Like Restylane, Perlane® is intended for volumizing, but it differs from Restylane in that Perlane is intended to provide facial volume in the deep dermis and superficial subcutaneous fat.  Perlane and Restylane are not equivalent products.  It is essential that your doctor places Perlane deeper than Restylane.  When used properly, Perlane is an excellent alternative to volumizing products like Scluptra® and Radiesse® and even fat transfer.  Treatment with Perlane also lasts well over a year.

Where are injections commonly performed?

Hyaluronic acid fillers are office-based services. You may see estheticians and unqualified individuals like medical assistants offering injections illegally in spas and salons under the justification that they have a “medical director.”   No States permit this arrangement.  Unless a doctor is present and performs the service, this type of situation is the illegal practice of medicine.  As with BOTOX®, don’t let an unqualified individual perform your Restylane or Perlane service.

Just like BOTOX, only a licensed medical doctor or a nurse under the direct supervision of a licensed medical doctor can inject hyaluronic acid fillers.  The exact details of the required qualifications vary by State so it’s important to research the individual you wish to perform the injection to ensure he or she is qualified.  However, just because your doctor or nurse is minimally qualified to perform the injection does not necessarily indicate he or she is the ideal choice for the procedure.  As with many other medical procedures, the best results require a certain level of qualification, skill and experience; these concerns are perhaps even more important when considering modifications to your physical appearance.

What’s the typical recovery course and what are the physical restrictions?

Many of Dr. Steinsapir’s patients resume their normal activities just after leaving the office with the exception of no workouts for 24 hours.  Wait a day before going to the gym.  If you don’t bruise, there will be about thirty to forty hours during which you experience minimal swelling.  Many patients, both men and women, can hide this swelling right away with a camouflage makeup that matches their skin color if necessary.  If your lower eyelid skin quality is poor and you often collect a small bag of puffiness under the eye, the doctor may counsel you regarding the need to consider a procedure like a chemical peel or surgery prior to getting regular filler treatments so you don’t experience prolonged recovery after each filler service.  This can be discussed when you have your initial consultation.

What are common complications and how are they addressed?

Most people, about 70 percent, do not experience bruising after a Restylane treatment; the other 30 percent experience some degree of bruising; most of it mild.  But a very few (one or two in a hundred) will develop a black eye.  The black eye can take about two to three weeks to completely resolve, and this is a cosmetic concern without health dangers.  The worst part of this is that many will assume that you were the victim of domestic violence.  Glasses and makeup help to hide the bruise while it is resolving.  Considering that Restylane will last over a year, the recovery process is very mild and comfortable even for these few.

For the few Restylane recipients who experience bruising, the short-lived bruise is worth the long-term results.  It’s a good idea to obtain treatment at least three weeks before big events like vacations.  For the biggest occasions such as your own wedding, Dr. Steinsapir advises have treatment 2 months ahead of the event to be completely certain that your pictures will turn out great.

To minimize your risk of bruising, your doctor will ask you to stop taking certain medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin.  If you are taking anything prescribed by a doctor, Dr. Steinsapir strongly advise that you consult with your prescribing physician before discontinuing the medication.  If your doctor suggests that you continue the medication, this does not mean that you aren’t a good Restylane candidate.  If you are willing to be at a slightly elevated risk for bruising, Restylane can still be effective.  Your regular doctor and your cosmetic specialist can help you decide the best route to take.

The incidence of allergic reaction varies with the products used and should be discussed with the treating physician but the incidence of allergies to these products is very low.

For unwanted highlights or bumps that occasionally occur after an otherwise excellent filler treatment, the enzyme hyaluronidase makes Restylane injections easily adjustable to a more desired aesthetic, and your doctor can even erase the treatment completely if you determine together that this is your best option.  In the event that you experience lumps or unwanted effects from your Restylane treatment, hyaluronidase makes it easy to adjust hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane.  This flexibility created by the ability to adjust a service is one of the most important factors making HA fillers such a popular service.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon.  He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid and midface surgery.  He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions.  He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago.  He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage.  He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally.  He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities.  Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for this expert care.

To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialized Restylane treatments, please contact us today.

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.

The perils of liquid silicone

Receiving silicone oil injections in Mexico ( or in the United States at “pumping parties” or from unscrupulous injectors) is a dangerous decision for several reasons.  Non-medical injectors are known to use liquid silicone illegally on the black market.  Although medical professionals using liquid silicone in an off-label fashion use medical grade material, on the black market the silicone is often not medical grade but rather industrial silicone oil, which was never intended for the human body.  There have been deaths from these types of illegal treatments.

Technically, since physicians may use FDA-approved products for non-approved uses, you can legally receive silicone oil treatments as a facial filler; but that doesn’t make it a good idea.  Injecting silicone oil into the face and other parts of the body like the buttocks is not a case of careful and thoughtful use.  It violates the very oath that every doctor takes to do no harm.  Unfortunately a few non-physicians and even physicians continue to use silicone oils this way.

Deaths related to silicone oil injections have been reported. Even small facial treatments into the lip and nasolabial fold over time can result permanent and irreparable facial disfigurement.

Don’t be fooled by the price

When it comes to financing cosmetic procedures, here is the bottom line: if you can’t afford safe, quality treatment from an actual physician (not an assistant, technician, traveling person with unspecified qualifications, the black market, or your own hand), then you are better off without any treatment.  Silicone oil injections have too many associated complications, including migration and permanent disfigurement

Instead of automatically assuming you cannot afford legitimate, trustworthy, FDA-approved fillers, consult a bona-fide, fellowship trained cosmetic surgeon to learn about the cost and payment options for a safe, dependable filler.  Silicone oil injections are cheap for a reason.  Anyone who tells you they are a good cosmetic option is misleading you and omitting the facts.

Fixing facial fillers

Unfortunately, silicone oil is a poor alternative to real hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane® or Perlane® because it cannot easily be modified after the treatment.  The first step in addressing and removing unwanted silicone is to identify the exact source of the injected silicone.

• Was it medical grade or industrial silicone oil?
• What is the lot number and expiration date?
• Where was it manufactured?
• Did the injector take precautions and use sterile technique?

Removing silicone is difficult, which is why Dr. Steinsapir believes that it should not be used as a filler material.  Once you have identified the above information, the next step is to decide if surgery or some other approach is needed.  Silicone oil is permanent and can’t be dissolved so removing it may require invasive surgery.  The type and extent of your surgery will depend heavily on the location of the original injections, the type of silicone used, and the amount.  The benefit of removing the material must be weighed against the potential complications that might be caused by surgery.

It is important to choose an experienced and knowledgeable surgeon to perform your surgery.  Find someone you can trust and who will work with you to find a treatment plan that works for you and your individual situation.  Unfortunately, a decision to receive silicone oil in Mexico, or any other black market injector often results in a greater expense in order to have the foreseeable complications addressed.   In too many cases, there are no good options.  Dr. Steinsapir strongly encourages anyone considering a black market cosmetic treatment of any kind to take into account the fact that while the initial treatment may be less expensive than a proper visit to a cosmetic surgeon and paying full price for your procedure, the long-term costs of a decision like this far out-weigh the short-term savings.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon.  He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid and midface surgery.  He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions.  He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago.  He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage.  He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally.  He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities.  Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for his expert care.

To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialized Restylane treatments, please contact us today.

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.

The Truth About Treatments

As the effects of your BOTOX treatment begin to wear off after several months―Restylane wears off more slowly―your face will slowly regain the looks it had immediately before your treatment.  Restylane and BOTOX treatments will not make you look worse than your original pre-treatment appearance as they wear off, nor are they supposed to make you look worse when treatment is new.  Provided you did not let someone put silicone oil

in your face and treatment is provided by an experienced injector fillers and botulinum toxin A have few side effects.  But if you aren’t happy with your results, you do have options and it is not necessary to wait more than a year for the filler to wear off.

Options for Fixing BOTOX Treatments

Treatments like BOTOX and Restylane are popular because they are noninvasive treatments that together can smooth wrinkles, relax tense muscles, and fill in hollow areas.  BOTOX and Restylane will not permanently alter your looks.  BOTOX is a naturally-occurring purified protein that relaxes muscles, and Restylane is made from a biodegradable sugar-gel that occurs naturally in the body.  Both of these are eventually broken down and expelled from your body completely.

Generally with the botulinum toxin A products (BOTOX, Dysport, Xeomin), the issue is an unbalanced treatment.   These services typically freeze the forehead.  The treatment results can be improved by having the appropriate counter treatment along the eyebrow using Dr. Steinsapir’s Microdroplet method.  However, if your BOTOX treatment has caused eyelid ptosis, Dr. Steinsapir recommends finding an oculoplastic surgeon to help you with this particular issue.  Oculoplastic surgeons are trained to assess and follow upper eyelid ptosis.  They are familiar and have experience treating upper eyelid ptosis.  A prescription for Iopidine (aproclonidine ophthalmic solution) can be helpful in this circumstance.  This medication is a glaucoma medicine that can elevate the eyelid a couple of millimeters. The drops can also be used to assess the severity of the ptosis and predict the likely time frame for the resolution of ptosis.  Dr. Steinsapir recommends trying the drop twice a day for a week.  If the drop is working to open the eye, then it is likely that the ptosis will resolve in 4-6 weeks.

Options for Fixing Filler Treatments

Dr. Steinsapir often sees individuals frustrated with treatments they received elsewhere.  Surprisingly, many people are not aware that the hyaluronic acid fillers can be adjusted using the enzyme hyaluronidase.  This enzyme is delivered with a small injection during a very comfortable office visit.  Dr. Steinsapir has helped people who put up with unsatisfactory treatments for much longer than they need to. These issues are easily dealt with using the enzyme in one or two visits.  It is the ability to make these adjustments that makes it feasible to provide many of the advanced filler services.  Do you have a hyaluronic acid filler issue that is not responding to hyaluronidase?  Some patients have been told they were injected with hyaluronic acid filler but in fact were treated with silicone oil.  Correction of some of these issues can be challenging and need to be approached on a case by case basis.

Restylane is a long-lasting, but not permanent sugar-gel facial filler that is preferred for improving facial contours due to its natural results, even in sensitive areas like dark circles under the eyes and the lip edge.  Restylane and Perlane offer the ability to modify results when necessary.  This includes treatments that were performed in the past and need fine-tuning.  The ability to adjust a treatment with the enzyme can take a good treatment and make it great.  In some cases, as the body slowly breaks down the material over time, slight irregularities may develop despite the initial quality of the treatment.  Sometimes, the answer is adding filler rather than subtracting volume.  For this reason, it is best to start with a detailed assessment with an expert like Dr. Steinsapir.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon.  He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid and midface surgery.  He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions.  He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago.  He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage.  He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally.  He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities.  Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for his expert care.

To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialized Restylane treatments, please contact us today.

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.

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.

Seeking a second opinion

Dr. Steinsapir often sees individuals frustrated with treatments they received elsewhere.  Surprisingly, many people are not aware that the hyaluronic acid fillers can be adjusted using the enzyme hyaluronidase.  This enzyme is delivered with a small injection during a very comfortable office visit.  Dr. Steinsapir has helped people who put up with unsatisfactory treatments for much longer than they need to. These issues are easily dealt with using the enzyme in one or two visits.  It is the ability to make these adjustments that makes it feasible to provide many of the advanced filler services.

Correcting the problem

Restylane is a long-lasting, but not permanent sugar-gel facial filler that is preferred for improving facial contours due to its natural results, even in sensitive areas like dark circles under the eyes and the lip edge.  Restylane and Perlane offer the ability to modify results when necessary.  This includes treatments that were performed in the past and need fine-tuning.  The ability to adjust a treatment with an enzyme can take a good treatment and make it great.  In some cases, as the body slowly breaks down the material over time, slight irregularities may develop despite the initial quality of the treatment.  Sometimes, the answer is adding filler rather than subtracting volume.  For this reason, it is best to start with a detailed assessment with an expert like Dr. Steinsapir.

Restylane has long-term benefits and it is also easily adjusted even long after a treatment.  These characteristics are essential in the eyelid and surrounding areas.  The skin here is very thin and the tissues are very sensitive, so even small issues show up.  Don’t live with a treatment that isn’t everything you want it to be.  See an experienced cosmetic surgeon who can help take a treatment from like to love.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon.  He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid and midface surgery.  He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions.  He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago.  He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage.  He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally.  He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities.  Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for this expert care.

To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialized Restylane treatments, please contact us today.

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.

Why don’t cosmetic creams and bleaches work?

Although creams and bleaches don’t work to brighten the area under your eye, a dark circle concealer may do the trick.  Dark circle concealers work by mixing mineral particles in the cream.  These minerals reflect the light to create the illusion that the area under your eye is fuller.  Concealers are less expensive than under eye filler, but concealers stay on the skin just a few hours.  In contrast, and under eye filler service can provide help for up to a year and in some case longer without the need to constantly apply makeup.

The darkness of under eye circles is optical.  The skin is dark because there is no fat between the thin lower eyelid skin and the darkly colored muscle just under the skin.  Filling the hollow with hyaluronic acid fillers reduces the area in the lower eyelid that can shadow, improving the dark circle.  Under eye filing with Restylane using the Deepfill^TM method developed by Dr. Steinsapir directly helps the hollowness in the lower eyelid, a major factor contributing to the dark circle.

Restylane can help

Dr. Steinsapir finds that under eye Restylane® is the best option for dark eye circles.  Restylane® is a hylauronic acid filler made of up cross-linked sugar gel used to fill wrinkles and provide volume in the face.  “Unfortunately, that lower eyelid circle develops early on the face,” notes Dr. Steinsapir who commonly treats young entertainers who needs to maintain their youthful edge in Hollywood.  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.

When you do decide to have under eye filler, take time to look for a doctor who knows what they are doing.   Dr. Steinsapir reports that when he teaches other doctors to perform the method, he often finds that they lack the detailed anatomic knowledge needed to successfully perform the treatment.  It is also 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.  “Adjustments can easily be made with the Restylane® treatment at any time after the service, which is why the treatment is so powerful,” he notes.  He advises avoiding medicines and herbal products that can thin the blood for about a week before treatment.  If you are taking something prescribed by a doctor, check with your doctor first before stopping a medication.  Also it is advisable not to work-out until 24 hours after a treatment.  These precautions minimize the risk of bruising.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon.  He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid  and midface surgery.  He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions.  He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago.  He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage.  He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally.  He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills communities.  Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for this expert care.

To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialization in Restylane treatments, please contact us today.

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.

When we hear from individuals who had dissatisfactory Restylane service long in the past, what is most disconcerting is that the individual was not aware that they could seek a simple adjustment from the start, or that they were not comfortable returning to their original cosmetic surgeon for this procedure.  This may indicate a problem in communication between the provider and the individual receiving services—and while this could simply be a lack of personality compatibility, it’s crucial that you are comfortable openly talking with your doctor about your treatment and any concerns that may arise.

Seeking the Best Restylane Services

While Restylane is considered a safe and routine procedure enjoyed by many who experience its benefits, this does not at all indicate that providing Restylane is an unskilled task.  You should always seek treatment from a leading and qualified provider such as Dr. Steinsapir, who is a cosmetic surgeon and oculoplastic surgeon with a major specialization of his practice being Restylane, including under-eye Restylane.  Your doctor must understand the subtleties of safely placing Restylane for natural results as well as how to adjust it should you have the need, and he or she must understand how Restylane and your facial anatomy interact to a level that could be called an art form.  Your doctor must also understand how to seamlessly adjust your Restylane treatment through comfortable hyaluronidase treatment.

Modifying Your Restylane Results

In the event that you experience lumps or unwanted effects from your Restylane treatment, hyaluronidase makes it easy to adjust hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane.  In most cases its best to return to your original doctor who should be eager to make sure you are happy with your treatment and outcomes.  However, if you are concerned about the skill level of your original provider who may not have specialized in facial fillers, or if you are experiencing a breakdown in communication and lack confidence seeking further direction and treatment from this individual, then you may wish to consider seeking a second opinion.

Dr. Steinsapir often sees individuals dissatisfied with treatment received elsewhere, and in many cases he can help you to restore the relationship with your original doctor.  If this is not possible, then you can seek adjustment and further treatments from someone else like Dr. Steinsapir.  It’s very important that you are comfortable with these decisions and are empowered with knowledge and a good communication rapport with your doctor to ensure best results.  If you have been waiting as long as six months to find out if your experience with Restylane is normal and if you can have your results adjusted, we are sorry to hear that you have been needlessly stressed.  Fortunately, Restylane can be adjusted and you may learn that when your treatment is customized and delivered with great skill and precision, impressive results are possible.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon.  He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid  and midface surgery.  He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions.  He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago.  He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage.  He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally.  He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities.  Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for this expert care.

To learn more about Dr. Steinsapir’s specialization in Restylane treatments, please contact us today.

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.

If you have a history of any of the following, carefully discuss them with your doctor, as they indicate that Juvederm is probably not right for you, and instead you should consider one of other safe treatment options.  According to the Juvederm webpage, you should not use Juvederm injectable gel if you have:

•    Severe allergies with anaphylaxis
•    Allergies to gram-positive bacterial proteins
•    Allergies to lidocaine

Allergic reactions to Juvederm are so rare that no testing is recommended prior to treatment, but remember rare events do happen.  The best thing to do is consider the benefits against your personal risk factors.  The good news is, hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm are safe for the overwhelming majority of people.

Thinking about the Best Filler for You
Juvederm was the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler to be approved by the FDA for addressing facial folds, lines, and volume deficiencies.  It remains an excellent product to this day.  However, we’ve found that Restylane’s flow characteristics usually make it more suitable for certain facial treatments such as treating dark circles under the eyes.  This is because Restylane’s higher viscosity (basically its “thickness”) helps to keep the filler correctly placed around the undereye area.  Both Juvederm and Restylane are readily adjustable by your cosmetic surgeon, both last about the same amount of time, and both are considered safe products.  The key is in determining which cosmetic approach is best for your individual needs and then receiving a customized treatment.

Expert Consulting in Facial Fillers
If you are seeking to improve your looks and build confidence by treating facial concerns like wrinkles, hollowness, folds, and dark circles, consider how treatment with a hyaluronic acid filler or another procedure like the midface lift may help.  The only way to find out what is the best and safest treatment for you is to consult with a highly experienced and qualified doctor who can go over your medical history and current needs with you in detail, then custom-plan a treatment approach that meets your goals.  Dr. Steinsapir is a world leader in facial filler treatments, with an emphasis on minimally invasive technique that look completely natural.  To start thinking about the best way to achieve you desired aesthetic, contact us today for your no-risk consultation.

Congratulations on your decision to go back to work!  You have a lot to contribute.  But let’s face it, it is a competitive, youth-obsessed world out there.  They need your skills but there is such a premium on youth that more experienced executives can be passed over.  There is no question that cosmetic treatments and surgeries can enhance your appearance and enhance your competitive advantage in the workplace.  These improvements will boost your self-confidence and allow you to project energy and authority.  So let’s consider a few ways you can make your transition back into the work world as smooth as possible.

We cannot prescribe a set of procedures or lifestyle changes that everyone returning to work should follow.  You won’t find a “blue plate special” here with a prescription for all readers to get a Beverly Hills facelift with the works.  Minimally invasive services like BOTOX, Restylane, and facial liposuction can make a world of difference with little or no surgery.  What may be right for someone else is not necessarily ideal or even desirable for you.   Regardless of your career path, your treatment needs will depend on your unique circumstances, physical features, medical history, and personal goals.  What we can suggest are some good ways to decide what to do next.

Determine Your Goals

Think about your goals as you return to work.  You want to improve your looks, and this can take many forms.  Ask yourself what specifically you want to improve about your looks and how you want this to impact your professional life.  For example, you may want to look healthy and vibrant; improving your diet, work out routine, and making changes like finally quitting smoking can help you look trim and improve your health.  You may want to convey personal style that can fit into a serious corporate environment; in this case you could change your wardrobe by adding some new suits that flatter you and command respect.  You may wish to look energetic and youthful; correcting wrinkles and restoring your face’s youthful beauty through cosmetic treatment may help you to feel confident and help others recognize that you have a lot to offer.  You don’t want to look as if you are unhealthy, cannot dress the part, or are about to fall asleep from fatigue or stress.

There are many effective ways to improve your looks, and you’ll likely want to pick a combination of image-enhancing changes.  This could mean that you need to hit the gym and switch to a makeup that better matches your complexion.  It may mean that you need to lose ten pounds, have your teeth professionally bleached, throw out the slacks that no longer convey your personal message, and correct the dark circles under your eyes with Restylane.  Think about what you need to improve, and start there.

Cosmetic procedures are an important option for many who seek a more professional appearance and increased confidence.  Many find that others view them as more capable because they don’t look exhausted, aged, or upset from the toll that age, gravity, stress, and sun damage take over time.  Depending on your situation, a facelift may balance your features, BOTOX may erase worry lines, a chemical peel may rejuvenate your skin, or an eyelid surgery may correct ptosis.  The only way to know for sure is to consult with one of the best cosmetic surgeons.

Transitioning to Your Professional Face

Many people find that, as they return to work, looking forward to the upcoming changes gives them the motivation and drive they need in order to meet their appearance-oriented goals.  You might discover new motivation to make healthy changes in your eating habits, find a fantastic outfit for interviews, and begin a cosmetic treatment plan soon so you are ready to make a great first impression.  Whatever the best options are for you, we advise you to apply your motivation and enthusiasm into both your job preparations and your professional look.  Make taking care of your appearance and your health a regular part of your new lifestyle.

There are many cosmetic treatment options that require little-to-no downtime, and you can often return to work the next day or take a long weekend.  This depends on the procedure, your healing, and your treatment plan.  Dr. Steinsapir focuses on minimally invasive procedures that give you the most benefit for the least downtime.  He aims to have you in social situations as quickly as possible, with a swift recovery time and natural results.  For example, many who choose facial liposuction with Dr. Steinsapir have it on a Thursday and return to the office on Monday, and nobody is even aware that they had surgery; they just assume that their colleague is losing weight and feeling brighter.  On the other hand, if you are seeking a facelift – perhaps the single most powerful facial surgery for improving one’s appearance – you may need to allow adequate recovery time, depending on the procedure, your job, and your facelift recovery.  In these cases, it is wise to consider seeking treatment today so you can be ready to go back to work at the end of your healing period.

Consult with the Best

Dr. Steinsapir practices medicine at both UCLA and in West Los Angeles, where he specializes in facial cosmetic surgery and oculofacial plastic surgery.  Because of his specialization in minimally invasive facial procedures that emphasize fast recovery and natural results, Dr. Steinsapir has an exceptional understanding of the complex ways each part of the face influences and interacts with the other parts, enabling him to customize each treatment for the individual.  He has extensive experience in treatment and research, as well as a prestigious educational background at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, The University of Chicago, Jules Stein Eye Institute, and other fellowship training.  Dr. Steinsapir is a forward-thinking leader in facial cosmetic treatments who has developed Deepfill Restylane and the patent-pending Microdroplet BOTOX procedures.  If you want to add more confidence to your career decisions, contact us today to see how a consultation with one of the best professional cosmetic surgeons can help you attain your best professional appearance.