Cosmetic Dermatology
Our services don’t stop at medical treatments, our providers are equipped with cosmetic dermatology training that focuses on treating wrinkles, fine lines, sun spots and overall facial rejuvenation.
During your initial consultation we will work to identify what procedures will achieve the best cosmetic outcome leaving you feeling refreshed but still natural.
The best results are often achieved by a staged approach that involves combining different treatment modalities such as lasers for resurfacing and eliminating dark spots / sun damage, microneedling for improving dull skin by stimulating collagen, neurotoxins such as Botox for softening wrinkles, and injectable hyaluronic acid fillers for subtle and natural volume replacement. Establishing a consistent skin care routine and proper use of SPF is crucial for maintaining results.
Botox®️ / Dysport / Jeveau / Xeomin
We offer a variety of different name brand neurotoxins such as Botox, Jeveau, Xeomin, and Dysport for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.
How do Botox and the other neurotoxins work?
● Neurotoxins such as botox are made from a protein called botulinum toxin type A. They work by temporarily blocking the signal from the nerves to the muscles - preventing them from contracting as forcefully. The result is a softer appearance to the skin and temporary reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
● On average 3-4 months but results can be patient dependent.
Am I a candidate for Botox?
● Come see our providers for a cosmetic consultation to see if you are a candidate! It is possible to have a botox consultation and receive the product on the same visit. Botox is not recommended for pregnant or breast feeding patients.
At what age is it recommended to start treatments?
● There is no set age for men and women to begin treatments. Everyone develops fine lines and wrinkles at different ages based on their genetics, and other environmental causes such as sun exposure and smoking. Some patients prefer to start treatments at a young age as a preventative measure to stop lines even before they begin to form.
What are the side effects? Can I return right back to work?
● Side effects are very minimal, but can include localized swelling around the injection site that is temporary and improves within a few hours, and bruising. Most patients return back to work the same day without anyone noticing they received a treatment.
How many units will I need? What is the cost per unit?
● There are no “set” units per treatment area. It is very dependent on each individual patient’s anatomy and desired results. Everyone’s facial muscles vary and you will be assessed based and based on your anatomy our providers will make a recommendation. Typically men are dosed higher than women due to stronger facial muscles.
● On average here is an estimated range:
(a) Forehead lines (frontalis) typically requires 8-16 units
(b) “Number 11’s” or the frown lines between the eyebrows (glabella) typically requires 15-30 units
(c) Crows feet / Eyebrow Lift (6-15 units per side)
(d) Lip Flip (4-6 units)
Once I start treating my face with neurotoxins such as Botox do I have to continue?
● Absolutely not! This is a common misconception. Once the product wears off in 3-4 months your muscles simply go back to their normal state. The reason most people prefer to continue treatments is that with continued maintenance it is possible to soften deep wrinkle lines that are present at rest and prevent new lines from forming.
Will my face look frozen and unnatural?
● It is possible to receive treatments and still have movement of your muscles. Our providers always strive for conservative treatments that leave patients feeling their best.
How are Botox / neurotoxins different from filler?
● Neurotoxins such as Botox are injected into muscles to provide temporary paralysis to relax the muscles. When the muscles are not able to contract, your expression lines begin to soften.
● Fillers are made of hyaluronic acid and are injected into areas of the face to replace volume. They are not injected into muscles and are not used to address forehead lines. Fillers gradually break down over time and can last 6 months - over 2 years depending on the type of product.
Juvederm / Restylane Fillers
JUVÉDERM® makes several products, all formulated with hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring sugar in our bodies that adds suppleness, hydration, and elasticity to the skin. These products include:
Treats moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth
Creates an overall smoother appearance
Lasts up to 12 months
JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC
Plumps lips and smooths moderate to severe parentheses lines (also known as “smile lines”) around the nose and mouth
Lasts up to 12 months
JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC
Plumps lips and treats perioral lines (also known as “lipstick lines”)
Lasts up to 12 months
JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC
Treats moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth
Creates an overall smoother appearance
Lasts up to 18 months
JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC
Treats the cheeks due to natural, age-related midface volume loss
Lifts and contours the cheek area creating a fuller look
Lasts up to 24 months
Restylane® Family
Restylane® makes several products, all formulated with hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring sugar in our bodies that adds suppleness, hydration, and elasticity to the skin. These products include:
Restylane®
Lasts up to 6 months, or as long as 18 months if touch-up treatments are performed at 4 ½ and 9 months
Restylane® Silk
First FDA-approved product to treat both the fullness of lips as well as the smoothing of wrinkles and vertical lines around the mouth
Lasts up to 6 months
Restylane® Lyft (formerly known as Perlane-L®)
First and only FDA-approved dermal filler to treat both the face and hands
Treats volume loss deeper in the cheeks, midface, and back of the hands
Lasts up to 6 months when used for the treatment of wrinkles and folds or between 2 and 12 months when used to increase the fullness of the cheeks
Restylane Refyne™
Designed with XpresHAn Technology™ which supports natural-looking results through the use of a unique cross-linking gel carrier
Subtle formulation for softening mild to moderate laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines)
Lasts up to 12 months
Restylane Defyne™
Designed with XpresHAn Technology™ which supports natural-looking results through the use of a unique cross-linking gel carrier
Thicker formulation to smooth deep laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines) and provide a natural-looking, youthful appearance
Lasts up to 12 months
Lip Filler / Lip Flip
Many patients are surprised to learn we begin to lose volume in our lips in our teenage years. When done correctly by an experienced injector, lip filler should appear natural and provide a more youthful appearance to the face without any abnormal protrusion of the lip tissue. We are proud to offer the newest Restylane product “Kysse” that is a hyaluronic acid product developed specifically for the lips. For patients seeking conservative outcomes, small amounts of filler can be placed as a staged approach to achieve hydration and very natural outcomes.
For patients who do not want injectable filler, “ a lip flip” refers to utilizing neurotoxins such as botox and injecting it around the upper lip to relax the orbicularis oris muscle. By relaxing this muscle it is possible to make more of the upper lip visible. This technique is often best when combined with injectable fillers such as Restalyne Kysse but it can be performed by itself as well.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a treatment widely used to effectively eliminate varicose and spider veins. During this procedure, a sclerotherapy solution will be injected directly into the unwanted vein which irritates the lining of the blood vessel and causes it to collapse, clot, and eventually be reabsorbed by the surrounding tissue. This process forces the body to redirect blood to healthier, more capable veins, causing the unwanted veins to fade away. The sclerotherapy procedure is performed with a fine needle and small amounts of sclerosing solution.
What are the side effects of sclerotherapy?
The most common side effects to sclerotherapy include allergic reactions, ankle swelling, vein inflammation or phlebitis, and in rare cases, transient hyperpigmentation. More often than not, the injected veins will become darker before disappearing due to the irritant nature of the sclerosing solution.
Lasers
Prior to scheduling any laser treatments, a separate office consultation is required to first assess your skin type and concerns to best determine which laser treatment is appropriate. Many conditions will require multiple sessions to yield the best outcomes.
We are proud to offer competitively priced package deals for patients interested in purchasing multiple treatments.
We offer a variety of different lasers in both office locations that uniquely target different skin conditions:
Cynosure Icon 1540 - Fractional Non-Ablative Skin Resurfacing - facial rejuvenation for fine lines and wrinkles. Non-invasive with minimal downtime, this treatment can be paired in conjunction with facial fillers or alternated with microneedling for enhanced outcomes. A series of 3-5 treatments yield the best outcome.
Cynosure Max G Photofacial IPL - treats freckles, sunspots, sun-damaged areas such as the neck, brown spots, redness on the face caused by conditions such as rosacea. A series of 3-4 treatments yield the best outcome.*
Cutera HR (Alexandrite 755, nd:Yag 1064) - laser hair removal device that is also capable of treating certain types of pigmented and vascular lesions. Laser hair removal can be performed on the face, neck, underarms, bikini area, and lower legs. A series of treatments yield the best outcome and we offer competitive package discounts.
Cutera Excel V (Alexandrite 755, nd:Yag 1064) - an advanced laser uniquely designed to target prominent veins, dilated blood vessels, spider veins, redness on the face including rosacea, cherry angiomas on the body, redness surrounding post operative scars. This laser can also be used for laser hair removal and pigmented lesions.
Skin Rejuvenation
Skin rejuvenation treatments are the ideal choice for patients seeking to reduce the effects of aging by restoring your skin’s youthful elasticity and brightness. Skin rejuvenation can also be used for therapeutic purposes to treat skin conditions such as rosacea, irregular pigmentation, broken capillaries, spider veins, freckles, or brown spots. For cosmetic enhancements, skin rejuvenation can reduce the signs of aging on the face, arms, and hands through a variety of treatment options.
Kybella
KYBELLA® is the only FDA approved, injectable, non-invasive, treatment for contouring the fat below the chin. Some body types are more prone to the development of the “double-chin” look, regardless of diet and exercise practices. This extra pocket of hanging skin adds to the appearance of weight and age in the face.
With no downtime required, this procedure can be done in 20 minutes and have you back to your normal activities immediately. Many patients choose this procedure over traditional liposuction.
KYBELLA® permanently removes submental fat with the use of deoxycholic acid, the naturally occurring, fat-busting acid found in the body.
During the procedure, KYBELLA® will be injected into the skin of your neck/under the chin. Patients describe a mild discomfort which lessons with time. Over the counter pain medications are recommended for patients concerned about pain.
Most patients require 2-4 treatments for desired results, with treatment given in various increments. Your goals will be discussed to determine the proper course of action for your body type.
Lutronic Infini Microneedling with Radiofrequency
Click to see video demonstration
What is it?
Microneedling with radiofrequency is an advanced technology that offers a non surgical and minimally invasive approach for treating fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, acne scarring, and sagging skin.
The device contains 49 gold plated sterile microneedles that release heated radiofrequency waves in the dermis layer of the skin. The gold plated tips protect the superficial layer of the skin from thermal injury and enable the device to deliver targeted thermal radiofrequency energy to stimulate collagen and elastin within the deeper layers. It is this unique feature of the device that makes it safer for a wider variety of skin types than most light based lasers.
In addition to the radiofrequency heat waves in the dermis layer of the skin, the 49 gold plated needles cause microtrauma to the superficial layer that elicits further cellular repair to promote a more even skin tone.
What does it target and treat?
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Dull or uneven skin tone
- Acne scarring
- Skin tightening
What areas can be treated?
- Entire face
- Neck
- Can be used in targeted other areas on the body for scarring
Is it painful?
Without adequate time for topical numbing this procedure can be uncomfortable. Patients are encouraged to arrive 1 hour prior to their scheduled time to numb and generally tolerate the procedure very well.
What is the downtime?
You will leave the office with facial redness and mild swelling. Superficial bruising can also occur. The majority of the redness and swelling typically resolves in 3-4 days.
When will I see results?
Patients generally note an improvement to their overall skin texture and tone 6 weeks after their first treatment. However, the boost in collagen production to help address fine lines, wrinkles, and scarring is best evaluated 3-6 months after the first procedure. Best results are achieved after a series of 2-5 treatments, typically spaced 4-6 weeks apart. This treatment is a long term investment in your skin because of the collagen stimulation benefits.