Cosmetic Dermatology

Cosmetic Dermatology

Botox and Dysport

Dermal Fillers

Radiesse

Restylane and Perlane

Juvederm

Sculptra

Medical grade chemical peels

Microdermabrasion

Dermaplaning

Fractile laser therapy

Latisse

Laser hair removal

Laser tattoo removal

Vein treatment

Facials

Wrinkle reduction

Aesthetic products

Botox and Dysport

Dermatology Associates physicians have been using Botox for years to successfully treat facial wrinkles. Botox is a brand name of a purified protein derivative produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are also other brand names, such as Dysport and Xeomin. At Dermatology Associates, we use both Botox and Dysport because of their extensive safety profile. Botox and Dysport are most often used on forehead lines, the lines between the eyes, known as the glabellar region and crow's feet (lines around the eyes). Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox. These products block signals from the nerves to the muscles. Contracted facial muscles cause wrinkles on the overlying skin. When the muscle relaxes it makes the wrinkle soften.

Getting Botox or Dysport takes only a few minutes and doesn't require anesthesia. They are injected with a fine needle into specific muscles with only minor discomfort. It generally takes 7 to 14 days to take full effect, and it is best to avoid alcohol starting at least one week before the procedure. You should also stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications two weeks before treatment to reduce bruising.

The effects from Botox and Dysport will last four to six months. As muscle action gradually returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to reappear and will require additional treatment. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with repeated treatments because the muscles are being trained to relax.

Botox and Dysport are not covered by insurance when used for cosmetic purposes.

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine an individual treatment plan for you.

Dermal Fillers

Three layers comprise normal skin: the epidermis or outer layer, the dermis or middle layer, and the inner most layer of fat. The major component of the dermis is collagen. As we age the normal volume and production of collagen decrease. The reduced volume and the effects of gravity contribute to the formation of lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers are compounds that are injected directly into the dermis to restore volume and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Radiesse

Radiesse is a dermal filler that stimulates the production of your own natural collagen. Collagen is what gives volume, flexibility and strength to healthy, young skin. As a part of the aging process, your own natural collagen breaks down, diminishing facial volume and elasticity. This loss of elasticity and volume results in wrinkles, facial lines and skin sagging. The result is a loss of your skins youthful, fresh appearance.

By replenishing your skin's lost volume, wrinkles are reduced. Upon injection, Radiesse® dermal filler immediately provides the volume and lift needed to diminish the signs of aging because of the calcium-based microspheres and gel that comprise the product. But what's unique about Radiesse is that it stimulates and serves as a framework for your own natural collagen to grow upon. This process continues for several months, which extends the initial effect of Radiesse. The natural results last a year or more in many patients.

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine the appropriate dermal filler and individual treatment plan for you.

Restylane and Perlane

Restylane and Perlane are injectable gels formulated from non-animal hyaluronic acid (HA), a building block of collagen, which are used to correct moderate to severe wrinkles and folds. Both products add volume and fullness to: the laugh lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth, the "lipstick" lines above the upper lip, the corners of the mouth, the "marionette" lines from the mouth to the chin, and to the body of the lips.

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine the appropriate dermal filler and individual treatment plan for you.

Juvederm

Juvederm is another dermal filler made with a formulation of hyaluronic acid. As you age, sunlight and other factors can reduce the amount of HA in your skin. The lack of HA causes your skin to lose structure and volume, creating unwanted facial wrinkles and folds - like those parentheses lines around your nose and mouth. A dermal filler like Juvederm® is an effective way to replace the HA that your skin has lost, bringing back its volume and smoothing away facial wrinkles and folds.

Most facial wrinkles and deeper nasolabial folds occur within the dermal layer of the skin. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring molecule that acts like a sponge, binding and absorbing water, which creates volume in your face. As we age, HA diminishes, which contributes to the presence of lines and folds. Injectable gels like Juvederm correct this by restoring hyaluronic acid in your skin, helping to diminish wrinkles and nasolabial folds. Dermal fillers are a nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment for nasolabial folds and other facial wrinkles.

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine the appropriate dermal filler and an individual treatment plan for you.

Sculptra

Sculptra is another injectable dermal filler. It is the first facial injectable that gives you subtle results over time. By replacing lost collagen it gives you a more natural looking appearance, without giving you away. A full treatment of Sculptra, an average of three injection sessions over a few months, can last more than two years.

Sculptra Aesthetic is a facial injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid, which helps to replace lost collagen. It helps correct the shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds that appear with aging by replacing lost collagen. This ingredient is a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic material that has been used by physicians for decades.

Individual results and treatment sessions may vary.

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine the appropriate dermal filler and an individual treatment plan for you.

Medical grade chemical peels

Chemical peeling is used to improve the skin's appearance by applying a chemical solution to the skin, causing the top layers of skin to separate and peel off. The resulting new skin is smoother, less wrinkled, and may be more even in color. Peeling agents are available in different strengths (superficial, medium, and deep) and are chosen based upon your degree of skin damage and desired results. Chemical peels can reduce fine lines, reduce scarring, sun spots and freckles. Dermatology Associates physicians may enhance the results of a chemical peel with laser/light-based rejuvenation techniques, or combine with another procedure, such as dermal fillers or Botox / Dysport rejuvenation. Consultation with a Dermatology Associates physician will help determine how to best meet your needs.

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine an individual treatment plan for you.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is one of the most popular superficial peeling therapies. It is non- surgical, safe and effective. This light peel can help with fine lines and wrinkles, smooth minor pigment irregularities, and dramatically improve acne.

Microdermabrasion provides improvement in many skin problem areas. It has little to no down time and the procedure is fast, with little discomfort. It complements most treatment programs by providing a gentle but effective mechanical peeling of the skin. The result is glowing younger-appearing skin tone, including an improvement in the skin's texture and appearance.

Microdermabrasion uses fine particles of aluminum oxide to remove the dead layer of cells from the surface of the skin. This stimulates the production of new collagen and cells in the deeper layers of the skin. The microdermabrasion system is so successful, due to its unique combination of a high-velocity vacuum and filter system. The aluminum oxide crystals are sterile and self-contained so they never touch human hands before they brush across your skin.

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine an individual treatment plan for you.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is a gentle form of manual exfoliation of the skin that resurfaces sun-damaged, dull, dehydrated skin. It's a gentle medical skin treatment that is performed by using a surgical blade that gently scrapes the outermost layers of the skin, ridding it of dead skin cells, impurities and debris. Dermaplaning is an excellent way of exfoliating the skin and regenerating new skin cells. The result is smoother, softer and more vibrant skin. The effects of dermaplaning include:

• Removing light surface wrinkling
• Smoothing acne scarring
• Improving skin texture
• Evening out skin tone

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine an individual treatment plan for you.

Fractional Laser therapy

Fractional laser skin rejuvenation can transform the skin and enhance its overall appearance. Fractional laser therapy can reverse the appearance of aged or sun-damaged skin, smooth wrinkles and fine lines and minimize acne scars. Because the therapy delivers the desired outcome with minimal downtime, it is rapidly replacing traditional laser skin resurfacing as the treatment of choice for mild to moderate signs of photo damage and aging skin.

During the procedure, a Dermatology Associates physician applies a pattern of tiny scanned pulses of laser energy to your skin. The procedure is customized to your skin by your physician. The laser’s settings are adjusted to tailor the treatment and obtain the best results for you.

Adjustments can be made throughout the procedure to more accurately treat specific areas such as acne scars on the cheeks or fine lines around the mouth. The laser precisely creates thousands of microscopic holes in your skin, which induce immediate skin tightening and stimulate new collagen growth. Patients are often amazed at how tight their skin feels immediately after the procedure.

Typical results include:

• Reversing the appearance of aged and sun-damaged skin
• Improved texture and firmness of the skin
• Reduced appearance of acne scars and other scars

*You should consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine an individual treatment plan for you.

Latisse

Latisse is a topical medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enhance eyelash growth. With regular applications along the lash line of the upper eyelid, Latisse gradually encourages dramatic growth of longer, thicker and darker eyelashes. Latisse isn't meant to be applied to the lower eyelid. For full results, you must use the medication daily for at least two months. Eyelash improvements remain with maintainance therapy of the medication.

Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal works best for darkly colored hair. It is accomplished by sending a beam of light to a group of hair follicles with enough power to destroy the root, but not enough power to harm the surrounding skin. Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures in the U.S. It beams highly concentrated light into hair follicles. Pigment in the follicles absorbs the light which results in a reduction of hair growth. Lasers are useful for removing unwanted hair from the face, leg, arm, underarm, bikini line, and other areas.

Benefits of laser hair removal include:

Precision. Lasers can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.

Speed. Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second and can treat many hairs at the same time. The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas such as the upper lip can be treated in less than a minute. Large areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour.

Laser tattoo removal

It is estimated that close to 10% of the U.S. population have some sort of tattoo. Eventually, as many as 50% of these people want to have their tattoo(s) removed. There is good news for those who have an unwanted tattoo. Laser tattoo removal techniques can eliminate your tattoo with minimal side effects. Here's how it works: lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors of the tattoo with a high-intensity light beam.

Because each tattoo is unique, removal techniques must be tailored to suit each individual patient. In the past, tattoos could be removed by a wide variety of methods but, in many cases, the scars were more unsightly than the tattoo itself.

Patients with previously treated tattoos may also be candidates for laser therapy. Tattoos that have not been effectively removed by other treatments or through home remedies may respond well to laser therapy providing the prior treatments did not result in excessive scarring.

Vein treatment

Enlarged facial blood vessels and redness can be treated with laser therapy by an experienced Dermatology Associates physician. The laser abolishes the blood vessels and removes redness by targeting hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying component of the blood. Unsightly spider veins on the legs can also be removed through a procedure known as sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a detergent or salt solution directly into the vessel which ultimately results in the disappearance of the unsightly vein.

Facials

Facials are a treatment for the face that's meant to cleanse, firm, smooth and moisturize the skin. Many people swear by facials not only as a way to feel relaxed and pampered, but also as a means for making their skin healthier.

Dermatology Associates patients choose to have facials in order to:

• Deeply clean the skin and pores
• Improve skin that is either too dry or too oily
• Improve acne
• Rejuvenate skin that has begun to look old or wrinkled
• Relax and de-stress

At Dermatology Associates, highly trained aestheticians apply creams, gels, serums, masks, mists and lotions meant to clean and revitalize the skin. A facial can help your skin look and feel better -- and give your self-image a boost in the process. Much like hairstyles and clothing, there are many types of facials, each designed for a different purpose.

Simple facials are probably what you think of when you picture the treatment -- cleaning, steaming and finishing off with a nice massage. Special facials can be tailored to your specific skin type. For example, hypoallergenic products may be part of a facial for sensitive skin. Alpha hydroxy acid facials help aging skin look more youthful.

If mature skin isn't your problem -- rather, you're on the youthful end with too much acne, you can seek out a specialized acne facial to try to clear your skin. You can also try to clear up your skin with antioxidant and pollution-fighting facials that have special ingredients formulated to fight free radicals that can contaminate and damage your skin

There are many different types of facials. Make an appointment at your nearest Dermatology Associates office to determine the facial most appropriate to your needs..

Wrinkle reduction

Whether you're 35 and just beginning to see the first signs of aging, or 55 with skin that isn't exactly keeping your birthday a secret, seeking ways to reduce wrinkles is probably on your agenda. However, many of us are losing the wrinkle battle because we think that aging skin is inevitable. With today's advanced procedures, technologies and treatments, you really can look as young as you feel.

That process begins with a consultation by your Dermatology Associates physician. Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologists have helped tens of thousands of patients improve the quality and appearance of their facial skin. The results are a meaningful enhancement of the patients' self-esteem and overall sense of well-being. A visit to Dermatology Associates will open the door to you having the flawless, younger-looking skin you've always wanted, but just haven't been able to achieve. We'll help you repair and rejuvenate your skin and improve your complexion.

Recapture and restore your beautiful skin. Consult with a Dermatology Associates board certified dermatologist to determine an individual treatment plan for you. Make an appointment today.



Skin care products

The most advanced skin care products, including both cosmaceuticals and those at prescription strength, are available at your Dermatology Associates office. More importantly, you have the advantage of a Dermatology Associates provider helping you make the right choice. With the dizzying array of skin care products available in department stores and on the shelves in drug stores, it's easy to understand why people have such a difficult time in choosing skin care products. We've already chosen the most effective products, based on our experience with patients, thereby eliminating any guesswork. The result will be a wonderful skin care regimen designed specifically for you.