COMING and GOING

RESTYLANE SILK

Amidst all of the intrigue surrounding the ongoing Valeant-Allergan battle, a new filler has received FDA approval. Restylane Silk (Galderma, but previously Vealeant) was approved for injection into the lips and fine perioral lines in June 2014. It contains integrated 0.3% lidocaine and joins Restylane as the only Hyaluronic Acid Gel with FDA approval for the lips. Similar in use to other HA products Prevelle Silk (Mentor) and Belotero Balance (Merz Aesthetics), it is another option in the war against thin lips and fine lip lines.

HYPERTONIC SALINE FOR SCLEROTHERAPY

Hypertonic Saline 23.4% has been used for years as a sclerosing agent for reticular veins and venulectasias and in a diluted concentration for telangiectasias. However, this has always been an off-label indication for hypertonic saline. With the availability of sclerosants such as sodium tetradecyl sulfate (Sotradecol), Polidocanol (Asclera, Aethoxysclerol), and chromated glycerin (Sclermo), as well as laser treatment of telangiectasias and reticular veins, the use of hypertonic saline has been rendered obsolete…. unless you like causing pain, burning, or leg cramps with injection, or tissue necrosis and hemosiderin staining with extravasation. Your choice!