What is Sculptra, and how does it work?
Sculptra is a unique injectable used to address one of the root causes of aging – collagen loss. Sculptra is composed of poly-L-lactic acid particles (PLLA) and works gradually over time to help your skin create a collagen framework to improve the signs of facial aging. Sculptra works on shallow to deep folds and wrinkles to add fullness and smooth fine lines.

What should I expect immediately after treatment, and how should I care for the treated area?
Sculptra injections are very tolerable for most. A topical anesthetic and ice are applied to minimize initial discomfort. Sculptra also contains a local anesthetic (lidocaine), so you will continue to numb as your treatment proceeds. Your face may feel numb for 1-2 hours after the treatment.

Immediately after your treatment, you will feel full in the areas treated which is a direct effect from the water injected into those areas. Fullness will completely disappear over several hours once the treatment is completed, and the areas treated will then look the same as they did prior to having the treatment. Collagen stimulation will naturally start to occur approximately 8-12 weeks after the treatment and will reach a peak within the first 6 months. During the months following treatment, you will notice a gradual softening of wrinkles and folds as new collagen is formed.

A complete discussion of what to expect after Sculptra is injected as well as care of the area will occur prior to treatment.

Does the correction last forever, and if not, how often will I require treatment?
We recommend 2-3 injection treatments, 4-8 weeks apart. The results are gradual and subtle. The product continues working to improve folds and wrinkles for approximately 3 months after treatment. Sculptra gives natural looking results that can last 1-2 years.

As we get older, the two important substances found in our skin that keep it smooth and supple, collagen and hyaluronic acid, start to diminish which cause the skin to lose structure and volume. As a result, unwelcome lines and wrinkles appear. We offer a variety of FDA approved fillers, including Restylane, Juvederm, and RHA for the correction of facial folds, lines, and revolumization.

Facial fillers are often used to add fullness to the lips and cheeks as well as to plump the face, helping to smooth out lines and wrinkles. There are a variety of synthetic and biocompatible dermal fillers on the market and approved by the FDA. Biocompatible fillers often contain ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, which is very much like what’s already found in your skin. They typically work for six to eighteen months. Dermal fillers can be done quickly with minimal down time. Results are immediate.

What are fillers, and how do they work?
The way your skin looks is directly related to the way your skin is supported. As we age, the natural support layers in the skin diminish resulting in the formation of wrinkles. Loss of bone over time also contributes to facial aging and volume loss. Two important substances, collagen and hyaluronic acid, form the foundation of your skin. Collagen is a protein that provides your skin with structural support. Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar found in all living cells that attracts and binds water, hydrating your skin and giving it volume. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be injected deep into the skin to restore facial volume and give a youthful appearance. When injected more superficially, they can soften lines and folds.

What are my options?
There are several products used either independently, or in conjunction with each other to give you the most effective treatment. Hyaluronic acid treatments, such as Juvederm and Restylane add volume to your skin by mimicking the hydrating effects of your skin’s natural hyaluronic acid. These fillers are injected just below the surface of the skin temporarily adding volume, thereby filling lines, wrinkles and folds from the inside out.

Will the injections hurt?
In general, injections may cause some discomfort. The products are injected directly into the skin using a fine needle or cannula to reduce injection discomfort. Anesthetic creams, ice, and other techniques may be used to diminish discomfort. These will be discussed prior to treatment.

How safe are the injected fillers?
The injection process and injected fillers are very safe. The fillers have undergone extensive testing including scientific clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy. However, as with any cosmetic procedure, there are rare but potentially serious risks. Please be sure to discuss these with your provider prior to treatment.

What should I expect immediately after treatment, and how should I care for the treated area?
Immediately after the treatment most people feel comfortable in resuming their normal activities. Temporary puffiness or swelling of the treated areas should be expected. There may be temporary redness, slight bruising, and tenderness around treatment sites. A complete discussion of what to expect after fillers are injected as well as care of the area will occur prior to treatment.

Does the correction last forever, and if not, how often will I require treatment?
Correction is temporary and repeat injections are usually needed to maintain optimal benefit.

(includes Botox/Dysport/Daxxify MerZ portfolio-Xeomin)

At Aesthetic Dermatology Center, we proudly offer Botox, Dysport, Daxxify, and MerZ portfolio-Xeomin. These are treatments for dynamic lines, wrinkles, or changes to the skin as a result of muscle movement. Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify are FDA approved products that are injected into the skin to temporarily weaken or stop muscles from contracting, which can soften and smooth facial lines.

What You Need To Know Prior To Treatment
The way your skin appears is directly related to the way your skin is supported. As we age, the natural elasticity and support of the skin decreases. As a result, the muscles which allow for natural movements used while smiling or frowning can result in wrinkles. The muscles known to cause the most noticeable lines and wrinkles are located between your brows, around the eyes, and on the forehead. Other areas that are commonly treated include the neck, lips and lower face. Botox, Daxxify, and Dysport are purified proteins, which work by blocking nerve impulses, which reduces the movement of muscles. With less movement, the skin surface gradually smooths out, and the lines and wrinkles begin to fade.

Will the injections hurt?
These treatments are quick and minimally invasive. Your provider makes a few tiny injections into the muscles that cause the unwanted lines. The discomfort of the procedure varies from person to person, but usually is minimal. We utilize multiple methods to keep you as comfortable as possible.

How safe are neuromodulators?
The injection process and injected materials are generally safe in qualified hands. All these treatments have undergone extensive testing including, scientific clinical trials, to establish safety and efficacy. Treatments are minimally invasive and non-surgical, and require little recovery time.
Risks include redness, bruising, swelling, tenderness, pain, muscle weakness, infection, bleeding, and headache. Patients who are using substances that prolong bleeding, such as aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and Coumadin (warfarin) may, as with any injection, have increased bruising or bleeding at injection sites. Patients who are pregnant or have neurologic or muscular disease (myesthenia gravis) should not receive treatment. We will discuss all the risks with you prior to treatment.

What should I expect immediately after treatment, and how should I care for the treated area?
Immediately after the treatment most people feel comfortable in resuming their normal activities. Temporary puffiness, redness, and possible slight bruising of the treated areas, however, should be expected. It is recommended to avoid very strenuous activities and/or high heat environments (i.e. saunas or hot tubs) for 24-48 hours. You will notice weakness or decreased ability to move the muscles in the areas that have been treated within 2-3 days of injection. This is the desired effect. You can expect to see results of fine line and wrinkle correction within several days after your treatment, with full effect taking place at approximately 14 days. We will provide detailed care instructions at your visit.

Does the correction last forever, and if not, how often will I require treatment?
Correction is temporary, therefore repeat injections are usually needed to maintain optimal benefit. The need for repeat treatment will be influenced by ongoing mechanical forces (smiling/frowning) and biological changes that caused the original skin wrinkles. The correction is different for everyone, but on average, wrinkles will return about 12-16 weeks after Botox or Dysport injections and 6-9 months after Daxxify injections. After a series of treatments, some individuals receive longer benefit from each single treatment.

(for broken blood vessels, rosacea, and redness)

Our Lumenis M22 IPL and Nd:YAG laser are both used to treat a variety of vascular lesions that include telangiectasia (broken vessels), redness from rosacea, port wine stains, and hemangiomas. The energy from the light produces several types of effects within the skin. It can speed up healing, reduce the appearance of visible capillaries, and break down excess pigment into tiny particles that are either flushed out through the body’s lymphatic system or pushed up to the skin’s surface where they will be naturally exfoliated after a week or so. IPL uses specific wavelengths (colors) that deeply penetrate the skin to manage the condition being treated. It is a non-ablative technique. This means that it targets the deeper layers of the skin (the dermis) without affecting the epidermis (the upper layers of your skin – the part you see). Through a series of treatments, you will notice a decrease in redness and blood vessels and in some cases, complete disappearance.

Will the Treatment Hurt?
There may be some stinging, burning, or discomfort experienced while the laser is in use. With each subsequent treatment, the discomfort usually lessens. Anesthetic creams can be provided prior to treatment to help lessen any discomfort.

What are the potential risks of the treatment?
While the treatment has been generally proven safe, there are potential risks to the procedure including scarring, hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) and hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin). These risks can be reduced with proper care to the treated area. We will discuss all risks with you prior to treatment.

What should I expect immediately after treatment?
The response to treatment varies from individual to individual. Typically, following the laser treatment, the treated area will appear red and slightly swollen. Bruising is also possible.

Does the correction last forever, and if not, how often will I require treatment?
The response to treatment varies from person to person. The number of treatments vary with the severity of the original skin condition and the response to each treatment. The number of laser treatments required also depends on how much improvement is desired by the individual. Usually, improvement is seen with each consecutive treatment, 4-6 weeks apart.

What is GentleLase Laser treatment, and how does it work?
Numerous methods exist to remove unwanted hair, including shaving, waxing, depilatory creams, and electrolysis. Unfortunately, all these treatments provide temporary results. Even electrolysis has failed to produce permanent hair removal in most cases. The Candela GentleLase laser is a device that produces an intense but gentle burst of light that selectively fragments and removes dark hair with minimal harm to the surrounding skin. The laser energy interacts with pigment (melanin) in the hair root.

Laser hair reduction is a safe and effective treatment in properly trained hands. While it may not be possible to completely remove every hair, significant permanent hair reduction is achievable with a series of treatments. The results of treatment will depend on your skin and hair color, the body site being treated and your ability to tolerate higher energy treatments. The GentleLase only works with dark hair. Blond, gray and red hair have little or no pigment in them, so the laser is not able to treat those types of hair.

What should I know prior to treatment?
A tan decreases the effectiveness of the treatment and increases the risk of hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin), hypopigmentation (lightening of surrounding skin), or skin blistering. For this reason, it is best to avoid sun exposure or tanning beds while being treated. You should not use any form of waxing, plucking or electrolysis prior to the treatment with the GentleLase. The hair root must be present for the laser to work, so if it has been removed with waxing, plucking, or electrolysis, then there is no “target” for the laser energy to hit. Some medications can make you more sensitive to the effects of the laser, so you should give your provider a complete list of your medications prior to the procedure.

There may be some stinging, burning, or discomfort experienced while the laser is in use. The degree of discomfort varies from individual to individual. With each subsequent treatment, the discomfort usually lessens. Many patients who have waxed or had electrolysis report that it is less painful than those types of treatments. Anesthetic creams can be provided. This will be discussed during the consultation.

What are the potential risks of the treatment?
While the treatment is safe, there are potential risks to the procedure including incomplete removal of hair, hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) and hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin). We will discuss all the risks of treatment with you prior to treatment.

Does the correction last forever, and if not, how often will I require treatment?
More than one laser treatment should be expected, and several treatment sessions may be required to obtain the degree of hair reduction that you desire. We will discuss the number of anticipated treatments and the degree of permanent hair reduction prior to your first treatment. Treatments are usually delivered every 6 weeks.

CoolSculpting offers significant benefits for reducing localized areas of exercise-resistant fat, with a reduction of 20% to 50% depending on the number of treatments. Treating areas such as the abdomen and flanks twice often results in a reduction of 2 to 4 dress or pant sizes within a few months. This gradual, natural reduction allows the skin to retract naturally. While a smaller size can be important, our primary goal is to enhance your shape and figure. As long as you maintain your weight, this reduction and improved contour will remain stable.

Ideal candidates for CoolSculpting are typically within 10 to 15 pounds of their ideal body weight and have specific areas of stubborn fat. However, don’t be discouraged if these criteria aren’t met exactly; we welcome clients of all shapes and sizes and are pleased to offer a free consultation to discuss your individual needs and goals.

The risks associated with CoolSculpting are minimal and transient. Some patients may experience superficial bruising, which generally resolves within 1 to 2 weeks. Very rarely, there may be a prolonged alteration in skin sensation or mild pain, which typically resolves within 1 to 3 months. Given its minimal risk profile, CoolSculpting is a safe and effective alternative compared to other fat reduction procedures.

CoolSculpting stands out as a unique procedure that uses selective cooling to target and eliminate fat cells without surgery. Unlike liposuction, which requires anesthesia and involves risks such as scarring, bruising, and infection, CoolSculpting is non-invasive with minimal downtime.

Other non-invasive alternatives, such as those using ultrasound, radiofrequency, or laser technology, often involve heating fat and surrounding tissue, which can cause discomfort and result in varying degrees of tissue damage. These methods may also lead to scarring and prolonged recovery.

CoolSculpting’s simplicity and effectiveness make it a revolutionary choice for those seeking a safe, natural fat reduction with minimal downtime. If you’re looking to eliminate stubborn fat, CoolSculpting could be the ideal solution for you.