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Dr. Jennifer Walden’s Office is on Gilt City today for Cyber Monday! Be sure to check out the specials and book an appointment with her PA-C Alix for some fabulous injectable or skin peel procedures!

The United States FDA last week approved Botox, the anti-wrinkle shot from Allergan, as a treatment to prevent chronic migraines. This came after the company agreed last month to pay $600 million to settle allegations that it had marketed the drug for off-label uses for years.

The FDA’s decision endorses doctors’ use of Botox to treat patients who suffer from a severe form of migraine involving headaches at least 15 days a month. Botox is already approved by the FDA to treat blepharospasm, strabismus, hyperhydrosis, cervical dystonia, and muscle spasticity in the upper extremities. It is widely known as the most popular wrinkle smoother on the planet and is approved for cosmetic purposes to treat glabellar furrows between the eyebrows. Interestingly, Allergan projects that sales of Botox for chronic migraine and other medical uses would soon exceed sales of the drug as a wrinkle smoother… but I’m not so sure of that. Often insurance companies do not pay for medical uses (including treatment of migraines), and the out of pocket expenses can be quite high. Cosmetic patients expect such treatments to be an out of pocket expense and can typically afford it.

A Botox migraine treatment generally involves a total of 31 injections in seven areas — including the forehead, temples, the occipital area, the neck and shoulders. To treat chronic migraine headaches, injections are given about every three months. There was some question about whether the FDA would want more medical evidence because one of two studies used to bolster Allergan’s migraine application failed its main goal. Allergan said that the FDA was most interested the secondary goal of reducing headache days, however, where that study showed success was in treating migraine pain episodes.

Adverse reactions for patients in those studies included headaches, migraines, eyelid drooping, muscle weakness and some other conditions.

Allergan said the effects of Botox for migraine treatment last up to three months per treatment, about the same for other uses such as wrinkle ablation by injecting between the brows. It is great that there is now another approved treatment for such a debilitating condition as migraine headache, but I truly doubt that Botox for medical usage such as this one will ever eclipse the sales and use of it for treatment of wrinkles given its enormous popularity in that sector.

Be sure and watch VH1’s new special, Plastic Surgery Obsession, which will begin airing tonight at 10pm EST! This was a fun special to participate in… I enjoyed working with theVH1 team as they raised some insightful and timely questions on Hollywood’s incessant quest for beauty. Click here to get airtimes and read the following episode summary on the VH1 website:

Plastic surgery. Everyone’s doing it-and talking openly about it, too.

Cutting Edge: What are the some of the ever evolving industry’s newest procedures and secrets?
Younger Faces: The increase in teen plastic surgery: How young is too young?
The Dark Side: Body Dysmorphia, depression, and sometimes even death are just a few of the horrifying dangers involved in looking “amazing.”
Plastic Surgery Disasters: Some of Tinseltown’s most infamous cosmetic surgery calamities

Heidi Montag was featured on People Magazine’s cover this month regarding her “addiction” to plastic surgery. She has recently undergone 10 cosmetic procedures, in what seemingly is an endless quest for beauty or a publicity stunt in a naturally gorgeous young lady. Too often young women undergo multiple procedures in hopes for a transformation to an idealized or unattainable version of themselves or someone whom they idolize, which a surgical procedure can never bring. The Hollywood quest for fame and beauty in our culture today among young women adds to the pressure to look the same. Check out Inside Edition’s segment on Heidi Montag’s plastic surgery procedures, and see Dr. Walden interviewed on the topic.

New York Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Jennifer Walden, discusses why taxing elective plastic surgery procedures is not a logical way to fund health care reform efforts. Neil Cavuto of Fox News interviews on this topic.

As we all are well aware, the nation’s health care system is in dire need of reform and cannot continue to support the needs of the American community. Health care costs are on the rise and doctors and patients alike are feeling the pains of the skyrocketing expense. President Obama brought this issue to the forefront of his campaign and is trying to develop a strategy to bring this deficit into prospective. One of the “ideas” presented last week was a new tax on Botox and other plastic surgery procedures. The concept is to place a 10% tax on cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, injectables, and other elective  surgeries. The money generated would be put towards the $1 trillion dollar health care overhaul. Many in Congress have compared this tax to the “sin tax” that is put on cigarettes and alcohol.  We feel there are many, many conflicting issues with this proposal. First, the most obvious is lumping plastic surgery services into the same boat with cigarette usage is absolutely ridiculous. It is well known that cigarettes not just CAN but WILL lead to many forms of cancer and possible death. The strain that cigarette users put on the health care system is also extremely large.  To insinuate a comparison of cigarette and alcohol use to plastic surgery is beyond silly.

Doctors and other health care professionals, not the government, should discern between what procedures are “medically necessary” or not.   But the truth is, many patients who undergo plastic surgery procedures like breast reduction, ear pinning, breast augmentation, and rhinoplasty benefit both psychologically and physically. It is well known that plastic surgery patients are mostly women, so this would end up being a discriminatory move toward women. Also, one of the largest misconceptions about plastic surgery is that it is only the “ultra rich” that undergo these procedures. This generality couldn’t be further from the truth. The plastic surgery patients of today consist of middle class women from the age of 23-65. These women work very hard and save for quite a long time to be able to have these procedures. These are the woman who would ultimately bear the weight of such a decision.

This tax was put into place in New Jersey a few years back and has been a major disappointment. Patients simply got in their cars or on a train to Manhattan to have their surgeries tax free in New York.  Remember, you always have a say in how your government runs the country, so call your local representatives and voice your opinion if you have questions or concerns with health care reform!

To see other videos featuring Dr. Walden…Click Here