Advancing biotechnology has provided many possibilities to improve your appearance and soften aging and/or undesirable features without enduring the risk, expense, and recovery time associated with surgery.   Most popular among these treatments are laser and other energy forms applied to shrink or resurface skin so it appears younger, and injectable products to diminish or eliminate facial creases, and to re-establish youthful contours.  Always striving for your best result and for minimum risk, expense, and recovery time, these non-surgical methods have an important place at Feel Beautiful.  Plastic surgeons are well positioned to perform and/or supervise non-surgical treatments because more than other providers, plastic surgeons know where the effectiveness of non-surgical treatments begins and ends.

 

Indications for injectable treatments are aging contours and/or displeasing facial furrows, creases, hollows, and/or scars.  Two broad categories of products are available: 1. Drugs that temporarily paralyze muscles.  These agents are are injected directly into specific muscles beneath the skin.  When the treated muscle isn't working, it isn't causing your skin to wrinkle.  These agents treat DYNAMIC creases, those creases that are present with animation (facial expression);  2.  Fillers which are injected directly into the skin to lift the depressed area of the crease closer to the level of surrounding skin so the skin surface is smooth and appears more youthful.  Fillers soften or eliminate STATIC creases, those which are present even without animation or facial expression.  Fillers may also be used to create the illusion of "lifting" the face by filling and/or augmenting areas that have become depressed with age.  Fillers are also used for lip, cheek, and brow augmentation.

Botox Cosmetic® is the most widely used product from the first category, and Dr. Laverson has injected thousands of doses for many wonderful patients since 1999 when his Carlsbad Feel Beautiful boutique opened. Botox Cosmetic® is indicated for the softening of DYNAMIC creases, e.g. those creases (or the component of the crease) that exist(s) only upon animation of the face.  Note  in the below photograph, courtesy of Allergan, Inc., that after BotoxCosmetic® treatment, there is no visible crease when she is relaxed.  In younger adults, BotoxCosmetic® is excellent for complete elimination of these DYNAMIC creases, because by inactivating the underlying facial muscle(s), the wrinkles no longer occur.  When properly injected, you will still be able to express yourself, but most patients acknowledge they feel (and appear) more relaxed, youthful, pleasant, and energetic.

Although the effect of BotoxCosmetic® only lasts three to six months, repeated use can prevent facial aging by avoiding progression of treated DYNAMIC creases so they will never become STATIC creases.  Static creases are those which are present even without animation, e.g. facial creases that are visible even at rest.  STATIC creases result from repeated animation of the face for many years, and deepen with advancing age.  BotoxCosmetic® does not eliminate static creases.

The other category of anti-aging injectible treatments are contour and wrinkle fillers.  These products are indicated for the filling of depressed STATIC creases, as well as smoothing the skin surface, lifting depressed scars, and/or simulating contours of youth.  Popular products in this category include the hyaluronic acid fillers (Restylane®, Juvederm Ultra®, Prevelle®, Perlane®, Juvederm UltraPlus, others), Calcium hydroxyapatite (Radiesse®), Poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra®), Collagen (Evolence®), polymethylmethacrylate beads with collagen (Artecoll/Artefill®), injectable medical grade liquid silicone, polyacrylamide hydrogel, and others.  New products are being tested and marketed constantly in this category.  Also used for filling deeper facial creases and hollows are fat cells taken from ones own body (fat grafting).  The below pictures show before and after one milliliter of Restylane injected into the lines between nose and lips, called the "nasolabial" folds.

In summary, sterile injectable products such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, Restylane®, Juvederm®, Perlane® and others can delay the visible progression of facial aging without the expense, downtime, and risk of surgery. These are consistently safe and effective treatments when administered by a skilled and artistic professional.  Lines of worry, concern, and creases of aging disappear or are softened resulting in a more youthful appearance of calm and rested beauty.  Fillers can also be used to enhance volume of your lips, cheeks, and brow.  These are excellent procedures for younger adults who want to present their best, prevent the appearance of aging, who are not ready for surgery, and/or to prepare for important social or professional events. Results are temporary, and of variable duration.

Cost estimate $200-$1500/session

Dr. Laverson will only recommend as much as necessary to achieve your desired result.

Contact us now for complimentary no-obligation evaluation and possible treatment.


www.Restylaneusa.com
www.BotoxCosmetic.com