Facial fillers and the COVID vaccine

First off, it’s not usual to have a reaction to a vaccine. Any vaccine. There’s nothing special about the COVID vaccine in that respect. The preservatives used in vaccines, such as polyethylene glycol (PGE)(used in skin creams and other self care products) can cause a reaction in some people. Typically recipients that are already susceptible to allergic reactions for one reason or another.

In fact, many documented cases of allergic reactions to the vaccine, facial filler patients or otherwise, were consumers that carry an EpiPen because of their risk of having an allergic reaction. That should tell you something about their innate susceptibility to allergens in general. This is different than the vast majority of the population.

Currently, the theory is that people who have had facial fillers, that can contain PGE, develop antibodies to PGE and once they receive the vaccine, which also contains PGE, their immune response “attacks” the fillers, causing facial swelling. For the record, this attack by the immune system is actually a good sign you have a strong, appropriately reacting immune response.

What happens to facial filler patients that have a reaction to the vaccine?

So for those people that have a reaction to the PGE in a vaccine, they have have facial or lip swelling in the area of the facial fillers. But that’s it. The reaction is easily treated with antihistamines like Benadryl, Claritin or Allegra. Oral or an injectable steroid will help tamp down the reaction as well.

The important thing to remember is that no one has had a serious reaction in the case of facial fillers. So if you’ve had facial fillers and are considering not getting the vaccine, please reconsider. This is a risk – benefit decision. And the benefit of getting the vaccine and avoiding an active COVID infection far outweighs the risk of have some facial swelling after facial fillers.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post Facial fillers and the COVID vaccine first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Until several years ago, lip fillers were the main option for lip augmentation. But now you have a choice.

Lip implants vs fillers

Lip fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, the same gel in your joints. Fillers like Juvederm, Restylane or Belotero can define your Cupid’s bow and fill the lips. But they typically require retreatment every 6 months. Using your own fat is also an option but that requires a trip to the operating room.

If that’s too much effort, then implants, made of silicone may be the answer for you. These silicone-based lip implants provide symmetry and fullness in an accurate way that may not always be possible with fillers.  And best of all, they’re permanent!

These devices can be implanted under local anesthesia. As the news story above suggests, the procedure is available as a lunch-time treatment. After the numbness wears off, you’ll have pain but this is treatable with moderate strength pain medication.

But don’t worry about leakage from these implants. These implants are like a gummy bear and don’t contain a liquid silicone. They’re safe and available in 3 different lengths and 3 different widths. You can learn more about pricing and these implants in general by clicking here.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post All you need to know about lip implants first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

When it comes to fillers, there are a couple drawbacks (but they don’t outweigh the benefits!). Pain and bruising. For those not aware, injecting fillers can be more painful because of the thickness of the material. Compare that to XEOMIN®, which has the consistency of water, and therefore doesn’t hurt “going in.”

But fillers don’t have to hurt with the help of a dental block as I’ve written about here. Aside from pain, there’s also a way to minimize bruising when injecting fillers like Radiesse or Belotero (or Restylane or Juvederm for that matter).

How to minimize bruising when injecting fillers

The single most effective way to minimize bruising is avoiding what causes bruising. And that’s need sticks. The more needle sticks into the face, the greater the chance of hitting a blood vessel and therefore the greater chance of creating a bruise. Reduce needle sticks, reduce bruising. Makes perfect sense, right?

However, it may not be obvious how to go about providing a full correction to someone’s hollow eyes, under-projecting cheek bones or deep parentheses lines without creating a lot of punctures into the skin. The answer? Good planning and blunt cannulas.

As you can see in the diagram above, you can either treat all three of the aforementioned areas with many needle sticks (image on the left). Or you can use the blunt cannula and inject all of those areas with only two needle sticks (image to the right)! The choice is obvious. The video below shows how a dental block and blunt cannula can also be used for lip fillers, making the experience much better for the patient.

Video using the blunt cannula to plump up the lips

Seek out a practitioner that is competent in using a dental block and blunt cannula. Less bruising and less painful. Unless that doesn’t sound appealing to you!

To check pricing on filler injections from Dr. Kaplan, click here.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post Injecting fillers with a dental block and blunt cannula to minimize pain and bruising [video] first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Do patients actually want duck lips?!

I don’t believe patients want duck lips. They end up with the overly filled augmented “lip look” because they lose perspective. Perspective of their baseline. Here’s what I mean.

A patient goes in to see their doctor because they’re unhappy with the appearance of their lips. Maybe they want a fuller upper or lower, or more typically, fuller upper and lower lips. They get a syringe injection and look great. But then they get used to that appearance over the next 6 to 12 months. As the filler dissolves, they notice their lip volume is decreasing.

However, the situation begs the question: Are their lips really smaller or maybe they’ve become used to their appearance and don’t recognize how the lips are larger than what they started with. So they go back to their doctor and ask for more. The problem is they’re no longer volumizing their lips in step-wise fashion from their original state. They now have a newly “recalibrated” baseline and their perspective is altered.

In other words, if the patient’s original baseline is assigned the value of zero, their first injection took them to a 1. As they become accustomed to this new appearance, that 1 recedes back to a zero in their mind. When they go back and get more filler they think they’re again going from a zero to a 1 when in fact they’re going from a 1 to a 2. After treatment, the ‘2’ becomes their new zero, so when they go back in to get additional filler, the injection brings them up to a 3 and now they have duck lips! Hopefully this numeric analogy makes sense.

Lip Augmentation with Filler Video

The best way to avoid this problem is by documenting your baseline with a photo before the first treatment. When you return for your second treatment, review that baseline photo with your doctor before getting a 2nd treatment. Maybe you only need a small touchup, but not the whole syringe. Regardless, you now have the correct perspective, thereby walking out of the office without those enigmatic duck lips!

To check pricing on lip augmentation and other fillers from Dr. Kaplan, click here.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Jonathan Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post How to avoid duck lips with lip filler [video] first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Fillers have been on the market for years, and surgeons have refined their techniques, so there’s no reason to overdo lip augmentation. The purpose of most cosmetic procedures is to restore self-confidence and a youthful, revitalized appearance. The best cosmetic surgery is invisible, meaning your friends and family never notice you had work done. They just think you look relaxed, healthy, and at the top of your game. But being at the top of your game doesn’t mean having over-inflated lips. An experienced plastic surgeon can help you get more voluptuous lips or accent your upper lip’s “cupid’s bow” without giving you duck lips.

No duck lips here!

What Is Lip Augmentation?

Some people are unhappy with the way their lips appear and wish to have a fuller smile or alter the shape. Lip augmentation is an excellent way to achieve this. There are two options for lip augmentation: permanent lip implants or lip injections. Lip injections work by injecting a filler like Juvederm, Belotero, or Restylane to make the lips look fuller.

Like other filler treatments, these will deflate over time, so you’ll need to repeat the treatment every six months or at least once a year. This option is terrific for those concerned about plastic surgery prices or aren’t sure they’ll like the final look. The other option, lip implants, is a permanent solution for those who wish to avoid frequent trips to the doctor. These solid silicone implants require a short surgery, but they last much longer than the injections.

Book a Consultation with Dr. Kaplan

Avoid Duck Lips with Dr. Kaplan

If you want to go the route of lip injections, it’s essential you work with an experienced and knowledgeable plastic surgeon like Dr. Kaplan to avoid the possibility of duck lips or otherwise misshapen lips. Contact Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation and learn whether lip injections or a lip implant is the better option for you.

To check pricing on lip augmentation with fillers or fat from Dr. Kaplan, click here.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Jonathan Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post What Is Lip Augmentation & How Do You Avoid Duck Lips? first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Botox® has been around for years, and every year increases in popularity. It’s become so popular that most people have heard of it, whether on TV, from friends, or in a magazine. However, not everyone understands precisely what the procedure entails. A common question that plastic surgeons receive from new patients is “How does Botox® work?” Many people falsely believe it works in a similar way to dermal fillers like Restylane or Juvederm, but Botox® is a unique treatment.

How Do Wrinkles Form?

Several types of lines and wrinkles can form on the skin. Repeated muscle contraction causes a common type of lines and wrinkles as we age. Facial muscles contract when you smile, frown, or squint your eyes, causing the skin sitting on top of the muscle to fold over, eventually forming a wrinkle or line. These facial muscle contractions cause all the creases you have on your forehead, on the nasal bridge between your eyes, and at the corners of your eyes.

Botox® Basics

Botox® is a purified protein that when injected directly into the muscle, it blocks the signals that your nerves send to that muscle to tell it to contract. Since the muscle can no longer receive those signals, it stays relaxed, causing the wrinkles and lines to disappear. Although many people think of Botox® as filling in the spaces between their wrinkles, it instead stops the wrinkles from forming. This is what makes it such an excellent anti-aging tool.

However, Botox® doesn’t stop the wrinkles from forming forever. One of the first questions many patients ask their plastic surgeon is “How long does Botox® last?” While each person’s results differ slightly, most treatments last between three and six months. When you start to notice the feeling returning to the treatment area, it’s time to schedule your next appointment for Botox® in San Francisco.

Find Out More About Botox With Dr. Kaplan

Schedule Your Botox® Treatment Today

For those interested in a more youthful, supple appearance, Botox® is a quick, safe, and effective treatment method. If you’d like to learn more information about how it works and why, call or text Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery today at 415-923-3005 to set up a consultation and start on your journey to a rejuvenated, wrinkle-free complexion. You can also book online here!

The post How Does Botox® Work? first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.