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Collagen is part of the natural support structure of the skin. After the age of 30, collagen decreases at a rate of about 1% per year. However, sun exposure over one's lifetime dramatically affects collagen and is responsible for most of the loss of elasticity and fullness of the skin which occurs with aging.
Collagen replacement therapy replenishes the skin's collagen layer, smoothing lines, wrinkles and scars, and adding definition to lip borders from the inside out.
Recently FDA approved for use in the United States, Restylane® is an injectable material like Collagen. Used in Europe and Canada for nearly a decade, it appears that it is both longer lasting than other materials and causes fewer hypersensitivity reactions. Restylane®, a naturally occurring biodegradable polysaccharide, is a hyaluronic acid produced by fermentation and metabolized by the body. Restylane® is used to smooth skin in the lower face, particularly around the mouth, cheeks and lips. Restylane® requires no prior skin testing and lasts between 6-12 months.
Radiesse™ is a synthetic injectable filler that reduces wrinkles, creases and scars by augmenting the body’s natural collagen supply. Composed of microspheres in a biocompatible gel, Radiesse is made from the same minerals found in our bones, so it carries little risk of allergic reaction. Radiesse can be used on many areas of the body, including the lips, nasolabial folds, peri-oral lines, depressed scars and oral commissures.
Treatments typically take 15 minutes and require only local anesthetic. Side effects such as swelling or bruising are minimal and should fade within a few days. Results are visible immediately after the injection and can last for months or years, although the procedure can be repeated as often as you wish.
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BOTOX® injections are the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the industry, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). In 2001, more than 1.6 million people received injections, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year. More popular than breast enhancement surgery and a potential blockbuster, Botox is regarded by some as the ultimate fountain of youth.
Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox Cosmetic) is a protein complex produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which contains the same toxin that causes food poisoning. When used in a medical setting as an injectable form of sterile, purified botulinum toxin, small doses block the release of a chemical called acetylcholine by nerve cells that signal muscle contraction. By selectively interfering with the underlying muscles' ability to contract, existing frown lines are smoothed out and, in most cases, are nearly invisible in a week.
Sclerotherapy is the process of eliminating varicose veins and telangiectasias ("spider-veins") by injecting a solution (sclerosing agent) into the veins, and thereby dissolving them.
A majority of people who receive sclerotherapy are cleared of their small varicosities, or see a large improvement. Approximately 10% of patients have fair to poor results, meaning the veins have not disappeared after six treatments. Very rarely, the veins can become worse after treatment or new veins may develop.
Perlane is an injectable filler used to treat deep facial lines, augment the lips and contour the cheeks and chin. Made by Q-Med, the Swedish company that produces Restylane®, Perlane contains purified hyaluronic acid, a sugar found naturally in the body that works with collagen to keep the skin smooth and supple. It is hypoallergenic and so does not require a pre-treatment skin test. With its unique ability to bind with water, Perlane continues to perform up to 60% longer than collagen.
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Spider veins and red blotches on the face affect millions of people. While they may not be medical emergencies, many of our patients would like to be rid of these unattractive and sometimes embarrassing distractions to their natural beauty.
Fortunately, our advanced technologies enable us to safely, easily and effectively treat these facial spider veins, also called telangiectasias.
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