Medical Reports: No Needles

WSVN -- Forty four-year-old Liliane Leao is trying to save face. She's doing everything she can to fight wrinkles including getting Botox twice a year.

Liliane Leao: "I usually do it on the forehead and sometimes a little bit on the eyes."

But as much as she loves the results, she dreads getting stuck with the needle.

Liliane Leao: "Whenever I come in I try to close my eyes and not think about it."

Needle-phobias like her might soon be getting a break. Dr. Fredric Brandt is researching a topical gel that works like Botox.

Dr. Fredric Brandt: "Were doing a study with this new product from Revance Medical. It's a topical form of botulinum toxin that they have developed a proprietary way of delivering into the skin."

For now, the experimental gel is called RT 001 and is being used on crow's feet around the eyes. Basically, the gel is applied directly to the face and sits there for a few minutes while it penetrates deep into the skin.

Dr. Fredric Brandt: "There's no injection, so there's no pain, no needles. So this is a great alternative for people who are needle phobic."

Similar to Botox or Dysport, the effects are supposed to kick in after a few days. More study is needed before it goes to the FDA, but so far, results are promising.

Dr. Fredric Brandt: "The results are good, but they probably won't be as dramatic as the injections."

If it does win FDA approval, you will still have to see a doctor to have them apply it to your face. Aventura dermatologist Mark Nestor is also testing a needle-free way to deliver Restylane.

Restylane is a hyaluronic acid used to plump up wrinkles and add volume to the face. The product is usually injected into the skin.

Dr. Mark Nestor: "I think the idea is the more that we can do without injecting. The safer it is, the easier it is for our patients."

He's studying a new topical cream form of Restylane that's rubbed into wrinkles on the face.

Dr. Mark Nestor: "What we're finding is we can take this technology and get the products deep into the skin, so it allows us to do things that up until this time we weren't able to do."

But again the results are not as good as getting the product injected into the skin.

Dr. Mark Nestor: "This is not going to plump up the lips. This is not going to fill voids where we have to pump in a lot of filler. This is more for fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes and forehead, around the mouth."

Diana Diaz: "Dr. Nestor is also studying an over-the-counter cream made up of hyaluronic acid that's supposed to help fight lines and wrinkles too. It could be on store shelves soon.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. Fredric Brandt
4425 Ponce De Leon Blvd Suite 200
Miami Florida

Dr. Mark Nestor
2925 Aventura Blvd. Suite 205
Aventura, FL 33180
Telephone: 305-933-6716