Botox / Dysport (anti-wrinkle injections)
Botox® and Dysport® are two widely recognized drugs in a class called neuromodulators. Neuromodulators work by temporarily weakening the muscles into which they are injected. Once the muscle is weakened, it can no longer contract as forcefully as it did prior to treatment. The wrinkle formed by the repetitive muscle contraction softens considerably. These injections are most frequently used to soften forehead lines, frown furrows, and "crow's feet". In the hands of an advanced aesthetic injector, they can also be used to soften areas around the mouth and even relax the jaw muscle to ease headaches and dental damage caused by jaw clenching. The effects of neuromodulators are AMAZING but treatments need to be repeated, on average, every 3 - 4 months because the effects do wear off.
For more information, please visit Botox.com or DysportUSA.com.
Dermal Fillers (Restylane, Juvéderm, Versa)
Most dermal fillers are made from a naturally occurring substance called hyaluronic acid (HA). The main differences between the many HA fillers on the market are in their flexibility and firmness. Different fillers are more appropriate for different regions of the face, different depths, degrees of correction, and contouring being sought. Fillers are primarily used to restore volume lost during the natural aging process and to soften fine lines by "plumping" the tissue directly below the wrinkle. Hyaluronic acid is naturally broken down in the body by an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is also commercially available and can be used to reverse or dissolve filler if the patient is unhappy with the results, although this is unlikely to occur when being treated by an advanced aesthetic physician. Because HA fillers are naturally dissolved by the body over time, treatments will likely need to be repeated, on average, every 12 - 18 months.
For more information, please visit RestylaneUSA.com, Juvederm.com, or RevanesseUSA.com.
Sculptra
Sculptra® is a very unique dermal filler. It is not comprised of hyaluronic acid, but of poly-L lactic acid (PLLA). It's unique in that it stimulates the body to produce more of its own collagen -- the main substrate leading to firm, elastic, and youthful skin. We all begin losing collagen as early as age 25 and by age 45, we have lost nearly 25% of the collagen we had in our 20s. Like the HA fillers, Sculptra® is injected into the mid layer of the skin, but unlike HA fillers, the results are not immediate. They will continue to develop over the next 4 - 6 weeks. Because each patient's response is unique and it is imperative to not over-correct, two or three treatments spaced 4 - 6 weeks apart are usually recommended for optimal results. While Sculptra® costs a bit more than HA fillers, the results frequently last 2 - 3 years!
For more information, please visit SculptraUSA.com.
Kybella / PCDC (fat emulsification)
These injections work by dissolving small areas of stubborn fat using a naturally occurring enzyme called deoxycholic acid and in the case of PCDC, deoxycholic acid AND phosphatidyl choline. The most commonly treated areas include the sub-mental fat under the chin ("double chin") and excess fat that creates "bra-strap bulges". Usually two to three treatments spaced one month apart are needed for optimal results.
For more information, please visit MyKybella.com.