Our Blog

• Medical Community Member - September 12th 2018
• General Public

Supartz and Synvisc are medications used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Supartz is a product of Seikagaku Corporation and has been marketed in Japan since 1987 and in the United States since 2001. Supartz is sold in many countries under the names Supartz, ArtzDispo, Artz, or Artzal. Synvisc has been in use worldwide for more than 25 years and first gained approval in the United States in 1997. Synvisc is a product of Genzyme Biosurgery. While they are similar medications, there are some differences that patients considering these treatments should be aware of. Here’s how Supartz and Synvisc compare with each other. What is knee osteoarthritis, and how does it develop? Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that primarily affects the aging population. It is caused by the gradual breakdown of joint cartilage, which is a type of tissue that encloses and protects the ends of bones. Over time, the cartilage wears out to the point that the bones come into contact with [Read more]

• Medical Community Member - September 11th 2018
• General Public

Premature ejaculation can be an embarrassing and distressing condition that affects the sex lives of men afflicted with the condition. This sexual disorder is characterized as achieving orgasm and ejaculation before the person wishes it to occur. Premature ejaculation is among the most common male sexual problems and is prevalent worldwide, with most studies reporting incidence rates of 20–30%. Many patients (and doctors) believe that there is no effective treatment for premature ejaculation. In fact, there are therapies available that can be successful in helping the patient last longer and improve his sex life. Therapies for premature ejaculation It is now recognized that biological and psychological factors play a role in the development of premature ejaculation. Men who have this condition seem to be more sensitive to penile stimulation and have abnormalities with regard to the autonomic reflex pathways that are involved in the ejaculatory process. For these me [Read more]

• Medical Community Member - September 10th 2018
• General Public

To cater to an ever-expanding aging population, treatments to manage conditions that are prevalent in the elderly are increasing in number. Patients receiving these treatments should be knowledgeable about the different modalities and medications in order to determine the right treatment for their lifestyle and condition. Here, we compare Synvisc, a popular injection used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, with its single-dosing-regimen, Synvisc One, in terms of their respective benefits and drawbacks. Osteoarthritis of the knee Patients who complain about joint stiffness, pain, and swelling may be suffering from a form of arthritis that affects the bone called osteoarthritis. With this condition, the damage inflicted by the wear and tear that affects weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, is accelerated due to the degradation of protective cartilage at the ends of the bones. These effects lead to the development of inflammation in joints and the subsequent dis [Read more]

• Medical Community Member - September 7th 2018
• General Public

Cosmetic injectables, which are administered to alter the appearance and structure of the skin, can be grouped into several categories: neuromodulators, dermal fillers, and fat-dissolving treatments. In recent years, these injectables have been growing in popularity, as they provide the same effects as surgical procedures but are much less invasive, without the associated downtime and complications of said procedures. Sculptra and Radiesse are two dermal fillers that act as collagen biostimulators, which are administered to encourage the body to produce more collagen at the treatment site. Sculptra and Radiesse are perhaps the best-known products in tihs category, so it is worthwhile to take an in depth look at how they compare to one another.  How Do Collagen Biostimulators Work?  Generally speaking, there are two types of dermal fillers: fillers that are implanted to provide volume replacement, like hyaluronic acid-based fillers, and collagen biostimulators, su [Read more]

• Medical Community Member - September 6th 2018
• General Public

Treating Tear Trough Deformities The tear trough is an important area when it comes to aging, as many concerns can arise in this area. For instance, the hollowing of the under-eye area due to volume and fat loss can lead to the appearance of perennial exhaustion in a patient’s face, even if they are well-rested. Because of this, optimal treatment of this area can greatly satisfy a patient, as it instantly gives them a refreshed, youthful look. However, treatment of this area requires intricate knowledge of the anatomy and dermal filler rheology in order to produce satisfactory results. First termed by Flowers in 1993, what is known as the tear trough deformity is a periorbital hollow that extends obliquely from the medial canthus to the mid-pupillary line. Skin depressions lateral to this feature are termed a palpebromalar groove, nasojugal groove, or lid-cheek junction. There are various classifications of tear trough deformities and its aetiology. For inst [Read more]

• Medical Community Member - September 4th 2018
• General Public

If you are dissatisfied with the appearance of your chin, you may want to consider changing its look with a dermal filler treatment. Read on to find out how chin enhancement (or mentum augmentation, medically speaking) can be attained with the use of Radiesse. How fillers can help create the ideal chin The chin, while itself an important aesthetic element, is also vital when considering a global approach to facial rejuvenation. Treating the chin usually entails increasing its projection in order to improve jawline definition and the side profile of the face. In addition, some female patients may benefit from a pointier chin in order to achieve the desired oval or V-shaped jaw. Mentum augmentation can also have positive benefits to other structures of the lower face, as it can diminish marionette lines and balance the face in accordance with Steiner’s line—which holds that in a well-balanced face, the lips should touch an imaginary line drawn from the contour of [Read more]

• Medical Community Member - September 3rd 2018
• General Public
• Juvederm
• Skin

When considering dermal filler treatment, result longetivty is an important factor to consider. Treatments that are long-lasting reduce the need for repeat injections and drives down the cost of the procedure. Unfortunately, how long a dermal filler lasts is not an easy question to answer. There are many factors at play, both external and intrinsic to the product and patient, that ultimately determine the outcome. To illustrate this point, this article will take a look at the longevity of the results of Juvederm Voluma, a volumizing filler. Treating Age-Related Aesthetic Concerns  With age comes the formation of lines, wrinkles, and sunken or hollow areas on the face. These can be attributed largely to facial volume loss, where depleting levels of skin, fat, and bone coupled with increased skin laxity results in visible signs of aging. Dermal fillers are agents of soft tissue augmentation that are used to treat the volume loss that is the cause of age-related aesthetic defe [Read more]

• Medical Community Member - August 30th 2018
• General Public

Vaginismus is a type of genital pain syndrome closely associated with other conditions like dyspareunia and vestibulitis. Women with this condition suffer uncontrollable spasms in their vagina upon attempted entry of a penis, digit, or any object, which makes sexual intercourse painful or impossible. Symptoms of this condition include stinging or burning with tightness during intercourse; difficulty inserting tampons or undergoing a pelvic/gynecological exam; ongoing sexual discomfort or pain following childbirth, menopause, disease (yeast/urinary infections, STDs), surgery (e.g. hysterectomy, cancer); idiopathic ongoing sexual pain; spasms in other body muscle groups (legs, lower back, etc.); halted breathing during attempts at intercourse; and sex avoidance. These spasms originate from the muscles of the pelvic floor and the perineum that surround the outer third of the vagina. Vaginismus is primarily a condition caused by psychosomatic factors. Women can have primary ( [Read more]