Neurotoxins—like Botox and Dysport—are a nonsurgical form of wrinkle treatment that have minimal discomfort and quick recovery rates.

Most of us know that these injections can improve forehead lines, crows feet, and the vertical lines between the eyebrows. But did you know that these injections can also benefit the lower face, including the chin and overall face shape?

This graphic shows both cosmetic and therapeutic uses for neurotoxins:

● GUMMY SMILE: Some people’s upper lip elevates too far above their upper teeth when they smile, exposing a large portion of their gums. Botox can lower the upper lip to reduce the visibility of the gums.

● LIP FLIP: A lip flip is a popular procedure that makes your lips look fuller without increasing the volume of your lips.

● CHIN DIMPLING: Sometimes the chin can appear dimpled or bumpy. Neurotoxins can relax the muscles in the chin area to smooth out its appearance.

● DOWTURNED SMILE: Injecting neurotoxins can weaken the muscles that pull down the mouth causing a downwards looking smile, or scowl.

● MASSETER PAIN RELIEF: Neurotoxins can be used to provide relief from the painful and uncomfortable symptoms of Bruxism. This condition causes involuntary teeth clenching, jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage. Neurotoxin injections can reduce or eliminate these symptoms by relaxing the overactive masseter muscles. Additionally, when the masseter muscle is injected it can slim the overall look of the lower face.

Our team of expert injectors has extensive experience with facial injectables. 

Whether you’re looking to reduce wrinkles, minimize scars, or improve overall skin texture, CO2 laser treatment could be the answer.

What Does Fractional CO2 Laser Do?

Fractional CO2 laser is a cosmetic procedure that improves skin texture, tone, and overall appearance. The laser ablates the top layer of skin removing sun damage as well as creates microscopic channels in the skin, known as microthermal zones. These processes stimulate the body’s natural healing response, which promotes collagen production and triggers the replacement of damaged skin with new, healthier tissue.

Key Benefits of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment

• Wrinkle Reduction: especially of lower face
• Scar Improvement: acne scars and surgical scars
• Pigmentation Correction: uneven pigmentation, sunspots, and age spots
• Treats superficial sun damage

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Fractional CO2 laser is a versatile treatment suitable for patients of various ages and skin concerns. Ideal candidates include those looking to improve fine lines/wrinkles, scarring, and/or dark spots. It is safest for patients with lighter skin tones (Fitzpatrick I-III).

The Procedure

A fractional CO2 laser procedure can be performed in the clinic or operating room. Here’s what you can expect during the treatment:

• Consultation: Before the procedure, you will have a consultation with a qualified practitioner to discuss your concerns, assess your skin, and determine if fractional CO2 laser is the right option for you.
• Day of Treatment: Topical Anesthesia: a topical anesthetic is applied to the treatment area to minimize discomfort
• Pre-Medication: Your clinician may prescribe some medications to make the process more relaxing and comfortable. 
• Nerve Blocks: You may receive lidocaine injections to further numb the sensitive areas of treatment 

The laser treatment is customized based on skin, treatment areas, and goals. The laser can also be performed in the OR setting and combined with additional facial rejuvenation procedures such as eyelid surgery or facelift surgery.

Recovery Process

• Immediate Recovery: The treated area will likely be red and swollen after the procedure. It may feel similar to a bad sunburn.
• Peeling and Flaking: Over the next few days, the skin will begin to peel and flake as the damaged outer layers are replaced with fresh, new skin. It’s important to avoid picking at the skin to prevent scarring.
• Sun Protection: Protecting your skin from sun exposure is crucial during the recovery period. Sun exposure may lead to increased hyperpigmentation.
• Total recovery time depends on intensity of treatment 

Please contact the Appearance Center to consult with a qualified practitioner.

Fine lines, wrinkles, loose skin, and other signs of aging are perfectly natural, and many of us reach a point where we want to “do something.” But what does that mean? After looking into the options, you may be asking, “should I choose fillers or surgery?’

We turn to two of our top physicians with this question.

Simon Madorsky, MD is a Facial Plastic Surgeon.

“Judicious use of filler can really enhance natural features,” assures Dr. Madorsky, “but over time, there can be limited results, as well as a necessity for repeated procedures. They have their place, but cannot replace surgery. They will not remove extra skin or extra fatty tissue.”

“Fillers can be overdone. We are seeing something I call Filler Fatigue. People are getting over-filled and often look unnatural.”

The ideal candidate for facial fillers is someone who has minor to moderate signs of aging on their face. These candidates are usually between 30 and 55, since older people may have significantly loosened skin and the presence of other things like bags under their eyes and jowls, which will not respond well to filler injections.

The ideal candidate for surgery, such as a blepharoplasty or facelift, is someone who has more advanced signs of aging in the face and neck. A surgical procedure can address many more issues than facial filler can. That said, candidates still need to be in good enough overall health to undergo surgery and will need adequate support and downtime to recover from the procedure.

This patient underwent blepharoblasty (evelid surgery). She was advised her that iniectables would have a limited and temporary impact.

Choosing Both Options

Some patients use fillers as a way to “try on” a new face and to helo them decide whether they want to move forward with surgical procedures.

One example of this is the “liquid rhinoplasty,” where the shape of the nose is changed with filler, albeit temporarily. There are also subtle enhancements to the eye area and jawline that can be made with filler and Botox, but don’t have the longevity of a surgical procedure. This is an option worth considering when you talk with your provider.

The fractional CO2 laser creates tiny “columns of thermal destruction” in the skin that stimulate the growth of new, healthy skin cells to replace old, damaged cells. This procedure treats wrinkles, discoloration, sun damage, age spots, and acne scars. Instead of removing skin layers with chemicals, the CO2 laser removes skin layers by vaporization. 

 

During your treatment, one of our physicians will apply the Fractional CO2 laser to the area chosen for resurfacing. The laser will eliminate surface damage, while concurrently heating the underlying tissue, causing it to increase collagen production. Depending on the scope of the treatment area, your laser session may take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

 

WHAT DOES THE CO2 LASER TREAT?

The Fractional CO2 laser is used to address a wide range of skin conditions, including:

• Fine lines (including around the eyes)
• Deeper wrinkles around the forehead, mouth, or nose
• Sun damaged skin
• Acne scars
• Hyperpigmentation

In addition, the Fractional CO2 laser can be used to treat other visible areas of the body, such as the neck, chest, or hands.

BEFORE & AFTER IMAGES

 

Spring has sprung, and you realize it is only weeks until that highly-anticipated wedding, reunion, or vacation. Is it too late, you wonder, for some type of cosmetic procedure to look your best?

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to boost your appearance—and self-confidence—that don’t require a huge downtime. If you plan far enough ahead, you can time your procedures to maximize your results by a specific date. Consulting with a specialist can help you determine what you want, need, and have time for.

Some “Quick Fixes” to Consider

Fortunately there are many effective nonsurgical options that require minimal downtime. These procedures include:

• Botox or Dysport to smooth wrinkles on the face, including forehead lines and crow’s feet. (There is little to no downtime, bruising is unlikely but possible. Results can be seen in as little as a week.) DO THIS AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• Dermal Fillers to plump lips, enhance shallow contours, enhance facial volume, or smooth  wrinkles. (Generally, recovery is 2-7 days. Results are immediate but final results are seen in 10-14 days, after possible swelling resolves.) DO THIS AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• Chemical Peels to smooth and brighten skin, minimize pigmentation and address acne scars or fine lines and wrinkles. We offer the TCA and VI Peels. (Healing varies depending on the type and strength of the peel. VI Peel: peeling lasts around a week. TCA peel: takes 1-2 weeks to heal.) DO THIS AT LEAST 3-4 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• Microneedling to improve appearance and texture of the skin, minimize acne scars. (Healing takes about 3-5 days; skin texture improves over weeks to months.) DO THIS AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

• CO2 Laser Resurfacing to rejuvenate wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, and remove age spots and other blemishes. (Healing time for laser resurfacing varies, depending on the depth/intensity of the laser. Approximately 1-2 weeks of recovery time. Full results seen at 3-6 months.) DO THIS AT LEAST 6 WEEKS BEFORE AN EVENT.

Call us to schedule a consultation!! 949.200.1615

A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the space between the nose and the top of the lip. This increases the amount of pink lip tissue that’s visible, which makes the lips look fuller and more pronounced. It can also increase how much your upper center teeth show when your lips are resting. It leaves a small scar at the base of the nostrils, but it is usually undetectable after a few weeks.

It’s a good option for people who want to add height instead of volume to their lips. Younger people who haven’t achieved the look they want from fillers, or if they find that fillers make their lips look unnaturally plump or duck-like, may prefer a lip lift.

And a lip lift is a good option for reducing the space between the lips and the nose. With age, this space can increase and can make the upper lip look thinner.

 

Dermal fillers, also called injectables, are a safe and effective way to enhance your appearance without the need for invasive surgery or downtime, but results are very dependent on the injector. At the Appearance Center, our providers are highly-trained medical professionals, familiar with the unique anatomy of the face, and have had extensive training and years of experience.

Dermal fillers can be used to address a variety of different cosmetic concerns – restoring lost volume to depleted areas, creating more attractive facial contours, and improving symmetry.

FIGHT THE SIGNS OF AGING

As the skin is subjected to elements over time, the appearance of a face changes. Dermal fillers reverse this by giving a person back the facial volume they may have lost. These fillers can also make the cheeks look more contoured, give a more defined jawline, and overall make a patient look refreshed.

One of the great things about dermal fillers is that virtually no recovery time is required. After their treatment session, patients can usually return to most activities right away.

More good news: The results of dermal fillers are not permanent. If you don’t love your results from dermal filler injections, take heart knowing the effects are temporary. 

Filler technology enables results to last six to 18 months although there is variation between individuals, as well as according to the type, quantity and depth of the dermal filler placed within your skin.

In many cases, a skilled cosmetic eye can make more immediate corrections or improve upon your previous results. Our providers are also experienced with correcting over-filling or wrong-site filling done at other locations.

Dr. Adam Aronson has joined our team! He is a Board Certified Dermatologist with an interest in cosmetic treatments that can compliment and enhance healthy skin.

Dr. Aronson specializes in injectable treatments, dermal fillers, advanced skin care, laser treatments and chemical peels.

We are pleased to be offering the VI Peel, a chemical peel that is a blend of acids, retinol, and vitamins that goes beyond a general resurfacing peel to treat specific conditions, including:

• Acne and acne scarring
• Hyperpigmentation
• Fine lines and wrinkles

Benefits of the VI Peel include:

• Restoring a more even skin tone
• Smoothing away rough skin
• Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

This peel is applied in the office onto clean skin. It is left on for four hours, and the patient reapplies a solution later that evening, and peeling usually happens day three through day five. It is safe for all skin types, and is considered a medium-depth peel. Results are enjoyed in about seven days, and maximum results are achieved by doing multiple peels.

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We are currently offering a special! The price of one VI Peel is $425, but if you purchase a package of three VI Peels for $1,050. This is a savings of $225, or $75 per peel. Maximum results are achieved by doing multiple peels.