Tag cosmetic injectables

Spring Into A More Youthful Appearance With Bellafill

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bellafill_logo

Have you been looking for an injectable filler which lasts years instead of months? Consider getting a Bellafill treatment. Unlike hyaluronic acid based fillers like Juvederm and Restylane which dissipate within nine months to a year on average, the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres found in Bellafill are permanent implants which stimulate cells in the skin to produce collagen over an extended period of time. The FDA has granted approval to the makers of Bellafill to claim that the effects last 5 years or more. This approval was based on the response to treatments, which were then monitored over a five-year period, in more than 1,000 subjects treated with Bellafill.

Bellafill also contains bovine collagen, which has very low chance of reactivity in patients. Nevertheless, a skin test (very similar to a tuberculin skin test) is performed during a Bellafill consultation and the patient is instructed to report any skin changes from the test. Once Bellafill is injected, the bovine collagen provides a temporary and immediate fill which persists for approximately 6 weeks. By the time the bovine collagen wears off, the body has already begun producing its own collagen to replace it.

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If you are in the Los Angeles area, please contact me at stacey@staceynaito.com for pricing, and to schedule an appointment for a consultation and treatment.

The Wrinkle Banisher…That’s Me!

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Puppy wrinkles
Just like the elastic in an old pair of sweatpants, the elasticity of the skin diminishes over time, resulting in unattractive skin folds and lines and a deflated appearance. Sun exposure, cigarette smoking, and consumption of processed foods, sugar and alcohol also contribute to fine lines, uneven skin tone, and brown discoloration. Fortunately, there have been countless advancements in aesthetic medicine which have resulted in the development of non-surgical interventions which can diminish or even completely eliminate these signs of aging.

Some individuals who are needle-shy will opt for laser treatments as a means of resurfacing and refining the skin. However, these treatments must usually be done in series and can be rather costly. Another non-invasive and cost-effective solution for aging skin is a chemical peel. There are many different types of chemical peels available, ranging from very light glycolic acid peels to an aggressive TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peel. One composite peel (phenol, TCA, salicylic acid and Retin-A) which is my personal favorite is the Vi-Peel which is painless, well tolerated by the majority of skin types, and only requires a few days of social downtime. The Vi-Peel is my peel of choice and the one which I offer to my patients. http://www.drstaceynaito.com/#!chemical-peels/comt

Before and after images from a single Vi-Peel treatment

Before and after images from a single Vi-Peel treatment

Another wonderful option for correcting loss of volume in the face is an injectable filler. There are a number of hyaluronic acid based fillers available now (Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Belotero) which last 6 months to a year. Radiesse is another natural filler option, which is comprised of calcium hydroxylapatite, a substance which also acts as a biostimulator, stimulating cells in the skin to produce collagen over time. Radiesse lasts 18 months or more and is a very cost-effective treatment for women in their 40’s and beyond who want to refill sunken areas which often develop as menopause looms. http://www.drstaceynaito.com/#!injectable-fillers/c1tgx

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If you have wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes, Botox and Dysport are excellent treatments and will last for 3 to 6 months. I tend to prefer Botox over Dysport because the effects are more robust and tend to last longer than what I have seen with Dysport over the years. Xeomin is another form of botulinum toxin which is well-suited for patients who have developed a rare resistance to Botox of Dysport over time. http://www.drstaceynaito.com/#!botox-treatments/cr7z
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For those of you in the Los Angeles area, I offer the Vi-Peel, Botox, Juvederm (including Voluma), Radiesse, Restylane, Perlane, and Belotero treatments. I also perform electrocautery treatments on benign moles and skin tags. Please visit the links in this blogpost for more information on how to schedule a consultation. Why not start the summer looking your very best?

Botox Treatments Are NOT An Urgent Issue

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injectables and faceWhile I appreciate the aesthetic benefits and self-confidence boost that injectables treatments confer upon the people who undergo them, I get very annoyed by the sense of urgency which some people adopt when it’s time to get treated again. I am not kidding you when I say I have had patients contact me asking for Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, Belotero, or Radiesse with a hint of desperation in their voices, as if it was a matter of life or death in getting a treatment lined up immediately.

In a way it makes perfect sense because these non-surgical fixes are a cost-effective way to smooth lines and furrows and restore lost volume. When the clock is turned back the first time and a new patient sees the results of injectables treatments, it’s a wonderful reveal which causes the patient to see himself or herself differently. The neurotoxins (Botox, Dysport and Xeomin) yield effects which last from 3 to 6 months, with muscle function gradually returning over time, along with the corresponding lines and wrinkles. Fillers have greater longevity and dissipate from 6 months to two years after the treatment is performed. The dissipation tends to be gradual, not sudden.

So when I have patients calling the office, calling me or texting me, insisting that they MUST come in IMMEDIATELY for treatment, I almost want to ask, “Where’s the fire?” Sometimes the request is on such short notice that I cannot accommodate it, which sometimes upsets the patient greatly. The response from the patient goes something like, “But I need it NOW! You need to do this for me. I’m sure you can find time in your schedule to stay late or somehow accommodate me.”

Such treatments are NEVER an emergency, and your face isn’t going to fall if you don’t get shot up with neurotoxin or filler immediately. Trust me on this!

Botox Versus Xeomin

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BOTOX® was FDA-approved for the treatment of facial wrinkles in 2002, and since that time has become a youth elixir for many people, smoothing wrinkled foreheads and eye areas. However, in recent years, new Botulinum neurotoxin forms have become available to consumers which promise better results. As someone who has had extensive experience as an injector, I am not easily sold on the idea that a competitor’s product is always better. The most recent competitor to Botox is Xeomin which uses the same active ingredient as Botox and promises of results which last as long as six months. It is the preferred form of neurotoxin for use in patients who have developed antibodies to the more complex Botox and Dysport molecules.
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The simplicity of Xeomin increases its appeal. Unlike Botox and Dysport, Xeomin contains only one ingredient: botulinum toxin A, and thus is referred to as a “naked injectable,” meaning that it does not contain any additives. The major benefit of Xeomin is that the human body is less likely to become resistant to it. Xeomin is dosed in the same manner as Botox, using the same unit measure, and costs about the same as Botox. Common side effects, such as minor swelling, headache and bruising, are the same as with Botox. Yet Xeomin can potentially last up to six months, which is wonderful news for patients who typically get a three month result from Botox or Dysport.

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I would recommend Xeomin for any patient who has noticed a decreased response of duration of effect from Botox treatments, as it may provide a solution to those issues. Be sure to follow the same pre and post treatment guidelines that you are instructed to follow when receiving Botox or Dysport treatments. Also be aware that Xeomin’s onset of action may take longer to assert itself, so if you are accustomed to seeing results from Dysport in a day or Botox results in a few days, it may take up to a week or more to see Xeomin’s results.