Restylane has recently received FDA approval for injection into the lips.  Although we have been doing this already, it has been “off label” use of the product. This is the first filler to receive this FDA approval.  It is also approved for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.  We offer both Restylane and Perlane injections in the office.  Both products have lidocaine contained in the gel, so that the injections are almost pain-free.

At the recent oculofacial cosmetic surgery meeting in Orlando, Fl, there was a lot of discussion about fractionated CO2 resurfacing. CO2 resurfacing is still the gold standard for skin rejuvenation, but its” use is limited because of prolonged healing times, and it is only good for lighter skin types. With fractionated CO2 resurfacing, microscopic beams of laser are directed into the skin. This leaves treated skin adjacent to untreated normal skin, so healing is much faster. It can also be used for darker skin tones, and on the neck, chest and hands. In our office we have a fractionated CO2 which has enabled me to perform ablative resurfacing on a wide variety of patients with excellent results. Please come and see us for a complimentary consultation regarding this new laser technology.

Many of you have been asking about the new treatment for skin tightening which has been on TV and in the magazines.  It is called Ultherapy and we now have it in our office.  Ultherapy is an ultrasound procedure that penetrates deeply into the skin to stimulate the growth of new collagen.  A gradual tightening and firming occurs over the next 2–3 months, creating a natural lift to the skin.  Great results have been seen in the neck and jowls, and it can help to elevate the brow.  The treatment takes anywhere from 1–2 hours, and there is NO downtime with this. It can be used elsewhere on the body as well to tighten and firm. It is perfect for people who want to get some tightening and lifting of the face without any surgery.

One of the main problems with filler injections into the face, such as Restylane, Juvederm and Radiesse, has been bruising.  This usually occurs with injections into the marionette lines, or in the lower lids. The bruising can last up to 1–2 weeks for some people and is often difficult to cover with make-up.  There are even some patients who elect not to do any further injections due to the bruising!

At the recent Facial Plastic Surgery conference in San Francisco, there was a presentaion to the surgeons about a new type of canula to do the injections.  Filler injections are routinely done with small needles, which accounts for the bruising, as the needle can nick a blood vessel as it enters the skin.  The new canulas have a blunt tip, so that there is no risk of damaging a blood vessel and causing a bruise. As we incorporate these canulas into our practices, we should see significanly less buising than in the past — which is great news for our patients!