It seems like there’s always something new to know about when it comes to improving your appearance, but we know better than to jump on the latest social media trend or beauty fad. It’s important to seek cosmetic dermatology treatments from medical experts with the right training, experience and access to the latest research.
We’ve been seeing some exciting new news in beauty, so we checked in with Dr. Leight of Dermatology, Laser & Vein Specialists of the Carolinas to get the latest scoop on what’s new in treatments and what they’re using to great results.
What’s new in smoothing loose or crepey skin?
You may have heard there are new ways to use filler on your body that help stimulate collagen and help fill out loose or sagging skin. Collagen is a fibrous protein that gives support to the structure of your skin, and it also supports elastin, which helps to maintain firm, tight skin. Both diminish as you age. So whether it’s crepey skin on your knees or neck, Dr. Leight has a solution:
“Over time, we have seen that some fillers (most commonly Sculptra and Radiesse) can be used as bio-stimulatory fillers to cause an increase in collagen and improve laxity/crepey skin,” said Dr. Leight.
It takes a little bit of time.
Dr. Leight said “Depending on the person and the indication we are treating; I typically do anywhere from two-four treatment sessions of the bio-stimulatory fillers. Then I allow the face/body three months after the last session to see your final results from the increased collagen and subsequent skin tightening.”
What is this New Daxxify Product All About?
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the new drug Daxxify, a neuromuscular blocking agent that its manufacturer asserts reduced the appearance of facial wrinkles for about six months, which is about two months longer than current products on the market.
DLVSC participated as one of two sites in N.C. with the Daxxify FDA pivotal trials. Dr. Munavalli was the principal investigator and injector, and was astounded to observe the anti-wrinkle effect lasting for 6 months or longer in some cases. “We at DLVSC look forward to making it available to our patients when it becomes available for sale” says Dr. Munavalli.
What are you seeing with under-eye fillers?
Juvéderm Volbella has been used in other areas such as the lips for years. It is a softer filler and gives a beautiful, natural result; they just received an indication for under-eye filler.
Dr. Leight uses Volbella in the tear trough, and there are a few other hyaluronic acid fillers that also yield great results.
However, Dr. Leight warns “More important than the filler choice itself is to know the credentials of the person injecting you. This is not an area for beginner injectors, and my colleagues and I have seen many cases of poorly placed tear trough filler with subsequent complications.”
TikTok Trends and Lip Flips
Dr. Leight reminds us that it’s about feeling like the best version of yourself, not about what is currently trending; still, many of her younger patients will often ask about a trend they have seen on Instagram or TikTok.
A Lip flip is one of the most commonly requested procedures.
Lip flips involve injecting very small amounts of Botox at the edge of the lip to give a ‘slight eversion’ of the lip – meaning the very tip of your lip flips up a little bit. “It’s great— minimal risk, affordable — and patients love it! Sometimes patients want to try this prior to trying lip filler for the first time. Lip flips tend to last about 8-12 weeks, so this procedure will need to be repeated fairly frequently,” recommends Dr. Leight.
What is Tech-neck and how do you treat it?
Treating tech-neck (horizontal bands on the neck from looking down at phones, computers, etc) has become popular with millennials. The treatment involves using micro-injections of neuromodulator on the neck along with small amounts of filler to soften the stubborn horizontal lines. Dr. Leight cautions scheduling is important, as there is a risk of bruising in the injected area so patients need to plan accordingly.
What are the Top Five Most Popular Injectable treatments at DLVSC in 2022?
- Botox
- Dysport
- Pan-facial filler — DVLSC use all sorts of fillers for the face depending on patient anatomy, physician preference, and goals of treatment – just like a patient, each filler is different.
- Kybella – for stubborn pockets of fat under the chin and sometimes jowls
- Hyper-diluted Radiesse or Sculptra for neck laxity, chest wrinkles, crepey skin around the knees
Generally speaking, neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau are used for temporarily relaxing muscle movements – think: to soften dynamic wrinkles caused by repetitive movements like squinting, frowning, etc. Fillers are used for restoring lost volume caused by normal skin aging and help boost natural collagen in a variety of areas on the body.
Combining treatments can be more effective
Fillers and neuromodulators, like Botox, are not one and the same; the key difference is how they work.
Bio-stimulatory fillers also work very well when used with other devices, such as Fraxel or intense pulsed light for sun damage.
A customized approach.
“Each patient is unique and we tailor a combination of regular hyaluronic acid fillers and bio-stimulatory fillers depending on the overall goal and the amount of volume loss or laxity we are treating,” said Dr. Leight.
