A survey conducted by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in early 2009 indicated that two in five of their members had to undergo corrective treatments for complications caused by the injection of permanent fillers by high street clinics in the past year. The survey also showed that one in every five members of the association had to get complications with body contouring corrected.

The FDA has approved Sanofi-aventis US’ anti-wrinkle product SculptraAesthetic for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold, also called smile lines, contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles with the appropriate injection technique in healthy patients. SculptraAesthetic works gradually to offer natural-looking results that can last up to two years.

The FDA has approved the use of Sculptra Aesthetic long acting facial filler that builds collagen. Sculptra Aesthetic (injectable poly-L-lactic acid) has been approved for use by a trained physician to correct shallow to deep nasolabial fold (smile lines) contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles. The injectable dermal filler works gradually to offer natural-looking results that can last up to two years. The treatment was available in Europe for a decade.

Although people are careful about slipping on sunglasses or wearing a hat, most sun seekers do not apply enough sunscreen to protect them from the harmful rays of the sun, dermatologists say. Dr Jason Rivers, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of British Columbia said that the number of skin cancers and melanoma has doubled, with many victims under the age of 40.

A study conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Barbara Binder of the Medical University of Graz, Austria indicated that roughly a quarter of patients who have superficial blood clots on their legs may be at risk of developing more serious clots deep in their veins. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot blocks off blood flow deep in the veins, can prove fatal if the clot shifts to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism.