ZO Skin Health
TIP: Get Smart about Fillers
If you’re in your 40′s or 50′s chances are you’ve noticed some vertical lines in your face–not wrinkles, but loss of volume.
To the rescue: facial fillers. There are several on the market now, some of which you’ve probably heard about. But which one is right for you?? Your doctor may be the best judge of that, but here are some things that you should know.
After you have lost collagen and elastin, fillers help the dermis return to a more youthful condition. They work underneath the skin to trap water, plump the skin and restore volume that has been lost. They’re frequently used in the naso-labial folds (on the sides of the nose), the “marionette lines” (around the corners of the mouth). These areas are particularly susceptible to breakdown because there is so much chewing, talking, smiling. But facial fillers can also be used to raise scar depressions, plump the lips, enhance the temples, cheeks or lower eyelids.
With fillers there is little pain, and not much downtime (although swelling and minor bruising can last for up to a week). Your doctor will use a fine needle and may use a numbing cream or local anesthetic to reduce the pain.
Fillers are made from synthetic compounds that are safe for your skin. There are lots of different brands, including Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Sculptra, Radiesse and Prevelle. Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Prevelle are all made from hyaluronic acid, which is a natural sugar compound and provides fullness to the skin. Radiesse is made of tiny crystals that contain calcium hydroxyapatite, a substance found in our bones and skin.
Here are some of the pro’s and con’s of each:
Restylane: particularly good for nas0-labial folds, smile lines, forehead wrinkles, lips. You can expect it to last for about six-twelve months.
Perlane: injected deeper, so typically recommended for the cheeks, chin, eyebrows and around the mouth. The manufacturer claims it lasts 9-12 months. Not as popular as it used to be.
Juvederm: you’ve seen this advertised–for the “parentheses” folds. It’s the leading brand and from the company that brought us Botox. Lasts for about 6-12 months in the naso-labial folds; about 3-6 months in the lips.
Radiesse: recommended for smiles and nas0-labial folds. Lasts for up to one year.
Prevelle: recommended for fine lines, naso-labial folds, lips, lines around the mouth. Lasts for only 2-6 months, but is generally less expensive. Has lidocaine added to reduce discomfort.
Sculptra: generally multiple treatments are performed over a period of several months, but then it lasts for 2-4 years. Has lidocaine added, to reduce discomfort. Generally more expensive.
At the Obagi Skin Health Institute, Dr. Obagi uses Juvederm, Prevelle and Sculptra. Ask your doctor to explain his/her recommendations. It’s your face and your money, so make an informed decision–and be sure to select a provider who is well-qualified.
ZO Skin Health
Read Our Lips!
When was the last time you celebrated something on your body plumping up? It’s probably been a while, but at my Obagi Skin Health Institute, we have something that you might like — it’s your lips.
As we get older, all of the things that we don’t want to be thin — like our fingernails, our lips, our eyelashes, and our hair — get thinner. Somehow that’s not fair, but it’s the result of aging and environmental conditions and hormonal issues. As we age, our bodies slow down the process of regenerating cells, so our lips, which are already thin, get even thinner. Smoking, wind and cold weather can also dehydrate our skin so lips look less plumped. In order to slow this process, there’s not much you can do, but be sure to wear a lip product with an SPF. If that’s not enough, a dermal filler (like Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra, etc.) is an option.
Several months ago I was featured on Style Network’s “What I Hate About Me” show where people have lifestyle make-overs. In this particular case, the woman, who was newly divorced, was taught how to safely and properly use an internet dating service, walk in high heels, have a carefree hairstyle, and of course, she wanted to look a few years younger, so the producers brought her to me for lip plumping.
I used dermal filler Prevelle to give her lips extra fullness. Prevelle uses lidocaine, which reduces discomfort during procedures. And for the patients with no patience, results are immediate.
If restoring the youthful look of your lips appeals to you, but the idea of a needle — lidocaine or not — is not your style, you’ll want to consider something that’s now available from my office, Vivité Defining Lip Plumper. The name says it all.
No, it’s not at all similar to the lip gloss the girl at your beauty store sold you that did NOTHING. This actually works. Two people in my office, Dianne and Melissa, used Vivité for a week when they noticed their lips had gone off their hunger strike and started filling out.
Isn’t it time you were happy something was plumping up?
ZO Skin Health
New Alternatives to Botox®–Should You Give it a Shot?
- Used to be, when you asked a doctor for Botox, you got Botox. That’s because Botox was first in the market and had no competition. But soon, that will change. The FDA has approved Dysport®, a new anti-wrinkle injectible, also made from botulinum toxin. When it becomes available, should you ask your doctor to make the switch, especially if it’s a little cheaper?That’s an important question, so let’s face the facts.
- Dysport spreads after it has been injected. This is both a good and a bad thing. The advantage is that if large areas (like your forehead) need injection, theoretically it requires fewer injections, thereby reducing discomfort. In my experience, however, this migration causes a dilution, so more units need to be injected– so we’re right back where we started.
The disadvantage is that unless your doctor is experienced and has a good understanding of complex musculature (around the eyes, between the eyebrows), Dysport could migrate and cause blurred vision or sleepy eyelids. Those are some pretty devastating consequences–even if they last only 3-4 months, that can seem like a very long time.
Find out what other consumers are saying. In one blog, only 11 people (out of 21) were pleased with Dysport. Also read about what other physicians are saying about Dysport, and ask your physician to discuss it with you.
- The price of Botox is high, and competition may bring that price down. Up until this time, though, Allergan (the manufacturer of Botox) has not felt the pressure.
- Dysport paralyzes the muscle, and becomes effective in about 2-3 days; Botox generally takes longer than that.
- The FDA requires drugs like Botox to carry a warning label, saying that the drug may spread from the injection site to distant parts of the body, and can have serious side effects, like problems with swallowing or breathing. While anything is possible with botulinum toxin, problems are less likely with Botox Cosmetic. They’re of greater concern when Botox is used to treat spastic muscles of the eyes, and other systemic usage.
- Once popular, Botox parties are now making a comeback. The hostess usually gets her treatment for free, compliments of the doctor. And the doctor hopes to meet some new clients. For him, it’s a marketing tool. But for the patient, is it worth the risk? Not in my opinion. The risk of complications is too high. Sometimes the “doctor” isn’t a doctor at all—it’s only a clinician. For the patient, alcohol (even if it’s just a glass of wine!) and Botox don’t mix. Doctors should give Botox injections under the right lighting and conditions, and in the privacy of their own office.
- If you are in a restaurant that serves only Pepsi-Cola®, and you order Coca-Cola®, your waiter is required to advise you of that distinction. But that’s more of a trademark issue, than a truth-in-dispensing issue. If you ask for Botox, and your doctor chooses to give you Dysport, should she be required to discuss it with you?
When it comes to Botox or Dysport, be careful and be informed. Talk to your physician about it.
