Botox

Botox is a highly purified neurotoxin that causes a temporary paralysis of muscle tissue. It was originally developed to treat spastic muscles and tics but it has been very effective in reducing expression lines such as frown lines or "crow's feet" without surgery. It can also treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating.)

In our treatments, highly purified botulinum toxin is injected by a licensed doctor into the facial muscles which produce expression lines and dynamic (movement-related) wrinkles. A Botox injection takes 3 to 7 days to take effect and lasts 2 to 11 months. After the muscle begins to recover, repeat injections are necessary. Gradual muscle atrophy occurs over 18 to 24 months time, but ongoing maintainence injections at decreasing intervals continue to be necessary.

Fresh Botox must be used within one week of after it is reconstituted, therefore clients are scheduled only on certain days each month, so we can schedule a minimum number of patients. Thus you are encouraged to invite your friends to also get a treatment, though we do not want you to coerce anyone is not already interested in receiving a treatment.

More about botox from drugs.com

Detailed information about botox from eMedicine.com

"Mechanism of Action" by Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox

Prices:

$300 is the base price for 15 units of Botox, enough to eliminate frown lines and "crow's feet" or frown lines and horizontal forehead wrinkles. Additional units can be injected at a charge of $15 for each additional unit. This price is guaranteed for up to 2 weeks after the initial injection, should further refinement prove necessary.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion has become the most sought after method of skin rejuvenation. It can be used for smoothing scar tissue, revitalizing sun-damaged skin and treating age spots. Unlike many other skin rejuvenation treatments, such as deep acid peels and laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion is painless to most people. It can be a one-time treatment for simple rejuvenation, or a progressive series of treatments for more lasting effects. Each treatment requires no downtime away from work or routine activities. It is often called the "lunch time peel" because of it's lack of side effects such as post treatment redness.

Why Choose Microdermabrasion?

Your skin is composed of several layers. The lowest layer, the subcutaneous layer, contains the blood vessels that enter into the skin and nourish it. Above that is the dermis. This is where the oil and sweat glands lie. The dermis is the active regenerative portion of the skin and it is also where scarring occurs. The dermis contains both the elastic and structural collagen fibers which are responsible for skin's youthful appearance. Ultra-violet rays from the sun can damage and erode these fibers leading to photoaging. The most superior layer of the skin is the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The stratum corneum consists of layers of cells which are actually flattened dead cells. This thick layer provides a moisture barrier which prevents us from losing too much water through our skin and also provides a barrier against chemicals and toxins in the environment which otherwise could penetrate the skin and get into the bloodstream.

When we are youngsters, our stratum corneum is fairly thin and very soft and regular in appearance, thus our skin appears youthful and soft. One of the other effects of photoaging is the development of peaks and valleys in the stratum corneum, areas of relative thickening which reflect light differently and give a crinkled and aged appearance to the skin. This appearance is not an inevitable result of chronological time but a direct effect of sunlight exposure. It is a form of photoaging. The parts of your body that are never exposed to sun retain their youthful smooth appearance well into the sixties or seventies. With microdermabrasion, the skin of your face, arms and chest can be returned to its youthful appearance and maintained there. Microdermabrasion is a process in which a thin stream of carborundum crystals, a tiny crystal second in hardness only to diamonds, is pulled across the skin using an adjustable vacuum flow device. This allows for extremely controlled abrasion of the skin, Because only the superficial stratum corneum layer, which is already dead, is directly touched by rejuvenation microdermabrasion, there is no risk of permanent scarring, thinning of the dermis or long-term side effects. It is an extremely safe form of rejuvenation.

Microdermabrasion works on two levels. First, it works by smoothing out the stratum corneum. People will notice an immediate change in skin texture after the first couple of treatments. The second effect of microdermabrasion is more enduring. As the stratum corneum is peeled, small amounts of specific growth hormones are released at the layer of the dermis. This leads to the regeneration of collagen which had previously been damaged by sunlight. The rejuvenation of collagen improves the elastic properties of the skin, reducing and looseness. It gives a similar result to an medium acid peel, but is much safer and less painful. Microdermabrasion can also be used to treat the side effects of the more aggressive laser skin resurfacing treatment which have recently become popular. A major problem with these has been hyperpigmentation in dark-skinned women. Microdermabrasion avoids this potential complication and can also rectify it when it has occurred. Microdermabrasion can be used to treat acne which is essentially a condition of plugging of pores in of the stratum corneum. Microdermabrasion can be used in the treatment of hyperpigmentation such aschloasma, the "mask of pregnancy". Microdermabrasion also be used to reduce the appearance of pock marks, keloids, stretch marks and other types of raised or depressed scars.

A great many new anti-aging agents have recently become available on the market. These include substances which stimulate the growth of new skin cells, anti-oxidant substances such as vitamin C (which may also act as a growth signal) and vitamin A analogs such as Retin-A. All of these fairly expensive cosmeceuticals must first penetrate the stratum corneum to be effective. Simultaneous treatment with microdermabrasion can greatly accelerate and enhance the effect of these agents. It is recommended that at a minimum, a microdermabrasion series be accompanied with a daily use of glycol acid product. Glycolic acid the unique property of loosening the glue that holds the stratum corneum cells together, thus allowing for deeper penetration of cosmeceuticals. We offer an array of these products, many of which are not sold outside of the doctor's office. All products we sell come with a money back guarantee.

More information on Microdermabrasion
Before and After pictures
Prices:

$150 Single Session: Enzymatic skin preparation, microdermabrasion, skin soothing mask, antioxidant treatment, copper peptide rejuvenation cream.

$150 Hand Rejuvenation Package: Sun damage combined with wear and tear over the years can leave your hands with discoloration, age spots, and dull looking skin. This package is designed to address both issues by combining a bleaching treatment with microdermabrasion. It includes two treatments of microdermabrasion one week apart and Age Intervention Hands gel.

$550 Series of Five Weekly Sessions: Each treatment includes everything in a single session but by doing five weekly sessions we are able to gain much more dramatic results. This allows the epidermis (the living layer of the skin) to be stimulated to grow while smoothing out the uneven skin texture that comes from lack of good exfoliation and years of sun damage. With this package, you will also receive a 10% discount on any products purchase during your treatment.

Cosmetic Fillers

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers represent the fastest growing non-invasive aesthetic procedure in the United States. Occurring naturally in the body, hyaluronic acid is a natural complex sugar found in all living organisms and creates volume and elasticity in the skin. It adds volume to facial wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds (the folds running from the sides of the bottom of the nose to the outer corners of the mouth). Hyaluronic acid treats multiple medical conditions, including those associated with the eye and the knee, and has been used for more than 20 years.

Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm are are FDA-approved dermal fillers made of a biodegradable non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA). Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in all living organisms and provides volume and fullness to the skin. It is most abundant in thee linings of the joints where it supports and lubricates the tissues it surrounds.

These are the only dermal fillers made of crystal-clear gel called NASHA (Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid). NASHA is developed using a unique stabilization process that results in its long duration of effect in contrast to non-stabilized hyaluronic acid, which lasts only days to weeks, at most. As opposed to other hyaluronic acid products, NASHA is not derived from animal sources. It is produced biotechnologically by natural fermentation in a sterile laboratory environment. This significantly diminishes the risk of transmitting diseases between species or of eliciting allergic reactions in patients who are sensitive to common foods, such as beef, chicken and eggs. NASHA has been extensively researched for over a decade and proven to be safe and effective. Restylane does not require any allergy or skin test prior to injection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved)U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, the lines between the nose and mouth.

Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm are formulated as a clear gels and use a dual mechanism of action to correct wrinkles and folds. Upon being injected beneath the skin's surface, the adds natural volume and lift to smooth wrinkles and folds. As the gel integrates into dermal tissue, it then attracts and binds to water molecules to help maintain volume. Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm are gradually degraded by the body's own mechanism and disappear without any residue. Results can be seen immediately following treatment and last six months,often longer.

Juvederm is currently the only approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that has demonstrated its safety and effectiveness in patients of all skin types and colors. Juvederm also is the only hyaluronic acid dermal filler developed using a proprietary, technologically-advanced manufacturing process that results in a malleable smooth gel that flows easily into the skin, creating a smooth, natural look and feel. All other currently approved hyaluronic acid dermal fillers utilize a gel particle suspension formulation. The Juvederm family of products offers the highest concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid available in a dermal filler, which results in a long duration of effect and may be attributed to the majority of patients not requiring touch-ups following their initial treatment. The smooth consistency of the Juvederm formula also may help to minimize the discomfort that can sometimes occur during the injection procedure.

Prices:

$475 for the first vial and $375 for the second vial purchased on the same visit.

Hydroxylapatite - Radiesse

Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a water- based gel carrier. Radiesse is the first filler with advanced calcium-based microsphere technology that not only provides volume replacement to wrinkles, folds and sunken depressions but also has been proven to stimulate the body to produce new collagen, a very important protein component of skin. This unique action restores the fullness and contours of a youthful, healthy appearance with sustained results that last an average of one year or more. Radiesse provides immediate improvement so a patient looks better the moment the product is injected. This technology that enables the body to generate new collagen provides longer lasting effects than other available fillers. Further, because Radiesse is a robust, full-bodied material, it provides physicians a superior level of control, predictability and finesse for facial applications. Radiesse should not be used in the lips due to an increased incidence of reactive lumps and irregular lip contour. It can however be used in to cheekbone area to help with under eye wrinkles which is not generally done with the other fillers.

More information about Radiesse from drugs.com

Prices:

$875 for a 1cc vial

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the process of closing off and hiding the veins visible on the skin. It is simply triggering the formation of a small scar to seal off the abnromal vessel so that no blood flows  within it. This can be done by laser, by electrical burning or by inducing small scars by carefully-directed injections of small precisely-localized injections of an irritant. Either concentrated salt water or a soap solution is used as the irritant.

Everything from tiny spider veins to medium size varicose veins can be treated by various techniques of sclerotherapy. We offer both injection sclerotherapy and radio frequency ablation of enlarged blood vessels depending upon the type of lesion and its location.

Spider veins and small varicose veins are best treated with a combination of radiofrequency sclerotherapy and injections. Small veins above the waist respond well to the application of a high frequency radio wave. This treatment is no more painful than a routine blood draw. Spider veins are permanently destroyed and new lesions do not usually recur.

Spider veins below the waist often need several treatments. On the skin surface small amounts of a sclerosing (scar-inducing) solution are injected into the veins to cause the vessels to scar shut. To insure success after leg injections medical grade pressure support hose must be worn for during periods of prolonged standing for at least 4 weeks. Several treatments may be needed to eliminate all of the spider veins. but this is true of all methods utilized including laser. Recurrence of new leg spiders is common but can be prevented by the elimination of feeder vessels (veins closer to the heart that supply smaller vessels) with radiofrequency sclerotherapy.

Prices:

$150 for Injection Sclerotherapy for a 30 minute session.

$160.00 for above the waist radiofrequency ablation up to a 30 minute session.