i just had my first botox (the dermatologist actually used Dysport) treatment at NYDG in New York. I paid 1200$ for my forehead (no crows feet) result is ok but many of my friends pay half of that for results that are just as good or better... what do you think?
If you are looking for the bee-stung lips, it would be much easier to have Restylane, or Juvederm injections. It is possible to trim Alloderm implants, but I find natural Restylane fillers easier & far more natural-looking than permanent implants that won't age gracefully with your face.
I would try the microdermabrasion & do 5 sessions, 3 weeks apart. I think that's going to be far more effective than than doing a "parlor peel," or a having a facial done at a spa. If you happen to have acne scars, a Fraxel, or a deeper chemical peel might be appropriate for you. You should decide this with the guidance of a board certified dermatologist. Your goals should be clearly stated and your intervention should be based on those. At my new york dermatology group, it's the dermatologist (not the facialist/aesthetician) who decides how to treat acne scarring in the best manner possible. Good luck. --Dr. C.
Botox for crows feet generally does not result in puffiness. The Botox really only lasts for a maximum of 6 months. When Botox is done around the lateral eye, it slows the movement of the periocular muscles, so this can result in some temporary bunching of the muscles when we smile, but it wouldn't cause edema . I have heard some reports of this phenomenon, but I have not witnessed it at my practice. I would advise having your ophthalmologist examine your eyes to rule out any other cause of periocular edema & you might also consider contacting Allergan (the manufacturers of Botox). It's possible that they may have some statistics on this condition to share with you.
It would be best to wait a week before having any treatments that could alter the Restylane. After a week the Restylane really "sets" and you can then proceed with whatever routines you like. Treatments that would avoid the area where the Restylane was injected are fine. Don't massage your face, don't have the type of facial that incorporates massage near the treatment area. If you wanted a laser treatment, waiting a week after is fine and you could have Botox done on the the same day. If a person wants multiple procedures on the same day, the dermatologist will help decide the correct order of things. At my practice we sometimes do a Fraxel-Botox-Restylane "Lose a decade by Monday" treatment combo. That means we do numb the face with a special gel, then do painless Botox which is followed by Fraxel. Then we ice the face and do Restylane 30 minutes later. So as you can see, mixing some types of procedures is ok. Just consult with a board certified cosmetic dermatologist & they will guide you. Hope that helps!
It's a good idea to visit a board certified dermatologist & have them do a few Microdermabrasion treatments in their office the proper way. After you have experienced professional microdermabrasion & have achieved the results, you can speak with your dermatologist about your skincare needs & then consider what type of exfoliation is good for your skin. At my practice I like to utilize the Parisian Peel System. I also created an easy to use at-home microdermabrasion facial disc that compliments in office treatments, but I do realize that all home microdermabrasion products were not created equally. Some of my patients with more sensitive skin can only use my intensify facial discs once, or twice a week, while others can use up to 3 times a week. This depends on your skin-type & the product that you have chosen. There are microdermabrasion products that I would recommend highly & others that I would not trust. Speak to your dermatologist, and do your skincare product research wisely. As always let a dermatologist guide you there. A heart surgeon should always do your bypass!
