Flash sales are the new rage

Luxury doesn’t always have to be spending money. You can save tonnes of money and live the good life through flash sales. Yes, all the cool people including Serena in Gossip Girl are logging on to the website Gilt.com which offers everything from designer wear, to wine to air-tickets at heavily discounted prices. Think 60 per cent off the original price, and believe it or not there is no catch.

On a recent day on Gilt.com, shoppers could buy 10 round-trip tickets on Virgin America for $3,585, three sessions of laser hair removal for $352 o eight Alaskan king salmon fillets for $118.95. Designer-wear clothes from top brands can be yours for a fraction of their original price. That is a reflection of how Gilt Groupe, which made online flash sales of women’s clothes popular in the US, is trying to refashion itself as a high end Amazon.com a one stop shop for luxury goods.

Gilt was at the forefront of flash sale sites, which sell brands’ excess inventory at deep discounts for a limited period of times, an idea modelled at Vente-Privee.com in France. Most of these flash sites took off in 2009, when even wealthy people severely had slashed their spending. Apart from saving its clients huge sums of money, Gilt is also fattening its bank balance. It brought in $500 million in gross revenue last year. The company is just three years old.

Department stores are getting seriously worried now as more and more shoppers say that they shop less at traditional retailers because they shop more on flash-sale sites! Gilt attracted 946,000 visitors to its web site in June, just behind Bloomingdales.com which had 982,000 visitors.

(Compiled from IHT)

Six-year results of botox injections for bladder dysfunction

Botulinum toxin A injections, commonly known as botox injections, continue to show promise as a treatment for a variety of lower urinary tract dysfunctions, according to a study presented by a University of Pittsburgh researcher at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in San Francisco. Results will be published in abstract 517 in the AUA proceedings.

"Bladder dysfunction affects a staggering number of people worldwide," said Michael Chancellor, M.D., professor of urology and gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Our continued success with this treatment over the past six years confirms that this is a safe and effective solution for patients experiencing many types of bladder dysfunction."

Since 1998, Dr. Chancellor has treated 110 patients, the most in North America, with botox for a variety of bladder dysfunctions, including neurogenic detrusor hyperflexia and/or detrusor sphincter dyssnerigia, overactive bladder, benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), bladder neck obstruction and interstitial cystitis. Each experienced involuntary contractions of the bladder or sphincter muscle spasticity, which caused incontinence typified by either uncontrolled voiding of urine or the inability to completely empty the bladder.

Of the patients treated, 74 or 67.2 percent, reported a decrease or absence of incontinence after the injections. The decrease was seen within seven days of the injection and symptoms were alleviated for approximately six months. Patients who received additional injections experienced an improvement in symptoms for a longer period of time, some for over one year. Many patients also reported an improved quality of life. None of the patients experienced long-term complications from the treatment such as stress incontinence or urinary retention.

Botox acts by binding to the nerve endings of muscles, blocking the release of the chemical that causes the muscles to contract. When injected into specific muscles, the muscle becomes paralyzed or weakened, but leaves surrounding muscles unaffected, allowing for normal muscle function.

Common urologic conditions like neurogenic detrusor hyperreflexia and overactive bladder are caused by involuntary contractions of the detrusor muscle, which controls the bladder. This new therapy helps alleviate the contractions, restoring normal bladder function.

Over 17 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder, a condition that significantly affects the patient's quality of life. An estimated 80 percent of these patients do not seek help or treatment for this condition. Overactive bladder is characterized by the following conditions: frequency, urinating more than eight times in a 24 hour period; urgency, the immediate and strong urge to urinate; and urge incontinence, the inability to suppress urgency resulting in the leaking or loss of urine.

View drug information on Botox.

Six-year results of botox injections for bladder dysfunction

What to expect from Botox challenger

By COLIN STEWART

Botox has a new rival for the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of people who hate wrinkles.

The Food and Drug Administration gave its blessing late last month for the drug Xeomin to be marketed as a wrinkle-smoothing treatment.

Some local doctors expect the newcomer will prove a strong competitor to Botox, possibly driving down the price of all types of injectable neurotoxins.

"Xeomin will be a huge hit. … Personally I can't wait," said plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow of Newport Beach. "Xeomin is so similar to Botox that the main difference will be price, forcing a competitive pricing advantage which is a win-win for both the patient and the doctor. It's about time Botox had some real competition."

Botox, made by Irvine-based Allergan, was approved as a wrinkle fighter in 2002. Since then Botox sales have grown to $1.3 billion a year worldwide. The average cost of a Botox treatment is about $500, according to the RealSelf.com website.

A second rival wrinkle-smoothing neurotoxin is Dysport, made by Paris-based Ipsen and marketed by Medicis Pharmaceutical of Scottsdale, Ariz.. The FDA approved it for cosmetic treatments in 2009.

Xeomin, from San Mateo-based Merz Aesthetics, should be available in the United States next spring, the company said. Merz Aesthetics is a subsidiary of Merz GmbH, based in Frankfurt, Germany.

"This is good news for consumers as there will be pressure on other neurotoxin manufacturers such as Allergan and Medicis to hold down the costs of Botox and Dysport," said plastic surgeon Dr. Babak Azizzadeh of Beverly Hills.

Xeomin "is going to give Allergan a run for its money," said Dr. Christopher Zachary, chairman of the UCI Department of Dermatology.

Unknown factors, especially Xeomin's price and how long it will remain effective after an injection, will be crucial to how it fares in the marketplace, several local cosmetic doctors said.

Dr. Plastic surgeon Dr. Lavinia Chong of Newport Beach prepares for Botox session. (Click photo for slide show.)

"Longevity is a big question mark," said dermatologist Dr. Vince Afsahi of Tustin and Newport Beach. "If Xeomin can last longer than the toxins currently out there, then we may have a big winner. Time will tell, but out of the gate Xeomin could be a real competitor."

Popularity of Xeomin will "depend on the price," said plastic surgeon Dr. Val Lambros of Newport Beach. "I haven't heard that it works any differently than Botox or Dysport."

Xeomin is currently approved as a cosmetic procedure in 14 countries in the European Union, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain, under the brand name Bocouture. Based on that experience, some doctors predict that Xeomin won't have much effect on the popularity of Botox.

"I do not see a great impact on the marketplace. It has been available in Europe for eight years and has not seemed to make much impact there I am told," said dermatologic surgeon Dr. David Sire of Fullerton.

"From what I have heard, in other countries where it is approved, it has taken over market share from Dysport more than it has from Botox," said dermatologist Lorrie Klein of Laguna Niguel. "I predict it will be used by physicians and patients who are already willing to use an alternative to the Botox brand, but those who want Botox will continue wanting it."

Like Botox and Dysport, Xeomin is a neurotoxin that eliminates wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause them.

Unlike those two drugs, Xeomin does not require refrigeration, which makes it more convenient for doctors and their staffs.

A further convenience is that Xeomin's concentration is identical to Botox, so medical staff can prepare follow the same procedures in preparing each drug. Dysport requires a different procedure to get the dose right.

Afsahi said Xeomin is a "naked toxin," which lacks the protein coating that Botox has.

As such, it should be effective for the small number of Botox patients who develop antibodies to those proteins, he said..

Merz said that in clinical trials, headaches were the most common side effect of Xeomin, affecting 5.4 percent of patients in the tests.

The FDA approved Xeomin last year as a treatment for neck spasms and uncontrolled blinking.

Read Original Article Here

Plastic surgery business is booming

PORTSMOUTH — The effects of sun, time, gravity and the stresses of life can take a toll on our skin, but many are now turning back the clock.

Local plastic surgeons have seen a steady increase in patients over 40 having non-surgical facial rejuvenation to combat the effects of aging.

Dr. Mark Ballentyne of the Skin Wellness Center at Atlantic Plastic Surgery has seen a 10 to 15 percent increase in clients trying to enhance their self-esteem and confidence in the workplace. Those who are looking for a cosmetic touch-up to their face and neck are turning to facial fillers — like Restylane and Juvederm — and Botox, he said.

"Both men and women are taking better care of themselves with diet and exercise. They still feel young and want to look as good as they can for their age," said Ballentyne. "In general, people are trying to delay more of the surgical approach."

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there's been a 584 percent increase in the number of patients nationally who received Botox injections from 2000 to 2010 and a 172 percent increase in patients who received facial fillers over those 10 years.

In 2000, 786,911 people received Botox injections nationally while in 2010, that number was 5,379,360. That's an increase of 12 percent from 2009, when there were 4,795,357.

Last year, 1,773,328 people received facial fillers, up from 1,722,054 in 2009 and 652,885 in 2000.

"More and more people are getting older. Baby boomers are the largest portion of our population and they want to stay young too," said Phil Hayes, director of public relations for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "It's not that societal norms have changed and people are looking at themselves any differently, it's just that a large number of people are getting older and these things happen to be available. They are clinging to the fountain of youth."

Plastic surgery business is booming | SeacoastOnline.com

Pruning Your Pantyline

If you’ve decided you are in it for the long haul, laser hair removal is the best option. It is moderately painful, but after six to eight sessions hair will be a thing of the past. Do make sure you visit a reputable laser clinic, as you certainly want someone who knows how to operate heavy machinery around your nether regions.

Consider laser sessions at AmeRXLaserspa in Freehold, NJ. Two sessions and you'll be impressed with the results.

Pricing varies and it’s definitely the more costly hair removal treatment per session, but if you calculate all the wax sessions or razor blades you pay for in a lifetime, it’s worth the investment over and over again. Most laser clinics offer a free consultation, so don’t be afraid to ask for one – this way you will have the most accurate idea of what to expect of both the results and the price.

iafrica.com | highlife | fashion & beauty | beauty | beauty features | Pruning your pantyline

The wonders and dangers of Botox

Botulinum toxin was first tested in the late 1960s by American ophthalmologist Allan Scott.

Dr Scott was trialling the toxin to produce a substance that would reduce the affects of involuntary muscle spasms, and in particular the treatment of strabismus (poor alignment of the eyes).

Normally doctors would surgically correct the muscle alignment, but Dr Scott's research began to show that the toxin could be used to weaken the muscles to correct the alignment.

"It worked very well and that lead on to the treatment for the last 20 or 30 years now of what we call focal dystonia," James Temlett, associate Professor of Medicine and consultant neurologist at the University of Adelaide said.

In the past decade the toxin has been found to be quite useful in controlling such ailments as asthma, upper motor neuron disease, excessive blinking, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy and now even weight loss.

As a side effect, patients who generally suffered from migraines who were using the toxin for the cosmetic treatment of wrinkles even found it helped to control the severe headaches

The wonders and dangers of botox - ABC Adelaide - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A Winning Skin Care Combination for Botox Users

(732) 866-4000       ‎

Botox Cosmetic users seeking to further enhance their skin appearance may want to give a combination of two topical skin treatments a try.

A recent study suggests that using a new 4% hydroquinone skin care system—one specifically designed for use in conjunction with nonsurgical cosmetic skin treatments—in combination with tretinoin (Retin-A) further enhances the improvements in skin appearance attained using botulinum toxin type A, better known as Botox Cosmetic.

Applying the hydroquinone system plus tretinoin may offer multiple clinical benefits over standard skin care, including significantly milder fine lines/wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. The results of the study, “Further Enhancement of Facial Appearance with a Hydroquinone Skin Care System Plus Tretinoin in Patients Previously Treated With Botulinum Toxin Type A,” appear in the July issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ).

In this multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked, parallel-group study, 61 patients who received upper facial treatment with botulinum toxin type A at a plastic surgery or dermatology clinic were randomly assigned to use either the hydroquinone system (cleanser, toner, proprietary 4% hydroquinone, exfoliant, and sunscreen) plus 0.05% tretinoin cream, or a standard skin care regimen (cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen) for 120 days.

Outcomes were assessed by the investigators and through a patient questionnaire. Compared with standard skin care, the hydroquinone system plus tretinoin resulted in significantly milder fine lines/wrinkles and hyperpigmentation at days 30, 90, and 120 (p ≤ 0.05) and significantly superior overall ratings for each of nine patient assessments at days 90 and 120 (p ≤ 0.05).

A greater proportion of patients using the hydroquinone system plus tretinoin believed that their study treatment had further enhanced the improvements attained with botulinum toxin type A compared to those using the standard skin care regimen (86% vs. 8%). Both regimens were generally well tolerated.

“The new hydroquinone system is not only effective, it is also easy for patients to use, increasing the likelihood that they will be able to get maximum benefits,” said study co-author Joel Schlessinger, MD, FAAD, FAACS. “Most importantly, using the system in combination with tretinoin significantly improved how patients perceived themselves, which is the ultimate goal of any aesthetic treatment.”

This article received a Level 2 rating, the second highest, based on the evidence-based medicine rating system used for all ASJ articles. The rating system measures the overall strength of the data presented in the article. ASJ implemented the rating system in 2011 to promote and advance evidence-based medicine in plastic surgery.

A Winning Skin Care Combination for Botox Users