She had a filler called Sculptra that helps rebuild collagen injected into her face. Sherrie Wieczorek is having the same procedure to plump her face, and it costs about $1,000 per vial.
"It does take a course of several injections to get the ideal result with Sculptra, but the up side is that we get a several-year result," said Dr. Clifford P. Clark III.
Sherrie is also getting a broadband light treatment to remove brown spots. It costs $350 or more per session and results take several sessions.
"I'm hoping to get rid of all the freckles on my chest," she said.
Clark explained how the procedure works.
"Certain wavelengths of light then go through the outer layers of skin and are absorbed by the brown spots and the red spots," he said.
Roxanne Faison is also hoping to turn back the clock with Dysport, which is a drug similar to Botox.
"I'm getting close to 60 and would like to look a little more refreshed," Faison said.
Dysport works by paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles. Like Botox, Dysport injections last three to four months but are a third of the cost.
For Linda, the results speak for themselves.
Web extra information:
BACKGROUND: Scientists are constantly looking for the latest anti-aging treatments. More consumers are looking for an alternative to invasive and expensive procedures. Current trends in anti-aging treatments show patients want procedures with little or no recovery time and less expensive procedures that result in a more natural look. Three new anti-aging treatments have recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
SCULPTRA AESTHETIC: Sculptra is an injectable poly-L-lactic acid used to correct smile lines, contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles by replacing collagen. The product offers natural-looking results that can last for up to two years. In a study of a randomly selected group of patients, Sculptra was effective in correcting some of the primary signs of facial aging. The main ingredient is a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic material that has been used by physicians for decades. Common, short-term reactions to the injections were bleeding, tenderness, pain, redness, swelling, bruising and itching. Other adverse effects that were found during trials were mild and moderate bumps and lumps, which were typically resolved without treatment.
BROADBAND LIGHT: Broadband Light is a powerful light-based technology that targets melanin and hemoglobin and stimulates the formation of collagen and elastin. Broadband Light is a non-invasive procedure that uses innovative technology to treat skin conditions associated with aging, active lifestyles and sun-damage. During treatment, Broadband Light energy heats the upper layers of the skin. The treated areas absorb the heat, which stimulates new collagen production and gives skin a firmer, smoother appearance. At the same time, photo-thermal energy reduces redness, age spots, freckles and other types of unwanted pigmentation. Immediately following treatment, patients may experience slight to moderate redness. Temporary darkness in pigmentation and flakiness may last for up to two weeks after the procedure.
DYSPORT: Dysport is an acetylcholine release inhibitor and a neuromuscular blocking agent that has been approved for both therapeutic and aesthetic uses. The product is used to treat cervical dystonia, which is a condition that causes facial spasms. It also temporarily improves the appearance of wrinkles. Dysport temporarily relaxes or paralyzes the muscles in the face that cause expressions and result in visible facial lines and deep creases. The product is injected around expression lines and gives the patient's face a more relaxed and youthful appearance. Dysport is different from other botulinum toxin products, like Botox, because its solution is lower in concentration, has a faster onset, is less expensive and requires fewer injections. However, the less concentrated solution may cause the toxin to spread more easily to other areas away from the injection site. Spreading can be avoided if the treatment is performed by an experienced professional. The most common side effects of using Dysport to treat wrinkles are nose and throat irritation, headache, pain at the injection site, upper respiratory tract infection, eyelid swelling, eyelid drooping, sinus inflammation and nausea.
