Since the 1980’s Botox injections have been used to block signals from nerves to facial muscles, causing muscles to relax and wrinkles to become faint or disappear. The neurotoxin is commonly used to treat forehead wrinkles (“worry lines”), deep furrows between eyebrows (“frown lines”) and the rays at the corner of your eyes (“crows feet” or “smile lines”). Dr. Adams always uses the least amount of Botox necessary, in order to keep your face natural and expressive, while melting away those overly-visible hallmarks of expressions past.
Botox can also be used to treat hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, on your palms, armpits and other places. This is because Botox disrupts the messages your nerves send to your brain that instigate sweating.
Botox is injected with tiny syringes, similar to acupuncture needles. The entire process takes a few minutes, doesn’t require anesthesia and lasts from four to six months. Botox’s effects are visible about a week after treatment, and to prevent bruising, clients should lay off aspirin and other anti-inflammatories, such as fish oil or Advil, for two weeks prior to treatment. And eat pineapple! Pineapple is super-healthy and full of good stuff, including bromelain, which counters bruising.
A newer anti-aging neurotoxin, Xeomin, works similarly to Botox and lasts a similar length of time. Some clients have better results with one or the other, but for those who have equally effective results, switching up may keep your body from developing resistance.
As we age our faces lose fat and muscle tone, leading to drooping, sagging skin and causing many people to seek cosmetic surgery. But dermafillers are an easier and more affordable option. These are gels that are injected under your skin, re-structuring your face. They can plump lips and hollows, lift eyebrows, smooth wrinkles and lessen the appearance of concave scars. Fillers are sometimes used in cheekbones, under the eyes, in the lines that extend from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth, and in the lines of your neck, jaw lines, temples and chins. They can even be used to disguise old liposuction defects. They take under an hour, and if there are side-effects, they’re usually mild (temporary swelling, redness or bruising). Dermafillers can be injected alongside Botox, and effects can last for three months to a year and a half.
Dr. Adams considers filling a fine art, like sculpting. Because no one has your face, every client has specific dermafilling needs. Dr. Adams asks you to bring photos of a younger you, a you who’s appearance you enjoyed, to your consultation. Be careful in the days leading up to your appointment and discontinue use of anti-inflammatories such as aspirin, Advil, fish oil and excessive alcohol. (And eat pineapple! It helps with bruising.) Elizabeth Adams MD offers multiple fillers and, during the initial consultation, will help you decide what’s best for your exact needs. We’re excited to collaborate with you on restoring your unique, beautiful face.
All of the Juvederm products are made from hyaluronic acid, a chain of sugars found naturally in your skin that acts like a sponge, absorbing water to plump a targeted area. The effects of Juvederm are soft to the touch, making it great for wrinkles, fine lines and kissable lips. But which Juvederm product is perfect for you?
First, the basics: Ultra Plus and Ultra have both been around for awhile. Ultra Plus is made from larger particles than Ultra, which means it works better for areas with thicker skin and deeper furrows and tends to last a little longer.
Voluma contains the thickest, firmest gel, which is why it’s often used to boost and contour cheeks.
Volbella spreads silky-smooth, which makes it amazing for delicate areas. If you’re erasing fine lip lines or lines around the eyes, this is your filler!
Vollure is Juvederm’s newest product. It’s a “happy medium,” designed to smooth deep furrows, particularly in the lower half of the face, while still giving you enough flexibility for natural movement. And Vollure injections include the pain killer Lidocaine, to ensure a comfortable procedure.
Generally, the results of the Ultra products last six months to a year and can be occasionally touched up with a tiny amount of gel. Vollure and Volbella can last up to 18 months, and Voluma may last up to two years.
We want to make sure you’re happy with the aesthetics and longevity of your results, so schedule a consultation with Dr. Adams, and she’ll be happy to answer all your questions!
Perhaps the most popular dermafiller, Restylane targets superficial-to-moderate wrinkles and can leave skin improved for up to a year. Studies have shown that Restylane stimulates natural collagen production, so some of its benefits may be permanent. Like Juvederm and Boltero, Restylane is composed of hyaluronic acid, a natural sugar that plays a big beauty role, repairing skin and protecting cartilage. But aging and exposure to UV rays can cause skin cells to produce less hyauronic acid. Luckily we can “take up the slack” (literally and metaphorically!) with dermafillers.
We offer four Restylane products with different qualities, to make sure we’re using the perfect filler for your issue. Restylane Defyne and Restylane Refyne are flexible fillers that work well for the areas of your face that move often. (We’re looking at you, nose-to-mouth smile lines!) Defyne works best on moderate to severe lines, and Refyne works best on mild lines.
Restylane Lyft is a firm filler, used to erase deep wrinkles and folds and to add volume to cheeks. Lyft can fill those hollows at your temples, if you don’t love how pronounced they’ve become as you’ve aged, and it can even be used to subtly reshape your nose. It’s actually a great alternative to a surgical nose job.
Restylane Silk is a silky-smooth filler. It’s perhaps the best out there for plumping and smoothing lip wrinkles, leaving you with a naturally flawless pucker!
If you hate that flab beneath your chin and crave a firm, sculpted jawline, but you’re skittish about surgery, Kybella is for you! A lab-made form of a substance your body already makes, Kybella is basically liposuction in an injection. It’s main component, keyoxycholic acid, dissolves fat cells at the injection site. Sometimes a client requires several treatments spaced a few months apart.
Side effects include swelling and bruising for a few days. To counter the bruising, discontinue anti-inflammatories such as Advil, aspirin and fish oil for about two weeks prior to the procedure and discontinue alcohol for a day or two before the procedure. And eat lots of pineapple, which contains, bromelin, a compound that lessens bruising. The best thing about Kybella? The results are permanent! Once those fat cells are dissolved, they’re gone for good. So enjoy the rest of your life with your new, svelte profile.
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