What is Botox® used for?
 Botox® is used to eliminate vertical furrows between the eyebrows and on the bridge
of the nose, horizontal lines on the forehead, crow's feet at the corners of the
eyes and vertical bands on the neck. Additionally, Botox® is highly effective when
used to combat excessive sweating.
Botox® is a non-toxic, highly purified form of Botulinum Toxin Type A, a powerful
neurotoxin. Originally used as a treatment for crossed or wandering eyes, Botox®
has been approved since 1980 by the American Academy of Neurology, the American
Academy of Ophthalmology, and the National Institute of Health. The use of Botox®
for cosmetic purposes (since 1990) is an unapproved use of an FDA-cleared drug.
How does Botox® work?
 Dynamic facial wrinkles are largely caused by the contraction of small, voluntary
muscles involved in laughing, smiling, frowning or lifting the eyebrows. When
these small muscles are relaxed, the wrinkles they can cause on the forehead or
around the eyes diminish significantly - or even disappear.
Injections of Botox® into the facial muscles weaken or paralyze them by blocking
nerve impulses. After Botox, the treated muscles no longer contract while the
overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled. The untreated facial muscles continue
to contract as before, allowing normal facial expressions.
In its other application as an inhibitor of excessive sweating, Botox® paralyzes
the sweat glands of the skin. Treatment sites include underarm skin, or the skin
on the palms of hands or soles of feet. It may even be used on the scalp line.
Click here for more information on Botox® Cosmetic® »
Restylane®
When we are young our skin is smooth and elastic with a healthy glow
 When we are young our skin is smooth and elastic with a healthy glow. As we age, our ability to maintain our skin's smoothness and elasticity diminishes. As a result our skin becomes drier, thinner and less able to replenish itself. Our body’s natural collagen and hyaluronic acid levels decrease and our skin becomes looser. This leads to our skin wrinkling and appearing older than it should.
Approved by the FDA, Restylane is designed to match your skin, smoothing wrinkles, sculpting lips or shaping facial contours. With its unique ability to bind with water, Restylane is able to perform for many months in your skin. The most common areas for a Restylane treatment are the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows) and the nasolabial folds (from the root of the nose to the angle of your mouth). When used for lips or facial contouring, Restylane will add shape and volume to the area. Restylane is able to create volume under your wrinkles, which are then lifted up and smoothed out.
Since no pre-testing is required, a Restylane treatment can be performed almost immediately. It usually takes about 30 minutes depending on the type of correction you want. Most people find the injections relatively painless, but a topical anesthetic can be applied to the area prior to your treatment. You will be able to see the results as soon as your treatment is completed.
Restylane, manufactured by a unique method in Sweden, is clear transparent gel composed of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that is found throughout your body. Hyaluronic acid gives volume to your skin and has been used as a lubricant in arthritic joints. It has even been used during eye surgery to protect the retina. The hyaluronic acid found in Restylane is not of animal or human origin which means that there is no risk of disease transmittal or allergic reaction, which you might find in other cosmetic fillers. There is no need for skin tests and the risk of side effects is very low.
Click here for more information on Restylane® Cosmetic® »
JUVÉDERM® Injectable Gel
 Juvéderm is an injectable gel that gently reverses many signs of aging in the face, including fine lines and wrinkles, crow's feet, thinning lips and loosening skin. It can also "plump up" the lips, sculpt the cheeks, and restore a youthful oval shape to the face. It is made with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body that works with collagen and elastin to give volume and support to the skin. Because it is non-animal-based and highly biocompatible, no pre-treatment testing is needed. Juvéderm comes in three formulas optimized for the depth of the area being treated. Results last about 6-9 months and can be made to last even longer with a simple follow-up treatment a few weeks after the initial injection.
Click here for more information on JUVÉDERM® Injectable Gel »
|
