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When researching the effects of various cosmetic injectable products on the body, it’s unusual to see any mention of the fact that injectable treatments (including dermal fillers and Botox) do not necessarily have identical effects when used on different people. This is one reason why an experienced practitioner will approach new patients cautiously, applying products judiciously until they’ve established exactly how each patient reacts to different products and dosages.

The term metabolism refers to the various complex processes that together determine how effectively the body digests and converts the food and liquids that we consume. Our metabolism converts the calories we eat and the oxygen we breathe into energy, this energy in turn fuels all the body’s functions and processes. This includes everything that we need to stay alive, including breathing, maintaining blood circulation, growing and replacing damaged cells, and regulating the myriad of chemical and physical processes, such as maintaining hormone levels and body temperature. Everyone’s metabolism is different; they reflect our genetic history, medical history, the diet we consume, and lifestyle that we follow. Needless to say, this is a very complex subject!

With respect to today’s blog, however, metabolism plays a key role in how our body reacts to injectable products introduced into the body, and how effectively (and quickly) our body breaks down and eventually disposes of these products.

The effects of Botox and the various injectable dermal filler products are not permanent – they only last for a certain period, after which they gradually disappear as the product is absorbed into the body and eventually eliminated. Our metabolic rate governs how slowly or quickly this happens.

It’s not generally possible to predict with certainty how long injectable results will last, but as a general rule people who have active lifestyles, and especially those that exercise regularly will have faster metabolic rates, and will consequently need to repeat their cosmetic procedures more often than those who are sedentary. Muscular individuals also tend to have faster metabolisms than slender people. Bear in mind that these are observations drawn from looking at large numbers of patients – there are always exceptions, such as some unusually fit people for whom Botox injections last much longer than we might estimate.

There is one recommendation, however – avoid strenuous exercise for a few days after any procedure involving injectable products. This gives the product time to spread and start to take effect. After about three days it’s generally considered safe to resume regular exercise.

While the Botox formula is standardized, there are large variations in the formulation of the various dermal filler products that are available. Some include ingredients that provide more long-lasting results than others, especially those products designed to add a more rigid large-scale structure. Your practitioner will take all these variables into account when recommending when you should return for another session.

Even something as simple as determining how often a procedure needs to be repeated can be far from straightforward. For cosmetic issues there is often no objective way to measure the benefits – there are psychological factors that lead some patients to continue to experience the benefits of a procedure even after the physical effects have disappeared. Here at least a professional medically trained practitioner should be able to provide an impartial viewpoint and offer suggestions based on their particular experience.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and experienced in providing both Botox and dermal filler procedures. We can provide expert advice on the best ways to address your particular situation. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Although Botox is widely used as an effective, non-invasive way to reduce or eliminate facial wrinkles by preventing the muscle contractions that cause the wrinkles, it is not the only commercially available injectable product that can be used to achieve this effect.

Dysport is, like Botox, based on modified versions of the botulinum toxin. Both products work by blocking the passage of the nerve signals that cause facial muscles to contract, and both products provide temporary and not permanent effects.

The primary differences between Botox and Dysport are summarized below.

Dysport is a more dilute and lower viscosity product than Botox. As a result, Dysport injections spread out more than Botox does, and potentially affect larger areas. Botox injections can be used to precisely target facial nerves, while Dysport may be preferred when treating larger areas, such as the forehead.

Dysport should not be used by lactose-intolerant patients due to potential side effects.

Glabella refers to the general area between the eyebrows. Dysport is recognized as particularly effective when used to treat prominent lines and wrinkles in this area; if this is your main concern then Dysport may offer a more cost-effective solution. Botox may also be used to address problems in this and other facial areas, including on the forehead, and around the eyes and mouth.

Botox and Dysport are very similar in application and present the same possibility for minor pain, discomfort, or numbness during treatment. They do differ in one respect – Dysport results develop quickly after treatment and can last for anywhere between 3 and 6 six months. Botox results may take slightly longer to become apparent and can last about 3-4 months.

As Dysport diffuses further than Botox does, it can be more effective at creating subtle effects over larger areas. In some situations, it may allow more natural-looking results to be achieved, although this is very dependent on individual circumstances. As both products are used in somewhat different ways you should choose a practitioner who has in-depth experience using the product that you decide to use.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and experienced in providing Botox and Dysport treatments. We can provide expert advice on the best ways to address your particular situation. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

We previously wrote about the possible use of Botox to treat jaw pain. The sliding hinges that connect each side of your jawbone to your skull are known as the temporomandibular joints, TMJ for short. The powerful masseter muscles surrounding the jaw are responsible for moving the jaw, but most particularly they are used when chewing food.

TMJ joints can become inflamed via trauma to the jaw or neck, but the most common cause is long-term repeated clenching or grinding of the teeth while sleeping. You may never be aware that you suffer from this unless your partner complains about your nocturnal teeth grinding, or your dentist starts to notice premature teeth wear.

Untreated TMJ pain can cause various other problems: most typically ear pain or tinnitus, but it can also lead to migraine headaches, depression, and even eating disorders.

Large masseter muscles may simply be part of your genetic makeup, but they may be due to teeth grinding, or possibly due to your eating (and chewing) habits. Regular use of chewing gum can contribute to the problem. Having well-developed masseter muscles does not in itself indicate that you have or will develop TMJ inflammation, but they can also have undesired cosmetic effects.

As the masseter muscles around the jaw become larger they can modify the shape of the lower face, creating a wider and more square-looking jaw line.

As Botox works by selectively blocking the nerve signals that cause muscles to contract, judiciously placed Botox injections can provide an effective way to reduce the intensity of the masseter muscle contractions. Over time this can lead to a reduction in the size of the muscles, as well as significantly relieving TMJ pain symptoms.

Botox provides effective but temporary relief – you should expect to have to re-apply Botox after some period, typically between six months and a year. You may find that the need for re-application lessens as your muscles reduce in size, and/or your TMJ inflammation reduces.

Using Botox to address TMJ and masseter problems requires far greater medical knowledge and experience than using it for typical cosmetic wrinkle control purposes. You should be sure to carefully question the credentials and experience of any practitioner before committing to a course of Botox treatment for these problems.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and experienced in providing Botox treatments. We can provide expert advice on the best ways to address your particular situation. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

When considering if you should avoid exposure to direct sunlight after a Botox treatment, there are actually several factors that should be considered.

Botox treatment can result in short-lived side effects – including bruising, swelling, increased sensitivity, itching, and more rarely temporary pigmentation changes at the points of injections.

These symptoms typically subside within 24 hours, although they can persist for a week or so in some people. If you are prone to developing any of the above after treatment, be aware that excess sunlight exposure can exacerbate these side effects. We think it’s prudent to minimize your exposure to sunlight after Botox treatments, this will minimize your recovery time afterward.

The good news is that sun exposure does not seem to have any long-term negative effect on how effective Botox treatments are. The mechanism that Botox uses to block nerve impulses and relax facial muscles is not affected by sun exposure.

Sunlight does not seem to affect how long the effects of Botox treatments last. However, long-term exposure to sunlight will definitely accelerate the aging of your skin and can lead to the connective tissue in the skin breaking down. This leads to wrinkles, and ultimately loss of skin tone. Even if sunlight does not directly affect Botox’s ability to smooth your skin, it is strongly recommended to use moisturizing sunscreen on a daily basis and to limit your exposure to direct and indirect sunlight.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and experienced in providing Botox treatments. We can provide expert advice on the best ways to address your particular situation. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Laser hair removal and Electrolysis are two widely-available ways to remove hair from various parts of the body. They’re both useful for long-term thinning and removal of hair; however, there are some pros and cons associated with each technique, summarized below.

This technique uses focused high-energy light energy pulses from a laser to target individual hair follicles. The light energy damages and ultimately kills the follicle, and any attached hair will eventually fall out. The technique cannot target 100% of hair in any given area during a single session, it only damages hair follicles that are in their active growth phase – about 30% of hair is in this phase at any given time. Any hair that regrows will be lighter and thinner than the original. Over time repeated sessions can effectively remove all hair from the treated area; minimal touch-up treatments may eventually be needed to remove any residual regrowth.

Treatments do not require significant recovery time and are also very unlikely to lead to significant side effects. Typical side effects can include short-term redness, irritation, and swelling.

For effective use of the technique, we do recommend administration by a medically qualified and experienced practitioner. Use by less-qualified personnel is strongly discouraged.

This technique uses ultra-thin needles to pass an electric current through each individual hair follicle to damage the hair follicle. The damage is typically permanent, and treated hair follicles are permanently affected. Following treatment attached hair will fall out. The technique is also only effective on hair follicles in their active growth phases, and therefore also requires multiple sessions to effectively remove hair from a given area.

Recovery time is minimal; common short-term side effects include redness and skin irritation, while swelling is less common. Rare side effects can include infection and even scarring, although these are far less likely when administered by a medically trained and experienced practitioner.

Unlike laser hair removal, some do-it-yourself kits are available for at-home electrolysis treatments. The use of such kits is strongly discouraged due to their limited effectiveness and the risk of serious side effects.

The use of laser hair removal is growing quite quickly; it may be easier to find experienced practitioners than for electrolysis. Laser hair removal sessions are typically much quicker than corresponding electrolysis treatments, even though laser hair removal sessions can target larger areas during each treatment than can electrolysis. Electrolysis also requires many more sessions than Laser hair removal to effectively remove all hair from a large area, especially when the hair is thicker.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and experienced in providing laser hair removal. We can provide expert advice on the best technique to address your particular situation. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Spider veins are unsightly veins located just under the skin. Unlike varicose veins, which bulge, spider veins are primarily a cosmetic problem. They typically appear as a tree or spiderweb-like patterns. Spider veins are created when blood pools in the veins, and are typically blue or red in color.

There are several possible causes for spider veins, but they are also more likely to be present as we age. Spider veins can be effectively treated using lasers, or by sclerotherapy.

Lasers are used to focus high levels of energy into the veins, causing the blood inside to coagulate and damaging the spider vein itself, after which the vein will be gradually absorbed by the body. The laser treatment must be carefully supervised to avoid damaging the skin and tissue that surrounds the spider vein; laser treatments are also only effective on small and sparse veins that are located close to the skin’s surface.

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical solution directly into the individual spider veins being treated. The chemical solution irritates and dehydrates the spider vein, causing it to atrophy and ultimately become absorbed by the body. The chemical reaction is fast and efficient, and the needles used are extremely small, and thus unlikely to cause any significant pain or discomfort.

The primary advantages of sclerotherapy over laser treatments are that treated veins can be both larger, and located further beneath the skin. This allows sclerotherapy to also be used when spider veins are associated with larger varicose veins. The sclerotherapy treatment also provides more rapid results – spider veins will become less visible as soon as they have been treated.

There is also a difference in the number of sessions that are typically required to resolve the problem – several laser treatments may be required before spider veins are eliminated, while one or two sclerotherapy sessions are normally enough to achieve the same or better results.

Patients typically report less pain or discomfort from sclerotherapy than with laser treatments. There are occasional side effects associated with both techniques, but these are typically mild and short-lived.

Possibly the only situation when laser treatments might be preferable is for patients who are especially intolerant of needles, or for the extremely rare case of allergic reaction to the chemicals used in sclerotherapy.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and experienced in providing both laser vein therapy and sclerotherapy. We can provide expert advice on the best technique to address your particular situation. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

There are many effective ways to remove facial hair, including shaving, waxing, plucking, electrolysis, IPL, and depilatory creams. Laser hair removal is a very effective technique that offers some particular benefits when compared to alternative removal methods.

A huge advantage of laser hair removal is that regular facial hair removal will become unnecessary after you’ve undergone a relatively small number of sessions. Over the course of a several months laser hair removal sessions will result either in a complete lack of hair growth, or in very greatly reduced growth. The freedom and convenience that this gives is perhaps the biggest advantage of this technique.

The focused laser light energy damages individual hair follicles, causing the attached hair to eventually fall out. After several sessions hair either stops growing altogether, or is replaced by much finer and lighter hairs. This greatly reduces or eliminates any chance of ingrown hairs developing. As your skin is not exposed to caustic chemicals or sharp blades there’s also next to no chance of developing skin infections.

You also avoid the painful task of trying to remove ingrown hairs, along with the risk of infection and scarring that can accompany this condition.

Laser hair removal is effective on a wide range of skin types and tones. It’s especially effective when there’s a large contrast between your skin and hair colors, but it can also be used when this is not the case.

After a few treatments your skin will not only become hair-free, but the individual skin follicles will shrink in size. You’ll notice that applying makeup is easier and more effective when your skin is smooth, hairless, and less inflamed or infected.

Laser hair removal sessions are easy to schedule and typically only take half an hour or less.

Unlike other techniques, you don’t need to let your facial hair grow before being able to treat it – this allows you to avoid the inconvenience and cosmetic effects of having to periodically allow your hair to regrow.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified, and can advise you on the best ways to address unwanted facial hair. We have extensive experience providing both laser and IPL facial hair removal treatments, and can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures, and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.