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Know If Botox Is Right For You

Botox Patient — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:37:32 +0000

Are you the right candidate for Botox?

Still trudging along the lines of Botox safety, we are thinking to include a section on how to check if you are the right candidate for a Botox treatment.

Botox, despite all the bad press surrounding its use, is a really safe drug that has not been reported, as yet, to cause severe illnesses such as paralysis or even death. But because it is still precisely that, a drug, there are some possible side effects that can be triggered or aggravated by circumstances that exist prior to the treatment. Should you have any of such condition, it is highly recommended that you inform your chosen physician before your procedure so that he may advise you properly.

Here are some of the circumstances and conditions that should make someone re-evaluate the risks posed vis-à-vis the expected benefits of undergoing Botox treatments:

Pre-existing neuromuscular condition such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or the Lou Gehrig disease), Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis and spinal muscular atrophy;
Allergic reaction to any of the components of Botox
Adverse reaction to a previous treatment involving the Botulinum Toxin
Muscle weakness especially in the area where you plan to be treated
Any surgery on the location to be treated, whether in the past or planned for a future date
Breathing problems such as asthma or emphysema
Pregnancy and/or lactation

We’re planning to expound on how these conditions increase the risks associated with undergoing a Botox treatment and why the FDA has considered these factors as contraindications to the usage of the drug.

We want you to feel comfortable with the procedure before you even sit on the doctor’s chair and we know that addressing your concerns about safety is the first step towards this direction. So, we’re trying to discover the common questions that Botox patients ask and try to provide all the answers in one handy resource.

This Guide is starting to turn out to be a nifty source for real information about Botox! Stay tuned for more updates…

Know If Botox Is Right For You is a post from: Botox Patient

Botox Mistakes You Should Avoid

Botox Patient — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:40:35 +0000

Here’s an update to The Insider’s Guide that we are creating.

We just decided to include a discussion of issues that should be considered as Botox no-no’s. A common denominator among these types of issues is the desire to avoid paying the high cost of Botox treatments. Sadly, money, or a feeling of lack thereof, can really drive people to make unwise decisions. We’re hoping that this Guide will protect women from unscrupulous individuals and, maybe, even from themselves, by giving them the information needed to make smart choices.

Here are a couple of issues that we might tackle in The Guide.

Do-It-Yourself Botox treatments

A lot of controversy was stirred by the arrest of Laurie D’Alleva. Suddenly, the issue of Do-It-Yourself Botox treatments was shoved into the spotlight. I know that there are individuals out there who believe that Laurie was doing the common person a great service by giving them access to cheaper cosmetic medicine. But, please be wary of distributors, online or otherwise, who allow you to purchase prescription medicine, such as Botox, without a prescription. The FDA has regulated these drugs for several reasons – most important of which is your safety. A lot of people seem to overlook the matter of health just to be able to save some money but, as some of the victims of Discount MedSpa admit, reversing the effects of their DIY treatments are causing a much bigger dent on their bank accounts.

Fake Botox

Most of the bad press associated with Botox actually pertain to instances where Fake Botox was used irresponsibly. You may have heard of the Houston physician who was sentenced to prison for using industrial strength Botox on her patients. The drug she used was labeled “FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, NOT FOR HUMAN USE” and yet she still injected some 170 of her patients with it. Botox, despite being derived from a neurotoxin, is really a safe drug – but this comes with several precautions such as using only the FDA approved version produced by Allergan and proper administration by experienced medical practitioners. When a person chooses to cut corners and find cheaper alternatives without regard to possible repercussions, you just know that things are bound to get ugly – and with Botox in the equation, ugly might just be right on the money.

I know that deciding to undergo any medical procedure requires giving your physician a little bit of faith but that doesn’t mean that you have to go through the process blindfolded.

The inclusion of a section that discusses these issues in The Guide is made with the hope that we will be making more women think twice about latching on to super-saver deals like these. We’ll also give you some tips on avoiding Botox pitfalls such as how to choose your physician, what to ask during your consultation and even how to check if the Botox that will be used is the real deal.

I hope this is getting to be as exciting for you as it is for us!

Botox Mistakes You Should Avoid is a post from: Botox Patient

Common Botox Safety Concerns

Botox Patient — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:36:40 +0000

Botox, like every other word, has an etymology that can tell you so much about what the word denotes.

Most people overlook the fact that Botox is the brand name that Allergan gave the drug it manufactures for the treatment of wrinkles. This commercial name is actually a contraction of the words Botulinum Toxin from which the drug is derived.

BOTOX = BOtulinum TOXin

Let us now deal with the 2 main words involved:

Bot·u·li·num* (n): a spore-forming bacterium that secretes Botulinum Toxin. [From the German word "Botulismus"; coined from the Latin term "Botulus" which means sausage. The word 'sausage' is a depiction of the shape of Clostridium Botulinum, the bacteria that produces the toxin]
Tox·in* (n): a poisonous substance… usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues… [From the Latin term “Toxicum” which means poison]

Bacterium. Poison.

The two main words associated with Botox involve things that people usually stay far away from. No wonder most women’s primary concern is the safety of using Botox!

The Insider’s Guide that we are currently creating will include a section that will delve into the safety issues commonly associated with Botox treatments such as:

Is it safe? If so, how?
Important things you need to know to do Botox safely
How things can go wrong in a Botox treatment and how to avoid them
Possible side effects and measures you can take to prevent them from occurring
Botox pitfalls that you should avoid at all costs

We’re hoping that tackling this issue head on will give you the answers to common questions you may have regarding the safety of using Botox. The ultimate goal is to give you eveything you will need to make smart choices every step of the way.

*definition from merriam-webster online

Common Botox Safety Concerns is a post from: Botox Patient

Debunking Botox Myths

Botox Patient — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:27:10 +0000

We’ve started writing the Insider’s Guide To Botox and are keeping you in mind the whole time — as much as possible, we’d like to address your Botox concerns from the moment you start deliberating if you’re a good candidate for the procedure until the time you schedule your next treatment.

One of the things that we decided to do is address the myths surrounding Botox and give you the correct information.

We came across several erroneous and misleading articles and commentaries online while conducting our initial research and this propelled our efforts into separating Botox myths from facts. We also took note of common misconceptions and will distinguish which ones are true and which are not.

We figured that if we were to put ourselves in the shoes of someone searching around online for information that will help them decide if they’re going to go through with the procedure, we’d end up having to wrestle with confusing literature especially with topics relating to when you should schedule your next treatment, who are authorized to administer the drug and something as basic as how the drug works.

All this is geared towards creating the ultimate guide for the smart Botox patient.

Here are the general headlines of the Guide:

Botox Basics: Everything you need to know even before your first consult
Botox Treatment: Overcoming Botox Jitters
Botox Aftermath: Making the effects of Botox last

Debunking Botox Myths is a post from: Botox Patient

The Insiders Guide To Botox

Botox Patient — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:51:13 +0000

I’ve been thinking about what we’ll need to answer in the Insiders’ Guide To Botox

Here are some of my thoughts about what we’ll reveal.

The Insiders Guide To Botox will be a tell-all revelation that will put you on the inside of one of the most sought-after and talked about cosmetic treatments around. This is information that no one else will give you and your friends and family don’t know.

Find out what your Doctor doesn’t want you to know about your Botox treatments
Learn how your doctor decides how much to charge you
Discover why some women are injecting themselves with Botox at home
Know what to ask your doctor in your consultation
Understand how Botox works, and if it will work for you.
Find out why some Doctors are administering fake Botox.

This guide gives you the inside scoop on the most popular cosmetic treatment for crows feet and foreheads. Botox has been around for a long time. You may have even had it. But did you know that.

Some doctors have lost their licenses for giving their patients fake Botox.
Websites are hawking ‘do it yourself Botox treatments’, and states are shutting them down.
China is pushing fake Botox into the US market, with disastrous results.
Some doctors are ‘watering down’ their Botox to save money.
There are new competitors coming on to the market.
Doctors get kickbacks for pushing more Botox.
Botox has a bottom price.

Where to get real information about Botox.

The Insiders Guide To Botox is a post from: Botox Patient

Getting Botox For The First Time

Botox Patient — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:27:41 +0000

We’re about to make available a new guide for anyone looking in to the possibility of getting Botox for the first time.

Here’s the very first outline that we’re starting to work from. Of course, it’s only a rough draft but it’ll take shape soon enough.

Botox Patient: Getting Botox For The First Time. A guide to Botox for smart women.

Before: a woman thinking it over at home

What is Botox
Address the concern that Botox is a toxin
What it does
Why it has the effect that it does
Am I candidate for Botox injections
How do I select a Physician/Clinic
During: a woman on her first consult and procedure
What is the nature of the office examination
Questions that Physicians ask
Questions that a Patient must ask
How soon after the first consult can the procedure be done

The Botox Treatment

How is it administered
Where is it injected
Is it painful?
What a patient can do to minimize the pain (Take pain killers before the procedure?)
How long does the procedure last
Out patient procedure
Is it advisable to do it during lunch hour?
We could include the “what you need to know but doctors don’t tell you” part here

After: a woman who just finished her first botox treatment

What are the things a first-timer must remember
How long does the effect last (how long before next treatment)
Possible side effects
Any special advice to take care of skin that has been recently botoxed
How to address possible inflammation or tenderness on the area treated
How to make the botox last

Getting Botox For The First Time is a post from: Botox Patient

Can Botox make you happier?

Botox Patient — Sun, 02 May 2010 03:35:10 +0000

Are emotions only skin deep? Check out this new info about a positive side effect from Botox….

Botox injections administered to reduce frown lines may also delay patients’ recognition of anger and sadness around them, according to a study to be published in the journal Psychological Science. This common cosmetic treatment uses botulinum toxin type A (BTX) — known as Botox — to paralyze facial muscles that control frowning and relax the surrounding skin wrinkles. “Botox induces a kind of mild, temporary cognitive blindness to information in the world, social information about the emotions of other people,” said David Havas, lead study author and a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Havas’ team evaluated 40 first-time Botox patients before, and then two weeks after, they underwent treatment. On both occasions, the participants read happy, sad or angry statements, and pushed a button to indicate their comprehension of the text. After receiving the Botox injections, it took longer for the frown-impaired participants to process the angry and sad statements. However, the time required to process happy statements did not change.

The study results support the “facial feedback hypothesis,” which states that physical expressions, such as grinning or grimacing, signal our brains to produce an emotional responses. In this case, the Botox injections prevented frowning, and so delayed the perception of negative statements.

Murad Alam, an associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University, has also investigated the Botox-facial feedback relationship and found a link between restricted frown muscles and mood. “When we are sad, angry or frustrated, but we have Botox on board, our muscles do not contract to create furrows between our brows and deep creases on our foreheads,” Alam said. “This lack of frowning and wrinkling works backward to adjust our emotions and make us happier.” “We all know that language has the power to move us to emotional experience; just read your favorite novel, or listen to a rousing speaker,” Havas said. “This research shows how it works: Language moves emotions in part by moving the face.”

Can Botox make you happier? is a post from: Botox Patient

Botox Without Needles

Botox Patient — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:20:30 +0000

New news on Botox without needles or injections.

Botox Without Needles is a post from: Botox Patient

Botox Patient: Looking into the crystal ball for 2010

Botox Patient — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:05:18 +0000

The editors of Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery are gazing into the crystal ball once again to see what’s in store for 2010.

Even More Botox-Like Products Will Come to Market.

First there was Botox Cosmetic; then 2009 brought the Botox alternative Dysport. In 2010, expect to see a few more Botox rivals, including a topical form of the popular wrinkle relaxer and at least one more injectable. A couple of injectable Botox cousins are in development, but PurTox will likely be the next to get a nod from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The main difference in these injectables seems to be how long the results last and how quickly the products start to work on your crow’s feet.

Fat Injections to the Breast Will Be Used Cosmetically.

After being condemned by plastic surgery associations, fat injections to the breast were deemed OK for “touch-ups” after breast reconstruction in 2008. But these once controversial injections may soon play a role in cosmetic breast augmentation. Taking fat from a part of the body where there is too much (your thighs or butt, for example) and injecting it into your breasts where there is too little, may replace the need for breast implants when done in conjunction with a breast lift. Some kinks still need to be worked out, but fat injections to the breast are likely here to stay.

Surgeons Will Invent – and Perfect – Body Contouring Surgeries to Follow Massive Weight Loss.

More and more people are undergoing bariatric surgery to lose weight, only to be left with hanging fat and flab in highly visible areas. As plastic surgeons put on their thinking caps to better address these issues, expect to hear about many new procedures, including the corset trunkplasty. This new surgery targets above-the-belly-button flab, to recreate an hourglass silhouette in formerly obese women and get rid of love handles in men who have lost massive amounts of weight. This area has been ignored by many traditional body contouring procedures that target the lower abs, buttocks and/or thighs. We will hear more about corset trunkplasty and other innovative body contouring procedures in 2010.

Fat Freezing Heats Up in 2010.

Fat freezing (or cryolipolysis) may give liposuction a run for its money in the coming years. This technology works by freezing fat cells and breaking them down. Zeltiq is in clinical trials now, and results look promising. Stay tuned.

Cohesive Gel Breast Implants Receive FDA Approval.

These so-called “gummy bear implants” have been making their way down the pike for some time, and they just may get the long-awaited FDA nod in 2010. Filled with cohesive silicone gel, these leak-resistant implants – used in Europe and Brazil – are being studied in the United States. Gummy bear implants have the positive attributes of silicone gel, but the gel doesn’t migrate. This is a good thing, because if the shell should fail, the gel wouldn’t leak into surrounding tissue.

Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures Experience Rebirth.

As our economy starts to show signs of life again, more people may opt for cosmetic surgery procedures, reversing the steep decline of the last two years. Don’t expect the numbers to reach their record highs anytime soon, though. There will likely be a slight increase in plastic surgery procedures – especially minimally invasive ones such as injectables that allow people to put off more invasive (and expensive) procedures like face lifts until they really need them (and can better afford them).

Botox Patient: Looking into the crystal ball for 2010 is a post from: Botox Patient

Resylane + Juvederm + Filler Injection Tips for Medical Spa Physicians.

Botox Patient — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:50:03 +0000

Restylane, Juverderm and filler injections tips for physicians running medical spas and laser clinics.

The following is from a string of emails that were circulating among some of Medical Spa MDs Members. I’ve edited this somewhat to make it readable and get rid of all the extraneous copies. I’m also not displaying the identity or email addresses of the physicians in this thread.

Note: Some of the comments below might be out of order from the original thread. Emails’ somewhat difficult to follow as a thread but you’ll get the gist.

Filler Injection Discussion & Tips: Restylane | Juevederm | Evolence

1. When I use the “push ahead” technique, I feel that I get better “plumping” per cc of filler. I learned this from Kevin (thanks Kevin).

2. When I use the “push ahead” technique, the filler fills a few millimeters in front of the needle tip. You need to realize this to be able to put the material exactly where you want it. Sometimes you have to “feel” the injection because you can’t “see” the plumping.

3. I mix 0.1 cc of lidocaine with epinephrine with my Juvederm. This helps with bruising (epinephrine) and when the lidocaine goes away and the Juvederm attracts water, the two effects cancel each other and there is not as much enhancement after the injection due to the hydrophilic nature of the Juvederm.

4. I use Juvederm Ultra under the eye and above the lip. I use Juvederm UltraPlus everywhere else.

5. I constantly complain to my Juvederm Rep about the 0.8 cc syringes. I use lots of Radiesse because you get almost twice as much material for the same price. Volume, volume, volume. Please complain to your rep, maybe we can get them to change.

6. I hear the Evolence is very good. We will be getting trained and start using it next month.

Thanks for the filler tips.Can you explain how you get the Lido with epi mixed into the Juvederm syringe? –PD

Fluid Dispensing Connector from Braun Medical Inc (you can get from PSS)

BD 1 ml Luer-Lok Syringe

This syringe allows you to get very precise amount of lidocaine (swish back and forth 20 times).

I use this syringe to put exaclty 1 cc of saline in my Botox Bottle. When I reconstitute the Botox (this gives it full strength per unit). The chances of intravascular injection might be lower with push ahead because the material will push the vessels out of the way as you advance – Jeff

Hi Jeff,–I agree w/ #6. I seem to get good augmentation, less redness, swelling and bruising with Evolence. I use it for deeper fills in cheeks, NLF, etc. Don’t use it for lips or under eyes. I do same with Lido w/ epi. I tend to use Juvederm in lips. Perlane / Restylane for other areas. I agree w/ why Allergan uses 0.8 cc syringes. I’ve moved away from Radiesse. I feel that the duration is not that much longer than a good correction with the HA’s. Besides, I believe a fair amount of the volume of Radiesse is a gel carrier, thus needing touch-ups at 2-3 months. Perhaps that’s why the went to the larger syringes? — Don

The push ahead technique also moves small blood vessels out of the way, so you may notice less ecchymosis is overall pts. — Greg

Jeff: –”Push ahead” has a higher risk of vessel cannulation & potential for vascular effects – skin necrosis in glabella, even potential for retro-grade flow to eye (causing visual loss). I wouldn’t recommend that technique for the periorbital area.

Restylane is recommended for the tear troughs; it’s less hydrophilic than juvederm – which means less post-treatment swelling.–Tom – [note from Jeff: Tom is a plastic surgeon]

I would not use push ahead around the eye, I agree with Tom’s comments. It works great for NLF. I was actually taught this by a PS — Greg

Thanks Jeff for your kind comments. However I must make a few points in regards to fillers:

1) There are some areas that one has to still do the retrograde injection either b/c the purpose was to make a straight line (eyebrow lift and vermillion border and the bow-tie (the vertical lines connecting the base of nose and the upper lip border) AND when injecting the most inner 1/3 of the tear-trough to avoid risk of filler getting into the orbital space due to its close proximity to the orbital rim.

2) On the glabellar injection, it is best to first push and pull the needle thru the space underneath to break up the tissue before actually injecting the filler both in an anterograde and retrograde pattern

3) I ONLY use the 1/2 inch needles in all my injections

4) One can inject even Radiesse and/or Perlane via an 1/2 inch 30 gage needle. Why is this noteworthy to mention?? When I work on the lips and Marrionette’s lines, I ususally first build the Vermillion border with Radiesse or Perlane (I get the best “lifting outcome” with heavier filler). I push the 1/2inch needle all the way forward then slowly and steadily inject while withdrawing (retrograde method). Then I re-evaluate how much of a correction I already get of the Marrionette’ line and lifting up of the lip body. My next step is to inject into the most lateral lip section (about 1 cm distance) starting at the corner (using Perlane or Restylane or Juverderm). This time I inject slowly as I push forward (anterograde). Often I ended up correcting about 50% of the marrionette’s line by going after the lip’s border and most lateral body. Besides, the patient loveto see that they now could see their lip body all the way to the corner and more “smiley shape”. The last step is the trickiest one, I use either Radiesse or Perlane on an 1/2 inch 27 gage needle. First placing my left thumb at the patient’s lower half NLF’s I retract the skin upward (about 2-3cm upward) then I approach my needle in an upward (vertical) position at about one centimeter lateral and one cm below the mouth corner of that same side. Then I aim diagonally toward the corner and start injecting anterograde just 1-2 mm below the imaginary horizontal line of the mouth corner (about 0.2 cc), then I withdraw the needle and reaim straight up and inject just below the horizonal line (0.2cc) then I do it one more time aiming diagonally outward (0.2cc). What was I attempting to do?? I was laying down a new flooring along the imaginary horizontal line. After the injection, release the left thumb. You will be surprised to see the retracted portion just rest right along this new floor, thus the Marrionette’line has been corrected. This is different from the common fanning technique of using the filler to “blow up” around the Marrionette’s line. If you look carefully at those company’s issued photos, the area around the Marrionette’s line now appeared very swollen and puffed up. It is aesthetically unpleasant. It looked like the patient was beat up below the mouth. It reduced the profile of the chin.

5) For those of you that use fillers on the highly vascularized and shallow areas such as the temporal, crow’s feet, undereye area lateral to the submalar area and along the lateral border of the cheek prominence (especially in those older skinny Caucasian ladies with much excessive very thin skin) I now emulate the same technique used in the hand. I would pinch to levitate the skin itself above the bony structure, then I bolus Restylane into the empty space. Then I massage it down. This elimates the risks of injecting into the vessels and nodules.

Interesting discussion. So Kevin, how do you account for the difference in that anterograde injection you need less filler than in retrograde injections, assuming all else being equal?

Second, I am understanding one group claims anterograde injection carries a higher risk of vessel cannulation and possible intravascular injection, while another group claims that anterograde injection “pushes away” blood vessels, thus decreasing the risk. Not sure how anterograde increases risk of intravascular injection any more than retrograde. If you push the needle ahead, transfixing a vessel, then begin injection, you can still conceivably deposit some material intravascularly, can you not? Am I missing something here?

I also found an interesting idea of sub q bolus technique in areas of thin skin, ie crowsfeet, etc. Anyone else try this method? ~ Don

Tom:

I do agree with you about those risks with anterograde injection. The key is always the skills in doing it, be it retrograde or anterograde. One always has to be very carefully doing anything around the eyes. However, the anterograde techinique has been advocated some of the best known experts such as Arnold Klein, MD and Kent Remington, MD. I also believed that the filler amount used was critical. It takes much more amount to get the same result with the often taught retrograde technique compared with the anterograde one. For example, I almost never required more than one full syringe in correcting bilateral NLF’s vs what was typically used ( 2 syringes) by most others. I attached the before and after of a case wherein I used Readiesse to correct her NLF’s and Marrionette’s lines with anterograde technique. The after photo was taken right after. You can still see some of needle marks. I used one full 1.3 cc syringe, 1/2inch 30g for the Vermillion border and 1/2inch for NLF’s and Marrionette’s line. Notice also there was no “puffy/swollen look” medial to the Marrionette’s line often seen with retrograde and fanning technique used by most others. ~ Kevin

All interesting comments. The only place, I use “push ahead” is in the cheeks when doing them via the intra-oral route. (Apparently Radiesse is no longer teaching this method because may practitioners couldn’t get the hang of it but it works for me.) I might try it in the “safe” areas such as NL folds. We use only Radiesse and Juvederm and I find that neither filler lasts as long as advertised in “first-timers”. I’ve also had disappointing longevity in my older patients (>65) with both types fillers despite using numerous syringes. I’m sure this has to do with their inability to generate collagen around the filler once the carrier gel is gone. Does anyone know the age range of patients done in the filler studies? ~ SD

I came across this old thread way down in my inbox and read it again. I’m not sure who wrote #4 below. It sounds interesting but I’m having a hard time visualizing it. Do you steadily move the needle forward toward the lip edge as you are injecting or do you hold it in place while the area fills? I’d love to see a drawing on where you start. ~ SD

SD: I wrote those threads. The techniques that I described were similar to what you could see watching the video instruction on www.thederm.org by Kent Remington and his colleagues (lower face injection portion) THe only thing new from my thread was when fixing the Marrionette’s line, his doctor (Nowell Solish) injection upward and anterograde from the lower part toward the lip corner only one time vs what I now do is I do the same thing but with a fanning pattern where (with the skin lifted about 1-2cm upward with the other thumb) I laid down “three such “anchoring points” along an imaginary horizontal floor starting from the lip corner going laterally for about 3-5cm long. Here I used something firmer such as Radiesse or Perlane. Having done this, you would release the thumb letting the skin go back down. Often you will see the Marrionetter’s line is much improved because “part of that Marrionette’s line” now is positioned along the horizontal flooring that you just created. ~ Kevin

PS: It is hard for me to send over some graphic illustration but I will attempt to do this in the future

via Medical Spa MD: Juvederma, Restylane, & Filler Injection Tips for Physicians.

Something worth knowing. How is your plastic surgeon or dermatologist communicating with other physicians to keep abreast of the latest information about treatments?

Botox Patient: Posted from Medical Spa RX: Wholesale Botox

Resylane + Juvederm + Filler Injection Tips for Medical Spa Physicians. is a post from: Botox Patient

Paula D. Young RN joins Medical Spa MD

Botox Patient — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:27:00 +0000

Medica lSpa MD is proud to announce the addition of Paula D. Young RN to it’s editorial board.

“It’s a fantastic addition to Medical Spa MDs ability to provide expert viewpoints from a diverse group of expert medical providers and business people”, says Jeff Barson, Medical Spa MDs founder and publisher. “Paulas experience will give Medical Spa MD voice for mid-level medical providers an an invaluable resource for the growing number of medical estheticians and laser techinics who are visiting Medical Spa MD to learn.”

“To really know what’s going on in the aesthetic business you must join Medical Spa MD!”, says Young. “Nowhere else can you find the information crucial to your success in this ever changing arena. From the classified ads section, to the professional community forum discussion threads, to real equipment reviews by aesthetic professionals. I especially value the articles on marketing and the community forum discussions on therapy management like melasma, fillers, laser lipolysis, and skin resurfacing. Medical Spa MD keeps me on my toes as a medical spa owner, marketer, and nurse!”

* * *

ABOUT Paula D. Young RN

Paula is the staff nurse and co-owner of Young Medical Spa in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania along with her husband Thomas E. Young, MD. Prior to establishing Young Medical Spa, Paula previously owned a Merle Norman Cosmetics national franchise, a full-service beauty salon and spa, and a chain of tanning salons. Most recently, Paula worked for Johnson & Johnson for over 10 years and held senior management positions in the medical and sales education, and customer relationship management departments. Her associations include:

Dermatology Nurses Association
American Academy of Medical Esthetic Professionals
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
American Nurses Association
The Aesthetic Practice Association

Paula also holds a current license with the Cosmetology Board in the State of Pennsylvania. She has written for Medical Spa Report Magazine and authored a textbook on Advanced Aesthetic Practices.

ABOUT MEDICAL SPA MD
Medical Spa MD is a community of Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Aesthetic Physicians, and Medical Spa Professionals. Medspa MD has Blogs, Forums, and Classified advertising. Members include 2,000+ members worldwide and medicalspa.com recieves more than 100,000 page views each month from physicians and individulals looking for informaton about cosmetic medicine and the lates advances in non-surgical technology.

via medicalspamd.com

Botox Patient: Posted from Laser Treatment MD

Paula D. Young RN joins Medical Spa MD is a post from: Botox Patient

9 Top Tips For Medical Spa Success

Botox Patient — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:15:11 +0000

If you’re a plastic surgeon or dermatologist starting a medical spa, skin clinic, or laser center, you’ll need to have all of your ducks in a row.

Here are 9 tips to keep your medspa in the black, and your laser treatments and Botox appointments full.

1. Have sufficient funds to kee your Medical Spa open for months.
Don’t even think about opening a Medical Spa unless you have the capital needed to bring it through the startup and first year of operation. Invariably, your planning will not deal with all of the unforeseen issues that can occur in the MedSpa industry. From regulatory compliance changes and training costs, to increased marketing costs. Under-capitalization is a leading indicator of business failure. You should considering a combination of various financing strategies from leasing to working capital.

2. Talk with other doctors who have successful, operating Medical Spas
Ask them what they would do the same, and what they would do differently. We are starting to see some established Medical Spas out there, try and learn from their experiences and best practices.

3. Join associations that help new Medical Spas succeed
They are a great source of experienced MedSpa owners, who have already gone through what you will. In addition, they often have members who have specialized in the MedSpa industry, including: business planning, marketing, design, dealing with regulatory issues, insurance and finance. The International Medical Spa Association even has a mentorship program that is available for new MedSpa owners. It is invaluable to chat with someone across the country who has had the same problems you may have, especially if you know they are not a local competitor!

4. Know your strengths and weaknesses
No one is strong in all areas, you may be an expert in age management medicine, but you may be weak on the business and marketing side. That’s fine, but you are going to need to identify the areas where you are weak and compensate. Not all areas require a permanent, full-time employee, you may consider hiring a consultant who has the necessary experience.

5. Watch your medical spa’s monthly expenses
Especially during the startup phase of a MedSpa, it can be easy to see the glamour of having marble flooring, but is it really necessary? You may be better off adding another hair removal treatment room, which will generate income. Remember the old adage: “it will take twice as long and cost twice as much as you anticipated.”

6. Determine what need your Medical Spa meets.
As with any successful business, you need to meet a consumer demand. With 11,500 people joining the over 50 crowd every day, you have a great potential market. But you need to make sure you are where they can be found (i.e. medical centers, shopping centers, established communities).

7. Know your laser clinic’s monthly cash flow.
You may think financial statements are only for accountants to understand, but you need to be able to read some key financial statements. Including the cash flow statement, this lets you know where the money is coming from and where it is going. You must always know your current cash flow situation, if you cannot pay your bills, you are effectively out of business. Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, IPL, cosmetic lasers… they’re all expensive.

8. Open your medical spa because you want to.
Starting a MedSpa is going to consume two things: time and money. The profit potential of a MedSpa is huge, but if you are not doing what you really enjoy, it will show on your bottom-line! As you will probably be spending more time and money than you originally planned, you need to make sure operating a Medical Spa is what you really want to do.

9. Don’t hire family and friends
They may be able to provide you with valuable assistance during the startup phase, but they most likely will not be able to get you to that next level. This is where having an experienced MedSpa director is very important. Not only are they going to hire and train your employees, but they also will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the MedSpa. Hiring a competent MedSpa Director can allow you to run your MedSpa as a stand alone profit center; one that makes money whether you are there or not.

Botox Patient: Posted from Laser Treatment MD

9 Top Tips For Medical Spa Success is a post from: Botox Patient