Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Juvederm: part 2

When does one see results after Juvederm?

The cosmetic results after Juvederm are seen in a few days. The results last anywhere from 3-6 months. Because the procedure is not permanent, maintenance or touch up injections are required 1-2 times a year.

What are the results like after Juvederm injections?

Because Juvederm is a soft dermal filler, results on the face are very pleasing. Most individuals develop a smooth facial contour, no lines or wrinkles and a younger looking face.

Is juvederm effective in all individuals?

Unfortunately. A fair number of individuals show little or no response to Juvederm injections. It is difficult to know before hand who will respond to the injections. In general, individuals who smoke and have heavy or deep wrinkles do not show a good response.

What is cost of juvederm?

Juvederm injections are considered cosmetic and not covered by Medicare or any health insurance plan. The average cost of Juvederm injections range from $800-$1200.

Final point

There are many individuals who perform Juvederm injections and overall the results are pleasing. Complications are rare but have been reported. To ensure that you have a good result with no complications, ask questions, get a referral, read about the procedure and above all else, choose your provider well. In cosmetic surgery, there are seldom any refunds.

Juvederm: a decent dermal filler but expensive

There have been many types of dermal fillers developed in the past decade and none is ideal. Each and every one of them has its pros and cons. While collagen products have dominated the cosmetic market, recently novel types of dermal fillers include those based on hyaluronic acid have been developed.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Everyone has hyaluronic acid in their body; it is a natural constituent of bone, cartilage and soft tissues. It has multiple functions in the body including cushioning joints against injury, maintaining hydration, supporting surrounding tissues and providing skin support. When hyaluronic acid levels decrease due to aging or excessive sun exposure, the skin becomes wrinkled and appears saggy.

How can Juvederm reverse signs of aging?

Juvederm is usually injected to erase signs of aging and photo aged skin. Juvederm is soft, jelly-like, and very consistent filler that can readily erase fine lines, wrinkles, and creases. By filling the underlying tissues, the skin appears full, smooth, and soft. Juvederm is also widely used to plump up lips, making them sexy and luscious.

Where are juvederm injections performed?

Juvederm injections are done as an outpatient in a clinic setting. There are no extensive preparations required prior to the procedure. Individuals who are on blood thinners like aspirin should discuss with their physician when they should stop the medication prior to injections.

Is there any pretesting prior to juvederm injections?

No, Juvederm injections do not require pretesting for allergy. The injections usually take less than 15 minutes and are relatively painless. Those who are squeamish about pain can ask the therapist to numb the skin with a topical anesthetic.

What happens after juvederm injections?

After the procedure, a few individuals may develop redness and mild swelling. These side effects usually subside in a few days. The redness can be covered with a facial make-up or mascara.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Restylane: Part 3

Does Restylane work in everyone?

Unfortunately, no. even though Restylane produces decent results in most people; a few individuals do not have a great response. It is difficult to tell who will not have a great response prior to the injections

Does restylane have complications?

Most definitely. There are way too many people in cosmetics performing injections. Some of training and others do not know the mouth from the a..e. Thus, when injections are performed by untrained people complications do occur. The most common complications include pain, asymmetry, scars, and granuloma formation.

What is cost of Restylane?

Restylane injections are for cosmetic skin care conditions and not covered by any medical insurance carrier. The injections are affordable; the average cost ranges from $400-$800/session.

Final note

Restylane is a decent dermal filler and does produce moderately good results. However, the one major criterion for success is finding a decent doctor. Many doctors are in cosmesis just for the money and do not care about patients. There are some good cosmetic surgeons who do a great job- the difficulty is finding one who is good and cheap.

So ask questions, get referrals, and talk to people who have had the procedure. Remember there are no refunds in cosmetic surgery and complications are generally forever.

Restylane: Part 2

What happens after restylane injections?

After the injection, swelling and bruising is common and usually resolve in 24 hours. The pain is minimal and easily controlled with over the counter pain medications.

How many sessions are required?

For the treatment of small skin imperfections, a single session of Restylane may suffice but those with deep skin creases and wrinkles may need several sessions. Today there are several formulations of Restylane available. These formulations have been combined with other dermal fillers like Perlane to improve the quality and duration of effect.

Are restylane injections permanent?

No, Restylane treatments are not a permanent cure to reverse signs of aging. Thus, all individuals will need future injections if they want to continue to maintain the youthful look.

When does one see the cosmetic benefits of Restylane?

The effects of Restylane are immediate. After the initial swelling from the injection has subsided, the cosmetic results are obvious. In most cases the results of Restylane injections last anywhere from 3-6 months.

Restylane: finally a dermal filler that works, but not for acne scars

What is Restylane?

Restylane is an injectable dermal filler which is not derived from animal sources. It is a biodegradable gel made of hyaluronic acid. Restylane is made in the laboratory from tissue culture.

What is the biggest advantage of Restylane?

It is a great alternative for individuals who are allergic to animal-based dermal fillers.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body. It has the ability to retain water, hydrate tissues, add volume and also acts as a shock absorber. Levels of hyaluronic acid generally decline with age, resulting in lines and wrinkle formation.

What is Restylane used to treat?

Today Restylane is widely used as a dermal fuller to treat several skin disorders like wrinkles, fine lines, augmentation of lips and revision of acne scars. Restylane injections when done well can produce a very aesthetically pleasing face. The dermal filler can plump up the lips and make them look luscious. The majority of individuals who have Restylane injection develop a younger, smoother and attractive skin.

Where are restylane injections performed?

Restylane injections are done in a physician’s office and usually take about 30 minutes. Unlike other animal-based dermal fillers, Restylane does not have to be pretested for allergy and this saves time.

Prior to the injections, the face is rinsed and injection sites are marked. Restylane is injected with a very needle to minimize the pain. During the procedure, the surgeon may apply a local anesthetic to numb the mild pain from the needle. Most individuals require a couple of injections.

Sculptra: Part 3

How many sessions of Sculptra injections are required?

Most individuals require several sessions of Sculptra to obtain the maximum cosmetic benefit.

What is cost of Sculptra?

Sculptra is considered a cosmetic procedure and not covered by Medicare or any private health insurance plan. The average cost of Sculptra ranges from $ 2,000-$ 5,000. The costs vary because of the varying amount of Sculptra used for injections.

Sculptra injections are typically performed by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. Different patients respond differently to Sculptra injections. Complications are rare but they do occur. So to get the best results, seek a qualified practitioner who has experience with Sculptra injections.

Final note

Sculptra is an expensive cosmetic product and the results are not guaranteed. Cosmetic doctors have hyped up Sculptra and make it sound like it is the ideal product for photo-aged skin and wrinkles. Cosmetic surgery is full of false promises and big disappointments. So read about the procedure, talk to people who have had the procedure and above all else get a second opinion if in doubt.

Sculptra: Part 2

What happens after Sculptra injections?

After injection of Sculptra, some individuals develop redness and swelling at the site of injection. There is very little down time after Sculptra injections. If excessive swelling persists one can apply an ice pack for 20 minutes- several times a day. Exposure to sun should be avoided and a sunscreen is a must when going out. The majority of individuals are able to return to their daily living activities within 24 hours. These transient side effects disappear in a few days.

When does one see benefits of Sculptra?

The effects of Sculptra are not immediate. Most individuals start to see the cosmetic changes at around 3-6 weeks and the results last anywhere from 5-18 months. The end result is a soft well contoured skin figure which appears young.

Does Sculptra work in everyone?

No, there are some individuals who do not show any response to Sculptra. At best, the product works well in less than 50% of individuals.

Are there any testimonials about Sculptra?

So far all data on Sculptra are written by physicians who sell this therapy. Like everything in medicine, physician testimonials about their own products are as good as buying a second hand car from a car thief. Patient testimonials are few. The few negatives about Sculptra include pain, formation of nodules and short duration of the cosmetic response.

Are there complications of Sculptra injections?

Yes, complications are rare but have been reported. The most common complications are a poor or no result, pain, lack of response and asymmetry.