Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery

Peels work on a simple premise. A chemical solution is applied to skin that is wrinkled, scarred, sun-damaged, or otherwise pigmented. This solution causes several of the top layers of skin to dry up and to peel off over a period of several days. When the old layer has peeled off, it exposes a new layer of undamaged skin which has a smoother, younger, more even-looking appearance.

Chemical peels are not a substitute for facelifts, but can improve the texture of the skin. Your cosmetic surgeon can discuss your individual circumstances and review the procedure and the peel she plans to use with you. It is important that you understand the procedure, so be sure to ask your surgeon any questions you may still have.

Chemical peels can enhance the appearance of facial and other skin on men and women of all ages. While chemical peeling is available to almost everyone, skin type and coloring are important considerations. The best candidates are usually those with fair, thin skin that has a tendency toward fine wrinkling or scarring on the face. Deeper chemical peels are usually not recommended for highly pigmented skin, such as Asian, black and Mediterranean, or oily, complexions.

This procedure will not prevent aging, however, chemical peels can erase, fade or reduce fine facial wrinkles and remove other surface imperfections. There are now several different types of chemical peels depending upon your particular condition. For certain types of scars and pits, dermabrasion, which uses a tool to “sand” the surface of the skin, may be suggested.

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Facial Fillers (Restylane®, Juvederm®, Sculptra®) are an injection for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, the lines between the nose and mouth. Restylane and Juvederm are hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in all living organisms and provides volume and fullness to the skin.

HA fillers are formulated as a clear gel and uses a dual mechanism of action to correct wrinkles and folds. Upon being injected beneath the skin’s surface, the gel adds natural volume and lift to smooth wrinkles and folds. The gel integrates into dermal tissue then attracts and binds to water molecules to help maintain volume. Restylane is gradually degraded by the body’s own mechanism and disappears without any residue. Results can be seen immediately following treatment and last six months, or even longer.

Sculptra Aesthetic® is a new type of facial injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid, which helps to replace lost collagen. Collagen is a key structural component that keeps skin youthful looking and smooth. As you age, your body’s collagen production decreases, and you may begin to see wrinkles. Sculptra® helps correct shallow to deep facial wrinkles, and folds, that appear with aging by replacing lost collagen. The main ingredient is a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic material that has been used by physicians for decades.

Within the deep dermis, your skin’s structure is reinforced as Sculptra Aesthetic helps to replace lost collagen. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness of your shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds that has been depleted over time. The result? Sculptra Aesthetic is different because it gradually and subtly corrects these facial wrinkles. This can provide a refined, more youthful looking appearance that can last up to two years.

Sculptra Aesthetic works to replace lost collagen in a series of treatments. On average, three injection sessions are needed over a period of a few months. The number of injection sessions and the number of injections per session vary from person to person.

Botox® is a form of Botulinum Toxin A manufactured by Allergan, which is purified from bacterial cultures and processed into an injectable protein. It has been used for years to treat patients with certain muscular disorders. More recently, Botox®has been getting attention as an anti-wrinkle treatment that is quick and convenient with minimal side effects.

Wrinkles are formed over time as the facial muscles contract to laugh, smile or frown. As these muscles contract, “grooves” are worn into the skin, resulting in each individuals unique pattern of facial lines. Botox®relaxes the facial muscles by attaching to the nerve terminals, blocking the action of chemical neurotransmitters. This prevents the muscles from contracting, allowing the skin to relax which reduces or even eliminates the overlying wrinkles. Botox®has a long term safety record. For many years, Botox®has been used to help patients who suffer from blepharospasm, a muscular disorder that produces a constant twitching of the eye.

We use a micro needle to inject a small amount of Botox®into the tiny muscles in the area around the wrinkle(s). Pain is minimal and most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. Injections are normally given every three to six months since the effects of the treatment diminish over time. Usually, results are seen within the first few days following injection. The duration of benefit is often extended with each successive treatment, therefore the second treatment often lasts longer than the first, and so on. Because everyone’s anatomy is a little different, the intensity and duration of Botox®effect varies somewhat from person to person.

Botox®is commonly used on the vertical “frown” lines between the eyebrows and on the horizontal lines on the forehead. It is also quite effective on the “crow’s feet” at the corners of the eyes. Botox®treatments are highly effective, and in most people will create a more alert, refreshed and younger appearance. Often, depending on the lines or wrinkles treated, Botox®can produce a friendlier, less “stern” look, too.

Reasons for considering Botox® Treatment

• Excessive facial wrinkles.
• Large wrinkles or furrows in your forehead.
• Small wrinkles or “crow’s feet” around your eyes.
• A vertical “frown line” between your eyebrows.

General Procedure

The procedure works by altering the facial muscles beneath the skin that are related to wrinkles. A cream with local anesthetic will be placed on your skin prior to treatment, and ice will be immediately applied upon completion of the Botox® treatment. Typically a small amount (1-2 cc’s) of Botox® is injected into the area of the wrinkle. Botox® works by blocking the impulses from the nerve to the facial muscles, thereby relaxing them. The result is the underlying facial muscles relax and the skin begins to smooth out. The effects of a Botox® treatment will last approximately three to six months after which the patient may choose to repeat the procedure.

Recovery Process

Patients generally return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure, however following the post-procedure guidelines will dramatically reduce the length and intensity of the recovery period. Patients should avoid engaging in heavy physical exercise, applying cosmetics, or laying down flat for a minimum of 4 hours after the injections. It is also advisable to avoid rubbing or massaging the injected area for at least 24 hours.