Botox, Restylane®, and Fat Injections - Pasadena and Los Angeles, California

Research has shown that paralyzing the action of certain targeted facial muscles, particularly around the eyes and brow, will cause these wrinkles to decrease and often disappear. Dr. Schwartz performs BOTOX® Cosmetic injections for Pasadena and Los Angeles area residents to paralyze these small muscles and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

BOTOX® Cosmetic consists of purified microscopic doses of botulinum toxin that works by paralyzing the action of small areas of muscle. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected in our Pasadena practice using tiny needles. The procedure itself is relatively painless. The effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment generally last three to four months, but can last longer in some patients. Treatments can be repeated as necessary to maintain results.

Unknown to most patients, BOTOX® Cosmetic can easily be overly diluted and, therefore, not yield the longevity desired. BOTOX® Cosmetic is measured in units, so when shopping for a provider, be sure to always ask how much he or she charges per unit, rather than how much the doctor charges per area. Another good question to ask is, “How many units does the manufacturer recommend for the maximum result of approximately 120 days?”

Dr. Schwartz charges by the unit for all BOTOX® Cosmetic injections and would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the costs or process. If you are interested in having BOTOX® Cosmetic injections in Los Angeles, contact our Pasadena, California, practice today.

Restylane®

Our practice is pleased to offer the remarkable new filler, Restylane® to our Los Angeles area patients. Restylane® is a recently released filler made of hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally occurs in the human body. This clear, biodegradable gel is completely inert. It does not cause allergic reactions, so no skin testing is required, and it breaks down cleanly and is eventually absorbed back into the body.

Dr. Schwartz has injected numerous patients with Restylane® in Los Angeles, and the results are immediate and dramatic. Faces look fuller, fresher, and more youthful. The material lasts for six to nine months and has been very effective at eliminating fine lines around the mouth and improving the nasal labial folds, as well as other areas of the face.

During Restylane® treatment, Dr. Schwartz uses regional nerve blocks in the face, which are painlessly placed under the upper and lower lips. These act to completely numb the treatment area, which can then be injected with Restylane® without the need to infiltrate the treatment area directly with anesthetic, thereby distorting it. This approach has been extremely effective, as patients feel neither the Restylane® filler going in, nor any needle sticks after the initial numbing injections.

The results from Restylane® injections are long lasting and can be repeated as necessary. To learn more about Restylane® injections in Los Angeles or to schedule a consultation, please contact the practice of Dr. Michael Schwartz today.

Fat Injections

Dr. Schwartz has extensive experience performing fat injections and lipotransfer to rejuvenate areas of the face and neck for people in Los Angeles. Fat injections can add needed fullness to the face or fill out lines and scars. They can also be used to give the lips a fuller, more sensual appearance. Fat has the advantage of being the patient’s own tissue, so there is no chance for rejection or adverse reaction from the filler.

During lipotransfer for fat injection, the fat is taken from the patient’s own body and specially prepared by spinning it in a centrifuge. Pure, intact fat cells are then separated from the mixture of oily, ruptured cells and local anesthetic solution that was used during liposuction. The fat is transferred to small syringes and injected into the facial area in small beads or droplets, which increases the likelihood that it will develop its own blood supply and have permanence.

As surgeons, we cannot guarantee that there will be permanence from fat transfer, as there is no scientific proof of this. However, Dr. Schwartz has many patients across Los Angeles with permanent results from his fat injections. Particularly in the area of the face, there is a high incidence of permanence to at least some degree. Some people will need to repeat their fat injection treatments after one to two years, but in many cases this is not necessary. Fat placed in the lips, however, usually does not have permanence. This area is too small to accommodate sufficient fat to develop and maintain an independent blood supply