The FDA has recently approved a new injectable treatment for wrinkles, called Dysport. A local doctor said it is less expensive, works faster and could last longer than Botox. “It is a botulism product just like Botox,” said plastic surgeon Brian Heil. Dysport is used to relax scowl lines on the face. It has been in use in Europe for years, but the new FDA approval is opening the door for Dysport in the US.

In a tough economic environment, several patients are turning to scaled-down versions of face lifts to get some of the results of the traditional procedure without the traditionally larger price tag. Board-certified plastic surgeons at the New York Group for Plastic Surgery say that facial liposuction is quickly growing in popularity with patients who want noticeable results but cannot commit to taking much time away from work for recovery.

Innovative healthcare center, Better Body Solutions, has launched a non-surgical sculpting treatment called Body Lite Laser Treatment. This treatment reduces fat without the pain or downtime associated with liposuction. A “lunchtime” procedure, it consists of several 40-minute treatments over a period of one to three weeks and uses the Zerona laser, which was the recently studied by the FDA and proved safe and effective for emulsifying fat cells from patients’ target areas without side effects.

A new prescription acne gel called Epiduo has been approved by the FDA for patients aged 12 and more. Epiduo is the combination of two drugs, benzoyl peroxide 2.5% and adapalene 0.1%, which are being used as acne treatments since long. Epiduo, manufactured by Galderma, is the once daily drug and is the “first and only” combination acne gel of its kind.

A study conducted by a group of scientists from the University of Michigan Medical School led by Dr Dana Sachs indicated that the cancer-fighting cream, fluorouracil, reverses changes associated with the ageing effects of too much sun, including fine and deep wrinkles, dark spots, shadows and sallowness. The cream improved the skin by initially damaging it. A period of irritation and inflammation was followed by a healing response which effectively “rebuilt” the outer layers of skin on the face.