KYBELLA® – FOCUS ON YOUR DOUBLE CHIN

Something very exciting happened in the spring of 2015. A new product called KYBELLA® (injectable deoxycholic acid) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of mild to moderate convexity or fullness associated with submental fat. This was a huge step forward for a nonsurgical treatment of what most of us call a double chin.

Traditionally, treatment of this area involved surgery or liposuction with associated downtime from the procedure. With KYBELLA®, this area can be treated in an office setting with multiple safe small injections.

Submental fat (double chin) affects both men and women. When you look at yourself in a mirror, you know whether or not you have a problem. It can be the result of normal aging, family genetics and/or weight gain. It is usually resistant to diet and exercise. If you feel you look heavier or older than you are because of your double chin, KYBELLA® may be right for you.

Q. What is KYBELLA®?
A. KYBELLA® is deoxycholic acid which is a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps digest dietary fat.

Q. How does it work?
A. KYBELLA® causes the destruction of fat cells. Once they are damaged, these fat cells release the stored fat and cannot refill with new fat. The fat released from a cell is cleared from your body by your natural metabolism.

Q. How is a treatment performed?
A. KYBELLA® is injected into the submental fat. There is some discomfort felt during the administration of the product. The area is usually pretreated with a topical numbing agent and with an ice pack during and after a treatment for any discomfort. In addition, OTC analgesics may be used before or after a treatment.

Q. Is one treatment enough?
A. In the FDA study for approval of KYBELLA®, patients had from one to six treatments. Specifically, 28% showed improvement after two treatments, 43% showed improvement after three treatments, 55% showed improvement after four treatments and 59% showed improvement after six treatments. Once a desired result is achieved, a no further treatments are expected.

Q. If several treatments are needed to achieve desired results, how close should they be done?
A. Multiple KYBELLA® treatments would be spaced with a minimum of six to eight weeks between treatments. A comprehensive treatment plan may be spread out over months. Since it is not expected to have results reverse, one could do treatments at the times most opportune and convenient so as not to interfere in day to day activities.

Q. Were patients satisfied with their results?
A. 68% of patients treated with KYBELLA® responded to the treatments, and 79% were satisfied with their results.

Q. Were there adverse reactions?
A. Yes, transient minor adverse reactions did occur in a minority of treated patients. These were most commonly edema/swelling, hematoma/bruising, pain, numbness, erythema and induration. Of all adverse reactions reported in the study most were mild to moderate. The most severe side effects were trouble swallowing seen in 2% of treated patients and temporary nerve injury in the jaw that caused an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness in 4% of treated patients.

Q. What should be expected during the healing time after a treatment?
A. There will be several days of soreness, and there can be several weeks of numbness in the injected area. These reactions should resolve spontaneously and need nothing stronger than OTC analgesics for discomfort. There will be swelling in the injected area, so social and work commitments should be thought of before doing a treatment. A scarf or turtleneck sweater will cover most redness or swelling.

Q. What does a treatment cost?
A. Depending on how much KYBELLA® you need in a treatment, your cost may range from $1000 to $1500 on average. Remember you may need more than one treatment. However, weigh the cost of an office based injection treatment versus a surgical procedure that might involve anesthesia, surgeon fees and loss of income due to downtime. If the pros of a non-invasive treatment for the aesthetic improvement of your double chin outweigh the costs, risks and downtime of a surgical procedure, KYBELLA® may be right for you.

If you would like to know more about KYBELLA® and discuss whether or not you are a potential candidate for a treatment, please contact Zavier at 602-296-4477 or email us at customerservice@willomedispa.com to schedule a Complimentary Consultation. Willo MediSpa located in Central Phoenix at 201 E. Monterey Way, Phoenix, AZ 85012.

Written By:
Dr. Nello Rossi – Willo MediSpa

Phone: (602) 296-4477
Email: CustomerService@WilloMediSpa.com
Website: https://www.willomedispa.com/

Office Hours

Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 4pm – 6pm
Wednesday – Friday: 12pm – 6pm
Saturday: 12pm – 4pm

START REJUVENATING EARLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

It’s the end of summer and fall will be here soon. If you are like me, it’s time to start thinking about the Holidays. It seems they sneak up faster and faster every year. We’ve already made party plans, purchased airline tickets and made hotel reservations that will allow us to enjoy time with our families and friends.

Now is a good time to start rejuvenating yourself for all the parties and pictures that are on the horizon. Some rejuvenation processes take longer than others and most need time to take effect. I’d like to make a few suggestions on what and when you might think about getting started.

Skincare takes the longest time to show changes. With summer ending and fall starting, it’s a good time to begin getting your facial skin into shape. Starting a good skincare regimen now will give the products time to reverse some of the sun damage, dry skin, rough texture, wrinkles and pigmentation that might have developed over the summer. It can take several months using medical grade skincare products such as SKINMEDICA® and NEOVA® to work their magic. Corrective chemical peels need to be spaced at least a month apart. With an occasional microdermabrasion and a few chemical peels along with a good skincare regimen your face will be glowing in time for Thanksgiving.

If you want to accent your eyes with fuller, longer, darker eyelashes, start using LATISSE® now. Though most patients see changes to their lashes within a few weeks, Allergan recommends nightly use for up to 16 weeks for a maximum effect. Once the effect you want is reached, most can maintain their lashes by applying LATISSE® less often.

Plan your BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments. Does your BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment last 3 to 4 months? Do you have parties and events early in the Holiday season? Will you be traveling out of town for some of the Holidays? If yes to these questions, think about getting your treatment several weeks in advance of an event or traveling. It can take up to two weeks to see the full effect from a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, and sometimes a touch-up is needed. Give yourself enough time to make sure you get the effect you want from the treatment.

If you feel that you are looking tired and haggard, think about dermal fillers. To give yourself a more youthful appearance, think about cheek augmentation with JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC or RADIESSE® (+). Both products help restore the volume loss that can occur from a normal aging process in the mid-face, but JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC is rated as a two year product. Re-contouring your cheeks will highlight your eye area as well. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC or RADIESSE® (+) can also be used to reshape the chin and pre-jowl area.

JUVÉDERM® ULTRA XC or JUVÉDERM® ULTRA PLUS XC can be used to reshape your lips, fill in your nasolabial folds and eliminate your marionette lines. These signs of aging can be reversed for a year or longer with these dermal fillers. As there can be bruising associated with dermal filler use, it would be recommended to give yourself enough time for any healing process to be finished before an event. Also remember that pre-treating with arnica and avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen for several days before a treatment with any dermal filler may decrease bruising that could occur. If a bruise does occur, bromelain capsules may help it dissipate quicker.

One last area to think about rejuvenating is the back of your hands. If you have taken the effort to turn back time on your face, don’t let your hands give you away. RADIESSE® (+) received FDA approval this year for rejuvenating the dorsal surface of the hands – commonly referred to as the back of the hands. It is a quick and simple procedure and decreases the appearance of the tendons and veins that are seen on aging hands.

I hope this gives you something to think about doing for yourself to prepare for the Holiday season and some sense of a timeframe in which to do them. Please contact me if you have any questions or want more information on any of the treatments or procedures. I can be reached by email at customerservice@willomedispa.com, by phone at 602-296-4477 or come in for a Complimentary Consultation at Willo MediSpa, 201 E. Monterey Way, Phoenix, AZ 85012.

Written By:
Dr. Nello Rossi – Willo MediSpa

Phone: (602) 296-4477
Email: CustomerService@WilloMediSpa.com
Website: https://www.willomedispa.com/

Office Hours

Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 4pm – 6pm
Wednesday – Friday: 12pm – 6pm
Saturday: 12pm – 4pm

The Aesthetic Consult at Willo MediSpa

I have an old sofa. My grandparents bought it in the 1930’s. I inherited it when my grandmother passed in 1984. It has a lot of Rossi history, and I can never part with it. It was covered with heavy red brocade when I received it and had crocheted anti-lathams on the arms and across the head rest area. My dilemma was what to do with it to make it fit in with me.

The analogy of the sofa works for how we look at ourselves. We can’t get rid of our face, but what can we do to enhance what we like and improve upon what we don’t? For my sofa, it was a matter of having it repadded and recovered with leather. During an aesthetic consult for your face at Willo MediSpa, there are several topics and options to discuss.

I always ask my patients what bothers them the most about their face. I think it is important to understand how patients perceive themselves and what priority they place on what they want to change. I need to see them through their eyes. This helps me make suggestions and discuss treatment options that address their concerns. Most of my patients want a softer, relaxed or refreshed look and not look like they went through an extreme make over.

Botox® Cosmetic Treatments

One topic to discuss concerns the dynamic and static wrinkles. Look in the mirror. Do you see wrinkles that you don’t like when you make facial expressions? Do you see wrinkles that are permanent without facial expressions? Botox® can lessen the wrinkles that are formed by the contraction of the muscles of the face. The usual areas for Botox® treatments are the glabellar area – the 1s, 11s, or 111s – that form between your eyebrows and make you look angry, the crow’s feet around your eyes that make you look old and the lines across your forehead that look like a pack of hot dogs. Not only will an adequate treatment of Botox® improve these areas, but several treatments over time may almost eliminate deep static wrinkles.

Botox® can also be used in the chin to soften an orange peel dimpling that can occur, around the mouth to soften perioral or smokers lines and to turn up the oral commisures or corners of the mouth, under the eyes to give a rounder more open look, around the nose to soften bunny lines, along the jaw line to soften the masseter muscle, and in the platysma bands in the neck to smooth the ropey appearing muscles that can appear.

Juvéderm® XC Treatments

Another topic to consider is facial volume loss. Look in the mirror. Do you see three chevrons developing on your face making you look old and gaunt? These are caused by volume loss of the underlying tissues as we age. The first chevron is the hollows in your cheeks under your eyes caused by a receding fat pad and bone resorption. The second chevron runs between your nose and mouth and is often called the parenthesis lines. The third chevron starts at the corners of your mouth and runs down towards your chin. All three can be corrected and softened using injectable dermal fillers.

Juvéderm® Ultra XC is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler that I use for areas needing less lift and more of a smoothing effect under the skin. It works well on most women’s faces for nasolabial folds, lips, glabellar and marionette lines and chin creases. Juvéderm® Ultra Plus XC is a more viscous hyaluronic acid dermal filler and is used where more correction is needed such as on deep nasolabial folds, deep marionette lines and with heavier skin such as men have. Juvéderm Voluma™ XC is a heavy hyaluronic acid FDA approved for age related mid-face volume loss. This product is injected periostially for the deep lift needed to correct cheek hollows and can also be used in the chin and pre-jowl areas.

SkinMedica® Skin Care Treatments

The third topic to consider is the overall appearance of the facial skin. Look in the mirror. Is your skin glowing and radiant, or do you have issues with fine lines, pigmentation, dry or oily or flat and dull skin? Going back to my analogy of the sofa, why fix the padding if you don’t repair the covering. A good home regimen and an occasional microdermabrasion or chemical peel can improve and correct your skin issues and help you to maintain youthful radiant skin. I recommend SkinMedica® skin care products and chemical peels. Their GRASS method will help you select the right products for your skin type and condition. They recommend products with growth factors, antioxidants, sunscreens and nightly retinols. Specialty products are used for various concerns as needed. We also have additional skin care products from Neova® to help with special skin conditions.

Latisse® Eyelash Treatments

The last topic to discuss is eyelash growth. Look in the mirror. Do your eyelashes enhance your eyes? Men usually don’t care how their eyelashes appear, but they notice women with long butterfly lashes and women like to be noticed for their lashes. Latisse® Eyelash Treatments are FDA approved for making your lashes grow longer, thicker and darker. It is an enhancement that highlights your eyes and makes them sparkle.

These are the topics I discuss with a patient who would like an aesthetic consult with me at Willo MediSpa. Often there are several concerns a patient would like to work on. It is not uncommon to create a plan that may start with one treatment modality and lead to another at a later time. There are times when what a patient is looking for is not something that can be achieved without surgery. Some treatments are less expensive than others. A plan that meets your goals and fits your pocket book is the best. Another point to remember is that aesthetic corrections need to be maintained. Periodic treatments to refresh your improvements are the norm.

I hope this has given you an insight on the topics I discuss in my aesthetic consult with you at Willo MediSpa. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Written By:
Dr. Nello Rossi – Willo MediSpa

Phone: (602) 296-4477
Email: CustomerService@WilloMediSpa.com
Website: https://www.willomedispa.com/

Office Hours

Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 4pm – 6pm
Wednesday – Friday: 12pm – 6pm
Saturday: 12pm – 4pm