Services - Fillers and Injectables

BOTOX® Cosmetic

Many lines and wrinkles in the face are caused by the action of muscles that we use for facial expression. As the skin thins and we lose soft tissue support with aging, these lines become more prominent.

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® Fillers

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.

Fat Injections

Dr. Schwartz has extensive experience performing fat transfer (or lipo transfer) to rejuvenate areas of the face, neck and body  for people who have lost fullness in the face and body from aging, medications, or trauma. Fat, when harvested, prepared and transferred carefully acts like a graft, much like a skin graft. When placed in the new location, it develops a blood supply and if this process is successful, becomes permanent. Unlike a skin graft, however, it is difficult to assess the degree of permanence or predict the success of  "take" for each area treated.

Dr. Schwartz has over 15 years experience with fat transfer and most patients have permanent results, however the degree of permanence cannot be guaranteed and some patients will benefit from additional "touch-up" fat injections in one or more years following the procedure.

Since much of aging involves atrophy or loss of soft tissue support, transferring fat is an excellent way to restore fullness to areas that appear aged due to this loss of fullness which is a youthful look. Dr. Schwartz often combines fat transfer with facelifting, or as a stand-alone procedure. It is used throughout the body, as well as in the cheeks, beneath the eyes, in the nasolabial folds, and lips.

If you are interested in fat injections and lipo transfer, please contact the practice of Dr. Michael Schwartz today. Dr. Schwartz would be happy to answer any questions you have and evaluate whether fat injections are right for you.