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Steve Mullen
(804) 382-0017
steve@endgamepr.com

RICHMOND DOCTOR EDUCATING PEERS ABOUT NEW COSMETIC TREATMENT
FDA Prepares to Okay Collagen Alternative

Richmond, Virginia (July 12, 2006) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to give its “okay” to a new cosmetic procedure that’s likely to be very popular, and a Richmond doctor is working with the international medical community to prepare for that approval.

For years, people wanting to correct a perceived imperfection in their face, or to simply look younger, have received injections of collagen, a substance made from animal skin. The injections can “fill out” areas that may not look the way the patient would prefer, but the treatment has a number of drawbacks. An alternative is on the way that doesn’t have those drawbacks. Radiesse, a synthetic material produced by Bioform, Inc., currently is approved for use in augmenting vocal folds and reconstructing facial defects. The FDA is expected to indicate it for use in facial cosmetic treatments soon.

“Patients must go through lengthy pre-testing before traditional collagen injections due to concerns about allergic reactions, and if they do receive the treatment it only lasts about three months before it’s absorbed into their body,” said Dr. Michael Godin, M.D., an internationally recognized cosmetic surgeon who has a private practice in Richmond. “Two advantages of Radiesse are that allergic reactions are extremely rare, and that the results usually last for one to two years.”

Dr. Godin is heavily involved in educating his peers about the technique. He is the lead author of an article on the use of Radiesse for facial enhancement. The article appeared in the March/April 2006 issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, an AMA Journal. Earlier this year, he attended a conference in San Diego where he and other experts created industry-wide “best practices” for the use of Radiesse. He returned this week from England, where he shared techniques and experience on the treatment with British physicians. In the coming months, Dr. Godin will provide training on the new treatment to other doctors located in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Radiesse treatment takes about 30 minutes, and patients receive only local anesthesia during the procedure. Dr. Godin says there may be mild swelling in the injection site immediately after the procedure, but patients will be able to resume normal activity the next day with little to no redness, swelling, or tenderness. He says they can expect to see the intended outcome immediately after the injections.

The most common use for Radiesse injections will likely be to fill the “nasolabial folds,” which are diagonal lines that run from the corners of the nose down to the corners of the mouth and perhaps beyond. These lines are generally faint or nonexistent when we’re young, but can become pronounced in older people. Radiesse also can be used to fill in cheeks that have become sunken due to the aging process.

To view before and after pictures of Radiesse treatment, follow the links below:

http://www.endgamepr.com/drgodin/radiesse-before.jpg
http://www.endgamepr.com/drgodin/radiesse-after.jpg

The patient in these images wished to reduce the prominence of his nasolabial folds. The “before” picture was taken during a pre-treatment consulting session. The “after” picture was taken several months after the procedure.

About Dr. Michael Godin
Michael Godin, M.D. of Richmond, Virginia is a double board-certified specialist in cosmetic surgery of the face and neck. He is the Director of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the VCU/MCV Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He is certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has honored Dr. Godin by naming him a Fellowship Director. He is one of only 39 AAFPRS-accredited facial plastic surgery Fellowship Directors in the United States. Facial plastic surgery procedures he performs include: facelift, rhinoplasty (nose surgery), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), otoplasty (ear surgery), forehead and eyebrow lifts, Gore-Tex facial implants, and scar revision. Non-surgical cosmetic treatments include Botox treatments, fillers for facial wrinkles and folds (Restylane and others), age spot, freckle and tattoo removal, and treatment of facial and leg veins. His practice is located at 410 Libbie Ave. in Richmond. For more information, please visit http://www.drgodin.com.

To arrange an interview, please call the contact number at the top of this release.

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