FDA Approves Sale of Contour Threads™ for Neck Lift

READING, Pennsylvania – March 10, 2005 –Surgical Specialties Corporation today announced that the Contour Threads™ product is now approved for the neck indication of lifting and elevating tissue. This approval expands the products clinical indications to include the brow, mid-face and most recently, the neck area for fixating and elevating tissue.

Contour Threads is a patented self-anchoring suture that permits a minimally invasive approach to lifting tissue, providing a rejuvenating appearance and enhanced beauty. Contour Threads are made from the time-tested material “polypropylene”, used for decades inside the human body as sutures, and are designed with tiny cogs that attach to the inner skin tissue. Once inserted under the skin the Contour Threads cogs form a support structure to lift and suspend tissue. This lifting and fixating action reduces sagging to give a more youthful look. The procedure is minimally invasive and usually takes less than an hour to complete. The results are immediately noticeable and recovery time is minimal.

Currently, over 60 surgeons have been trained worldwide on the use and indications of this product via the comprehensive Contour Threads Skills Transfer Course. Each course is structured to ensure development of physician surgical skills via hands-on wet labs, observation of live surgery and tutorial understandings, in addition to the support of internal and external marketing programs. The Contour Threads Skills Transfer Course schedule and registration are available on the website at www.contourthreads.com or by contacting Surgical Specialties Corporation at 1-800-821-8349.


About Us: About Surgical Specialties
Surgical Specialties is a privately held medical device company headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania and is a leader in wound incision and closure technologies, with globally recognized brands in the suture and surgical knives business sectors, e.g. Sharpoint®, DermaGlide™ and LOOK® brands. Surgical Specialties Corporation has an extensive customer base across the medical specialties of ophthalmic, micro-incision, plastic/aesthetic, dental and dermatology. Surgical Specialties Corporation is the exclusive, worldwide licensee for the manufacture and distribution of Quill Medical’s patented self-anchoring suture technology for use in aesthetic and cosmetic surgery. The Contour Threads product is the newest line of premium products within Surgical Specialties product portfolio.


Contact Info: For product information, please contact:

Surgical Specialties Corporation
100 Dennis Drive
Reading, PA 19606
Phone: 610.404.1000
Attention: Cheryl Wozniak
cwozniak@surgicalspecialties.com


For course information, please contact:

Surgical Specialties Corporation
Phone: 1-800-821-8349
Attention: Amy Lucas
alucas@surgicalspecialties.com