|
NON-INVASIVE
PROCEDURES
BOTOX
Can Botox cause Botulism?
 The therapeutic dose of Botox used to improve the animation
lines of the forehead and regions around the eyes is
markedly lower than the potential toxic doses that could
cause Botulism. In general, it is a very safe product
with very few side effects.
If I use it repeatedly, will I require less Botox
each time and can I go longer without requiring re-treatment?
Interestingly, it appears that after repeated use, the
muscles of animation that are treated with Botox are
weakened and if used regularly, will result in a longer
time interval between treatments with lower dosing required
to produce the desired result.
CHEMICAL PEELS
Will a chemical peel cause my skin to appear whiter
than the rest of my face?
 Chemical peels treat the superficial layers of the skin
and cause the skin to reorganize the collagen to a more
youthful state. This in turn can cause many of the fine
lines to soften and flatten out. The deeper the peel
the more effective it is to improve the lines. But,
the deeper the peel the more likely the face will stay
red like a sunburn. The longer it stays red the more
likely it will get whiter too when it is completely
healed. This has been the result with many of the deeper
peels like Phenol. Intermediate peels using Trichloracetic
acid (TCA) are not as effective with line treatment
for each individual treatment but can be repeated several
times to get the desired effect without causing the
skin to become hypopigmented (or white).
back to top
COLLAGEN
Are people still using collagen now that other products
that last longer are available?
 Collagen is a reliable facial filler. It has been time
tested. Many patients are happy with the consistent
results and the relative cost to other products available.
So, yes, it is still being used very frequently.
back to top
FAT INJECTIONS
Where do you get the fat for injection?
 The fat used for injection is harvested from the patient
directly. This can be obtained from the abdomen, flank,
or thigh; almost anywhere on the body that has subcutaneous
fat present.
Will it last forever after being injected?
Fat injection "take" in the face is an imperfect science,
and often requires multiple treatments to get the desired
effect. Once the fat "takes" it can last forever.
back to top
RESTYLANE/HYLAFORM/JUVEDERM
What are these products and how long do they last?
 Restylane, Hylaform,and Juvederm are injectable forms of
hyaluronic acid, a natural product found in the body.
They do not require skin testing prior to use and usually
last between 6-12 months depending upon the product used. They are used on nasolabial
folds, lips, and areas around the mouth and chin.
back to top
SCULPTRA
What is Sculptra?
 This is one of the newer products in the U.S. market
that is currently only approved as a facial filler for
lipoatrophy or fat loss secondary to HIV drug therapy.
However, some physicians are using this "off-label"
to treat fat wasting of the face that comes with natural
aging. In Europe, this has been used for the past several
years. It requires 2-4 treatments over a few months
and is supposed to last for several years.
back to top
|
