Kim Thompson, DO - Account Suspended

Ultherapy is a wonderful treatment for skin tightening. Since the neck heals slower than the face, it can take 6-12 months to see the maximal result. I’ve been using Ultherapy since 2013 and have seen very nice results. With that said, I always evaluate the severity of laxity, their goals and talk to them about other options including surgery.  I usually recommend the lower face and the neck be treated together as the skin on the lower face can greatly affect the skin on the neck. The collagen building process changes slowly over time and it can be difficult to see daily changes in yourself. I would recommend you follow up with your provider and look at your before and after pictures. Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised. 

The total cost varies on several factors. 1)What areas you are treating? 2) What is the end result you are looking for? 3)Where do you live? 4)Experience of the injector. I've been doing this for over 12 years and have seen a wide range of pricing. On the East Coast(2005) we charged $15/unit, in the Midwest(2007) $11-17/unit and here on the West Coast(2017) I've seen $7.50(with yearly membership cost) to $16 per unit. The cost of the treatment is important, but the level of experience is also important. It’s pretty easy to give “cookie cutter” Botox injections (because we all started off learning that way), but with experience, I find that Botox can be specifically customized to variations in anatomy and the client’s desired result. With experienced providers you will typically have less side effects(eyelid dropping, crooked smiles, drooling etc), although this can happen to anyone, even experienced injectors.  If you're not sure, go to a few consultations, try not to worry about price too much, and go with the clinic you feel most comfortable with. 

In my experience, I’ve found that first time Botox users either get a longer duration 3+ months, or a shorter duration 2+. The optimal time to return for your next treatment is when all movement has returned which can be different from person to person and can be hard to wait for! I have all of my first time clients return at 2 weeks after their treatment to ensure the treatment outcome is what we both were expecting. At this point, Botox should be at it's maximal effect. Usually I tell my patients around 2 months you may start to have a little movement, but you want to wait as long as possible (until all the Botox has worn off) to get your next treatment.  The Initial studies with Botox treating frown lines showed that 30days after injection 80% had mild to no frown lines, at 90days 48%, and at 120days only 25% had mild or no frown lines. So, it can vary a little from person to person. Botox weakens the muscles over time. Any muscle not used will atrophy and weaken (like if you work out a lot, build muscle mass, and then stop, your muscles will decrease in size and strength) Over time, even though Botox may wear off around 3 months, because your muscles are still “weak”, it may allow you to go further between treatments. Many of my clients go 4-6+ months between treatments. Some have full movement back at 3 months even after years of treatment.

Hope that helps!

With any treatment, some people are better candidates than others. CoolSculpting results can vary, however since starting in 2011, we have seen many clients get great results! CoolSculpting is an FDA cleared treatment and has shown to be effective in permanently removing fat cells through apoptosis (naturally induced fat cell death). With new protocols, training, and equipment, as well as 6+ years of clinical experience, we have seen great results. When appropriate, we refer clients who would be better suited with surgery. We absolutely want our clients to get the results they are looking for and will refer to our local plastic surgeons. A consultation and physical exam is necessary to determine if someone is a candidate for the treatment. 

Hope that helps!

Swelling after lip injections is extremely common. Some patients swell more than others. You can have some swelling (increase or decrease) or bruising under the skin that can appear like indentations. I usually let my patients know that if you have visible irregularities or asymmetries after 3-4 days, then call me. We always schedule rechecks about 1-2 weeks after filler to reassess. For peace of mind, I would suggest that you call the clinic where you had it done and let them know your concerns. I'm sure they would be happy to help. Lumps, bumps, and asymmetries can always be corrected, so don't worry too much. Follow up with your injector after a week or so if you are still concerned. Hope that helps! 

Kim Thompson, DO