Quick Fixes

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Some of the most effective cosmetic surgery procedures today don’t require surgery. People are looking for instant gratification with no down time. Although many of the “Quick Fixes” are temporary, people still request them because they are not yet ready for surgery or they are only looking for a slight improvement.

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Botox Cosmetic®

Botulinum A Toxin is a medical protein derived from the C. Botulinum bacteria under special laboratory conditions. The toxin, Botox®, is an exciting new cosmetic procedure that can simply, safely and effectively improve forehead creases, frown lines, and crow’s feet. This procedure can have remarkable results in improving wrinkles resulting from hyperactive facial muscles.

When Botox® is injected into a muscle, it causes a temporary freezing of the muscle. The muscle becomes weakened, eliminating part of its function. Long-standing skin creases will soften and may eventually disappear. The result is a softer, more relaxed and pleasant appearance.

Fifteen minutes is all that is needed to perform the procedure with no ill effects afterwards. The treatment consists of several tiny injections into the treated area.

There is no downtime. Patients may return to work immediately and look perfectly normal.

Patients are to refrain from exercise for four hours after the injection. The area where the Botox® was injected should not be massaged for several hours. This prevents any Botox® from spreading to any other area.

Full benefit from the injection may be instant or take 2-3 days to develop. Once the muscle function is impaired, the results will last from 3 to 11 months. Most patients require less frequent injections over time as the muscles weaken from lack of use.

Side effects from Botox® are rare, however, they do exist. Mild swelling at the injection site, headache, localized numbness, bruising, or temporary loss of function of a nearby muscle (e.g., drooping eyelids).

JUVDERM™

As we age, our skin changes. Over time, the natural volume of youthful skin begins to diminish as wrinkles and folds form. But, with Juvderm™ injectable gel, you don't have to just sit back and let the wrinkles happen!

Juvderm™ is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid - a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. Your healthcare professional eases Juvderm™ injectable gel; under the skin to instantly restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your "smile lines" or "parentheses" (nasolabial folds - the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth).

With Juvderm™ the injection process takes only about 15 minutes and results are immediate. There's minimal recovery or downtime. Best of all, Juvderm™ is the only hyaluronic acid filler FDA approved to last up to 1 year.

Sculptra®

Sculptra® is an injectable facial filler that restores and corrects the signs of facial fat loss by replacing lost volume. Sculptra® provides an increase in skin thickness and replaces volume loss, helping to create a more natural facial appearance.

Sculptra® is a compound of poly-L-lactic acid, a synthetic material. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a biocompatible (does not harm the body) biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body) material that has been widely used for many years in surgical products.

The effects of Sculptra® are enduring. In a clinical study, effects lasted for up to two years after the first treatment session in most patients. The results from Sculptra® are not immediate; Sculptra® provides a gradual increase in skin thickness. Usually 1 -3 treatments are necessary. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effects.

Radiesse®

Radiesse® (Calcium Hydroxyapatite) is an exciting new product that can safely and effectively improve smile lines, lines above the lip, and depressed scars. Radiesse® is also an excellent product for lip augmentation. Radiesse® is injected into the desired area using a very small needle. It lasts approximately 1 to 1.5 years (more than 5 times longer than collagen). Even though the implant material is absorbed, the desired effect may be permanent due to the ingrowth of the body's own tissue into the matrix of Radiesse® that was present. There are no known allergies to Radiesse® as it is an inert material.

Radiesse® is currently available in the U.S. and has been approved by the FDA for use in humans for certain procedures (injections into the voicebox and bladder). Injection into the face is considered "off label" use. (We have used Botox® in a similar "off label" manner for over a decade until 2002, when it was approved by the FDA.) We expect Radiesse® to be approved by the FDA for cosmetic facial use in the future. Injections of Radiesse® can be performed on the same day that a consult is seen in the office. For injection in the lips, a dental block with a local anesthetic may be utilized to make the procedure more comfortable.

Fat Injections

Extracting fat from one place on a patient’s body and reinjecting it is a quick, cost effective way to improvement your appearance. The fat is removed from either the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks and then injected into the face. Fat injections are used for laugh lines, forehead wrinkles, or sunken cheeks. Many use fat injections to make their lips fuller.

The fat is withdrawn using a syringe with a suction device attached. The fat is removed and then injected into the recipient’s area of the face. The area is usually overfilled, as some of the fat will be absorbed into the body following treatment.

Some swelling, bruising, and redness at both sites should be expected, however, most patients resume their normal activities immediately.

The length of time the fat will remain at the new site varies from patient to patient. Most patients find that 50% of the fat injected disappears within three to six months.

Fat injections can make a dramatic change in a person’s appearance and many patients find it a cost-effective way to maintain their looks.

Restylane®

Restylane® is injectable wrinkle filler. It is a clear gel made of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that exists in the human body. Since Restylane® is not extracted from animals, there is no risk of allergic reaction or disease transfer. There is no need for pre-testing. Restylane® works together with the body's own hyaluronic acid to create volume at the injection site.

Restylane® is sold in over 60 countries where it has been used in more than one million procedures. The Federal Drug Agency has approved Restylane® for use in the United States.

Restylane® is an effective injectable to erase facial wrinkles and folds or to enhance the lips. The treatment is performed by injecting Restylane® into the skin or lips using an ultra fine needle resulting in minimal discomfort. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes and the results are practically instantaneous. The treatment area can be slightly swollen and red for 12-24 hours.

The length of time Restylane® last is different from individual to individual. It depends on several factors such as the structure of the skin, lifestyle as well as age. However, the majority of patients report the effect lasts up to nine months. Most people choose to have a touch up within 6 months of the original treatment.