Cosmetic Injection May Lead To Disfigurement
If you’re thinking of having injections around your eyes to smooth wrinkles, you should know about the possible problems with disfigurement.
A new study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology warns that polylactic acid (PLA) can cause disfigurement if injected improperly.
Some practitioners try to use PLA to smooth wrinkles by injecting it superficially into the skin around the eyes.
But that can cause nodule development and inflammation. Not exactly the route to younger-looking skin.
Instead, PLA is supposed to be injected deeply below the muscles.
Even then, this is such a new and unproven technique that no one’s really sure what will happen long-term.
The author of the study, Greg Goodman, cautions patients to avoid trying new cosmetic procedures. He suggests waiting for many years until they’re proven to be safe and effective.
That’s good advice. Unfortunately, your fine lines will probably be deep furrows by then.
But look on the bright side.
By the time you’re old enough to have serious wrinkles around your eyes, your friends probably won’t be able to see them anyway.
That’s the beauty of advancing age. Your vision goes, too.
Technorati Tags: cosmetic technique, wrinkles, polylactic acid
July 17th, 2007 at 9:13 am
I’ve never understood why people get injections for wrinkles. Maybe when I’m older I’ll get that desperate, but the thought of a needle around my eyes… ewwww! I’m not that vain yet.
July 17th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Wait ’til you’re older, dear. Then you’ll understand.
July 17th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
The high price of vanity.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I’ve seen some people who use Botox who look weird now. I don’t think injections make you look natural.
July 17th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I won’t name names, but if you look at some of the celebrities who are getting injections for their wrinkles, they’re starting to look like monsters. I wouldn’t do it. Eat right, get enough sleep and you’ll look fine. I admit to trying a lot of new makeup products, but I draw the line at wrinkle injections.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
The PLA was injected in the wrong area. I’d like more information. For example, this study only involved 4 cases. Not very many. Were they all done by the same person? Was this person a doctor(MD)? How reputable is the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology?
Properly done cosmetic procedures by a trained physician have played an important role in many people’s lives.
July 17th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Dr.J,
The author of this study does point out that the injections were done improperly. That was one of his major points. Another point he made was that practitioners should be careful of instruction about new procedures from company representatives who have just learned the procedures themselves.
Goodman’s argument is that patients should be careful of new cosmetic procedures and that it’s best to wait until a technique has been refined and proven over many years.
You’re correct in saying they only studied four cases and all four had the same complications.
As to your other questions, I don’t know the answers. Dr. Goodman is a practicing dermatologist in Victoria, Australia.
The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology is the official journal of The International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology & European Society for Cosmetic & Aesthetic Dermatology.
This particular study is published in Volume 6, Issue 2 of the Journal. The website url for the Journal is:
blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1473-2130&site=1
I’m sure they’d be happy to send you a pdf of the study as you’re a physician.
Although I agree that “properly done cosmetic procedures… have played an important role in many people’s lives,” I do think a lot of patients go into these procedures without enough investigation into the procedure itself and the physician who is conducting it. Also, Goodman is cautioning about new procedures in particular. I believe he feels that doctors and patients alike are jumping into these procedures too quickly.
The operative phrases in your comment are “properly done” and “trained physician.” While we all hope that all doctors will do things right every time, the reality is that’s not always the case.
I agree with Goodman that caution should be used before going into these procedures, especially if there isn’t an urgent need.
Perhaps his study results should have been more balanced. But again, I have no way to know if the results would have changed significantly with more patients. It’s hard to believe 4 patients is a statistically significant sample for a medical study.
Thanks for your comment,
Debbie
July 18th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Thank you for the link, Debbie! I was able to read an abbreviated article. I do not have any experience with using this material. My Dad(an editor of a medical journal for 25 years), used to say,”Don’t be the first to do a new procedure, or the last to stop doing the old procedure.” Good advise never changes
July 18th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Your dad’s a wise man, Dr.J.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I don’t like needles, so I’m out.