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Schlessinger Eye & Face March Madness!!

Botox starting at $199 (normally $450)…Juvederm & Restylane starting at $499 (normally $650)…Microdermabrasion just $99 (normally $150)

*Entire month of march - free touch ups DO NOT APPLY*

Got last minute notice today that a segment that I taped for The Today Show was about to air. This is a piece that features a friend (and patient) named Leslie Adler.

Take a look at this interesting piece that explores honesty in relationships and how much information we exchange with our partners versus keeping some information personal. Here, Leslie takes a day to go shopping and get a little Botox. She takes the position (as many of us do) that there is nothing wrong with avoiding the days’ events when it comes to her spouse.

Here’s the clip. What do you think? In my line of work I see many couples who do not share their visits to my office with one another, and incidentally, those are “secrets” that stay in the confines of the Doctor/Patient relationship. As I state in the segment, there have been instances when I see one spouse in the morning and the other in the afternoon and both ask me to keep their visits in confidence….a favor I will of course honor without even being asked.

Certain subjects like cosmetic injections, plastic surgery and a day of shopping are ones that people view differently. Sneaking new clothing items into the house may be more difficult than smuggling in your newly injected  Juvederm.

As far as your visits to your favorite boutique, I will leave that to you, but you can rest assured….your visits to Schlessinger Eye & Face are a secret that is safe with me!

Oh, and for the record, I am an Ophthalmologist specializing in Oculoplastic & Aesthetic Eyelid Surgery, NOT a Dermatologist as stated in the segment.

If you are interested in learning more about the exciting cosmetic injectable procedures BOTOX Cosmetic® & Juvéderm™ or if you want to learn more about how to enhance your overall cosmetic appearance, then my November 11th Seminar is for you….

BOTOX Cosmetic®, Juvéderm™ performed in the office - LIVE.

You can schedule an appointment for same-day Botox/Juvederm (if available) at substantial savings of 25%!!

Please call 516-496-2122. Seminar hours are 10:00am - Noon and breakfast is on me!

Hope to see you there!

Mother’s Day is a time of commemoration and celebration for your mom. It is a time of breakfast in bed, family, pampering and…cosmetic treatments? This year, give mom (and maybe yourself) some treatments to make her look and feel refreshed.

A great treatment to start with is BOTOX® as it reduces and eliminates the appearance of facial wrinkles. While it is a very common procedure in my office, most people are still unsure of how it works. Typically injected under the skin in to areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth, BOTOX® smoothes crow’s feet, frown and worry lines, as well as lines on the neck area. Made from a purified protein, BOTOX® relaxes wrinkles and gives the face a rejuvenated look. Results can be seen within a few days and can last as long as 3-6 months.

Another great option are wrinkle fillers (“plumpers”) such as JUVÉDERM®, Radiesse®, Restylane® or SILIKON®. These soft tissue fillers are injected under the skin to “plump up,” contour and smooth wrinkles, lines and hollow areas in the face, and to augment the lips or cheeks for a younger, fuller appearance. These also work well for a more mature woman that has some volume loss in her face do to the natural aging process. A few strategic injections can make the world of difference and make any woman looks years, if not a decade younger.

If injectables aren’t your cup of tea, Microdermabrasion is a great treatment for achieving flawless skin. During this procedure, the top layer of skin is gently exfoliated leaving you with an immediate vibrant ‘glow’ to your complexion. This treatment is a perfect alternative to laser or chemical peels, as there is no downtime and results are almost instantaneous. Microdermabrasion is a great way to rejuvenate your skin and keep it looking and feeling healthy.

Finally, to complete the day of pampering, eyelash tinting is a great way to enhance your eyes. Lashes are dyed darker to give you fuller, more defined lashes in just 15 minutes. Eyelash tinting is especially beneficial to people that are sensitive to make-up and have little to no time (i.e. Mothers) to apply make-up daily. This means you can walk out the door each morning without mascara and no one will be the wiser.

If you still have questions, visit my website to read more on all of these procedures and more. Just one of these treatments will leave everyone questioning; “Is that your mom or your sister?”

Photo source: www.theflowerexpert.com

I just added a great new function to my website that will allow patients to get an idea of their Botox® and Juvederm® potential results before actually receiving their injections! It’s called a Treatment Visualizer.

Follow this hyperlink to upload your photo and see your virtual result online. I urge all of my patients to use this function and let me know how they like it. Of course, actual results may vary from your online experience, but it is a fun feature and a great way to “try before you buy”.

Send me your feedback to info@schlessingereyeandface.com. I’d like to know what you think of this new technology.

Who doesn’t love a good deal? The pressures of the recent economic bust have caused even the most frugal to pinch their wallets a little harder and look for ways to save on just about everything. Online shopping has made it easier to compare costs and save some extra cash with sites like eBay listing everything from DVDs to designer shoes at bargain prices. Recently however, sellers on eBay have been auctioning illegal Botox® kits and services to unsuspecting consumers. Online buyers beware.

Since receiving FDA clearance for cosmetic purposes in 2002, Botox® has become ingrained in our pop culture lexicon. As the public became more knowledgeable about the toxin, some “do it yourself” individuals feel they are skilled enough to take on the task of injecting their friends and family, or even themselves, without any prior training. This should never happen, and there are numerous reasons why.

For starters, Botox® is a prescription-only toxin that must be stored/refrigerated properly in order to maintain its effectiveness. Online buyers who purchase it from an unaccredited source have no way of knowing how or where the Botox® was located prior to showing up at their doorstep. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the product contained within the vial is actually Botox®. It’s like playing Russian Roulette with your wrinkles. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?

Furthermore, injecting Botox® is a learned skill that takes time to perfect. How many times have you seen someone with uneven brows that are arched too high, or a forehead that never moves? The end result can be drastically affected if the injector uses too much Botox®, doesn’t inject the correct area; the list goes on.

Is saving a few dollars really worth it? After all, one seemingly small mistake can cost you a lot more in the long-run. In addition to the risks just mentioned, patients stand the risk of disfigurement, infection and scarring. These effects are usually temporary, but could last up to six months. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders may be at an even higher risks for more serious side effects such as difficulties swallowing. These issues don’t typically occur within the parameters of a medical practice where you’re being injected by a skilled physician.

If you’re considering Botox® or another injectable/wrinkle filler like Restylane or Juvederm, it is in your best interest to do your research and seek out a qualified physician. Save eBay for those times that you’re searching for antiques and electronics. As of now, the site is pulling all ads offering illegal Botox®, which is an action I support whole-heartedly.

Full and plump lips are not only a symbol of sensuality but also universally synonymous with youth. While for many the quest for ideal lips continues, today there are many options available to help achieve pout perfection. For those who would prefer to forgo the higher costs and implications of surgical alternatives, the good news keeps coming. Lip augmentation techniques have vastly improved with the use of injectables that temporarily enhance thinner lips, boost the shallow contours, as well as reduce and soften wrinkles caused by aging and smoking.

Lip augmentation via injections is a technique which entails injecting a natural or synthetic biocompatible material in the patient’s lips. Although temporary and requiring periodical repeats (longevity is contingent upon the material used), one injection is often sufficient to produce the desired results. For most patients, there is little discomfort and you may apply make-up immediately following the procedure.

Options include:

Juvéderm®, one of the top lip injectables on the market today [and my favorite option], is a smooth gel made of hyaluronic acid. When injected, the gel instantly restores volume and smoothes away facial wrinkles and folds – like “smile lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds). The injection process takes approximately 15 minutes, with minimal downtime, so you can return to your normal activities right away. Results last six to nine months, or more.

Restylane® is a clear injectable gel made from hyaluronic acid – similar to Restylane® – and is very close to that naturally found in the body. A tiny amount of the gel is injected into the skin by means of a very fine needle. The result is almost instantaneous, producing a long-lasting, natural enhancement. The results are sustained for up to six months or even longer – almost twice that of collagen.

Silikon® 1000 is a medical-grade, pure form of silicon that has been used as a filler by cosmetic doctors for 30 years. Utilizing a micro droplet technique, the body forms collagen around Silikon 1000®, resulting in plumper lips. The amount of collagen formed depends upon the body’s sensitivity to Silikon® 1000, which can also affect the durability of the product. For this reason, I prefer the first two injectables listed above as I can more closely control the final results. If this is the option you choose, make sure you’re physician is experienced at using silicon due to its permanent nature.

If you’re still pondering about what you’d look like with a set of fuller, more sensuous lips or have already made up your mind that lip augmentation is for you; know that the choices are many. The procedure or product of choice depends on a number of factors. To find which is right for you, consult your cosmetic surgeon.

Due to the economic turndown of the recent months, most cosmetic surgery procedures have been on the decline. Despite the excellent results of the latest surgical techniques, many people simply cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars for major surgical procedures.

Despite this economic decline, injectable cosmetic treatments such as Juvederm® and Botox® have actually seen a slight increase. This is because the new injectable fillers can reliably enhance our appearance for longer periods of time and at fraction of the cost of surgery. With most of these treatments lasting over six months, the cost is less than that of our daily tall latte.

2009 didn’t only bring change in terms of a new President, it also brings a host of new injectibles to the market.

Reloxin® is the first true competitor to Botox®. It is made by Medicis, the makers of Restylane®. The early news is that the onset is slightly faster than that of Botox®, but it may not last as long. The truth is, we will not know its true nature for at least several months. The good news that it should drive the price of Botox® down. In anticipation of the arrival of Reloxin®, Allergan (makers of Botox) has not raised its price this January for the first time in over a decade.

Evolence® is Johnson and Johnson’s new injectable filler. It is made from porcine collagen (meaning it is derived from pigs for those of you that are kosher or vegetarian). The collagen is cross linked in a special way that J & J claim enable it to last 12-15 months. Unlike other collagen products, no skin testing prior to its use is necessary.

Elevess™ is made by Anika. It is a non-animal based Hyaluronic acid, which is similar to Restylane® and Juvederm®. What makes Elevess™ unique is that it is filled with the numbing agent Lidocaine. In theory, this should make the injections less painful.

Mentor, a leading manufacturer of breast implants, has introduced two new Hyaluronic acid injectables. Prevelle™ is for fine lines such as crow’s feet and those thin lines around lips. Puragen™ is a thicker injectible made for deeper lines (nasolabial folds) and for augmenting cheek bones.

One of the more exciting products on the horizon is Isolagen®. In this product, the treating surgeon takes a biopsy of the patient’s own tissue. The tissue is then sent to the company’s lab where the patient’s own fibroblasts (collagen producing cells) are cloned and sent back to the surgeon for injection. Since the patient’s own live cells are being re-injected, the results should be extremely natural-looking, safe and long lasting (maybe even permanent). While most of the other products are “me toos” this is a truly innovative concept. Stay tuned for further developments.

Atlean (caution: this website is in French!) is a gel that is filled with calcium phosphate. This natural compound stays in the skin for a long time and may even stimulate collagen growth. It is very similar to Radiesse® and should also last 12-18 months. Aquamid® is a gel filled with small plastic beads (polyacarmide). This should give a permanent enhancement to deeper lines. The downside is that there is the potential for permanent bumpiness.

We are all looking to 2009 to be a year of change. For our country we are all hoping for a quick resolution to the economic turmoil and our conflicts abroad. In our own small world of cosmetic surgery, 2009 should bring exciting changes that will hopefully lead to better and longer lasting results. The one caveat is that not all change is for the better. Time will tell which products will work and which will not.

I’ve had several patients come to me recently and say, “Dr. S, I have a few areas of my face I want to address, but don’t know if now is the right time [due to the economy].” It’s understandable. For many patients, it’s hard for them to justify spending money on themselves, even if it’s on something that will help make them look and feel better. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.

Recently, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that there has been a 73 percent increase in procedures such as Botox^® injections and chemical peels, while the traditionally more invasive procedures have seen a decline. Why is that?

For starters, most people have already begun turning away from the traditional facelift and opting for less invasive procedures that, in many cases, can achieve a much more natural appearance. After all, “less is more,” and in the wrong hands, surgery can leave patients with a taut, windblown look; not the desired result. Just look at my recent posting on Golden Globe nominee Mickey Rourke.

In most cases, achieving a more youthful appearance can be achieved with a little Botox and injecting the hollow areas of the face like the cheeks and under eyes, which lose there suppleness as we age, with a filler. Afterwards, many patients can return to work immediately, and they don’t have to worry about taking out a second mortgage to pay the bill. Depending on the number and amount of injectables used, patients may pay up to $1000. That’s a huge savings when compared to the traditional facelift that can run $10,000 or more.

So go ahead, indulgence yourself with a little Botox® and Restylane®, because cutting back doesn’t mean you should forget about your own needs.