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woman after her skincare routine looking in the mirror at her botox

Tips to Increase the Lifespan of Your Injectables

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Dr Eleonora Fedonenko

There are a very large number of different dermal filler products on the market, all with different characteristics and recommended usages. Whichever filler or fillers you elect to use, you’ll be interested in prolonging the effects for as long as possible. Here are some of the best ways to ensure that you get the maximum benefit each time you have this procedure.

Choose the Right Practitioner and the Right Filler

A medically trained and experienced practitioner will be best placed to help you choose the most appropriate filler (or fillers) for your needs, and this includes choosing the longest-lasting.

Different fillers have different lifetimes, although the time between touchups is also partly dependent on your metabolism and to a lesser extent your lifestyle. While hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers can last anywhere between six months and a year, it may be possible to use other fillers with up to a two-year lifetime.

Avoid Excess Sun Exposure

Keeping away from direct sunlight is the best way to extend the life of your fillers. Direct sunlight (and to a lesser extent indirect sunlight) can cause fillers to break down more quickly, as well as being the primary cause of premature aging of your skin. Be sure to use sunscreen as part of your daily routine – this will provide multiple benefits, and help improve your overall skin tone.

Avoid Temperatures Extremes

It’s not only sunlight – hot or cold temperature extremes can cause skin damage, and may also accelerate the rate your fillers break down and become reabsorbed by the body.

Take Care of Your Skin

Avoid harsh skincare products, such as scrubs. In general, avoid facial massages, as this will accelerate fillers breaking down and becoming reabsorbed, as well as potentially causing them to migrate away from their intended locations. Stay hydrated – not only recommended for healthy skin, but also for general health.

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

Overeating, smoking, alcohol, and stress will all cause premature aging. Avoid these, eat a healthy diet, and exercise to improve your overall health. Anything you do to improve your general health will also pay dividends in extending the life of your facial fillers. Stay hydrated, and make sure you get enough sleep.

Follow Your Practitioner’s Advice

Your practitioner should provide you with more detailed instructions on which skincare products to use, and which to avoid. Follow these instructions, along with any other post-treatment recommendations.

Your Laser Skin Care

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

closeup image of woman's cheek with deep and painful acne scars

Can Dermal Fillers Help Treat Acne Scars?

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Dr Eleonora Fedonenko

Dermal fillers are well known as an effective way to combat wrinkles and fine lines and as a way to restore sunken areas, such as cheeks or under the eyes. However, they can also provide an effective treatment option for many types of acne scars, as described below.

What Kinds of Filler Are Used?

Hyaluronic acid-based fillers (the most common type) are widely used. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, where its purpose is to hydrate and bind moisture. Hyaluronic acid fillers are used to fill in the skin under indented or sunken scar tissue; they can also serve to raise the skin surrounding raised scars, thereby evening out the skin surface.

Synthetic collagen fillers using Poly-L-lactic acid are also an option. They can be injected in a similar manner to hyaluronic acid fillers to compensate for sunken or raised scar tissue. These fillers can also serve to stimulate the body’s production of collagen, providing wider benefits as they improve the overall tone and texture of the skin. Synthetic collagen fillers are more effective when used on deeper scars.

Your practitioner should have the experience to be able to select the most suitable candidates from the wide range of available fillers – there are very many different formulations, allowing dermal fillers to be used to address a very wide range of cosmetic issues.

Limitations of the Procedure

Not all types of acne scars can be treated effectively using dermal fillers. In particular, treating deep scars or scars with sharply defined edges may not produce the intended results. Similarly, raised thick scars are not suitable candidates for dermal filler treatment.

Duration of the Benefits

Dermal fillers only provide a temporary solution. As they are made primarily from naturally-occurring substances, the body slowly absorbs and disperses the injected material. The length of time before needing to top-up the filler varies according to the filler, the part of the body being treated, and the patient’s metabolism. It will eventually be necessary to repeat the procedure to prevent the scars from becoming visible again. Benefits typically last between six and twelve months.

Other Treatment Options

There are many other ways of treating acne scars, including skin abrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and more invasive surgical techniques. Your practitioner should have the experience to be able to offer you a treatment plan adapted to your specific situation and needs, including a combination of different treatment types when appropriate.

Your Laser Skin Care

Woman getting restylane filler, closeup of the right side of her face

What Are Restylane Fillers and What Are They Best Used For?

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Dr Eleonora Fedonenko

Restylane is the name of a widely-used commercial range of dermal fillers. In common with most other dermal fillers, their primary ingredient is hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance found in the body that helps to retain moisture, a vital mechanism that not only influences how youthful and healthy our skin looks but is also a key part of how our body’s joints and eyes function.

Restylane fillers come in several varieties; the formulations vary depending on the intended usage. Some variants (such as Restylane Silk) prioritize a smooth texture and are intended for use in and around the lips. Other variants (such as Restylane Lyft) include ingredients that create stability over a longer distance. These variants can be used to fill in lost volume, for example, in the cheeks, where the filler may be injected over a larger area, and where it’s important that the filler not migrate away over time.

Restylane fillers not only add volume and fullness to the skin, but they are also very often used to treat wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. They can also be used to improve the appearance of many types of scars.

Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid

Restylane fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that is found in the body. As a result, there is a very low risk of allergic reactions or other side effects. Hyaluronic acid fillers allow particularly natural-looking results to be achieved when used by a skilled and experienced practitioner.

Restylane fillers are mostly used on and around the face, but they can also treat other body parts, such as the hands, that can exhibit wrinkles and loose skin. They can also be used to treat many types of acne and surgery scars.

Hyaluronic fillers are not permanent – the results typically last from six to twelve months, depending on the product, the area being treated, and the metabolism of the patient. One advantage of hyaluronic acid-based fillers is that they can also be removed or adjusted afterward by injecting a neutralizing substance (hyaluronidase) in cases where the initial treatment led to unwanted or exaggerated results.

The Procedure

The procedure for performing a Restylane filler treatment is relatively simple and non-invasive. The filler is injected directly into the skin using a fine needle, and the procedure typically takes about 30 minutes. The results of the treatment are immediately visible. The procedure is relatively painless, and the results are immediate.

Possible Side Effects

Common side effects include mild swelling and/or redness and bruising. These side effects typically last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Less common side effects include lumps or bumps, itchy skin, or rashes caused by allergic reactions.

Before and After Treatment Precautions

Your practitioner will probably recommend avoiding blood-thinning medications for a week prior to each treatment, as well as recommending avoiding all sun exposure, excessive exercise, and alcoholic drinks for at least a day afterward.

The Practitioners Role

The skill and experience of the practitioner performing the treatment are crucial to achieving optimum results. Selecting an experienced practitioner is very highly recommended – they will be better able to evaluate your suitability for the procedure, select the most appropriate products and techniques for your particular case, as well as being able to effectively treat any unwanted side effects that may occur.

Your practitioner should also give you the opportunity to discuss the treatment and its expected results beforehand and provide you with answers to all of your questions and concerns.

Your Laser Skin Care

woman getting a lip flip procedure with botox in los angeles on a white background, closeup

Everything You Need To Know About the Lip Flip Procedure

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Dr Eleonora Fedonenko

Botox is best known as a highly effective way to reduce or eliminate facial lines and wrinkles, even though it was originally developed to help treat eye muscle disorders. Botox can also be used to achieve fuller-looking lips, something that has been traditionally achieved by the use of various dermal filler products. The use of Botox in this way involves the “lip flip” procedure.

What Does the “Lip Flip” Do?

Botox is carefully injected around the lips so that the muscles surrounding the upper lip relax. As the muscles attached to the upper lip relax, the lip will move (or “flip”) slightly upwards and outwards, resulting in visibly fuller-looking lips. The lips don’t actually increase in size, and the benefits of the procedure are generally very natural-looking.

“Lip Flip” Compared to Dermal Filler Procedures

It’s possible to achieve similar results using injections of dermal fillers into the lips, but the Botox Lip Flip is a very different procedure. Achieving the same results using fillers typically takes longer and runs a bigger risk of swelling and bruising that may last several days. The Botox procedure takes less time to perform, requires fewer injections, comes with a lower risk of side effects like bruising, and also typically costs less.

The results of the Lip Flip are not immediately apparent – they will develop progressively in the days following treatment. Having changes occur gradually contributes to the Botox procedure giving more natural-looking results. It’s not unusual to see highly unnatural-looking results caused by excessive use of dermal fillers, which can result in exaggerated “duck lips.”

The benefits of the Botox lip Flip procedure last anywhere between three and five months, after which you’ll have to repeat the procedure. The exact time is hard to predict and depends on each individual.

Other Uses of the Lip Flip Procedure

The Botox procedure can also be used to treat “gummy” smiles – cases where over-tightening of the muscles above the lip results in an unwanted display of the upper gums when smiling. Botox can be used to prevent these muscles from pulling the lips up as far, resulting in a more cosmetically attractive smile.

Choosing the Best Provider

To achieve a safe and cosmetically attractive result, you should take care to carefully choose your provider. As with other uses of Botox, you’ll want to select a medically qualified and experienced practitioner. Botox injections cannot be reversed, and you will rely on your practitioner’s experience and knowledge o achieve the best results from this procedure.

Your Laser Skin Care

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

Beautician makes an injection of beauty. The doctor injects an injection under the eyes of a young woman. Cosmetologist services.

Your Guide to Under Eye Fillers

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Dr Eleonora Fedonenko

Dermal fillers can compensate for lost volume beneath the skin, thereby lessening or eliminating the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. Loss of volume is a natural part of the aging process – as the body loses fat deposits, collagen production slows down, and the body’s ability to store moisture beneath the skin is reduced. This combination of factors often results in dark, hollow circles appearing beneath the eyes, often accompanied by loose or saggy skin and an overall loss of skin tone and vitality.

The Roll of Hyaluronic Acid in Skin Aging

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body that forms an integral part of our joints and skin. It allows our cells to retain the moisture that is crucial to their normal functioning. Our body’s production of hyaluronic acid reduces as we age, but especially when women undergo hormonal changes associated with menopause. Hyaluronic acid production can also be adversely affected by excessive exposure to UV radiation from sunlight.

How Dermal Fillers Help

Dermal fillers almost all include synthetic hyaluronic acid as their primary ingredient. Injecting extra hyaluronic acid provides a highly effective way to compensate for any shortfall in the body’s production. Most dermal filler products combine hyaluronic acid with other ingredients that help to provide additional benefits, such as improving skin texture and compensating for the loss of volume caused by the reduction of fat deposits.

Under-Eye Dermal Filler Application

The skin beneath our eyes is naturally thinner and paler than most other parts of the body; as the fat deposits beneath the skin are depleted, the eyes can appear sunken and tired. This is obviously a cause of great concern to many. Fortunately dermal filler products can be used to effectively alleviate the causes of the problem, resulting in dramatically improved appearance.

How Long Do the Benefits Last?

Hyaluronic acid, being a natural part of the body, will be absorbed over time. For this reason, dermal fillers provide a mostly temporary benefit. The actual time required before re-application is needed depends on several factors, including the part of the body being treated. Under-eye dermal fillers will typically last from six to nine months, although some formulations may provide longer-lasting benefits.

Your Laser Skin Care

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

Side view of a woman undergoing the lip augmentation procedure done in a beauty salon

When Was Your Last Fill? A Guide to Filler Longevity

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Dr Eleonora Fedonenko

Dermal fillers are used to compensate for the results of the aging process – loss of skin elasticity and volume. A very large variety of different dermal filler products are available, tailored to the needs associated with different problem classes. Although almost all dermal filler products are built around the same primary ingredient – hyaluronic acid – they differ in their consistencies and in the supplementary ingredients that are added to provide additional properties.

The body metabolizes and absorbs dermal fillers over time – exactly how long depends on several factors, including the precise formulation of the filler, but also on the area of the body being treated and how quickly your body’s metabolism functions. The latter is a factor of your genetic history, your state of health, your level of activity, as well as other factors, including your diet and level of general hydration.

For these reasons, it’s only possible to give general guidelines for how long dermal fillers can be expected to last when used in different body areas. Your personal experience may differ markedly. Also, keep in mind that many filler products are designed to stimulate the body to produce more collagen in the treated areas, thus prolonging the benefits that come with the filler itself.

Under-Eye Fillers

The thin skin beneath the eyes normally requires a firm consistency filler – this can easily last a year or longer before needing re-application.

Cheek Fillers

Lost cheek volume normally requires a thicker consistency filler that can provide support over the larger areas being treated. These fillers can last up to 15 or 16 months, although a minor touch-up may be required before then.

Nose Fillers

Modifying the nasal profile would typically be done using one of the firmer consistency filler products. These products would be expected to last up to a year, although here again, a touch-up may be needed before then.

Lip Fillers

Treating sensitive skin in this area normally involves using softer and smoother texture fillers. The greater mobility of this part of the face means more opportunity for the fillers to spread out and migrate away from their intended location. It’s common for lip filler treatments to take more than one session and also for them to require more frequent maintenance. Nevertheless, you should expect results to last for up to a year.

Chin Profile Fillers

Modifying the profile of the chin requires the use of denser filler products, which can be expected to last for up to a year and a half, and sometimes two years before having to be reapplied.

Your Laser Skin Care

Anyone Can Benefit From Botox Treatments

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Dr Eleonora Fedonenko

In the 20 years since it was first approved for general use, Botox has become the go-to solution for reducing or eliminating facial lines and wrinkles. It’s proven so successful that consumers not only use Botox to take care of their current problems but also often use it proactively, to prevent cosmetic problems from even having a chance to develop.

Although it’s widely known that Botox is effective at removing forehead lines, the product has also found widespread acceptance as a way of treating several other common problems, including the following:

Eye Misalignment

Botox was actually first developed as a way to correct muscular problems that can result in one eyeball being misaligned from the other. Judicious use of Botox can correct these problems, and allow both eyes to point and focus in the same direction. Botox has been used for over 50 years in this way.

Uncontrolled Blinking

Botox can be effective in treating situations where eyelid muscles contract or spasm uncontrollably. Botox has been approved for use in this area for over 30 years.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches can be due to a wide range of different causes; often the precise cause of a migraine headache is hard or impossible to determine. Botox has been shown to be effective in controlling some types of migraine headaches. You should talk to a medically-qualified Botox practitioner in order to determine if your situation is one that can be treated this way.

Neck and Shoulder Pain

Chronic neck and shoulder pain can cause severe headaches, as well as impact the general quality of life. Botox can be used to relax the over-stressed muscles that cause or exacerbate pain in these areas.

Excessive Sweating

Excess sweating can occur not only in the armpits but also in several other areas. These include the scalp, palms, and soles of our feet. Medications and topical antiperspirants can be used to control the problem, but Botox can also be used to provide relief lasting up to six months.

Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder is a common problem, resulting in disrupted sleep patterns, as well as incontinence in some cases. Several medications are available to treat this condition, but Botox is also available as an option when alternative treatments are ineffective.

Your Laser Skin Care

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

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Meet Dr. Fedonenko

Dr. Eleonora Fedonenko is a member of the American College of Physicians and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.

She completed her Residency at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1998 and has since specialized in Cosmetic Dermatology.

She obtained additional training in aesthetic medicine procedures soon thereafter, and the results of her extensive training and experience show in each and every patient’s face. She’s a doctor that can truly been trusted with your skin care and anti-aging needs.

Blog

Tips to Increase the Lifespan of Your Injectables

Choose the Right Practitioner and the Right Filler

Avoid Excess Sun Exposure

Avoid Temperatures Extremes

Take Care of Your Skin

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

Follow Your Practitioner’s Advice

Your Laser Skin Care

Can Dermal Fillers Help Treat Acne Scars?

What Kinds of Filler Are Used?

Limitations of the Procedure

Duration of the Benefits

Other Treatment Options

Your Laser Skin Care

What Are Restylane Fillers and What Are They Best Used For?

Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid

The Procedure

Possible Side Effects

Before and After Treatment Precautions

The Practitioners Role

Your Laser Skin Care

Everything You Need To Know About the Lip Flip Procedure

What Does the “Lip Flip” Do?

“Lip Flip” Compared to Dermal Filler Procedures

Other Uses of the Lip Flip Procedure

Choosing the Best Provider

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Guide to Under Eye Fillers

The Roll of Hyaluronic Acid in Skin Aging

How Dermal Fillers Help

Under-Eye Dermal Filler Application

How Long Do the Benefits Last?

Your Laser Skin Care

When Was Your Last Fill? A Guide to Filler Longevity

Under-Eye Fillers

Cheek Fillers

Nose Fillers

Lip Fillers

Chin Profile Fillers

Your Laser Skin Care

Anyone Can Benefit From Botox Treatments

Eye Misalignment

Uncontrolled Blinking

Migraine Headaches

Neck and Shoulder Pain

Excessive Sweating

Overactive Bladder

Your Laser Skin Care

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Meet Dr. Fedonenko

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