Botox® is heralded as the "new miracle" but, it's not new at all; and Botox is not botulism bacteria. The bacteria that causes botulism is Clostridum botulinum. Each active bacteria secretes a small amount of botulism toxin. Cosmetic Botox® is a highly refined derivative of this toxin. It was first used around 1946 to treat cross-eyedness. In the 1980's, ophthalmologists realized that when they treated patients with Botox, their wrinkles disappeared, so they started using Botox to reduce wrinkles. Because it was already FDA approved, many doctors started to use it immediately. In 2002, Botox® received FDA clearance for cosmetic use and nearly 3 million benefited from Botox® injections each year since that approval.

How does Botox® work?

We have to eliminate another common misconception - Botox® does not paralyze your muscles. Muscles move when your nerves tell them to. When Botox® is injected it attaches itself to the nerve endings in the injected muscles and interferes with communication between the nerve and the muscle. It's more difficult for the nerve to tell the muscle to move, so the muscle relaxes. When injected into a muscle that causes a wrinkle, the wrinkle is also relaxed. Results last between 3 to 4 months before touch-ups. Instead of pricing the Botox® by the area treated and making those that need less subsidize those that need more, we only charge for the number of Botox units we inject. This means that you can feel free to have a small touch-up without having to pay for a full treatment. This also means you can receive touch-ups more frequently to keep the muscles relaxed and improve the long term resiliency of the Botox®. Recent studies show that simultaneous Botox® and IPL treatments result in a higher stimulation of the collagen regrowth than either of these treatments provide alone.
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Juvederm® and Juvederm Ultra® are used to smooth out wrinkles, plump lips, remove smile lines, nasolabial folds, and acne scars. Juvederm® injections contain a hyaluronic acid gel. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our body and helps maintain youthful, elastic skin; however, we lose it as we age. Juvederm® replaces this hyaluronic acid. Injecting Juvederm® gel below the skin’s surface will cushion and hydrate the skin, which may result in a smoother, more supple appearance.

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Restylane® is made of hyaluronic acid. In the human body, natural hyaluronic acid provides volume and fullness to the skin. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane® has been modified slightly to last longer than the body's hyaluronic acid. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane® is produced by a biotechnical process.

Restylane® is hydrophilic or "water loving." The hydrophilic nature of these hyaluronic acid molecules and their three dimensional structure allows them to bind many times their own weight in water. As hyaluronic acid begins to degrade, each molecule binds to more water which helps to maintain its volume for about six months.

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Perlane® is made from non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) gel. This means that Perlane® contains no animal products. Since hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the skin and other tissue, there is no need for a skin test when using Perlane® filler.

The hyaluronic acid in Perlane® supplements the body's natural supply, which becomes depleted with age. Perlane® is biodegradable so its effects are not permanent. The results of a Perlane® filler treatment tend to last six months to a year. This is much longer than the typical results of collagen injections, which may only last three to six months.

Unlike Botox® Cosmetic, Perlane® does not make you numb. Perlane® can be used in conjunction with Botox® Cosmetic, which neutralizes the muscles that create wrinkles, but Perlane® simply reduces the visibility of wrinkles and folds.

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Sculptra™ is an enduring treatment approved by the FDA for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss, or lipoatrophy, in people with human immunodeficiency virus. It is the first FDA-approved product of its kind for this condition.

Facial fat loss, or lipoatrophy, is the loss of fat beneath the skin, which can result in sunken cheeks, indentations, and hollow eyes. Sculptra™ is a safe, synthetic, and biocompatible material that is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. It provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds and sunken areas. No skin testing is required.

Sculptra™ has been safely used outside the United States since 1999 in over 150,000 patients under the trade names New-Fill™ and Sculptra™.

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Radiesse® is a safe, next generation dermal filler that does more than just fill in lines and wrinkles – it volumizes. In fact, Radiesse® is setting a new standard in facial fold and wrinkle correction. This treatment restores a natural, youthful look that lasts. In many patients, the results may last for a year or more. Numerous medical studies have shown that Radiesse® is a safe and effective treatment for filling and correcting smile lines, nasolabial folds, and wrinkles around the nose and mouth. Radiesse® stimulates the body to produce new collagen. This unique response provides immediate, visible improvement of folds and wrinkles, and provides long-lasting and beautiful results.

The wrinkle treatment results provided by Radiesse® dermal filler are immediate and long lasting. The effects of Radiesse® may last a year or more in many patients. In addition, Radiesse® treatments may require fewer office visits for retreatments. Since results may vary, be sure to discuss your expectations with your Radiesse physician.

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