Welcome to The Aesthetics Edit™ - our educational platform at the intersection of art, beauty, medicine and science.
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Which Toxin is Which?
For the longest time Botox has dominated the aesthetics market when it comes to botulinum toxin - so much so that its name is ubiquitous and basically synonymous with the treatment. But there are other brands out there, and for the longest time there have been three main ones competing.
However, the past year has seen a plethora of new brands. The different brand names and characteristics become confusing to both patients and clinicians, so we are going to set things straight. Most importantly, for safety reasons it is vital to know which products are licensed for use here in the UK, and how to recognise you are getting illegal or counterfeit products injected.
Fillers DON'T Cause Cancer: The Problem with Clickbait Headlines
There have been a number of articles and social media posts linking fillers and cancer in the headlines, which I find both misleading and incredibly irresponsible.
Not only is it potentially scaring and upsetting people for clicks and likes, it also contributes to this overall trend we see of science misinformation and a lack of interest in critical appraisal or nuance, because that’s what gets people riled up on social media.
ReViVox: The Drug That Could Reverse Botox
The first thing I always explain to my patients at a Botox appointment is that while its effects are temporary, it is not reversibile, which is why careful placement and an experienced medical clinician is very important to minimise the risk of complications. Historically, we’ve never been able to reverse the effects of Botox, unlike filler - which can be dissolved.
However, a new drug ReViVox, may soon change all that, and make Botox reversible in the future!
What is Nuceiva?
Another brand new toxin has hit the market in the UK! You’re going to be hearing a lot about Nuceiva in the coming months, the “Newtox” in town.
First of all, it is not an entirely new entity. Nuceiva [probotulinumotxinA] has been used since 2019 in the United States, where it is marketed by Evolus under the name Jeuveau.
So what should you know about Nuceiva?
What is Daxxify?
Another brand new toxin is about to hit the market! We have covered Alluzience and Letybo in two recent articles, and now US company Revance has announced FDA approval of its brand new daxibotulinumtoxinA, known as Daxxify.
So what should you know about Daxxify?
What is Letybo?
2022 seems to be the year of new botulinum toxin innovations! You might have been hearing some buzz in the UK about a new toxin approved for the market, Letybo (also known as Letibotulinumtoxin A), from Croma-Pharma.
So what should you know about Letybo?
What to Expect at Your Injectables Appointment
There are a few very basic things you should expect from your injectables appointment.
This is why I am often surprised and even baffled when I hear that patients who have seen other practitioners have not been consented properly, have not been offered reviews, or have had their faces dissected and told they “need” XYZ treatment at quite a cost.
Don’t get me wrong. A clinician needs to be honest about what is achievable within your budget for a result that you have said you have wanted to achieve. That’s different from unsolicited critiques of any small asymmetry.
To that end, there is the Aesthetics Guide to the basics of what you should expect from your medical aesthetics injectable appointment.
What is Alluzience?
It’s not every day you see a potential innovation in the world of botulinum toxin!
So what is Alluzience?
Alluzience is a brand new botulinum toxin type A first announced in summer 2021 - soon to be launched by Galderma (the company behind Azzalure) in the EU. It represents an exciting innovation with a quicker onset and longer duration than other toxin brands out there.
Let’s find out more.
Protect Your Tatas: Why You Should NOT Be Getting Filler Injections in Your Breasts
While the idea of a liquid or “lunchtime” boob-job may sound appealing on the surface, getting filler in your breasts is not recommended by most ethical clinicians.
Why?
Well, not only is it a procedure that was rapidly withdrawn from the market over a decade ago, it was never supported with much safety data, there were various complications and risks that went with it, and it makes breast cancer screening almost impossible!
Turn That Frown Upside Down: Can Botox Help Depression?
It comes as no surprise to hear that cosmetic medicine and psychology are interconnected, and that medical aesthetic treatments have the ability to have a dramatic effect - both positive and negative - on our mental health.
While a lot of the focus in this area is around serious issues like body dysmorphia, which highlights the importance of always going to an ethical medical professional who has the competence of diagnose and manage complex health issues - it is also worthwhile looking at the positive mental health effects this treatment can have.
One of the areas that I find the most fascinating is the role that Botox treatments have in depression. Early research is strongly indicating that Botox improves the symptoms of depression! So what do the studies show, and how does this work?
An Easy Guide to Aftercare Dos and Don’ts of Injectable Treatments (And How Worried You Should Be!)
I’m always fascinated when I speak to patients from different clinicians. We seem give different aftercare advice, to be worried about different things, and it always seems to be so inconsistent!
There are some things we warn about, but that are actually quite low risk. There are other things we warn about, that should very much be paid attention to!
So here is your handy aftercare guide to the dos and don’ts after injectables.
The Twin Study: Thirteen Years of Botox
Everyone is sharing and talking about the thirteen-year Botox twin study!
This study is old news, but it’s recently been doing the rounds on social media and it’s not surprising that so many people love it! In 2006, Dr William J Binder of the UCLA School of Medicine published a paper titled “Long-term effects of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) on facial lines: a comparison in identical twins.”
It’s a great example of what subtle, beautiful, and professional done Botox can look like when completed by a medical professional. It’s a great example of Botox as prevention.
How Can I Get a Botox Prescription?
How can I get a botulinum toxin (also known as Botox) prescription?
The Answer: After a face-to-face assessment with a prescribing medical professional who has has medical aesthetics in their scope of practice.
Now why does this even need to be stated? Sadly, because it is way to easy in the unregulated landscape of the UK to get around the above. Please make no mistake, if you are getting botox either to inject or have it injected in you as a patient without the above, what it is illegal.
So let’s break it down.
The Top Five Rules for Filler Safety
Thinking of getting fillers? Not so fast! While this is a wonderful treatment in medical hands, there are many ways it could go wrong. Here, Dr Emmaline shares her Top Five Tips for Filler Safety.
Which Cosmetic Treatments and Skincare Ingredients are Safe in Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is such an exciting and beautiful time in a woman’s life, but it can also be confusing and scary to navigate all of the sudden rule changes about what you can and cannot do. We want to look after ourselves and the baby as well as possible - and for many women a huge part of self-care can often involve medical aesthetic treatments and our beloved skincare routines.
But things do change during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and there are some cosmetic treatments that are better to avoid. Want to understand why you can have one treatment and not another? Read to find out!
The concept of “Instagram face” is not a new one, but has received more recent attention as Meta has banned filters that encourage plastic surgery. Awareness of the role that social media and photo editing plays in aesthetic medicine is incredibly important for both clinicians and patients. The influence of social media can be incredibly negative, and it means it’s more important than ever to navigate between good, ethical medical practice versus “selling” cosmetic procedures.