Non-invasive Treatment Videos: Radiesse, Restylane & Botox

I re-edited the Radiesse, Restylane & Botox video into three parts (in the order of which I received the injections) and added some more footage.  Now you guys don’t have to watch the whole video to just watch one procedure you are interested in:

• Radiesse For Cheek Augmentation – Part 1 of 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMbh6XwyOuk
• Restylane Injections To The Undereyes – Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lBJNlft5Xc
• Botox Injections – Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TGh8EmVElc

I am working on surgery videos now so those should be up soon



Lessen Your Chances Of Bruising After Surgery & Injections, Or How To Get Rid Of Them–FAST

About 10 days post fat grafting and lip augmentation
 I may look like a dork but I assure you, warm compresses work!

Well, first of all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.   And before you think I am being cliché (well, I suppose I am), it’s true!  I am going to outline best ways to avoid bruising as much or avoid bruising all together, and what to do if you do bruise to get rid of them faster…

Juvederm To Submalar Area (Plus Botox and Restylane)

I was thrilled to get a touch up with Dr. Jonathan Hoenig in Beverly Hills today.   I am healing from my double layer 8% TCA peel so I look icky, but at least I just had my hair done yesterday, so I am hoping to look human again pretty soon.  I lost a few lb. I am so thankful to be able to pull myself out of this “rut” and get back into high gear

I wasn’t completely sure what I needed, so he advised he would examine my face and see what I had going on once I got there.  I knew I wanted lips and n/l’s for sure and Botox.  Of course I always want more cheeks, I just don’t think the Radiesse Cheek Augmentation did as much as I expected it would.  But then again, it has been over a year!  What did I expect?  And still, something needs to be done with my under eyes.  I feel old.

Read more…

http://yestheyrefake.net/journals/juvederm_submalar.htm

Juvederm To Submalar Area, Restylane to Lips & Botox to Forehead, Glabella & Crow’s Feet

Juvederm To Submalar Area, Restylane to Lips & Botox to Forehead, Glabella & Crow’s Feet

*Firstly, I apologize for not having any before and afters.  I had sent the topical anesthetic pic to a friend, so that is why I have it.  But unfortunately my phone was stolen before I had a chance to remove the other pics off of it for my journal.

I was thrilled to get a touch up with Dr. Jonathan Hoeing in Beverly Hills today.   I am healing from my double layer 8% TCA peel so I look icky, but at least I just had my hair done yesterday, so I am hoping to look human again pretty soon.  I lost a few pounds.  I am so thankful to be able to pull myself out of this “rut” and get back into high gear

I wasn’t completely sure what I needed, so he advised he would examine my face and see what I had going on once I got there.  I knew I wanted lips and n/l’s for sure and Botox.  Of course I always want more cheeks, I just don’t think the Radiesse Cheek Augmentation did as much as I expected it would.  But then again, it has been over a year!  What did I expect?  And still, something needs to be done with my under eyes.  I feel old.  I had to work an event the weekend before and had two people say that I looked “different” since the last time they saw me just a few months ago.  Bleh.  And I got ma’amed 4 times in one day, lol.  Why don’t they just put me out to pasture, right?  Whatever.

I got to my appointment and he looked over my face and the first thing Dr. Hoenig said was, “You need to gain weight.”  
“No way!” I exclaimed.
He then proceeded to suggest I have my submalar area injected, lol. 
“Don’t you think I need more cheeks?”  I told him.
“You wouldn’t have any cheeks if it weren’t for me.”  said Dr. Hoenig.
*gasp!* “Not so!” I told him.  I pride myself on the fact that I have good cheek bones.  Don’t take my ONE plus I still have away from me, hehe!

I was apprehensive about injecting the submalar are but the more I looked, the more gaunt I really did appear.  I agreed.  Even Danya, agreed and I always listen to her.  So Dr. Hoenig applied some topical anesthetic and I waited for it to take effect.

He didn’t inject Restylane under my eyes.  He also didn’t inject anything into my nasolabials.  Dr. Hoenig said that he feels that unless they are deep, injecting that area to look flat causes the area between the upper lip and nose to look elongated which tends to age the face. *drat*

It must be Conservative Day , because this is what I wound up with:
Juvederm: 1 cc Juvederm in the submalar area, feathered to the malar area.  It actually looks better.  I have always been reluctant to get this area injected but I needed it.  I concede. (* had originally had posted that I had .8 Juve, but that was incorrect)

Restylane: 0.3 cc Restylane in my lips.   Bummer, I wanted more, lol.  He just did the cupid’s bow and a little touch to the center of my bottom lip.  I really wanted bigger lips, but he said “NO sausage lips.”    So I look natural.  Yay.  But it really does look natural, which is good. 

Botox: 25 units of Botox to forehead, glabella and only a touch to crow’s feet. Last year when I had my Radiesse, I had 54 units total.  I only got 25 units this time but it lasted until late March (2011). Really!

My Recovery
I bruised from everything!  From the Botox, the Restylane to my lips and I had some bruising in the cheek area from the Juvederm.  Plus, I was SUPER sensitive even with topical anteshetic.  It was very odd.  It’s not normal for me and Dr Hoenig was very surprised as well.  Even with a nerve block to the lip area I still felt the philtrum injections.  I am getting ready to “start” so I am always so super-sensitive beforehand.  I also think that I am anemic again so there ya go.  I have not drank anything lately so it was quite a shock to get bruising.

I still only have slight flaking left over from double layer 8% TCA, waiting another 2 weeks to do peel #2.   The peel really made the past blemishes and hyperigmentations dark this time.   I look like a hag right now.  But the TCA should help my complexion once it heals.

I am thinking about getting laser under my eyes, or the 35% in-office peel, but after the holidays.  He said my piddly 8% peels will do nothing like his 35% will.   I wonder what he thinks about the Vi peel.  I will have to ask next time I go.
Dr Hoenig had commented on a visible superficial vein under my eye that makes it look icky as well.  Aging SUCKS.
Conclusion
I really like the submalar injections.   It did make my face look more filled out and I was so against it for so long, haha.  I know it is difficult to judge how much you should have, as a patient, which is why I need to trust my doctor.  I redeemed myself of any doubt and sent  Thank You card to the office and commented that they told me so and that I shall never doubt him again.

Just Got Botox With Dr. Cynthia Boxrud in Santa Monica!

I had Botox today on my glabella (frown line between the brows), my forehead and interestingly near the jawline to relax the plastysma  (musce of the neck that connects to the jawline) and also on the horizontal lines on the next. The latter two were new areas for me to get treated but she suggested that I do, so I did, hehe.   I will see if it makes a difference.

Anyway, we filmed with KTTV Fox 11 News in Los Angeles regarding the recent study led by Judith Grub in Holland.  Dr Grub advised that her findings suggest that those who get Botox and are unable to make facial expressions associated with certain emotions held on to their anger and sadness longer than those who could facially express their feelings. Although as far as I know the study, which included 30 subjects, were not Botox users and rather were asked to voluntarily and consciously suppressed their facial expressions when faced with upsetting images.  The study findings are said to suggest that if one is unable to make a facial expression, there is no feedback loop to the brain thereby suppressing the ability to feel or deal with one’s emotions effectively.

My personal experience, after 8 years of Botox use, is that I do not notice a change in my emotional state regardless if I am due for another injection or not. In fact, I feel less happy when I can see wrinkles on my face, therefore I feel that Botox enhances my general mood.  I would like to add that I am not on any type of mood stabilizing medication and feel the full force of any emotion I experience whether it be happiness, sadness, anger, etc.   I am a very passionate, expressive person and engage in many sports that most people would never dream to. I feel the intensity of my emotions in every sense of the word. I am not prone to depression in any regard and again feel that Botox does not cause depression in me personally.  I do want to add that the subjects which supressed their facial expressions were said to feel that the world was a worse place than those who did not. I must admit that I am a realist and do not see the world through rose colored glasses and take it for what it is. This has always been the case, even before I even thought about anything cosmetic. In other words just because someone doesn’t get Botox, doesn’t mean they should walk around singing zippety doo da while the rest of us Botox users tend to be the Eeyores and Grumpy Smurfs of the world

I’d like to conclude with the fact that depression is without a doubt a very real affliction as is every day sadness. I believe that you should do what you can to make yourself feel better and if that means getting your wrinkles ‘toxed or painting in oils, do it! Life is too short

 Anyway, If you want to read more about Dr Boxrud, her website is http://www.drboxrud.com/ She has a wonderful bedside manner and believes in giving her patients natural Botox results! So check her out and check out the program tonight at 10 PM on KTTV Fox 11 News in LA!

Restylane and Botox Update

As some of you may have read, on Thursday I went to Beverly Hills to see Dr. Hoenig for my quarterly Botox and Restylane injections.  Dr. Hoenig  used only Restylane for my lips and undereyes this time–no Juvederm.  He felt I didn’t need much at all, in fact he thought there was barely any movement in my brow and said “most doctors would throw you out of their office” But, I disagree because if I can make dynamic lines when I raise my eyebrows, I’m not happy! I like it completely smooth  

I unfortunately seemed to have needed a lot of Restylane under my left eye.  Dr. Hoeing feels my skin is very thick in the mid cheek (apple area) and that the oil glands under my skin may be enlarged, causing a demarcation where it meets the thin undereye skin. Apparently they do not complement one another.  I personally feel it is the scar tissue from the fat because my cheek skin thickness has not changed in size since I was younger.  Who knows though?

I had Restylane injected in the cupid’s bow and philtrum (raised lines that run from the cupid’s bow to the nose) of my lips and a touch in the bottom lip.  I also had Restylane injected in my cheeks, very little.  I wanted more but he felt I didn’t need it. I had Botox to the glabella (frown line), forehead and crow’s feet.  Last time it didn’t seem to work very completely, or for as long, so this time I am crossing my fingers.

Dr. Hoenig also put me on topical Azelaic acid which I will be starting in a week.  I have only used it once before, and only from a sample, and I loved it.  I hope it doesn’t cause any irritation or make things worse; I have never had the problem before with azelaic acid.  Here is to a rejuvenated face using less invasive means!

Snake Venom Wrinkle Creams & Snail Slime Serums

Want wrinkle control, but don’t want to get Botox injections? Acne got you down, but you’re tired of Retin-A?  While what we may now consider “odd” ingredients, have been used to treat ailments for hundreds of years, they most certainly weren’t packaged so prettily or cost as much as they now do.  So would you use a product which contained bee mucus, snail slime, or snake venom?  Would you if it worked?

While these products aren’t relatively new, they seem to be making their way back into celebrity goodie bags.  Afterall, celebrities need wrinkle fighting creams too!  You may remember the hub bub about Gwyneth Paltrow using a product which is said to contain snake venom.  If wrinkle-fighting is what you’re looking for, Sonya Dakar’s UltraLuxe 9 Age Control Complex is just what the snake doctor ordered. Sonya Dakar’s UltraLuxe 9 contains 9 anti-aging complexes, one of which is Syn-Ake.  Syn-Ake is a synthetic version of venom of a Temple Viper, found in Southeastern Asia,.  Upon further research, I found very little information on the specifics of the venom, but Dakar is enthusiastic about the product.  Dakar reports that its effects are much like a temporary, topical paralytic which works by blocking the release of acetylcholine.

Another snake venom product to recently hit the market it Syence Skin Venom Memory Cream. Their product also contains synthetic snake venom, but its effects are said to be cumulative and can improve wrinkles over time.  I sometimes wonder how one even comes up with such ideas, but if it works, it works.  I have not ever used it, however so I cannot say if it does or not. If anyone has any information, I would love to hear from you.

And then there’s Snail Slime.  Not your average snail, the Chilean Snail secretes a protein that can actually repair  injuries and imperfections in its shell. The secretion is said to improve the texture of dry skin, scars, rosacea, acne, and wrinkles. Two product names are De Tuinen Snail Gel, and Elicina (reportedly the original).

SO if the above doesn’t shock you, what abotu bee mucus. Yes, bee spit.  Profael Specialty Skin of China manufactures a cream called Nourishment which is said to contain bee mucus. Very little information can be found on this product unfortunately.  But it goes to show you, the beauty industry will try anything.

All in all, I am willing to try anything once.   Whether any of the above works or not is unknown to me.   But I’d be interested in finding out.  For some reason though, I feel sticking to old standbys and a good diet, as well as my Botox and Restylane is more my speed. I’m just not into spending beacoup money on possibly gimicky products that contain exotic animal essences.

What’s With the Rehash of Simon Cowell’s Plastic Surgery Comment?

Is the news getting that stale and desperate for celebrity gossip? He said that ages ago, 2004 in fact.  Re-blogging it has a snowball effect, me included.  He has made it abundantly clear then men have no need to keep themselves looking young via surgery (I believe his exact words were “ridiculous”), but has no qualms about having Botox injections himself.  So, what? is a scalping going too far, but Botox a means with which to stay looking young? 

Granted, although I abhor the man’s demeanor, he has great hair (which he claims is real, good for him), great skin and great teeth. Also, his gimmick is the ‘talent’ of being cruel, not looking good.  He could gain 100 pounds and still have a job as long as he is making severe fun of others.  He is not graded on his appearance; that’s what Paula’s for.

It’s just another indication that the need for staying young-looking and beautiful is still hugely one-sided. Especially in Hollyweird.  While I do not intend to ever go silently into that aging night, I will say that I feel a woman should never be made to feel as though she is the Edsel on the scale of beauty.  The beauty standards for a woman of today are intangibly high.  The few, the proud, the beautiful are heralded with such enthusiastic splendor that to become the higher echelon eye candy is a means with which we are taught “we can have it all.”  Riches, Love, Popularity, Opportunity.  It is a sick society we live in when a person is judged solely upon their looks–and even worse that our teens feel they must conform to a standard that can never be maintained.   Reality TV continually force-feeds us a frightening amount of disregard for human feelings with celebrities with no conscience as a conduit. 

Be strong ladies, plastic surgery is a choice, not a requirement to be beautiful. You already are beautiful. Don’t let them take that away from you with such thoughtless commentary.  They can only hurt you if you let them. 

BOTOX® Cosmetic Injections on a Cruise Ship?

What will they think of next?  The ever popular Norwegian Cruise Line now offers BOTOX® Cosmetic to its passengers.  All I can picture when I think of this is Doc from Love Boat injecting Mrs. Howell from Gilligan’s Island while the ship rocks back and forth from huge swells.   And if the ship goes down, save the BOTOX®!

Not only do they offer BOTOX®, they also offer Restylane and Perlane to fill lines, creases, and hollows.  The cruise line‘s press release, states, “Guests can now return home from their cruise vacation looking and feeling rejuvenated.”  And swollen, bruised and looking like fish if they get their lips injected  Sriously, how many times have you hyaluronic acid hounds NOT had swelling after Resty or Perlane injections to the lips?  

BOTOX® Cosmetic?  A different story, if you have a good injector and don’t bruise, you can totally get away with going right back to playing shuffleboard.  Maybe a little Resty under the eyes (as long as you don’t bruise) or in the nasolabials, no problem.  The swelling has always been minimal for me.  

What about the drinking and sun factors? You’re not supposed to drink before and after for a couple of days to inhibit bruising.  You’re also supposed to stay out of the sun in the event that hyperpigmentations form in the treatment areas. Bring a hat!

I can’t even imagine the cost of the treatments.  I mean don’t get me wrong, it is ingenious to offer cruise passengers yet something else to spend money on.  But I wonder just who the target audience will be.  Obviously those who are cosmetic-surgery-savvy are going to get injected a few weeks before the cruise to look their best.  So, in my best guess, it will be the passengers who have not yet had the treatment and are wishing to try it while on vacation under the returning guise of “she looks rested, it must be the cruise” comments.   Whatever the case, hopefully the passenger patients will be truly informed of the possibility for the swelling and bruising that show up in their dress-up night photos. 

All in all, and in my very humble and hopefully non-controversial opinion…patients who wait to get their treatments performed on a cruise ship may not be as informed as those who go to their favorite doctor like clockwork every 3 to 4 months.  My point? They may not realize what to expect even if they are told in detail, and they also may not understand the longevity of the swelling involved and the kick-in period for BOTOX® to work.   With any luck, this will not cause any mutiny issues.

Botox for Bridesmaids

The new wedding trend?  Brides are asking members in their bridal party not only to be pedicured, manicured, and subjected to horrible updos, but also to be injected, filled, and tucked to enhance their bodies for the big day.  Would I do it? Heck yes I’d take free Botox if the bride asked me to.  I might even agree to be in more weddings if Botox and Restylane began replacing bracelets and the other useless baubles bought in poor taste (unless of course, it were Tiffany’s).  Wedding Party gifts such as these would definitely make up for the amount of trouble you must go through: the coddling, the abuse, the expense, and those God-awful ugly dresses–not to mention the Lucite shoes with matching ribbons.  But if I got free Botox out of the deal, I would wear just about any lime green, rose-encrusted monstrosity she picked out for me.  And LIKE it!

Plastic Surgery, on the other hand, is going too far. How insanely obsessive and shallow of a Bridezilla must you be to insist or at least strongly request that your wedding party get breast implants, liposuction, or mini-tucks?  Don’t most brides realize the hell they put others through on “their special day”?  Botox is one thing (although don’t force the issue), but getting a surgical procedure is a little too much to ask.  If they were already planning on it and they agreed that moving up the date would be beneficial to them, and not you the bride, then fine.  But to suggest liposuction, gastric bypass, or a major diet to a friend simply because she is heavier than the other ladies in your bridal party, or breast augmentation because she is flatter than the others is truly mind boggling.

This NY Times article is actually pretty interesting; the women loved their mini-enhancements.  This was a healthy, fun makeover session in my opinion. One thing is for sure, Botox is beauty-crack and  I am sure many of them will go back for more even after the wedding.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/fashion/24skin.html?_r=4&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

But huge weddings scare the Bejesus out of me anyway, so the appearance of the others would be the last thing I would be thinking about.  I’d be worrying about tripping and falling, hoping everyone was having fun, and if I resembled a hippo stuffed into a corset.  If I were to get married, I think I’d just elope to another country and skip all the giggly entourage and color coordinated mumbo-jumbo.  But, I’d be sure to get Botox and Restylane for myself before I left