Plump Me Up!
Who remembers Goldie Hawn in the movie First Wive’s Club? Probably our first exposure to collagen injections. It was mine. And what a lasting impression it made. I am “threatened” at least once a month not to make a patient look like her. OK… I promise, I won’t!
During my 20 year involvement with plastic surgery, nothing has changed more than non-surgical options for facial rejuvenation. Our once loved collagen has all but faded from the radar. Now we have very sophisticated injectables which are safer, more predictable, and give longer lasting results. Knowing which product to use where and why is the art of the process.
A myriad of products exist. My favorites at this moment are Botox, Juvederm Ultra Plus XC, Restylane, Radiesse, and Sculptra. For me, each has a specific role to restore the face in a pleasing and natural way. These can also be taken to extremes to change a persons appearance, if they desire. The full Parisian lip is most desired by younger women but not appropriate for the more mature crowd. Here lies the importance of knowing what the patient is trying to accomplish and designing a treatment plan to predictably deliver those results.
So, who should consider these treatments? If you look more tired that you feel, have a disconnect with who you see in the mirror, if lipstick bleeds into the lines around your mouth, or the jowls are starting to show up, then maybe it is time to get proactive and do something about it.These treatments can also be used in a preventative manner to prevent lines or wrinkles from showing up in the first place.I have college students who are treated with Botox regularly and have no lines on their face and don’t plan to get them. If you wait until a line becomes permanently established in the skin, it is much harder to remove.
The process begins with a complimentary consultation. I see all patients myself, listening carefully to your concerns and desires, and formulate a plan to specifically accomplish your goals. If you are a “first timer” and apprehensive, I begin treatment conservatively. We can always add more later when your concerns have resolved and you are confident with your results. Because I have an intimate knowledge of the facial anatomy, I do all injections myself. Over a series of treatments, I will learn your face and make adjustments in your treatment plan. It is important for me to hear what you liked about your prior treatment, and if there is anything you want to see different. Faces also change over time, muscle strength varies, volume may be lost, so changes to our treatment plan will take these into account.
A Botox treatment may only require 10 to 15 minutes, injectable fillers up to 45 minutes. There are very few side effects, no down time, can be done during a lunch break and be able to return to work. Botox will take 5 to 7 days to reach its maximum effect. Injectable fillers usually give more instantaneous results. You will be educated on what to expect, how to care for the treated area, and how to tell when your next treatment will be due. Botox is usually repeated every 4 months. Injectable fillers may last from 9 months to 2 years.
So guess what. You don’t have to live with those lines you don’t like. Many people, including men, are very private about these non-invasive procedures and opt not to tell anyone. When you start noticing people looking “well rested” and “refreshed”, you might just know their secret. If you are apprehensive or just curious, please come talk to me. You may decide to give it a try. Remember, the only thing you have to lose are your wrinkles!
