Anti-aging options for a young woman?
I'm 24 years old, but as I am obsessed with my looks, I am looking to find ways to stay looking young. Should I get a mini face lift now or only Botox?
What is the best option for a 24 year old who is beginning to see SLIGHT signs of aging, besides creams. I feel like my nasolabial folds are bothering me the most, and I feel I'm starting to get them because of my constant dieting and losing/gaining weight in my face.
I used to have chubby cheeks when I was younger but as I got older they went down. If I get Botox or some kind of filler, I don't want to look like I have chubby cheeks again, but if I get a Face lift and pull them back would I look overdone?
ANSWER:
An individualized approach is best
At 24, I would consider you pretty young for most cosmetic procedures, although I totally understand that you want to look your best and continue to do so for years to come. So, for right now, I would do minimally invasive treatments such as Botox, IPL, light chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and Retin-A/sunscreen. Without seeing you personally, it would be hard to suggest juvederm or any other filler for the nasolabial folds, although if indicated, this should be a fine treatment as well.
I'm a big proponent of Botox used to prevent wrinkles, so that would be an excellent first line choice. Doing sunscreen every morning will also preserve and moisturize your skin and prevent sundamage. Retin-A is a proven wrinkle reducer / preventer that would be an excellent choice every night. Doing glycolic acid 30% peels +/- microdermabrasion should be very helpful in giving your skin a nice glow. IPL can be done if you have some freckling or signs of sun damage. Other procedures, such as Fraxel, are more likely needed if you have fine texture abnormalities or acne scarring to repair.
A face lift at 24 would be hard to recommend, and fillers must be recommended only if indicated when you are officially evaluated.
Answer by Don Mehrabi, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist, Beverly Hills Dermatologist
www.DermZone.com
www.BHSkin.com
www.MySkin101.com
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Is Juvederm safe?
Is Juvederm safe?
I want to get Juvederm injections for the laugh lines around my mouth. Is Juvederm safe? What should I know about the safety of Juvederm?
ANSWER:
Juvederm is safe
Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid filler. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of second layer of your skin, the dermis. It can actually hold 1000x it's own weight in water and is excellent at volumizing the skin. Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm Ultra, and Juvederm Ultra Plus have been used widely and safely for many years.
While skin and allergy reactions rarely occure, the most common complications are pain, brusing, asymmetry, and possible lumpiness or bluish tint if injected too superficially. A rare, but serious complication, is skin necrosis and ulceration due to injection into an arterial vessel. This complication is primarily due to injection technique and the area of injection. The area most prone to this is the area between the eyebrows (glabella area / "11" lines). Great caution must be excersized greatly in this area. Regarding the laugh lines specifically, this area is one of the most commonly injected areas and is widely considered safe to be injected.
While these reactions / complications are uncommon, these are the main issues that you have to consider when getting injected with Juvederm or any other hyaluronic acid filler. Please make sure to consult your physician thoroughly before doing your procedure.
Answer by Don Mehrabi, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist, Beverly Hills Dermatologist
www.BHSkin.com
www.DermZone.com
www.MySkin101.com
I want to get Juvederm injections for the laugh lines around my mouth. Is Juvederm safe? What should I know about the safety of Juvederm?
ANSWER:
Juvederm is safe
Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid filler. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of second layer of your skin, the dermis. It can actually hold 1000x it's own weight in water and is excellent at volumizing the skin. Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm Ultra, and Juvederm Ultra Plus have been used widely and safely for many years.
While skin and allergy reactions rarely occure, the most common complications are pain, brusing, asymmetry, and possible lumpiness or bluish tint if injected too superficially. A rare, but serious complication, is skin necrosis and ulceration due to injection into an arterial vessel. This complication is primarily due to injection technique and the area of injection. The area most prone to this is the area between the eyebrows (glabella area / "11" lines). Great caution must be excersized greatly in this area. Regarding the laugh lines specifically, this area is one of the most commonly injected areas and is widely considered safe to be injected.
While these reactions / complications are uncommon, these are the main issues that you have to consider when getting injected with Juvederm or any other hyaluronic acid filler. Please make sure to consult your physician thoroughly before doing your procedure.
Answer by Don Mehrabi, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist, Beverly Hills Dermatologist
www.BHSkin.com
www.DermZone.com
www.MySkin101.com
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Does Latisse work better than Revitalash?
Does Latisse work better than Revitalash?
Does Latisse work better than Revitalash? I still have a lot of Revitalash left, and I'm not sure if it's worth if for me to switch to Latisse...
ANSWER:
Both will work, but Latisse has studies showing proven results
Revitalash works well for many people. Reviatalash's new formulation has a different ingredient than bimatoprost, but it is still a prostaglandin-related analog that has the same side effect of growing hair. They had to change their formulation within the last year, but it is still effective and the results can be dramatic. However, this is labelled as a cosmetic by the FDA, not as a drug; therefore, studies to prove consistent results haven't been done to the best of my knowledge.
Latisse has the same ingredient as the glaucoma drug, Lumigan (made by Allergan). This medication has been extensively studied and the effects on eyelash growth, fullness, and thickness studied. This medication has been proven to predictably and reliably grow eyelashes in approximately 80% of people using it. It is FDA approved, and you won't be able to get it without a prescription from your doctor.
If you have revitalash, and it works for you, there is no need to go get Latisse. But, if the Revitalash you have is not giving you any results, it may be worthwhile to try Latisse when it's released.
Answer by Don Mehrabi, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist, Beverly Hills Dermatologist
www.DermZone.com
www.BHSkin.com
www.MySkin101.com
Does Latisse work better than Revitalash? I still have a lot of Revitalash left, and I'm not sure if it's worth if for me to switch to Latisse...
ANSWER:
Both will work, but Latisse has studies showing proven results
Revitalash works well for many people. Reviatalash's new formulation has a different ingredient than bimatoprost, but it is still a prostaglandin-related analog that has the same side effect of growing hair. They had to change their formulation within the last year, but it is still effective and the results can be dramatic. However, this is labelled as a cosmetic by the FDA, not as a drug; therefore, studies to prove consistent results haven't been done to the best of my knowledge.
Latisse has the same ingredient as the glaucoma drug, Lumigan (made by Allergan). This medication has been extensively studied and the effects on eyelash growth, fullness, and thickness studied. This medication has been proven to predictably and reliably grow eyelashes in approximately 80% of people using it. It is FDA approved, and you won't be able to get it without a prescription from your doctor.
If you have revitalash, and it works for you, there is no need to go get Latisse. But, if the Revitalash you have is not giving you any results, it may be worthwhile to try Latisse when it's released.
Answer by Don Mehrabi, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist, Beverly Hills Dermatologist
www.DermZone.com
www.BHSkin.com
www.MySkin101.com
Can facial muscles become weaker after Botox?
Can facial muscles become weaker after Botox?
I want to try Botox for the "chemical brow lift" effect. However, I am worried that Botox may cause the facial muscles to weaken or atrophize while it's in the body; and when it's gone, the brows might fall even further than their original position due to the weakened muscles in the area. Is this scenario possible?
ANSWER:
Yes, Botox my weaken muscles over time; but, your brows won't fall more because of the Botox.
The short answer is yes, Botox can lead to muscle atrophy and thinning if used repeatedly over short periods of time. Botox works by "relaxing" (partially paralyzing) the muscles by inhibiting neurotransmitters. Over time, this neurotransmitter function is regained; the time period usually is around 4 months for most people.
Ideally, it would be wise to allow the muscles to regain some function before re-injecting Botox, but some people choose to re-inject before this function is regained, thus keeping the muscle in a semi-permanent state of relaxation. As muscles gain their strength by contracting/working, this semi-permanent state of relaxation would eventually cause the muscles to thin and somewhat atrophy over time.
In regards to your specific case of a "chemical brow lift", if you re-injected these specific muscles repeatedly over a short period of time to cause such a semi-permanent relaxation, then yes, you can atrophy those muscles, but no, you won't cause your eyebrows to droop more over time. In fact, it might actually delay further drooping.
But, be careful, overdoing Botox to acheive this would cause the muscles that are working to lift your eyebrows to perhaps become a little stronger, and may lead to an unnatural look. Do Botox tastefully, and take your time between injections, and you should do fine.
Answer by Don Mehrabi, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist, Beverly Hills Dermatologist
www.DermZone.com
www.BHSkin.com
www.MySkin101.com
I want to try Botox for the "chemical brow lift" effect. However, I am worried that Botox may cause the facial muscles to weaken or atrophize while it's in the body; and when it's gone, the brows might fall even further than their original position due to the weakened muscles in the area. Is this scenario possible?
ANSWER:
Yes, Botox my weaken muscles over time; but, your brows won't fall more because of the Botox.
The short answer is yes, Botox can lead to muscle atrophy and thinning if used repeatedly over short periods of time. Botox works by "relaxing" (partially paralyzing) the muscles by inhibiting neurotransmitters. Over time, this neurotransmitter function is regained; the time period usually is around 4 months for most people.
Ideally, it would be wise to allow the muscles to regain some function before re-injecting Botox, but some people choose to re-inject before this function is regained, thus keeping the muscle in a semi-permanent state of relaxation. As muscles gain their strength by contracting/working, this semi-permanent state of relaxation would eventually cause the muscles to thin and somewhat atrophy over time.
In regards to your specific case of a "chemical brow lift", if you re-injected these specific muscles repeatedly over a short period of time to cause such a semi-permanent relaxation, then yes, you can atrophy those muscles, but no, you won't cause your eyebrows to droop more over time. In fact, it might actually delay further drooping.
But, be careful, overdoing Botox to acheive this would cause the muscles that are working to lift your eyebrows to perhaps become a little stronger, and may lead to an unnatural look. Do Botox tastefully, and take your time between injections, and you should do fine.
Answer by Don Mehrabi, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist, Beverly Hills Dermatologist
www.DermZone.com
www.BHSkin.com
www.MySkin101.com
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