2010 Wish List for Self-Improvement
January 25th, 2010
We all look forward to 2010 with optimism and anticipation and the first of the year is always a time of renewal and making personal resolutions. Calls start pouring in for cosmetic surgery consultations right about now. Both men and women are thinking about self-improvement through cosmetic surgery for the start of the New Year. Teeth-whitening is also the top of the list for do-it-yourself improvements, along with diets and working out. The remaining top changes that people want are either cosmetic surgery or cosmetic medicine treatments. In my own practice, breast enlargement, liposuction and tummy tucks, followed by facelifts have been the most popular surgery requests soon after the Holidays.
Correcting Lip Wrinkles
December 23rd, 2009
Lip wrinkles or “smokers lines†are the lines that radiate out from the lip margin. They can be the result of aging, sun exposure, smoking, and /or genetics. They often may make a person look older. Women generally dislike them because their lipstick runs into the wrinkles, giving a pronounced pursed look. As I mentioned earlier this week, skin resurfacing may reduce these wrinkles. What is the downside? Invariably there is bleaching of the skin, which more often than not requires make up to conceal.
Fortunately there are other choices to reduce lip lines. Injectable materials have made a dramatic contribution in the area of treating these wrinkles.
Filler materials are currently the first line of defense. Products like Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane are a few of the ever-increasing number of filler type materials on the market today. They are injected under the skin and actually fill in the lines. These newer products are based on a hyaluronic acid formulation, a natural component of your normal skin. Interestingly, when lip lines become apparent, there is frequently a loss of lip size or fullness at the same time. Not only can the lines be corrected, but the lips can be restored to more youthful size and shape, as well.
I am less satisfied with a couple other products that are available. Botox injections that are used to reduce wrinkles for the lips, significantly changes the way in which your lips move and I think it looks very strange. I do not recommend Botox into the lips, but it can be effective to reduce forehead wrinkles.
I do not recommend having Radiesse injected into the lips. The material is too stiff and firm to offer a smooth and natural looking lip. The manufacturer of Radiesse does not recommend using this material for injection into the lips, however it is often used elsewhere, such as in the marionette lines or pre-jowl area.
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