Christopher Crosby, MD, PhD

Getting the best results is partially operator dependent. The most important step is determining if you are a good candidate. After that, choosing the areas and placement of the applicators takes some experience. Outside of that however, the device functions pretty much the same and you should get the same results with whatever qualified provider you choose. I would recommend a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with experience in body contouring.

It can take up to 2 weeks for the maximal effect, but most patients see results in any where from 3-7 days. If it has not been 2 weeks, I would give it some time. The other thing to keep in mind is that Botox does not actually remove wrinkles or lines. It relaxes the facial muscles underneath the skin to help soften the lines that occur with facial expressions. For very early, mild lines, the skin may become comepletley smooth after botox. For deeper, longstanding lines and wrinkles, there may be a partial improvement. This will continue to get better over time as the muscles remain relaxed and can sometimes be supplemented with filler.

Active FX is a CO2 resurfacing procedure. It helps improve surface tone and discoloration. Depending on the settings, it can also treat deep enough to tighten and improve fine lines and wrinkles. It does not really target the fat at all. Depending on the specific concern you have about facial fat deposits, there are a number of other procedures that may be able to address it.

The short answer is that epinephrine is not necessary for local anesthesia. However, there are two reasons that it is extremely beneficial. It helps control bleeding and it allows the numbing to last longer. Make sure to discuss the reasons you would like to avoid epinephrine with your doctor. I have treated scalp lesions without epinephrine but it always takes a little longer and it is sometimes more difficult to keep the area completely numb. True epinephrine allergies are extremely rare since it is a chemical that the body makes naturally and that is required for normal body functioning.

SCAAR FX is typically indicated for more severe scars such as burn scars or thickened hypertrophic and keloid scars. It would likely penetrate too deeply for acne scar treatment.