Each Fall we offer a special to help you rejuvenate your skin, mindful of the damage that occurs  from summer sun. 

Take advantage of this special offer and, if you start soon, you'll enjoy your new look in time for the holidays. Must complete first treatment in November 2012 to take advantage of this special offer.  Click here for more information on Fraxel Restore laser treatments, or call our office for more details.. 503-692-1190.

 

  

 

 

Just come in for a treatment or consult, or to pick up your skin care products (check out this week's e-special) and we'll give you a $50 Restylane Gift Certificate to use immediately if you'd like. Expires December 31, 2012. May not combine with other offers or apply to prior treatments.

 

 

BOTOX Cosmetic is practically a household word now, and I think most people are aware that it is used to treat frown lines, or "elevens". True, this is the indication for which Allergan sought and received FDA approval for BOTOX Cosmetic back in 2002. However, people are not aware of the myriad uses of BOTOX and other neurotoxins, including Dysport and XEOMIN.

Here are some uses that might interest you as I share some Tricks of the Trade. To understand what BOTOX may be used for, one must first understand how it works.. Botox was first approved for clinical uses in 1989 and then approved for use as BOTOX Cosmetic in 2002. Neurotoxins such as BOTOX Cosmetic work by causing a localized reduction in  muscle activity. When carefully injected into muscles of facial expression, one can achieve a reduction in creasing of the skin that was caused by the muscle contraction. Commonly treated areas of the face include the glabella, to reduce frown lines, the crow's feet area, the forehead to reduce horizontal creases. Some of the lesser known areas include treating to achieve a brow lift, reducing the depth of upper lip lines, raising the corner of the mouth to prevent the downturn or sad expression, treating the "bunny lines" or scrunch lines on the sides of the nose. Some of my favorite Tricks include treating the platysmal bands  in the neck, treating the dimpling of the chin, referred to as peau d'orange (french for orange peel), and treating horizontal neck creases. Some of these techniques require a little more expertise and shouldn't be performed by inexperienced injectors.

I have a number of patients who experience significant relief in headaches, as Botox injections may reduce certain types of muscle tension headaches. It can also be used to relax the masseter muscles for those who clench or grind their teeth.

Other types of specialists may use Botox to treat children with flexion contractures from Cerebral Palsy, treat the laryngeal muscles for a disorder called spasmodic dysphonia, or to relax muscles after certain types of surgery to prevent the muscle contraction from distracting the wound closure.