Think you know about Botox and Fillers? Think again!

Since the introduction of Botox in 1977, aesthetic specialists have discovered many benefits to this amazing drug, which lasts about three to five months, though it varies by patient. In addition to the well-known applications of Botox such as smoothing crow's feet, frown lines, forehead, and other fine lines and wrinkles, there are other areas to place Botox that have helped countless people:

Masseter muscle - The masseter muscle stretches from the rear of your cheek to the lower jaw on each side and helps close the jaw when chewing. Botox injected into the masseter muscle can help relieve jaw tension, reduce teeth grinding and decrease headaches originating in this area as well as soften the face and provide a slimmer appearance.

"Bunny Lines" - You've seen them a million times but never realized they had a name! Bunny lines occur when with a hearty laugh or smile or when we scrunch our nose. Botox works on bunny lines by relaxing

 the local muscles and reducing their appearance.

Upper lip enhancement - Here's something special. Tiny injections of Botox along the border of the upper lip can produce the appearance of a plumper upper lip, particularly those with 'gummy smiles' it can relax that muscle that pulls your top lip to prevent the upper lip from exposing too much of the gums.

Neck bands - When applied to the platysma muscle in the neck Botox prevents it from contracting, which provides a smoothing effect.

Dimpled chin - Botox can relax the chin's mentalis muscle to reduce the appearance of dimples, wrinkling, or a cleft chin.

Downturn mouth - Relaxing the depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle with Botox can elevate the corners of the mouth, reversing a downturn look.

Around the same time that Botox was taking the aesthetic world by storm, fillers began making their mark. Today, filler applications can last up to a year and are a reliable way to plump thin lips, enhance shallow facial contours, soften facial creases, enhance cheek bones, and even reduce the appearance of scars. Lesser-known but still effective areas of application for fillers include:

Chin - Injected into targeted areas in and around the chin, fillers can enhance the chin and jaw line by providing increased volume and definition.

Nose - Sometimes, fillers used in and around the nose can be so effective they have been called, "non-surgical nose jobs." In a process that takes only a few minutes, filler injections for the nose can smooth out a bump and/or make it look thinner and more refined.

Jaw - If you have a jaw line or jowls that lack definition or are sagging, fillers may be the answer. In these areas, fillers can create a more youthful appearance by filling in loose skin.

Eyes - When applied under the eyes, fillers have shown a remarkable ability to reduce the appearance of sunken, 'tired eye' appearance.

The best way to determine whether you are a candidate for these Botox or filler applications - or other areas in which they can be used - is to schedule a free consultation at FAC today. At any of our three convenient locations, you will be seen by a member of one of the area's most experienced aesthetic teams.

     Did you know that the latest trend in plastic surgery is for women and men over the age of 50 to have breast and body plastic surgery? For many people over the age of 50 when they think of plastic surgery they think of facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift, neck lift, and eyelid lift. I have personally performed breast and body procedures on many people in their 60’s and 70’s, even early 80’s! I know this may sound surprising, but there are several reasons for this trend. 

     Recent advances in the technology that we use in surgery and anesthesia now allow us perform these types of procedures in a completely safe manner and get outstanding results. Furthermore, advances in the medications that are used to treat common health issues such as diabetes and hypertension have also allowed people with these conditions to be great candidates for breast and body procedures.

      Some of the most common procedures I do for women in this age group are breast lift/ breast reduction, tummy tuck, and liposuction. The most common procedures men want is liposuction of the belly fat and chest reduction or removal of the “man boobs.” 

      Our bodies change as we get older and it becomes more difficult to maintain our weight despite eating a healthy diet and exercising on a regular basis. I have seen many women who say to me, “Dr. Cuber, after I reached the age of 50, I started gaining weight in areas where I don’t want it.” There are several anatomical and physiological reasons for this, and men and women are very different in which areas we accumulate fat deposits.

    For women it’s their breasts, hips, and thighs. When a woman’s breasts become too large and too heavy they start to experience pain in their back, neck, and shoulders. They also have difficulty finding bras and clothing that fits properly. A breast lift is a wonderful procedure because I can lift a woman’s breasts, give them a better shape, and also reduce the size and weight if necessary. 

     For men, when we gain weight it goes directly to our midsection, what a lot of people refer to as the “belly fat”. Liposuction is a great procedure to safely and permanently remove excess fat deposits from the abdomen, waist, and chest in men. It is very important to evaluate someone’s skin elasticity because although liposuction does a great job of removing the fat it may not tighten the skin. There are some men who benefit from having a tummy tuck in addition to liposuction if they have loose skin. In other words, tummy tuck is not just for women; I have personally done tummy tucks on many men and they love the results because they can now wear all the “slim fit” golf shirts and pants all the pros are wearing on the golf course.

    One of the most common questions that people ask me about liposuction is, “does the fat come back?” The answer is no, provided a person maintains their weight. Contrary to what many people read online, the fat which is removed with liposuction is gone permanently from those areas nor does it get re-distributed to other parts of the body. 

     As with everything we do in plastic surgery, the most important way to maintain the results is to eat a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis. As long as one maintains their weight they will maintain the results, but you can improve your results by doing specific exercises that target the areas that I work on.

This is why I always encourage people to get back into their normal exercise routine as soon as they are healed.

Dr. Cuber has a remarkable before and after gallery that can be found by clicking here.

Dr. Shain A. Cuber, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon