Natural or Plastic-depends on your injector

Cosmetic medicine is not a rocket science, anybody can learn how to do it. Aging and proportions of the face is a science however, and not everyone who injects knows it. Taste and aesthetics you can't acquire, it's something you either have or you don't.

As a patient it's hard to know exactly what you need or even want-so many products, so many procedures, what is the best for you? You have to rely on your cosmetic provider to give you advice and guidance in the exciting (and very addictive!) world of cosmetic medicine. You are lucky if you found an honest person who doesn't look at you as their next paycheck and the only way to find someone like that is a word of mouth.

My clientelle is largely people who want to look fresh and young, but not "done". Most people report compliments like "You look amazing! You look rested" or "Did you just come back from vacation?" The formula that works for my patients is a good brow lift with Botox for the rested look, a smidge of Botox in the forehead just for relaxation, no "smooth as a skating rink" look with me. Round youthful contour of the cheeks and cheekbones that hold the face in place, and touches of Sculptra here and there to maintain the contour of the face that you used to have years ago. Hyaluronic acid I reserve only for erasing fine lines around the lips, outlining contour of the lips and "the puff"-"kissed all night" look I call it, not "adult film star" plump. Depressions under eyes respond well to hyaluronic acid too, and here less is more as well.

Patients who want either perfection or the fake look I tend to talk out of it or refer out-reputation takes a long time to build and a lifetime to maintain.

We've all seen the overdone look, both on TV and around us. I personally think it looks forced, desperate, and sad-not young. So if you want to look yourself, but just a better younger version of yourself-I'm your girl!

New Technique May Improve Nose Shaping!

At the recent American Society of Plastic Surgeons meeting Dr.Erol from Turkey described using diced cartilage from nasal septum to fill in small defects. He designed a special syringe to faclitate the injection.
His presentation was welcomed very warmly and even Dr.Stuzin (the author of many books on techniques in Plastic Surgery) commented that this could become a golden standard for many patients, especially those suffering from overresection during surgery and asymmetry (common side effects of rhinoplasty).
Meanwhile my "golden standard" is still doing a trial run with hyaluronic acid which is extremely safe and is dissolvable, and then discussing options to replace it with permanent product.
I'm still not a fan of Artecoll as it's bovine collagen and can cause allergic reaction, but I might be able to offer Silikon 1000 some day.

On importance of being authentic (your Botox, that is)

I figured out the formula of good luck in life and in business a long time ago: treat people the way you want to be treated. Be honest, don't steal of lie-it will always be uncovered and you really steal from yourself. Don't fixate on  money-the more you worry about it, the less you have. Focus on people instead and do the best you can.
I was cleaning up my office the other day and filing all the numerous charts. Looking through familiar names of my patients I felt so lucky to have so many of you who followed me from the time I've started the business! A lot of you are good friends, I am looking forward to seing you, catching up, learning from your life experiences and sharing mine.
Another pile (thankfully a smaller one!) was charts of patients that I have seen once or twice and never heard from again. Of course it's me!-I am quite self-centered so this explanation certainly fits. But I have heard from few who switched to someone who offered a "deal" on the internet, and then to someone else, and some even came back to me complaining that it was never as good as it was with me (very flattered!).
What I really wanted to write about is the importance of knowing who are you going to and, most importantly, what products are they using? True, most of the procedures are safe and even reversible, and even if you don't like the results they WILL ALWAYS go away! But next time you see the deal for Botox that is less than a product cost ask yourself why is somebody doing it? And where was the product purchased.

         "Instead of Botox"? :)

Just the other week I was contacted by a US company promising huge savings on products. What's the catch?-I asked. No catch, they all are made by same companies, like Allergan and Merz, only they are made in Canada. -Well, can you give me a written proof what is in the product and which physicians are using them in Boston? -No, I can't do that. 
Remeber my "formula of success"? So, I always say no to "attractive deals" like that. But what if some people don't? There are so many providers who offer injectable services today: dentists, ob/gyns, primary care physicians, anesthesiologists, even pediatricians.. for many it becomes another avenue of income and it is very tempting to make more so easily.
So be smart and be alert! And for my loyal patients I always have "frequent flyer deals", just subscribe to my monthly newsletter and blog!