Treatment Frequently Asked Questions
- BOTOX® Cosmetic
- VelaShape™ Cellulite Treatment
- Advanced FotoFacial RF™
- Laser Hair Removal
- ReFirme™
- Smartlipo™
- Juvéderm™
BOTOX® Cosmetic
Q: What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
It is a purified protein administered in a simple, nonsurgical procedure
that temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown
lines between the brows in people aged 18 to 65.
Q: How can I be sure I’m getting real BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Only licensed and trained healthcare professionals have the experience
necessary to administer BOTOX® Cosmetic. Allergan, Inc., the maker of
BOTOX® Cosmetic, is the only source for healthcare professionals to
purchase the product, and each label has the “Allergan” hologram.
Q: How long has BOTOX® been used?
BOTOX® has been used therapeutically for over 15 years to treat a variety of
medical conditions. It is approved in more than 75 countries. BOTOX®
for therapeutic use remains one of the most widely researched medicines
in the world. The same product with dosing specific to glabellar lines
was approved in 2002 as BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Q: What is the difference between BOTOX® Cosmetic and fillers?
Frown lines are caused by overactive facial muscles. Fillers correct the
wrinkle by adding volume around the muscle with intradermal injections.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is intramuscular, blocking the chemicals that cause
facial muscles to contract, thereby relaxing them. While there are many
options available for fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic is the only product of
its type that affects the muscles that cause wrinkles between the brows.
Q: Have patients been happy with their results?
For the past 3 years, BOTOX® Cosmetic was the most popular nonsurgical procedure in United States.
Q: What is the BOTOX® Cosmetic procedure like?
It’s a simple, 10 minute treatment consisting of a few tiny injections. You
may resume normal activity immediately. The healthcare professional
will decide exactly where to administer BOTOX® Cosmetic for best
results.
Q: Is the procedure painful?
It causes little discomfort; most patients compare the sensation to a
small bug bite. Overall, the discomfort is minimal and temporary.
Q: When will I start to see results?
You should start to see a visible improvement in the area within a few days. The area may continue to improve for up to a week.
Q: How long will the results last?
When administered properly, the effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment can last up to 3-4 months.
Q: How will BOTOX® Cosmetic affect my facial expressions?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected in small doses directly into the muscles that
cause those moderate to severe lines, allowing that area to smooth out.
It won’t affect your ability to laugh, smile, or otherwise express
yourself.
Q: Is BOTOX® Cosmetic expensive?
Actually, it’s quite affordable. In fact BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the least
costly facial aesthetic procedures performed in the United States.
Q: How can I find out more about BOTOX® Cosmetic?
You may contact Healing Waters Medical Day Spa 316.262.2995 and schedule a
complimentary consultation with one of our expertly trained medical
professionals.
back to top^
VelaShape™ Cellulite Treatment
Q: How does VelaShape™ improve the appearance of cellulite?
The VelaShape™ laser combines gentle light and radio frequency (RF)
energies with mechanical rollers and vacuum suction to manipulate the
superficial fat tissue layer that contributes to cellulite. The heat
from the light and RF energies increases metabolism of this fatty layer
and shrinks the size of the fat cells. The mechanical rollers and
vacuum suction act on the blood vessels to increase circulation to the
local area, as well as massaging the skin to achieve a smoother, less
dimpled surface appearance.
Q: Is treatment with the VelaShape™ safe?
Treatment is very safe for all skin types I- VI and can even be done on tanned
skin. There are no long-term health hazards from light or RF energies.
VelaShape™ is FDA approved!
Q: What kind of results can I expect from a VelaShape™ treatment?
Gradual improvement of cellulite in treated areas; improved skin surface may be
evident after only 4 treatment sessions. Some but not all clients may
also achieve body contouring benefits and reduction in the
circumferential measurements in treated areas.
Q: How frequently do I need treatments?
The initial series consists of 16 treatment sessions administered twice a
week for 8 weeks. Maintenance treatments are typically done once a
month after the initial series in order to maintain the results
achieved and to continue the improvement process. Each treatment
session is between 30-60minutes long.
Q: Does the treatment hurt?
VelaShape™ treatment is described as a warm, massaging sensation. The mechanical
rollers and vacuum suction “pull up” the skin so there is gentle
stretching of the skin surface as the applicator is passed over the
area.
Q: What happens after each treatment?
The treated area may appear flushed or pink from the heat for a short
while, and may feel warm for several hours after treatment. You can
resume normal activities immediately.
Q: Who should get VelaShape™ treatment for cellulite?
Anyone who wants improvement of the appearance of cellulite on the thighs,
hips, buttocks, abdomen or upper arms. The effects of body contouring
and reduction of girth for some clients may be enhanced by compliance
to healthy lifestyle. Discuss your individual candidacy for treatment
with your medical aesthetic RN.
back to top^
Advanced FotoFacial RF™
Q: How does Advanced FotoFacial RF™ treatment work?
Each pulse of the FotoFacial device sends multiple types of energy into your
skin, intense pulsed visible light (IPL) and/or radio frequency (RF)
energy that act synergistically to enhance the skin. Energy is given up
to brown spots, broken capillaries, and redness to gradually and gently
lessen or eliminate blemishes, discoloration, and unevenness in the
skin. RF produces stimulation of collagen and elastin, the thick under
carpet of the skin, resulting in a noticeable and significant
smoothening of fine to moderate wrinkles and textural irregularities of
the skin.
Q: Is Advanced FotoFacial RF™ laser treatment safe?
Advanced FotoFacial RF™ treatment is a simple office procedure performed by a
physician-trained laser RN. It requires no needles, medications or
surgery.
Q: Who is a candidate for FotoFacial treatment?
Clients who suffer from rosacea, broken capillaries or experience flushing and
redness of the skin. Clients with early signs of aging and sun damage
who desire healthier more youthful appearing skin. Clients who don’t
want to take the time off to heal from a laser resurfacing or chemical
peel. The best candidates for Advanced FotoFacial therapies should not
be significantly tanned at the time of treatment. That means allow your
tan to fade before treatment and avoid tanning for 3-4 weeks after, as
the pigment will absorb some of the pulsed light or laser energy and
may cause a skin reaction of hypo or hyper pigmentation.
Q: What areas can be treated?
Face, neck, décolleté, abdomen, hands and arms.
Q: Is there any downtime?
Following Advanced FotoFacial treatments, there may be a very mild amount of
redness and puffiness to the skin, with some tingling discomfort that
usually disappears in 1-2 hours. You may apply makeup immediately and
return to work or regular activities.
Q: Does it hurt?
This is a very tolerable treatment. Most clients state the laser feels like a light rubber band snapping against their skin.
Q: When can I expect to see results?
You can expect to see a gradual decrease in overall redness, flushing and
dilated capillaries. Client with visible aging can expect to see their
skin become smoother with a decrease in fine wrinkles, reduction in
pore size and fading of sun spots. Many clients with acne see an
improvement in breakouts and acne scarring.
Q: How much does it cost?
Healing Waters FotoFacial series package includes five FotoFacial treatments,
one microdermabrasion treatment and a package of Pure MD™ skin care
products for $1995. Healing Waters offers 0% financing through Care
Credit.
back to top^
Laser Hair Removal
Q: How does laser hair removal work?
Laser hair removal uses laser light to target dark pigment in the hair shaft,
causing damage to the hair follicle and root, while limiting injury to
the surrounding skin. The hair pigment absorbs the laser optical light
and radiofrequency and destroys the follicle. White, gray, blond or
fine hairs may also be destroyed effectively with the Comet laser hair
removal machine.
The target hair must be in the follicle
to absorb the laser energy at the time of treatment, or it is not
affected. Subsequent hair growth in the treated area is the result of
newly active follicles, follicles that were empty, missed hairs, or
changed hairs from previous treatment. The number of treatments needed
will depend upon the amount of hair reduction desired, density of hair,
color of hair and skin, pattern of hair growth, hormonal influences,
and plucking or waxing done before the laser treatment. If hormonal
imbalances or medications are influencing hair growth, maintenance will
be necessary to treat new hair as it appears. Remember, laser can only
remove hair that is presently in the growth cycle per treatment.
Q: How many treatments are required?
Hair grows in cycles, which vary with age, sex, hormonal status, and
location of the hair. Each follicle produces hair in three stages:
growth stage (anagen), transition/shedding stage (catagen) and
shedding/resting stage (telogen). These stages occur at different times
in different follicles in the same area, which makes numerous laser
treatments necessary. Three to six treatments are usually required to
obtain the maximum results.
Q: What side effects may occur post-treatment?
After laser hair removal there may be swelling, crusting, redness, or
discoloration of the skin (hypo or hyperpigmentation). This is usually
transient, and will disappear within days. Follow up instructions
provided must be strictly adhered to for your comfort and protection.
Q: How much does it cost?
Laser hair removal is considered cosmetic and is not covered by insurance.
Each laser hair treatment is separate and will incur separate charges.
Cost depends on area of treatment and can be best determined after a
complimentary consultation with one of our medical professionals.
Q: How do I prepare for my treatment?
Hair should be visible and should not have been plucked or removed from the
follicle for at least 6 weeks prior to treatment. Shaving or clipping
may be done up to two days before treatment. Avoid tanning prior to
treatment.
Q: Am I allowed in the sun post-treatment?
Immediately following the procedure the area may appear red and swollen and may
feel “sunburned”. Avoid tanning or sun exposure for 1 week post
treatment to the area treated.
back to top^
ReFirme™
Q: How does ReFirme™ Skin Tightening work?
The combined bi-polar radio frequency (RF) and light energies of Elõs™
technology precisely heat the dermal tissue within the target treatment
area. This stimulates collagen production and produces a firming effect
in lax skin. Fine wrinkles are reduced, noticeable lifting can be
observed and the texture of your skin becomes smoother and more elastic.
Q: Is ReFirme™ Skin Tightening right for me?
Elõs™ technology enables ReFirme™ Skin Tightening to be a safe and effective
solution for all skin types and there is no-downtime!
Q: When can I expect to see results?
Most patients see gradual and cumulative results throughout the ReFirme™
Skin Tightening treatments. Healing Waters offers ReFirme™ in a series
of five treatments, one treatment every 3-4 weeks. In this series of
treatments clients will also receive a powerful Pure MD anti-wrinkle
serum to be used daily for best results.
Q: Does it hurt?
ReFirme™ is a gentle treatment requiring no downtime. Patients return to normal
activities immediately after the treatment. Simultaneous cooling of the
skin's surface during treatment provides enhanced patient safety and
additional comfort.
Q: How much does it cost?
Many areas may be treated including the eye area, full face, neck and
abdomen. The cost of treatment depends on the area treated. Please set
up a complimentary medical consultation for further evaluation.
back to top^
Smartlipo™ & LipoLite™ Laser Lipolysis
Q: How can I melt fat, lose inches, tighten skin, and recover fast?
Smartlipo™ or LipoLite™ Laser Lipolysis now available at Healing Waters Cosmetic Clinic.
Q: What is Laser Lipolysis?
Many men and women have consistently struggled with losing excess body fat
in order to achieve healthy and aesthetically pleasing lives. Though a
balanced diet paired with regular exercise works for many, still others
see little results despite large amounts of stress and frustration. A
new procedure is now available that is making traditional Liposuction
lose its edge and become less desirable. Smartlipo™ and LipoLite™ are a
revolution in fat removal. Instead of the bulky tubes and uncomfortable
office visits required of traditional liposuction, Smartlipo™ and LipoLite™
utilize smaller instruments and specialized technology to
zap fat cells to contour and reshape areas of the body.
Q: How does it work?
Through a unique laser technology that uses sound energy to literally dissolve
the fat cells on contact. A laser fiber is introduced and inserted into
the skin and into the fat pocket through an incision of 1-2 mm. As the
fiber tip comes in contact with the fat cells it ruptures the cell
membrane and releases the fatty oil from the fat cell. This end product
is then aspirated. A very small percentage is retained, absorbed into
the body, and excreted as waste within 24 hours. The laser coagulates
the underlying vessels due to the hemostatic properties of the laser,
resulting in less bleeding, bruising, trauma and—the best part—less
down time. As an added benefit, the laser will also help tighten your
skin.
Q: Is this procedure safe?
Smartlipo™ and LipoLite™ have been cleared by the FDA for laser-assisted
lipolysis and is safer than traditional liposuction because less
bleeding occurs and there are fewer anesthetic drugs used in the
process.
Q: Does it hurt?
During the procedure, there is no pain. After the local anesthesia has worn
off, it only feels like the aches and pains that follow a vigorous
workout. It has been reported to be less painful than traditional
liposuction.
Q: How do I know if I am a candidate?
Ideal candidates are in good health, close to normal body weight and have
realistic expectations for the results. If the person has areas of fat
that will not respond to diet and exercise, then that person is a
candidate for laser-assisted lipolysis.
Q: Which areas can be treated?
Any areas where there is a pocket of fat such as upper abdomen, lower
abdomen, love handles, inner thighs, outer thighs, arms, back, hips,
male chest, chin.
Q: Is there any downtime, and how soon will I see results?
Patients can typically return to normal activities in two days. Though some
tenderness and discomfort is to be expected, overall the treatment is
very well tolerated. The minimal disruption in patients’ daily
schedules is why most find this procedure very appealing. The results
are instant as fat is being removed. On average your best results can
be seen in 3 months once all incision sites are completely healed and
the inflammatory process has ceased.
Q: Why should I choose Laser Lipolysis over traditional liposuction?
Smartlipo™ and LipoLite™ benefits outweigh traditional liposuction on every aspect! Laser Lipolysis
promotes tissue coagulation, resulting in skin tissue tightening,
minimal swelling and bruising. No general anesthesia is required which
means less risk and quicker recovery.
Q: How much does it cost, and is there financing available?
Prices start at $1800 per area. If treating multiple areas at one time, price
breaks are available. Please speak to your respective aesthetic RN for
details. Financing is available through CareCredit at 0% interest.
Q: What happens on the day of the procedure?
Prior to the day of your actual procedure you will need to schedule a
consultation appointment with one of our licensed and trained medical
staff members. During your consultation you will discuss your goals and expectations. You will also need to
share your medical history and other relevant information. You will be
informed about the realistic results you can expect based on your
initial body state.
During your procedure, the surgeon or
physician will begin by filling the procedure area with a saline
solution mixed with numbing drugs. This solution helps numb the site
and shrink blood vessels. The laser is inserted into the skin and heats
the fat cells to 45 degrees centigrade, resulting in a breakdown of
membranes and the release of liquid fat. A small incision is made in
the area, and small cannulas (tiny tubes) are inserted to suck out the
dissolved fat cells. A pressure garment is placed over the procedure
area for one to three days.
Q: How many treatments are required?
For most patients, typically only one treatment is required. The session
may last from 45 minutes to one hour for each area treated. Smartlipo™ and LipoLite™ are also an ideal choice for “touch-ups” and revisions for previous
liposuction treatments.
Q: Are the results permanent?
Yes! Laser Lipolysis permanently destroys the treated fat cells.
Adults do not create new fat cells. When a person gains weight, that
person’s existing fat cells simply expand. Should you gain weight, that
fat will most likely be deposited in areas where the procedure was not
performed.
back to top^
Juvéderm™
Wrinkles and Aging
Q: How are wrinkles corrected?
The appearance of wrinkles and facial folds can be smoothed by adding
volume underneath and bringing the skin back up to the surface.
Generally, this is done by injecting materials called "dermal fillers"
into the skin, to achieve a temporary effect.
Q: What is a dermal filler?
Dermal fillers are compounds that can be safely injected below the surface to
raise the level of the skin. Examples of dermal fillers are collagen
and hyaluronic acid.
Q: What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural complex sugar found in all mammals. It's a major
component of the dermis connective tissue matrix. HA retains water like
a sponge, absorbing more than 1000 times its weight. This helps to
attract and maintain water, hydrating your skin and increasing its
volume and density. HA is also involved with the transport of essential
nutrients to the skin's viable cells.
Juvéderm™ Injectable Gel
Q: What is Juvéderm™?
Juvéderm™ injectable gel is a family of hyaluronic acid from Allergan, Inc. for
the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.
Juvéderm™ Ultra injectable gel is optimally formulated for versatility in contouring and volumizing wrinkles and folds.
Juvéderm™ Ultra Plus injectable gel is a robust formulation for volumizing and correcting deeper wrinkles and folds.
Q: How is Juvéderm™ different from other fillers?
Juvéderm™ injectable gel is produced through HYLACROSS technology, cross-linking
high concentrations of HA and still maintaining a smooth product.
During the cross-linking phase of manufacturing, hyaluronic acid chains are
"tied" to each other by chemical bonding; in effect, interconnecting
many strands of HA. Unless hyaluronic acid is cross-linked, it will be
absorbed by the body and persist for only about a week.
HYLACROSS
technology results in a smooth-consistency gel, which is a primary
factor in the smooth, natural look and feel that is a hallmark of
Juvéderm™ injectable gel wrinkle correction.
Treatment
Q: What happens before treatment with Juvéderm™?
The first step is to set up a complimentary consultation with our certified
and experienced healthcare professional. During your consultation your
healthcare professional will assess your facial wrinkles and folds and
determine if treatment with Juvéderm™ is appropriate for you.
Q: Can this be done in the office?
Yes, wrinkle correction with Juvéderm™ is an in-office procedure.
Q: What happens during treatment with Juvéderm™?
You will sign a consent form for Juvéderm™. Topical anesthesia or nerve
block are options you may discuss with your healthcare professional to
help minimize any discomfort.
Q: How long does treatment with Juvéderm™ take?
It generally takes about 30 to 45 minutes for treatment.
Q: What happens after treatment with Juvéderm™?
Your healthcare professional will review with you what to expect following
treatment with Juvéderm™ and you will be sent home with details for
homecare instructions.
Generally, you should avoid the following for at least 24 hours:
Strenuous exercise
Consumption of alcoholic beverages
Extended exposure to sun or heat
Exposure to any of the above may cause temporary redness, swelling, and/or
itching at the injection sites. If you have any swelling at the
injection site, you may apply ice pack for a brief period. Make-up may
be applied post treatment.
Remember that correction is
temporary and touch-up injections as well as repeat injections are
usually needed to maintain optimal correction with any dermal filler,
including Juvéderm™.
Q: How long does Juvéderm™ last?
Treatment with Juvéderm™ lasts 9-12 months.
back to top^
|