End of the Lines: The Truth About Instant Wrinkle Smoothers and Filler

Click to read Dr. Lista's comments on this article.

Ledger (FL)

(2006-09-26); Schmid, Wendy

Last year, more than 3 million Americans had their wrinkle-making muscles relaxed with Botox, while more than 1 million had their lines and lips plumped with fillers. That's a 35 percent increase over the previous year, and the spiking curve is expected to climb still higher in 2006, as word of mouth spreads, more physicians become adept at using injectables, and new fillers get FDA approval.

About 1,500 so-called medical spas – or med-spas – have opened across the country, most selling wrinkle-smoothing injectables in a spa-like setting, though not always administered by an experienced doctor. Wendy Lewis, a cosmetic surgery consultant in New York City and London, notes that even when the needle is in the most experienced hands, there can be temporary side effects such as bruising, swelling, and tiny bumps along the injection site.

But she warns that risk of serious problems, including deformities that last for months, is lower when a person goes to an expert. It's safest to go to a doctor who is board certified in dermatology, plastic surgery, or an above-the-neck specialty. A head and neck surgeon; an ear, nose, and throat doctor; or an ophthalmologist may have a cosmetic surgery subspecialty. Just as important is experience with a variety of injectables. Although some people have gone back to work after lunch-time procedures, Thomas Romo III, MD, director of plastic reconstructive surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, advises making an end-of-day appointment and then going home and applying ice to minimize swelling, redness and injection marks. Bruising is unpredictable, so have concealer handy for next-day use.