Q: What is Botox?
A: Botox is a purified protein that is used to relax specific muscles that cause wrinkles.
Q: Is Botox safe?
A: Yes – Botox has a long, proven record of safety. Prior to it’s use for wrinkles, it was used for many years to treat a variety of ocular and neurologic medical conditions.
Q: Does Botox hurt?
A: It doesn’t have to! Although some patients report a mild pinching sensation similar to a bug bite, Dr. Wildemore is known for an extremely gentle touch and most patients are quite surprised by how comfortable the procedure is.
Q: What should I expect from my Botox treatment?
A: The treatment involves a few tiny injections into specific facial muscles. The treatment takes about 10 minutes in most cases. Following the injections, a cool compress will be applied for a few minutes to help reduce the risk of bruising. Patients are ready to return to normal activities immediately, although care must be taken to keep the head upright and to avoid massaging the treated areas or engaging in any strenuous activity for a few hours after treatment to ensure best results. A gradual
Q: Will I look different?
A: Yes and No. Your treated wrinkles will be softened – if not completely gone. However, your overall appearance will remain virtually the same – your friends and family may say you look ‘refreshed’ or ‘more rested’. Patients consistently remark that they ‘look the same – only better’.
Q. How long does Botox last?
A. The results from Botox typically lasts 3-4 months. Most patients repeat treatments 3-4 times per year to maintain optimal results. Should you stop treatments, eventually the wrinkles will return to their prior state.
Q: What are the limitations of Botox?
A: Although Botox is one of the most rewarding cosmetic procedures performed, it cannot accomplish all goals. Botox treats wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions. It cannot improve the overall texture of the skin – certain topical products, chemical peels and laser procedures are used to address the surface texture of the skin. It cannot tighten the facial skin, as facelifts can. Nor can it treat deeply etched in wrinkles or folds – fillers such as Restylane are used to treat these wrinkles. Therefore, Botox is frequently performed in combination with one or more of these other procedures to obtain optimal results.
Q: What are the side effects of Botox treatment?
A: Mild bruising or swelling may occur at the site of the injection. The treatment may also cause a brief headache. In very rare cases, the injections may cause the eyebrow or upper eyelid to droop, although this condition is temporary and corrects itself without treatment within 2 to 3 weeks.
Q: What is the difference between Botox and Restylane?
A: Both Botox and Restylane are used to treat wrinkles, however they are generally used in different locations and the manner in which they work differs. Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles and is used for frown lines, forehead lines and crows feet (lines around the eyes). Restylane is a ‘filler’ – a substance that is injected into the skin to literally ‘fill-in’ wrinkles and folds.
Q. What is Restylane?
A: It is a clear gel composed of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that is found throughout the body. It is injected into the skin to smooth wrinkles, plump and redefine lips, and to restore more youthful facial volume and contours.
Q: How long does Restylane last ?
A: Results are immediate and last 6 or more months in most patients.
Q: What should I expect from my Restylane treatment?
A: The entire treatment usually lasts about 30 minutes. This includes time to numb the skin of the areas to be treated to minimize any potential discomfort and post-treatment cool compresses to reduce any swelling or redness. The most commonly reported side effects are temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects typically resolve within two to three days – most patients apply makeup and return to normal activities within 24 hours.
Q: What is Juvederm ?
A: Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid filler used in a manner similar to Restylane.
Q: Can I get rid of the Brown spots on my hands?
A: Yes – this common sign of aging and sun damaged skin can be virtually erased! Depending on the extent and nature of the brown spots, there are a variety of treatment options ranging from lasers to chemical peeling and topical creams. We will help you determine the best options for you. Whatever treatment you choose, future sunscreen use is essential to maintain your newly rejuvenated hands.
Q: Can I get rid of facial redness and/or blood vessels on my nose and cheeks ?
A: Yes! Tiny blood vessels on the face are extremely common. They can be easily treated – in most cases with a few laser treatments.
Q: What can I do about the lines around my lips?
A: Lines around the lips are notoriously difficult to treat – although deep laser resurfacing can be effective, it requires a very significant amount of downtime and can leave permanent skin color changes. Thankfully, we now have other effective options. Although no treatment will be able to completely erase the lines, a filler substance (such as Restylane) and/or a variety of more mild resurfacing techniques can be used to greatly minimize these lines.
Q: Do Physician dispensed skin care products really improve the quality of your skin?
A: Yes – they can. However, not all products are the same – concentration and efficacy of key ingredients varies. We have selected a range of exceptionally effective pharmaceutical grade products that have been thoroughly tested to have proven benefits. An appropriate skin care regimen is essential to maintaining optimal skin health and appearance – we will help you establish a regimen customized to your needs.
Q: Sunscreen does not agree with my skin – are there other options ?
A: Everyone’s skin is different – thus, some degree of experimentation with sunscreens may be necessary to find one that is best tolerated by your skin. We can help you with this selection process – almost everyone can find a tolerable and cosmetically elegant sunscreen to wear on a daily basis. There are other options that can help protect your skin as well. Particularly newer anti-oxidants in the form of topical medications and oral supplements – we can help you determine the best protection strategy for you and your skin.
Q: I am breaking out and I have a special event in a few days – what do I do?
A: First - Do not pick or squeeze or otherwise manipulate your acne! Next – call us. We can provide anti-inflammatory injections to reduce the inflamed acne lesions (improvement is usually noted within 1-2 days). We can also prescribe a skin care routine to minimize breakouts.