Patient Education

What is Sculptra?

Sculptra is a poly-L-lactic acid that is a synthetic polymer from the fruit acid family that does not harm the body and is biodegradable or metabolized by the body.

How is Sculptra used?

Sculptra therapy is used as a dermal filler to help correct skin depressions such as wrinkles, creases, folds, scars, hollow eye rings, degenerative skin aging, and facial lipoatrophy (fat loss).

What to expect?

The results from Sculptra are not immediate. You will have swelling from the injections and water used to dilute the solution that will last a few days. Over the following weeks and months, as your body produces new collagen, the tissue volume in the treated area will gradually build up.

How long do treatments last?

Most areas of treatment will require 2 to 4 sessions, usually at 4 to 6 week intervals, for optimal correction. Depending on the area and condition treated, the volume of Sculptra used and the injection technique, the effects of a completed Sculptra treatment may last from 1-2 years and sometimes longer.

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is the standard of treatment for the small or superficial leg veins. A saline-like solution is injected into the vein causing it to become irritated and collapse. The vein is then gradually absorbed by the body.

How is Sclerotherapy used?

Spider veins commonly occur in women and are primarily caused by genetics and hormones although obesity, trauma and prolonged sitting and standing can also play a role. Sclerotherapy is not recommended for anyone who has had previous blood clots in the legs or lungs.

What to expect?

Patients report little discomfort from the tiny needle used to treat spider veins. Some people experience a slight to moderate burning sensation immediately after the injection, but this disappears within a few seconds. You should allow at least 2 weeks after treatment for the bruising to subside. Walking is essential but running, aerobics and exercises causing abdominal contractions should be avoided for one week after treatment.

How long do treatments last?

Usually 2 to 5 treatment sessions are required for optimal improvement. Most patients see lightening and/or disappearance of the majority of treated veins; however, you will most likely continue to get new tiny broken vessels over time.

What is Laser Hair Removal?

We use the LightSheer diode laser that is designed to remove unwanted hair faster, with less discomfort and more reliably than other methods of hair removal including electrolysis. Laser energy impedes the hair follicle causing reduced or eliminated hair growth. The LightSheer diode laser treats numerous hair follicles simultaneously and uses a special contact-cooling handpiece that protects and cools the upper layer of skin before, during and after each laser pulse.

When to use Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is indicated for men and women who want to get rid of excess hair. It is a safe and effective treatment in all skin types and targets darker, coarser hair in places like on the face, abdomen, breasts, legs, underarms and bikini areas in women or on the shoulders, chest and back in men.

What to expect?

The length of a laser treatment may last anywhere from a few minutes on an upper lip to an hour or more on the back or legs, depending on the size of the area being treated. The laser treatment itself may cause some discomfort; however, most patients tolerate the procedure well. Some body areas are more sensitive than others. The appearance of the treated area immediately following treatment will vary from patient to patient. Side effects, if any, usually include redness and swelling around the hair follicle, which are, in fact, desired clinical results and indicate that the follicle has responded to treatment. Most people return to normal activity right away.

How often are treatments needed?

It is important to know that the hairs in an active growth phase (referred to as anagen) are most affected by the laser. As all hairs are not in this phase at the same time, more than one treatment will be necessary to achieve the best result. Four to 5 treatments at intervals of 4-12 weeks are recommended depending on the body area being treated.

What are Chemical Peels?

We use glycolic and alpha-hydroxy chemical peels to help minimize fine lines, even out skin tone and texture, and to reduce the appearance of sun damage on the face, neck and chest. Depending on your skin type and the desired effects, a TCA (trichloracetic acid) peel may be suggested which is a deeper peel that requires about a week of healing time.

How are they used?

Chemical peels are used to minimize fine wrinkling on the face and neck, to even out the skin tone and texture, and to reduce the appearance of sun damage.

What to expect?

Most of our chemical peels are performed by our cosmetic assistants and take less than 20 to 30 minutes. They require no down time other than some redness immediately following the procedure but you may experience some sloughing off or peeling a few days later depending on the type of peel you have, your skin texture, and the at-home products you have been using. A TCA peel or intermediate depth chemical peel is performed by the physician or mid-level provider and produces an extreme sunburned effect on the area where used. This skin will begin to exfoliate (peel off) within a few days, leaving the new skin pink and smooth. You can apply makeup usually within a week.

How long do the effects last?

In order to get the maximum benefits from chemical peels, it is recommended that treatments be repeated every 3 to 4 weeks to a total of 4 treatments. After that, a maintenance peel every 3 months should be beneficial. The intermediate depth peels last at least a year or longer with appropriate sunscreen usage.

Before & After

What is Restylane?

Restylane is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin. Restylane is the first cosmetic dermal filler made of non-animal–based hyaluronic acid which is a natural substance that already exists in the human body.

How is it used?

Restylane is used to correct the moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds (the crease from each side of the nose to the corner of the mouth), the marionette lines (the crease from each corner of the mouth downward), and to produce a fullness in the upper and lower lips.

What to expect?

Restylane requires no pre-testing, but you should take a few precautions before being treated. Avoid using aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John’s Wort, or high doses of Vitamin E supplements prior to treatment, because these may increase bruising or bleeding at the injection site. Also, if you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another recurrence. The most commonly reported side effects were temporary redness and swelling at the injection sites. These effects typically resolve within two to three days.

Restylane is injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts by an ultrafine needle, resulting in minimal discomfort. The procedure is simple and convenient, and results are practically instantaneous. To optimize your comfort during the short procedure, a topical anesthetic can be applied to the treatment area prior to receiving the injections.

How long does it last?

Studies have shown that the average treatment results last six months or even longer.

Restylane lasts twice as long as collagen, so treatments are typically scheduled twice a year. Evidence shows that having a touch-up treatment before the product has fully dissipated will enhance the lasting effect.

Before & After

What is BOTOX?

BOTOX® is a purified protein used to temporarily relax the wrinkle-causing muscles of the forehead, around the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet), and between the eyebrows. It received FDA approval in 2002 for cosmetic use.

How is it used?

BOTOX® improves the appearance of worry and frown lines, laugh lines, and other dynamic wrinkles on the face. There is no recovery or downtime associated with this treatment.

What to expect?

It only takes about 10 minutes – a few tiny injections – and within days there is a noticeable improvement. A tiny needle injects a very small amount of BOTOX® precisely, into several locations on the face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used, the pain associated with the injections is minimal. No sedation is required; however, some patients prefer that we use a local anesthetic to numb the skin prior to the injections. You can drive yourself home or back to work. Some patients experience a slight temporary bruising at the injection site which can usually be covered with make-up.

How long does it last?

The results last up to 4 months, but this depends on the patient and the severity of the wrinkling.

Before & After

Unretouched clinical photos taken at maximum frown before and after BOTOX® treatment at Day 10. Individual results may vary.

Before

After