Category: BOTOX® Cosmetic

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One of the most common cosmetic complaints from men and women of all ages revolves around wrinkles and lines on the face. These facial imperfections often make people look much older than they actually are. 

And what makes matters worse is that some of these wrinkles and lines are not even caused by age! 

Instead, they are dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are those creases in the skin that are caused from consistent muscle contractions in the face, which can happen from squinting or facial expressions (such as smiling and frowning). 

While these wrinkles are frustrating to have, the good news is that there is a treatment to help stop these wrinkles from showing: BOTOX® Cosmetic injections!

BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most popular cosmetic procedure by far. In fact, in 2020, nearly 4.5 million botulinum toxin-A treatments (like BOTOX® Cosmetic) were performed!! 

However, even with this popularity and the stunning results that can be achieved from BOTOX® Cosmetic, many people are still hesitant to have BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments for themselves, and one of the main reasons for this is possible side effects caused by this procedure. 

Below, you will find more information on exactly what BOTOX® Cosmetic is, how it’s performed, and what to expect as far as side effects go.

What Is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is an injectable treatment made up of botulinum toxin type A. 

This treatment is a neuromodulator, which means that the injected neurotoxin (BOTOX® Cosmetic) actively blocks the signals from your muscles to your brain. When this happens, the muscles are unable to contract, and since frustrating dynamic wrinkles are caused from muscle contractions, the wrinkles are unable to form. 

In essence, BOTOX® Cosmetic temporarily and effectively paralyzes the injected muscles to allow you to have smooth and wrinkle-free skin.

How Is BOTOX® Cosmetic Performed?

The BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is very simple. 

Your injector will inject the BOTOX® Cosmetic solution into various parts of your face where dynamic wrinkles are present. Unlike other injectable treatments, like dermal fillers (JUVÉDERM® and Sculptra® Aesthetic) the BOTOX® Cosmetic solution is injected directly into the muscle. Once the injections are complete, your treatment is done! 

Though it varies for each patient and procedure, most BOTOX® Cosmetic sessions take less than 20 minutes, and since there is no downtime associated with this treatment, you can  effectively and safely treat your pesky wrinkles during your lunch break!

What Are the Side Effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic?

No plastic surgery procedure or cosmetic treatment comes without some form of side effects. The three most common of these side effects include: pain or discomfort, swelling, and bruising at the injection site. 

The good news with these side effects is that they are extremely temporary and can be managed with ice, over-the-counter medications, and time (usually a few days). 

There are other side effects associated with BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, including:

• Headaches
• Flu-like symptoms
• Droopy eyelids
• Cockeyed eyebrows
• Eye dryness
• Muscle weakness

It is important to note two things about these side effects: first, these are very rare, and two, these are temporary, usually dissipating within a few days to a week. 

In addition to offering stunning and dramatic results, BOTOX® Cosmetic has been proven in countless studies to be safe to patients with no long-term or life-threatening adverse effects. In short, BOTOX® Cosmetic offers you the chance to look and feel the way you desire without much worry of detrimental side effects.  

Interested in Learning More About BOTOX® Cosmetic?

If you are looking to get rid of those frustrating wrinkles on your face, then give us a call at 202-966-9590 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation.

Spring brings with it a desire to refresh and renew. You can experience the vitality of Spring through your own facial rejuvenation with injectables. Here’s a little information about each injectable option we offer at our office:

BOTOX is a well known, FDA approved, safe injection using botulinum toxin type A. It halts muscle movement that is the cause of the wrinkles by blocking nerve signal to the muscles. When the muscles aren’t constricted, the lines are relaxed and the wrinkles are prevented from going deeper. Optimal results are seen within a week or 2, lasting for several months. Some of the most popular cosmetic uses for Botox are for smoothing:

• horizontal forehead creases
• vertical lines between the eyebrows (“eleven lines”)
• crow’s feet around the eyes
• nose furrows
• smoker’s lines around the lips

JUVEDERM is a volume restoring injectable filler that smooths out lines and folds using hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a naturally occurring substance that attracts water to the area its injected. It is a highly cross linked smooth gel that is also offered in the Juvederm XC Ultra and XC Ultra Plus formulas, which are the first FDA approved HA fillers for all skin tones and color because of no risk for hyper pigmentation. Juvederm results are instant with long lasting results for 6 months and up. It is perfect for many needs of the mid to lower face:

• fill lines on the side of your nose (nasolabial folds)
• rejuvenate creases on the sides of the mouth
• plump up lips

RADIESSE is a semi permanent filler that creates scaffolding for your own collagen to grow around, naturally rebuilding in a lasting way. This gives immediate and ongoing wrinkle reducing results that remain beyond when Radiesse breaks down and dissolves. It uses calcium based microspheres to rebuild your skin’s foundation with results that last a year or longer for rejuvenated:

• cheeks
• nasolabial folds
• smile lines

SCULPTRA is the longest lasting filler, proven to last up to 2 years or longer. This is nearly twice as long as the majority of hyaluronic fillers. It is composed of PLLA, poly L lactic acid, that stimulates the body’s own collagen renewal for incredible enduring rejuvenation that is natural looking. Sculptra is a great base for a Liquid Facelift that offers lasting volume and skin thickness. It best addresses:

• aging skin folds
• indented chin surfaces
• hollow cheeks
• sunken eyes

VOLUMA XC is a thicker hyaluronic acid filler that instantly adds volume to the cheek area to fill in lost volume that comes with aging. It is the first FDA approved injectable filler for complete cheek volume restoration. It lifts and sculpts the cheeks for a gentle, subtle Liquid Facelift that lasts up to 2 years. Also, Voluma XC is better suited to fill more difficult folds and wrinkles. The lifting and sculpting benefits rejuvenate:

• nasolabial folds
• cheek volume and definition
• chin shape and smooth lines

As expert injectors, Dr Davison, myself and our PA Nora, are ready to help you rejuvenate and refresh your face for the Spring and beyond. Please visit www.davinciplastic.com to schedule your consultation today.

Dr. Pinell

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon of the Face and Body

The beauty and aroma of spring is in the air with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. This is a great time of year to do some spring cleaning, spruce up your wardrobe and freshen up with some injectable treatments to restore that youthful volume and glow. You’ll want to put your best face forward because soon we will be celebrating some of the spring and summer holidays, such as Easter, Passover, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, family reunions, and weddings.

INJECTABLES FOR THE PERFECT SPRING TWEAKMENT…Coming out of winter, we could all use a bit of a refresh, right? Injectables are the perfect fix for those subtle adjustments that can rejuvenate and lighten up your look. Think about a frown free forehead, twinkling youthful eyes, fuller cheeks, and a pop of color on your smiling sexy lips.

SPRING FACIAL TWEAKMENT TEAM… In addition to offering the best injectable formulas, you will be in the hands of experts who know facial anatomy through study and many years of experience. It also takes having a trained and artistic eye to get the best results possible. You can rest assured in the hands of Dr Davison, myself, and our PA Nora.

Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra, and Voluma XC are effective rejuvenating tools when in the hand of a skilled professionals like ourselves. These non surgical options are great for tweakments when you don’t have time for recovery. Many offer instant results with no major discomfort. You can experience a facial rejuvenation with injectables in the time span of a lunch break. With an ice pack immediately afterwards to help with any swelling and some mineral makeup to cover any redness or bruising, you’re on your way.

This variety of injectable options empower us to tailor fit the right treatment for you. In the next blog, I’ll give an overview of what differentiates each of these injectables so that you can see what great options you have for a fresh look for spring. In our expert injector hands, you can feel confident and refreshed going into the spring and summer holiday season. To schedule your appointment today, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Dr. Pinell

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon of the Face and Body

Save your time perusing online or strolling the crowded malls for the hottest Valentine’s gift. You can give one of the most desired gifts that almost every adult would love without stepping into any mall or online portal… simply visit DAVinci Plastic. One of the holiday’s hottest gifts is to give a non invasive cosmetic procedure like Botox or a Filler Facelift, and we can help you with that!

Who’s a Great Recipient?

More people are dropping subtle and not so subtle hints that they don’t want another purse, shoes or box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day…well you can still include a box of chocolates. They want to turn back the appearances of time. So who might be a good recipient for the hottest holiday gift this year? Here are some criteria: 

• Women or Men above 35 years
• Anyone who’s expressed concern about the appearance of their wrinkles.
• Someone who already “has everything”
• They’ve already mentioned they’ve been wanting to try a injectables or go back for more if they’ve already liked what they got.

Don’t Forget the Fellas

When given the gift of youth, women are so happy, however they aren’t the only ones with this on their wish list. While some men might be more subtle with their hints about it, they’re totally game for trying Botox… or should we call it by its a manly code name, “Bro”tox.

For a guy, this kind of treatment is considered desirable to give a professional advantage. It’s that slight edge above the competition to build confidence and connection with clients. For example, a gruff, deeply creased and furrowed brow can put off potential clients. Brotox lightens these forehead creases to go from looking angry to contemplative. Also a little Botox or filler can take tired eyes and lighten them to communicate alertness. With a little injectable help, these features look healthier and translate to clients that are happier.

The Best Gift Giver Ever

Another reason this is the hottest Valentine’s Day gift is that you don’t have any pressure as the gift giver. You can purchase a gift certificate, put it with a brochure, bow on top, and don’t forget that box of chocolates. Then at their earliest convenience, the recipient can come for a consultation to determine their best options for using it. They have so many treatments to choose from. For you, that means no pressure, and all the gift giving pleasure.

You want to be the best gift giver ever, right? Get the hottest Valentine’s Day gift: a DAVinci Plastic gift certificate for a non invasive treatment. Visit www.davinciplastic.com or come in to our location to pick up your gift certificate today to have a happy Valentine this Valentine’s Day!

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

As the saying goes, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” so it also follows that the most prominent facial features demonstrating the signs of aging will get the fillers and Botox. Most people don’t have a hard time seeing the effects of aging on prominent features like the forehead, eyes and mouth area. However, there are areas from the neck up that are more subtle yet have an impact on the youthful harmony of the face. It takes a trained eye to spot these sneaky features that tattle your age if they’re not addressed along with the more noticeable features. I will bring those to your attention here.

Temples

While the creases and crow’s feet around the eyes scream for attention, the timid temples often go unnoticed in their affect on facial youthful harmony. The temple is defined as the area on the outside of each eye towards the hairline, stretching from the top of the cheekbone to the lower edge of the brow bone. This area is not exempt from the volume loss that occurs with age.

As a matter of fact, the temples are an area accentuated by the volume loss and the hollowing of the temples makes the whole eye area look aged and tired. Filling in this shadowy region helps to rejuvenate the eye and upper face. When only other upper face issues are treated something can look “off” or still aged about your face. If you haven’t been able to put a finger on it, it just might be your temples.

Earlobes

One of the features that sees a lot of adornment, but not attention are the earlobes. They’re draped with earrings from childhood and not a thought comes their way when considering the youth enhancing effects of fillers. However, earlobes show their age too, just like the face and neck. Gravity and pulling from earrings over the years will take their toll on the lobes. When they get thin, droopy, and wrinkly, earlobes really stand out against a face that has received treatments to be smooth, firm and full. So don’t forget about your little cartilage earring carriers and show them some injectable filler attention.

Chin

A smooth, well defined jawline and chin can lose its shape over the years by facial volume and skin being redirected downward due to gravity and loss of elasticity. While a lot of attention is given to addressing the jowls and jawline, the chin plays an important role in facial contour, too. It helps give the face its shape and balances other facial features. Using injectable fillers to correct chin volume loss or underprojection due to genetics will enhance youthful appearance, the overall facial harmony and balance.

While dominant facial features attract a lot of attention, we can disregard the subtle yet crucial effects these minor features have on the overall youthfulness of the face. Don’t let the sneaky features like the temples, earlobes and chin tattle on your age. Schedule your consultation today at www.davinciplastic.com to address these subtle changes to enhance the overall youthful harmony of your face.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Thanksgiving week is here, but it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Christmas and Hanukkah decorations are popping up everywhere and have been filling the shelves at the retail stores. Seasonal music is piping in through the speakers as we walk down the isles. Advertisements for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales pop up on our screens. Gift giving and receiving is on the top of people’s minds. With this in mind, here are some youth restoring gift ideas for your loved one.

Avoid the Mall

Fortunately, at DAVinci Plastic, we have some great gift ideas for you. We have something for every budget, whether it’s picking up some clinically proven SkinMedica skincare, that dream surgery your significant other has been wanting or something in between like a gift certificate for a non surgical Liquid Facelift, we can take care of your gift needs. Our staff can make gift shopping easy and you won’t have to deal with the mall crowds.

What They Really Want

While the temptation is to shop for some gadget or accessory, nothing has the ability to make someone feel their best like when they know they look great. This is a priceless gift you can give. Don’t worry about it being taboo or taken wrong. If you’ve heard someone say anything related to them wanting cosmetic surgery or injectables, this is an open invitation to provide for that desire.

This is the perfect time of year for the gift of youthfulness. Events with friends, family, co workers will fill up the calendars. The season is full of social gatherings, so if you know they’d like BOTOX or fillers, you may even consider giving this special gift early so the results can be enjoyed throughout the season. Not only will they feel great while looking youthful and rejuvenated at the events, they can look back on the many photos taken this time of year and be happy about what they see.

If you think a little “outside the box,” here are some ideas of the gifts you can give so that the effects are enjoyed throughout the holidays:

1. Luscious lips… fuller, sexy lips with gleaming red lipstick for that extra joy in all those smiles these holidays. This can be accomplished with a gift certificate for hyaluronic acid fillers like JUVEDERM.
2. Frown free foreheads… no frown lines or furrowed brows will be present on such joyous occasions this holiday season when they’re smoothed with BOTOX.
3. Bright eyes… that gleam and glow without being shadowed by sunken tear troughs or creepy crows feet. Injectable fillers will rejuvenated the eyes so they don’t look tired during all the festivities.
4. Smooth smiles… without deep creases and folds around the nose and outer lips that can lighten a smile to look years younger. Fillers for the winsome smile win.

These gifts won’t require stepping out of the social holiday fun because treatment time is quick and they have no downtime or recovery. So this holiday season, think outside the box and give the gift of youthfulness. Stop by our office or visit www.davinciplastic.com to schedule a consultation to see what gift would be best for your loved one.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Botox and smoothing wrinkles has become an automatic association. But is Botox and cheek streamlining or noselift a natural connection? Maybe not yet. However, through the creative experiences of medical professionals, there have been some cool discoveries of more “beauty tricks” that Botox has up its sleeve. I’ll be covering some of those here.

Facial Slimming

Botox can actually contour your facial shape particularly, the jawline and cheeks. If you feel your cheeks are chubby looking or your jaw is blocky, Botox can help you achieve a more oval shape. Injecting in the lower cheeks and jaw to relax the specific muscles will trim the appearance of the cheeks and facial profile. Along with this cosmetic benefit, injecting Botox into the jaw muscles can actually reduce teeth grinding associated with TMJ.

Lifts

There is no substitution for the degree that a Facelift can address the areas that need lifting, tightening and tucking away loose, sagging skin. However, there is a little magic that Botox can do to help you hold off on the need for a Facelift.

• Browlift… While smoothing out a creased forehead and frownlines is the Botox forte, it also can do a little lifting and elongating of the brow and forehead. Mild upper eyelid drooping and the drifting down of the forehead can give a tired, frustrated appearance. When expertly injected into the Orbicularis oculi muscle, Botox can actually raise the outer edge of the eyebrow. This results in a more open and awake eye area.
• Noselift… Even the nose starts to show its age over time. Botox could help if you’d like to raise the tip of your nose either to reverse the signs of aging or to see if you can prevent rhinoplasty. A little Botox injected to the base of the nose can accomplish this.
• Lip Flip… In combination with filler, such as Juvederm, or alone, using Botox is the newest trend to get a “poutier lip.” By relaxing the muscles around the mouth, Botox flips out the lip line to give you a plush pout you’ll rave about.

I hope you were encouraged to learn about these Botox beauty tricks that are outside the normal realm of rejuvenation associated with this injectable. Botox is such an incredibly versatile cosmetic treatment. Contact us today to see how we can use Botox or other treatments to help you reach your beauty goals, www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison, M.D.

Triple Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon

The back to school season has started. Depending on your temperament and the ages of your children, you’re probably crying tears or breathing a sigh of relief to see them go… maybe a mix of both. Once you get settled with the new routine of things and get the machine moving smoothly, it’s time for you to take some time for yourself. Get some projects done and breathe a bit before the holidays kick in.

It’s important to schedule for yourself some “me time,” whether that’s working out, socializing, volunteering, pampering… or all of the above. Consider it part of your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. When mamma is happy, everyone is happy, except toddlers and moody teenagers, but hopefully those are just phases.

There are a variety of beauty treatments you can choose to invest your resources into, but in the rejuvenating realm, there’s something so gratifying about the age defying results of getting Botox or fillers like Juvederm. The treatments are so quick you don’t have to schedule any more than a lunch break. Also, they don’t require any recovery time so you’re keeping the same pace with your schedule. Smooth forehead, no crow’s feet, a smile without the smile lines and fuller lips… how fantastic.

Another treatment with no downtime and can help you feel more confident and comfortable in your clothes is SculpSure. This FDA approved treatment is perfect for those little stubborn fat pooches that just won’t go away. You can firm up the belly or trim down those “muffin tops” to fit more comfortably in your fall jeans. With no time in your schedule to waste, you can get clinically proven results of 24% fat cell reduction in the treatment areas.

This back to school season is great for you to schedule in some “me time.” We can help you look and feel your best with “in and out” rejuvenating facial and body contouring procedures. Visit www.davinciplastic.com to schedule your consultation today!

Steven Davison M.D.

Triple Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Radiesse and Sculptra are the last injectables that I’m covering in this series. While they may not have achieved the mainstream brand recognition as Botox and Juvederm, they are well known within the cosmetic industry for offering well established and proven volume restoring, wrinkle fighting results. They accomplish this through very different methods. Sometimes Sculptra and Radiesse are called the tortoise and the hare.

The Tortoise

In the Aesop’s fable The Tortoise and the Hare, the slow moving tortoise actually wins the race with a hare because of its steady effort. In a seemingly similar way, Sculptra offers visible results that are slower to appear, but achieve a big win because the results usually last a lot longer than any other fillers. It does this because it actually stimulates the skin to make it’s own collagen.

• Medical: Sculptra is made of a poly-L-lactic acid, which is a manmade polymer that is biodegradable and biocompatible. In the medical arena, it has also been used for over a decade with FDA approval to restore the hollowed facial features caused by HIV. This material is also used in absorbable stitches and bone screws.
• Cosmetic: The FDA approved Sculptra for cosmetic use in 2009. With 1 to 3 injections over the course of 6 to 12 weeks, Sculptra stimulates the skin’s collagen enough to effectively restore volume and smooth out wrinkles. If not under any event’s time constraints, some people prefer the gradual results because they come on less drastically and obviously. Generally, most onlookers notice the youthful results, but can’t pinpoint when or how they exactly occurred. It just looks like a mini facelift happened gradually over the course of 2 months. Also, unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvederm or Restylane, Sculptra can last much longer, such as 2 years or more.

The Hare

Instead of hyaluronic acid, which is used by Juvederm and Restylane, Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel. Calcium hydroxylapatite is a kind of mineral that is normally found in human teeth and bones. In addition to instantly adding volume, the scaffolding created by the calcium hydroxylapatite in Radiesse promotes collagen production. This offers benefits to the skin’s foundation that lasts beyond when Radiesse dissolves.

• Medical: In 2007, the same year it was approved for cosmetic use, the FDA approved Radiesse for treating facial wasting experienced by HIV patients. The medical community has also used Radiesse in therapeutic treatment for vocal cord deficiencies.
• Cosmetic: Radiesse is an injectable filler that also restores volume in a thicker gel than Juvederm and Restylane. Its dense formula is great for moderate to severe facial wrinkles, nasolabial folds and volume loss. It also is a phenomenal way to take 10 years off your hands, which tattle on your age.

I hope that this blog series, All About Injectables, has informed and encouraged you about the safety and efficacy of the top injectables. Isn’t it interesting that there are such helpful medical uses for them, as well as cosmetic? I think that just adds to their credibility.

As you can tell, at DAVinci Plastic, you’re certainly not lacking for great options for your cosmetic needs. Fortunately, you don’t have to be the expert in which of these injectables would be the perfect fit for you. Our expert injectors can help you find the best fit for your beauty goals. Schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com today.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Botox has been around since the 1970s and has quite a history. Its original name was Oculinum and its original use wasn’t intended for cosmetic purposes. Smoothing lines that was seen as a nice side benefit from patients who were being treated by the ophthalmologist who invented it to treat a medical condition causing strabismus (cross eyes). In 1991, two years after receiving FDA approval for treatment of strabismus and eyelid spasms, the company Allergan bought Oculinum and changed the name to Botox.

At first, Allergan didn’t even realize what they had their hands on, but as use grew and more discoveries were made by the doctors experimenting with it, a whole new world opened up in the cosmetic industry. Even today as Botox is most well know in the mainstream population for it’s wrinkle smoothing effect, Allergan holds more than 800 patents for its use, most of which are for helping with medical conditions. Here are some of those strange, exciting and surprising uses for Botox:

FDA Approved Medical Uses

• Strabismus – Approved in 1989, this original use for injecting tiny amounts of botulinum type A helped correct the muscle issue causing crossed eyes.
• Neck spasms – Approved in 2000 for the management of neck pain caused by an abnormal head position called cervical dystonia. This approval was before Botox was officially FDA approved for the cosmetic treatment of frown lines in 2002.
• Excessive underarm sweating – Approved in 2004, for this condition, which is officially called primary axillary hyperhidrosis, is also used as a non invasive treatment for overly sweaty hands and feet.
• Chronic headaches – Approved in 2010 for chronic migraines, use for headaches started with a plastic surgeon’s discovery that his patients who received Botox for wrinkles also reported less headaches.
• Overactive bladder – Approved in 2013, the constant contracting of the bladder causes the need to urinate frequently or have leakage. When injected directly into the bladder muscle, Botox has been demonstrated to safely and effectively relax those muscles causing the problem with results lasting up to one year for a third of the study’s trial population.

“Off label” Medical Uses

• Depression – After multiple successful small medical studies, Allergan is currently conducting clinical trials to confirm the results many doctors are finding for their patients who want an alternative to medications. The theory of how Botox affects mood is related to the “facial feedback hypothesis.” This hypothesis says that a person’s mood can be affected by their facial expressions, so therefore if their facial muscles are inhibited from frowning, mood improvement follows.
• Abnormal heartbeat – Allergan is siezing an opportunity to help with an unmet medical need to help reduce postoperative atrial fibrillation, which occurs in 27 to 40 percent of patients. A promising small study with Botox conducted at Duke Medical Center demonstrated a lesser occurrence of an abnormal heart rate after heart surgery.
• Sexual issues – Botox is being studied to treat erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and painful sex for women.
• Cold hands – When Botox is injected into the hand muscles that surround constricted blood vessels, the resulting circulation improvement has been shown to provide up to 3 months of relief.

Botox is providing amazing help for a variety of medical needs, as well as cosmetic ones. You can read more about Botox for Bell’s Palsy here. It truly is a very exciting treatment.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Most people have a general knowledge about injectables through friends, social media and celebrities. They can be a great complement to plastic surgery or even help you restore some youthful features without any recovery or downtime. Injectables can address skin smoothness, feature definition and even correct a wide range of facial imperfections.

You know Botox stops the muscles from moving so that they can’t keep making wrinkles. You know Juvederm fills in the wrinkles so the lines are less prominent. You also know that there are different kinds of injectables, but maybe not what they are and the full range of what they can do. In this blog series I’ll give you a little orientation to expand your knowledge about the injectables that are currently available and those possibilities to come. In this blog, we will compare “neuromodulators.” In the next blog, I’ll go into depth about the uses for Botox (some surprising), and later, I’ll cover the “fillers.”

NEUROMODULATORS

This is the official name for the kind of injectable that is Botox and its main competitor Dysport. This kind of injectable uses botulinum toxin A to block the nerve signal to the muscle, which prevents movement. In tiny amounts and with impeccable accuracy in the hands of my highly trained, certified expert injector, this toxin is used to relax the muscle. This results in a less prominently visible wrinkle because of minimal localized muscle movement.

The most well known neuromodulator is Botox because it has been available in the US the longest (about 30 years ago) and has many clinical studies for medical and cosmetic use. However, you may not realize that Dysport has quite a bit of safety and efficacy testing also, and it was available in Europe long before it came to the US. They both use the same kind of molecules, but Dysport’s are slightly smaller. This makes for some differences between the two.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOTOX & DYSPORT

• Dysport’s results are slightly quicker, within 3 days, while Botox’s results show in 5 to 7, so if you’ve got to get ready for a last minute event and don’t have a week to wait, Dysport might be better.
• Dysport distributes botulinum toxin A via a smaller molecules so there isn’t “unit to unit” match up, and no universal clinically accepted conversion ratio. This often results in Dysport’s cost per unit being less than Botox, but probably more units will be needed.
• This smaller Dysport molecule makes for a thinner solution and so it spreads out, or diffuses, a little more from the injection site. This makes it more or less suitable for different parts of the face. For example, it could be good for a larger treatment area such as the forehead, requiring less injections. However, Botox is necessary for a small area requiring exact precision, especially around the eyes and lips, as you don’t want any diffusion resulting in sagging or drooping.
• Both will require another treatment in 3 to 6 months, but its still up for debate whether Dysport doesn’t last quite as long as the thicker, more concentrated Botox.

There are benefits to both kinds of neuromodulators, making it impossible to say definitively one is better than the other. It allows us a greater diversity of applications to benefit our patients. Also it takes an expert injector to be versatile in using both effectively. You can trust us with the skill and knowledge to recommend and inject both correctly for beautiful results. Schedule your appointment today at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Are you enjoying your summer sun and fun? I hope so, but keep in mind that too much of both of these can take their toll on the skin. That golden glow from the sun doesn’t come without a price. Some mid summer skin rejuvenation may be in order.

Dehydration

Dehydrated skin is different than dry skin. Dry skin is due to lack of sebum, but dehydrated skin is due to lack of moisture. It appears dull because the lack of moisture prevents cellular turnover. It also can be sensitive and flaky because the topmost layer of skin is not functioning correctly, so irritants can penetrate and more moisture is lost. In addition to drinking lots of water, use skincare that focuses of restoring moisture and not oil. A good example that we sell in our office is SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisturizer. Also, avoid soapy cleansers that can strip the skin even more, and use cream cleansers instead. Restorative serums, such as SkinMedica’s Vitamin C and E complex, which prevents and repairs UV damage are helpful.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Dehydration along with aging, lifestyle and sun damage contributes to wrinkles. Fortunately, along with making healthy changes, there are effective non invasive cosmetic procedures to help smooth things out.

Here are some areas that can really be aged by the sun and dehydration, along with some “quick summer beauty fix” suggestions for your face:

• Crow’s feet creep out from the outer corners of the eyes and extend outward towards the hairline. They are corrected with Botox or Dysport because limiting the muscle movement in the area will relax the wrinkles and prevent them from deepening due to activity.
• Forehead Lines are caused by excessive brow movement and forehead furrowing. Accentuated vertical lines between eyebrows can give an angry or scowling appearance. You can quickly lighten your look with Botox or Dysport.
• Tear Troughs or Hollows swoop below the eye from the bridge of the nose along the lower eyelid and sometimes extending downward toward the cheekbone. Their sunken appearance gives a tired appearance to the eyes, but Restylane and Juvederm are hyaluronic acid gels that safely restore volume to these areas.
• Cheeks and Temples lose fullness and hollow out due to volume loss. Facial fat loss naturally occurs with age, but is sped up by dehydration and sun damage. As fat diminishes, these areas commonly sag and appear shallow. Restylane or Juvederm help plump these shallow areas to restore youthFULness.
• Nasolabial Folds are formed due to volume loss and skin shifting downward. These lines are also called “marionette lines” and reach from the outer corner of the nostrils to the outer corners of the lips. Fillers Restylane and Juvederm help fix this issue.
• Lips lose volume over time, looking thinner and flatter. They also can become framed by smile lines, called “parenthesis lines.” We can help you restore the youthful shape and fullness with the effective lip plumper Juvederm.

 Along with avoiding sun damage, staying hydrated and using effective skincare, these injectables are great “quick summer beauty fixes” for your face. Schedule your summer beauty touch up today at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon