Posts Tagged ‘Botox’

Beauty Outside of the Box – Softening the Asian Jaw Line with Dysport®

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

 

When we think of American beauty icons an array of faces come to mind. Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, even Reese Witherspoon can be included for her wholesome and feminine beauty.   Our culture views these women as attractive- notable for their facial beauty.  But in the Asian culture, these women exemplify a facial trait that is seen as undesirable – the square jaw.

 

Increasingly, Asian women are seeking cosmetic correction of a heavy or squared jaw line.  The Asian ideal face shape is closer to a heart than a box.  A slimmer jaw line and smaller chin is seen as more feminine, whereas a strong, square jaw masculinizes the face.  In some eastern cultures, the square jaw is even seen as a sign of promiscuity.

 

Dr. Gilbert Lee at Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa has seen a rise in Asian patients seeking a way to reduce the width of their jaws. "There is a rising trend of Asian women seeking to soften their jaw line with Botox or Dysport." Dr. Lee, who has perfected the Asian Double Fold eyelid surgery, is now seeing more and more Asian clientele for non-surgical jaw reduction.

 

The masseter muscle is a large bulky muscle at the angle of your jaw.  The masseter muscle is used in chewing and you can feel this muscle by clinching your jaw and feeling along the jaw line. To lessen the heaviness of the masseter muscle, Dr. Lee uses Dysport®, a neurotoxin muscle relaxant similar to Botox®, to restrict the movement, soften the bulk of the masseter and lessen its prominence.

 

The effect of Dysport® lasts approximately 3 to 4 months and repeat treatments are needed to keep the masseter muscles from activating, strengthening and adding bulky mass.   The Changes Plastic Surgery patient above has had a Dysport® treatment to the jaw by Dr. Lee. In each session, 50 units of Dysport® were used and an obvious reduction in the width of her jaw has been achieved.

Whether of Asian descent or not, if a slender, heart-shaped face is your beauty ideal, Dr. Lee at Changes can help you reach your goal.  Soften the lines of a boxy jaw line with Dysport® treatments  at Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa.  Call for a quote at 858-720-1440.

 

Botox is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc. Dysport is a registered trademark of Medicis Aesthetics, Inc.

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Get Clean with the Dirty Little Secret – Botulinum Toxin A

Friday, May 18th, 2012

One of the dirty little secrets of many adults, including men, is the problem of hyperhidrosis of the underarms or "excessive sweating". To those afflicted by this, it can be embarrassing, socially unacceptable and can ruin a shirt almost as soon as it is worn. Patient, Alex Gerba, at Changes Plastic Surgery states, "this treatment has changed my life. It is so worthwhile. I have saved tons of money on ruined clothes with this treatment." Alex's last treatment to the armpits lasted nine months and cost $600.

For consideration of treatment for excessive sweating, Botulinum Toxin A shuts off the innervation to the sweat glands, thus stopping excessive sweating for months at a time. Patients who experience excessive sweating of the palms and feet can also benefit from Botulinum Toxin A treatments.  For more information call Gilbert Lee, M.D., FACS at Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa in San Diego, CA or contact us at https://www.changesplasticsurgery.com/contact-san-diego-plastic-surgeon.html.

Dr. Gilbert Lee is triple board certified and has been honored as Top Doc in Plastic Surgery 5 years in a row (2007 to 2011) by his peers at the San Diego Medical Society. 

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Five Top Plastic Surgery Procedures for Men at San Diego Changes

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

For years, women have taken advantage of the physical and psychological benefits of elective plastic surgery. Once the domain of women, “cosmetic” surgery as the name implies, is designed to enhance and improve the appearance of one’s face or body. Times are changing, however, and men seem to be adopting a new attitude when it comes to aesthetic enhancement. The gender gap is narrowing. 

Gilbert Lee, M.D., F.A.C.S. at Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa in San Diego, California sees the trend toward more male plastic surgery cases, noting that more and more men are seeking cosmetic procedures as a way to look more vital and youthful in the job place. Divorce also motivates some men to turn back the aging clock in hopes of appearing more energetic and attractive as they enter the dating scene again. 

Currently, a little over ten percent of Dr. Lee’s patients are men, but if the national trend continues, he will be treating more and more of the male population. Data compiled by the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgery) for 2010 shows an increase in male eyelid surgery, liposuction of the love handles and breast liposuction surgeries with other non-surgical treatments gaining in popularity.

The top five male cosmetic procedures at Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa in San Diego are:

  1. Eyelid Surgery including treatment for undereye bags and correction of tear trough deformity.
    Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is performed essentially the same way for men and women. For men who complain of undereye bags, Dr. Lee may suggest the insertion of tear trough implants to smooth the lower lid to cheek transition and achieve a more youthful contour.
     
  2. Injectable wrinkle correction (BOTOX®, Dysport®, as well as many injectable fillers).
    Non-surgical, but highly effective injections can smooth out even the toughest of worry and frown lines, giving way to a more relaxed and pleasant facial appearance.
     
  3. Male Breast Surgery for the treatment of gynecomastia.
    “Gynecomastia” or benign enlargement of male breast tissue can be quite disconcerting for men. The removal of fat and/or glandular tissue from the breasts results in a flatter, firmer and more masculine chest.
  4. Liposuction
    The ideal male body type is athletic with a “V” shape of broad shoulders and narrow waistline. As men age, fat tends to accumulate around the abdomen and flanks. Most males over the age of 30 have “love handles” which can be removed through liposuction.
  5. Laser Facial Rejuvenation
    Outdoor activities and constant sun exposure in San Diego can leave men with facial brown spots, uneven pigmentation and rough texture. All are signs of photo-aging. Rejuvenating facial skin with laser treatments results in an overall more youthful appearance.

Dr. Lee is a triple board-certified plastic surgeon and has been voted Top Doc in Plastic Surgery by his peers in the San Diego Medical Society for five consecutive years (2007-2011). He has been changing the lives of his patients since 1994. If you are interested in a consultation with Dr. Gilbert Lee, please call Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa at 858-720-1440 or fill out our online request form.

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Five Off-Label Applications for Botox or Dysport

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

No one could have predicted that a drug originally intended for spastic conditions such as crossed eyes and eyelid tics, would open up a whole new world of cosmetic uses. Enter Botox (botulinum toxin type A) and now Dysport. Although Botox was FDA-approved in 2002 for use in the glabella only (the area between the eyebrows), it does give physicians a liberal allowance for using the substance in areas it wasn’t approved for. This is referred to as “off label” use.

 

1.   Neck bands.

     Botox is a safe and effective treatment for relaxing vertical neck bands. The bands typically are noticeable from the jawline to the collar bone and    become prominent when they separate into bands as we age. To flatten/relax the bands, Botox is injected along the length of the platysma muscle.

 

2.   Raise the eyebrows.

     In the upper face, there are muscles that pull upward on the brow and those that pull downward. The key to a successful brow-lift is to relax those facial muscles that are pulling downward on the brow. In doing so, the muscles that pull upward take control and make the eyes appear more open and alive.  

 

3.   Urinary incontinence.

     Botox is sometimes injected into the muscles of the bladder to treat incontinence. Botox blocks the release of chemicals that cause muscle spasms. The injection, given under anesthesia, is effective for nine months to a year. 

 

4.   Relax teeth grinding muscles.

     Botox works to relieve the muscles used to grind your teeth. Three sets of muscles are involved in moving the jaw. These muscles  can become overactive, causing the jaw to clench unconsciously.  Botox can be injected directly into the muscle to relax the jaw and make clenching the teeth difficult.

 

5.   Orange peel chin.

     Many individuals form uneven skin on the front of the chin, often from repeated contracture. It can resemble the appearance of an orange peel. A few tiny injections of Botox or Dysport into the tip of the chin can help relax the contractions and reduce the appearance of peau d’orange.

 

You may be offered a treatment like those listed above. The main problem with off-label usage of any drug is that the long-term studies have not been conducted to prove that they are safe. However, if you are in the hands of a skilled and certified Botox or Dysport technician and they have routinely performed the off-label application without complication, you can feel fairly confident in its safety.

 

For more information on Botox and Dysport treatments, please call Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa at 858-720-1440.

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