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Moderna Vaccine Interaction with Dermal Fillers

The FDA has reported that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may cause facial swelling (angioedema) in people who have facial fillers. In all three cases reported by the FDA, the swelling was localized and either resolved itself without intervention, or after simple treatment. Furthermore, according to FDA medical officer Rachel Zhang, a flu vaccine, and influenza have been known to trigger these side effects as well.

Our immune system is designed to counteract any foreign substances. Certain unknown factors following a viral infection, or vaccination, may occasionally cause your body to view your dermal filler as extrinsic, causing such reactions as facial swelling and inflammation. This is a rare side effect, and it is easily treatable with antihistamines and prednisone, which is a type of steroid.

While cosmetic patients should be aware of the possibility of localized swelling in response to the vaccine, it is important to remember that these cases are rare and the effects are easily treatable. All patients should consider the benefits of receiving the vaccine along with the reported risks. This shouldn’t stop anyone from getting preventative treatment, or from getting facial filler.

If patients who have had facial fillers notice any swelling at the site of their filler injection post Moderna vaccine administration, please notify the office so we can assess the need for treatment.

Smile confidently!

Gummy Smile occurs when people smile, and their upper lip elevates too far above their upper teeth, exposing gums and producing an unattractive smile. One of the causes is hyperactive muscle which elevates the upper lip. According to dentists and cosmetic surgeons, the ‘ideal smile’ sees the upper lip drape over the top of the teeth, with only two millimeters of gum showing.

Fortunately, the “gummy smile” could be corrected safely and effectively with Botox or Dysport injections that reduce the activity of the muscle that elevates the lip. The low dose of Botox is injected into the upper lip “elevator” muscles. It is inhibiting contraction of the upper lip and makes gums less visible. Treatment is quick and inexpensive, results last 3-4 months.  Schedule your free consult today!

 

Gummy Smile

Non-Surgical Neck Lift with Dysport

Nefertiti, an Egyptian queen, a global icon of feminine beauty and power, has been the inspiration for a beautiful youthful neck for many centuries.

In-office procedure with no downtime.

Even though we can’t make your neck longer, we sure can make it look smoother and younger.

The platysma muscle plays a direct role in the appearance of the neck as people age. Its position and thickness can determine how and when we will show signs of aging. Over the course of time, as skin looses its elasticity, thick vertical platysmal bands become visible, running in a V-shape from bottom of the chin to the base of the neck.

Properly administered Botox /Dysport injections can relax this area and soften prominent neck bands.The non-surgical neck lift with Botox/Dysport is an in-office procedure that takes 15 min and no downtime.

Schedule your appointment at Age Perfectly >>

Top 10 Misconceptions about Botox

When it comes to Botox, information on the internet can be overwhelming… not to mention incorrect.

We’ve outlined the top 10 Botox misconceptions to help you decipher the “truths” from the “myths”.

To learn more about our Botox and Dysport injection treatments, click here.

“Botulinum neurotoxin, which was once called the ‘most poisonous poison on the planet’, comes in two differing forms, Botox® and Dysport®, has recently seen a surge in the number of medical conditions that this elegant and specific chemical can treat. Despite increasing uses, many people are still frustrated by the many misconceptions surrounding it.

Misconception No 1: Botox injections are highly toxic.

Nearly every worthwhile drug in medicine is a diluted solution of a toxin. If you had a major cardiac event today and ended up in hospital most of the drugs that would be used to save your life, Digoxin, Atropine, Lidocaine or Adrenalin are all chemicals extracted from plants, microbes or animals that are used in a controlled fashion. Some drugs such as Digoxin are extracted from the foxglove plant can actually stop your heart beating if they are used in a strong enough strength. If we dilute them they have less effect but could stop your heart from beating uncontrollably and allow it to beat normally. Botox is a mild dilution of Botulinum toxin, which can cause a serious form of food poisoning. The safety of Botox is also ensured by its selective administration into a certain muscle or a group of muscles, which leaves it largely incapable of action outside the given area. Newborn babies who suffer cerebral palsy or muscle spasms receive much higher doses every day without evidence of problems. Many physicians would agree that Aspirin and antibiotics are potentially more harmful than Botox. However like any drug, anaphylaxis can occur and Botox procedures should be performed by trained providers.

Misconception No 2: Botox injections are a painful experience.

On the contrary, an injection of Botox is usually quite painless. The needle that is used to administer Botox is tiny, in fact it is the smaller size than used by diabetics every day to give insulin. Those who were given Botox injections compare their sensations to those experienced during an insect bite. Some patients do prefer applying an anesthetic cream to the face about fifteen minutes before the procedure and this totally eliminates any possibility of pain. There is no pain after injection as Botox.

Misconception No 3: Botox injections cause headaches.

On the contrary, although Botox can cause headaches in about 2-3% of people, it actually relieves them in the vast majority of patients treated. It has been known for some time that Botox can help prevent and treat migraine sufferers. To do this, providers usually inject it into various trigger points that can differ from patient to patient. The duration of action of Botox in migraine prevention varies from about 10 to 13 weeks and the onset of effect may take a few weeks. Ideally, the medication should not be administered more frequently than every 3-4 months.

Misconception No 4: Botox injections should be administered only to persons above 40 years old.

It is difficult to know where this misconception came from or in reality if it really still exists amongst young people in most developed parts of the world. The feeling possibly exists amongst an older generation who are less exposed to media and peer pressure. These people often feel it is a big event to approach a doctor who get Botox and wish to keep it a secret known only to themselves. In reality, the average age of starting Botox in the US has now dropped to 19 years, as young people now realize that it is a lot easier to tackle a problem at its early stage and if they start early they will not develop wrinkles at all. If you start early then you probably get a better response and require less to continue into your later life.

Misconception No 5: Botox will be less effective if it is used to often.

There is evidence that about 5% of patients injected continually with BOTOX® can develop neutralizing antibodies that can cause the injections to stop working. The chances of this happening depend on large doses being injected, repeat or booster injections given within four weeks of treatment.

Misconception No 6: There is no treatment if a brow or an eyelid drops after Botox injections and patients have to wait until it wears off.

This is a misconception to an extent, although any person who has had to sit out four months with a lowered eyelid may think differently. Lowering of the upper brow or eyelid (ptosis) can occur after injection in the frown muscles. This may occur as late as 2 weeks after injection and is more common in older patients receiving Botox for the first time. The risk is minimized by placing injections 1 cm above the eyebrow and not crossing the pupil line.

Patients are usually instructed to avoid rubbing the area. Some doctors feel that actively contracting the muscles under treatment may increase the uptake of toxin and decrease its diffusion. Most lowered brows tend to settle after about 4 weeks. Elevated brows can easily be corrected. It is more difficult to treat eyelid drop, although many patients are responsive to a special adrenergic agonist eye drops.

Misconception No 7: Patients are not allowed to lie down for four hours after receiving a Botox injection.

This is probably a misconception although many doctors still give patients this instruction. The perceived logic comes from the fact that lowering of the eyelid is thought to be caused by migration of toxin through the orbital septum. However, if this was the only reason then patients should really stand on their heads to prevent this type of diffusion. In general I don’t tend to give patients this instruction but do tell them to avoid manual manipulation of the area. Active contraction of the muscles under treatment may increase the uptake of toxin and decrease its diffusion.

Misconception No 8:  Patients are not allowed to fly after receiving a Botox injection.

This is also probably a misconception although many doctors still give patients this instruction. The perceived logic comes from the fact that different cabin pressures could contribute to causing migration of toxin through the orbital septum. Patients are thereby instructed not to fly following injection. However, cabin pressures are generally the same as the air pressure on the ground. It is the air pressure outside the cabin that is different. In general I treat many patients from overseas and if they are flying long haul, I tell them to wait one day.

Misconception No 9: Botox injections are good for facial lines only.

This is a total misconception that is still held by a few people. In fact many of my patients are surprised to learn that young infants with muscular spasms and cerebral palsy receive higher concentrations of Botox than they do. They are also surprised to learn that it was actually doctors who were treating muscular spasms that discovered it had an anti-wrinkle effect as a beneficial side effect. In reality Botox is now used to treat sweating, migraine, incontinence, spasms, strokes, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, as well as chronic back and neck pain.

Misconception No 10: Botox has little effect on underarm sweating.

On the contrary, Botox has nearly a 100% effect on excessive sweating that can last up to a year. The condition known as hyperhydrosis is caused by the overstimulation of sweat glands by the autonomic nerves. The study at the University of California San Francisco (2002) involved twelve patients who received injections of Botox® directly in the underarms. Amounts of the medicine used were similar to those used for wrinkles and frown lines. All patients reported decrease of underarm sweating within 48 hours of the treatment. Further follow-up suggested the treatment is effective for five to twelve months.”

Information derived from Aesthetic Medicine News, June 2, 2010.

Open Talk About Dysport

BREAK THE ICE ON A CONVERSATION ABOUT TREATING FROWN LINES AND FEAR OF THE FROZEN LOOK

“People aren’t talking about it openly, so they don’t have the opportunity to learn about all their options for treating frown lines, including Dysport®, which is a great choice for many people interested in looking their best, with natural-looking results.”

74% of Women and Men Would Be More Interested in Treatment If Results Looked Natural, According to New Survey

FORT WORTH, Texas – April 12, 2016 – Despite injectable treatments like Dysport®* (abobotulinumtoxinA) and professional techniques that enable natural- looking results, concerns and misperceptions are still holding women and men back from treating frown lines between the eyebrows. Despite reporting that a person with frown lines between the eyebrows looks stressed (39%), old (36%) and even angry (24%) and many realizing their face looks older than they feel, few are taking action to learn about treatment options that have natural-looking results. Less than 40% of Americans said they would be comfortable talking about their interest in treatment with a healthcare specialist.

The survey also showed digital technology has transformed Americans’ perceptions of facial aging. More than 70% of respondents report the use of technology made them realize their face looks older than they feel. For many, these digital wake-up calls – seeing themselves in selfies (43%), tagged photos (33%) on social media or “Throwback Thursday” posts (33%) – make it hard to ignore their frown lines. Of the individuals polled in the Break the Ice survey, a majority (64%) have noticed frown lines between their eyebrows as they age, first seeing these lines on average at age 34.

Additionally, 77% reported noticing frown lines on others, such as their friends, family members and coworkers. A surprising 74% reported thinking about their face looking older one or more days a week. Men and women are more aware of their frown lines when they catch a glimpse of themselves in the mirror (70%) and get ready in the morning (56%). “Knowing that so many people worry every week about their frown lines between the eyebrows, but that so few are comfortable discussing treatment options – even with a healthcare specialist like myself – is unfortunate,” said Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, a dermatologist in New York City. “No one should have frown lines that bother them when an injectable treatment option like Dysport® can provide natural-looking results.”

Botox is an Ideal Treatment for Teeth Grinding

Man Hand writing Stop Bruxism with black marker on visual screen. Business, technology, internet concept

Do you grind your teeth during sleep?

Grinding your teeth, known medically as Bruxism, can cause significant tooth wear if it is severe, and can sometimes damage dental restorations such as crowns and fillings. Described as the excessive grinding of the teeth and/or excessive clenching of the jaw, It is a common problem, occurring in  8–31% of the general population. Several symptoms are commonly associated with bruxism, including hypersensitive teeth, aching jaw muscles, and headaches. Or, It may cause minimal symptoms, and therefore people may not be aware of the condition.

The exact cause of sleep bruxism is not known, however, it has been found to be associated with several factors such as daytime stress, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, loud snoring, heavy alcohol use, caffeine, smoking, and certain antidepressant drugs.

Botox an Ideal treatment Option

According to the American Academy of Facial Aesthetics , “Botox has proven to be an ideal treatment option for targeting and treating excessive muscle activity and spasticity. Many other treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medications and dental devices, do not address the source of the problem. Although dental devices can successfully protect teeth from damage at night for bruxism sufferers, they are ineffective in stopping the painful side effects of teeth grinding.”

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