Perlane Power
With a number of facial fillers on the market today and a number of fillers that have been used historically, we have seen great progress as these medical technologies and their applications develop over time. Restylane and Perlane stand out among the most trusted, safe, and useful fillers today. Perlane is one of the hyaluronic acid fillers distributed by Medicis, Inc., along with Restylane. We have found Restylane to be optimal for placement in under-eye hollows due to the thinness of the skin in this region, and we have also found that Perlane is a stand out product for volume replacement in the cheeks, chin, and in areas that require deeper filler placement for the shaping of the features. Often these are highly complimentary fillers, with Perlane restoring the deep fullness to the cheeks and provide a foundation for the volume that is associated with youth.
Perlane is a thicker hyaluronic acid filler, which makes it ideal for the types of contouring described above. It is a product with proven utility and safety, and its application is also easy and convenient. Treatment with Perlane can be as simple as an office visit with a qualified expert physician. Indeed, many individuals seeking advice from Dr. Steinsapir opt for treatment in the office at the time of the initial consultation. This treatment offers the benefit of longevity yet the convenience and flexibility. While you can enjoy your Perlane results for a year or more, eventually they will wear off. This allows for treatment at convenient intervals and without the concerns often associated with surgery. We find that most individuals receiving Perlane filler from Dr. Steinsapir are happy with their results and choose to maintain the aesthetic benefits achieved with periodic office visits.
In the past facial fillers like grafted fat, sculptra, and silicone oil have had their supporters and detractors. Today Perlane is typically a better alternative to these permanent and semi-permanent options. With Sculptra, altering your treatment is far more challenging. A saline injection may have some utility in breaking up the filler, but often it’s insufficient, and you may even require excision to alter your results. Silicone filler can also be understood as a permanent filler, and over time you are more likely to have dissatisfactory outcomes that are more complicated to change. And while grafted fat is sometimes indicated, Perlane is usually a more comfortable, minimally invasive, nonsurgical option. Surprisingly Perlane has a longevity that is very competitive to grafted fat, which often seems to require repetitive treatments to maintain the effect.
Lumps and bumps created by the permanent fillers can require major surgery to address. Conversely, results from the filler Perlane are easy to shape and change when needed. A treatment might hold a little too much volume and this can easily be modified in the office with an injection of the enzyme hyaluronidase. With a simple, comfortable office visit you can have your results shaped when necessary to achieve the best possible result. Perlane results rival and in many cases, exceed what can be accomplished with surgery.
When choosing a treatment provider, be sure to choose someone with differentiated expertise. As one of the top 3% users of Restylane and Perlane, Dr. Steinsapir makes facial fillers a major focus of his private practice in Beverly Hills. For a treatment plan customized to help you achieve your most natural aesthetic results possible, we invite you to consult with Dr. Steinsapir today. Please contact us for more information on how you can achieve remarkable improvements in your facial appearance without surgery.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician or surgeon and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
What can be done for the silicone in my lips?
Using silicone as a lip filler is now understood to be an outdated idea. Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals continue to push this damaging treatment on the public. While many well-meaning individuals had high hopes that silicone would serve as a safe and effective means to contour and fill the lip, it has proven otherwise. Unfortunately, today many of those who underwent silicone treatment suffer from disfigurement of the shape of their lips, lumps that are present, and abnormalities as a result of their treatment. If you are one of these individuals, you may ask if there is hope to save you from this predicament.
There’s good news and bad news; it would be a disservice to not be straightforward about this. Silicone in the lips is essentially irreversible. Very little of the material can be removed. If you hear otherwise, and someone promises a miraculous fix, you are, to be kind, having your leg pulled. At worst, you may be at risk of some one prey on your predicament. Silicone is a long-lasting, permanent material when used as a filler. Its side effects are just as long-lasting.
Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, which can be reversed with an enzyme injection if there are unwanted side-effects, there is no such process for silicone oil. Granulomas, lumps, and nodules commonly caused by silicone oil injection can be helped by well-planned surgical intervention. Dr. Steinsapir uses a 5-step approach in providing help to address these disfiguring contour abnormalities along the edge of the lips. First, he does a detailed consultation. It is important that your surgeon carefully listen to your concerns and understands you objectives in having filler in the first place. Second, he educates you to understand how the body reacts to this filler. Third, some individuals who come for consultation have active inflammation from the silicone oil and benefit from 5-FU injections to help quiet the inflammation. This may not be effective when no inflammation is present. Steps 4 and 5 are surgical. Individual granulomas can be excised. This needs to be done to avoid new contour issues and scars. Finally, the overall volume of the lip can be improved by very precise liposuction using micro-cannulas. We have found the combination of removing the worst abnormalities, followed by shaping with liposuction, to be most efficacious in improving upon old silicone treatments.
Dr. Steinsapir has found that the best course of action for you will always depend on your particular facial concerns, a physical examination that includes an overview of your medical history, and a personalized consultation. In this way he can individualize your treatment plan to best address your concerns and unique issues. Dr. Steinsapir is considered a world leader in facial cosmetic procedures, including fillers, minimally invasive treatments with fast recovery times and natural results, fixing previous surgeries and treatments, and overall facial balance. He regularly helps people dissatisfied with a former procedure to achieve better results. We invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Steinsapir, who can answer your questions, provide hope, and help you plan a solution that’s catered to you. You deserve the best and don’t have to wait any longer for improvement.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and dual fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician or surgeon and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
Will photo facial treatments affect my Restylane service?
Minimally invasive procedures have become a very popular way of improving one’s appearance. Several different treatments can be performed at one time minimizing downtime. Photo facial and facial filling with Restylane and Perlane is a very common combination of services. The fillers address volume deficiencies like under eye dark circles, lip lines, loss of facial fullness and Photo facial can improve sun damage, facial redenss to even the complexion. The filler is placed sufficiently deep in or below the skin that it is unaffected by the Photo facial. So there is no reason to be concerned if you are having both services at the same time or if you previously were treated with fillers. Your suitability for either or both of these procedures is best determined at a private consultation with a qualified oculoplastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon. The good news is that these procedures are compatible, safe, and comfortable.
Understanding the basis for how Restylane and Fotofacial both work will clarify why it is safe to receive both treatments. Photo facial is an intense pulse light treatment (IPL) that improves red spots, small blood vessels, and sun damage. These treatments are the basis for photo facials, and they are generally delivered over the course of four to six sessions at three weeks intervals. This is sufficient time to see improvements in your skin’s appearance, creating a more even tone and skin firming. Fotofacial works by directly treating your skin where the sun damage, pigmentary, and capillaries responsible for redness reside.
Restylane treatment, on the other hand, is carefully placed under the skin to correct deficiencies in facial volume, such as the under eye circle. For example, under eye Restylane is safely placed beneath the skin to address the volume needs, thus improving what we perceive as dark circles under the eyes. Because Restylane works from under the skin while Fotofacial directly targets the skin itself, Restylane treatments are unaffected by IPL treatment, and vice versa.
It is important to always disclose your complete past and current medical history with your physician as you develop your treatment plan. This will ensure that your care is as safe and personalized as possible. Dr. Steinsapir specializes in both Fotofacial and Restylane treatments and is the inventor of of Deepfill Restylane method, the breakthrough approach to correcting under eye hollows. Dr. Steinsapir is friendly and approachable, and will gladly answer your questions and help you feel confident in your treatment choices. Call us today to schedule an individualized consultation and see results.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us
Feeling Pressure to Look Feminine
With an abundance of fashion magazines like Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and Elle there is a lot of pressure to look a certain way in order to be considered “feminine;” full pouty lips, large eyes, flawless skin, and high, full cheeks are the aesthetic standard these days. The internet has only become a tool to fuel this obsession with female perfection, but the reality is, makeup and Photoshop go a long way in making starlets and models meet the modern standards of beauty. Nevertheless, the desire by women to meet the ideal is strong, and it doesn’t always require major surgery to achieve. More often than not, it’s the little touches that make the big difference and starting small can preserve a more natural look and prevent you from looking like you’ve had major surgery.
Lips
Your lips are one of the first parts of your face to appear aged. With a loss of volume and an increase of lines around the the mouth makeup has a tendency to exacerbate the problem by feathering. Full soft lips are not just a sign of beauty, but also a sign of youth. Fortunately, your lips are one of the simplest fixes without the need for surgery. Fillers can provide a very natural solution to lips that are thin or losing volume.
With so many fillers available on the market today – Restylane®, Radiesse, Perlane, Juvederm, Artefill, Sculptra, Matridex, and even silicone oil – it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. However, not all of these fillers should be used as lip fillers under normal circumstances. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane are much more suitable for lip augmentation than permanent and semi-permanent fillers. This is because they are much more forgiving, do not tend to lump, and can be simply and easily adjusted with the enzyme hyaluronidase.
Dr. Steinsapir prefers the use of Restylane as the best filler for lip volume deficiencies. This is because the lips are very sensitive and irregularities can arise. Fortunately, Restylane doesn’t tend to form bumps, and an experienced physician specialist can skillfully place Restylane for natural looks and long-term benefits.
Under Eye Fill
Dark circles under your eyes, or even a hollowness above your cheekbones is easily improved using a similar method as with the lips. Dr. Steinsapir also prefers Restylane to reduce the appearance of dark circles because it can be easily adjusted. Despite what the old wives tales say about dark circles and getting enough rest, persistent dark circles are actually the result of your lower eyelid muscle showing through the delicate and thin skin of your lower lid area. When there is no subcutaneous fat between the skin and the muscle, the area appears dark and sunken.
The treatment requires a skillful hand but once placed and adjusted, the treatment is completely natural and can’t be detected by others. No wonder this has become the most popular eye dark circles treatment.
It is critical that the injecting physician assess how you do after the treatment because a certain percentage of treatments require an adjustment. Dr. Steinsapir explains that everyone holds a slightly different amount of water in the tissues and small areas of fullness can spoil an otherwise great result. For this reason, he encourages his patients to follow up about a week after treatment to assess how the service has settled.
Microdroplet BOTOX® and Dysport®
Of course, forehead wrinkles and brow lines are considered unfeminine, even among the older generations of stars like Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, and Jane Fonda. Despite all of these women being over 60, all their photographs show them with smooth foreheads and full cheeks despite their features showing other signs of aging. Maintaining a youthful appearance is a large part of looking feminine because it’s these features in women that are signs of femininity.
Unlike standard treatment methods, Microdroplet™ BOTOX® and Dysport create brow lift without forehead paralysis. Microdroplet™ BOTOX® works with greater precision with your facial muscles. The care and interest Dr. Steinsapir has shown in inventing this treatment demonstrates his dedication to achieving a beautiful, more youthful appearance without impeding the ability to express emotion.
Standard injection methods tend to freeze the forehead. The forehead can’t move and the eyebrows drop like stones. What looks good is a gently lifted eyebrow, no crows feet lines or brow pinch, and a forehead with reduced lines that is still able to move. Imagine a BOTOX® or Dysport® treatment that allows you to have natural expressions!
Chemical Peel
Flawless skin has always been the ideal for beauty and as we all age, men and women alike, our skin develops flaws and spots that may not have been there when we were young. But cosmetic products are not marketed to men so there is even more pressure on women to maintain clear, beautiful skin.
There are many types of chemical peels available and they treat many types of concerns, so it can be difficult to figure out which chemical peel is right for you. But the chemical peel is truly an art form with versatile abilities depending on your needs, so it’s vital to understand that for a successful face peel with profound results, you’ll need an expert in performing facial peels who has extensive treatment experience and understands how to combine science and aesthetic planning for the best results possible.
Chemical peels can effectively treat facial concerns like aging skin, fine wrinkles, dark spots, acne, creases, loss of elasticity in the skin, and other concerns. This frequently makes the chemical peel an excellent alternative to surgery that removes excess skin for the lower eyelid. A chemical peel in the eyelid region is a minimally invasive procedure that preserves your natural features while rejuvenating your appearance.
Pigmentation is always an important consideration to any chemical peel. The range in skin colors and complexions is complex, so this is something to consider with your doctor on an individual basis. Fortunately there are many people who can and do benefit from chemical peels. Your doctor can tell you more about skin-types as classified by the Fitzpatrick scale, and let you know what that means for you and your candidacy for a chemical peel. A chemical peel can also help improve concerns with irregular pigmentation.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.
Could I be allergic to Restylane?
Restylane is one of the most popular facial fillers and rightly so, because it is safe, has proven results, and is easy to adjust in case your treatment needs this for any reason. However, please remember that even the safest medical treatments come with some risk, and there is a very small chance you could be allergic to Restylane. The key to your positive treatment experience will be in finding the best cosmetic surgeon for you who is a specialist in facial fillers. Be completely open and honest about your medical history with him or her, and together you can make treatment decisions that minimize your risk.
What is Restylane?
Restylane is a hyaluronic acid filler that is often used to improve deficiencies in facial tissue and dark circles under the eyes. Technically speaking, hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate polymer (or in lay terms, a sugar gel) already found throughout our bodies in the fluid of our joints.
Restylane is a sugar gel that is cross-linked to make it last much longer in the body, which is why you can see benefits for about a year. Restylane is usually the top choice for correcting undereye circles, facial wrinkles, and volume problems in the nasolabial fold and lips.
Reactions Are Rare But Possible
It is rare to have an allergy to a hyaluronic filler, but it is possible. Fortunately, the incidence of an allergic reaction to Restylane is so unusual that no testing is recommended before your treatment. It is your responsibility to be completely open about your medical history, any current conditions you may have, and allergies in your family. There are a few cases in which you should be very cautious; for example, if you’ve had a reaction to something that has some shared components of Restylane, be sure to let your cosmetic surgeon know.
Also be mindful that having no allergic reaction to one hyaluronic filler does not guarantee that you’ll have no reaction to another hyaluronic filler, such as Juvederm. These are related products but not identical, so consider the risk individually. However, if you have already shown an allergic reaction to one hyaluronic filler, you will likely be allergic to another. Given how rare the incidence of these allergies are, it’s considered safe to predict that you’ll have no allergy, but please take responsibility in recognizing the small risk exists.
Obtaining the Safest Treatment
If you are dissatisfied with certain aspects of your facial features, find out if Restylane is right for you. Treatment with safe Restylane injections improves the appearance and confidence of countless people everyday, and if you have concerns like dark circles, wrinkles, or lack of facial volume, Restylane may help.
Dr. Steinsapir is a leading Restylane provider and experienced cosmetic surgeon in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, where he specializes in facial fillers and minimally invasive cosmetic treatments to improve your facial aesthetic. He is the inventor of Deepfill Restylane, a world-renowned method of correcting dark circles under the eyes, and he has also served as a physician consultant to the manufacturer of Restylane and Perlane. To learn more about how Dr. Steinsapir can custom-tailor a treatment to your unique needs, please contact us today.
Are the Current Fillers Better Than Collagen?
Collagen was the original facial filler and, for much time, it was the only viable filler available. It was offered as Zyderm I, Zyderm II, and Zyplast. The Zyderm benefits did not last very long, and the Zyplast effects only lasted a couple months. While these proved to be great products for treating problems in facial deficiencies like the edge of the lips, their relatively short life span made them a solution essentially only viable for the wealthy who could afford frequent treatment. Today collagen products have largely been replaced by the hyaluronic acid fillers called Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm. Since both of these types of facial fillers can successfully improve the facial contours, let’s examine the hyaluronic fillers further before drawing any conclusions.
What Is the Difference between Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid Fillers?
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that works as the primary building block to hold together our tissues. As the original injectable facial filler, it’s typically derived from bovine, porcine, or human materials. In the example of bovine-derived collagen, the collagen is extracted from cows raised in a controlled environment free of disease and closely monitored. Allergan, Inc. creates Zyderm and Zyplast from a highly purified collagen taken from a closed bovine herd, ensuring that their product is safe and high quality. You do need to obtain an allergy test before receiving bovine collagen filler because there is a three to eight percent chance that of an allergic reaction. The other collagen fillers like Cosmoplast and Cosmoderm come from cultured human cells, and you do not need an allergy test before treatment. These later products have replaced the original bovine Zyderm and Zyplast products. Finally, Evolence is the newer collagen product that is derived from porcine and has a longer life than other forms of collagen.
While the amount of time that collagen lasts depends on the individual, it generally does not last nearly as long as the hyaluronic acids. Both collagen and hyaluronic acid injections are effective in treating concerns like fine lines, deep wrinkles, crow’s feet, brow wrinkles, and frown lines. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the human body as well, and it is an important part of the processes that regulate cell renewal and growth. When we put hyaluronic acid into the body, it is non-immunogenic, meaning that it is not seen as a foreign substance by the body. Therefore, while it is possible you could be allergic to a hyaluronic acid filler, the chances are minimal and unlike collagen products usually no allergy tests are recommended before treatment. Furthermore, hyaluronic acid fillers last longer, and they are easily and comfortably adjusted with the enzyme hyaluronidase.
Is Collagen or Hyaluronic Acid Better?
The filler that’s right for you will depend on many individual circumstances. Your doctor will consider your goals, the site(s) of treatment, your health and medical background, and many other factors when helping you to choose the best treatment plan for you. For example, if you are getting a lip filler, both collagen and hyaluronic acid fillers can work well, with the results of hyaluronic fillers like Restylane lasting longer and being more easily adjustable. If you are seeking a filler for under eye hollows, then under eye Restylane is usually the best choice. If you have nasolabial folds, Juvederm may be a suitable filler. The top choice will really depend on your consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic facial fillers, although in most cases the modern hyaluronic acids will be recommended.
Seek Advice from a Doctor Who Cares
Dr. Steinsapir specializes in minimally invasive facial cosmetic procedures and is a physician consultant to Medicis, Inc., who distributes Restylane and Perlane. He has developed a highly effective undereye treatment method called DeepFill Restylane, which is widely used by other cosmetic surgeons and world-acclaimed. As a board certified ophthalmologist, fellowship trained in both cosmetic and eye plastic surgery, Dr. Steinsapir strives for natural results that achieve complete facial balance and fast healing times. To speak with a doctor who listens, and to learn more about how a facial filler might help you, contact us today to set up your risk-free consultation with Dr. Steinsapir.
Men and lip fillers
Men’s lips are often neglected. This is too bad, because a natural fullness in the lips is very handsome. If you are a man seeking cosmetic improvement for your face, take care not to overlook the value of lips. Many men who have lost lip volume over time or who have naturally thin lips fail to consider lip fillers as a treatment option. Yet when we analyze what is going on in the face and what treatments are going to have the most impact, restoring the lip volume is of critical importance. If you have thin lips or lip lines, consider how lip fillers may benefit you.
Attaining Masculine Lips
Strangely, when we think of full or beautiful lips, we usually think only of women. It is of course true that full and natural lips give striking compliments to a woman’s face, but women are not the only ones who look best with well-formed lips. If you look at fashion magazines, you’ll see that the men have lips that are every bit as strong as the women’s. This is because of the simple truth that men’s lips are important. The big difference of course is that men do not wear lipstick to call further attention to the lips. But just as young women have full lips that gradually deflate over time, the same is true for men. Restoring the volume deficiency with lip augmentation can work wonders in refining your features and making you look younger.
Men and Lip Fillers
Because so many men who want facial improvement don’t even consider the possibility that men usually look best with naturally full lips, they sometimes displace a problem of lip deficiency to other features that may or may not benefit from cosmetic treatment. For example, if you notice that something about the lower half of your face is “off,” you might assume that you need a facelift or a better-defined jaw. Perhaps you could use these treatments; we’ll leave that up to your cosmetic surgeon and you to determine. The point here is that it’s important not to overlook any possibilities.
Restylane is almost always the most suitable facial filler for lips. The lips are very sensitive and the skin here tends to show any irregularities, but Restylane rarely forms bumps. This is why Restylane is great for treating sensitive areas like the lips as well as under eye hollows. Since Restylane is a hyaluronic filler, any dissatisfying results can easily be changed by your doctor. The flexibility of Restylane makes your lip augmentation a very low-risk procedure that is both safe and adjustable.
Expert Treatment for Optimum Results
Placing a lip filler is both a medical procedure and an art form. Your doctor should have extensive experience in Restylane lip treatment as well as artistic vision and an intricate understanding of facial anatomy. If you are interested in learning more about how lip filling can help you, or just want to find out if you’re a good candidate for a lip filler, we invite you to consult with Dr. Steinsapir.
Dr. Steinsapir is a cosmetic surgeon in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles who specializes in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures that give you fast recovery time and natural results. He is a leading expert in Restylane, and has served as a physician consultant to Medicis, Inc., Restylane’s distributor. In fact, his practice is one of few in the world that makes Restylane for dark circles and lips a major area of specialization. Please contact us today to find out how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and care can help you achieve your desired look.
