Patient receives a full correction with Restylane™ in the
nasolabial folds. Photos courtesy of Medicis.

Restylane™ injections in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Scottsdale – Our patients have responded positevely towards the Restylane-L™ and Perlane-L™ treatment regiments for reducing the wrinkles around the mouth. These new products contain lidocaine which helps reduce the pain before and after the injection. Joni Roney has been injecting dermal fillers for patients by themselves or with Botox^® or Dysport™ on her Scottsdale Botox^® Days. Check out Joni’s event schedule for Scottsdale Restylane™ injections.

Restylane-L™ and Perlane-L™ data shows improvements in patient comfort.

• 72% of patients treated with Restylane-L™ reported at least a 10 mm reduction in pain score vs Restylane™ at injection.
• 95% of patients treated with Perlane-L™ reported at least a 10mm reduction in pain score vs Perlane™ at injection.
• Pain assessment showed a statistically significant improvement with Restylane-L™ and Perlane-L™ vs Restylane™ and Perlane™, respectiveley, at all time points.

Learn more about Restylane-L™ or Perlane-L™

Restylane™ Regimen chart showing wrinkles
around the mouth area (laugh lines) improvements up to 18 months.

Restylane™ Regiment can last up to 18 months.

In the latest clinical study the Restylane™ Regimen for at least 95% of patients saw results for up to 18 months. Learn more about the Restylane™ Regimen.

Restylane® versus Juvederm® for the lips.

Restylane® has been the most successful dermal filler for lip augmentation over the years. The results are predictable and last between 4 to 6 months. With time, the hyaluronic acid product diminishes and is absorbed harmlessly into the body. Restylane® is injected along the borders of the lip, the Vermilion border and the white line to nicely enhance these areas. Restylane® can be injected into the red portion of the lips to augment the overall size. Restylane® does not require skin testing before treatment. Treating the lips for augmentation entails an in-office procedure usually lasting less than 30 minutes.

Juvederm® versus Restylane® in your lips.

Juvederm® is the second most popular dermal filler, in our practice. Juvederm® is a smooth consistency gel made of cross-linked hyaluronic acid, and is a very soft dermal filler that feels more natural than Restylane® in the lips.The results are comparable to Restylane® and last between 4 to 6 months for lip augmentation. With time, the hyaluronic acid product in Juvederm® is absorbed harmlessly into the body. Juvederm is injected along the borders of the lip, the Vermilion border and the white line to nicely enhance these areas. Juvederm® can be injected into the red portion of the lips to augment the overall size. No skin testing is required before treatment. Treating the lips for augmentation entails an in-office procedure usually lasting less than 30 minutes.

Off-label use of FDA Approved products.

Use of these FDA-approved dermal fillers is considered off-label. This means that the product is used in an area not tested by the manufacturer and with no data review by the FDA. This is acceptable to do, but requires the patient’s understanding and consent before proceeding.

• Nasolabial folds or laugh lines.
• Marionette lines.
• Cheeks.
• Submalar or below the cheek
• Nose correction.
• Jaw Line and Jowls.
• Mental Crease & Chin.
• Oral Commissure or corners of the mouth.
• Temporal Hollows.
• Hand Rejuvenation.

Radiesse® is a wrinkle filler that is a safe and FDA-approved for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds such as nasolabial folds. Radiesse® wrinkle filler fills and volumizes to correct the signs of facial fat loss and restore a natural look. Radiesse® wrinkle treatment is now FDA-approved to enhance patient comfort with our Accessory Kit for lidocaine mixing. In a recent clinical study, 90% of patients reported significant pain reduction using Radiesse® wrinkle filler mixed with lidocaine.

Botox versus Dysport.

Scottsdale – Several fans of the blog have asked, what’s the difference between Botox and Dysport?

In fact, just about everyone who comes to our Scottsdale Botox Day is asking what is the difference between the two types of Botulinum toxins? They want to know if they should try Dysport at our Dysport Days Injection events?

Well, here’s a short and precise answer to this question:

Botox and Dysport stop muscles in the face from moving and not allowing your face skin to wrinkle up while the toxin is effective.

Botox and Dysport: Head-to-Head.

A main difference between the two is price per unit and the amount of units recommended. Dysport is about $4 a unit, but you need slightly more than twice as many units to achieve the same result. There usually is a savings from Dysport when compared to Botox.

Dermal Fillers a good complement.

Don’t forget that dermal fillers like Restylane^®and Juvederm^®can complement and enhance the results of other wrinkle treatments, like Botox and Dysport. When used in combination together, these procedures are sometimes referred to as a liquid facelift. The liquid facelift, can rejuvenate the appearance of your face without the lengthy recovery associated with facial plastic surgery. Additionally. Juvederm^®and Restylane^®, both now come mixed with lidocaine a numbing medication which reduces the pain associated with the dermal filler injection and increases your recovery time.

Additional information for Botox and Dysport.

If you are interested in more information about Botox versus Dysport, these links may give you more information. Not every medical office administers Botox and Dysport, so we suggest you call ahead…..

Human Fat Cells: The ideal filler?

Scottsdale – What makes fat grafting so attractive to many people planning to undergo facial plastic surgery? These are the top 5 reasons many people are choosing fat transfer:

1. Fat is readily available in most plastic surgery patients.

2. Fat is easily obtained using reliable cosmetic surgery techniques for harvesting fat.

3. Fat is inexpensive.

4. Fat is bio-compatible with the donor.

5. Fat can be harvested and re-injected repeatedly, as needed.

Most of us know about Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, and Radiesse. Well, the FDA has approved the addition of lidocaine for all these dermal fillers. Lidocaine is a numbing medication and can effectively reduce the pain with injection. So, if you want fuller lips and less lines on your face, now you can have these with a lot less discomfort. Same products, less pain!

Restylane-L is Restylane with lidocaine. Perlane-L is Perlane with lidocaine. Juvederm XC is Juvederm with lidocaine. Radiesse also comes with lidocaine and an extra 0.2 cc for a total filler volume of 1.5 cc compared to the 1.3 cc with the old syringe. And, did I mention these are all FDA approved!

For better results, I recommend you ask for these by name…

For more information about dermal fillers with lidocaine or to make an appointment for for dermal filler injections in Scottsdale please call (480) 970-2596.

There are several ways of lifting the corner of the mouth.

The non-surgical method includes the application of Botox to the Depressor Anguli Oris (DAO) muscle. This is the simplest approach to the problem with the down-turned  corner of the mouth. It is a nice, quick and relatively pain-free approach. The down side is that results only last about 3 to 4 months. The treatment has to be repeated to maintain the results. Adding dermal filler, like Juvederm or Restylane, can make the results more impressive and longer lasting.

The DAO can also be surgically manipulated. Direct  surgical manipulation can lift the corners and create a more permanent result. This can be performed during facelift surgery. This procedure, however, is relatively new and results will vary depending on surgeon experience.

Another approach includes the direct lift of the corner of the mouth. This is performed with the excision of a small sliver of skin right above the corner of the mouth. With the closure of the incision that is created, the corner of the mouth comes up to a normal level and the patient loses that scowling downward turn of the mouth. This is a procedure that has a long history and is more predictable.

Non-surgical liquid facelift.

Scottsdale – A liquid face lift involves the use of advanced dermal fillers with the capacity to last longer used in combination with BOTOX^® to rejuvenate the appearance of the face.  The dermal fillers used are considered 2nd generation dermal fillers and provide more enduring results than earlier products.

The new group of 2nd generation, advanced dermal fillers includes:

Juvederm Ultra^®, Juvederm Ultra Plus^®, and Juvederm XC^®

Radiesse^® and Radiesse^® with lido

Restylane^® and Perlane^®

Sculptra^®

Using these products a liquid face lift can give your face a gentle lift,  reduce your wrinkles, laugh lines and other folds, and restore  a more natural, rested and energetic appearance to your face.

Dermal fillers for Rhinoplasty?

Scottsdale – Dermal fillers are not FDA approved for rhinoplasty or post-rhinoplasty correction. However, because of their potential reversibility, low risks and ease of use, these are used in the nose with high frequency, especially for correction of minor defects after rhinoplasty.

The latest issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal discusses the use of dermal fillers to correct post-rhinoplasty deformities in the nose. The article was published through the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago.

The authors point out that dermal fillers are minimally invasive and can reduce the  financial expense, anesthetic risks, or downtime associated with revision nose surgery. The researchers discussed these options and give some sound advice.

The authors like hyaluronic acid (HA) derivatives, such as Restylane and Juvederm, and calcium hydroxylapatite gel, such as Radiesse. Tips on patient selection and injection technique in the article are important, including:

1. Nasal injection includes sub-SMAS placement to reduce visible or palpable nodules.

2. Restricting the use of fillers to the nasal dorsum and sidewalls.

3. Avoiding injections to the tip and alae, which carry more adverse risks with injections.

4. Radiesse is an acceptable treatment for post-rhinoplasty deformities, but patients must be carefully selected to minimize risks.

5. Avoid silicone altogether because of severe granulomatous reactions, infection, thinning of the skin, and necrosis.

I found the article to be quite useful. I do agree with the authors, patients who are treated with dermal fillers must be followed closely for complications. The use of any soft tissue filler must be carefully considered by the patient. An explanation of the risks and the off-label use must be clearly explained to patients before any non-surgical plastic surgery procedure is administered (model used in illustration).