Let me say this plainly and succinctly…“filler fatigue” due to repeated hyaluronic acid based injections is a hoax. There is absolutely no truth to the notion that long term use of fillers causes problems with skin laxity or integrity. Cosmetic dermatologists now have nearly two decades of data on the safety and efficacy of fillers used in the United States and around the world. At SkinCare Physicians in Chestnut Hill, MA (just outside of Boston), we pride ourselves on treating patients safely with hyaluronic acid based fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, and Belotero, and importantly these treatments have been highly … Continue reading »
Skin changes related to aging include sagging, discoloration, lack of glow and luster, and wrinkling. While some wrinkles are tolerable, vertical lip lines drive some women to distraction. These lines often remind them of their childhood when their grandmothers or great aunts’ red lipstick bled into the upper lip lines. Now they look in the mirror and see these same lines. At SkinCare Physicians, our cosmetic dermatologists have developed a comprehensive approach to improving these lip lines, including a new component to perfect the results. SkinCare Physicians’ new upper lip lines treatment Our approach includes using neuromodulators such as Botox … Continue reading »
Patients often ask about dark circles under the eyes and what they can do to treat them. There are multiple reasons why dark circles appear and our cosmetic dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians have multiple ways to help address them. Why under eye dark circles appear As we get older, the skin generally tends to become thinner and loose. This is especially true around the eyes, leading to a tired appearance. The under eye area (also called “tear trough”) can also appear hollow and sunken due to volume loss. Finally, the under eye area can look dark because of enlarged blood vessels. Blue veins around the eyes can become more … Continue reading »
Patients often come to the dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians to voice concerns about the appearance of their lips. Some individuals hope for fuller lips and others are noticing new lines and folds around the mouth as they age. Fortunately, we have safe and effective treatments to rejuvenate your lips. Here are answers to the questions that patients often pose about lip treatments. What might be done to softly plump the lips? For patients who are hoping to give their lips a softer, fuller appearance, a popular treatment is the injection of hyaluronic acid fillers. This is a quick procedure that … Continue reading »
Want to look significantly younger and refreshed in about 15 minutes? Then the explosion of new procedures in the field of cosmetic dermatology, especially injectable fillers, is worth looking into. Filler materials have undergone such a rapid evolution over the past 3 to 4 years that they have revolutionized the way we can refresh the aging face. We now have a diverse array of materials that can be gently injected under the skin to plump sagging areas, smooth folds, and erase fine lines. We can target lip and smile lines, hollow cheeks and under-eye areas, and even sagging jawlines. Allergan, … Continue reading »
Upper lip lines and wrinkles, also known as perioral rhytids or smoker’s lines, are a major cosmetic feature of the lower face. A recent survey found that over 50% of women with appearance-related concerns selected the skin around the mouth as “the most likely to treat area” of the face. Know that you don’t have to live with these lines. There is more your dermatologist can do to help than you may have thought possible. But first let’s look at what triggers these annoying lip lines and wrinkles. The first culprits to come to mind are sun, cigarettes and straws. … Continue reading »
One of the main things that patients are concerned about is an unnatural look following cosmetic treatments and injections, including Botox and fillers. For many, this risk appears to be a fear-inspiring black hole, and the concern about looking unnatural and overdone is widespread. Fortunately, skilled injectors understand what it is that makes a patient look unnatural, and more importantly are able to avoid it with some very specific techniques. Optimizing the proper dose of Botox When it comes to treatment with botulinum toxins including Botox and Dysport, the primary culprit of an unnatural result is overdosing. When Botox was … Continue reading »
Well, Botox might very well do that. There is a great deal of evidence that demonstrates that injections of botulinum toxin neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) can modify the visible manifestations of emotions and potentially improve emotional states that culminate in greater happiness. If your normal everyday expression is one with a big frown and indented creases on your brow, everyone might think you are angry or upset. If your forehead is always furrowed, you may appear to others as constantly worried, bothered, or lost in deep thought. In both instances, people in your social environment might leave you alone or … Continue reading »
The FDA recently announced the approval of BOTOX Cosmetic for use on crow’s feet, the tiny horizontal lines that form around our eyes when we smile or squint. At our practice in Boston, we use BOTOX and similar products Dysport® and Xeomin® to treat crow’s feet and other facial wrinkles. Although BOTOX has already been approved for use on forehead lines, its FDA approval for crow’s feet is still newsworthy. Even when a product is approved for use on one part of the body, it can take months or even years for it to gain approval for other uses. Many people don’t … Continue reading »
At the annual dermatologic surgery meeting in Atlanta last fall, I presented new data on filler techniques to improve results. Fillers can now be used on virtually any part of the face, and using them preferentially in the temple region, as well as in front of the ears, can elevate lower facial skin with beautiful and natural results. Another area that offers pleasant results using fillers is on the eyebrows, eyelids and under the eyes, as shown in the videos below. These new techniques present a significant advantage: they do not cause an overinflated or artificial look. They also avoid … Continue reading »
