Category: Juvederm
Less Lip, Please
Like fashion, there are trends in our practice, too. For a time years ago, people wanted the puffiest lip possible, and many of them got what they wanted, even if the results were unnatural and overdone. These days, subtlety is everything, and the lips are a case in point.
Many of you, when you come to my office, are concerned that your treatments will be obvious. One of the biggest giveaways is the lip that is too full for the face.
My guiding principle has always been “less is more.” Much more. When it comes to restoring lips to their youthful state, this approach is essential. My method has three parts: Define, shape and add volume.
Lips tend to thin out and lose fat as we get older. To give them the appearance that they once had, or to plump lips that are naturally thin, I use dermal fillers in small specific ways to create subtle changes that provide maximum visual impact. The secret is balance. If any part of the lips is too fat or too thin, your entire face will look strange.
First, I define the edge between the top lip and the skin above it, beneath your nose. Then, to reshape and plump the upper lip, I make tiny injections in key spots. The upper lip should have variation across the lower border and a bow across the top.
For the lower lip, which typically has a uniform shape all the way across and a little extra volume in the middle, I look at all the angles. From the side, the lip shouldn’t extend out too far or appear puffy. From the front, there should be a touch of extra height.
A variety of lip injection options are available to you, and the results should last from several months to a year, depending on the type of filler that we use. We like to use the hyaluronic acid fillers Restylane, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Silk, Belotero Balance,Volbella and Juvederm.
The injections take only a few minutes, and you should be able to go back to your normal activities right after the procedure.
If you’d like to talk with us about your lips, or any other concerns, call our office today for a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
Lips, Naturally: It’s All About Balance
Many of you have a simple request when you come to my office: you don’t want anyone to know that you’ve been there. One of the biggest giveaways is the overdone lip.
My guiding principle has always been “less is more.” Much more. When it comes to restoring lips, this philosophy is critical. To restore lips to their more youthful selves, naturally, I like to utilize a triple-play: Define, shape and add volume.
To give your lips the appearance that they once had, I carefully use dermal fillers in small specific ways to create subtle changes that provide maximum visual impact. The secret is balance. If any part of the lips is too fat or too thin, the result will affect the entire appearance of your face.
First, I define the edge between the top lip and the skin above it, beneath your nose. Then, I place gentle injections in key spots to reshape and plump the upper lip, keeping it looking natural. The upper lip should have variation across the lower border and a bow across the top.
As for the lower lip, which typically has a uniform shape all the way across with a little extra volume in the middle, I take all angles into account. When I look at your lip from the side, I want to make sure that it isn’t too puffy, and when I look from the front, I like to see some extra height.
Lip injections take only a few minutes, and you should be able to go back to your normal activities right after the procedure.
Lips tend to thin out and lose fat as we get older. A variety of lip injection options are available to take care of your concerns, and the results should last from several months to a year, depending on the type of filler used. We like to use the hyaluronic acid fillers Restylane, Restylane Silk, Belotero, Volbella and Juvederm.
So, call our office to talk about how we can give you back the lips of your youth.
See you soon.
Cheek to Cheek
You may not notice it right away, but cheeks tend to flatten as you get older. It’s typically a less obvious sign of aging, but if you see a change in contour, it could be time for an easy fix.
Sometimes, the natural curve of your cheek is lost, causing your skin to droop and your profile to lose definition. The shape of your cheeks has a huge impact on the look of your entire face. So, if you’re not happy with any changes to your cheek area, you may not feel so terrific in general. With a simple dermal filler, we can restore youthful fullness, in a natural and subtle way.
Previously, aging cheeks were corrected with invasive traditional surgery that tightened the overlying skin and lifted the deeper soft tissues. Now, such extensive procedures are not at all necessary. Voluma XC, an injectable filler, can produce the same result, providing a lift that is free of incisions, anesthesia and recuperation time.
Juvederm Voluma XC is an FDA-approved filler that instantly adds natural-looking volume to the cheeks. It is made from a naturally occurring complex sugar, and studies have shown that results may last as long as two years after treatment.
So, if your facial silhouette seems different to you, come talk with me to see what we can do. Call our office today for a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
The Hit Parade of Eye Concerns: Your Four Favorites
The delicate skin above and under your eyes is prone to all sorts of issues. And, since your eyes are central to your overall expression, any small problems seem to have great impact. The aging process tends to reveal itself significantly in this thin skin, but there are tried-and-true treatments for minimizing its negative effects.
Droopy Lids and Brows:
You may think that this issue requires traditional surgery. But we have effective ways to lift drooping skin above the eye, without any incisions or downtime. The Thermage thermal lift is one of the best nonsurgical treatments for this area of your face, stimulating your body to create collagen that has been lost with age. You’ll have smoother and tighter skin for years.
Puffiness or Sunken Spots:
Though you may be getting the rest you need and drinking plenty of water, it’s still possible to develop puffs of skin or hollowing in the tear troughs under your eyes. Depending on your unique situation, we can improve the appearance of these conditions in several ways. First, Thermage will help lift and firm the delicate skin. Also, Restylane, Juvederm and Belotero are dermal fillers, made from natural injectable hylauronic acid, that will instantly plump and smooth under eye hollows.
Crow’s feet and wrinkles:
The natural movement of the eye area during expression will, over time, create lines and wrinkles. We can use Botox or Dysport injections to help minimize stubborn, deep-set wrinkles that crop up as we age. These treatments smooth out the lines by blocking nerve impulses to the muscles that cause the creases. In as soon as a week, your eyes will appear bright and refreshed, and wrinkles will be minimized.
Dark circles:
While there isn’t a cosmetic “concealer” treatment to replace your makeup, there are non-invasive procedures that can reduce the causes that make the dark circles apparent. These dark circles are usually accentuated by the shadows that form between puffiness under the eye and the hollows coming from the tear trough. Addressing both the bulge and the hollow tear troughs, we can help to minimize the shadow, or the appearance of dark circles. Thermage will lift the eye area. Hylauronic acid fillers Restylane, Juvederm and Belotero will restore fullness and smoothness to sunken or hollow tear troughs.
One of the most common areas of the face to be treated, the eyes endure a host of issues. Schedule a complimentary consultation today, and we’ll help you determine which treatments are the best for you.
See you soon.
The Hit Parade of Eye Concerns: Your Four Favorites
The delicate skin above and under your eyes is prone to all sorts of issues. And, since your eyes are central to your overall expression, any small problems seem to have great impact. The aging process tends to reveal itself significantly in this thin skin, but there are tried-and-true treatments for minimizing its negative effects.
Droopy Lids and Brows:
You may think that this issue requires traditional surgery. But we have effective ways to lift drooping skin above the eye, without any incisions or downtime. The Thermage thermal lift is one of the best nonsurgical treatments for this area of your face, stimulating your body to create collagen that has been lost with age. You’ll have smoother and tighter skin for years.
Puffiness or Sunken Spots:
Though you may be getting the rest you need and drinking plenty of water, it’s still possible to develop puffs of skin or hollowing in the tear troughs under your eyes. Depending on your unique situation, we can improve the appearance of these conditions in several ways. First, Thermage will help lift and firm the delicate skin. Also, Restylane, Juvederm and Belotero are dermal fillers, made from natural injectable hylauronic acid, that will instantly plump and smooth under eye hollows.
Crow’s feet and wrinkles:
The natural movement of the eye area during expression will, over time, create lines and wrinkles. We can use Botox or Dysport injections to help minimize stubborn, deep-set wrinkles that crop up as we age. These treatments smooth out the lines by blocking nerve impulses to the muscles that cause the creases. In as soon as a week, your eyes will appear bright and refreshed, and wrinkles will be minimized.
Dark circles:
While there isn’t a cosmetic “concealer” treatment to replace your makeup, there are non-invasive procedures that can reduce the causes that make the dark circles apparent. These dark circles are usually accentuated by the shadows that form between puffiness under the eye and the hollows coming from the tear trough. Addressing both the bulge and the hollow tear troughs, we can help to minimize the shadow, or the appearance of dark circles. Thermage will lift the eye area. Hylauronic acid fillers Restylane, Juvederm and Belotero will restore fullness and smoothness to sunken or hollow tear troughs.
One of the most common areas of the face to be treated, the eyes endure a host of issues. Schedule a complimentary consultation today, and we’ll help you determine which treatments are the best for you.
See you soon.
Cheek to Cheek
You may not notice it right away, but cheeks tend to flatten as you get older. It’s typically a less obvious sign of aging, but if you see a change in contour, it could be time for an easy fix.
Sometimes, the natural curve of your cheek is lost, causing your skin to droop and your profile to lose definition. The shape of your cheeks has a huge impact on the look of your entire face. So, if you’re not happy with any changes to your cheek area, you may not feel so terrific in general. With a simple dermal filler, we can restore youthful fullness, in a natural and subtle way.
Previously, aging cheeks were corrected with invasive traditional surgery that tightened the overlying skin and lifted the deeper soft tissues. Now, such extensive procedures are not at all necessary. Voluma XC, an injectable filler, can produce the same result, providing a lift that is free of incisions, anesthesia and recuperation time.
Juvederm Voluma XC is an FDA-approved filler that instantly adds natural-looking volume to the cheeks. It is made from a naturally occurring complex sugar, and studies have shown that results may last as long as two years after treatment.
So, if your facial silhouette seems different to you, come talk with me to see what we can do. Call our office today for a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
The Skin Cycle: What You Can Expect, Decade by Decade
Your skin has a natural plan. With each year that passes, it undergoes assorted stressors, some that it has experienced before and some that are brand new. And it reacts to these changing stimuli in different ways, subtle and not-so. Unfortunately, while you may not feel any older, your skin has another story to tell. Aging plays tricks on its delicate composition. But do not despair–you have strategies at your disposal for warding off the first signs of attack. The trick: know what’s coming and take as many precautions as possible.
Here is what you can expect:
In Your 20s and 30s: Get ready. Hormonal changes may happen during this time, causing adult acne. We can treat it, though, with our Pulsed Dye Laser. Also, you may notice hints of wrinkles (yes, they begin early) and pigmentation. Botox and Dysport will help minimize lines, keeping them from setting and deepening. Catching them early is more effective than waiting until they are extreme. Fraxel DUAL and IPL will help reduce discoloration, brown spots and freckling.
In Your 40s: Your skin may begin to lose its luster, appearing dull and rough. Also, age spots may appear since the skin can’t repair itself as quickly or as completely as it used to. You may notice, too, that your skin doesn’t glow as much, since skin cell shedding begins to slow down. But, we can brighten and smooth out your skin with Clear+Brilliant, Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair laser treatments. Your skin tone will look even, and wrinkles and pores will diminish. During your 40s, wrinkles may be deeper than they were before. Dermal fillers such as Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk, Voluma, Juvederm, Belotero and Radiesse, and neurotoxins, such as Botox and Dysport, are effective in reducing the appearance of these lines and folds.
In Your 50s and 60s: Subtle lines may have turned into deep wrinkles and previously taut skin may have begun to sag. Declining collagen and elastin levels cause your skin to become thinner and more fragile. As the underlying skin structure is less supported, the skin falls down and droops. We have many laser treatments that can work wonders to resurface skin and stimulate collagen production, which will help lift up and plump your skin, nonsurgically. The treatments will also help to brighten and lighten any discoloration caused by sun exposure or simple aging.
At all times of your life, remember to do what you can to preserve your skin’s natural beauty. Wear plenty of sunscreen (and not only in the summer), avoid the sun as much as possible, steer clear of smoking and cleanse and moisturize often.
Call our office for a complimentary consultation. We’ll help you look your most natural youthful best.
See you soon.
Eyes: Windows To Your….Age
No one really wants to reveal his or her age. But there are places on our bodies that can give secrets away, namely, the eyes.
The skin surrounding your eyes is extremely delicate, making it susceptible to cosmetic problems that make you look older than you are. Also, because it moves so much during facial expression, lines and wrinkles form over time. Crow’s feet emerge on the outside of the eye and creases appear underneath the lash line, for instance. Add dark circles, hollowing, drooping lids and puffiness, and you will appear tired and worn. Perhaps you’ve tried creams that claim to tighten skin or cold tea bags and cucumbers that temporarily reduce fluid retention, but you are still not happy when you look into the mirror.
We offer a range of nonsurgical treatments that will help return a well-rested look to your eyes and ultimately, your face. Depending on your individual needs, we can craft a personal plan that will help you look refreshed and more youthful, with minimal downtime and recuperation.
Here are a few of our most popular eye treatments:
- Thermage CPT
- Botox
- Dysport
- Dermal fillers (Belotero, Juvederm, Restylane, Restylane Lyft)
- Fraxel Repair Laser
- Fraxel DUAL Laser
- Laser Wrinkle Reduction
- Clear & Brilliant
- Microdermabrasion
Come talk with us about how we can help. Call our office today to schedule your complimentary consultation. And meantime, keep applying that sunscreen.
See you soon.
Men Are Body-Conscious, Too
When people talk about body image, we often assume that they are referring to women. But men experience similar insecurities about their physical appearance, according to many studies published worldwide.
Many men worry about beer bellies, love handles, man “boobs” and hair loss, among other issues associated with aging.
More than four in five men (80.7 percent) talk in ways that promote anxiety about their body image by referring to perceived flaws and imperfections, compared with 75 percent of women, according to a study from the University of the West of England. The study also revealed that 23 percent of the surveyed men didn’t go to the gym because they were concerned about their appearance and 63 percent thought that their arms and chests were not muscular enough.
A study in 2016 by Chapman University researchers, published in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinity, showed that:
- About 25 percent of the men were dissatisfied with their appearance, compared to about 28.5 percent of women.
- More than half of the men had gone on diets in the past year, and nearly 42 percent were unhappy with their weight.
- About 37 percent did not like the condition of their muscle tone.
- About 69 percent felt judged on their looks and felt pressure from magazines and television to have a slimmer and more muscular body.
So, if you are male and concerned about your body shape, you are not alone. It’s likely that you
have dieted and spent hours in the gym. Sometimes, these tactics are not enough for certain trouble spots or for men of certain ages.
In our offices, one of the most popular procedures for men is SmartLipo Triplex, particularly for the neck, abdomen and breast area. SmartLipo Triplex is a minimally invasive method for removing unwanted fat and sculpting areas of the body that you’d like to change.
We also find that Kybella is effective for reducing the double chin, a common male problem that often resists diet and exercise. This procedure slims and contours the area below and around your chin and neck, without surgery.
You may also be concerned about the effects of aging, sun damage and stress, all of which can negatively impact how you feel about yourself at home and at work. Many male patients come see us for Botox, particularly for their foreheads and crow’s feet, and for dermal fillers that minimize the folds around their noses and corners of their mouths. Some of these fillers include Belotero, Juvederm, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk and Radiesse. Also, to decrease wrinkles and sagging on the face and around the eyes, many men come to us for Thermage CPT, Infini and Fraxel Repair Laser Treatments.
If you’re not entirely happy with how you look, don’t hesitate to call our office for a complimentary consultation. We’ll try to help you look and feel your best.
See you soon.
Rescue Those Aging Eyes
So much of your appearance–how young or old, happy or sad, or refreshed or worn out–begins with your eyes. If you feel you’ve lost the sparkle that you used to have, you’ll be happy to know that we can help.
The delicate skin in this area is extremely thin and becomes thinner with time. Because it contains little subcutaneous fat, it is vulnerable to conditions such as dark circles, bags or swelling, hollowing, and drooping lids and brows. Also, it is especially sensitive to stress from facial movements such as laughing, squinting and frowning, repeated motions that contribute to the formation of lines and wrinkles such as crow’s feet.
Also, the thick collagen network that gives skin structural support begins to break down with time. Your body’s internal processes and external factors such as sun exposure increase the levels of enzymes that break down collagen.
What can help: We have a repertoire of nonsurgical treatments that are safe and effective. Here is a quick run-down:
Dermal fillers, such as Belotero, Juvederm, and Restylane will plump up crow’s feet, lines and wrinkles under the eye and hollowing that may result as we age.
Injectables such as Botox and Dysport will help minimize crow’s feet and lines caused by normal facial expression.
Lasers, including Fraxel Repair, Fraxel DUAL, Laser Wrinkle Reduction and Clear & Brilliant, will help add smoothness, glow and luminosity to the area around your eyes.
Finally, Microdermabrasion and GentleWaves Photomodulation are two more useful techniques for brightening your eyes by restoring vigor to the delicate skin surrounding them.
We’re confident that all of our treatments will help you look happy and younger and feel that way, too.
Call our office today to schedule your complimentary consultation. I’ll develop a treatment plan just for you.
Meantime, remember to save the date for our upcoming Spring Beauty Seminar, where you’ll hear about the newest procedures, and see some of them in action. You’ll learn about Infini, the revolutionary nonsurgical treatment that dramatically reduces sagging skin and wrinkles on the neck. You’ll get to see a live Liquid Facelift treatment and a KYBELLA procedure that melts fat and reduces the “double chin.” You will even be able to “glimpse the new you” on our computer imaging system and take a peek at how restored and fresh you’ll look after treatment.
So, save WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27th AT 6:00 PM, and come see us at the Atlantis Banquet & Events Seastar Ballroom, located next to the Long Island Aquarium at 431 East Main Street in Riverhead. Free Valet Parking available. Register Online.
Portion of proceeds of the seminar to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® breast cancer organization.
See you soon.
Your Pre-Holiday Beauty Boost
When the calendar flips to November, the holidays aren’t far behind. It’s the season for looking your best, and dramatic results are possible, even in just a few weeks.
There is still time for many quick in-and-out treatments that will make all the difference in your appearance. Instantly, you’ll look fresh and rested, and you’ll feel invigorated, too…just the right recipe for the holiday season.
Here are a few suggestions for the upcoming weeks…
Try a nonsurgical mini facelift that will tighten skin and boost collagen production. With Thermage CPT, we can treat the skin on the eyelids, under-eye areas, abdomen, arms, legs and sagging buttocks. It’s the most effective lift treatment for a multitude of concerns, and the results are dramatic. Or, you can try an Exilis Ultra 360 treatment, which tightens, firms and tones loose and sagging skin and reshapes and melts stubborn fatty deposits anywhere on your face and body. Popular areas treated with Exilis include the face, jowls, neck, “love handles,” “bra fat,” abdomen, thighs, hips and buttocks.
Minimize lines and boost volume in your lips with Volbella, the latest filler for adding shape and definition to your mouth area.
Reduce wrinkles and tighten skin with Infini, a high intensity focused radiofrequency treatment that’s also terrific for minimizing acne scarring.
Restore facial volume with dermal fillers such as Voluma, Radiesse and Restylane Lyft. These will reduce hollowness and diminish lines that have formed with age.
Smooth out forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet with Botox or Dysport.
Fill in smile lines, marionette lines or nasolabial folds (lines that stretch from the outer edge of the nostrils to the outer tip of the lips) with Juvederm, Restylane or Radiesse.
All of these quick treatments are nonsurgical, requiring no anesthesia or downtime. You can be back in full swing immediately, looking younger and feeling that way, too.
Call our offices this week to schedule a pre-holiday appointment.
See you soon.
Love Your Lips: Definition, Shape and Volume
When it comes to restoring lips naturally, I like to think of it as a three-pronged approach: Define, shape and add volume.
To give your lips the youthful appearance that they once had, I carefully use dermal fillers in specific ways to create subtle changes that provide maximum visual impact. The secret is balance.
First, the edge of the top lip that borders your skin above it, beneath your nose, is defined. Then, injections are gently placed in key spots to reshape and plump the upper lip, keeping it looking natural. The upper lip should have variation across the lower border and a bow across the top.
The lower lip typically has a uniform shape all the way across, with a little extra volume in the middle. When I look at your lip from the side, I want to make sure that it isn’t too puffy, and when I look from the front, I like to see some extra height.
Lip injections take only a few minutes, and you should be able to go back to your normal activities right after the procedure.
As we age, our lips tend to thin out and lose fat, causing us to look and feel older or less attractive. A variety of lip injection options are available to take care of your concerns, and the results should last from several months to a year, depending on the type of filler used. We like to use the hyaluronic acid fillers Volbella, Restylane, Restylane Silk, Belotero Balance and Juvederm.
So, call our office to talk about how we can give you back the lips of your youth.
And…thank you to everyone who visited with us last week at our Fall Beauty Seminar. We look forward to seeing you in our offices in the coming weeks.
See you soon.
