Skin Procedures

BOTOX® (cosmetic), DYSPORT

What is a Botox procedure?

Botox (botulin toxin) ), and Dysport are chemical neuroparalytic agents that temporarily paralyzes selected facial muscles. Tiny injections of Botox into facial muscles eliminate facial muscle contractions and reduce the facial lines that result from prolonged facial animation. Forehead creases, "frown lines," and "crow's feet" are the areas most commonly treated.

Where is it performed?

The Botox or Dysport is injected in Dr. Glafkides' office with a simple, no-fuss procedure.

What to expect

Minimal bruising can sometimes occur after injection of Botox or Dysport , but this usually resolves within 24-48 hours. Botox and Dysport injections take a few days to take effect, and results usually last about 4 months. Repeat injections are then available.

Anesthesia and Medication

Topical anesthesia can be applied to the skin prior to injection, if necessary.

Recovery

There is no recovery period. Most patients return to the work and most normal activities, including vigorous exercise, the day of the procedure.

Soft Tissue/Wrinkle Injections (Restylane®, JUVÉDERM®, Radiesse)

What are soft tissue/wrinkle injections?

Juvederm™, Restylane and Radiesse® are injectable fillers. These collagen-like products are available for facial injection. Injections take place in our office setting, usually with a small amount of local anesthetic.

How they work

They fill-in or plump-up areas of wrinkling or depression, thereby smoothing out facial skin.

Where is the procedure performed?

The fillers are injected in Dr. Glafkides' office with a simple, no-fuss procedure.

Anesthesia and Medication

Topical and local anesthesia can be applied to the skin prior to injection, if necessary.

What to expect

Swelling and bruising can occur after injection, but these typically resolve within 72 hours. The effects of most injectables last between 6 and 12 months. Repeat injections are then available.

Recovery

There is no recovery period. Most patients return to the work and most normal activities, including vigorous exercise, the day of the procedure.

Scar revision

What is a scar revision procedure?

Scars are visible signs that remain after a wound has healed. They are unavoidable results of injury or surgery, and their development can be unpredictable. Poor healing may contribute to scars that are obvious, unsightly or disfiguring. Even a wound that heals well can result in a scar that affects your appearance. Scars may be raised or recessed, different in color or texture from surrounding healthy tissue or particularly noticeable due to their size, shape or location.

Your treatment options may vary based on the type and degree of scarring and can include:

• Simple topical treatments
• Minimally invasive procedures
• Surgical revision with advanced techniques in wound closure

What to expect

Scar revision surgery is meant to minimize the scar so that it is more consistent with your surrounding skin tone and texture.

Although scar revision can provide a more pleasing cosmetic result or improve a scar that has healed poorly, a scar cannot be completely erased.

Where is it performed?

Scan revision surgery is typically performed on an out-patient basis, either in Dr. Glafkides’ office or in a nearby day-surgery center.

Anesthesia and Medication

Local anesthesia can be applied to the skin prior to the procedure, and occasionally sedation is required.

Recovery

There is no recovery period. Most patients return to the work and most normal activities, including moderate exercise, within a few days to 2 weeks following the procedure.

Mole removal

What is a mole?

A mole (melanocytic nevus, also known as "Nevocytic nevus") is a type of lesion containing nevus cells (melanocytes).

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the majority of moles appear during the first two decades of a person’s life, while about one in every 100 babies is born with moles. A mole can be either subdermal (under the skin) or a pigmented growth on the skin, formed mostly of a type of cell known as a melanocyte. The high concentration of the body’s pigmenting agent, melanin, is responsible for their dark color.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the vast majority of moles are benign. Nonetheless, the U.S. National Cancer Institute estimated that 62,480 new cases of melanoma and 8,420 related deaths would appear in the United States in the year 2008, meaning moles should be taken seriously.

How is the mole removed?

First, a diagnosis must be made. If the lesion is a seborrheic keratosis, shave excision, electrodesiccation, or cryosurgery may be performed, usually leaving very little if any scarring. If the lesion is suspected to be a skin cancer, a skin biopsy must be done before considering removal. This is unless an excisional biopsy is warranted. If the lesion is a melanocytic nevus, Dr. Glafkides will decide if it is medically indicated or not.

Where is the procedure performed?

The procedure is typically performed on an out-patient basis in Dr. Glafkides’ office or at a nearby out-patient surgery center.

Anesthesia and Medication

Topical and local anesthesia can be applied to the skin prior to the procedure.

Recovery

There is a minimal recovery period. Most patients return to the work and most normal activities, including moderate exercise, the day after the procedure.

Aging/Dark Spot Removal (Chemical Peel & skin rejuvenation)

What is a chemical peel?

Sun exposure, acne or just getting older can leave your skin tone uneven, wrinkled, spotted or scarred. If you want your skin to look smoother and younger, consider a chemical peel, which uses a chemical solution to smooth the texture of your skin by removing the damaged outer layers.

A chemical peel, also called chemexfoliation or derma peeling, is one of the least invasive ways to improve the appearance of your skin. Although chemical peels are used mostly on the face, they can also be used to improve the skin on your neck and hands. You can improve:

• Acne or acne scars
• Age and liver spots
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Freckles
• Irregular skin pigmentation
• Rough skin and scaly patches
• Scars
• Sun-damaged skin

Where is the procedure performed?

The procedure is typically performed on an out-patient basis in Dr. Glafkides’ office. Dr. Glafkides works with licensed aestheticians who perform skin care therapies.

Anesthesia and Medication

None is necessary.

Recovery

There is no recovery period. Most patients return to the work and most normal activities, including vigorous exercise, the day of the procedure.

Laser Hair Removal

What is laser hair removal?

Laser Hair Removal permanently reduces hair of the underarm, upper lip, cheek, bikini line, or back. We now offer several laser technologies to customize treatment plans for more hair types and densities than ever before.

Laser skin resurfacing for treatment of stretch marks

What is laser laser skin resurfacing for treating stretch marks?

Stretch marks are caused by a breakdown of collagen. Whether from pregnancy or other weight loss, stretch marks resemble scars, with newer stretch marks ranging from red to purple in color and older stretch marks appearing white or almost silver in tone.

While the appearance of stretch marks cannot be totally repaired, they can be diminished with a laser treatment called fractional skin resurfacing. It regenerates skin cells and stimulates collagen to create a more uniform skin surface. A series of fractional resurfacing treatments has been shown to be effective in improving the appearance of stretch marks.

Laser vein removal

What is laser vein removal?

Visible red, blue or purple leg and facial veins can be a result of sun exposure, use of oral contraception, pregnancy, hormone therapy, occupations/activities that require prolonged sitting or standing, age or genetics. It’s estimated that at least half of all women are bothered by this common cosmetic problem — those small clusters of red, blue or purple veins that appear on the thighs, calves and ankles. There are very effective, safe and relatively painless laser treatments available for eradicating spider veins.

In some women, spider veins become noticeable in their early 20s. For others, the veins may not become obvious until they reach their 40s. Men get spider veins, too. However, usually they are concealed by hair growth on the leg.

Laser Tattoo removal

What is laser tattoo removal?

Laser tattoo removal is performed by directing energy toward ink in the skin with highly concentrated colored light beams. These laser beams break up ink particles into tiny fragments later removed naturally by the body's scavenging cells. This process of fragmenting the ink particles requires numerous sessions depending on the depth of the ink level and the number of ink colors. The procedure is bloodless and no incisions are made.

The laser selectively targets the pigment of the tattoo without damaging the surrounding skin. After a number of treatments the unwanted tattoo will be eliminated.

Where are the procedures performed?

Dr. Glafkides works with experienced practitioners who perform these procedures in their offices.