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The decision to get Botox is an important one. Because Botox it is a medical procedure, it is important for you to be well-informed before you make that decision. Additionally, you want to be confident in your choice of provider. This is a delicate procedure and should only be performed by someone you trust. The following three questions will help you decide if Botox is right for you:

1. Who will be performing the injection?

It is absolutely crucial that the person who is actually performing the injection is well-trained and experienced in the procedure. When unqualified people inject Botox, the results can be unpleasant and potentially dangerous. The procedure should be performed by a doctor or a registered nurse who has been trained in the procedure. Be especially careful of people who market themselves as “injection specialists,” as this is not a title that requires any sort of certification or training.

2. Is Botox a good choice for me?

Botox is, first and foremost, a medical procedure. This means that while it may be a good choice for many people, it may not be a good choice for everyone. Some health conditions and medications may interact with Botox. You should discuss your health conditions with your doctor and let your Botox provider know which medications you take so that your doctor can inform you of any potential risks or safety issues.

3. How is your Botox stored and when is it reconstituted?

Botox should be carefully stored to meet the conditions on the package. Once Botox has been reconstituted, it begins to lose potency. Reconstituted Botox must be used within six hours. Ideally, your Botox dose will be prepared shortly before your appointment.

Once these questions have been answered satisfactorily, the decision to get Botox should be much easier.

For more information on Botox costs at info@yourlaserskincare.com or call us at 323.525.1516.

 

We are delighted to announce that we now have available a wonderful range of skin products called VIVITÉ®. Using the VIVITÉ® range of products will restore your skin’s youthful radiance, leading to younger, clearer looking skin.

A scientific advancement in skin care, VIVITÉ® has been clinically proven to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The VIVITÉ® range protects and revitalizes skin to reduce the signs of aging. The many antioxidants in VIVITÉ® help protect skin from the harmful effects of environmental stress factors known as free radicals, which can attack and prematurely age skin.

The two main differences between traditional skin care products and products in the VIVITÉ™ skin care range, are that VIVITÉ® products have glycolic compound concentrations of up to 20 percent, whereas most over-the-counter skin care products have only a 3-10 percent glycolic acid concentration. In addition, VIVITÉ® has GLX Technology™ , an ultra-charged formula matrix that helps infuse the skin with antioxidants and a glycolic compound to help optimize skin rejuvenation. This fusion of a glycolic compound with natural antioxidants helps promote the body’s production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and epidermal growth factor, all of which are essential to the integrity and health of skin.

In a clinical study of 22 women with mild to moderate photodamage, after just three weeks of use, the following results were observed:

• 22% reduction in fine lines and wrinkles;
• 36% increase in skin moisture;
• 54% improvement in skin smoothness; and
• 65% reduction in skin dryness.

The glycolic compound in GLX Technology™ is the most effective exfoliant available. Glycolics have the smallest molecules of all the alpha hydroxy acids. It’s their small molecule size that enables greater skin penetration. In addition, a process called partial neutralization allows for a high delivery of glycolic compound to the skin with minimal skin irritation. Partial neutralization also extends the duration of action of the compound in the skin, so that skin receives a secondary glycolic effect.

Looking for ways to rejuvenate your appearance? Our resident medical expert at Your Laser Skin Care Center in Los Angeles can help.

If you have ever wanted the plump lips of the movie stars on the big screen or just want your lips to be a little fuller, Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm or Radiesse may be your solution.

We use the latest dermal fillers to reduce wrinkles and facial folds, reduce acne scars and plump up lips.

The advantages of dermal fillers

• Smooth out wrinkles
• Fill in depressed areas such as at the corners of the mouth
• Fill in prominent smile line folds
• Redefine lip borders and eliminate small grooves that cause your lipstick to “bleed”
• Plump up lips
• Quick and instant solutions with very little down time!

Restylane®, Perlane®, Juvederm® and Radiesse® are four different dermal fillers we use to accomplish this.

Restylane® and Perlane® are essentially the same product – the only difference being that Perlane® uses a thicker material which is used for deeper lines and grooves in the face. Juvederm® is similar to Restylane® and Perlane®, but has a longer lasting effect.

Restylane®

Restylane® is a natural product from Sweden. Restylane® consists of a gel containing hyaluronic acid, which is used primarily to smooth out wrinkles and to provide a fuller lip. Dermal fillers can also be used at the corners of the mouth and above the lips to smooth out smile lines. Because hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the body, it dissolves naturally over time, with effects lasting about 6 months. Contact Your Laser Skin Care to experience Restylane in Los Angeles.

Perlane®

Perlane® is similar to Restylane®, but is used for wrinkles that need deeper injections into the skin such as moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles. Perlane® also contains hyaluronic acid and is non allergenic. It dissolves naturally over time and the effect lasts about 6 months.

Juvederm®

Juvederm® is another injectable dermal filler containing hyaluronic acid. However, Juvederm® is a longer-lasting treatment than Restylane® and Perlane®, with results lasting up to a year. Our resident Los Angeles expert Dr Ella Fedonenko administers Juvederm.

Radiesse®

Radiesse® is the latest of the dermal filler treatments to be developed. As the body ages collagen production slows down, causing signs of aging. Rather than simply being a dermal filler, Radiesse® works by stimulating the body’s own natural collagen production to plump up skin and rejuvenate the face naturally.

Radiesse® can be used to reduce lines, wrinkles and scars. It contains calcium hydroxylapatite which is the main component of our bones, so it is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction. Radiesse® has a longer duration than Restylane® and Perlane®, with results lasting for around a year.

If you are concerned about the appearance of your face due to wrinkles and sagging skin but don’t feel like injections, lasers or surgery are right for you, Ulthera might be a good option. Ulthera is a new technology approved by the FDA to help tighten skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles without any injections or surgery.

What are the benefits of skin tightening?

Loose skin can happen for a number of reasons. Aging, genetics and sun damage can all play a part. Other factors, including weight loss, can also contribute to a loss of the normal elasticity of the skin. When your skin loses its elasticity and droops, you are likely to develop wrinkles, jowls and other unflattering features.

Some choose to address facial drooping with surgical procedures like face lifts. While this can be effective for improving the appearance of your face, it’s also an invasive procedure and carries a number of risks, including an unnatural appearance, permanent scarring and infection.

Instead of invasive surgery, the skin can be tightened using a number of procedures. Some popular skin tightening options include:

— Dermal fillers that are injected under the skin
— Injections that temporarily paralyze the small muscles under the skin
— Laser skin resurfacing
— Devices that use infrared or radiofrequency energy to tighten the skin

Ulthera: a unique solution

Ulthera uses ultrasound technology to tighten the tissues that would otherwise be addressed only with surgery. Completely noninvasive, the tissue is gently heated, which causes it to lift and tighten. In addition to the aesthetic skin tightening effect, Ulthera actually stimulates the production of collagen, helping the skin to rejuvenate itself and regain its youthfulness.

The Ulthera procedure takes about an hour or less and encourages the body’s own natural healing system to gently restore the skin’s memory, as well as that of the tissues underneath. Immediate improvement is possible after just one session, and over the weeks and months following, the skin continues to renew and lift.

No special preparation or recuperation is required, making Ulthera a truly unique solution to troublesome loose skin, requiring no downtime. While you may not see the dramatic effects that occur with surgery, Ulthera is a low-risk, more natural way to improve the look and feel of your skin.

For additional information on skin tightening in Los Angeles please visit our skin tightening page.

Laser hair removal is a great option for people who are looking to simplify their life. Instead of spending time every day shaving or heading to the salon to get waxed on a regular basis, a few sessions of laser hair removal can leave you with smooth skin for years.

How do you know if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal?

1. Laser hair removal works best on people who have light skin and dark hair.

Because the laser uses the melanin in the hair to target the follicle, results tend to be best on fair-skinned brunettes. New laser systems have been developed that are effective on people with lighter hair or darker skin, but you should check first to make sure that the location you have selected for your procedure has this technology available.

2. You need to be willing to follow your provider’s instructions.

The procedure requires both preparation and after care. You will be responsible for following the instructions given to you by your provider so that you can have the best results possible, with a minimum of side effects.

3. You are aware of the side effects and risks.

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and, like any other medical procedure, carries with it certain risks and side effects, such as:

— irritation
— crusting
— scabbing
— pigment changes
— scarring

Discuss the likelihood of these risks with your provider, and keep yourself informed.

4. You have realistic expectations for the procedure.

Laser hair removal requires multiple treatments. While results can be permanent, they do often require follow-up sessions. Maintenance treatments can vary greatly depending on the individual. Some may require follow-ups every three to four months, while others can go years in between.

5. You are looking for hair removal on your chest, back, shoulders, arms, armpits, legs, bikini line, upper lip or chin.

These areas of the body are considered safe for laser hair removal. Other areas, including the area between the eyes, may not be as safe. Consider waxing, plucking or electrolysis for those areas.

 

 

Laser hair removal is a great option for people who are looking to simplify their life. Instead of spending time every day shaving or heading to the salon to get waxed on a regular basis, a few sessions of laser hair removal can leave you with smooth skin for years.

How do you know if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal?

1. Laser hair removal works best on people who have light skin and dark hair.

Because the laser uses the melanin in the hair to target the follicle, results tend to be best on fair-skinned brunettes. New laser systems have been developed that are effective on people with lighter hair or darker skin, but you should check first to make sure that the location you have selected for your procedure has this technology available.

2. You need to be willing to follow your provider’s instructions.

The procedure requires both preparation and after care. You will be responsible for following the instructions given to you by your provider so that you can have the best results possible, with a minimum of side effects.

3. You are aware of the side effects and risks.

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and, like any other medical procedure, carries with it certain risks and side effects, such as:

— irritation
— crusting
— scabbing
— pigment changes
— scarring

Discuss the likelihood of these risks with your provider, and keep yourself informed.

4. You have realistic expectations for the procedure.

Laser hair removal requires multiple treatments. While results can be permanent, they do often require follow-up sessions. Maintenance treatments can vary greatly depending on the individual. Some may require follow-ups every three to four months, while others can go years in between.

5. You are looking for hair removal on your chest, back, shoulders, arms, armpits, legs, bikini line, upper lip or chin.

These areas of the body are considered safe for laser hair removal. Other areas, including the area between the eyes, may not be as safe. Consider waxing, plucking or electrolysis for those areas.

 

For the most part, Botox injections are safe and have very few side effects. However, like any other medical treatment, some people can have bad experiences. Fortunately, you can take steps to keep your chances of having a bad experience minimal.

Experience Matters

Only have Botox injected by someone who is experienced in the procedure. Everyone’s facial anatomy is different, and your provider should have the knowledge and experience necessary to know how the muscles in your face work together and the best way to inject so you can have the best possible results.

You Get What You Pay For

Like tattoos and sushi restaurants, Botox injections are not the kind of product you want to be bargain shopping for. Some less reputable clinics may even be injecting counterfeit Botox. The person doing your injection should have no problem showing you the vial for the product. Botox has no approved generic on the market, so make sure you are getting the authentic product, which is made by Allergan.

Follow the Directions

Your doctor will give you instructions for properly preparing for your Botox treatment and caring for yourself afterward. Discuss these instructions with your doctor, make sure you get answers to any questions you have, and follow these directions to the letter. Some of these instructions likely involve avoiding aspirin and ibuprofen or vitamin E and some types of herbs. If you take these medications prior to your Botox treatment, you could experience bruising and bleeding.

Check Dosages

Ask your doctor how much Botox you will be getting. Typical doses are 20 units for frown lines and 15 to 20 units total to treat crow’s feet. These doses are for fairly deep lines and creases. Your doctor may recommend less. If this is your first time getting Botox, you may not need the standard dose. Your treatment may not kick in for at least a week, so be prepared, watch for changes and keep up good communication with your provider.

To get a free botox consultation in Los Angeles, visit Your Laser Skin Care.

 

Taking medications and having medical procedures done while pregnant can sometimes be a dicey subject. While some medications are known to be safe during pregnancy, others are known to be dangerous to a developing fetus. Many other medications have no conclusive data one way or the other, and the decision to use the medication has to be made on a case-by-case basis, taking both potential risks and potential benefits into consideration.

Lab Testing with Botox

Lab tests using animals have shown that Botox may potentially have a harmful effect on a fetus, causing dangerous results such as low birth weight and interference with bone development. Higher doses in these tests caused miscarriages and fetal malformations. While these results are frightening, it’s important to recognize that the doses given in medical trials are far higher than would be used in an actual procedure. Controlled studies on the effect of a therapeutic dose of Botox on a developing human fetus would be neither ethical nor legal, meaning we have no conclusive data on how Botox would affect a pregnancy.

Cosmetic vs. Medical Use of Botox

Because the potential does exist for birth defects and miscarriages, most OB-GYNs and cosmetic surgeons recommend that Botox done strictly for cosmetic purposes should not be done during pregnancy. If an expectant mother received a Botox treatment shortly before conception or before she realized she was pregnant, doctors advise that she should have no cause for worry, although she may wish to be more carefully monitored. However, no further treatments should be done until after delivery.

The decision is trickier to make when Botox is being used for a medical purpose. Since Botox is used to treat conditions like migraines and multiple sclerosis, which can seriously affect the mother’s quality of life, the mother and her doctor should have a conversation about the risks and benefits of Botox, and make their decision based on that. If safer alternatives are available, a temporary switch might be a good choice. Always tell your doctor if you are pregnant, might be pregnant or wish to become pregnant.

For more information visit the #1 Botox Doctor in Los Angeles