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Many
people ask if alpha hydroxy acids are safe. It is important to
point out that these acids are in many of the healthiest foods
we eat and drink including orange juice. They are thought to
be very safe when used correctly.Alpha
hydroxy acids (AHA) can be used in low concentrations as found
in many cosmetics available over the counter, in medium and high
concentrations which are available in doctor's offices.
When used in high concentrations, they are best applied by a
professional at intervals of three to six weeks. This is known
as a series of acid peels. The alpha hydroxy acid used most commonly
for peels is gylocic acid.
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Botox
Purified botulinum toxin (botox) is used to soften facial lines
and wrinkles and to treat excessive sweating under the arms
or on the palms of the hands. Botulinum toxin works well for
forehead lines, crow's feet, and frown lines. Purified botulinum
toxin is injected into the muscle in these areas and works
by weakening the muscle, which in turn lessens the lines of
facial expression. The results last 3–6 months. By combining
botulinum toxin with peels, daily alpha hydroxyacids, anti-oxidants
like coffee berry extract in REVALE, and tretinoin cream, a
patient can look years younger without surgery.
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Chemical
Peels
Chemical peeling as a technique has been around since Cleopatra
used sour milk (lactic acid) for facial rejuvenation. Today, a
chemical is applied to the face or other areas, causing the upper
levels of the skin to peel away, leaving rejuvenated skin. Chemical
peels work best in combination with an appropriate home-care regimen.
The end result often depends on which type of peel is being used—the
superficial (fruit acid, AHA), the medium-depth (combination peels)
or the deep peel (Baker-Gordon, phenol). Superficial peels can
improve some types of blotchy pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles,
overall skin texture and some sun-related scaling conditions. They
need to be performed repetitively as a group to achieve the desired
effect. The deeper peels offer greater improvement of photoaged
skin, but also have more significant healing times.
Chemical peels cannot improve certain types of acne scars (deep
or ice pick scars), change pore size or remove broken blood vessels.
They do not significantly improve gravitation-aging changes, which
are best addressed by techniques such as laser skin resurfacing,
a face-lift or eyelid surgery.
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Juvederm™
Juvéderm™ is a smooth consistency biodegradable gel
made of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in
your skin that helps to add volume and hydration to deeper wrinkles
mainly, the smile lines and to enhance the lips. Approved by
the FDA, Juvéderm™ injectable
gel is a dermal filler that instantly restores your skin's volume
and smooths away facial wrinkles and folds, like your “smile
lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds—the
creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of
your mouth). Juvéderm™ injectable gel is the first
FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be
safe and effective for persons of color. The results last up to
12 months.
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Restylane
Restylane is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores
fullness to the skin and lips and smoothes moderate to severe
facial wrinkles and skin folds, such as nasolabial folds (laugh
lines) and for scar correction. As you get older, your face
loses its shape. Restylane simply restores that fullness and
provides a smoother contour to the face.
Restylane is the first and only cosmetic dermal filler made of
non-animal-based hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural
substance that already exists in the human body and is used to
provide volume and fullness to the skin. The hyaluronic acid in
Restylane is crystal-clear gel called NASHA, or Non-Animal Stabilized
Hyaluronic Acid. NASHA is biodegradable and completely biocompatible
with human hyaluronic acid.
Unlike other hyaluronic acid-based products, such as those made
from rooster combs, only Restylane is non-animal-based. This quality
virtually eliminates any risk of animal-based disease transmission
or allergic reaction. Restylane is completely degraded, leaving
absolutely no traces of the injected material in the body and can
last from 3–8 months.
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Radiesse
Radiesse is a new injectable product for filling the nasolabial
folds. The advantage of this product is the potential for a
long lasting
effect with results lasting
in some patients up to two years.
Radiesse consists of calcium hydroxylapatite suspended in gel
(carboxymethycellulose). Because calcium hydroxylapatite is a normal
constituent of bone, it should not elicit a chronic inflammatory
or immune response. Additionally, the gel carrier doesn't require
allergy testing such as required with other injectable fillers
such as some collagens.
Calcium hydroxylapatite has been used in humans for a long time
in prosthetic implants in dental, facial, and orthopedic surgery.
Animal studies and use of the injectable product in vocal cords
and bladder neck areas have shown that the product remains soft
without new bone formation when injected into soft tissue. The
longest term studies come from Italy and suggest that Radiesse
shows promise as a new agent for facial contouring with no serious
side effects and reasonable efficacy and durability.
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Sculptra®
Sculptra® is included in the category of fillers, but is better
called a skin volume enhancer. The injected substance is poly L-lactic
acid. The material is used to treat sunken hollow cheeks that results
from the aging process or as a result of HIV disease. A series
of injections over several months is required and the final improvement
will take up to six months. The clinical benefit can also last
up to two years.
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