Elmhurst Dermatologists

I Am Having Difficulty Deciding Between Sculptra and Radiesse Injections to Fill my Face

please provide a clear answear to which is better to add fullness to the face. I am torned between sculptra and radiesse.

Leana,

Both are great products to add volume to the face.  If I have a patient that has overall facial thinning, I tend to recommend Sculptra.  And if I have a patient with just flat cheek bones and hollow temples, I recommend Radiesse.  However, I may even recommend both products.

If a patient has very concave temples, they will realize their fullness immediately with Radiesse, but it may take several months to accomplish this goal with Sculptra.

If a facial volume defect is due to a flat cheekbone, I like cheek augmentation with Radiesse.  However, I can accomplish the improvement in the cheekbones also with Sculptra, but again it will take several sessions. 

It is difficult to be specific when I can not evaluate you in person, however as you can understand; we can use these products together or alone.  I love working with both products and they can both be a good answer to correcting facial volume.

Christina Steil, MD

Chicago Dermatologist

I Have Read That Ulthera Hurts but What About Preventive Measures?

Will Facial Numbing & Meds help with the pain?

I have performed several hundred Ultherapy treatments and have treated patients without meds, with nerve blocks, with valium/vicodin/and a nerve block, +/- NuCalm (a natural oral supplement that creates deep relaxation without controlled substances, causes no side effects, and requires no recuperative time or supervision).

Following are my personal observations:

Patients that state they have a "high pain tolerance", and are full-faced usually do well without any anesthesia and rate the discomfort between a 2-4.

Anxious patients who are thin do best with a block and valium/vicodin cocktail.

Non-anxious patients with average facial volume do well with a nerve block.

Men have overall tolerated this procedure better than women. 

I recommend a high dose of ibuprofen prior to the treatment per a current Ulthera Trial that has shown it to be as effective as a narcotic.

It is important to take the "pain medications" at leat 1 hour prior to the Ultherapy treatment. 

Patients should be reassured to know that if they are "uncomfortable", they can have more of a block, or they can do their treatment zones in stages.  Patients tolerate a 30 minute treatment, but anxioujs patients seem to fatigue after this point and if they break up the treatment into two sessions they do better (i.e midface, neck, and forehead treated on different days)

NuCalm helps to keep patients relaxed during treatment and is a great option for patients that don't have a driver but need something to "relax".

We avoid cooling the skin during the treatment because we want to maintain the heat in the skin for the best results.

Christina Steil, MD

Chicago Dermatologist

What is the Best Prescription Pain Med for a Ulthera Treatment for Full Face and Neck?

What is the best prescription med for an Ultera treatment for full face and neck? Is numbing cream and a dental block necessary? I have a low pain tolerance, so I have a lot of concern about this painful treatment. I have had 2 thermage treatments years ago. They were very painful and even after receiving a lot of meds. Thank you for your help.

I have performed several hundred Ultherapy treatments and have treated patients without meds, with nerve blocks, with valium/vicodin/and a nerve block, +/- NuCalm (a natural oral supplement that creates deep relaxation without controlled substances, causes no side effects, and requires no recuperative time or supervision).

Following are my personal observations:

Patients that state they have a "high pain tolerance", and are full-faced usually do well without any anesthesia and rate the discomfort between a 2-4.

Anxious patients who are thin do best with a block and valium/vicodin cocktail.

Non-anxious patients with average facial volume do well with a nerve block.

Men have overall tolerated this procedure better than women. 

I recommend a high dose of ibuprofen prior to the treatment per a current Ulthera Trial that has shown it to be as effective as a narcotic.

It is important to take the "pain medications" at leat 1 hour prior to the Ultherapy treatment. 

Patients should be reassured to know that if they are "uncomfortable", they can have more of a block, or they can do their treatment zones in stages.  Patients tolerate a 30 minute treatment, but anxious patients seem to fatigue after this point and if they break up the treatment into two sessions they do better (i.e midface, neck, and forehead treated on different days)

NuCalm helps to keep patients relaxed during treatment and is a great option for patients that don't have a driver but need something to "relax".

We avoid cooling the skin during the treatment because we want to maintain the heat in the skin for the best results.

Christina Steil, MD

Chicago Dermatologist