Facial Aesthetics
BOTOX® Cosmetic
BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is a revolutionary approach to reversing the affects of facial wrinkles. Crow’s feet, worry lines, and laugh lines can all be a thing of the past. These are referred to as dynamic wrinkle lines and all are treatable with this procedure. Cosmetic denervation is the process of injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic into the tiny facial muscles that create the wrinkles.
Before Procedure
To better understand your overall health, we will evaluate your medical history prior to surgery. In addition, a complete examination of your eyes is made in order to decide the most effective injection sites. All issues and concerns will be discussed.
The areas that will be treated are marked and digital photographs are taken in order to determine the amount of improvement after surgery.
The BOTOX® Cosmetic Procedure
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are performed without anesthesia because they are virtually painless. Only a very small sting is felt when the injections are made. The effects are not permanent and may need to be repeated two to three times per year to retain the effects. Research has suggested, however, that long-term use of the injections leads to a longer duration of each treatment’s effect. Patients over the age of 65 may not experience such dramatic results. BOTOX® Cosmetic is only useful in treating expression lines and cannot be used to repair sagging skin caused by aging.
Postoperative Information
After the operation patients may experience slight bruising around the area that quickly fades. Normal activities can be performed immediately. Possible side effects are temporary weakness of nearby muscles or in rare cases an eyelid may droop. BOTOX® Cosmetic is completely reversible so any side effect is only a temporary condition. The doctor will explain all risks associated at the time of your consultation.
JUVÉDERM® XC dermal filler and lip augmentation
JUVÉDERM® XC dermal filler is a nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment for nasolabial folds and other facial wrinkles. Your skin consists of two layers known as the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis, or outer layer of the skin, acts as the skin’s primary defense against the environment. The dermis, or innermost layer of the skin, is composed primarily of connective tissue and provides the skin with a support network. Most facial wrinkles and deeper nasolabial folds occur within the dermal layer of the skin.
Using a fine needle, your healthcare professional eases JUVÉDERM® XC under the skin to fill the soft tissue of the dermis. This adds volume and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and nasolabial folds instantly.
While there are a variety of hyaluronic acid fillers, JUVÉDERM® XC is uniquely formulated. A next generation HA filler, JUVÉDERM® XC uses a manufacturing process called HYLACROSS™ technology. HYLACROSS™ gives JUVÉDERM® XC its special smooth-gel structure that holds up over time. That’s why JUVÉDERM® XC is the first smooth-consistency HA gel and the only HA filler that’s FDA approved* to last up to one year with only one treatment.
Before Procedure
If this is your first visit, we will ask about your medical history, including any allergies you may have or medications you may take, and will tell you more about treatment with JUVÉDERM® XC injectable gel.
JUVÉDERM® XC Facial Dermal Filler Procedure
If your physician determines that JUVÉDERM® XC is right for you, he or she will then examine the soft tissue of your face to assess the depth of wrinkles and folds to determine your treatment for wrinkles. JUVÉDERM® XC is indicated for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, (such as nasolabial folds). JUVÉDERM® XC injectable gel is available in two formulations—JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC for versatility in contouring and volumizing facial wrinkles and folds in the skin, and JUVÉDERM® Ultra Plus XC, a robust formulation for volumizing and correcting deeper folds and wrinkles in the skin. This allows your healthcare professional to better tailor treatment to your unique skin volume needs. They may even take pre-treatment photographs so you can see the difference after receiving the treatment!
Anesthetic may not be needed prior to treatment since JUVÉDERM® XC is specially formulated with lidocaine (a type of anesthetic) to improve comfort during treatment. Your physician may also elect to use a topical anesthetic to numb the treatment area before the injections. Your healthcare professional will then ease the JUVÉDERM® XC under your skin (where wrinkles and folds occur) to replace lost skin volume. Following the injection, your healthcare professional may gently massage the treated areas. The procedure is quick and easy and the results are instant! The injection itself usually takes only about 15 minutes.
Post-Operative Information
You should avoid the following for at least 24 hours after treatment:
- Strenuous exercise
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Extended exposure to sun or heat
You may experience pain, tenderness, temporary redness, swelling, bruising, firmness, and bumps at the injection sites. Studies have shown that these are usually mild to moderate in nature and clear up on their own in 7 days or less. If you experience swelling at the injection site, you can apply an ice pack for a brief period. Be sure to report any redness and/or visible swelling that last for more than a few days (or any other symptoms that cause you concern) after receiving treatment to your healthcare professional.
You should see an immediate improvement in the treatment areas. Most patients need one injectable dermal filler treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothing and improve skin volume. Just one treatment with JUVÉDERM® XC can smooth away your wrinkles for up to 1 year! However, results from injectable dermal fillers may vary and correction is temporary. Supplemental “touch up” treatments may be required to achieve and maintain optimal correction of your wrinkles and folds.
(information taken from Juvederm™, ©2010 Allergan, Inc. ® and ™ marks owned by Allergan, Inc. JUVÉDERM® mark owned by Allergan Industries SAS. APC38YM10; Please see Juvedermusa.com)
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