Joseph J. Castellano, MD

Because the steroids used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and the active components of BOTOX function within the body very differently, there should be no impact on the results of your BOTOX because of your RA medication. I would, however, be sure to double check with your doctor and an experienced, qualified BOTOX injector to let each of them know of your situation. There should be no drug interaction, but it's always important to be completely up front about your medical history.

You will need to make sure you're completely healed from your microneedling treatment before pursuing BOTOX. This can take around 3 to 5 days, depending on the degree of your microneedling and your own individual healing. Make sure when you're scheduling your BOTOX injections that you mention your microneedling and that you're choosing a qualified, experienced injector. Be ready to reschedule your BOTOX if you arrive and your injector determines that you're not fully healed from microneedling enough for injection.    

Some degree of asymmetry is normal – and even attractive – in every face. BOTOX, however, can help correct any muscular asymmetry you're uncomfortable with. If the asymmetry in your jaw is skeletal rather than muscular, though, BOTOX may not be your best bet. Schedule a consultation with a qualified provider who can administer BOTOX to determine the reason for your mandibular asymmetry and discuss the options – BOTOX or other – that could help you achieve the facial symmetry you're after.  

Though your request is a little bit unusual (most people want to avoid a hooded eye), the right placement of BOTOX could help lower your brow and achieve the results you're looking for. The most important consideration in this case is finding a reputable, qualified and experienced injector that can give you the results you're after. Schedule a consultation and talk through exactly the "hooded eye" look you're after to learn what your options for the best placement of BOTOX might be.  

I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble with your JUVEDERM® injections. Occlusions can occur. I'm glad your injector was able to resolve the issue quickly. After you've completely healed, you should be able to pursue further injections should you so choose. It may be worth scheduling a consultation with another injector for a second opinion in regards to your injection placement. Be sure you're completely healed before you consider more injections and best of luck!.

I'm sorry to hear you're unhappy with your results, but it's perfectly natural to miss your old smile. The effects of JUVEDERM® typically last around 1 year, but if you're impatient to see your old smile, you can have the filler dissolved. Hyaluronidase is used to dissolve the hyaluronic acid in fillers like JUVEDERM. When you have the filler resolved, the results should be almost immediate. If you're still interested in softening your laugh lines, consider scheduling a consultation to learn more about other types of dermal fillers.  

A series of laser tattoo removal treatments should be able to remove the pastel ink of your unwanted tattoo. The number of treatments will depend on the recommendation of your practitioner. Schedule a consultation with a certified, experienced tattoo removal specialist in your area to determine how many treatments you will need and what type of results you can expect. Be sure that your tattoo removal process contains the correct wavelength to handle the purple in your tattoo.  

Your unwanted tattoo should be able to be removed without causing damage to the adjacent tattoo. Tattoo removal is very precise under the direction of an experienced, certified provider. Schedule a consultation with a qualified tattoo removal practitioner to determine if you're a candidate with your ulcerative colitis and see exactly what results you can expect from your tattoo removal. If the lines of the adjacent tattoo are blurred in the process, you should be able to clean them up with a quick touch up from a tattoo artist.    

Hello. Sorry to hear you’re unhappy with your recent tattoos. You will need to wait until your skin has completely healed before exploring your laser tattoo removal options. This can take a few months. Expect to need several tattoo removal sessions as well. In the meantime, you can start searching for an experienced and qualified laser technician in your area and schedule a consultation. They should be able to give you a better idea of your timeline for starting your first treatment. Best of luck.

Hello, and thank you for sharing your question. Some swelling, redness and tenderness immediately after your laser hair removal treatment can be normal. As long as you are not in severe pain or noticing any other symptoms out of the ordinary, you should expect this to resolve on its own over the next few days. If you have specific concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your provider. In the meantime, be sure to follow his or her LHR recovery guidelines, such as avoiding sun exposure and not waxing the area in between sessions.