Facial Fillers, Juvederm, Volbella, Voluma, Vollure, Radiesse
The effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement (smiling, chewing, squinting, etc.) begin to show their effects as we age, leaving laugh lines, smile lines, crow’s feet and facial creases. Injectable fillers can fill in these lines and wrinkles, and plump up creased and sunken areas of the face to restore a smoother, more youthful looking appearance.
Recently, non-collagen fillers that offer longer-lasting results have entered the field of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Stein uses Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, Sculptra, Voluma and Volbella in his practice. The choice of filler Dr. Stein uses is dependent upon which area of the face your procedure targets and your desired results. Fillers may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as microdermabrasion, or a re-contouring procedure, such as a facelift.
In your initial consultation, Dr. Stein will evaluate your face—the skin, the muscles and the underlying bone—and discuss your goals for the procedure. Fillers are usually administered in the office. If, however, you’re combining the filler procedure with another procedure (for example a mini-S, facelift or brow lift) your injections may be administered in the hospital in conjunction with the other procedure.
After a Filler Procedure
Immediately following treatment, you may notice some minor discomfort, stinging or throbbing in the injected area. Any redness that appears in the injected site usually disappears within 24 hours. However, in some individuals, particularly fair-skinned patients, this redness may persist for a week or more. Tiny scabs may also form over the needle-stick areas, but these generally heal quickly. No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat, drink, and wear makeup with sunblock protection shortly thereafter.
Injectable fillers are temporary, and you may want to repeat the procedure in nine months to one year. Non-collagen, injectable fillers are a new, exciting way of restoring a youthful appearance and are constantly being improved for longer-lasting, safe results.
If you’re bothered by a double chin, you may want to consider Kybella™. Kybella™ is a non-surgical injectable that reduces moderate to severe fat on the upper neck area. The injection contains the naturally occurring molecule deoxycholic acid, which aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath your chin, Kybella eliminates the fat cells, removing the “storage space” for fat!
The Procedure
Based on your desired chin profile, Dr. Stein will customize your treatment with you, including addressing how many sessions are required to attain your goal. Your sessions will be spaced a month apart. During each session, the doctor will give you a series of injections and up to six treatments may be administered.
After The Procedure
Visible contouring of you chin profile may be noticeable in two to four treatments. Kybella™ is a permanent solution to a double chin, and retreatment is not expected to be required.
Kybella™ has been the focus of a global clinical development program involving over 20 clinical studies with more than 2,600 patients worldwide, of which over 1,600 have been treated with Kybella™. The FDA approved Kybella™ April 15, 2015.It’s the latest advancement in submental fullness that has shown great results!
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a technique that helps repair facial skin that has taken damage from the sun and is displaying signs of aging.
This quick, non-invasive procedure is sometimes called a “lunchtime peel” because of how simple it is and usually only lasts about 15 to 30 minutes.
As with other skin rejuvenation techniques, more than one treatment may be needed to reduce or remove fine wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation. For best results, we advise a follow up with Clear +Brilliant, a gentle laser procedure.
After Microdermabrasion
Skin will turn pink immediately afterward, but this color will fade within a few hours. Makeup can be applied immediately and you can return to normal activities. This treatment offers subtle improvements in texture and the appearance of refreshed skin. The procedure may be repeated to achieve more dramatic results, and create smoother, younger-looking skin.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
As you age, sun damage and environmental pollutants damage your skin, creating lines and wrinkles on your face. Laser resurfacing can help minimize fine lines as they begin to occur, particularly those that form around the mouth and eyes.
Laser resurfacing uses a laser to remove areas of damaged or wrinkled skin layer by layer. Usually used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, facial resurfacing is also an effective treatment for facial scars and uneven pigmentation. Laser resurfacing can be done on the entire face or on targeted areas.
There are several different types of lasers for resurfacing the skin that range from one treatment to several, depending on the size of the area being treated and the severity of the skin condition.
After Laser Skin Resurfacing
You may experience some swelling and discomfort. Cold packs are usually recommended to reduce swelling. If a bandage was applied after surgery, it may be changed in a few days and then completely removed after about one week. Scabs may form and last for up to 10 days. If you experience pain, over the counter pain medication may be taken.
Recovery time depends on the depth of resurfacing and your capacity to heal. Redness may persist for several weeks or longer, but will gradually lighten to pink and then to a more natural color. Makeup can be applied about two weeks after the procedure to cover up redness, if you prefer.
Laser resurfacing generally removes most of the fine wrinkles and imperfections in the treated areas, but natural facial movements and expressions can cause some lines to reappear. Like most other methods of skin resurfacing, laser treatments may be repeated to maintain the desired results.
A Thermage FLX procedure is a non-invasive alternative to alleviate wrinkles and sagging skin that occur naturally over time. Results are immediate and can last for years. Thermage FLX is also an excellent companion to any liposuction procedure – especially for older patients, where sagging skin may be more pronounced.
Normally, the complete procedure can be performed in just one session. A session lasts anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the treatment area. General anesthesia is not required, but Dr. Stein may offer light pain medications prior to treatment. During the treatment, you’ll feel a brief, heating sensation each time Thermage FLX delivers radio-frequency energy to the under layer of your skin. This indicates that your collagen is being stimulated and tightened.
After Thermage FLX Treatment
After treatment, your skin may be slightly red for a day or two. Most people resume regular activities immediately after treatment, with no downtime or special follow-up care. Side effects are generally mild and may include redness, swelling, blisters, and bumps, which usually disappear within a few days.
You should feel and see your skin becoming smoother, firmer, and tighter immediately after your procedure. You may also notice some contouring effects that will begin enhancing the shape of your face.
After the procedure, you should continue to see improvements to your skin as a result of the production of new and increased collagen, as well as some additional contouring effects due to continued tightening over time. These effects will continue for up to six months and you should see lasting results.
Venus Freeze – Lift Fx™ and Sculpt Fx™
The Process
Venus Freeze Sculpt Fx™ and Lift Fx™ is a non-invasive, innovative treatment with proven clinical results. The treatment uses a combination of bi-polar radio frequency (RF) along with magnetic pulses that work in synergy to reverse the effects of skin aging.
The magnetic pulse component of (MP)2 induces the release of growth factors required for the sprouting new blood vessels, as well as proliferation of dermal fibroblast. Simultaneously, the RF component induces collagen and elastin synthesis by causing controlled thermal damage in the dermis, which triggers the self-repair mechanism of skin tissue.
The result is a marked improvement in skin tightness, elasticity and overall skin condition.
The procedure is pain-free and does not require any cooling agents or numbing cream. It’s also faster than other comparable treatments. Treatments can be done during lunchtime and can be faster than waiting in the grocery store check out line after work!