Botox® (Botulinum Toxin)

Botox® is a purified toxin produced by bacteria. Commercially produced Botox® is safe in the doses used for cosmetic purposes. It has been used safely for decades in the United States to treat eye twitches, excessive sweating of the hands, feet and underarms, and for the treatment of some headaches. In the mid 1990's, plastic surgeons began using Botox® injections to treat facial wrinkles.

Botox® can significantly improve frown lines between the eyebrows. It can also be used off-label to improve horizontal forehead wrinkles, crow's feet, “bunny lines” on the nose, and vertical wrinkles of the upper lip. These are wrinkles caused by the movement of facial muscles pulling on and wrinkling the skin. The Botox® works by temporarily weakening or halting the muscle movements that cause these wrinkles. Botox® can also be used to elevate and shape the eyebrow, widen the eye opening, decrease a “gummy smile,” decrease chin wrinkling, elevate the nasal tip, and decrease the vertical bands in the neck. The effects will last 3-6 months. If your wrinkles are not due to muscle movement, Botox® will not be effective but a chemical peel or proper skin care may be helpful.

 

Restylane

Restylane is a purified substance of non-animal sources that occurs naturally in all living beings. It has been approved recently in the U.S. to diminish the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles in the skin. Because it is only minimally allergenic, a skin test is not required before injecting Restylane. Restylane usually lasts approximately 6-9 months. Wrinkles can also be minimized with chemical peels, which may be an alternative to Restylane. This will be discussed at the time of your consultation.

Juvederm

Juvederm consists of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural complex sugar found in all living cells. It is used to temporarily smooth wrinkles and folds in the skin. The results last approximately six months and no skin test is required.

Radiesse

Radiesse consists of tiny calcium-based microspheres suspended in a natural gel. It was recently approved by the FDA as a temporary filler to correct wrinkles and folds in the skin. It acts by stimulating the growth of your own collagen over time and can last a year or longer. There is no skin test required.

 

Sculptra™

Sculptra™ is injectable poly-L-lactic acid and is a cosmetic product used to fill defects of the skin at deep levels. The product causes a reaction in the skin, which forms new collagen and increases the thickness of the skin. The Sculptra™ product itself is digested by the skin and is gone approximately 2 years after a treatment, but the new collagen layer that is left behind may last 2 years or more. It generally requires a series of 2-6 treatments at 4 to 8 week intervals to achieve adequate filling for most skin defects. There is no skin test required.

Sculptra™ was approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. in August of 2004. It was initially approved only for the treatment of HIV-related facial fat loss, with general cosmetic use of Sculptra™ considered “off-label”. The doctor will discuss whether or not this product is appropriate for you.

 

Chemical Peels

Light Peels - Glycolic and Lactic acid peels are considered light or superficial peels because they do not penetrate deep into the skin. Light peels act primarily at the surface of the skin (epidermis). Because these peels do not penetrate deeply, the recovery is minimal and you can usually return to work immediately. Light peels can be repeated monthly and may be performed on any skin type. The disadvantage of a light peel is that the effect is not as dramatic as a deeper peel.

Medium Peels - TCA peels, or Trichloroacetic Acid peels, penetrate more deeply than the light peels and are therefore more effective in improving wrinkles and overall skin texture. Because TCA is stronger, however, there is a period of actual peeling that takes approximately one week to complete. Medium peels may be repeated every three to six months.

 

Thermage

Thermage is a non-ablative radiofrequency device that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in November 2002. It can be used to tighten mild to moderately loose skin of the face and neck. The ideal candidate for this skin tightening procedure is the person with minimal loose tissue who is not yet ready, willing, or able to undergo a facelift. It can be used on all skin types. Results may last 24 months or longer depending on your natural aging process. On rare occasion, more than one session may be needed to obtain the desired effect.

 

Obagi Skin Care

The Obagi Nu-Derm System is a physician-prescribed skin care regimen that actually transforms your skin. The system works at the cellular level to correct the function and health of your skin. It can be used on all skin types and will be customized to address your specific needs. Skin with irregular pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, and acne will be transformed into skin that is smoother, firmer, more evenly colored and properly hydrated.

 

Jan Marrini Skin Care

The Jan Marini skin care line is a professionally supervised program that addresses aging and photo damaged skin, acne, rosacea, and skin discoloration. The products are gentle, yet highly effective. We offer a variety of products to compliment the other procedures and services available at Tribeca Plastic Surgery.

 

LASER Services

The Sciton laser we selected for our practice offers a wide range of treatment options for our patients. Services available include skin tightening, collagen stimulation, skin rejuvenation, acne therapy, skin resurfacing, hair removal, and the treatment of sun damage (brown/red spots and broken capillaries).