We need muscles to move, eat and laugh, but too much muscle contraction can lead to problems ranging from painful jaws and teeth grinding to all kinds of lines and wrinkles. Here is when Botox and other muscle relaxing injections come to rescue!

When injected carefully into the muscles, Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are capable of blocking the transmission of signals from the nerve terminals into the muscles, reducing and preventing muscle contraction in a controlled and reversible way. These medications can be used for a number of different conditions including migraines, muscle spasms, excessive sweating (also called Hyperhidrosis), TMJ (also referred to as jaw clenching), overactive bladders, crossed (lazy) eyes, eye twitching, and more. All of these medical conditions share an abnormally-strong contraction of muscles, which results in pain and/or interference with the normal functioning of the organ. By relaxing the muscles, Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin all work to alleviate the symptoms.

In addition to helping treat medical issues, Botox, Dypsort and Xeomin can be used for many different cosmetic treatments as well. By injecting these medications into the facial muscles, we can reduce or eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles through relaxing and weakening the underlying muscles that are responsible for contracting the skin and causing those folds. Popular areas that are treated with Botox, Dysport and Xeomin can be the crow’s feet, frown lines, worry lines, to uplift the corners of the mouth, smoker’s lines above the lip, and for an eyebrow lift. When left untreated, these wrinkles move from being dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles that appear with expression or emotion) to static wrinkles (wrinkles that become permanent even while at rest), and once the wrinkles become static, Botox alone might not be able to do the trick and additional treatments including filler injections might be required. When done skillfully, the natural facial expressions are preserved and only the excessive contractions that are responsible for wrinkles and lines are controlled. This is often referred to “Baby Botox” treatment to distinguish it from the old-school misconception that associates Botox treatments with an unnatural look and “frozen face” devoid of any expression! Rest assured, all Botox injections done by Dr. Jafari at Amoderm are carefully planned with the goal of achieving a natural look while preserving normal facial expression!

Currently, with any purchase of at least 20 units of Xeomin – a new variant of Botox with comparable strength and dosing – patients can receive a $50 rebate that can be used anywhere that accepts Visa credit and debit cards. Patients may also receive free accessories such as hats and sunglasses, as part of this limited-time and limited-supply sweepstakes promotion.

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A question we get often at the clinic is “What is the difference between SculpSure and CoolSculpting?” While many patients have seen satisfactory results with other body contouring and fat reduction treatments, at Amoderm we exclusively provide SculpSure treatments for a number of reasons.

Treatment and Time:

For starters, the laser wavelength used in SculpSure is absorbed selectively by the fat cells while leaving the skin and other tissues untouched, providing precise and predictable results. Our treatments are customized for a variety of shapes and sizes, whereas with fat freezing, the treatments are limited by how much at can be suctioned into the applicator. Because there is no need for suctioning the treated area in SculpSure, this can help with improved comfort. Another reason why we prefer to use SculpSure is that each session takes just 25 minutes, while other fat freezing treatments might take as long as an hour.

Patient Comfortability:

SculpSure also uses a Contact Cooling technology which keeps the skin comfortable during treatment and helps create well-tolerated treatment. In comparison to SculpSure, fat freezing uses suction-based applicators to freeze and numb treatment areas, making post treatment massage necessary which can be uncomfortable following treatment. According to the manufacturer, during CoolSculpting, patients may experience sensations of pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching, and cramping at the treatment site. While pain and discomfort are subjective and vary from patient to patient, SculpSure treatments are generally well tolerated and patients do not require pain control or pain medications during or following the treatments. More importantly, SculpSure has no downtime and patients can resume normal activity right after completing the treatment sessions.

Results:

The feathering of heat used in SculpSure provides a natural-looking result. With fat freezing, due to the technology, unevenness in the treatment area has been reported. SculpSure treatments are extremely safe and there have been no reports of long-term and lasting complications such as deformity (shelving) of the treated area, pigmentation change, and nerve damage (resulting in numbness and neurological pain and sensitivity) in patients treated with SculpSure. The side effects related to SculpSure are mild and temporary in nature, with tenderness being most common. However, fat freezing has a number of side effects including numbness, bruising, and itching. More adverse events reported include delayed onset pain, hernias, and thickening and expanding of fat cells in the treated area, which might require liposuction to fix.

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SculpSure is among the latest and most advanced non-invasive, non-surgical, local fat reduction and body contouring treatments. SculpSure is FDA-approved for treatment and reduction of stubborn fat in the abdomen, flanks, back, and inner/outer thighs, but can also be used in many other areas of the body as well. SculpSure is able to effectively destroy fat cells with no down-time in a 25 minute treatment session. The result is a better-toned and slimmer body without the down-time that is often associated with other fat-reducing treatments. For all of you who put in the time and effort at the gym but still feel like you aren’t seeing the results that you want to see, this treatment could be the key to your satisfaction! However, it is important to note that SculpSure is not a weight loss treatment and the main goal of the treatment is to remove and destroy the stubborn fat at problem areas.

For the best results, we recommend combining SculpSure with a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and exercise. Following the treatment, the body immediately starts the process to remove and clear the injured and destroyed fat cells at the target area. This natural process is gradual and patients can usually expect to see results as early as six weeks following the treatment, although it usually takes about 12 weeks for the optimal results to emerge. The fat cells that are destroyed during the treatment are eliminated permanently and do not return back. The best results are achieved following a series of treatments customized to your specific conditions. As stated previously, one of the beauties of the treatment is that you can resume normal daily activities right after the treatment session and there is no need to take pain killers following SculpSure, which is commonly needed with other treatments, such as fat freezing. That means you can literally come during your lunch break in the middle of a busy day and get the treatment done without interrupting your life and work schedule!

For more information on SculpSure, feel free to visit our SculpSure Treatment page!

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HOW TO CORRECT NOSE ISSUES WITHOUT SURGERY

When it comes to correction of nose shape and issues related to that, surgery has been long recognized as the one and only solution. Rhinoplasty or “nose job” remains a popular surgery among those who are looking for a more balanced and pleasant look, but like any other surgeries, pain, risks, lengthy downtime and costs prevent many from going ahead with their plans.

Liquid Rhinoplasty

Luckily we now have a real alternative. Thanks to advances in non-surgical cosmetic treatments, your doctor can use a variety of fillers – typically used to restore volume in face and body – to reshape nose and achieve a better look. This procedure is called Nonsurgical Nose Job or Liquid Rhinoplasty and it is among the most advanced cosmetic treatments that requires a high level of skill and expertise alongside with great understanding of ideal proportions of facial features. The key to achieve natural looking results is subtle corrections at carefully selected spots to address the existing flaws without introducing new ones. At Amoderm, Dr. Jafari is highly experienced in these procedures and she can provide you with the treatment you need.

Who Is a Candidate?

In cosmetic medicine, we often talk about the importance of having realistic expectations and non-surgical nose job is no exception. There are cases which simply cannot be addressed with liquid rhinoplasty and they require full surgical approach. For example, patients who are not happy with the bulkiness of nose or those who suffer from severe septum deviations might be better served by a surgeon. In liquid nose job, your doctor is not actually reducing the bulk of the nose and the size is not reduced, but she uses careful injection of fillers to add volume in strategically selected areas to correct flaws, asymmetries and deformities such as bumps, humps, droopy tip and saddle nose. Read on to see a few examples!

Examples of Corrections with Nonsurgical Nose Job

A common example is nose bridge reconstruction. It is quite common to have a nose bridge that is too narrow or not well defined, causing the rest of the nose to stand out and become too prominent in an unbalanced way. Your doctor can reshape the nose bridge by careful injection of filler to achieve a more balanced overall shape. Other good examples include bumps and humps on nose. In many patients, bumps and humps on nose can be effectively treated by injecting filler above and below them, to smooth out the bump and create a more linear an straight nose profile.

Tip of the nose is another potential area that can be treated with liquid nose job. For those with droopy tip of nose, your doctor can generate some lift to pull the tip upward and correct the droopy nose tip by injecting fillers in other areas of nose as far as the nose bridge. You can simulate the results by placing your fingers on the bridge of your nose and slightly carefully pulling it upward and see how the tip of your nose will also move upward. A similar effect can often be achieved by filler injection. Fillers can also be injected to the nostril rims, columella or nose tip to reshape them or correct defects such as inadequate tip projection and asymmetries. In short, the possibilities at hands of an experienced and skilled cosmetic physician are endless!

How Much Does It Costs?

The cost of nonsurgical nose job depends on the type and amount of fillers used. Your doctor commonly used hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane (or Voluma for longer-lasting results) and patients might need 1-2 syringes of filler. The type and amount of filler needed are best determined during a consultation.

How Long Will It Last?

It depends on the type of the filler used. Liquid nose job offers a temporary correction and the results will typically last for as long as the injected fillers last. Fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane typically last for 6-12 months while Volume lasts for up to 2 years. Please note that individual results may vary.

Despite the subtle nature of the procedure, the result is often quite impressive, especially when you consider that it can be done within a single treatment session lasting less than an hour and with no downtime. To learn more about this procedure and see if you are a candidate, schedule your consultation today!

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People who are wary of their wrinkles often think of Botox and fillers. While these treatments can do marvels in skillful hands, there are simple steps we can take in our everyday life to reduce or delay the need for these treatments. According to a study in the British Journal of Nutrition, people who eat lots of green and yellow vegetables tend to develop fewer wrinkles, including those pesky crow’s feet. It’s no surprise as colorful vegetable are great sources of anti-aging phytochemicals and antioxidants. Here are a few healthy foods that can specifically help your skin and your body:

– Olive oil: Rich in healthy essential fatty acids and antioxidant polyphenols, olive oil can protect the body and skin from damaging effects of free radicals which are among the leading causes of aging.

– Dark chocolate: Cocoa flavanols are nutrients that can help hydrate skin and improve its blood flow, helping with skin dryness and scaliness. Just watch out for the excess calories that often come with chocolate bars!

– Walnuts: One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids besides fish oil, which can help to protect skin against dryness, scaliness, and eczema.

– Tomatoes: While it’s no replacement for a broad-spectrum sunscreen, tomatoes have lycopene, which can help to protect skin against harmful rays of the sun. Think of it as an edible sunscreen booster!

– Green tea: Another healthy food rich in antioxidants such as catechins and polyphenols, green tea can improve skin tone and elasticity while boosting its protection against harmful rays of the sun and improving skin blood flow.

– Kale: A great source of antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin which can neutralize free radicals and protect skin against sun damage and photo-aging, in addition to being rich in vitamins A and C, both essential for healthy skin and making new collagen.

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A New study shows that Botox does more than just relaxing your muscles and easing out the wrinkles!

To be healthy and youthful, our skin should do well in 3 key aspects: strength, pliability (ability to stretch), and elasticity (ability to recoil). Unfortunately, these characteristics diminish and degrade as we age.

We commonly use Botox to relax the facial muscles, easing out the lines and wrinkles that are caused by excessive use of those muscles, but new evidence shows that Botox does more than this. According to a new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (Bonaparte J & Ellis D, JAMA Facial Plast Surg, May 21, 2015), injection of Botox also improves the elasticity and pliability of the skin. This effect appears to be unrelated to the relaxation of the muscles, and it seems to last for months and improve more with repeated Botox injections. So the evidence suggests that not only Botox injections can help to reduce the appearance of lines and slow their progression into deeper and more permanent lines, continuing with the treatment every few months can also further rejuvenate the skin above and around the injection sites.

Just a reminder that At Amoderm, all cosmetic injections including Botox are performed by Dr. Jafari, an Allergan Diamond cosmetic injector and an expert in whole-face rejuvenation – using a combination of Botox and fillers such as Juvederm to achieve natural-looking rejuvenation of the face.

Contact us today to schedule your complimentary initial consultation!

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At Amoderm, we take pride in our commitment to stand by our patients in their rejuvenating journey to let their true natural beauty and youthfulness shine! Here are a few tips to ensure better treatment results:

– We don’t age over night, so it is unrealistic to expect to reverse the effects of years of aging with just one or two treatments. Achieving best results calls for commitment and working closely with your doctor. Nothing beats developing an ongoing, friendly and trusting relationship with your physician as a partner and companion in your rejuvenating journey!

– Don’t over-focus on one or few problems. Some patients ask us specifically to address one issue, say, lines around their mouth or eyes, while ignoring other issues such as hollow cheeks. While we always listen to our patients and do our best to address their concerns, there are many times that we can do a lot more to help. At Amoderm we advocate whole face rejuvenation approach, using a combination of Botox, Dysport, fillers and lasers to achieve uniform, holistic and balanced rejuvenation of the face and body.

– Prevention is better than treatment. While a part of aging is dictated by our genes over which we have little control (yet), a big part of aging process is resulted or accelerated by environmental factors and our life style choices. Sun rays are by far the leading cause of skin aging and serious diseases like skin cancer. Yet the solution is very simple: reducing unnecessary sun exposure and regular use of broad-spectrum sun blocks. Maintaining youthful skin and body requires healthy diet. Unhealthy foods can often increase inflammation and accelerate collagen break-down.

– There is no one-size-fits-all in cosmetic medicine. Each person is different and aging process affects each person (and even same person at different times) in various ways. That’s why we offer complimentary initial consultation before any treatments to be able to closely examine the skin condition and discuss the options with our patients.

– Don’t wait for too long! Some people think they can postpone taking care of their face and body for now, and then when the time comes, fix it all with one or two surgery. Only if it were true! There are times when surgery is the answer but for many of us, procedures like botox and filler injection can reverse years of aging within minutes, with no or little downtime and bruising. Compare this with costly and risky surgical procedures and the choice is clear. Left untreated, lines, wrinkles and sagging skin that can easily be fixed today in what is known as “liquid facelift” will turn into more severe problems requiring surgeries like facelift and more in a few years.

– Don’t forget your hands and neck! It is great to have a face free of lines and wrinkles, with its youthful volume restored with a natural look, but you don’t want your neck and hands send the wrong message! Aging process affects neck, décolletage and hands just as much as the face, and these can also be effectively and easily treated by your experienced doctor. Treatments can address lines, wrinkles, muscle bands, sun spots, prominent veins, and lost volume.

Call us today to schedule your complimentary initial consultation at the best-rated medical spa in Orange County!

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Everybody knows how Botox, Dysport and Xeomin can be used to reduce and eliminate fine lines and dynamic wrinkles in our face. But as reversible muscle relaxants, the applications of Botox, Dysport and Xeomin go beyond that.

Let’s have a look at things we can do using these medications:

• First the easy one – those pesky lines and wrinkles: Excessive and frequent contraction of facial muscles can introduce lines and creases in the overlying skin, and as long as those lines are not permanently etched into the skin (becoming static lines), Botox can be an excellent treatment. These lines can emerge in different parts of the face but they do one thing and that’s making us look tired, downbeat and disproportionally aged: Crow’s feet, forehead lines, frown lines, vertical lip lines (smoker’s lines), chin wrinkles, neck lines (platisma bands), and more. Botox, Dysport and Xeomin do great job in reducing the appearance of these lines, and preventing them from turning into static lines which could be a lot more difficult to treat. Results last 3 to 6 months depending on the area.

• Adjustment of facial features: The effect of Botox, Dysport and Xeomin on blocking and relaxing muscles can be used to make subtle adjustment to facial features. Examples include boosting eyebrows, uplifting corners of the mouth, and lifting a droopy nose.

• Jaw slimming: For those with prominent and “square” jaw due to hypertrophic masseter muscle, Botox, Dysport or Xeomin can be used to relax the muscle, making the jaw line and lower face slimmer and rounder. Treatment results typically last for 6 to 12 months.

• Calf slimming: Similar to jaw slimming, patients who are not happy with their calf bulkiness due to hypertrophic muscles can achieve slimmer lower legs with the use of Botox, Dysport and Xeomin injections.

• Excessive sweating: If you suffer from too much sweating, your first stop should be a visit with your primary doctor. A number of medical conditions such as thyroid problems, diabetes, malignancies and inflammatory and infectious diseases can cause hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. Once these and other medical reasons have been ruled out, Botox can provide great relief for hyperhidrosis. Once injected carefully into affected areas (often underarms, soles of hands and feet), Botox will block the tiny muscles that are responsible for depressing the sweat glands and prevent too much sweating. The results often last for 8 to 12 months or more.

• Migraine headaches: For patients with chronic migraine headaches not responsive to other medications, Botox can provide great relief, as it can relax the face and neck muscles involved in migraine attacks. Some insurances cover this treatment as a medically-necessary procedure.

The many uses of Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are not limited to the above and the list keeps growing. To know more about how your doctor can help you with Botox and other medications in this family, contact us today!

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Our body has some amazing potentials to heal and rejuvenate itself. When we accidentally cut ourselves, healing pathways are activated and the wound is quickly sealed. With a surge of growth factors, fibroblasts and other stem cells are activated to recruit new blood vessels and form new collagen and other components of youthful healthy skin. You might have noticed that the skin over a recently healed wound often looks healthier, firmer, smoother and brighter than the surrounding skin, an indicator of how our body regenerates new healthy skin during the healing process. Only if we could trick our body to do its magic to the skin everywhere without the need to suffer any wounds!

The good news is that thanks to advancements in medical technology, we can actually do this! Venus Freeze is a revolutionary FDA-approved treatment with proven clinical results. Combining therapeutic multi-polar radiofrequency and magnetic pulses, Venus Freeze provides an effective, safe and convenient treatment to stimulate and augment the body’s own healing and rejuvenating capabilities. Just like when a wound is present, Venus Freeze stimulates the cells of the body to make new collagen and blood vessels to reduce wrinkles and tighten the skin with results most noticeable after a series of 6-8 treatments.

But the magic of Venus Freeze does not end here. Using its specialized hand piece for large body areas such as abdomen, hip and thighs, Venus Freeze can emit deeper penetrating therapeutic radiofrequency to reach the fat layers under the skin. There, it works its way to solubilize and liquefy the excessive subcutaneous fat which is mobilized and removed by the lymphatic system. The healing process is also activated to tighten the skin. The combined action of these processes provides an excellent treatment for cellulite, as the excessive fat is dissolved and dissipated and the skin is tighten to better contain the remaining fat tissue in its place. This treatment can also be used to drop 1 or 2 sizes by reducing the underlying fat tissues.

What is so great about Venus Freeze is that it is very safe and virtually pain-free. Many patients actually find the treatment quite comforting and relaxing, similar to a hot-stone massage. There is no painful sparking and arching that is often seen in other radiofrequency treatments. While the treatment starts working its magic from the very first session, the best results are often seen after a series of 5-8 sessions depending on the treated areas and conditions. Remember: Aging does not happen over-night, and so its treatment and reversal also takes some time and some patience!  

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Dermal fillers are great products that when used by your skillful doctor can do miracles in reverse years of aging in just minutes! Injection of fillers is a cornerstone of successful anti-aging treatments and they are generally very safe and effective. Here are a few tips for successful filler treatments:

– Like most other cosmetic medical treatments, the skill and experience of your doctor is the key. Doctors often do not receive any formal training on filler injection as part of their medical training and it is up to them to seek advanced courses and training in this field. Less experienced doctors often focus directly on “problem areas” such as deep nasolabial lines, trying to correct them with direct injection of filler underneath. More experienced doctors know that the better approach to this problem can be injecting toward the cheeks to create a pull, flatting the lines.

– You and your doctor should aim for natural-looking results. We all have seen people whose faces “scream” that they have performed quite many cosmetic procedures, and more often than not, the results do not look much appealing. While some aging problems may require more intensive treatment, it is preferred to maintain the natural beauty of the face, focusing on effects of aging to achieve natural-looking rejuvenation. Ideally, you want your look to be you, only years younger!

– Trust your doctor to achieve whole-face rejuvenation. Aging affects several parts of our face, and its effective treatment also often requires combined use of several modalities at various areas. Some patients occasionally make the mistake of just focusing on one or few problem areas while ignoring other places. Rather than getting too obsessed with just one area, have the discussion with your doctor on treatments to address the aging of your face holistically. Your doctor can use various fillers in combination with Botox or Dysport injections made skillfully at various areas of the face for best looking results. Try to follow your doctor’s recommendations on type and dose of fillers and Botox.

– Don’t forget your hands, neck, and décolletage (among other parts of body). You don’t want your hands or neck look 10 or 20 years older than your face! Discuss rejuvenating treatment option for other parts of your body for most comprehensive rejuvenation approach.

– Use safer treatment approaches. Ask your doctor if he/she can use cannula for injecting hyaluronic acid fillers. Cannula is a flexible needle with a blunt tip which can be used to inject large volumes of filler at various parts of the face through just one point of entry. The result is less pain, discomfort, and bruising, and less risk of injury to sensitive tissues.

– Follow post-care instructions carefully. Some fillers have special post-care requirements, for example, Sculptra must be injected in a series of treatment sessions and site of injection must be massaged after each injection for best results. Ask your doctor for what to do to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment.

– Trust only qualified licensed clinicians for filler injections (and any other medical cosmetic treatments). You want your injector to know very well about various fillers, how to inject them, the anatomy of face and body, etc. More importantly, you want your injector to know about the risks and potential complications of filler injection. Complications may occur even with the most experienced injector, but you want your injector to know about the complications, their warning signs, how to treat them, and how to avoid or minimize them.

Appropriate use of dermal fillers can take away years of aging in a few minutes. For many patients, it’s not much short of a miracle. When used skillfully, fillers are among the safest and most effective treatment options to drastically rejuvenate the face and other parts of the body. If you would like to know more, call us today at 949-266-7346 or visit us at www.amoderm.com to explore your options!

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