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COSMETIC CENTER SERVICES
Medical Glycolic Peels (Chemical Peel)
Restylane
BOTOX
Varicose and Spider Vein Treatment (Sclerotherapy)
Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Consults
Medical Glycolic Peels (Chemical Peel)
What is a Medical Glycolic Peel?
A medical glycolic peel or chemical peel uses a chemical solution
to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing
its damaged outer layers. It is helpful for those individuals with
facial blemishes, mild acne scarring, fine wrinkles and uneven skin.
The alphahydroxy acid (AHA) glycolic acid, a mild peel, is used
for this purpose. The formula used is adjusted to meet each patient's
needs. A chemical peel can give you brighter, smoother looking skin.
Who is a good candidate for a chemical peel?
People with fair skin and light hair who have skin that is dull
in color and texture are good candidates for chemical peels. Peels
cannot resolve skin sagging or deep furrows.
How is a glycolic peel performed?
Your provider will work with you to decide on peel strength. The
peel solution is applied with a sponge, cotton pad, cotton swab
or brush. The peel solution is left of the face for a few minutes
then neutralized and cleaned off.
Do chemical peels hurt?
Peels may cause stinging, redness, irritation and puffiness. No
sedation or anesthesia is required for a glycolic peel.
What should I expect after my peel?
Some people have some redness after their peel, but this usually
resolves within a day or two. A broad spectrum sunblock with UVA
and UVB protection should be used after your peel (and everyday).
Most people see their skin brighten after a peel treatment. However,
a series of peels may be necessary to achieve desired results.
Are there any risks?
Chemical peels can activate latent cold sore infections.
Restylane
What is Restylane?
Restylane is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores
volume to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles
and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Restylane is a cosmetic dermal
filler composed of non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic
acid is a natural substance that already exists in the human body.
What should patients do prior to treatment?
Restylane requires no pretesting, but you should take a few precautions
before being treated. Avoid using aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
medication, St. John's wort, or high doses of Vitamin E supplements
prior to treatment. These may increase bruising or bleeding at the
injection site. Also, if you have previously suffered from facial
cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute
to another recurrence.
Is Restylane safe?
There is limited risk of animal-based disease transmission or development
of allergic reactions to animal proteins. No allergy testing is
required before use. The most commonly reported side effects were
temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects
typically resolve in less than seven days.
How long does Restylane last?
Restylane effects generally last for about six months. Treatments
are typically scheduled at six-month intervals. Please be sure to
consult your physician about recommendations for follow-up treatments.
Do the injections hurt?
Restylane is injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts by
an ultrafine needle, resulting in minimal discomfort. To optimize
your comfort during the short procedure, your physician may anesthetize
the treatment area.
BOTOX
What is BOTOX?
BOTOX is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum
bacterium. It is a non-surgical, physician-administered treatment
that can temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between
the brows. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX are administered
by a few tiny injections directly into the muscles. The treatment
is usually done in about 10 minutes, and no recovery time is needed.
How does BOTOX work?
Those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows form over
time as the result of muscle activity. BOTOX is injected directly
into the muscles between your brows. It works by blocking the transmission
of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity
of the muscles that cause those persistent lines to form.
When will I see results from a BOTOX treatment?
Within days, you may see a marked improvement in the moderate to
severe frown lines between your brows. Lines continue to improve
for up to a month, and results can last for up to 4 months. Individual
results may vary.
Does BOTOX treatment hurt?
Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, your
physician may numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream.
The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people
return directly to work or normal activity following treatment.
Who should NOT use BOTOX?
Most people are good candidates for BOTOX. However, treatment should
not be used in the presence of infection at the proposed injection
site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient
in the formulation. Patients with neurological disorders such as
ALS, Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased
risk of serious side effects.
Will I experience any side effects?
The most common side effects include headache, respiratory infection,
flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop, and nausea. These events are
thought to be associated with the injection and occur within the
first week.
Will my facial expressions continue to look natural?
Treatment with BOTOX will not radically change your facial appearance
or make you look as if you "had work done." The muscle
activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply reduced,
so you can still frown or look surprised without the wrinkles and
creases between your brows.
Varicose and Spider Vein Treatment
What is the treatment for varicose and spider veins?
Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for both spider veins
and varicose veins. The doctor injects a solution into the vein
that causes the vein walls to swell, stick together, and seal shut.
This stops the flow of blood and the vein turns into scar tissue.
In a few weeks, the vein should fade. Sclerotherapy does not require
anesthesia, and can be done in the doctor's office.
How is the sclerotherapy performed?
A typical sclerotherapy session usually lasts between fifteen minutes
to an hour. Using one hand to stretch the skin taut, your doctor
or nurse will begin injecting the sclerosing agent (polidocanol
and sodium tetradecyl sulfate) into the affected veins. Approximately
one injection is administered for every inch of spider vein. A cotton
ball and compression tape is applied to each area of the leg as
it is finished.
Does sclerotherapy hurt?
Sclerotherpy is performed in an outpatient setting. The doctor may
put a topical anesthetic on the treatment area. The needles used
in sclerotherapy are very small and patients will feel just a slight
prick from the needle and a mild burning sensation from the sclerosing
solution being injected. Most patients find the discomfort of sclerotherapy
tolerable. You should discuss your pain concerns with your provider.
What is recovery like?
In addition to the compression tape applied during the procedure,
tight-fitting support hose may be prescribed to guard against blood
clots and to promote healing. The tape and cotton balls can be removed
after 48 hours. However, you may be instructed to wear the support
hose for 72 hours or more. It's not uncommon to experience some
cramping in the legs for the first day or two after the injections.
What should I expect from treatment?
While sclerotherapy will make your legs look better, often more
than one treatment will be necessary. Your physician can only treat
the veins that are visible at the time of treatment. You should
also be aware that the procedure treats only those veins that are
currently visible and does not prevent new veins from surfacing.
Am I a candidate for sclerotherapy?
Women are more commonly affected by spider and varicose veins than
men. Most women who seek treatment for spider and varicose veins
are between 30 and 60 years old. By the time women are in the 60's
more than 70% have spider and varicose veins. Most women are good
candidates for sclerotherapy.
However, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should postpone
treatment. Often pregnancy related veins will resolve themselves.
While spider veins are less common in men, sclerotherapy is effective
for those men who wish to get rid of unsightly veins. Other patients
who may not be good candidates for sclerotherapy are people with
blood borne diseases like AIDS and hepatitis. Also those with diabetes
and circulatory problems should speak with a physician before treatment.
What are the risks of sclerotherapy?
Some common side effects of sclerotherapy are itching, bruising,
pain, and blistering at the vein treatment site. Another possible
side affect are skin color changes around the treated vein, this
may take from 6 to 12 months to disappear. Also, veins may reappear
and more treatments may be necessary.
Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Consults
The Cambridge Cosmetic Center offers individualized consults for
men and women who are interested in how cosmetic surgery might enhance
their appearance. We offer state of the art techniques, procedures
and equipment to our patients including the latest minimally invasive
care.
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