Doctor Krakovsky

Botox®

Why Botox®?

Botox is an excellent and easy way to maintain a youthful appearance. As the skin ages, it begins to lose fullness and resilience. Areas where muscles contract can create wrinkles and lines, as well as asymmetries. Botox is a quick and painless way to relax these muscles and restore a pleasing, fuller look to the face.

Botox can smooth wrinkles, furrows, frown lines, crow’s feet and other areas of the face where frequent facial movements have caused unwanted wrinkles or creases to occur, such as the forehead, eyes, mouth, nose or neck. In addition, Botox can raise the corners of the mouth, or the eyebrows, and can correct asymmetrical areas caused by contracting muscles.

All this is accomplished through a procedure that normally takes 10 minutes or less, with minimal discomfort. Botox is a popular procedure, and has a very high satisfaction rate. Every year, Botox injection ranks among the top five nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed. People often report feeling more fulfilled and successful as a result of this procedure.

What is Botox and How Long does it Last?

Botox® is a prescription drug (diluted onabotulinumtoxin A) that blocks nerve impulses to muscles and relaxes them. Botox is FDA-approved for relaxing the muscles between the eyebrows, and reducing frown lines, and is widely used off-label for the other purposes mentioned above. Botox does not help wrinkles caused by sun damage or gravity.

Although there is minimal discomfort, a cold pack or anesthetic cream can be used to further ensure a positive experience. For most people, the entire procedure takes about ten minutes.

Results can be seen within a few days. Improvement continues for up to 30 days, and results last up to six months. The procedure can be repeated every three to four months, if necessary. Over time, the muscles may learn to relax on their own, so that fewer treatments are needed.

Cautions

The patient should be screened prior to the procedure, because Botox is not recommended for all people. For example, a person should not use Botox who is pregnant, is having surgery, or has certain allergies. As with most drugs, Botox injections can cause side effects in some people. It is important to report any adverse side effects

 

Filler Injections

Why Filler Injections?

Filler injections are an excellent and easy way to maintain a youthful appearance. As the skin ages, it begins to lose fullness and resilience. Filler injections are an almost instant and painless way to restore a pleasing, fuller look to the face. In addition, filler injections can be used to sculpt various facial features into a more attractive shape.

Filler injections can smooth or fill unwanted wrinkles, folds, furrows, lines, scars, and skin imperfections. They can add fullness to lips, cheeks, hands, depressions or “circles” under the eyes, hollows under the cheekbones, and similar areas. Fillers can also be used to shape or enhance the appearance of the lips, nose, chin, cheeks, or temples, and to correct asymmetries and bumps.

All this is accomplished through a procedure that normally takes 15 minutes or less, with minimal discomfort. People often report feeling more fulfilled and successful as a result of this procedure.

Behind the Makeup with Dr. Krakovsky - Botox & Fillers

What are Filler Injections?

Filler injections, sometimes called “liquid facelifts,” use a small, fine needle to insert a filler under the skin (between collagen and elastin) in the desired area. This filler adds or restores fullness and volume, and can be sculpted to give the desired result for a natural, smoother, and fuller appearance.

Filler injections provide immediate results that continue to improve the area for several days. Although there is minimal discomfort, a local anesthetic can be used to numb the area if desired, and some fillers have a numbing agent built in. A doctor may choose to complete the procedure in more than one visit, preferring to add filler in increments, so as not to overfill.

What Kinds of Fillers are Used and How Long do they Last?

There are many kinds of injectable fillers, also called dermal fillers. Fillers can be natural, man-made, or synthetic. Final results last from two or three months to years, depending on the filler.

Fillers preferred by Dr. Krakovsky include Juvederm®, Radiesse®, and autologous fat. Juvederm® (hyaluronic acid) is the most popular filler, and normally lasts six to nine months. It is FDA-approved for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds in the face, and is widely used off-label for the other purposes mentioned above. It acts by drawing fluid to the treated area, and binding to collagen and elastin. A bonus is that Juvederm helps create new collagen and prevents the breakdown of existing collagen.

Radiesse® (calcium hydroxylapatite) is another popular filler, and normally lasts two years or more. It is also FDA-approved for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds in the face, and is also widely used off-label for the other purposes listed above. Thin connective tissue forms around Radiesse under the skin, stabilizing it in the area where it is injected.

Autologous fat consists of fat cells harvested from a person’s body. First, excess fat cells are gently liposuctioned. Then they are isolated and cleansed, and injected into the desired facial area. Facial fat injections last longer than either Juvederm or Radiesse. This filler is also very popular, but obviously requires more preparation time and an advanced technique on the part of the physician. Dr. Krakovsky has a great deal of experience with all three methods.

Eventually, the body absorbs fillers, and the skin returns to its previous condition. For this reason, filler injections are often repeated when a filler has been absorbed by the body, and is no longer present.

Facial Fillers by Dr. Krakovsky - Patient Testimonials

Cautions

The patient should be screened prior to the procedure, because filler injections are not recommended for all people. For example, a person should not use filler injections who is pregnant, has a weak immune system, or has certain allergies. Filler injections can cause side effects in some people. It is important to report any adverse side effects.

There is some concern that temporary fillers should not be used for a long period of time, and some doctors believe that permanent or semi-permanent fillers should never be used.