First silicone and then collagen-based, fillers have been around since the 1940s! But it was the introduction of Hyaluronic Acid-based dermal fillers that brought about a revolution in the non-surgical treatment of facial lines, volume depletion, and other aging changes.

Restylane was the first HA filler, approved by the FDA in the U.S. in 2003.  The available products have greatly expanded since then, both in the US and in Europe.  There are now fillers designed specifically for the cheeks, the lips, fine lines, scars, the angle of the jaw and chin, the nasolabial creases, and scars to mention a few.  Techniques for injection, including the introduction of blunt-tipped cannulas and topical anesthetics have greatly improved the patient experience.  

These fillers are excellent at tweaking your look to create a bit more youth in your appearance, and can help improve your looks without having to undergo more extensive procedures.

Hi folks, and Happy New Year to you all!

I hope you have been making resolutions to improve your health for the new year.

Here are a few great suggestions:

 – Start a new hobby.

 – Learn a new language.

 – Start a new workout.

 – Be diligent about sunscreen.

 – Try a new skin care regimen – ZO SkinHealth or Pellevé treatment. 

 – Tighten that tummy with EMSCULPT Neo. 

Hope to see you in the new year for that new start!!

There are different ways to do lip fillers that can be done, each with different results. Mostly I have people who want to look like themselves, but with a fresher, more youthful look.  This can easily be achieved with 1cc of hyaluronic acid.  I have a number of different options for this filler and my choice will vary with the patient.  Some patients want to have emphasis of different parts of the lips, either for symmetry purposes or to emphasize different parts of the lips. Generally, if more than 1cc is needed to achieve what the patient is looking for, I may break the treatment into more than one session.  After the treatment is done, there may be a period when there is some bruising.  Swelling is also expected for a day or two.

This question is so individual! The answer will vary with age, weight, and anatomy of the patient. If there is great skin elasticity (like in younger patients), the answer may be as easy as an in-office liposuction procedure. Another option might be Kybella, which is usually done in a series of injections, and is nonsurgical. For those patients with less skin elasticity, the problem is usually not just extra fat but also extra skin. That brings up the possible need for a surgical procedure like a minifacelift, which incorporates both removal of fat along with tightening of the excess skin in order to get a smooth result.

A lot of patients have been coming in lately with a dilemma – they had breast implants placed 25 years or so ago – they know that the implants are aging, and they want to know their options.  

Basically, it comes down to what is right for each patient. 

Yes, older implants probably should be replaced, because their life-span is not unlimited.  At some point, the implant shell is going to be weak enough to cause a leak to develop. This may result in a change in shape of the implant, or in the case of saline implants, the implant will completely flatten over time.

For many, the passing years have meant an additional 20 or 30 pounds of weight gain, and they may now have a lot more breast tissue than when the implants were first put in.  In that case, they may opt for removal of the implants and reshaping and lifting the natural breast.  Then they will no longer have to worry about  their aging implants.

Sometimes, removal and replacement of the implants can be done, and it can be a very simple procedure if there is not a lot of drooping of the breasts.

However, if there is a lot of breast droop (ptosis), then they may need to have both  new implants placed and a simultaneous breast lift.

The first step for any  of the above would be to get an updated mammogram or MRI of the breasts to assess the status of the implants.

Our SkinPen Precison microneedling device is the only FDA-cleared microneedling device, proven to be safe and effective for treatment  for smoothing and refining fine lines and skin texture of the face and neck.  Usually we recommend a three-treatment protocol.  You will love the results! 

Our patients are loving our new EMSCULPT-NEO.  It is the NEW AND IMPROVED  version of the ESCULPT  that we introduced about 3 years ago, and it is truly revolutionary.  On top of stimulating your muscles 20,000 times in 30 minutes, it giving you a work-out like nothing you can accomplish on your own, it also includes RF (radiofrequency) heating to the fat, which causes you to burn off up to 30% of the fat in the area.  This includes fat ON TOP of the muscle in the abdominal area, as well as some of the VISCERAL fat, which no other device can treat, including Coolsculpt.  (It actually removes more fat than Coolsculpt, plus you don’t have to worry about the odd chance that you might get PAH like Linda Evangelista did!)

In addition, you can treat other muscle groups and get great results.  Areas like the biceps and triceps,  the glutes, the calves, and three different areas of the thighs including the saddlebags, inner thighs, and quadriceps–all without going to the gym, and with little discomfort and no down-time.  

What’s not to love!   Plus, we often run special prices, so check our website and our newsletter to find when we are having a Facebook Live or an in-office special.