SmartLipo MPX Treats Excessive Sweating and Under Arm Odor

Excess sweating and odor from sweating is a common problem that affects about 4 million people in the US. Although many treatments have been proposed, they have the disadvantage of invasive surgery, complicated and risky surgery such as sympathectomy and scarring. Botox has been used with some success, but it is very expensive, requires a lot of botulinum toxin, and must be repeated when it wears off.

We can offer patients who have the problem of excess axillary (armpit) sweating, whether or not accompanied by bad odor, Smartlipo MPX laser treatment.

The procedure is done under local tumescent anesthesia. Tiny incisions hidden in skin folds in the armpit are made and the area under the hair-bearing skin is infiltrated with anesthetic solution. The multiple wavelength SmartlipoMPX laser fiber is then used to destroy the sweat glands in the layer just under the skin. The laser fiber is passed back and forth from two directions until sufficient energy is delivered, and tissue resistance to passage of the fiber is achieved.

A study conducted by Alberto Goldman, MD, from Porto Alegre Brazil, found that 60% of patients had 75% or better reduction in sweating area, and 23.5 % had 51-75% reduction. This means that 82% had good or excellent results. The recovery was quick and post-operative pain was minimal. Swelling lasted about a week, there was temporary decrease of sensation for about 3-5 weeks, which gradually returned back to normal. Temporary hair reduction was noted in 47% of patients.

With our long experience in liposuction, both vaser and traditional, and the addition of SmartlipoMPX to our practice in early 2009, we are pleased to offer patients with the problem of excess sweating, whether or not accompanied by excess underarm odor, the benefits of this technology. We do not expect that insurance will cover this procedure.

San Jose Plastic Surgery Stretch Mark Treatment

Palomar Lux 1540 laser receives first FDA approval for treatment of stretch marks

The Palomar Lux 1540 has received the first and only FDA clearance for the treatment of stretch marks. Patients received 50-75% or greater improvement in the appearance of their stretch marks. The great advantage of the Lux 1540 is that it can be used on all skin types, and all kinds of stretch marks. Stretch marks can be white, or red, or pigmented. It works on all of them, without the risk of long-lasting PIH, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Previous lasers, and intense pulsed-light attempts at stretch mark removal were very likely to cause PIH, especially in darker skin types. The Lux 1540 can be used for all skin types, I-VI, which means Hispanic, Asian and African-American patients can receive the same treatment with no increased risk.

We usually recommend three treatments, but improvements have been seen in only one treatment. For details, click on the link to the “white paper” below, which has some interesting data and photographs.

Both women and men are afflicted with this complaint. We see them on the inner arms, the breasts, the abdomen, flanks, and thighs, practically anywhere the skin has been subject to some stretching. Some people get them who have never gained and lost weight, particularly on the innner arms.

So give us a call and see if we can help you with the first FDA-approved treatment for stretch marks.

Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Receives First FDA Clearance for Fractional Laser Treatment of Striae

Palomar is pleased to announce that the Lux1540™ Fractional non-ablative laser has received the first clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of striae (stretchmarks) using a fractional laser. This new clearance will allow aesthetic practitioners to treat the millions of women in the United States with unwanted stretchmarks by offering long-lasting, superior results.

Ongoing clinical studies have shown that subjects treated with the Lux1540 Fractional non-ablative laser achieved an average improvement of between 51% and 75% in the appearance of their stretchmarks.

This new clearance expands the broad range of treatments offered by the Lux1540, which may be used to treat surgical scars, acne scars, and melasma, as well as offer non-ablative skin resurfacing.

To learn more about the treatment of striae with the Lux1540 Fractional non-ablative laser, download this white paper.

http://www.palomarmedical.com/FileUploads/Lux1540_Striae.pdf

San Jose Plastic Surgery News: Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction

Fat grafting was featured in several sessions at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Seattle last month. I attended a teaching course on fat grafting for breast augmentation and reconstruction. This appears to be both feasible and effective. Long-lasting results were shown with augmentations of over 300 cc’s, in one or more grafting sessions. Current investigations continue on the most reliable methods of fat grafting, the long-term safety of fat grafting for augmentation, and the possibility of lipid cysts that would be picked up on mammograms or by physical exam, leading to possible biopsies. It seems that radiologists should be able to distinguish these cysts or calcifications after fat grafting from the appearance of breast cancer calcifications.

We also saw excellent results in breast reconstruction after mastectomy or radiation therapy, even when the skin or scar is tight or damaged. The stem cells in fat seem to transform the abnormal tissue back toward normal appearance and pliability. To loosen the tissue, an external expander called the Brava device is worn for 4-6 weeks. This stretches the skin and allows space for fat to be placed. After several sessions of this, a new breast can be built out of a woman’s fat without the need for an implant or flaps. Women who have mastectomy defects from lumpectomy and radiation can have these reconstructed with fat grafts instead of muscle or abdominal flaps. Expect to hear a lot about this in the coming year.