IS BOTOX RIGHT FOR YOU?

A Botox® Cosmetic treatment is a simple, non-surgical procedure that smoothes the deep, persistent lines between your brows that developed over time. One ten-minute treatment - a few tiny injections - relaxes the muscles that cause those lines to form and keeps them relaxed for up to four months. Botox® Cosmetic has been widely tested. Now, it is approved by the FDA.

The results are dramatic and apparent within days. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of the men and women surveyed rated the improvement in their brow lines as moderate to better. For many, Botox® Cosmetic virtually "erases" these lines.

Unlike surgery, Botox® Cosmetic is fast, simple and minimally invasive, with no downtime or recovery. Most people return directly to work or normal activity following treatment. Within days, they report looking more natural and relaxed. With Botox® Cosmetic, other people will know you've done something, but they just won't know what.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BOTOX® COSMETIC

Your doctor will determine exactly where to administer several tiny injections to achieve the best results. No anesthesia is required, although he or she may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting. The entire procedure takes approximately ten minutes. Discomfort is minimal and brief - most patients compare the sensation to bug bite. It is unlikely you will develop significant side effects, although some people develop slight temporary bruising at the injection site, which can easily be covered by makeup. You may resume normal activity immediately.

Within days, you'll see a marked improvement which may continue to improve for as long as a week and should last up to four months.

Botox® Cosmetic relaxes the overactive muscles whose repeated contractions cause the lines between your brows to form. So you can frown, smile or look surprised - without the furrows, creases and wrinkles.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR BOTOX® COSMETIC?

Any image-conscious man or woman who is concerned about the appearance of their frown lines can consider treatment. Botox Cosmetic can be used by people from age 18 to 65.

WHAT EXACTLY IS BOTOX® COSMETIC?

Botox® is a natural, purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Very low doses of Botox® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the overactive muscles. The effects of Botox® Cosmetic are usually confined to the injected region; it does not travel throughout the body.

ARE BOTOX® COSMETIC TREATMENTS PAINFUL?

Botox® Cosmetic discomfort is minimal and brief. Your physician may choose to use a local anesthetic cream or ice to minimize this. Once the injection is complete, there is usually no discomfort.

HOW LONG DOES BOTOX® COSMETIC LAST?

Botox® Cosmetic lasts up to four months.

If you are interested in Botox Treatments, please visit Dr. Sexton's office at 15825 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 203, in Irvine.

The phone number is 949-679-6900, and he can be seen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. His Web site is www.drsexton.net.

Skin Diseases Require Skilled Diagnosis

Each year, countless visits are made to the doctor's office in order to diagnose and treat skin diseases. The past decade has seen a shortage of dermatologists develop at a time when information regarding skin disorders has skyrocketed, making it a challenge for even a specialist to keep abreast of the field.

"I can recall that before formal training in my specialty, I received only two weeks of lectures on diseases of the skin in medical school," said Dr. Charles Sexton, a Board Certified dermatologist working in Irvine.

"I also believe that it was on average one of the poorest attended lecture series in the program."

Since that time, however, numerous influences have changed the relationship between skin diseases, the patients they afflict, and the caregivers who treat them. What hasn't changed is the need for patients with skin diseases to get the best care available and for continued effort to minimize suffering that accompanies skin disorders.

"There are relatively few diseases that make up the bulk of dermatology visits to caregivers, but even mastering those requires a great deal of knowledge and information," Dr. Sexton said.

"For example, psoriasis, a hereditary disorder that affects an estimated 2 to 5 percent of the population, can actually be triggered for the first time, or occultly perpetuated by choice of medications for blood pressure, eye diseases and even vaccinations.

"I have seen numerous cases of disease flares in patients whose skin was stable, but then developed hypertension, the subsequent treatment of which triggered a downward spiral of their psoriasis. The same process will occur rather predictably if one elects to utilize certain systemic antiinflammatory medications to control psoriasis, and their use should be avoided in patients with this disease."

Acne is another disease that is often inadequately treated due to concerns about systemic treatments and possible side effects of the medications available. Even topical medications are often ineffectively used due to over emphasis of potential side effects that can theoretically occur, but which rarely do.

"I have seen practicioners recommend use of agents that worsen the acne itself in order to avoid side effects that haven't even occurred," Dr. Sexton said. "Unfortunately, it is easier to prevent acne scarring than to treat it, and it is urgent that patients who are unresponsive to one regimen be closely monitored and switched in time to prevent this unfortunate consequence.

"This monitoring requires knowledge of timing of expected results and intimate detail in the correct application as well as minimization of side effects predictable with each agent.

"Above all, it requires constant monitoring at regular intervals until the disease process is under control."
Along similar lines, Dr. Sexton has noted a large number of patients with chronic rashes affecting their feet and groin which are frequently diagnosed as "athlete's foot" and "'jock itch."

"If athletes foot is present, then a simple in-office test can confirm this in under five minutes," Dr. Sexton said.
Accurate diagnosis is essential, as it can avoid months of inappropriate usage of medicines that can actually worsen the condition and even cause irreversible damage to the skin.

"Some forms of treatment attempt to combine active ingredients so that accurate diagnosis seems unnecessary, similar to using anti-histamines and decongestants in combination for cold preparations," Dr. Sexton said.

"I have found that the antifungal agents have little effect on the growth of the fungus in these diseases, and what is worse is that use of these agents for jock itch commonly causes permanent stretch marks and rashes from the presence of higher strength steroids in the preparation," Dr. Sexton said. "The bottom line, if you have been given combo (more than one active ingredient listed) therapy for a disorder in these locations, and they are still present after several weeks' use, it would be best to discontinue them and re-evaluate the condition.

From these examples, Dr. Sexton points out that the care of your skin, while often marginalized for more pressing medical problems, requires expertise and knowledge. This general principle is simply demonstrated with these few examples.

If you have a skin disease or desire cosmetic treatments for your skin, contact Dr. Sexton from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for an appointment. His office is at 15825 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 203, Irvine. The phone number is 949-679-6900. His Web site is www.drsexton.net.

How to Eliminate Wrinkles Without Painful Surgeries

Are you concerned about your appearance and planning to undergo a skin treatment or surgery to remove wrinkles or puffiness under eyes that make you appear old and tired? Instead of a barrage of procedures why not try Restylane?

Even though there are numerous skin care companies that claim to eliminate wrinkles with miraclous creams and ointments, the reality is that many of them are simply a waste of money. Restylane is a safe, FDA-Approved skin treatment, widely considered as THE alternative to an invasive surgical procedure such as Blepharoplasty.

Hyaluronic acid is a compound in our bodies that lubricates and hydrates the skin. Wrinkles occur due to a diminished supply of Hyaluronic acid in our body.Restylane, a hyaluronic acid dermal filter, is recommended by many plastic surgeons and dermatologists for treating the fine lines caused by heredity and age.

Why should I try Restylane?

The main benefit of Restylane is, it does not cause lumps and swelling often associated with invasive surgical procedures. The filtered material will eventually get absorbed into your body causing little to no side effects. Restylane skin treatment results generally last from six months up to one year. Unlike skin surgeries, you won’t have to go for any additional treatment for at least one year in order to maintain the rejuvenation.

The Restylane gel-injection procedure is quick and virtually painless. After the injection, your dermatologist will massage the under eye tissues to make sure that the gel is evenly distributed in throughout the area of injection.

Are there any side effects?

Though every individual’s body chemistry is different and there is no way of guaranteeing results, there are little to no known side effects associated with Restylane. Don’t be alarmed if you experience swelling, redness or inflammation around the treated areas, it usually disappears within 24 -48 hours. Since Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our bodies, the chances of severe allergic reaction is very rare. As with ANY treatments, it is strongly advised that you consult your dermatologist prior to treatment if you have ANY allergies from medications.