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

The Mini treatments idea was born about 20 years ago based upon the needs of younger patients (40ish) who wanted the benefits of cosmetic procedures, who didn’t need full blown treatments such as facelifts, and whose schedule demanded less downtime etc. These are younger Boomers, Generation X and now also includes the Millennials. What we learned back then was:  1) that aging occurs in stages,   2) that younger people usually need less invasive treatments, and that  3) “mini” options could work very well as long as they started early enough (at the first signs of aging) and maintained the results.  Http://www.davinciplastic.com.

Modified versions of traditional procedures being done today are much more refined, than those offered 20 years ago, by virtue of more advanced precision instruments that enable us in achieving totally natural looking results with increased longevitiy.  Yes, smaller surgeries are right for many people, usually those in their 40’s and early 50’s who are seeing visible age related changes.

Here’s the Bottom Line for today’s Mini Treatments chosen by our patients: 1)  look younger faster,  2) less downtime/ shorter recovery,  3) quicker results, 4) smaller incisions, 5) permanent results when possible.

There are many, many people who qualify for and benefit from these  mini procedures.  What surgeons expect from their patients is this:  realistic expectations.

For the next few blogs I want to cover “mini” procedures:  who they’re for and the many benefits.  This will include the Face, nose, eyes, and neck procedures.  So, look for these blogs.  I also want to do a “primer” on injectables to get you up to speed on what’s really involved there today.

MINI PROCEDURES ARE MAINSTREAM TODAY and are as much in demand as Botox, Dysport, Juvederm and our other great fillers.  Let’s start with the face:

Mini Facelifts “refresh” the face by addressing the most common signs of aging like sagging skin in the lower 1/3rd of the face and possibly the upper neck during one procedure. The Benefits include shorter recovery time, shorter incisions/nearly invisible scars and permanent yet subtle improvement.  Limitations include:  inability to effectively correct excessively slack skin and large areas of wrinkles. Longer incisions are required to deal with excessive skin laxity.  True Mini Facelifts correct the underlying structure and loose skin.  Beware of “fake” mini lifts that are superficial only; that claim to be done in under an hour and without anesthesia.  This is not a true facelift and will not achieve desirable results especially in older patients who may need more work than the mini can offer.

BOTTOM LINE:  the Mini Facelift is terrific for many people who opt for it soon enough and who choose a board certified plastic surgeon who is fully trained and experienced in performing facial surgeries.

MINI FACELIFT OVERVIEW:   1) WHO IT’S FOR…those in late 30’s, 40’s or early 50’s with fairly good skin laxity and the first signs of aging in the mid and lower face.  Younger patients have fewer signs.    2) ANESTHESIA:  Local or sedation   3)  LENGTH OF SURGERY:  2-4 hours,   4)  RECOVERY:  some swelling, bruising and general discomfort for a few days.  Resolves on it’s own with rest and oral pain medication.  5) RESULTS: usually last for 5 to 10 years with maintenance.

Hope your summer is going well.  Let’s talk about your concerns and help you get your best face forward!

Best to you and yours,

Steven Davison M.D.

“DAVinci…where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.”

Aging is inevitable and beauty at any age is possible. But if the biological effects of aging are left unchecked, as we move through the decades, damage is done that probably could have been prevented or delayed.

This series of blogs deals with facial aging… and which interventions can help us keep looking young, fresh and beautiful without surgery.

It’s very important, that regardless of what you have done and at what age, you must choose a well qualified, experienced surgeon who has mastered the complex facial anatomy and who understands that “a single procedure does NOT fix-all.”  Do not be fooled by today’s advertising…every face is different and every single procedure must be matched correctly to the individual.

CAN YOU CHANGE HOW YOU WILL AGE?   YES! Hollywood Celebrities do it everyday by starting early (30’s) and maintaining with small procedures along the way. This often negates the need for surgery (best case scenario) or at least delays it. Nothing replaces good genes (they dictate how we age), but good interventions dramatically improve how we age.

TO DELAY AGING…START IN YOUR 30’S Botox, Dysport or other fillers can eliminate the very first lines and wrinkles, under eye bags and volume loss.  Cheek Augmentation keeps hollows, wrinkles and folds from becoming as severe.   Many people have Blepharoplasty to correct early aging around the eyes and to allow for more youthful aging. Aging will still occur but will be much less noticeable and less damaging.

Next Time I’ll blog on aging in the 40’s and what age defying options we’re using today including new amazing lasers.  Keep coming back! I love helping people put their best face forward!

Dr. Steven Davison

DOES LOOKING BETTER REALLY HELP YOU GET THAT JOB? This is always a sensitive subject, especially in these economic times, but if you believe “the truth can set you free” (and I do) then this information should be helpful to many people.

If youth equals beauty – then beauty in turn equals money. People in the work force, and those trying to re-enter the career arena, are stampeding cosmetic clinics, like mine, for a host of procedures that will lift years off the face and neck.

Why is this happening during an economic downturn? Because they have to look good (younger) in order to compete in the job market place.  Here are the numbers:

• 2009-2010…cosmetic procedures rose more than 5%
• Facelifts for men were up 14% in 2010
• Non-Invasive procedures rose more than 12%
• England & Ireland (in spite of their economic woes) saw an increase among women having Botox® – by more than 50%
• Career counselors are telling clients to:  spend at least as much $$ on looking good as they spent on perfecting their resume
• Career counselors are saying it plainly – “Don’t look old.”

Ageism shouldn’t be an issue…but sadly it is!  That’s the bad news. The Good News is:  cosmetic procedures work very well & are here to stay.  There’s something for everyone –and age is not an issue in this arena.  You can look good at any age – in spite of your age.

I offer all the fast fixes – liquid facelifts, dermal fillers, BOTOX® and Dysport®.  For long lasting results with the most bang for your buck  – facelifts often combined with eye procedures really get the most desirable results by taking 5, 10 even 15 years off the face and neck and keeping you younger looking…always.

Starting younger and maintaining works the best…we’ve learned this from Hollywood celebrities, many of whom seem to be ageless!

You really can’t put a price on beauty-but you can put a price on age defying procedures.  Visit my website for complete info on what I do.

If you are being challenged in the workplace – or are starting over again – like so many are, I can help you look and feel more competitive.  Renewed self-confidence and enhanced self-esteem also result from looking great.

I help people put their best selves forward!

Let’s talk.

Dr. Steven Davison, DAVinci Plastic Surgery