Refine Your Beauty. Nourish Your Face.
Botox® – For Frown Lines and Crow’s Feet
Every time you smile, laugh or frown the contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles form wrinkles. Facial wrinkles give a person an angry and tired or sad appearance – even when they are not experiencing that emotion. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be.
Botox® blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. Botox® relaxes the muscles so they do not contract. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled, while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.
Botox® injections are temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects of the injections last from four to six months. Early clinical studies indicate that after receiving injections over time, there appears to be a longer lasting effect.
Please consult with Dr. Marks to determine the best recommendation for your particular needs.
Dermal Fillers
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers – Juvederm®, Restylane, Belotero, and Voluma®– contain some form of hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally occurs throughout the body and skin, with the highest concentrations in the fluids of the eyes and joints. Radiesse is a calcium hydroxyapatite filler, while Sculptra contains L-poly-lactic acid. Fillers can be used to temporarily plump lips, raise depressed scars and level wrinkled skin.
First, the doctor marks the areas to be injected. Topical or injection numbing medication may be used for added comfort. Then the fillers are injected by syringe using very fine needles. The effect typically lasts about six months. After that, additional injections are required to maintain the effect.
What should first be done before considering dermal fillers?
First, an ASDS dermatologist will review the patient’s medical history and examine the condition to be treated. Areas to be treated should be kept clean. If there is a skin infection, then treatment needs to be postponed until it resolves. Patients who take blood thinners (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and certain herbal medications) should stop them two weeks prior to injection with the approval of their prescribing doctor.
When are dermal fillers appropriate?
Dermal fillers can be used to treat
• Acne scars
• Aging skin
• Crow’s feet
• Frown lines and forehead furrows
• Scars
• Wrinkles
Who is not a candidate for dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are not recommended for patients who have:
• Current oral herpes or a similar infection
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Blood-clotting problems
• Lupus or other connective tissue disorders
Are dermal fillers painful?
Topical numbing agents or anesthetic injections are sometimes applied to ease discomfort. Before and following treatment, ice may be given to ease discomfort and swelling. Patients should avoid applying firm pressure on the treatment area.
What are the complications or potential side effects of dermal fillers?
Common side effects include:
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Lumps and bumps
Uncommon side effects include:
• Numbness
• Allergic reactions
• Infection
• Blisters and cysts
• Inflammatory reactions
• Migration of filler material to another site
What can I expect after having had dermal fillers?
All hyaluronic acid soft-tissue fillers are temporary, lasting anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the filler and type of procedure. Some patients require maintenance treatments to achieve the best results. Expectations differ following treatment:
• Lip therapy: Dermal fillers can improve the shape, structure and volume of the lips for up to six months. Following treatment, ice may be given to ease discomfort and swelling. Avoid applying firm pressure on the treatment area. Lipstick and other lip products should be avoided immediately following the procedure.
• Scars and wrinkled skin: Bruising, which may last up to a week. Swelling. Redness. Following treatment, ice may be given to ease discomfort and swelling.
Avoid applying firm pressure on the treatment area.
Juvederm®
As you age, your skin loses some of its hyaluronic acid, a process that is sped up if you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun. Juvederm® is a smooth injectable gel that can restore the skin’s volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, including those highly visible ones around the mouth and nose and on the forehead.
There are two types of Juvederm®: Juvederm® XC, which is used to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles around the nose and mouth, and Juvederm® Voluma® XC, which is FDA-approved for instantly adding volume to the cheeks. Hyaluronic acid injections also appear to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that contribute to the skin’s fullness and elasticity. Juvederm®’s manufacturer (Allergan) uses a chemical “crosslinking” process called HYLACROSS that binds the individual chains of hyaluronic acid into a long-lasting gel with a very smooth consistency. Because of the gel’s smoothness, your face also looks and feels smooth and natural.
What Does It Treat?
Juvederm® contains a naturally occurring sugar called hyaluronic acid, which has the remarkably helpful property of binding to water. As the acid attracts water, it “plumps up” the skin, filling and smoothing out any surface wrinkles. In essence, it helps replace the cushion of fatty tissue that we lose as we age and as our skin becomes damaged by the sun’s ultraviolet light.
What Is the Treatment Like?
Most treatment sessions take only about 15 minutes. As with all dermal fillers, Juvederm® is injected into the treatment area with an extremely fine needle. Any discomfort is usually minimal, although your physician may numb your skin with a topical anesthetic beforehand. You won’t need any pre-treatment allergy testing, however, because Juvederm® doesn’t contain any allergy-causing animal-derived ingredients. It’s entirely biodegradable.
How Much Does Juvederm® Cost?
For information our office 818-999-5900 and have your free consultation with Dr. Marks
How Long Does It Last?
You’ll start to see the effects of the treatment immediately. Studies conducted by the manufacturer, Allergen, report that Juvederm® XC results last 9 to 12 months and Juvederm® Voluma® can add volume for up to two years.
What are the Possible Side Effects?
Side effects tend to be minor and are typical for any kind of injectable filler. They include swelling of the skin around the injection site, redness, bruising (which may be increased if you’re taking blood thinners), bumps, and skin irritation. These should pass within a week. If symptoms persist, call your doctor.
Also, be sure to inform your doctor of any drugs you’re taking, as they may impact your treatment. If you have any history of severe allergies (including a history of allergies to gram-positive bacterial proteins — many dermal fillers contain trace amounts of these) you should not be treated with Juvederm®.
BELOTERO
What is BELOTERO BALANCE?
BELOTERO BALANCE® is a prescription injection that is approved to temporarily smooth out and fill in moderate-to-severe nasolabial folds (the folds or wrinkles that go from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth).
Is this like a BOTOX treatment?
No, BELOTERO BALANCE® acts in a totally different way. It fills in areas within the skin to reduce the depth of wrinkles, lines, and folds. The skin remains mobile and flexible, with a natural look, feel, and movement.
What is the difference between BELOTERO BALANCE and other fillers?
BELOTERO BALANCE® is a hyaluronic acid injectible filler designed to integrate into facial skin tissue. The unique manufacturing process for BELOTERO BALANCE® yields a soft and cohesive gel that, once injected, instantly fills the skin to help smooth moderate-to-severe etched-in lines and wrinkles. While the product is versatile enough to handle moderate nasolabial folds (smile lines around the mouth), it may be an ideal option for treating delicate areas such as etched-in smile lines and vertical lip lines (thin lines that appear above and around the lips).
How soon can I expect results and how long does it last?
Immediately upon treatment, BELOTERO BALANCE® helps smooth etched-in lines and wrinkles, such as vertical lip lines above and around your lips.
Individual results may vary, but BELOTERO BALANCE® may last about 6 months or more. Some factors that affect how long it lasts are the amount of product used and the area it is injected into. In areas that experience a lot of movement due to eating, talking, and smiling, the product may not last as long as other less active areas.
Is it safe?
BELOTERO BALANCE® is FDA approved and clinically proven safe and effective. Hyaluronic acid products for wrinkle correction have been available for a long time and used in thousands of treatments.
Restylane – redefining beauty
Restylane is safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds).
Restylane has been used by dermatologists and plastic surgeons since 1996 and is the first cosmetic dermal filler made of non-animal based hyaluronic acid.
Restylane is a customized procedure based on your specifics needs, so the cost will vary from patient to patient. You may need more than one syringe of Restylane in your initial treatment to achieve optimal results.
Restylane is proven to deliver long-lasting results. Studies have shown that this product’s effects generally last for about six months!
Please consult with Dr. Marks to determine the best recommendation for your particular needs.
Fillers Radiesse – A Natural look that lasts
Radiesse Is a safe, FDA-approved dermal filler that restores a natural, youthful look and last longer than the former leading filler. This convenient treatment fills and corrects smile lines, Nasolabial Folds and wrinkles around the nose and mouth.
Radiesse is made of unique calcium based microspheres suspended in a natural gel that is injected into the skin through a simple, safe and minimally invasive procedure.
Radiesse does more than just temporarily fill-in facial folds and wrinkles – it rebuilds your skin’s foundation and restores your youthful look, without the risk associated with a permanent implant. Through the years of clinical studies Radiesse has proven to be safe and effective.
Results are immediate. Radiesse typically lasts one year or more, longer than the former leading filler.
Please consult with Dr. Marks to determine the best recommendation for your particular need.
Platelet Rich Plasma Skin Rejuvenation
Are you seeing fine lines and sagging around your mouth, cheeks and eyes? Is your skin tone not as bright, healthy and firm as it used to be? Are you noticing dark circles and puffiness under your eyes?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) rejuvenates skin. PRP is a natural product created from your own body. A small amount of blood is drawn from you and placed in a sterile tube that is spun down in a centrifuge to separate the different components of the blood. Red and white blood cells are divided from the platelets and the plasma (the clear fluid).
This plasma now contains a higher than normal number of platelets and is called platelet rich plasma, or PRP.
Platelets are the cells in the blood that help tissue to heal and grow new cells. The PRP, injected into specific areas of the skin, act as a matrix that promotes your own collagen to grow, regenerates tissue, and thus acts as to naturally smooth and tighten the skin. In this way, PRP softens wrinkles and creating smoother skin texture and tone.
PRP has a long history of being used in orthopedic medicine, dentistry, and reconstructive surgery, and now its benefits are being applied to other fields of medicine such as dermatology, skin wound healing, and cosmetic facial rejuvenation. Scientific studies dating back 30 years have documented that PRP grows new collagen when injected into the skin, and newer studies show that PRP can soften sun damage and aging skin issues.
Neck Liposuction
Chin liposuction is a common method for removing deposits of fat deposits around the neck and chin. This procedure can correct a hanging jowl, turkey neck and double chin. A sculpted chin, neck and jaw line can give a person a youthful appearance. When fat settles in these regions, it can cause people to appear older than their actual age.
Candidates for Surgery
This surgery is for people who are generally healthy, have firm skin, and are close to their recommended body weight. They must not have any medical conditions which could hinder the outcome of the procedure. This includes bleeding disorders, high blood pressure, asthma, and heart disease.
Liposuction Surgery for the Chin
The most common liposuction procedure for the upper neck and chin is known as tumescent. The surgeon will numb the treatment site with lidocaine. The surgeon will then make tiny pencil sized incisions under the chin and ears.
An anesthetic solution is then inserted to reduce bleeding and help numb the site. This will cause the tissues to plump up and temporarily swell fatty deposits. The surgeon will then separate the fat and suction it out. This surgery usually takes less than an hour.
This form of liposuction can remove excess fat around the chin as well as loose hanging skin in the upper neck. Facelifts and chin tucks can offer similar results but liposuction can be more convenient. This procedure is less traumatic to the tissues, causes less scarring, and the recovery is faster. Also, chin liposuction has fewer side effects and does not involve the use of stitches.
Risks
Chin liposuction is successful for many people. Still there are certain risks with this procedure as with any surgery. This includes wavy or uneven skin, dimpling, and discoloration. Other risks are lumpiness, numbness, and excess skin hanging from the chin. Patients who experience any of these complications may need additional surgery.
Recovery
Most patients don’t experience any discomfort after the surgery. Patients will wear an elastic chinband for up to three days after the procedure. They will be required to sleep with it on for one week. The band will put just enough pressure on the chin to reduce the swelling and bruising. Puncture wounds from the procedure typically heal in less than a day. Most patients will have to take a few days off from work. During this time, they should take it easy and take time to recover.