Non-surgical Options
The manifestations and signs of facial aging occur over time primarily as a result of sun exposure, lifestyle, and heredity. If you would like to restore natural and youthful facial contours, or reduce the appearance of lines and creases, injection therapy with soft tissue fillers and the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic or DYSPORT® may be right for you.
Injectable fillers and BOTOX or DYSPORT can be used to:
- restore natural fullness to the lips and corners of the mouth
- soften facial creases and wrinkles
- improve the appearance of depressed scars
- enhance shallow or depressed contours in the facial tissues
- restore fullness to hollows or depressions underneath the lower eyelids
Our practice has extensive experience with most FDA-approved fillers, but Dr. Barone prefers to use those that are natural or biologically identical to our own body tissues. There are several injectable fillers to choose from including Restylane and Perlane®, Juvederm, Artefill®, Radiesse®, and Sculptra®. Each one has unique characteristics which may make one type of filler a better choice for a particular area of the face. Dr. Barone will evaluate your needs and review with you the best choices for your individual concerns.
Since there are minor side effects associated with injectable fillers (temporary bruising and swelling may occur), we recommend the use of a topical Vitamin K Oxide product (Auriderm, by Biopelle) after treatment to help promote healing and improve the appearance of bruises. Also helpful is taking Arnica montana tablets just prior to or immediately after the procedure. This homeopathic remedy can reduce and provide relief from bruising and swelling. Both products are available for sale in a post-procedure relief kit at evolv Medical Aesthetics. Aspirin or any medication which inhibits clotting function should be avoided prior to this procedure.
Ulthera
Ultherapy is a new non-surgical technology for achieving facial skin tightening and lifting. This innovative system uses unique ultrasound technology to apply sound waves to skin and deeper tissues, which encourages new collagen production and regeneration of the skin. Sound waves also allow the provider to visualize the area to be treated, which ensures a uniform application of energy for consistent results.
Results begin immediately and continue improving for about 90 days. It is a natural and gradual progression to a more youthful appearance – smoother, tighter skin, and fewer lines and wrinkles. Areas that respond best to treatment include the lower face and neck, around the eyes, and the forehead. Those with some skin laxity that may not be ready for a traditional facelift, that desire a non-invasive treatment with no downtime would be good candidates.
Ultherapy is the only non-invasive rejuvenation procedure that uses ultrasound to lift and tighten skin. Ultrasound is a safe and proven technology, and the focused-ultrasound specific to Ulthera was recently FDA approved.
back to topOmnilux Combination Light Therapy
With 12 years of extensive medical research behind it, the Omnilux system is a new and valuable tool we can use to give just about anyone a clearer, brighter and smoother complexion with reduced lines and wrinkles. Using light emitting diode technology, widely known as LED’s, Omnilux uses visible wavelengths of light to work with the body’s own natural processes to counteract the effects of aging and acne. We can use LED's to help treat many skin conditions including:
- Acne and acneic inflammation
- photodamage (sun damage)
- non-melanoma skin cancers
- skin rejuvenation (treat fine lines and wrinkles)
- pigmentation or discoloration
- redness and inflammation (post treatment or from rosacea)
- pain in muscles and joints
Treatment with Omnilux Light Therapy is quick, non-invasive, requires no downtime, and is a low-cost way to improve the skin’s appearance and health. LED Therapy stimulates natural processes to repair the skin, and depending on the skin issues you may be experiencing, we can use a combination of different lights to be able to:
- stimulate cells that help to counteract the effects of aging
- destroy bacteria responsible for acne
- reduce inflammation
- stimulate cell growth and collagen production
- decrease pore size
- limit oil production
Omnilux Therapy may also be used for a technique called photodynamic therapy, which uses the light in combination with topical medication to reduce precancerous cells called actinic keratosis, or to improve acne and skin aging.
LED Therapy with Omnilux is safe and effective. When following the prescribed protocol, studies have shown 80% of patients report reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, and up to 81% clearance in mild to moderate acne.
Talk to your aesthetician about adding LED therapy into your treatment plan, and see the difference a little good light can do for you!
Fillers
Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm – hyaluronic acid-based fillers
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance found in the body. One molecule of HA can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, which means they have the ability to add volume and elasticity to the skin.
The HA found in the injectable products listed above are synthesized in labs without the use of human or animal products, and are biologically pure. The result is fillers that have excellent safety records, with virtually no chance of allergic reaction.
Areas typically treated with Hyaluronic Acid fillers are the nasolabial folds (the lines that form from the nose to the corners of the mouth), marionette lines, directly around the mouth and to add fullness to the lips, depressions underneath the lower eyelids, and some concave scars.
Depending on the product used and where it is injected, results may last six months or longer. Newer studies are showing that injections of these Hyaluronic Acid products may stimulate our bodies to produce new collagen in the treated areas, which over time can lead to a longer lasting result as treatments are repeated.
Radiesse – Calcium hydroxyapatite
Radiesse is a safe, FDA-approved tissue filler that restores a natural, youthful look and lasts longer than some hyaluronic products. This product is made of unique calcium-based spheres suspended in a natural gel, ending up with a similar consistency to the composition of our bones. Because this is a naturally based product, allergic reactions are not typically seen. Radiesse works by forming a "scaffold" to support and stimulate the growth of the patient's own collagen. Results are immediate and typically last a year or more, providing a great cost-effective option.
Sculptra – poly-L-lactic acid
Sculptra is a biocompatible and biodegradable injectable material composed primarily of a substance called poly-L-lactic acid. This material has been used for many years in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants. Sculptra is used primarily in areas of fatty tissue loss, and provides a gradual increase in skin thickness and tissue fullness, restoring natural contours where tissue volume has been lost.
Treatment with Sculptra typically requires several injection sessions and results appear after the first few treatments. This filler has been clinically proven to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment, lasting for up to three years.
Artefill
Artefill is a permanent, soft tissue filler made of injectable microspheres of a substance called polymethylmethacrylate in a collagen base. It works in two stages. First, the collagen in Artefill visibly corrects the wrinkle. Then, over time, the collagen is absorbed by the body, but the microspheres remain intact, providing support the skin needs for long-lasting and natural-feeling wrinkle correction.
Patients who have had temporary fillers but wish for a longer-lasting solution would benefit from Artefill. In clinical studies, full wrinkle correction was maintained for up to a year, and patients still had visible results up to 5 years after their initial treatment.
Botox Cosmetic – botulinum toxin type A
Botox is a purified protein which has been used therapeutically for over 17 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. Botox is one of the most widely researched medicines in the world, and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use on creases between the eyebrows, or glabellar lines.
Many not familiar with Botox (and how it is used) have the misconception that treatment with Botox causes a "frozen" or unnatural look. This is absolutely not the case when it is used properly. An experienced and skilled Botox injector can give you a refreshed, natural look. In fact, most people won't even know you had anything done. They will just compliment you on how "rested" you look.
During treatment with Botox Cosmetic, very low doses are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause these lines on the face. Frown lines are caused by contractions of overactive facial muscles, and Botox works to block the nerve stimulation of these muscles, helping to gently relax them.
Dysport
Dysport is a new simple and effective non-surgical treatment that is biologically the same as Botox and works by relaxing facial muscles on the forehead – reducing and smoothing away frown-lines and wrinkles. Dysport’s results are visible within 3 days, making it a quicker wrinkle-erasing solution.
Dysport, by Medicis, the makers of Restylane and Perlane, was approved in April 2009 by the FDA for use in the United States but is supported by almost 20 years of clinical experience worldwide. Developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, it has been used to successfully treat a number of neurological and therapeutic conditions. Since 2002 Dysport has been used cosmetically in 17 countries and in 2 million patients for the treatment of frown lines.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy is an exciting technology that combines a topical medication with a specific wavelength of light. Medications commonly used for these treatments include Levulan (or ALA) and Metvixia, which are activated by the light source when left on the skin. This powerful and effective technique can benefit a number of skin conditions such as:
- Reducing the number of precancerous skin lesions and early skin cancers
- Eliminating bacteria that cause acne and reduce outbreaks
- Reducing the number of active oil glands and improving the appearance of pores
- Improving fine lines by increasing collagen production
- Reducing sun damage and rejuvenating the skin
Before undergoing photodynamic therapy, each patient must be evaluated by either our physician or medical aestheticians. Preparation and post treatment skin care are important to maximize results and minimize any side effects. Many patients with a history of skin cancer or precancerous lesions may be eligible for insurance coverage for this procedure.