Skin Care
Botox® Cosmetic
Botox® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxin A) is a prescription medication that is injected into facial muscles to relax them. Botox® is FDA-approved to treat the lines between the brows and also the crow’s feet lines around the eyes. In combination along with injectable fillers, Botox® is sometimes called “facelift in a bottle” or “liquid facelift” because the effects can be so dramatic.
The injection procedure is quick, usually requiring no more than 20 minutes. There will be multiple tiny injection points to make sure that all of the affected muscles are treated. You usually will not see the effects of Botox® appear until about 3 days after the injection. The results usually last about 3 months.
Injectable Facial Fillers
There are several injectable soft tissue fillers available to you for facial rejuvenation. Juvéderm®, Restylane®, Perlane®, and Belotero all are hyaluronic acid fillers which can be injected without any prior allergy testing. These products are used to soften the lines or fill in the hollows which can occur with aging, such as those that deepen around the nose and mouth. Many of these fillers now are formulated with a local numbing medication so that the injection itself is very tolerable. The effects of these hyaluronic fillers usually last anywhere from 6-18 months, depending on the location of the injection.
Sculptra®, Radiesse, and Artefill are considered to be volumizers which are used to replace lost collagen in the face. We also now offer the newly FDA-approved, longer-lasting filler, Juvederm® Voluma®. The effects of these products tend to last upwards of 2 years or more.
Lip Augmentation
Some of us were born with thinner lips. Some of us find that, as we get older, our lips have become drawn and thin. Some of us just wish our lipstick would go on easier! There are several ways to enhance our lips. The process of fat transfer involves removing fat from usually the abdomen or the outer thigh, and then injecting the fat directly into the lips. This is a surgical procedure with very little-to-no downtime. Another method, while “off-label,” can also be very effective in augmenting the lips. The use of injectable fillers such as Juvederm® is an easy and quick way to achieve the full luscious lips you desire.
Fotofacials
If you have sun spots or pigmentation issues that cause your skin to appear older, then you may be a candidate for light-based therapy (IPL). IPL uses specialized wavelengths of light to treat your problem areas. A course of IPL is usually 3-5 treatments spaced approximately 4 weeks apart. A full-face IPL fotofacial will brighten and clear your skin. It can remove unsightly brown spots and small visible blood vessels. It is important to avoid excess sun exposure and be compliant with using sunscreen afterwards. For more information, read the FotoFacial patient brochure.
Permanent Hair Removal
Sometimes unwanted hair grows on areas such as the upper lip, cheeks, chin, and even breasts in women. Sometimes we just want to get rid of hair so that we don’t have to waste time shaving our legs and underarms daily. Fortunately, there is technology to permanently remove this undesired hair growth. Dr. Lee utilizes intense pulsed light (IPL, but different from the one used for fotofacials!) to remove hair from almost anywhere on your body. Usually patients require a course of 5 treatment sessions per area. The treatments themselves are well-tolerated with little-to-no downtime. Please refer to the patient brochure for more information.
Laser Resurfacing & Skin Tightening
For the treatment of acne scars and stretch marks, we offer fractional non-ablative laser therapy. The Cynosure/Palomar ICON 1540 Laser has been proven to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars. It can even be used for non-surgical facial rejuvenation. The ICON 1540 Laser will improve the tone and texture of your skin, leaving you with younger, healthier skin. We recommend a course of 5 treatments, spaced one month apart and can be repeated. There is minimal downtime involved—usually only a half day of skin redness and minimal swelling.