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First off, we should all give a round of applause for the FDA approving the use of Dysport in April 2009. Though Dysport has been safely used in the United Kingdom and South America for some time now, it takes an average of 12 years before a drug in the United States becomes FDA approved, so this drug has come a long way! Dysport functions similarly to Botox and produces similar effects, but Dysport definitely opens a lot of doors for those who use non-invasive cosmetic treatments. Until now, Botox has been the only option for the use of FDA-approved botulinum toxin A. The drug works by inhibiting facial muscle contractions that over time lead to forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet.

So, what makes Dysport different? Dysport brings good news for the spending conscious, costing approximately 20% less than Botox.  Dysport has also shown to take effect more rapidly than Botox. In one study, Dysport was found to take action in as little as 24 hours, whereas Botox can take 2-3 days to go into effect . Dysport is also a popular choice for those whose bodies have built up antibodies against Botox, leaving it no longer effective. This is because Dysport has fewer proteins surrounding the toxin, so your body shouldn’t produce as strong of an immune response to break it down. Dysport clinical studies and patient reports also indicate that Dysport may last up to eight months, which is great news for Botox patients who have become weary of returning for maintenance injections every four to six. Dysport presents a promising future for improving non-invasive cosmetic options, giving all of us more ways to look and feel more vibrant.  

With job losses at an all time high, and 401-k’s leaving us with little left to fall back on, it comes as no surprise that our baby boomers, once set for retirement are now getting back on their feet and back into the workforce. Needless to say, the amount of job seekers on the market today makes securing a job that much more complicated. Times are tough and competition is fierce for those looking to make some extra income.

These days, appearance is almost as vital as your actual resume. Why? There are several reasons, but most importantly, first impressions are critical. While many would have previously splurged on surgery as an anecdote to age, this option has become harder to commit to as bank accounts have dwindled and expenditures have re-adjusted.

So how do those 40 and 50-somethings maintain their competitive edge against the array of young professionals? Easy….they are turning to non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to turn back the hands of time without burning a hole in their pocket or their bank accounts. A recent article published discussing this very subject, and in the process, outlined “Six Popular Treatments for Cost-conscious Consumers”.

And they are:

1) Botox Injections – still the most requested procedure to date, this treatment temporarily removes the glabellar lines (vertical lines between the eyebrows).

2) Cosmetic Fillers – wrinkle fillers such as Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, Evolence, etc.

3) Laser Treatments – longer lasting procedures that eliminate not only wrinkles, but scars, birthmarks, blemishes, acne, spider veins, and much more.One of the most popular procedures is the Fraxel re:pair, which is virtually a facelift without a facelift.

4) Skin Resurfacing/Rejuvenation – this includes treatments such as chemical peels and microdermabrasions.

5) Minimally Invasive Surgery – facial plastic surgeons are now using more minimally invasive techniques which give you less pain, less downtime, and less trauma to the skin.

6) Lip Augmentation – a great way to give your pucker a little more “umph” while reducing wrinkles around the mouth.

Understanding that these procedures may still sound intimidating,  it is important to do your research before moving forward. Americans undergo more than 2 million facial plastic surgeries per year. Go with a doctor you can trust, has great training and experience, and who takes your face and your appearance seriously.

The insecurities of excessive sweating of your underarms and hands can create several hindrances in your daily life. Frequently changing clothes,  only wearing certain types of fabrics, worrying if someone will notice your underarm sweat marks…it’s just downright annoying! 

Currently, over 1.3 millions Americans suffer from primary axillary hyperhidrosis, which is a medical condition that produces excessive underarm sweating due to overreactive sweat glands. But we have GREAT NEWS for you who avoid the social scene for fear of being completely embarrassed. Now, BOTOX is proven to be a highly effective treatment for hyperhidrosis and has been FDA approved just for this purpose!

Typically, about 50 units per side are sufficient for the underarm or hand to produce a six month lasting effect. The second set of treatment will last even longer at nine to twelve months. Even better, the discomfort for this procedure is minimal, and I (Dr. Weiner) have perfected his technique for hand injections which renders no nerve blocks and practically no pain.

Come on, it’s time for a new wardrobe, a new sense of confidence, and most importantly, it’s time to get your life back to normal! Call Sandy at The Aesthetic Clinique to set up a consultation, 850-622-1214.

The popularity of aesthetic procedures has blossomed in recent years, attributable to its relatively low cost, minimal downtime, and marked cosmetic enhancements. In order for you, the consumer and patient, to get the best results, here are some questions you should always remember to ask yourself when determining where to go for your treatments:

1) Who can do these procedures?

• Can. In the state of Florida, any physician (M.D.), dentist (D.M.D.), osteopath (D.O.) can do any of these procedures. In addition, under specified medical supervision, a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant can perform these treatments as well.

• Cannot. A nurse, aesthetician, medical assistant, is NOT ALLOWED to perform any these procedures. The state of Florida is trying to ensure the safety of the general population and has stricter laws than neighboring states.

2) How do I pick which physician, dentist, or osteopath to go to?

• Experience: You have to look at experience and expertise. If you are getting work done on your face, it’s my humble opinion that a Facial Plastic Surgeon/Head and Neck Surgeon is the most qualified. These surgeons spend their entire residency operating on the face and neck area.

• Training: You also should look at where your doctor’s training was done. Large, prestigious institutions are the most desirable and most difficult residencies to get accept to. See if they are board certified. There are several boards that are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

3) What qualifies a physician’s experience as good?

• For example: When considering experience, let’s talk about BOTOX cosmetic, the most popular cosmetic procedure. There are several levels of recognition by Allergan (the makers of BOTOX) which are based on number of vials of BOTOX used. They are, in order of low to high – Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Diamond. For a physician to ask you to get “your friends together” to share a vial of BOTOX, or to give him time to “order the BOTOX for you”, you have got to worry that their BOTOX volume is very low.

• Trainer, not Trainee. If a physician is training other physicians and hired by companies to do this, he/she has shown superior results and expertise in these procedures. This is another qualification one should look for.

4) How should cost of the procedure factor into the decision-making process?
Don’t choose solely on price. With the boom in cosmetic procedures, every provider is jumping on the band wagon. Most times, the poorly qualified providers can only compete on price. When considering who to go to, remember it’s your face, and this is what people see every day. Although, I wouldn’t suggest going to anyone that is not competitive, it doesn’t make sense to strictly choose a physician based on price. Poor results or unsatisfactory outcomes can ultimately cost you more to correct, or give you prolonged grief.

5) Questions to ask your doctor:

• Who, What, Where?: If you are getting laser procedures done, ask your physician what his/her training was and for how long they have been using lasers. It’s very important, particularly for aggressive lasers like the Fraxel re:pair CO2, that the physician is extremely experienced.

• Ask to see pictures of results of patients that your physician has done. It is even better if your physician’s results are being used by the companies to highlight. This is extremely important. Results can vary significantly between physicians.