Dallas, Texas doctor among the first in the U.S. to offer Restylane ...

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- March 24, 2004 -- Dallas-based plastic surgeon Charles A. Wallace M.D. F.A.C.S., announced today that he is now offering RESTYLANE(R), the newest non-surgical treatment available for facial wrinkles.

Just recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and only available in the U.S. since January, Restylane is the medical industry's newest injectable treatment for facial lines and wrinkles, providing a safer and longer-lasting alternative to collagen injections.

"In my opinion, this is one of the most revolutionary developments in the field of plastic surgery since the introduction of liposuction," Dr. Wallace said. "The results that we're seeing with my patients are absolutely amazing." Dr. Wallace, an American Board of Plastic Surgery-certified plastic surgeon, has been using injections of Restylane on his patients to smooth facial wrinkles such as laugh lines around the mouth and to enhance the appearance and fullness of lips.

Patients need only one treatment to see excellent benefits. Plastic surgeons such as Dr. Wallace carefully inject Restylane into the skin in tiny amounts with a very fine needle to fill wrinkle lines and add plumpness to lips. Unlike Botox injections, which work to relax facial muscles for a few months to diminish wrinkles, Restylane lasts six months or longer, also outlasting traditional collagen injections. "While Restylane is a replacement for collagen injections, it is not a replacement for Botox, but rather a complementary treatment," Dr. Wallace commented. "For instance, I've experienced remarkable results with several patients by using Botox on the upper half of the face and Restylane on the lower half. And, for patients who have deeper forehead creases that remain even after using Botox, Restylane does a great job of filling those wrinkles."

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), Botox injections accounted almost 2.3 million of the nearly 8.3 million cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. last year. While surgical procedures like liposuction and face lifts increased 12 percent from 2002, non-surgical procedures including Botox and filler injections, as well as procedures like chemical peels, jumped 22 percent. The ASAPS expects the growth of non-surgical procedures to continue with the introduction of Restylane in the U.S. this year.

Marketed in the U.S. by Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (NYSE:MRX), Restylane is the first and only dermal filler that is not derived from animal sources and is made of a hyaluronic acid that is produced biotechnologically by natural fermentation in a sterile laboratory environment, virtually eliminating the risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. Since hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, Restylane does not require any allergy or skin test prior to injection. Used for nearly a decade in 60 other countries, Restylane has proven to be safe and effective.

Restylane uses a dual mechanism to correct facial wrinkles and folds. Upon being injected beneath the skin's surface, the transparent Restylane gel adds natural volume and lift to smooth wrinkles and folds. Restylane integrates into dermal tissue, then attracts and binds to water molecules to help maintain volume. Restylane is gradually degraded by the body's own mechanism and eventually disappears with no residue.

"After only three months on the market, I'm not surprised that Restylane has become the most requested facial wrinkle treatment of U.S. plastic surgeons," Dr. Wallace said. Cost of the treatment ranges from $400 to $1,700, depending upon the amount of Restylane used. Prospective patients should contact Dr. Wallace's office at 972-380-7090 for a consultation, or email: info@drwallace.com.