FAQ

Botox and Other Neurotoxins:

Question: How do neurotoxins work?
Answer: BOTOX^® and other neurotoxins target one of the underlying causes of frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines — the repeated muscle contractions from frowning, squinting, smiling and raising the eyebrows over the years. Your specialist will inject these muscles with BOTOX^® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce muscle activity. You will begin to notice a visible smoothing of the frown lines between your brows, your crow’s feet lines and your forehead lines.

Question: Will my face look over done or unnatural?
Answer: Injection of BOTOX^® and other neurotoxins is a technique-sensitive treatment. You can trust BOTOX^® Cosmetic to deliver subtle results when you are treated by someone who is licensed, trained, and a medical expert in facial anatomy. So you’ll look like yourself—only with less noticeable lines. No one should be able to tell you’ve had anything done.

Question: Is Botox only for women?
Answer: Not at all! Many men make BOTOX^® Cosmetic part of what they do to care for their appearance.

The number of men choosing treatments like BOTOX^® Cosmetic has risen fast – in the past three years alone, men have received over one million botulinum toxin treatments. When surveyed, the majority of men say they want to look good and they’re bothered by the changes they see in the mirror. 80% would choose to treat their crow’s feet first, while 74% would prioritize their forehead lines, and 60% would most like to treat their frown lines.^†

^†Results from a survey of men to determine most likely treatment areas and top areas of concern for injectable-naive, aesthetically-oriented men aged 30 to 65 years (N=600). Proportion of respondents selecting that area as highest priority to treat using the Maximum Difference (MaxDiff) scaling system.

Question: How old do I have to be to start getting botox?
Answer: It’s not your age that determines when BOTOX^® Cosmetic is right for you, it’s the severity of your lines. In fact, 64% of plastic surgeons report seeing a rise in cosmetic surgery or injectable treatments for patients in their early 30’s.

The truth is, everyone’s lines form differently. The timing can be influenced by a combination of factors, from cellular changes that may occur over time, to reduction of collagen, to genetic factors, or damage caused by free radicals from the sun and the environment.

Question: How much time does a botox treatment take? Does it hurt?
Answer: The actual injection process takes a quick 10 minutes. Your specialist will discuss your treatment goals and perform a facial analysis to determine the appropriate treatment areas for you. Then, some patients report that being injected with BOTOX^® Cosmetic feels like a pinch. Your specialist may use ice to numb the treatment area. Or, if you are concerned about discomfort, your specialist may apply a topical numbing cream before administering your treatment.

Treatment requires minimal downtime. So you can return to your daily routine immediately after you leave your specialist’s office.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Facials and Facelifts and Facelift with Filler

Question: What is the difference between PRP facial, facelift and facelift with filler?
Answer: A PRP facial uses microneedling coupled with the regenerative power of the plasma from the patient’s blood to improve skin texture and scarring. A PRP facelift uses the plasma injected into targeted areas to improve skin turgor and texture. A PRP facelift with filler uses both the patient’s plasma and hyaluronic acid filler to improve skin texture and elasticity. Results using filler are more immediate than the results of the plasma-only procedures.

Question: Is a PRP facial/facelift safe?
Answer: It is a non-invasive procedure requiring only topical anesthesia. The plasma is drawn from the patient and re-injected during the same visit and carries almost no risk of side effects. There is minimal downtime and side effects may include burning, itching or swelling.

Question: How long till I see results?
Answer: If using filler you will see immediate plumping results. The evenness and skin changes from the PRP will be visible 3-6 weeks. Results are not permanent but can last from 1 year to a year and a half. For best results, multiple treatments are encouraged.

Aquagold Facials

Question: How many Aquagold treatments will I need?
Answer: Results are seen within 3-7 days after treatment and typically last approximately 3-4 months. Procedure can be done as often as every 1-3 months, doing several treatments throughout the year will continue to improve overall appearance of skin.

Question: How is this different than having dermal fillers injected?
Answer: While AquaGold uses the same high-quality FDA-Approved Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers that we inject to plump lips, lift cheeks, and fill in deep lines, you shouldn’t expect to see the same kind of changes as you would with those applications. When these fillers are injected deeper into the tissues below the skin, they can restore volume. However, with AquaGold, we’re placing the hyaluronic acid in very small microdroplets throughout the skin of the entire face to smooth the actual skin layer. It’s the same product used in different ways to treat different concerns. If you want to restore or add volume in your face in addition to improving skin quality, then dermal filler injections can be performed at the same time as AquaGold.

Question: How is this different from having Botox injections?
Answer: Botox and other neuro toxins can be safely used to treat a variety of concerns including frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and crows feet. With AquaGold, we’re injecting Botox in very small quantities throughout the face to improve fine lines, contract pores and decrease redness. It will not relax muscles to prevent wrinkles the way that Botox injected into the forehead and crow’s feet does. AquaGold is more of a rejuvenation technique than are traditional fillers or Botox. If you’re looking to relax wrinkles in addition to improving skin quality, Botox injections can be performed at the same time as AquaGold.

Question :What areas can benefit from Aquagold treatment?
Answer: Treatment areas include the skin on your face, neck, décolletage, and even on the back of your hands.

Question: What’s the difference between aquagold and microneedling?
Answer: Microneedling creates tiny, controlled injuries that trigger a healing response, stimulating an increase in collagen production. It allows topical skin care products to penetrate more deeply, but not all microneedling treatments involve serums or other topicals. PRP facial include platelet rich plasma to stimulate collagen production. In contrast, Aquagold isn’t technically a microneedling procedure: it’s a “microchanneling facial” or “microfusion facial” that delivers potent ingredients into the channels created by its needles. Because its needles are thinner than those in most microneedling devices, it can safely treat sensitive areas, such as under the eyes, without pain. Often topical anesthetics are not necessary when performing aquagold facials.

Chemical Peels

Question: What Conditions Do Chemical Peels Treat?
Answer: Chemical peels have been proven to improve the texture and appearance of skin, reduce lines and wrinkles under the eyes and mouth area, help with anti aging and sun damage, treatment of wrinkles, treat acne scars and reduce age spots, freckles and dark spots from pregnancy also known as a condition called melasma.

Question: Is a Chemical Peel Right for Me?
Answer: If you are looking to improve the texture and appearance of your skin due to damage from aging, the sun, acne, acne scarring, or dark spots from pregnancy, you are a good candidate for a face peel

Question: Who is NOT a Good Candidate for a Chemical Peel?
Answer: You are NOT a good candidate for a chemical peel if any of the following apply at the peel site:

• Infection or disease,
• Cut or broken skin
• Sunburn
• Currently have an active Herpes simplex 1 sore
• If you are nursing or pregnant
• If you have taken Accutane in last 6 months
• If you currently have Psoriasis, Eczema, Dermatitis or Rosacea.
• You are not a suitable candidate if you have used any of the following drugs in the last 48 hours: Retin-A, Renova, Prescription skin care products, Products that contain ascorbic acid, bleaching or skin-lightening agents, Other acid products.

Dermal Fillers

Question: What are dermal fillers?
Answer: Dermal fillers are substance/gels injected beneath the skin’s surface to smooth wrinkles and add volume and contour. The products are composed of stabilized hyaluronic acid (HA) which occurs naturally in the cells of the skin. It works by drawing in water and therefore augmenting the skin, thus reducing the wrinkle treated. It is by no means permanent and is totally biodegradable. Depending on the type of dermal filler, results can last between one to two years. Dermal fillers are very safe and have been used for over a decade. The most popular brand of dermal filler has sold over 20 million syringes.

Question: What areas can dermal fillers be used for?

Answer: The face loses volume and contour when we age, the bones and the soft tissue dissolve and contribute to appearance of sagging. Dermal fillers may be used to replace this volume loss and restore the structural support, giving the patient a more youthful appearance. The aim is to make the face more harmonious and rejuvenated. For instance, the lips may be injected to improve their shape, size, symmetry, and proportion. The cheeks may be injected to make a face more defined and attractive. An underdeveloped chin may be injected to make it appear more projected and proportionate. The nose may be injected to improve the shape and its contour.

Question: What does the procedure entail and is it painful?
Answer: Generally, basic dermal filler procedures require no anesthetic as the dermal filler contains local anesthetic. It is simple and straight-forward, involving a few tiny injections directly into the skin, and takes between 15–30 minutes. Make-up can be applied immediately after the procedure and you can go straight back to work. Result can be seen immediately. Optimal results can be maintained over a long period of time through regular repeated treatments. The procedure varies from person to person depending on your requirements in addition to the particular dermal filler being administered.

Question: Are dermal fillers safe?
Answer: Yes. We use only products with proven safety record. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a substance which occurs naturally in the cells of the skin, thus there is no risk of allergic reactions. Even people with food sensitivities can receive these fillers safely. The brands of dermal fillers we use are available in more than 90 countries and have been used as an injectable cosmetic treatment for more than two decades with an excellent safety record.

Question: Are there any side effects?

Answer: Today’s dermal fillers have come a long way since the first-generation of collagen injections. Advanced injection techniques, coupled with the use of micro-cannula (blunt needle) and improved product safety means that significant side effects are extremely uncommon but may include:

Injection-related reactions: these reactions may include redness at the injection site immediately after the treatment.

Bruising: occasionally bruising can occur. However the use of micro-cannula (blunt needle) dramatically reduces the risk of bruising.

Contour irregularities can and do occasionally occur. Massaging can usually smooth out any ‘lumpiness’ however if persistent the filler can be easily and rapidly dissolved.

Infection — as with all injections, this procedure carries a risk of infection. The syringe is sterile and standard precautions associated with injectable materials are taken.

Necrosis — one of the worst possible complications of dermal filler. Fortunately, this is extremely rare. It happens when the dermal filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel and it subsequently blocks the blood supply to the skin/tissue in that area.

Blindness — This is a very rare complication. There have been approximately 100 cases in the world and is caused by injecting dermal filler into blood vessel which has a connection with the artery which supplies blood and oxygen to the eye. There is no treatment so far for this that has been successful.