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A common age-related complaint is the development of sunken cheeks. They’re associated with aging and are also commonly assumed to indicate health problems, malnutrition, or illness. They also result in generally unwanted changes to the proportions of the face, and can often exaggerate the appearance of other parts of the face, including the jawline and under-the-eyes.

While dermal fillers are the go-to treatment for loss of volume around the face, there has been a movement towards using Botox in this situation. Although Botox is primarily used to treat muscle-related facial lines and wrinkles, it is also increasingly being used to help adjust facial contours.

Causes of Sunken Cheeks

Loss of volume in and around the cheeks can be caused by several factors, but is primarily due to age-related reduction in the fat deposits beneath the skin. This occurs with the natural reduction in the body’s ability to produce collagen, elastin, and facial fat as it ages. Other factors can influence the process, including rapid weight loss, medical history, lifestyle choices, and genetic factors.

Using Botox to Adjust Facial Contours

Although Botox is traditionally used to address facial wrinkles, it has also found use as a way to adjust the contours of the face linked to overdeveloped masseter (chewing) muscles around the jawline. Judicious application of Botox to these muscles can achieve a reduction in their size over time.

Reducing the size of the masseter muscles can help create a slimmer-looking lower face. This, in turn, can change the profile of one’s face, as it causes the midface area to appear more prominent relative to the lower facial area. By creating a more balanced facial profile, Botox treatment can help draw attention away from the cheek area and reduce the visual perception of sunken cheeks.

An interesting technique can be used to mitigate any potential to exaggerate the appearance of cheek hollowness – different Botox doses can be applied at various locations along the masseter muscles. Using a larger dose in the thickest part of the muscle, combined with smaller doses on either side, can help achieve better results.

Limitations of the Technique

As opposed to dermal fillers, Botox does not act to restore lost facial volume. Its benefits occur mainly by adjusting facial contours. In cases where significant facial volume has been lost, it may still be necessary to use dermal fillers to compensate for lost layers of fat. Fortunately, the two procedures act to complement each other, and can be jointly used when appropriate.

The ability to use Botox to address sunken cheeks varies according to each individual. Your anatomy, facial structure, and the severity of your volume loss will dictate whether Botox can help address your situation. Discuss any concerns with your practitioner – assuming that they are experienced with the use of Botox in this situation, they will be able to help you decide if it’s an appropriate treatment for your particular situation.

Speak With Your Laser Skin Care About Whether Botox Is Right for You

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified, with extensive experience performing Botox treatments, including its use to adjust facial profiles. We tailor all treatments according to each patient’s needs. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. 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

A common problem, especially for those living in a sun-drenched environment like Southern California, is the accumulation of areas of uneven skin pigmentation and darker skin spots. These sunspots and age spots are caused by the build-up of excess melanin, in turn caused by exposing our skin to the sun’s UV rays. IPL photofacials are a popular and effective way to treat these problems.

How Do IPL Photofacials Work?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light; IPL light pulses cover a broad spectrum of light frequencies, which are able to target the melanin pigmentation that lies at the heart of darker skin areas and spots.

The IPL light energy is directed at the area to be treated, and will heat up and degrade pigmented cells in the skin, causing them to break down and eventually be absorbed and eliminated from the body. The IPL light energy also stimulates the body’s production of collagen, a key ingredient in maintaining a youthful and healthy appearance.

Why is IPL Effective for Sun Damage?

Over time sun exposure often results in the appearance of hyperpigmentation, freckles, and uneven or rough skin texture. IPL Is particularly effective in treating these problems because the energy transmitted by its broad-spectrum light pulses is able to effectively target the skin pigmentation cells that cause the problem.

Along with collagen, IPL can also boost the body’s natural production of elastin and hyaluronic acid, creating a long-lasting benefit that also acts to heal skin damage.

Why is IPL Effective for Age Spots?

Age spots (also known as liver spots), are flat, darker areas of skin that are a sign of skin damage caused by excess sun exposure over longer periods of time. IPL can be used to target these specific areas of darker pigmentation, while leaving adjacent areas of less pigmented skin undamaged. IPL’s ability to treat specific areas of damage makes it an ideal way to combat age spots.

Visible Results from IPL

The light-damaged unwanted skin pigmentation cells will break down and gradually disappear. This, together with the body’s slower-to-develop enhanced ability to synthesize collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, will result in clearer, more evenly-toned skin with improved surface texture.

These improvements will reduce the appearance of fine skin lines, and will help improve the overall look of your skin, as well as contributing to a rejuvenated and vibrant look.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified, with extensive experience performing IPL procedures. We tailor all treatments according to each patient’s needs. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. 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

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy was first introduced in the early 1990s, and has become a popular non-invasive way to treat rosacea and facial redness. However, it’s not guaranteed to work in all situations. This blog explores the use of IPL, its strengths, and its limitations.

How Does IPL Work to Target Rosacea and Redness

The broad-spectrum light pulses used by IPL are able to target the hemoglobin that is located within surface blood vessels and pigmented skin areas. The intense light energy heats the targeted area, causing fine blood vessels to collapse. The resulting reduction in blood flow in treated areas contributes to reduced inflammation, and skin tone improves as surface blood vessels reduce in size and number.

How Fast Does IPL Show Results?

Depending on the actual cause and degree of facial rosacea, IPL can result in an over 50% reduction in visible redness after 3 to 5 treatment sessions.

IPL treatments are typically repeated after 4 to 6 weeks, and it’s common for the results to last several months. To obtain the best results, carefully follow your provider’s after-treatment instructions. These may include applying specific skin care products, and will normally also involve reducing or eliminating excess sun exposure.

When May IPL not Give the Desired Results?

IPL is not a universal solution for rosacea; its effectiveness may be limited in the following situations:

• Rosacea Subtype: IPL is less effective when rosacea is not directly caused by surface blood vessels, but is due to thickened skin and linked to glandular causes.
• Skin type: IPL works best when there’s a large contrast between the patient’s natural skin color, and the areas being treated. Patients with naturally darker skin run a greater risk of developing burns or hyperpigmentation, caused by the greater levels of natural melatonin in their skin.
• Severity of the condition: Patients with especially severe or long-established rosacea should expect to have to undergo more treatments before achieving desired results.
• Environmental factors: it’s common for rosacea symptoms to be linked to underlying causes, such as stress, diet (especially spicy food and alcohol), and sun exposure. If the patient is unwilling or unable to limit their exposure to these irritants, they may not achieve the desired results.

Alternative Treatments

In cases when IPL does not produce the results expected, you should be ready to consider alternative treatments, including pulsed laser treatments, topical medications, and reducing your exposure to environmental triggers.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified, with extensive experience performing IPL procedures. We tailor all treatments according to each patient’s needs. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. 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.

Botox has become the most frequently used minimally invasive cosmetic procedure by a significant margin. Unfortunately, despite its popularity it’s also one of the procedures where the skill and experience of the practitioner plays a large part in determining how successful the procedure is, and just how natural-looking are the results achieved.

Why is Overdone Botox Even an Issue?

Botox is derived from the botulinum toxin, which is a neurotoxin that blocks the transmission of nerve signals, and by extension prevents or limits the movements of connected muscles. Botox is a refined and highly purified version of the toxin; when used judiciously by skilled practitioners, excellent natural-looking results can be achieved. However, when it’s over-used, or inexpertly applied, several unwanted side-effects can develop.

What Are The Signs of Botox  Being Overdone

Frozen or Immobile Face

Overuse of Botox can result in a temporarily frozen appearance, which can prevent the face from being able to express the full range of natural expressions. This can make it difficult to smile, laugh, frown, or show other emotions.

Facial Asymmetry

Excessive use of Botox in the forehead or eyebrow areas can result in an uneven or unbalanced look, with one eyebrow appearing higher than the other, for example. It can also present as unnaturally arched eyebrows, resulting in a permanently surprised look. Over-applying Botox to the forehead can also result in unnaturally smooth looking skin.

Drooping Eyelids

Using too much Botox around the eyes can result in the Botox migrating away from the treated area, and affecting the ability to move the eyelids normally. Drooping or heavy eyelids result.

Impaired Lip and Mouth Function

Using too much Botox in and around the lips and cheeks can result in several problems, including difficulty drinking with a straw, making unwanted whistling sounds, and a general inability to articulate speech clearly.

Other Problems

When Botox is used to relax overdeveloped jaw muscles, overuse can result in asymmetric and/or bulging jaw muscles. Excessive usage in other areas can result in inadvertent eye twitching, headaches, or nausea.

How to Avoid Botox Overuse

Choosing a medically trained and experienced Botox practitioner is the best way to avoid all the above problems. Highly skilled medical professionals are able to better judge individual patient needs, and can adjust Botox dosage to the appropriate amount. A growing trend is to prioritize achieving natural-looking results over eliminating every trace of unwanted lines or wrinkles.

Follow your practitioner’s advice, especially if they tell you that you may have unrealistic expectations. A skilled practitioner will advise you to be conservative with your Botox treatments, until you both have a better understanding of how your body reacts to Botox, and how your particular facial anatomy and physiology affects the results achieved.

Contact Your Laser Skin Care for Questions About Botox or Other Injectables

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified, with extensive experience performing Botox treatments while prioritizing natural-looking results. We tailor all treatments according to each patient’s needs. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. 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.

A common question from patients looking for solutions to varicose or spider veins is how long after vein treatment they should expect to see results? In common with most other non or minimally invasive treatments, the answer is that it depends on several factors. These include the type of therapy, the severity of your vein issues, and how your body will respond to the treatment. This blog tries to cover how long various vein therapies typically take to show results.

Different therapies have the same ultimate objective: close off or remove the veins causing the issue. In all cases the body needs time to heal from the immediate effects of the procedure, followed by additional recovery time as the body works to reroute blood flow around the affected area, and slowly absorbs residual cells left behind after treatment.

Results of Sclerotherapy Treatment for Varicose and Spider Veins

Sclerotherapy is mainly used to treat fine spider veins and smaller varicose veins. It involves injecting a solution that collapses the vein being treated. It’s normal to start seeing improvements in three to six weeks, but this can extend to three or four months when treating larger veins.

You should anticipate having to wait up to six months before the full benefit of the treatment becomes apparent, especially if you underwent multiple treatment sessions.

Endovenous Laser Vein Ablation Results

Endovenous vein ablation treats the affected veins using laser therapy (EVLT) or radiofrequency (RFA) energy to heat up and seal them off. It’s effective for a wide range of problems, including larger varicose veins.

Relief from pain or discomfort is generally apparent within a week after treatment, when treated veins start to shrink. Full results from an endovenous ablation are obtained when the treated veins are fully absorbed and skin redness subsides, and can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months. EVLT often produces faster results than do RFA treatments.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy Results

Ambulatory phlebectomy is an invasive procedure that involves making small incisions and surgically removing bulging veins. It’s an effective treatment for very prominent varicose veins, but it also comes with longer recovery times than non or minimally invasive alternatives.

Other Factors That Influence Achieving All Results

Your general health, metabolism, and activity level will all influence the time your body takes to recover and show final results after treatment. You can speed things up by following aftercare directions from your provider, including wearing compression stockings when recommended. Increasing your physical activity by walking more can also pay dividends. Ultimately your body will take the time it needs to finish healing, and you make have to keep your expectations realistic and be patient before you see the full results you’re waiting for.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified, with extensive experience performing vein therapy procedures. We tailor all treatments according to each patient’s needs. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. 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.

Figuring out exactly how much Botox to use when treating facial wrinkles is far from simple – it requires scientific knowledge, experience, but also the kind of wisdom that comes from years of performing treatments on different patients, and monitoring the results.

Science behind Botox’s Function

Botox works by blocking the transmission of nerve signals at the point where nerves pass these signals to connected muscles. Blocking the transmission of nerve signals causes the targeted muscles to relax, which in turn reduces movement and smooths wrinkles that are linked to the repeated muscle activity.

A single vial of Botox typically contains 50 or 100 units of Botox. The number of units used depends on many factors, summarized below.

Principal Factors Affecting Dosage

Although Botox is used to target nerve signals, the dosage used is directly affected by the size, strength, and usage of the attached muscle. Larger muscles have more points of attachment to their nerves, so require larger doses of Botox to effectively block their nerve signals.

Stronger muscles also require larger Botox doses to cause them to relax. Men on average have stronger facial muscles than women, and can require 2 or 3 times the dose of Botox to achieve similar results.

Similarly, muscles that are more active result in the development of deeper wrinkles, and may require application of larger doses of Botox to achieve the desired relaxation. Deeper lines can easily require double the dose of Botox required by milder lines.

Another significant factor is the size and area occupied by the targeted muscle. Botox tends to diffuse away from the injection site, although this diffusion also depends on several factors. If Botox tends to migrate away from the treatment site, higher doses may also be required. Areas like the neck can require larger doses due to the volume and spread of the muscles being treated.

Treatment Area

The specific area being treated is the main factor that determines how much Botox will be needed.

As a rough guide, anticipate the following very approximate usages:

• Forehead Lines typically require 10–20 units.
• Vertical lines between the eyebrows often need 20–25 units.
• Lines around the eyes usually require 5–12 units per side (10–24 units total).
• Creases on the nose typically need 5–10 units for subtle smoothing.
• Chin Dimpling may require 5–10 units to reduce dimpling.
• Jawline Slimming (or TMJ Relief) often need 20–30 units per side (40–60 units total).
• Neck Bands require 20–50 units.
• Upper lip enhancement typically uses 4–6 units.

Severity of Wrinkles

The depth and degree of wrinkles play a crucial role in determining Botox dosage. Deeper, more pronounced wrinkles will require more units to smooth effectively, while finer lines will need fewer.

Older patients tend to have more profound and long-standing wrinkles; these typically require larger doses to treat effectively. Conversely, younger patients will mostly require far fewer.

It’s usual to treat first-time patients with lower doses, allowing the practitioner to better gauge the patient’s response to Botox. The dosage can be adjusted on subsequent treatments to account for the patient’s response to Botox.

Individual Anatomy, Skin Type, Metabolism, and Lifestyle

Individual anatomy can differ significantly; this includes exact muscle position, skin type, skin thickness, and facial structure.

Individual metabolic rates influence how quickly Botox is metabolized and how long its effects last. Level of activity (and exercise) can also influence the Botox dosage needed, as well as requiring more frequent touch-up treatments.

Lifestyle factors such as sun exposure, smoking, drug use, or alcohol use can also directly influence the way one’s skin ages, and its susceptibility to developing deeper wrinkles. These factors also directly influence the Botox dosage required to effectively address them.

Regular Botox users may well need fewer doses over longer time periods as their muscles tend to weaken with repeated treatment.

Patient History and Aesthetic Goals

Patient goals differ significantly; the dosage required is directly influenced by the level of results that you’re looking for. Aiming for subtle results will almost certainly require lower doses than more aggressive changes.

Do You Have Questions About Whether Botox Is Right For You? Contact Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified with extensive experience in administering Botox, and in tailoring treatments according to each patient’s needs. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. 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

Some people’s chins are heavily textured or pockmarked, a condition often called ‘pebble chin’, or ‘orange peel chin’. This is rarely a desired appearance; fortunately, in many cases, Botox is able to offer a full or partial solution. This blog will discuss this problem and the Botox solution.

What Causes Chin Dimples?

The mentalis muscle is a symmetrical pair of muscles on both sides of the mouth, connecting the tip of the chin to the lower lip. The muscle is used when displaying a wide range of facial expressions, including pursing the lips or expressing skepticism. When activated, the muscle can raise the lower lip, a movement typically referred to as pouting. Unfortunately, contracting the muscle can also cause the skin on the chin to appear wrinkled or dimpled, and prolonged use of the muscle can lead to these dimples persisting. This may not be a problem­, after all, it is a normal facial expression­ but many people find it quite undesirable.

The appearance of chin dimples becomes more prominent as we age – the combination of thinner and less elastic skin can lead to dimples remaining visible after the muscle relaxes. Genetic factors also mean that some people are more likely to develop the problem; the tendency of some people to frequently use facial expressions that contribute to the appearance of dimples is also a contributing factor.

How Can Botox Help?

Botox is a highly refined and purified version of the botulinum toxin, known for its ability to prevent the transmission of nerve signals, and effectively paralyze muscle movement. Botox allows the toxin to be precisely applied in a tightly controlled and managed way; it is widely used to restrict the ability of particular facial muscles to be activated, without completely inhibiting their movement.

In this specific case, Botox can be used to reduce the range of movement of the mentalis muscle fibers. When carefully administered by a skilled practitioner, the appearance of chin dimples can be greatly reduced or eliminated, while not removing the ability to display the normal range of facial expressions and without changing the fundamental profile of the chin. You’ll be left with a smoother, more symmetrical, and more attractive-looking chin.

Botox provides temporary relief, providing a smoother chin skin texture for periods up to 3 to 6 months. Eventually, like all Botox treatments, it will need to be re-applied.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified with extensive experience in administering Botox, and in tailoring treatments according to each patient’s needs. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. 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