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BOTOX® Cosmetic is a natural purified protein produced by the Costridium botulinum bacterium and commonly used to non-surgically reduce or eliminate the appearance of facial wrinkles creating a younger and more refreshed looking face. Botox is the most effective treatment for facial lines that are a sign of aging. Starting in our early thirties, facial lines or wrinkles start to form and are called dynamic lines which are increased by our facial expressions. Those winkles most effectively treated are between the eyebrows (glabella) which deepen when we frown; the lines across our forehead, which are more noticeable when we raise our eyebrows; and the lines around the outside of our eyes (crow’s feet), which are more evident when we smile or squint.
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BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered via a few tiny injections directly into the overactive muscles that cause lines to form. BOTOX® Cosmetic works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscle thereby weakening the underlying muscles that create wrinkles. Over a period of 3-10 days there is a lessening of the appearance of frown lines, laugh lines and crow’s feet. BOTOX® Cosmetic therapy is temporary and usually lasts 3-5 months depending on the individual.
Patients who are pregnant, nursing, allergic to albumin (eggs), taking certain antibiotics, affected by any neuromuscular or collagen vascular disease or that have had any recent eye surgery may not use BOTOX® Cosmetic.
It is unlikely you will develop significant side effects, although some people develop slight temporary bruising and tenderness at the injection site or headache relieved with Tylenol or Advil. In rare cases, there can be a slight and temporary drooping of an eyelid or eyebrow lasting 1-2 weeks. Your doctor can prescribe eye drops to help reverse this side effect. The risk depends on the muscles to be injected and your doctor will discuss this with you fully before treatment.
BOTOX® Cosmetic has found many therapeutic uses in many specialty fields and is growing. In July 2004 the FDA approved the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic for the treatment of Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and underarms. Dr. Caglia has extensive experience in the cosmetic use of BOTOX® Cosmetic and is a member of the Botox Physicians Network.
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.
Radiesse™ is a synthetic injectable filler that reduces wrinkles, creases and scars by augmenting the body’s natural collagen supply. Composed of microspheres in a biocompatible gel, Radiesse is made from the same minerals found in our bones, so it carries little risk of allergic reaction. Radiesse can be used on many areas of the body, including the lips, nasolabial folds, peri-oral lines, depressed scars and oral commissures.
Treatments typically take 15 minutes and require only local anesthetic. Side effects such as swelling or bruising are minimal and should fade within a few days. Results are visible immediately after the injection and can last for months or years, although the procedure can be repeated as often as you wish.
Fraxel™ is a unique noninvasive laser therapy designed to dramatically improve skin texture and pigmentation, including the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, and sun damage. Fraxel™ utilizes fractional resurfacing technology, where only a small fraction of the skin receives the laser light. The treatment delivers a series of microscopic laser spots, while simultaneously preserving areas of unaffected, healthy skin. The healthy cells in the untouched spots promote rapid healing of the entire area, resulting in faster recovery time and minimal side effects. The result is softer, smoother and healthier skin without an uncomfortable healing period.
Fraxel re:pair (fractional CO2 laser) is the only laser device FDA cleared for skin resurfacing with a fractional mode of delivery for the treatment of wrinkles, rhytides, furrows, fine lines, textural irregularities, pigmented lesions and vascular dyschromia. Fraxel re:pair system produces significant tissue tightening, wrinkle reduction, acne scars, stretch marks, atrophic scars and textural improvement, both on and off the face and neck.
What is so exciting is that the Fraxel re:pair laser system addresses all three elements of photodamage that patients want to improve: pigmentation, fine lines and elasticity. The Fraxel re:pair system is the only laser treatment available for patients who want dramatic results comparable to a mild facelift, but without the associated risks and recovery time.
ArteFill® is a non-absorbable wrinkle filler used to correct smile lines. It is the only FDA-approved injectable smile line treatment of its kind. ArteFill uses a unique dual-acting formula made of a combination of 20% ArteFill Precision-Filtered Microspheres™ and 80% ArteFill Purified Bovine Collagen™. The result is the immediate visible correction of facial wrinkles and folds in as few as one or two treatment sessions with no downtime.
As we age, the natural collagen and elastin fibers supporting our skin break down, creating wrinkles. The ArteFill microspheres replace these aging fibers and provide permanent support and volume to the skin, making ArteFill outlast virtually any other wrinkle filler.
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