Botox®
works great for lines caused by muscle movement.These lines include the frown lines, the forehead lines, and the
crow’s feet around the eyes and nose.It is a quick and simple injection that can be done anytime in one of
our convenient New Jersey or New York offices.
Side effects are extremely uncommon, and it is simply repeated every
four months on average for a wonderful, natural result.
There are many different types of injectable fillers that can be used for
wrinkles, folds in the face, and the lips as evidenced by the large array of
advertising campaigns in magazines and on television.At Associates in Plastic Surgery, you can be assured that we only use
materials that are well tested and shown scientifically to work.We do not use any gimmick procedures to just get patients in the
door.
Injectable fillers are most commonly used for the folds between the nose and
lips (nasolabial or NL folds or
laugh lines) and between the lips and chin (labiomandibular or
LM folds or drool lines) as a way of replenishing lost volume.As we age, two things typically happen to the midface – 1. The cheeks
fall as a result of gravity, and 2. You lose fat volume in the areas of the
NL and LM folds.The different
materials used to replenish the lost volume are:
1.
Restylane®
or Juvederm™
are both hyaluronic acid products.Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin, so no
skin allergy test is needed.
These products are typically used to fill the NL and LM folds as
well as other wrinkles on the face.
They can also be used to enhance the lips and to fill the crease
that sometimes forms under the eye (the tear trough).Since this is a very natural substance, there is no worry
about side effects and can last anywhere from 4-8 months.
2.
Radiesse®
is a formulation of calcium hydroxyapitite, which is also a common
substance in the body that is nonreactive.It is usually utilized
to fill in the NL and LM folds as well as the cheeks.It produces a fuller result than Restylane®
and may last up to a year.
3.
Sculptra®
is Poly-L-lactic acid which works within the deep dermis to replace
lost collagen. It can be used in the nasolabial folds as well
as other areas on the face such as hollow cheeks or temporal
regions. The average number of injections is three and the
results can last up to 2 years.
4.
Collagen
is still used for the very fine, superficial lines in the skin that
cannot be filled with Restylane®,
Juvederm™,
or Radiesse®
because those fillers have to be placed a little deeper.With genetically engineered human collagen, no skin testing
is needed and a nice result is achieved immediately.
5.
Silicone
may be used in small quantities at a time for the lips, NL folds and
LM folds.A
microinjection technique allows the enlargement to proceed slowly,
giving the patient the opportunity to enhance the area until happy
with the result.
6.
Fat
can be harvested
through thin canulas from the outer hips or lovehandles.It is then processed and can be injected into the NL and LM
folds as well as the cheeks, lips, or under the eyes.Some fat is stored in the freezer and the patient returns a
few times during the year to build up a nice long lasting result.
7.
Threadlift
– Thin threads are placed under the skin using local anesthesia to
lift up the cheeks and jowls with a natural appearance.
PROCEDURE Our physicians will discuss all of the options with you.Most procedures such as Restylane®,
Juvederm™, Radiesse®,
Collagen, or Silicone can be done on the day of consultation.A numbing injection is performed to minimize any pain, and
then the injection is carried out.
Usually some swelling will occur for less than a day.Occasionally, you will get some minor bruising which can be
covered up with makeup.
The injectable should look smooth and natural, but rarely a small
bump may be present that will resolve with massage of the area.
The wide variety of injectable fillers can
be confusing but the physicians at Associates in Plastic Surgery
will take the time to determine what is best for you.
Scientific advances in the
field of laser surgery and chemical peels have made younger and smoother
looking skin a reality. The different procedures are offered in a
gradual fashion to accomplish the best result with the smallest recovery
possible. The different procedures are discussed below:
Fraxel laser –
A revolutionary treatment used to reduce
wrinkles around the eyes resulting in smoother, fresher looking skin with
improved tone and texture. Also great for treating acne scars and skin
resurfacing.
Laser resurfacing
– The ultra pulse laser can smooth facial wrinkle irregularities and
blotchiness. It is especially effective for frown lines around the
mouth and lips and the “crow’s feet” around the eyes. The procedure
can be done under IV sedation for your comfort and recovery is about 10
days, after which make-up can be applied. This is the heaviest
procedure which can produce excellent results (as seen in the pictures
below), but with a little longer recovery time.
Click on photos to see larger version in Photo
Gallery.
Medium depth chemical
peels include TCA and/or Jessner’s peels. These procedures
involve placing a chemical on the face using Q-tips. The outer layer
of old skin is removed, leaving a clean refreshed layer to heal in about 5
days. This procedure in done in an office setting with no anesthesia
and be very effective for light wrinkles and spots.
Light peels can be
performed with either a glycolic acid formulation or with
Power Peel
(microdermabrasion) which utilizes tiny crystals to gently smooth the skin.
These peels require no downtime and provide a cumulative effect, so a nice
improvement in the skin tone and pores should be seen after 8-10 treatments.
Then a light peel can be performed on an as-needed basis to maintain the
result.
The plastic surgeons at Associates in Plastic Surgery
will determine the best procedure for your needs and give you a nice,
natural improvement.
BEFORE &
AFTER PHOTOS
Click on photos to see larger version in
Photo Gallery.
