic medical and surgical "jamboree" on the Gold Coast some 2 weeks ago now.

Once again the star turn of the event was my colleague Dr. Arthur Swift

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pLphrH07jU&feature=player_embedded#!

whom I have dubbed the "PHI Master" of Montreal, Canada for reasons that will apparent from the link.

Dr. Swift is one of those rare surgeons, an innovator, who thinks outside the square, developing brilliant new minimally invasive techniques on a regular basis.  

I studied Dr Swift's new blend filler technique during the Cosmetex 2014 conference workshops and now incorporate them into my daily work. What does this "blend filler" technique mean? Essentially high quality hyaluronic  fillers are mixed with local anaesthesia and then injected into target area of the face (nose below) with a tiny needle. The procedure is almost painless with instant and lasting outcomes. The case of the nose below was on one of our patients achieved with "blended hyaluronic" filler in a matter of minutes.

"Reputation Is Everything" & the Magic of the Multipotent Stem Cell in Fat.

When I commenced in this field of minimally invasive facial rejuvenation some medical colleagues remarked: "aren't you frightened of treating faces in case something goes wrong?"
The answer was then and remains: that I am not frightened but do take I take my work very seriously.

Without any disrespected intended it should be understood that  an aesthetic facial procedure is not a visit to hairdresser or beauty salon. A salon is not the appropriate setting for medical procedures for many reasons including hygiene, safety and ready access to effective medications and equipment.

Unintended complications can even happen with injected fillers yet many patients (along with some injectors) fail to properly appreciate these risks.

This week alone I have consulted 3 patients from other clinics with persistent and unsightly facial lumps after a certain fillers were poorly injected. These injectors failed to respect anatomy and also failed to appreciate the complexities of facial aesthetic treatment.

The best advice is to seek out a practitioner with a good reputation and to generally avoid medical treatments in salons. Also a caution about procedures in  high turnover entrepreneur operated clinics where a sweat shop environment prevails and good outcomes are viewed in terms of financial success rather than pleasing results.

On a positive note this latest report confirms an impression that many fat grafting doctors have observed for years-that something in fat not only improves the appearance but also skin (and even scars in certain situations). We now know the magic ingredient is the mulitpotent stem cell.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/266660.php

Suture/Thread Lifting Book Publication

I was delighted recently to be informed that a chapter I was invited to write was recently published in a book freely available online:

Miniinvasive Face and Body Lifts - Closed Suture Lifts or Barbed Thread Lifts. 

My chapter titled "Suture Lifting and Liposculpture Integration in the Creation of Facial Esthetic Harmony" can be reached by clicking on the link

http://www.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/suture-lifting-and-liposculpture-integration-in-the-creation-of-facial-esthetic-harmony

Platelet Rich Plasma "Wow" Factor

A recent visit to attend the Biobridge congress in Venice

http://www.biobridge-event.com/site/index.php/2013-preview/day-1-plenary-session.html

 has convinced me of the potent advantages of using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in healing and rejuvenation aesthetic procedures.
Some amazing outcomes are being achieved boosting healing in cases of bone, leg ulcers and damaged joints. There is little doubt that the improved outcomes that we are achieving with fat grafting in facial aesthetics are due to enrichment with platelet rich plasma PRP).

Neck Liposculpture, Fat Transfer & Platelet Rich Plasma

I noted an article in one of those international airline magazines recently about people paying mega-bucks for "new" sensational non-invasive procedures like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) fortified fat transfer graft associated with suture face lifts. We have been performing these procedures for some years now and in fact performed the first PRP enriched facial fat graft case in Australia  4 years ago. Nice to see we are ahead of the game down in olde Castle Hill! I have been astounded by the really transforming outcomes in many of our cases and continue to be enthused by these scarless "in-clinic" procedures.