Clearing Up Myths about Botox and Fillers

There is a lot of misinformation and many myths surrounding Botox and facial fillers. Contrary to what you may read on the Internet, Botox and fillers are a safe, effective way to soften facial lines and replenish lost facial volume. These non-surgical cosmetic treatments are incredibly useful for restoring a rejuvenated, youthful appearance.

Dr. Ereso is one of the Bay Area’s top board-certified plastic surgeons. Below they discuss the details of treatment with Botox and facial fillers, as well as the many myths surrounding these minimally invasive treatments. Continue reading “Clearing Up Myths about Botox and Fillers” →

Get Kissably Soft, Full Lips for Valentine’s Day

You can make your lips look irresistible on Valentine’s Day using dermal filler injections or lip augmentation. Each procedure has its pros and cons, but both can give you fuller, shapelier lips that should attract plenty of attention.

In this post, Dr. Alexander Ereso discusses how to get kissably soft, full lips for Valentine’s Day. Continue reading “Get Kissably Soft, Full Lips for Valentine’s Day” →

How to Minimize Bruising and Swelling after Botox or Filler Treatment

Minimize Side Effects of Dermal Filler Injections

Injectable products, including Botox and fillers like Juvederm and Restylane, are some of the most popular cosmetic treatments available today. With a few injections, the products can soften facial wrinkles and creases or refine the facial contours without the time, money and effort required when undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery.

One downside of cosmetic injectables is that they can cause bruising or swelling after treatment. However, with a few simple techniques, you can reduce your chances of noticeable bruising and swelling after Botox or filler treatment. Continue reading “How to Minimize Bruising and Swelling after Botox or Filler Treatment” →

How to Make Your Botox/Filler Results Last Longer

Botox and fillers are fantastic products that turn back the clock on facial aging. One of the only drawbacks of these injectables is that the results don’t last permanently. To maintain smooth, youthful looking skin with Botox or fillers, regular treatments are required.

However, there are steps you can take to prolong the results of treatment with injectables. Dr. Alexander Ereso shares their best tips below.

Protect Your Face from the Sun

Too much exposure to the sun’s UV rays can reverse the effects of Botox and filler treatment and cause you to look older than you really are. Our plastic surgeons advise you to be diligent about protecting your skin from the sun, especially right after treatment. Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 whenever you go outdoors, and reapply frequently. For added protection, wear a wide-brimmed hat, too. If possible, avoid the peak sun hours between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Follow a Healthy Diet

Eating a nutritious and balanced diet is crucial to the health and appearance of your skin. Make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and sources of lean protein. Stay away from processed or sugary foods, which can increase inflammation to the detriment of your skin.

Repeat Treatment Regularly

Some research indicates that getting on a regular schedule of Botox treatments may eventually extend the results. What happens is that over time, regularly scheduled injections “train” the facial muscles to contract less, resulting in fewer dynamic wrinkles. Eventually, patients can go longer in between appointments.

The key is to work with your injector to find the right frequency of treatments to train the muscles without causing them to become resistant to Botox.

Fine-Tune Your Skin Care Routine

Pharmaceutical-grade skin care products can protect the health of the skin and preserve the results of Botox and filler treatment. We encourage you to work with our highly experienced aestheticians, Sonja Cody and Carol McDonald, who can help you create or fine-tune your product regimen, making sure you use the proper moisturizer, sunscreen, serums and eye cream. The skin care products that we have available to you have been carefully chosen and selected to provide proven and long-lasting results.

For more information about extending the results of Botox or filler treatment, and finding the routine and products that works best for you, please schedule a consultation at Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center. Call or email us today.

Can the Effects of Dermal Fillers Be Reversed?

Dermal fillers are one of the most popular ways to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, restore fullness to the face and plump up lips and cheeks. When administered by a qualified plastic surgeon or nurse, these injectables create beautiful, natural looking results. The overwhelming majority of patients love the outcomes of filler treatment.

However, dermal fillers are not perfect. On occasion, a mistake can lead to overcorrection or asymmetry, or the body may react poorly to the product used. Sometimes, a patient may end up not liking the way they look afterwards, and want the outcome reversed.

According to Bay Area cosmetic surgeon Dr. Alexander Ereso of Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center, “un-doing” the results of dermal filler treatment depends on the specific filler used, as well as the nature and severity of the problem.

Reversing Hyaluronic Acid-Based Fillers

Fillers formulated with hyaluronic acid, like Juvederm and Restylane, can be un-done with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. The enzyme dissolves the particles of hyaluronic acid to reverse its effects. This may reverse problems such as overcorrection, overfilling, lumpy texture or asymmetry. The treated area should return to its pre-treatment appearance (although there is no guarantee).

Reversing Non-Hyaluronic Acid-Based Fillers

Fillers not formulated with hyaluronic acid, like Radiesse and Sculptra, behave differently and require a different approach than using hyaluronidase.

Sometimes, massaging the treated area can resolve minor issues like lumpiness or asymmetry. But in most cases, the most effective way to see the results reversed is simply to wait for the body to absorb the filler, to surgically remove the filler or to strategically inject additional filler to cancel it out.

In the case of Sculptra, a longer-lasting filler, it is especially difficult to reverse its effects because the product stimulates the body’s own production of collagen. The collagen must break down naturally over the course of a year or so; it cannot be selectively removed. With that in mind, Sculptra may respond to some extent to steroid injections.

Because reversing the effects of dermal fillers is unpredictable, it’s important to work with a qualified plastic surgeon that understands how to use fillers safely and precisely. This increases the chances of a successful and satisfactory result.

To speak with Dr. Ereso at Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center, please call 650-964-6600 or email us today.

Minimally Invasive Procedures Deliver Noticeable Anti-Aging Results

Turning back the clock when it comes to aging doesn’t always mean going in for a surgical procedure. Increasingly patients are turning to other interventions that are less invasive and performed as outpatient procedures with minimal to virtually no recovery time. Dr. Alexander Ereso is highly qualified to perform an array of specialized procedures that can provide significant anti-aging benefits and make you feel youthful and invigorated.

Botox

One option for anti-aging results is to get Botox treatment. Botox is comprised of a protein derived from the Botulism toxin that has the ability to relax and paralyze certain muscles and to smooth out the overlying wrinkles. Botox treatment involves a series of targeted injections that temporarily counteract the effects of aging by relaxing the muscles in a specific area. The effects of Botox can be seen within a week of treatment and last up to six months.

Juvederm

Juvederm is an injectable dermal filler used to smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and produce a more youthful appearance. Juvederm is particularly well suited for several common types of wrinkles, including:

Crow’s feet (around the corners of the eyes)
Nasolabial folds (extend from the nose to the mouth)
Marionette lines (extend from the outer corners of the mouth to the chin)

A variant of Juvederm called Juvederm Voluma has been developed specifically for the mid-face region, and restores age-related volume loss to the cheeks and can last up to two years!

Kybella

The Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center also offers Kybella injectable treatment, a non-surgical option that targets and eliminates fat underneath the chin. Kybella is made from deoxycholic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body. The acid targets fat cells, and literally melts fat away.

Results can start to be seen after a month, with final results appearing within three to four months. Downtime after a Kybella treatment is minimal, and side effects can include some swelling and redness that generally only last for a day or two.

Dr. Ereso looks forward to reviewing all of our minimally invasive non-surgical treatment options with you. Please call Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center at (650) 964-6600 for a consultation.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Double Chin Now Available at Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center

Dr. Alexander Ereso of Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center is pleased to announce a new non-surgical treatment for a double chin. Kybella is an injectable product that dissolves fat in the submental region (underneath the chin). Approved by the FDA for safety, Kybella is a relatively comfortable and easy way to improve the appearance of the chin and upper neck. If you are concerned about the contours of your chin and jawline, the doctors invite you to schedule an informational consultation.

Why Do I Have a Double Chin?

There are a few reasons why you may have a fatty or poorly defined chin. You might be overweight (and working to get back in shape). You may have succumbed to the aging process. Or, you may be the victim of genetics. If your mother or father had a double chin, you may be more likely to resemble them in that way.

Regardless of the reason why you look the way you do, Dr. Ereso can help reduce your double chin and restore a beautiful contour to the area. And the best part is, the solution does not require incisions, anesthesia or stitches.

Treatment Details

Prior to beginning treatment, the doctor will make tiny marks underneath the chin where Kybella should be injected. A topical numbing agent will be applied to the area to be treated. Then, the doctor will inject small amounts of the product under the skin using a thin needle. The acid breaks down and destroys the unwanted fat cells to create a slimmer and more contoured appearance. The number of injections depends on the size of the treatment area and amount of excess fat. The entire process is very quick, and you will be in and out of the office in less than an hour. The treated area may look temporarily red, swollen or irritated, but this won’t last very long. You can resume work and exercise after a day or two.

Depending on the individual patient and the amount of excess fat, it can take up to three or four visits to achieve the desired results. Once the fat is gone, it does not come back. Also, there is no scarring in the area.

Kybella patients can enjoy their results for years to come, as long as they maintain their current weight. Dr. Ereso has seen incredible transformations, thanks to Kybella, and our patients love it. Without a double chin, the face looks leaner, healthier and more youthful.

Learn More about Kybella

Schedule an appointment to discuss Kybella in detail with our plastic surgeons. If you are interested, we can discuss other non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments during consultation. Contact Pearl-Ereso Plastic Surgery Center by calling (650) 964-6600 today.