What
is it?
It is a new technique that has recently been US FDA approved for the treatment
of wrinkles around the eyes. Using advanced radiofrequency, skin tightening
is achieved without surgery, and without any recovery time. That means you
can schedule to have a treatment after work, or on your day off, and then
return to work without having to take time off. Most people experience a
redness that resembles a sunburn, or windburn. This usually lasts only a
few hours. There are no bandages or dressings, so you won’t have to
answer all those questions from family, friends, and colleagues like “What
did you have done?”
How
long does it take?
It takes between 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the areas you are having
treated. The only mandatory preparation for the treatment is arriving at
our office 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the treatment to thoroughly
cleanse the skin on your face. It is important to remove all makeup and
oily residue to achieve maximum results safely. Makeup and oils could possibly
interfere with the treatment and cause adverse reactions to your skin. If
during your consultation, your physician recommends a pre-medication for
you, you will need to take those medications at the prescribed time, and
have someone to drive you to the office and back home again.
How
many treatments will I need?
Most clients require only 1 treatment. Your physician will discuss your
needs during your consultation.
How
fast will I see the results, and how long will they last?
Most clients see results between 1-3 months after the treatment. Improvements
continue up to 6 months after the procedure. There are a few clients that
see results sooner than others, and can see a marked difference in their
appearance almost immediately.
Will
my results be the same as if I would have had a facelift?
No, this treatment is an alternative for people who do not want to have
surgery, or who may not need a traditional facelift yet. It is designed
to provide the client with modest improvement, modest tightening, and modest
lift. It is also not designed to replace a blepharoplasty. The greatest
results have been seen on clients in the age range of 30-60.
However, regardless of your age, your physician can discuss your goals with
you at your consultation. At that time you may browse through before and
after photos of clients who have already had the treatment done. Remember,
as with all cosmetic procedures, realistic goals and expectations are one
of the keys to your satisfaction post-procedure.
Does
it hurt?
The treatment is designed to be uncomfortable. The level of discomfort you
feel helps to provide feedback to the physician. He adjusts your treatment
level, based on your feedback, to achieve maximum results for you. Many
clients find that if they alter their breathing patterns, as instructed
by the nurse, they have less discomfort during the treatment.
How
does it work?
Each treatment consists of many individual treatment pulses. With every
treatment pulse, you will feel a cooling sensation, followed by a gradual
warming, then a brief intense heat, followed by another cooling sensation.
Each pulse lasts <6 seconds. The heat is causing the collagen, that is
in the deep layers of the skin, to tighten immediately. Over time the collagen
restructures and rebuilds to provide further tightening of your skin. As
this new collagen develops, your appearance becomes more youthful.
Once you enter the procedure room, you can expect the procedure to follow these general guidelines:
• Your identity will be checked by the nurse.
• You will be asked to remove all earrings, necklaces, and watches.
• A return pad will be applied to your lower back (to allow the radiofrequency wave to return to the machine).
• The treatment area of your face will be wiped with alcohol.
• A paper grid will be placed on your face for marking purposes, alcohol will be used to transfer the marks onto your face. The grid will be removed.
• The physician will re-confirm the areas of treatment with you.
• A fine-tuning pulse will be delivered to your skin. This calibrates the machine to your individual skin type.
• A series of 4 treatment pulses will be delivered. At this time you will be asked for feedback in order to individualize your treatment to provide you with maximum results.
• Your treatment will proceed through your treatment areas.
• You will be asked for feedback intermittently throughout the treatment.
• After the treatment, your face will be cleansed with alcohol to remove any grid marks that remain. The return pad will be removed.
• You may reapply makeup if you want to, while we schedule your 1 month follow-up appointment. We will provide you with discharge instructions, if you do not already have them.
What
is it?
It is a safe and natural gel that consists of non-animal substances. It
is intended to rejuvenate the skin by adding volume to lips, reducing wrinkles,
reducing folds, and enhancing facial contours. It is a non-permanent substance
that is biodegradable.
How
long does it take?
A typical treatment takes approximately 30 minutes, depending on the amount
of areas you are having treated. Unlike collagen, no skin testing is required.
How
many treatments will I need?
Each set of Restylane injections is a one time treatment. All areas to be
injected are treated in the same visit.
How
fast will I see the results, and how long will they last?
Results are immediate and will last approximately 6 months for lip augmentation,
and often longer for wrinkle reduction. However, each client is different
and results may vary.
Does
it hurt?
The physician uses a small needle to inject the Restylane. Therefore, most
clients experience only mild discomfort. Those clients having lip augmentation
done will receive local anesthesia first to minimize discomfort.
Are
there any side effects?
Injection related reactions include: swelling, redness, pain, itching, discoloration,
and tenderness at the injection site. These usually subside in 1-7 days
after injection.
How
does it work?
Once you enter the procedure room, you can expect the procedure to follow
these general guidelines:
• Your identity will be checked by the nurse.
• The treatment area of your face will be cleansed.
• The physician will re-confirm the areas of treatment with you.
• Each area of injection will be marked with a dot from a marking pen.
• Your treatment will proceed through your treatment areas.
• After the treatment, your face will be cleansed with alcohol to remove any marks that remain.
