BOTOX® Competitor On Hold

Posted on April 12, 2012 by

A two-year-old lawsuit begun by Allergan, the makers of BOTOX® Cosmetic, has just been given a favorable ruling in US federal court in California, which issued a permanent injunction against Merz Pharmaceuticals and Merz Aesthetics, which are the two American subsidiaries of German pharmaceutical company, Merz Pharma, makers of the BOTOX® competitor, Xeomin.

The court agreed with Allergan’s contention that Merz had induced those employees who had previously worked for Allergan to share Allergan trade secrets, including physician-customer names and contact information, sales targets and generated sales and product volume details.

According to the injunction, Merz cannot market Xeomin for aesthetic purposes in the United States until January of 2013, or until the injunction is lifted, whichever comes first. Although Xeomin can still be used for blepharospasm and other, non-aesthetic, dermatological conditions, even the sale of Xeomin for these purposes is restricted to specific US territories unless the customers themselves ask for the product by name.

Here at our Shreveport, LA-based plastic surgery practice, the Doctors Wall wish to provide the best wrinkle-relaxant to our patients. As a Platinum-level Shreveport BOTOX® Cosmetic provider, our Jade MedSpa skin care professionals are highly experienced in this treatment. Also, our Platinum status qualifies our BOTOX® Cosmetic patients for a “frequent treatment discount card,” which can save each patient $25 on maintenance BOTOX® treatments. If you’re interested in BOTOX® Cosmetic to erase wrinkles around your eyes and between your brows, call us for a complimentary  consultation today.

To your health & beauty,

The Doctors Wall: Dr. Simeon Wall, Sr.; Dr. Holly Wall; and Dr. Simeon Wall, Jr.

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Ongoing Saga of Breast Implant Recalls in Europe

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

Dear Dr. Wall, I just caught the tail end of a news story on TV discussing a ban on silicone breast implants in France. Out of curiosity, what is the reason for this? Is there a ban on the silicone implants I currently have right now? Thanks.

There is no ban on your FDA-approved gel-filled breast implants placed here in our Shreveport cosmetic surgery practice. It’s a different story, however, for about 40,000 British women and another 30,000 French women who underwent breast augmentation with gel-filled implants made by Poly Implant Prothèse, a French implant manufacturer. Over 1,000 French women, and untold numbers of British women, have suffered implant rupture of Poly Implant Prothèse’s implants. With American-made implants, this wouldn’t be a problem—the problem in Europe is that the Poly Implant Prothèse implants were filled with industrial-grade silicone. Both France and British health officials are advising women with implants from Poly Implant Prothèse to have them removed as soon as possible. One woman has already died and untold thousands may become ill if their implants are not removed.

Again, these implants are not available in the USA, so women who had breast augmentation in the states would not have these implants. However, American women who flew to Europe in hopes of saving money on an augmentation may find their health compromised if they have PIP implants.

To your Health & Beauty,

The Doctors Wall: Simeon, Jr; Simeon, Sr; Holly Wall

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Posted on January 19, 2012 by

Dear Dr. Wall, I just caught the tail end of a news story on TV discussing a ban on silicone breast implants in France. Out of curiosity, what is the reason for this? Is there a ban on the silicone implants I currently have right now? Thanks.

There is no ban on your FDA-approved gel-filled breast implants placed here in our Shreveport cosmetic surgery practice. It’s a different story, however, for about 40,000 British women and another 30,000 French women who underwent breast augmentation with gel-filled implants made by Poly Implant Prothèse, a French implant manufacturer. Over 1,000 French women, and untold numbers of British women, have suffered implant rupture of Poly Implant Prothèse’s implants. With American-made implants, this wouldn’t be a problem—the problem in Europe is that the Poly Implant Prothèse implants were filled with industrial-grade silicone. Both France and British health officials are advising women with implants from Poly Implant Prothèse to have them removed as soon as possible. One woman has already died and untold thousands may become ill if their implants are not removed.

Again, these implants are not available in the USA, so women who had breast augmentation in the states would not have these implants. However, American women who flew to Europe in hopes of saving money on an augmentation may find their health compromised if they have PIP implants.

To your Health & Beauty,

The Doctors Wall: Simeon, Jr; Simeon, Sr; Holly Wall

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Know Anyone Who Asked for Botox® This Holiday Season?

Posted on January 3, 2012 by

If you believe what they report on ABC’s website, one of the “hottest” gifts requested this past Christmas season wasn’t jewelry. It wasn’t a cruise. It wasn’t a new car. It was cosmetic surgery, which for this blog’s purposes, includes items like Botox® Cosmetic injections, fillers and other goodies that make us more youthful looking, as well as surgical procedures.

In all the years we’ve been plastic surgeons in Shreveport, I can tell you that many people have enjoyed the services we provide here; however, I cannot honestly recall anybody asking for a gift certificate for a breast augmentation or a nose job!

So you tell me–are Louisiana residents just more practical about cosmetic surgery or has this trend just not come far enough East from LA?

To your health and beauty,

Drs. Wall: Dr. Simeon Wall, Sr.; Dr. Holly Casey Wall and Dr. Simeon Wall, Jr.

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New Culprit May Cause Over Eating

Posted on September 8, 2011 by

Obesity is a major problem in today’s American population. In fact, two-thirds of adults and one-thirds of children and adolescents are considered overweight or obese. Even scarier, this is the first time in a century that the average U.S. lifespan may decrease. If America doesn’t get its weight in order, we are in for some serious trouble.

This isn’t to say that people aren’t trying to get healthy. Roughly twenty-five percent of men and forty-three percent of women go on a diet each year. However, only five to twenty percent accomplish losing weight and keep it off. Even then, some may require procedures such as liposuction, SAFELipoTM, or a tummy tuck to gain their ideal shape. Yet, your weight already needs to be in order before any of these procedures.

So why is dieting so difficult?

A new culprit is suspected in our desire to continuously eat. Although the stomach is usually blamed, it is believed that the brain has something to do with over-consumption. Despite all your determination to eat smaller amounts, or avoid certain foods altogether, your brain has other ideas. Say you push your plate away, that still contains a good amount of food, because you are full. Even though you may feel as if you’re about to burst, your brain may con you into finishing your meal. What’s more, say you’ve stopped eating fast food. Maybe you’ve gone a whole month without even a craving for it. However, seeing anyone eating said fast food, or simply catching a commercial, could cause your brain to throw out all your determination and cave. You could be eating a deliciously healthy meal, but your brain has the strength to win over everything else.

Where does this leave dieters?

Scientists hope to uncover a hormonal trigger or spot in the brain that drives our urge to eat. If they can, there is a chance that the trigger could be turned off. Unfortunately for now it is up to the dieter to keep at it. A great tip is to put only what you can eat on your plate. If there aren’t leftovers on your plate calling out to you, you are less likely to over eat. Try to avoid being around people while they are eating fast food, or a food you don’t want to eat. And above all, treat yourself from time to time.

To your health and beauty,

The Drs. Wall

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The Terrors of Tanning

Posted on September 3, 2011 by

Sun damage is a common occurrence, especially during the summer months. Even if we do make an effort to apply SPF 30, or more, every time we venture to the park, beach, or pool, we are still risking damage after so many hours going by. However, sun damage such as wrinkles, fine lines, and skin spots can be easily treated via skin rejuvenation techniques at our Louisiana plastic surgery practice. Patients can choose from treatments such as the Fraxel® laser, IPL Photofacials, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion. But one thing none of these treatments can fix is melanoma.

Melanoma, otherwise known as skin cancer, is diagnosed 120,000 times each year. Why is this cancer such a problem? Part of the reason is due to the fact that not everyone takes precautions to protect their skin while they are out in the sun. But another huge contributor to melanoma is the highly popular trend, fake baking. From tanning salons to gyms, tanning beds are a quick and easy way to gain beautifully darkened skin. Unfortunately, it is also a quick and easy way to acquire skin cancer. In fact, people under the age of thirty who tan in a bed only ten times a year, are eight times more likely to end up with malignant melanoma.

With all these statistics citing the dangers of tanning beds, it may be a surprise that the popularity of fake baking has only increased. Why would such a harmful behavior continue to gain momentum? Scientists may have figured it out.

It turns out that a person using a tanning bed experiences a similar feeling that a person addicted to alcohol or drugs feels. To put it simply, using a tanning bed is actually addicting. Despite all the known health risks, tanning bed users experience a reward-and-reinforcement trigger in their brain. Their brown skin is the reward, and because they want to keep it up and retain that rewarding feeling they must soon return to the tanning bed. And so a cycle that may ultimately lead them to losing portions of their skin begins.

Like any addiction, it is hard to break the cycle. The best advice is to never start fake baking in the first place. There are plenty of safer options. Spray tanning is steadily gaining popularity. Lotions that promise to darken your skin are also available. And, when all else fails, you can always spend a little time in the real sunlight. The vitamin D you receive from the sun’s rays is incredibly healthy for you. Just remember to slather on the sunblock and you’re good to go.

To your health and beauty,

The Drs. Wall

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Normal Aging and Progeria Linked

Posted on August 12, 2011 by

A huge chunk of patients that come into our Louisiana plastic surgery practice are mainly seeking a way to combat the signs of aging, such as wrinkles springing up on their faces. Like many people all over the world, they’d at least like to keep their appearance youthful and beautiful, even if their cells on the insides are beginning to wear out.

But did you know that recent studies suggest that aging is not just a slow wearing out of cells?

New studies have actually found that as we get older our bodies actually begin to produce a toxic protein known as progerin. This same toxic protein is found in very large quantities in children with Progeria, which causes them to age at seven times the normal rate. Though healthy human beings have much lower quantities, this suggests that the toxic protein could actually be the real reason why human beings age. Therefore, aging is not simply a passive wearing out of cells as previously thought, but an active biological mechanism that is programmed into our cells.

Perhaps there is no real way of combatting aging. It is, in fact, a completely natural occurrence. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to feel beautiful as you get older. Anything from Botox, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, or even a face lift can help you turn back the clock physically. Every single person deserves to feel beautiful no matter what their age.

To your health and beauty,

The Drs. Wall

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