Restylane Under Eye & Nasolabial Injections

I first sought treatment for under eye hollows with Sculptra® in November of 2004 and again for my second treatment and also to nasolabials in February of 2005.   It lasted for about 18 months and since I had developed a nodule from the Sculptra®, I decided to try a product which I felt had less possible complications, Restylane. 

So August 30, 2006 I had my first Restylane® under eye injections with Jonathan Hoenig, M.D. in Beverly Hills, California.  Incidentally the above photo was from a treatment in September of 2009. I get Restylane injected under my eyes about once a year.
 
I have also been treated with 5FU injections (starting 8/2006) to correct the scar tissue between my left cheek and under eye from the fat grafting procedure I had in 2004.  Granted, I had the demarcation prior to any facial procedures, but the fat grafting seemed to accentuate it. 

Read more: http://yestheyrefake.net/restylane_undereye.htm

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



Which Lip Augmentation Products Have You Tried? Which Would You Like To Try? Cast Your Vote Now!

Which Lip Augmentation Products Have You Tried? Which Would You Like To Try? Please take our Lip Augmentation Poll now!  :)

LipAugmentationCentral.com has launched :)

Lip Augmentation is my favorite procedure!  If I could choose any procedure to have above all others, it would be augmenting my lips.  Okay, and my cheeks, but I digress, I LOVE lips!  With all of the lip augmentation options available today (and there are a lot!), having the knowledge to make an informed choice is an empowering asset.  I know that a lot of patients may feel anxiety when faced with choosing a product as well as selecting a skilled and experienced surgeon or injector.  Not to mention the ups and downs of the recovery process associated with lip enhancement, lip lifts or V-Y plasty.  My goal is to help you alleviate any added stress by giving you access to straight-forward, quality information and a support system designed for patients just like us!

Everything has been updated and new fillers are being added regularly!  www.LipAugmentationCentral.com

Restylane® For Under Eye Hollows and Nasolabials

I first sought treatment for under eye hollows with Sculptra® in November of 2004 and again for my second treatment and also to nasolabials in February of 2005.   It lasted for about 18 months and since I had developed a nodule from the Sculptra®, I decided to try a product which I felt had less possible complications, Restylane.  So August 30, 2006 I had my first Restylane® under eye injections with Jonathan Hoenig, M.D. in Beverly Hills, California.  Incidentally the video to the right was from a treatment in September of 2009.

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.

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!

Duck Lips: Knowing When To Say “No More”

After my polite and oh-so-subtle skydiving acquaintances and friends [who know nothing about cosmetic surgery by the way]‘ lovingly’ started calling me Daffy behind my back, I decided to write a little something about going overboard with lip augmentation fillers.  The kicker is that my lips were in need of Restylane when they last saw me, hence our conversation.  They simply overheard me talking about getting my lips injected at dinner a few weeks ago and it became an instant controversy over sushi.

Now, in my opinion my lips are not huge right now at all.  I only received a touch of Restylane this last time around.  But the mentioning of my lips getting injected at all stopped people in the middle of chewing their California rolls. A few were appalled and couldn’t understand why I would do such a thing. Others wanted to know more.  It seems to me that they feel that it is black and white, small lips or large lips–no in-between, no balance, just duck lips. They automatically assumed I was going for the gold and getting them ginormous.  What’s the big deal?

I tried explaining but to no avail. Next thing I know I was getting pics of duck lips and surgery addicts posted on my MySpace. Not cool.  It shows you the maturity level of some of these individuals, doesn’t it?  Well, whatever the case, it has triggered me to write an article about when to say no on injectable fillers.  When poofy is perfect, and over-poof is just not attractive.

The reason that most people over inject over time is not because they usually set out to have lips this large.  It starts little by little, almost like a developing addiction.  You have a little put in, you get a little swollen, you become accustomed to the swelling and you like the ‘high’ you receive from knowing you are going to look better. The swelling subsides and you think that your lips are small again.  What do you do?  You go and get more injected and the cycle starts all over again.  Pretty soon you look almost like a Grouper fish and people are staring or making snide comments. 

How to avoid this situation?  Photos.  Before and after photos are such a great tool to keep you anchored to reality. Many times one does not realize the improvement they do have unless they view their before and after photos.  When your eyes adjust slowly over days when looking in the mirror, you usually lose sight of your improvement, so you schedule another appointment,  When you look at your before and after photos, you can honestly judge , side by side, the improvements that were made. And remember, the enemy of good, is better.  So, please, next time you think you may need more lip augmentation, take a look at some photos that shows you now, as compared to before.  Slow, baby steps are best!

Restylane 101

I love Restylane!  I have used it for my lips, nasolabial folds, under eyes  (tear trough) and left upper eyelid with much success.  I like it because it allows you to ‘try on’ a filler without making a permanent commitment.  It is affordable, safe and a little bit goes a long way.  The best part about Restylane treatments is that I have found that its effects have lasted longer and longer as I have used it.  In fact, I have only needed one treatment for my upper lid—two years later, the result is still there.

I actually started off with Restylane’s big brother, Perlane, on June 11, 2002.  I had it injected into my lips then.   At first I as surprised at the swelling and blanching, but as it settled down, I did love the fullness.  I do believe the result lies within the skill of the injector.  As I have not had anything such as this with Restylane with my present injector.  Just plumping your lips isn’t what gives it a better appearance, one must define and shape them as well.  I have had many injectors and the best thus far has been my present one, Dr. Jonathan Hoenig in Beverly Hills.  I went to him originally for injections in the upper eyelid and for a 5FU treatment to get rid of fat grafting and scar tissue.  Now, he performs all my treatments.

1. What is Restylane? Restylane is non-animal form of hyaluronic acid. It is a gel designed for injection into the dermis to plump wrinkles and restore volume.
2. What is Restylane Used For? Restylane is used for almost everything.  From lips to cheeks, to under eyes to liposuction dents.
3. Does Getting Restylane Injected Hurt? Yes.  That’s why I prefer a nerve block, or at least a topical anesthetic and THEN A nerve block.  I am a wuss.
4. What is the Downtime for Restylane Injections? If you get your lips injected, expect to be swollen for about 5 days, although you can get away with it at day 3.  Of course this depends upon the amount injected.  Other areas are usually not as affected by the swelling.  At least you don’t notice it as much. Bruising can occur so be sure not to drink alcohol the day before or take any aspirin or ibuprofen products.
5. How Long Does Restylane Last?  It depends.  I must admit the first time I had Restylane in my lips, okay the first few times, Restylane only lasted me about 3-4 months.  Tops!  Then as time went on I was getting longer lasting results.  Now I get it about twice a year in my lips.  I only had to get it once in my upper eye lid, and I get it in my tear trough (under eye area), once a year. It does last longer as time goes on.  Well, at least the effects do.  The result is more than likely your own collagen, not the product actually lasting longer.
6. How Much Does Restylane Cost?  That depends.  It depends upon who you go to and what state you are in.  I have seen it anywhere from $200 to $800 per cc. Although price can be an important aspect of choosing a doctor, the skill of the injector is the most important.  However, that doesn’t mean you should go to Dr. Beverly Hills if he charges you $800. a cc. That’s just nuts, I don’t care who you are.
7. What’s The Difference between Restylane and Botox? Well, they are two different products first of all, with two very different modus operandi. Restylane is an injectable filler that actually restores volume or adds it where it did not exist beforehand.  When you want to move a muscle (whether voluntarily or involuntary) our brain gives the order to release a neurotransmitter called, acetylcholine.  When the acetylcholine binds to the acetylcholine receptors in your muscles, sodium ions are released which causes your muscles to contract and move. BOTOX works by blocking the release of acetylcholine so the order to contract is never received by your muscle.   Viola!  A form of quasi-albeit-temporary-paralysis is born.

BOTOX is freeze dried and must be reconstituted with saline before use.  The contents of one vial of Botox contains 100 units of Botox–enough for about 4 to 5 treatment areas. I prefer to get about 25u per area, especially my glabella (aka frown line).  Although some surgeons have advised me that they can get the same effect with half that amount. I disagree as I have had less and noticed a difference in effectiveness and longevity.

Although BOTOX and Restylane are very different from one another, they are often used together to give a more youthful appearance.  I personally can’t live without both.  I’ll admit, I’m an addict.