Category: Injectables

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

“Non surgical nose jobs” have been popping up more and more on Instagram over the last year. As awareness and interest increases, the amount of people asking for this procedure, formally called Non Surgical Rhinoplasty, is bound to increase simultaneously. It is positioned to be one of the top “tweakments” of 2019.

What is a “tweakment”?

A tweakment is an adjustment to your looks to align it with your ideal self. It’s not a complete change of who you are or what you look like, but a small change to enhance your existing features. Tweakments are usually less invasive procedures (though sometimes still surgical) and don’t involve as much recovery or downtime. These usually are performed to help your actual appearance line up with the filtered, photoshopped self on social media.

What is Non Surgical Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular surgeries because the nose is a flagship feature of the face. When the nose is put into facial harmony, it offers one of the most greatly satisfying results. The change can be quite drastic to one’s appearance, but it usually what is desired. On the other hand, the Non Surgical Rhinoplasty is a quicker, no downtime route to achieving your preferred nose. It uses injectables to achieve the desired small changes, so there is no sedation or recovery time. With topical numbing and extremely precise injections over the course of a lunch break, you’re on your way.

What can Non Surgical Rhinoplasty do?

The injectables fill in curves and bumps, adjust the shape of the tip, and increase the hight of the bridge, which minimizes the appearance of width. Even though hyaluronic acid filler is adding volume, the precisely placed injections can actually make your nose look smaller and straighter.

Who is not a candidate?

Someone who has already had Rhinoplasty or a nose break, may not be a candidate depending on the fragility of the nose blood vessels. Also, if the desired adjustment to the bump or width of the nose is just too drastic, traditional Rhinoplasty would be needed to achieve desired results.

Any downsides?

As with any injectable treatment, there are risks and the results are temporary. Results usually last around a year, give or take, depending on the filler used. Also, if price is a factor then, Rhinoplasty is more cost effective in the long run due to the temporary nature of the fillers. However, some people are willing to incur the cost in order to avoid surgery.

Using injectables for Non Surgical Rhinoplasty is called an “off label” use of the hyaluronic fillers, so this use of them hasn’t been endorsed by the FDA and comes with health risks. For safety reasons, treatments should only address concerns along the bridge of the nose and only be done by expert injectors familiar with nasal anatomy. This ensures that any blood flow is not inadvertently blocked, which can have severe negative affects to the eyes and surrounding skin.

Refining the nose is the one of the most harmonizing effects for refreshing the face. If you feel like your nose is our of balance with your facial symmetry, and you’re deciding if Rhinoplasty or Non Surgical Rhinoplasty is for you, let’s talk it over. Visit www.davinciplastic.com to schedule a consultation.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

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

In addition to an increased awareness of neuromodulators like Botox, there is another major category of injectables called “fillers” that have become mainstream. They address wrinkles and other cosmetic issues related to volume loss. Fillers, such as Juvederm and Restylane, use hyaluronic acid to restore volume, but even within these popular fillers, there are a lot of options for different uses. We will talk about these fillers and some others in this blog.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

The hyaluronic acid in these injectables is made from a safe bacteria protein. It is a modified, safe form of the hyaluronic acid that naturally forms in the skin. It attracts and bonds to water, creating a plumping effect within the injected area. It has the highest safety profile of all the injectables and contains no DNA from animals or humans. It is unlikely to induce an inflammatory or allergic reaction because it is similar to the natural hyaluronic acid created by the body.

What is the difference between Juvederm and Restylane?

Both are FDA approved HA fillers for smoothing the nasolabial fold (from the outer crease of the nostril down to the outer corners of the mouth) and are used “off label” effectively to restore volume in other areas. They both have an excellent safety and efficacy track record.

The main difference is the consistency. Juvederm is smooth and Restylane is granulated. They both come in a variety of thicknesses to accomplish effective revolumizing of different facial areas. Depending on how your body metabolizes hyaluronic acid, Juvederm will probably last a little longer, but this is not the case for everyone. Clinical trials demonstrate different kinds of Juvederm lasting from 1 to 2 years and Restylane lasting from 6 to 18 months. Both are excellent products, but may be better for different applications.

I would spend more time concerned with choosing an expert injector who is very familiar with correct and effective application of these products (such as who we have on staff) and let them make the recommendations. However, just so you can be familiar with all your options, here is a list of the different kinds of Juvederm and Restylane, along with their best applications.

Juvederm

• Juvederm Ultra XC adds natural feeling and looking fullness to thin lips.
• Juvederm Volbella XC plumps the lips subtly and smoothes the appearance of fine lip lines.
• Juvederm Vollure XCtreats moderate to severe facial wrinkles around the mouth and nose, such as mouth corner lines, marionette, and parenthesis folds.
• Juvederm Voluma XC is the longest lasting option for restoring youthful volume to cheeks and midface.

 Restylane

• Restylane Defyne smoothes out the deeper facial creases and wrinkles, while still allowing for movement in areas that need it, such as the nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
• Restylane Refyne offers the flexibility needed to maintain natural movement while filling in mild to moderate nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
• Restylane Lyft is FDA approved for restoring volume to the cheeks and midface area. It contains a numbing agent to reduce treatment discomfort.
• Restylane Silk is administered using an ultrafine needle to enhance accuracy for adding volume to the lips.

These are excellent fillers that can accomplish beautiful, rejuvenating results. Next week we will cover the remaining to injectables that are safe, effective and available at our office. Schedule your consultation today at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive 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

Mother’s Day is a month away and forward thinking husbands and family members are already putting their heads together about how they can honor the mothers in their lives. And rightly so. One thing for sure is that mothers work harder than most anyone I know. Their work is not only physical, but mental and emotional. They don’t get to clock out at the end of the work day or take many “vacation days,” especially in the early years of motherhood. Their job is ever evolving and lasts a lifetime. We should definitely be showing love to our mothers year round, but especially on Mother’s Day.

One thing that mother’s deserve is some pampering. For some women that means a day at the spa, a decadent brunch out with girlfriends or family, or for others they want to have lasting youthful effects from a variety of cosmetic treatments and procedures. While getting Botox injections as a gift isn’t the same kind of pampering as a day at the spa, many women prefer the enjoyment of waking up day after day to a younger looking face and demeanor. More and more women are being vocal about their desire to receive treatments like this as their gifts. This is how we at DAVinci Plastic Surgery can help.

This week we will talk about some of the quick “in and out” treatments that we offer for those mothers who would like a youth enhancing boost to last for months. Next week we will cover some options for Mommy Makeovers that involve surgeries that address moms most requested areas of help.

• Botox is known as a wrinkle eraser because it inhibits the muscle action that causes the wrinkles. This is especially useful for allowing forehead furrows to relax and smoothing out crows feet or wrinkles between the eyebrows.
• Juvederm fills in creases and wrinkles with water attracting hyaluronic acid. The cells plulp up like a sponge sucking up water so that those “parenthesis” around the mouth or nasolabial folds are filled in. It is also wonderful for plumping up lost volume to areas of the face, especially the lips.
• Radiesse immediately stimulates the body to produce collagen to replace volume for youth enhancing effects
• Sculptra may not necessarily be considered a “quick fix” because the effects build over time, but the results last twice as long as hyaluronic fillers.

Each of these treatments successfully gives the appearance of turning back the clock of time to reveal more youthful facial features. This effect is rejuvenating and confidence boosting. In combination with each other, they can have the effect called a Filler Facelift. While this doesn’t compare to the full effects of a Facelift, it’s as close as you can get without going under the knife. We will custom tailor a combination treatment to address a variety of concerns, such as to:

• Lift up sagging brows
• Brighten up the eyes by adding volume to hollowed temples and sunken eye sockets or tear troughs
• Erase forehead lines
• Lusciously fill those lips
• Lighten the lines around the mouth
• Plump the cheeks restore youthfulness and gently lift the midface
• Smooth and contour the chin

You can give these as a gift certificate to allow the mother in your life to choose what she’d like or designate the gift for a specific treatment that you know she’s mentioned that she wants. Visit www.davinciplastic.com today to pamper the mother in your life this Mother’s Day.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon