Mavis Pak, MBBCh - Account Suspended

It looks like you're experiencing concerns related to volume loss, skin laxity, and facial structure, which are common as we age. Since you've already had cheek filler but felt it didn’t provide the desired result, it’s understandable that you’re looking for more structural balance, particularly around your jawline and midface.

Based on your concerns, here are a few treatment options that may help:

Jawline Contouring: To address the lack of structure and provide a more defined jawline, dermal fillers in the jawline and chin area can help create more angularity and balance your facial proportions. This would also enhance the overall definition of your lower face without making it look overly full in the midface.

Midface Support: Instead of focusing filler solely on the cheeks, which can sometimes create a “heavy” look in the center, fillers can be strategically placed to lift and support the midface. This subtle approach can restore volume loss without over-emphasizing any particular area.

Skin Tightening Treatments: Since you mentioned concerns with excess skin, non-surgical skin tightening treatments, such as radiofrequency (RF) or ultrasound-based treatments (e.g., Ultherapy), can help tighten the skin and stimulate collagen production, improving both skin elasticity and firmness.

Lower Face Skin Laxity: Depending on the extent of skin laxity, treatments like thread lifts or laser skin tightening can help address mild to moderate sagging without surgery, providing a more youthful and structured appearance.

Your upcoming upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) will help refresh your eye area, and combining it with some of these options may give you more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

It's important to consult with an experienced aesthetic doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan that targets your unique concerns, ensuring that you achieve balanced, natural-looking results.

If you’ve been using an IPL device for hair removal at home and are now considering professional diode laser hair removal, it’s generally recommended to wait about 2 to 4 weeks after your last IPL session before undergoing laser treatment. This allows the skin time to recover from any potential irritation and ensures the hair follicles are in the appropriate phase (anagen phase) for the diode laser to effectively target them.

It’s also a good idea to avoid sun exposure and shaving the area too close to the treatment to minimize the risk of skin sensitivity. Always consult with your laser specialist for personalized advice based on your skin type and hair growth pattern.

As an aesthetic physician, I would recommend a combination treatment approach for addressing the creases and shadows in the glabellar area. This may involve combining neuromodulators such as Botox or Xeomin with dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid fillers.

Neuromodulators can help to relax the muscles that cause the creases and shadows in the glabellar area, while dermal fillers can add volume and smooth out the area, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and creases. The combination of these treatments can often provide more comprehensive and longer-lasting results than either treatment alone.

If neuromodulators and dermal fillers are not providing the desired results, other treatment options may be considered, such as laser resurfacing, chemical peels, or micro-needling. These treatments can help to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the glabellar area.

It's also worth noting that the efficacy of neuromodulators such as Botox or Xeomin can vary from person to person, and may decrease over time with continued use. If you're experiencing a creased or shadowed look despite regular injections, your healthcare provider may recommend adjusting the dosage or switching to a different neuromodulator to achieve better results.

Overall, it's important to have a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider to discuss your concerns and explore the best treatment options for your individual needs. They will be able to evaluate your glabellar area and recommend the most appropriate course of treatment to help achieve the results you desire.

In general, Botox and fillers are considered safe cosmetic treatments for most people. That being said, there are certain contraindications that may make these treatments unsafe for some individuals, such as:

Allergic reactions to any of the ingredients in Botox or fillers
Active skin infections or inflammation at the injection site
Bleeding disorders or the use of blood-thinning medications
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Regarding your concerns about triggering an episode of alopecia areata, it's essential to discuss this with your healthcare provider. They will be able to evaluate your individual situation and determine whether Botox or fillers may increase the risk of an AA episode.

Additionally, it's important to note that any cosmetic procedure comes with potential risks and side effects. Your provider should thoroughly discuss these risks with you before performing any procedure and ensure that you understand them fully.

Overall, it's essential to have an open and honest discussion with your healthcare provider about your medical history, current medications, and any concerns you have before undergoing any cosmetic procedure. They will be able to provide you with personalized advice and guidance to help you make an informed decision.

As an aesthetic physician, I would recommend that you schedule an appointment with your provider to have a comprehensive evaluation of your skin. This would enable a more accurate assessment of the redness and hyperpigmentation that you are experiencing, as well as the best course of action to address them.

That being said, chemical peels and laser treatments are both excellent options for treating hyperpigmentation and redness on the skin. Chemical peels can be particularly effective for treating hyperpigmentation, as they work by exfoliating the top layers of the skin to reveal new, fresh skin beneath. Depending on the severity of the hyperpigmentation, a series of chemical peels may be necessary to achieve optimal results.

Laser treatments can be effective for treating both hyperpigmentation and redness. Specifically, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) can be an effective treatment for redness, while laser resurfacing can be an effective treatment for hyperpigmentation. Fillers can also be effective for addressing certain types of scars and other concerns, but they are unlikely to have a significant impact on redness or hyperpigmentation.

Retin-A and timolol maleate can both be helpful for improving the overall appearance of the skin, but it's important to use them under the guidance of a qualified provider. They can also increase the sensitivity of the skin, so it's important to take appropriate precautions to protect the skin from the sun.

Overall, I would recommend that you schedule an appointment with your provider to discuss the best course of action for treating the redness and hyperpigmentation on your cheeks. They will be able to assess your skin and recommend the best treatment plan based on your individual needs and concerns.