Once again on the forefront of the newest in plastic procedures, Beautologie Medical Group, with locations in Bakersfield and Malibu, California, has begun offering Dysport, a wrinkle-reducing agent similar to BOTOX Cosmetic.

What Is Dysport?

Like BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport, manufactured by Ipsen Limited, reduces expression-based wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles. Also like its predecessor, Dysport works via the active ingredient botulinum type A (albeit a slightly different variant), which is injected into the targeted muscles, generally those between the eyes, responsible for creating frown lines. Similarly, it has been approved in the US for a variety of medical uses as well as for the cosmetic purpose of correcting frown lines; however, as with BOTOX Cosmetic, it is also being used to soften crow s feet and the horizontal lines traversing the forehead.

As far as safety is concerned, patients can feel at ease: Dysport has been used clinically for over a decade in New Zealand and where it is currently manufactured, Britain. During this time, thousands of patients have safely and effectively undergone treatment with Dysport for a range of issues, including medical conditions such as excessive sweating and spasms of the neck and face and, more recently, those of an aesthetic nature as well.

Benefits over BOTOX Cosmetic

Possible side effects of Dysport are similar to those of BOTOX Cosmetic: among them, temporary mild bruising, redness, and/or soreness at the site of injection. However, clinicians have observed less swelling following Dysport injections as compared to BOTOX a benefit for those seeking to keep their procedure private or pop in for a lunchtime treatment. A second advantage over BOTOX Cosmetic is the onset of action with Dysport: While BOTOX generally takes effect within three to four days, patients at Beautologie have been reporting merely a one-to-two-day lag time with Dysport; this means wrinkle relief comes quicker and last-minute procedures more possible.

That being said, the biggest benefit is the impact on price that comes from a competitor entering the arena. In immediate terms, the price of Dysport is approximately $25 less per area treated. But the major relief lies in what this may mean for the future.

Beautologie s Dr. Milan Shah, an anti-aging specialist and expert in noninvasive cosmetic procedures, explains how steep charges are already starting to stabilize: For the last few years, the price of BOTOX Cosmetic has steadily increased; this year, with the introduction of Dysport, was the first year the price has remained stable.

Dysport at Beautologie

With their surgical center in Bakersfield and satellite office in Malibu, Beautologie is the first in both areas to offer Dysport. Regularly ahead of the curve in offering the most advanced cosmetic procedures, Beautologie is also an appropriate pioneer due to Dr. Milan Shah s expertise in minimally invasive treatments. A Platinum Provider of both BOTOX Cosmetic and Restylane, Dr. Shah performs more of these procedures than the majority of practitioners across the country. Additionally, he is specifically trained and certified in the administration of fillers and botulinum-based relaxers as well as an instructor in their injection.

I am excited to announce the arrival of Dysport at Beautologie. Because, especially in these economic times, to have a safe, effective, and lower-priced alternative for softening facial lines is quite a stride, notes Shah. And what this competition may do to prices in the future is even more appealing.

With Dysport entering the muscle-relaxing market, it seems patients looking to soften frown lines may soon have something to smile about.

As the sun set on Thursday, May 14, the crowd mingled, listened to live music, sipped Celsius calorie-burning beverages, and munched on a steady stream of tray-passed hors d oeuvres, including sushi, smoked salmon pastries, and double-fudge brownies. Guests, which included celebrities like Roma Downey, Suzanne Somers, Craig T. Nelson, and Gloria Allred, came out to support the grand opening of the cosmetic surgery practice s Malibu office, serenely situated in the hillside above Pacific Coast Highway. The evening, however, was about more than plastic surgery overlooking the Pacific.

The Malibu office of Beautologie Medical Group founded by one of California s top ten breast augmentation surgeons, Dr. Darshan Shah will join Beautologie s primary location, a 10,000-square-foot, fully accredited surgery center in Bakersfield, where Shah and his team perform facial, breast, and body surgeries and pioneer the latest in less-invasive procedures. This second location will cater to LA residents by giving them a more convenient option for pre- and post-op consultations as well as minimally invasive procedures such as Botox, Restylane, and laser treatments.

In an industry known for its focus on self-improvement, Dr. Shah has built a reputation on caring about others. Regarded for his work in the Bakersfield community and his recently launched charity Beautologie Helps, Shah finds time to support Operation Smile, a children s charity that treats cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities by mobilizing medical volunteers around the world.

I feel strongly that those of us who are able to make a positive difference in the lives of others cannot sit back and do nothing, expresses Shah. Most children who suffer from facial deformities such as cleft palate are less than $250 or a 45-minute surgery away from completely changing their lives. Knowing that it takes so little to help so tremendously makes supporting this cause irresistible.

In keeping with this outlook, Shah insisted that the May 14^th grand opening give back. Through monetary donations and personally reaching out to clients and professional partners, Shah and his staff amassed an array of gifts and services donated by celebrity friends, local businesses, and Beautologie itself for a silent auction that raised over $10,000 over the course of the evening. I am so pleased with the support shown tonight for Operation Smile, he beamed as the event came to a close. Seeing how cosmetic surgery affects patients self-esteem is always rewarding; but to know this money will have a profound effect on a number of children s lives feels amazing.

For years, women have been enjoying the benefits of traditional breast reduction: an enhanced appearance and slimmer silhouette, increased self-esteem, a wider selection of bras and clothing, and a solution to physical complaints such as back and neck pain, migraines, under-the-breast rashes, and discomfort during exercise.

However, breast reduction patients also understand the downside: Because traditional breast reduction both minimizes and liftsthe breasts, there has previously been no method for achieving smaller breasts without having to live with the lollipop-looking scar it can leave behind.

Introducing the No-Scar Solution

In the last six months, Beautologie has welcomed a new addition to its surgical staff, cosmetic surgery specialist Dr. Jim Knoetgen. Arriving from the Mayo Clinic, he brings with him an advanced new procedure, termed the no-scar breast reduction because of its success in eliminating the most profound side effect of the standard surgery.

Developed in only the last few years and currently being offered by just a small number of advanced centers the no-scar breast reduction is essentially liposuction for the breasts, accomplishing an aesthetically superior result for women who don t desire their breasts be lifted.

A traditional breast reduction works by cutting the skin, lifting and removing tissue and fat, and then suturing the area together. By contrast, the no-scar reduction requires simply making a tiny (only 5 mm!) incision, located inconspicuously under the breast; through this small slit, a miniscule tube is inserted to draw out unwanted fat.

Benefits of the Breast Procedure

Offering the same benefits as a traditional breast reduction in terms of decreasing the size and weight of breasts, the no-scar reduction delivers a number of advantages:

• No visible scars enables you to keep the procedure completely private, whether wearing a bathing suit or nothing at all

• Significantly smaller price tag approximately half the price of a traditional reduction (note that this procedure, unlike traditional breast reduction surgery, is not covered by insurance.

• Quicker recovery/very minimal downtime only four to five days, compared tofour to six weeks with a traditional reduction (and no drainage tubes!), allowing you to get back to your daily routine in less than a week

• Increased safety tiny incisions mean no wound-healing problems; and minimally invasive nature means less stress on the body

• Much shorter surgery at least an hour less time compared to standard reduction surgery

• More natural appearance ideal for women who want a smaller, less heavy breast but still desire a natural look.

The No-Scar Breast Reduction: Who Is an Ideal Candidate?

According to Dr. Knoetgen, the pool of potential candidates is wider than one would imagine. The no-scar breast reduction is an excellent option for women of varying ages and body types, he notes.

That being said, the no-scar reduction is recommended for three categories of women: first, those who don t want breasts to be significantly lifted, just made smaller and/or less heavy. A second class of candidate is women whose breasts are large primarily because of excess fatty tissue as opposed to a surplus of breast tissue (which can be determined during a complimentary evaluation). Finally, for any woman who desires smaller breasts but who simply doesn t want the scars or steeper price tag of the standard reduction and lift, the no-scar procedure is an ideal alternative!