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Ask Dr. LeRoy How Safe are Facial Cosmetic Injectables

Ask Dr. LeRoy: How Safe are Facial Cosmetic Injectables?

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These days, it seems as if everyone is getting a little something injected for the purpose of looking younger. According to both the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the #1 most popular cosmetic procedure in the US is botulinum toxin injections (like Botox® and Dysport®), and #2 is dermal fillers (like Restylane®, Juvéderm®, Radiesse®, and more). Both of these treatments offer minimally invasive ways to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and their immense popularity comes from their convenience (typically a 15- or 30-minute treatment with no downtime), consistently successful results, and suitability for nearly anyone. But, at the same time, the idea of facial injections sounds understandably scary to many patients. So, in truth, how safe are botulinum toxin and filler injections?

Ask Dr. LeRoy How Safe are Facial Cosmetic Injectables

The safety of cosmetic injectables ultimately comes down to your provider. Cosmetic injections are true medical procedures, so it’s important to recognize the seriousness of feeling confident in the person performing them. If you’re receiving your botulinum toxin or facial filler injections from a qualified medical professional, such as a board-certified plastic surgeon, the side effects are expected to be very mild and temporary, and the risk of serious side effects is extremely low. For most patients, the side effects are limited to mild swelling and bruising, and they generally fade within a week.

However, your risk factors change dramatically when your injections are being performed by someone who is not properly qualified and educated. Serious side effects are often caused by the product being injected incorrectly or injected into an area where it shouldn’t be, such as into a blood vessel. While a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation has extensive knowledge of your complex facial anatomy, so that they can inject the products into the precise areas for maximum safety and effectiveness, there are many people who deliver these injections without having the knowledge they need to do it correctly.

Another important factor in keeping your cosmetic facial injections safe and effective is ensuring that you are receiving the true product. Sadly, there are companies who produce counterfeit versions of popular products like Botox® and Restylane®. There are also versions of these products that are produced abroad and are not FDA-approved for safety and effectiveness. Reputable board-certified plastic surgeons will allow you to see the bottle before they perform your injections so that you know you’re getting the right product, and they have the experience to know not to use inauthentic products. However, when you go to a provider who is not qualified, you also increase the likelihood of getting an inferior or potentially dangerous product injected, as these people often do not have the authorization to purchase the genuine products.

While this article has focused on a single type of treatment, the same principle holds true for any cosmetic procedure—seeing a true board-certified plastic surgeon can provide you with excellent results and an extremely low risk factor, while getting treated by an unqualified provider is never worth the risk. If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re ready to take the next step toward a safe and effective treatment with cosmetic injectables, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy. Or, for more plastic surgery tips, join me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

What You Need to Know about Facial Fillers

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As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in helping my patients look as young as they feel, I certainly know the emotional value of seeing a better reflection in the mirror. But I also know that plastic surgery is not always the right choice. In fact, it takes a certain degree of aging for a person to be a candidate for even a Band Aid Mini Facelift, and many patients (understandably) want to stay looking their best throughout the entire aging process. Non-surgical facial fillers can be a quick, easy, low-cost, and low-risk way to do this at nearly any age. Check out the infographic below for everything you need to know about facial fillers.

What You Need to Know about Facial Fillers

There are many levels of facial rejuvenation treatments: injectables, non-surgical skin tightening, laser treatments, minimally invasive cosmetic surgery, and more comprehensive cosmetic surgery. The key is keeping an open mind, taking it one step at a time, and seeking the help of a board-certified plastic surgeon who truly has your best interests at heart and can guide you through your options. To get started on the road toward your most confident and beautiful self, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy. Or, for more anti-aging tips, plastic surgery information, and even savings opportunities, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Tips for Getting the Facelift Result You Love

Tips for Getting the Facelift Result You Love

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No one walks in for their facelift and says, “I just want my results to look mediocre.” Every patient has a picture in their mind of precisely how they want to look, and the entire reason they’ve chosen plastic surgery is to look their best. We’ve discussed quite a bit about helping your recovery process go smoothly, but there’s also plenty you can do before surgery to get the best possible results.

Tips for Getting the Facelift Result You LoveChoose the right surgeon.

It may seem obvious that the surgeon you choose will have a powerful bearing on the quality of your results (and your safety, for that matter), but it’s so crucial that it is worth a reminder. Look for the words “board-certified plastic surgeon,” and pay close attention to whether the surgeon you’re considering is a part of professional organizations like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon and a member of both of these organizations myself, I can attest to the strict requirements they uphold for each surgeon’s knowledge, training, and experience.

Communicate your desired results clearly and from the beginning.

The phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is certainly true, and after more than twenty years in cosmetic surgery specializing in facial procedures, I’ve seen firsthand that each patient has their own idea of how they want to look. Pictures can even be helpful—for instance, a face lift or Band Aid Mini Facelift patient may bring in a picture of themselves from ten years earlier and say, “my goal is to look the way I did in this picture.” Just keep in mind that surgery does have limitations, so in your pre-surgical consultation, I’ll be able to explain what you can realistically expect.

Look through before and after pictures.

While plastic surgeons may have fewer pictures of the results they’ve achieved with a facelift than with, for instance, a tummy tuck (simply because fewer patients are willing to consent to their pictures being used if it’s their face that must be shown, rather than a more “anonymous” area like the abdomen), they should still have some for you to review. Plastic surgery before and after photos are a great way to determine whether you and the surgeon have the same aesthetic vision, and you can also point out to him which results more resemble the way you want to look. While I have several pictures on my website, during your consultation you’ll also have the opportunity to see photos from many more patients who prefer that their pictures are shown in-office only.

Don’t assume, “after this surgery, I won’t have to worry about aging again.”

Face lifts aren’t a cure-all or a “permanent fix.” For most patients, the best way to get natural-looking results is not to try to remove every fine line and wrinkle in surgery, but to address these remaining concerns with injections like Botox® or facial fillers later as aging continues. The alternative of being overly aggressive in surgery can result in the “windblown” look. It’s also important to recognize that plastic surgery cannot stop the aging process (nor can anything in medical science, for that matter), so new wrinkles and skin laxity will appear as you age in the future. Many patients eventually address these concerns with a follow-up surgery or with non-surgical procedures like my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing and Band Aid Skin Tightening.

Make sure your decision is logical, not emotional.

Some people who become depressed believe that plastic surgery will give them the emotional pick-me-up they need. While looking your best can undoubtedly make you feel more positive, optimistic, and confident, keep in mind that a facelift (or any other cosmetic surgery) has a healing period, and some patients get “the blues” during this time due to simply having less energy, being primarily confined to their home for a few days, and not yet being able to see their results immediately. If you’re already depressed going into surgery, this can put a damper on your healing ability. Don’t enter into plastic surgery assuming it will fix all your problems and “make you happy again.” Instead, look at it as a way to address this one specific concern you have: self-consciousness. For many patients, lifting this self-consciousness can give them a more positive outlook on life, but this should be seen as an added perk, rather than your reason for pursuing surgery in the first place.

Achieving optimal results from a facelift or a Band Aid Mini Face Lift is a team effort, requiring you as the patient and me as the board-certified plastic surgeon to develop a shared vision and communicate openly to make this vision a reality. If you’re ready to start discussing your options, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy. Or, for more plastic surgery tips, helpful information, and the latest news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Happy Holidays from John L. LeRoy, MD, FACS, PC

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It seems just yesterday we were welcoming 2015, and now the year is already wrapping up as we prepare for 2016. But as quickly as the year has gone by, there have been no shortage of moments we’ve cherished. Here are a few of our favorite highlights from 2015:

  • Atlanta Botox, Atlanta cosmetic surgeons, plastic surgery in Georgia, Atlanta Restylane Lyft, facial fillers AtlantaGiving back to three wonderful charities. At our plastic surgery office, we love the work we do every day, but we also love being able to contribute to the well-being of other members of our community. This year, we held three social media charity contests, enlisting your help to select three deserving charities to receive $1,000 donations to continue their valuable work. We were honored to contribute to the missions of Atlanta S.E.E.D.s, Atlanta Humane Society, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
  • Adding a new cosmetic facial injection to our menu of services. As a cosmetic surgeon, I believe in a multi-faceted approach toward improving your appearance. For those who want to look younger or maintain their youth, this often means a combination of a facelift or my minimally invasive Band Aid Facelift and non-surgical procedures like skin tightening, laser treatments, Botox®, and facial fillers. This year, we were excited to add a new filler: Restylane® Lyft. While it’s similar to the Restylane® that so many of my patients use to fill in fine lines and wrinkles around their mouth and nose, this new injection is also able to restore volume to the cheeks to reduce the appearance of the “hollows” that naturally appear with age.
  • Helping patients be their most confident and beautiful selves. While there are many different aspects of cosmetic surgery I enjoy, there’s nothing quite like the joy of seeing a patient who has felt self-conscious for years (or, in some cases, their entire life) and is now thrilled with their results. Giving plastic surgery patients the freedom to enjoy their lives more by taking a burden from their shoulders has been an important part of my more than twenty years as a double board-certified plastic surgeon, and I look forward to continuing to meet and help exceptional patients in 2016.

As you look back over this year, we hope you have as much to feel grateful for as we do. Thank you to all our patients for giving us a year to celebrate – we look forward to helping you continue to look and feel your best in 2016. From our family to yours, we wish you all happy holidays surrounded by the friends and family who have made your year special.

Erase Years Without Going Under the Knife: Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation

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When patients think of plastic surgery they automatically think of surgical procedures.  The idea of going under the knife can be intimidating to some but the good news is that you can turn back the hands of time and get younger-looking skin without going the surgical route just yet.  By now, we all know that signs of aging are inevitable.  As a double board-certified plastic surgeon, my patients are often pleasantly surprised to know that I offer non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures that help slow down your progress of facial aging and renew a youthful vitality.

side by side agingResurface: Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing treatments are your solution for repairing surface damage of the skin.  Sun spots, wrinkles, acne and facial scarring can be a thing of the past with DOT laser therapy.  Fractional laser skin resurfacing works by emitting laser light that penetrates deep within the skin to jump start your collagen production and as you heal, produces tighter, smoother skin.  The advanced technology of the laser skin resurfacing lets your treatments be customized to target your specific areas of concern thus making treatment most effective for you.

Tighten: Our most recent office addition, Band Aid Skin Tightening using Protégé technology, has been a hit among patients wanting a procedure with no downtime or anesthesia required.  Protégé’s unique Energy Flow Control (EFC) system targets wrinkles, lax skin on the face, neck and chest and does just the right amount of tightening to reveal safe and noticeable (but not too noticeable) results.  Warming the deeper layers of the skin, Protégé skin tightening precisely combines heat and targeted energy to painlessly firm the appearance of sagging skin by stimulating new collagen production.  You’ll not only see immediate results after your first treatment, but full results will continue to reveal itself in just a few short months thereafter.

Erase: Just as an eraser removes pencil mistakes on paper, injectables are the wrinkle-eraser for the face.  With 8.5 million performed procedures reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2013, cosmetic injectables continue to be among the top two most popular minimally-invasive procedures among facial rejuvenation patients.  Whether treating frown lines or crow’s feet with Botox® or Dysport® or wanting to plump sunken cheeks or thin lips with facial fillers like Restylane® or Juvéderm® Volumaâ„¢, there’s an injectable for everyone.  Men and women both enjoy injectables because the treatment times are only 10-15 minutes and you’re back to your regular routine immediately after a procedure.  Injectable results range from 4-12 months depending on the type you choose so treatments must be repeated regularly for maintenance.

When considering any sort of facial rejuvenation procedure the first step you should take is to contact a trusted surgeon who is skilled and experienced in the procedure you’re interested in.  Even if you aren’t sure what you’d like to have done, meeting for a consultation is a great time to voice your concerns and start the dialogue needed to plan the best procedure to meet your realistic expectation.  To learn more about skin tightening or any of the procedures I perform, contact my office today.  You can also learn more about minimally-invasive procedures by connecting with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

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