Cosmetic Dermatology

MiniLift™

What is the Mini Lift? As people age, they begin to look tired and worn. This is because skin loses it’s firmness and elasticity over time, making way for wrinkles and droopy skin. A relatively new cosmetic procedure known as the mini lift has been specially designed to reverse these signs of aging. Also known as the weekend lift, the technique is quick and easy with a short recovery time. Much less invasive than a traditional face lift.

Who Qualifies? Because of it’s simplicity the mini lift is the perfect procedure for anyone looking to have just a “little” work done. Ideally it is perfect for people who are noticing signs of aging, but don’t want a more complicated surgical procedure. It’s the ideal procedure for people who want to maintain a youthful appearance. There is no age limit on this procedure.

What it does A mini lift affects the mid face including the cheeks, jawline, and fold around the nose and mouth. Unlike a traditional face lift, which focuses on the entire face the mini lift targets specific areas. It does not address sagging in the brow, forehead, or neck.

How it works Using local anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in front of the ear removing approximately one inch of skin. The skin is then lifted and re-positioned.

Side Effects Because of it’s non-invasive nature, a mini lift is an outpatient procedure with minimal side effects. Patients may experience bruising and swelling around the affected area which resolves within a week’s time.

Time Line The mini lift takes between 2-3 hours to complete. The patient is released the recover at home. The very next day bandages can be removed and you may resume normal activities. Your doctor will give you limits as to what you can and cannot do. Recovery time is approximately one week. In most cases you may return to work after the first 24 to 48 hours.

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX is the brand name for botulinum toxin A, a highly purified therapeutic muscle-relaxing agent. The medication relaxes the muscles in the face that cause wrinkles. When injected in small doses in specific areas, BOTOX injections block nerve muscles responsible for the repetitive actions that cause fine lines and wrinkles. In this way, BOTOX smoothes the lines in the skin that make you look tired or angry.

Using a very fine needle, a qualified physician or physician assistant will inject BOTOX Cosmetic into the designated muscles in your face that are causing lines and wrinkles. You may experience brief, mild discomfort during the injection. Taking only a few minutes, BOTOX treatment requires no anesthetic. Immediately following the BOTOX treatment, some patients may experience mild bruising, which will go away shortly. You will see your wrinkles begin to fade within days; with a maximum effect in 3-4 weeks. The effects of BOTOX Cosmetic typically last up to 3-6 months, although many have reported results lasting up to a full year. After several BOTOX treatments, the results may be prolonged.

BOTOX Cosmetic treatment will relax the muscles in your face and soften the skin, giving you a more relaxed and youthful appearance. For optimum results, many patients choose to use BOTOX in conjunction with fillers, skin rejuvenation therapy, and/or laser skin resurfacing.

Outcome will vary among patients and additional treatments may be necessary. There is no guarantee that wrinkles or folds will completely disappear.

Dysport®

Dysport is an FDA-approved injection treatment that reduces the appearances of fine lines and wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles on the forehead. Similar to BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport is injected directly into the site of wrinkles to prevent the underlying muscles from contracting. However, Dysport can diffuse muscles one to three centimeters from the injection point, while Botox can only reach as far as one centimeter, allowing for results that reach further areas with just a single injection.

As we age, skin loses it elasticity and the creases in our face turn into permanent lines and wrinkles. This is most common on the forehead and around the eyes and mouth, which are where muscles that help us smile and frown are located. Dysport immobilizes these muscles to restore a more youthful expression to the face, and actually trains the muscles to contract less often after several treatments.

Dysport injections are ideal for nearly any patient who wishes to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face and restore a younger and more refreshed appearance. Both men and women can benefit from this procedure and experience the physical and emotional effects of an improved appearance. Dysport has been reported to work best in patients under the age of 65.

The results of the Dysport injection are visible within one to seven days after treatment, with most patients seeing results on day three. With less protein than BOTOX, Dysport is broken down more slowly by the body, and can provide results that last as long as 6 months.

Juvéderm® Injectable Gel

Juvéderm Injectable Gel is a smooth consistency gel capable of restoring volume to skin and smoothing away moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. It is made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin that helps add volume and hydration.

It is non-animal dermal filler of smooth consistency that allows for easy injection and instantly natural results.

Juvéderm Ultra Plus is for correcting deeper and more severe wrinkles and folds. This allows for a completely personalized treatment tailored by our healthcare professionals to meet your needs. The results make you look naturally younger, refreshed and can last up to one year. We do not inject Juvéderm under the eyes.

The injection itself usually takes approximately 30 minutes. There is minimal recovery time with Juvéderm. For the first 24 hours following treatment, you should avoid strenuous exercise, excessive sun or heat exposure, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in order to help minimize risk of temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the treatment sites.

Some temporary symptoms, such as redness, pain, firmness, swelling, and bumps, may occur but usually clear up on their own within a week. Any swelling at the injection site can be minimized with an ice pack for a brief period.

What are the results?

Most patients see an immediate improvement in the treatment areas and only need one treatment to achieve optimal results. Results vary and touch up treatments may be required to maintain results, but Juvéderm can smooth lines and wrinkles for up to a year. Outcome will vary among patients and additional treatments may be necessary. There is no guarantee that wrinkles or folds will completely disappear.

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