Aging, sun exposure, smoking, and skin diseases among other causes can result in the undermining and wrinkling of skin tissues leaving forehead creases and wrinkles, creases around the mouth, puckered scars and defects of the skin. Since most of these conditions do not cause medical problems, the treatment of these problems is not covered by medical insurance. However, wrinkles, scars, creases, redness, telangectasias, spider veins and the processes of aging can be of concern to you and cause you discomfort. We can treat and correct or improve these problems by a variety of procedures such as laser, Botox® injections, photodynamic therapy, Restylane®, and collagen replacement therapy.

• V-Beam LASER:
  The V-Beam Laser is a special type of laser called a pulsed dye laser. It uses a specific wavelength of light to target benign vascular lesions of the skin such as rosacea, telangectasias, port wine stains, scars, spider veins, and hemangiomas. The laser light is specifically absorbed by the blood vessels in the skin causing the vessels to coagualate. The body then absorbs the lesion over a period of several weeks. It is an effective and safe method of treating these problems.

• Botox®:
  Over the course of our lives, we smile, frown, worry, and laugh millions of times. Each time we do so, our facial muscles contract and pull on the overlying skin creating wrinkles. Botox® is a biological injectible which relaxes the underlying muscles thereby releasing the wrinkles. It is particularly effective for smoothing out the wrinkles between the eyebrows (frown lines) and “crow’s feet” around the eyes as well as forehead lines. Using a small needle, we inject just the amount of Botox ® that you require to smooth out the facial lines. Botox® is used mainly on the upper part of the face; the lines on the forehead, between the eyes, and around the eyes. Botox® treatment lasts from 4-6 months and has proven to be safe and effective. See Results.
  
  As this is a cosmetic procedure, Botox ® is not covered by your insurance. The cost varies depending on the amount of Botox ® your face needs to achieve a good result. Treatment for frown lines in women generally runs $350 to $500. Treatment of additional areas such as crow’s feet and forehead lines adds an additional $350 to $500. Men can benefit from Botox Cosmetic ® as well although the number of units of Botox® required is higher and therefore, so is the cost.
  For more information: www.botoxcosmetic.com

• Fillers:
  Fillers are commonly used to treat facial lines and wrinkles, hollow cheeks, receding chins, thinning lips and wrinkles between the eyes. There are many types of wrinkle fillers, including Cosmoderm® and Restylane ® that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that are widely available.
  
  Restylane ® is a hyaluronic acid gel that may be used to treat lines around the mouth and to plump lips. Results last three to six months.

• Collagen Replacement Therapy:
  Collagen Replacement Therapy can smooth out the skin surfaces. Several products are available which provide aesthetic improvements.
  
  Cosmoderm ® and Cosmoplast ® are human collagen products purified from skin cells grown under tightly controlled conditions to assure purity. Because they are human cell products, there is no need for skin testing before use. This purified collagen is most often used to treat very fine wrinkles around the mouth, deep lines and creases, and depressed scars such as those from acne or chicken pox. Results last three to nine months. These products can be used the same day as Botox® therapy to smooth out the deeper wrinkles and creases.
  

• Photodynamic Therapy with ALA:
  In one of the newest therapies available for pre-cancers, ALA, a topical drug that can be activated by light, is applied to the skin and allowed to absorb. The drug is then activated by either Blu-U light or V-Beam laser light. The patient must stay out of the sun for 24-36 hours after treatment. In a few days, the skin peals removing the pre-cancers and leaving new, healthy skin.
  
  In addition, ALA/PDT can be used for acne in cases where Accutane is inappropriate, undesirable, or has failed. Blu-U alone can improve moderate acne.

• Blu-U for Acne:
  Blu-U light treatment has been shown to be effective in treating moderate acne vulgaris. Blu-U light can kill the P.acnes bacteria that can cause acne. Treatment consists of 3 –6 visits but is not covered by insurance at this point.