| At Center
for Weight Loss,
we offer a full array of non-surgical services to give patients
the results they desire quickly, and without surgery. Our
services are listed below with descriptions:
BODY ENHANCEMENT, NON-SURGICAL
Lipodissolve
Sclerotherapy
Spider Vein Treatment
Varicose Vein Treatment
FACIAL ENHANCEMENT, NON-SURGICAL
Lip Augmentation
Non-Surgical Brow Lift
Non-Surgical Facelift
INJECTABLE FILLERS & BOTOX®
BOTOX®
Juvéderm™
Radiesse®
Restylane®
Sculptra®
BODY ENHANCEMENT, NON-SURGICAL
(listed alphabetically)
Lipodissolve
top of page
Lipodissolve is a revolutionary new treatment that gets rid
of cellulite and unwanted pockets of fat. It can be used to
dissolve the fatty pockets in the lower eye area, reduce a
double chin, slim cheeks, jowls, buttocks, upper legs, inner
thighs, upper and under arms, "love handles," hips,
and knees. It also helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Lipodissolve uses naturally occurring enzymes with FDA approved
compounds which are injected just below the skin by your physician.
As the localized fat cells take-up the solution, the fat cells
temporarily harden and then then break down for absorption,
before they are eliminated naturally by your body.
The procedure is used for small stubborn pockets of fat that
reside in the body, despite a patient's best efforts at diet
and exercise. It is not a weight loss solution, but a targeted
way to eliminate small, stubborn pockets of fat. While it
is similar to mesotherapy in that it utilizes micro-injections
to target fat loss, it differs because the primary substance
used in Lipodissolve is phosphatidylcholine deoxcholate (PCDC),
which is a natural compound derived from soybeans, commonly
known as Lecithin.
Vitamin B complex is added to the solution to help support
the breakdown of the fat in the liver. PCDC and Vitamin B
are mixed with a prescription medication called Trental, which
is FDA-approved for poor circulation and is used “off-label”
in Lipodissolve to help the fat cells burst quicker. These
ingredients are all mixed with saline and then injected into
the fat pockets.
Lipodissolve has been safely performed in Europe since 2002
and over 18,000 procedures have been done worldwide to date.
It works for many different types of cases in both men and
women, but is not recommended for those who:
* Are pregnant or breast-feeding
* Have cancer or have had cancer treatments within 6 months
* Have AIDS
* Are allergic to eggs or soy
* Are diabetic on insulin
* Have hypertension
* Are on blood-thinners
Since the needles used are tiny, the procedure is usually
well tolerated by most patients. The main side effects we
see at Center for Weight Loss are bruising, swelling, and soreness for a few
days following the procedures. These symptoms are topically
completely gone by the two-week mark, and no downtime is required.
To begin the process, one of the specialists at Center for
Weight Loss will
take your medical and health history, determine your weight
and speak with you about the parts of your body that you are
hoping will benefit from treatment. You'll receive a series
of injections and then repeat the process every 2-6 weeks,
depending on the areas treated and you doctor's recommendation.
Results are usually seen around the 2-month mark, once your
body has broken the treated fat down and eliminated it.
Sclerotherapy
top of page
Veins collapse and fade from view when exposed to the sclerotherapy
solution. The veins that are close enough to the surface of
the skin to see are not productive, functioning veins, so
they are not needed for any role in the body.
The procedure itself takes anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes
during which time between 5 and 40 injections are administered
to the affected areas. During sclerotherapy a patient can
be fully awake due to the low level of discomfort associated
with this technique.
Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective, non-invasive procedure
that can greatly diminish the appearance of spider and varicose
veins.
Spider Vein Treatment
top of page
Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, are those tiny
purple and red blood vessels. Spider veins are found most
commonly on the thighs or lower legs of women, however, men
can also get them as well. They are hereditary, and can form
anywhere on the leg, or occasionally on the face.
It is safe to get rid of spider veins since the ones close
enough to the surface of the skin are not part of the venous
valve system. Spider veins can be eliminated permanently through
a simple office procedure called sclerotherapy.
Facial spider veins are usually treated using a laser
or light-based treatment, such as a FotoFacial.
Varicose Vein
Treatment
top of page
Varicose veins are larger than spider veins and appear raised
with a bluish color. Sometimes they can become quite painful.
At GIAA, we usually treat varicose veins with sclerotherapy.
FACIAL ENHANCEMENT, NON-SURGICAL
(listed alphabetically)
Lip
Augmentation
top of page
Non-surgical lip augmentation is usually done with injectable
fillers. There are many choices available today, and your
doctor can help determine the best one for you based on the
shape of your lips, the desired outcome (for example, some
patients want fullness whereas others want only to have more
definition of their lip border, which can soften with age).
Non-Surgical
Brow Lift
top of page
There are some non-surgical techniques that can be used to
lift the brow and get results that are similar to surgical
brow lifts or forehead lifts. These are:
* Botox Injections - Small amounts of
Botox® injected directly into the outer area of the eyebrow
will relax the muscles that depress (pull down) the Eye Brows.
This results in an elevation of the brow similar to what happens
with a suture suspension Brow Lift. The effects usually last
3-6 months but the procedure is quick, safe and as simple
to perform as other injectable treatments. Botox may also
be used to soften the lines and wrinkles of the Forehead,
another similar effect to having a surgical brow lift.
* Shaping, plucking, and using permanent
makeup to "raise" the eyebrows to a higher,
more aesthetically-pleasing position.
Both of the methods above can be effective in re-positioning
the eyebrows higher to have a similar effect when compared
to a Brow Lift. While these methods do not actually raise
the browline, they do give the illusion of the forehead being
lifted.
* A Thread Lift (sometimes called a "Feather Lift")
is a revolutionary way to combat the signs of aging. This
non-surgical procedure lifts and tightens sagging foreheads
with less time and money than a surgical
browlift. In this procedure, specially designed threads
are inserted below the skin through a hollow needle. The needle
is then removed, leaving only the threads in. These threads
are textured so they grab and hold the skin in a tighter,
more youthful position. They stay in permanently but can be
removed at any time, if desired.
This procedure takes less than one hour and downtime is minimal,
if there is any at all. Some patients experience mild swelling
(although much less than with a traditional brow lift) which
can last up to a week or so. Tape will be applied over the
thread sites and should stay in place for several days, as
advised by your GIAA physician. You can immediately wash your
face and/or wear make-up as long as you are careful to keep
the tape on, and there are no incisions or scars. Results
are immediate and continue to improve with time as the body
produces collagen around the threads. How much improvement
can you expect? We usually see 30-60% improvement in most
cases.
While you are not treating incisions after having this procedure,
it is very important not to press or rub over the threads
for at least 3 weeks and to avoid sleeping on your face for
about 1 week. The results are permanent, however, your skin
does continue to age, so typically we figure several years,
at which time more threads can be added.
INJECTABLE FILLERS & BOTOX®
(listed alphabetically)
BOTOX®
top of page
BOTOX ® Cosmetic is one of the country's most popular
cosmetic injectable. It is a safe, non-surgical treatment
that effectively reduces facial lines caused by overactive
muscles. Unlike the treatments below, it is not a "filler."
Instead of filling in a facial fold, it prevents it from occurring
by temporarily relaxing the over-active muscles that cause
the crease. It works best in the frown lines between the eyebrows,
crow's feet (fine lines around the outside of the eyes) and
also for horizontal forehead lines caused when you raise your
eyebrows repeatedly.
Every time you smile or frown, delicate, underlying muscles
in the face contract, and over time, cause facial wrinkles.
BOTOX ® is injected into the areas on the face that need
treatment. When injected, it temporarily blocks the impulses
from the nerves to the muscles so the muscle are unable to
contract. The onset of the effect of the BOTOX® Cosmetic
may be rapid after 24 hours, but is not usually complete until
one week after the injection.
BOTOX® gradually wears off over time and requires re-treatment
at 4-6 months intervals. Forehead lines, crow’s feet,
lines between and under the eyes are all easily treated within
minutes and with no downtime.
Juvéderm™
top of page
 |
| Photos
©2007 Allergan, Inc. |
Recently approved by the FDA, Juvéderm™ injectable
gel is a “next-generation” dermal filler. Its
smooth consistency help instantly restore skin's volume and
smooth away facial wrinkles and folds. It works especially
well on "smile lines", also known as nasolabial
folds (the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to
the corners of your mouth). Like several other fillers listed
on this page, Juvederm is made from hyaluronic acid—a
naturally occurring substance in the skin that helps add volume
and hydration.
Juvederm comes in two formulas, depending on the volume needed:
Juvéderm™ Ultra - provides versatility in contouring
and volumizing facial wrinkles and folds.
Juvéderm™ Ultra Plus - a more robust formulation
for volumizing and correcting deeper folds and wrinkles.
The injection process with Juvederm takes about 15-30 minutes,
and results are immediate, although temporary redness or swelling
around the injection site can occur for some patients. Typically,
Juvederm is done twice a year for most patients.
Radiesse®
top of page
Radiesse is FDA-approved to correct wrinkles and folds around
the nose and mouth, safely and effectively. It lasts longer
than many of the popular fillers on the market, which means
fewer injections per year. Radiesse has also been found to
stimulate the skin to produce new collagen, and is made of
unique calcium-based microspheres that are suspended in a
natural gel which is injected into the skin through a simple,
safe and minimally invasive procedure.
Radiesse is ideal for the treatment of lines and wrinkles
around the nose and mouth:
* Nasolabial Folds - the lines that run from the nose to the
corners of the upper lip:
* Marionette Lines - lines going down from the corner of the
mouth towards the chin.
* Radiesse is also FDA-Approved for restoration of the signs
of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in those with human immunodeficiency
virus.
Hundreds of thousands of patients have experienced Radiesse
and more than 4,000 physicians worldwide have been trained
to provide Radiesse treatments. Results are immediate and
can last up to 1 year.
Restylane®
top of page
Used in more than 4 million treatments in over 70 countries,
Restylane is among the most popular of the dermal fillers.
Restylane® utilizes hyaluronic acid to restore volume
and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial
wrinkles and folds. Restylane is also very popular for plumping
and/or defining lips.
Restylane has a highly favorable safety profile and is composed
of non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid
is a substance found naturally in the human body. Restylane
is fully biocompatible and maintains its shape using the body's
own moisture. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is hydrophilic
or "water loving." As hyaluronic acid gradually
degrades, each molecule binds to more water and over time,
the same volume can be maintained with less hyaluronic acid.
This is what helps provide long-lasting results.
Download the PDF brochure
from Medicis (7.3 MB).
Restylane is proven to deliver long-lasting results and studies
have shown that the effects generally last about six months.
Sculptra®
top of page
Sculptra® is approved by the FDA for restoration and/or
correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in
people with human immunodeficiency virus. It is the first
FDA-approved product of its kind for this condition.
Facial fat loss can result in sunken cheeks, indentations,
and hollow eyes. Sculptra® is a safe, synthetic, and biocompatible
material that is injected below the surface of the skin in
the area of fat loss. It provides a gradual and significant
increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds
and sunken areas. No allergy testing is required, and Sculptra
has been safely used outside the US since 1999 in over 150,000
patients under the trade names New-Fill™ and Sculptra®.
Download the PDF Sculptra
Patient Guide compliments of Dermik Laboratories (61 KB).
If you do not have Acrobat Reader, download
a free copy from Adobe.
|
