NOTICE: Ask Dr. Garcia is intended for educational and discussion purposes only. It does not constitute a formal medical evaluation nor consultation. No doctor-patient relationship has been formalized by this communication. If you desire such, please feel free to call and schedule an appointment. Otherwise, please be advised that all information that has been given here should be cleared with your primary care physician before changing or instituting any therapy. Explanation of off-label use of substances may be discussed here in but does not reflect an endorsement nor promotion of such off-label use.

Jump to Page: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 

• What filler would be best to fill deep forehead wrinkles? Would it last long enough to be worth the time and money? Thanks

  Answer:  Most likely will last 2-3 months, I would use Restlane. JG 2.4.11

• Thanks for your answer to my question about how long it takes for Sculptra to take effect. You mention that I should wait to see if I respond at all before proceeding. Is it common for this product not to work on some people? If so, whom? I was under the impression that it worked really, really well. (I`m 48 years old, by the way.) Thank you for your help, Dr. Garcia.

  Answer:  no, it works on almost all, bu tif you see how much you got from one bottle, you can then guesstimate how much you might need and then make a decision whether the money is worth it for you.The younger you are the better it works, I have patients in their 70`s though who get great results. JG 2.2.12

• When starting supplements, how many weeks should be given to the effort before results can be realistically expected? Thank you!

  Answer:  Usually 3 months. JG 2.1.12

• My PS told me that most of his patients begin to see the inflammatory response from Sculptra about 2 weeks after the injection. I`m a little past the two week point and see absolutely nothing yet. When do you think I`ll begin to see a bit of a change? I know it continues to develop for about 4-6 months and then starts to degrade, so he suggests overlapping the remaining two injections (for a total three injections of 6 vials) about every 10-12 weeks so that the final injection of the last 2 vials happens when the first two vials are beginning to degrade. He predicts that I`ll need to start all over again in about 16 months. Does this all seem right to you, Dr. Garcia? (Gosh, this is an expensive undertaking. Wish it lasted longer!) Thank you!

  Answer:  Sounds like he wants you to buy some more, although some growth might start in two weeks, it will not become clinically visble for 4-6 weeks. I would wait two months to see what you have going on and then maybe consider more. If you do not see anything, I would wait 4-6 months to see if more is worth it. i would not buy more untill you know it is going to work for you. JG 2.1.12

• Thank you for this website and thank you for your response to my question of 1/27. I was curious, though, as to why you felt message would not help dissolve Juvederm under the eyes. Isn`t movement the reason it doesn`t last in the nasio-labio fold and marrionette lines???

  Answer:  It is the muscle contraction more than random massage, but no harm in trying. JG 1.31.12

• Oh, one more question about the deflated lips: About how much product do you yourself usually inject into deflated lips to achieve moderate fullness? 1 ml? less? 2 ml? (I`m 55 and thin-skinned, white, non-smoker.) I ask because I wonder if I may not have been injected with enough last time. Thanks again!

  Answer:  I rarely use more than 1cc of filler into the lips. JG 1.31.12

• I have hyaluronic acid (usually Juvederm) injected into my lips every five months for many years. It has always seemed to degrade gradually, not precipitously, until this week. I`m due to be re-injected in late February. As recently as last week, my lips were still appropriately full (in fact, full enough that several women my age commented on how good my lips looked!), but on Monday morning when I awoke, it looked like 90% of the product had evaporated overnight. I`ve never had my lips over-injected, just moderately, but my goodness, they now look (and strangely feel) like two deflated balloons! So I have two questions for you, Dr. Garcia: 1) Is this sudden degradation of the product common? If so, why do you suppose it hasn`t happened to me before? 2) Anything I can do to prevent this from happening in the future? Thanks, as ever, for your help. Wish I lived near you! I`d book an appointmentthis week to get these floppy, crinkly, empty lips fixed!

  Answer:  A sudden degradation is quite unusual, I have never seen it happen in my patients. I have no explanation as to why that would occur, sorry. I am not sure what you could do to prevent it as I am unsure what caused it. I might suggest you ask to see the box next time and look for the hologram on it to make sure it is legitimate real Juvederm. All the best and thank yo for the nice words. JG 1.31.12

• Good afternoon, Dr., If I use Retin-A every 2/3 days, do I still need to use lotions which help remove dead cells? Thank you.

  Answer:  just cleansing your face should remove the dead cells. JG 1.30.12

• Dr. G., I hope you are enjoying your Sunday. What are your thoughts on bioidentical hormones? Also, you mentioned that Sculptra on the hands can cause bumps. What other fillers do you recommend? Thank you.

  Answer:  For fiilers in hands, Juvederm is OK, just very short ilved, not really anything that works well. As to the bioidentical hormones, I have been a believer for many years. Best of luck. JG 1.29.12

• I had juviderm injected yesterday all around my mouth and have a few pimple-like bumps.How do I treat these? Your help is greatly appreciated as always...

  Answer:  Warm moist towels will help. JG 1.28.12

• I had Juvederm under eyes(don`t know if it was J.Ultra) three months ago. Results were horrific bags. Then had hyaluronidase injected twice. I`m a little better but still not back to baseline...depressed by grayish discoloration, deep indentations, and festooning results. Giving eyes a rest now. Will messaging help to dissolve what remains a little more speedily?

  Answer:  I am sorry but I do not think massage in this case will help, sorry. JG 1.28.12

• Hello Doc, Before I spend buck bucks on creams I have a question. Iam turning 35...and Clinique has a line of anti wrinkle creams and lotions....are these a waste of money? I don`t necessarily want to erase aging because you really can`t but want to preserve and care for my aging skin. are these worth it? If not, whats your best bet? Good nutrition and water and take care naturally? My best to you in 2012~

  Answer:  I think Clinique is a good line, not over priced, as is Oil of Olay. Water intake, avoiding sun and smoke also as you said. JG 1.27.12

• My good doctor! Dr. garcia my doctor recomended Plasma treatment to correct lines around nose and mouth and other parts of my face which he said is ok and safe since it is my own blood. How truth is this? and is it worthy? thank you

  Answer:  safe, yes, effective, lots of hype and no science behind it, no better than all other off the shelf fillers on the market, and likely less effective than those other fillers. Lots of marketing hype in order to charge more. JG 1.27.12

• Dear Dr. G. What are your thought on using Sculptra for the hands? And what would you suggest for tightening the skin of the fingers? Thank you.

  Answer:  some physicians are doing it but i have seen granulomas form in the hands, and I do not use it there. I am afraid I have nothing safe and reliable for the skin of the fingers either. Sorry. JG 1.27.12

• What is the best filler to use on those smile lines next to your mouth? Also, do you feel that getting fillers in your youth help with preventing future wrinkle damage than If not? Or are all these facial fillers just a mask for it? Thanks doctor :)

  Answer:  I prefer Restylane or Perlane, myself.Fillers like that will have no effect on wrinkle prevention though, they are just wood putty and all they do is hide things. Best of luck.JG 1.26.12

• Dr Garcia, Do you ever dilute restylane or juviderm when injecting it for lip lines? And do you ever use small amounts of botox in that area as well? thank you...

  Answer:  no I do not, if something more thin is needed I use Prevelle.I never use low dose Botox around the lips. JG 1.26.12

• Thank you for your answer yesterday about the swelling post Sculptra injection. Very comforting! I forgot to ask you how long the initial swelling typically takes to go down. My PS told me it would be gone by the next day, but I still look like a chipmunk with mumps.I thought one day was quite unrealistic, so I`m not panicking, just wondering. In the meantime, three people I see regularly didn`t even recognize me today because my face is so enlarged and distorted. I`ve lost all the natural planes of my face. My dentist took one look at me this afternoon and cried, Oh, honey, WHAT happened to you? She was instantly suspicious of some grave pathological process. All of which is to say that the look is rather alarming! I read the post below about people not looking younger -- just injected/done. I am definitely in that terrain at the moment. Thank you so much for all the time you donate to all of us with all these questions, Dr. Garcia.

  Answer:  in my experience, it takes 3-5 days, but the more fluid they use to dilute, the longer it takes.The swelling will move downward over the days , so if you had your upper cheeks injected alone, in a couple of days that swelling would be at your jawline, not in your cheeks. Hang in there, it will gt better. JG 1.25.12

• Hi, Dr. Garcia. Well, I took the leap. I was injected today with Sculptra for the first time -- 1 vial mostly in the lateral aspects of my face (temples, pre-auricular, zygomatic arch). I know that the initial swelling is due to the lidocaine and saline that are mixed with the product, but I`m wondering if you can say, from your years of experience with this product, if the initial swelling approximates what the end result will look like -- or instead if it tends to be more (or less swollen) immediately after injection than the endpoint 4-6 months out. I know that the amount of collagen we can generate decreases with age, so you can`t offer me a certain answer here, but maybe you can share your general experience with this matter. (I`m 54.) I look a wee bit, um, crazy right now and am wondering if this is where I`m headed! LOL. Thanks so much, Dr. Garcia. Have a great day!

  Answer:  in my experience, and with the amount of fluid I put into the bottle, about8 cc`s, I see about 30-40% growth of what you see right after the injections. Best of luck. JG 1.24.12

• Good morning Dr. G. Paula Begoun of the Cosmetics Cop and Paula`s Choice cosmetics line shared on her weekly radio show that she uses Rogaine`s 5% solution - for men - instead of the 2% for women. I am currently using the 2% for small areas (mostly the bangs area) but would like to try the 5% as it seems to work better for some women. What are your thoughts on safety/risk factors of women using the 5% solution. Also, is there a difference between Rogaine and the generic brands? Thank you.

  Answer:  as long as you do not get pregnant, it is OK to try to 5% on women. JG 1.23.12

• I was interested in getting Artefill injected around my nasalbifolds. I have been to another doctor and he has injected 7 syringes everywhere but there. I am still not happy with my nasalbifolds. He said that the nasalbifold area is best treated with Juvederm or Radiesse. All the research I have done shows that it is specifically for the nasalbifold area. Do you recommend injecting it there? I have had Juvederm injected there in the past with not long lasting results and would like a more permanent resolve for that area. Would you be willing to inject Artefill along my nasalbifolds, or do you concur with the other doctor. Thank you for your input and time answering my question.

  Answer:  I think what you need to understand is that although Artefill is approved for injection into the nasolabial fold, the fold is not a static wrinkle as its cause is two fold, and for that reason, no long term filler will likely correct it any better than a short term filler. When a wrinkle exists because of loss of skin collagen, then using a filler is a good long lasting option. In the case of a nasolabial fold, it exist for two reasons, it is there because the skin has lost some collagen and because the tissues of the cheek have fallen and are causing the skin to fold or hang over. In essence, when that is the case, the filler is being injected into the normal skin below the fold to have it meet the fold and to make it look less visible. Because what is at least partially causing the fold to exist, the loss of tissue in the cheek, is not corrected by the filler into the fold, the fold will progress and continue to fall and the fold will once again be seen a few moths later. In short, I don`t think Artefill will be nay better than the other fillers because of the cause of the fold, not because the filler is any better or worse than any other. JG 1.23.12

• I see that you only use Restalyne under the eyes. I`ve read of many complications from other products being injected under the eyes on your blog and elsewhere. My dermatologist says he uses Perlane, which he says is just a slightly thicker form of Restalyne. Before I allow him to inject me, I thought I should check to see if it is OK. I am incredibly cautious and don`t want to find myself in the same disastrous situations I`ve read about. Thank you for your time and help. You are unusually generous.

  Answer:  Likely safe but I feel Restylane is better as it is a bit smoother. JG 1.22.12

• Now 5 months after injections into glabellar,have severe burning headaches,vision is worsening,dizziness,loss of appetite and weight four and half stone in 4 months,all tests were normal mri pet scans.Severe tinnitus,ear pressure,depression,inability to take in food or water without severe nausea.Doctor thinks it;s not psychological.Burning above eyes.Also severe insomnia,memory loss,irritability,muscle weakness.Can juvederm migrate as hardly any in forehead.How long does juvederm ultra 2 last in glabellar? Thanks

  Answer:  The Juvederm might last 4-12 months in that area, all depends on how much motion there is, but I have never heard of Juvederm causing a reaction like you describe. Juvederm does not migrate very well after injection. I wish I could tell you more. JG 1.20.12

• Dr. Dr. Does radiesse really stimulate the collagen? I heard it enhance your own collagen and its sounds to good to be true. Just wanted to ask all there is about the filler from a professional.Thanks.

  Answer:  that is what is believed to occur around the granules in Radiesse. I think any collagen formation from it is relatively short lived though, likely much less than 12 months in most patients. JG 1.20.12

• can u recommend a top oculoplastics person in l.a. i have seen a couple of people in other states but would like a 3rd opinion as the others have been different thanks

  Answer:  Due to potential legal issues, and some doctors wanting to know why I referred a patient to someone else and not them, I think you are best to go to this website and look for a plastic surgeon in the area you desire. I wish you all the best. JG 1.18.12 http://www.surgery.org/public/findasurgeon.php.

• i am going to have restalyne or some other filler in my cheek/tear trough area. i am very nervous about the possibility of hitting an artery and want to definitely tell dr to stay away from any area that has that potential. Please advise .I haver heard the area near the nose is most succeptible.Thanks. Also is botox in glabella(not filler) possible to strike an artery. Had it there before with no problem. thanks so much

  Answer:  well, there are arteries and veins in the areas you are considering, all injectors always attempt to avoid any visible blood vessels, but there are always blood vessels that are unseen and any time a needle is used to puncture the skin, bleeding is a potential risk that is never 100% avoidable.The area near the nose is no more susceptible than others, but as the skin is quite thin, any minimal amount of blood is easier to see if it does occur. Botox is placed with a needle, so that risks exists there also. All the best. JG 1.18.12

• Dear Dr. Got radiesse filler in the cheek area 3 weeks ago. is it a bad idea having a chin implant done next week? Or a jaw angle implant? I want to now the bad effect it can have on the filler or the opposite? If yes or no, how long should i wait before getting implants? Best regards.

  Answer:  no need to worry about any surgery with the Radiesse recently injected. All the best with the implant surgery. JG 1.17.12

• Hi Dr. Garcia. I am 44 years old and have been getting botox injections for the past year and a half. I get the injections between my eyebrows and in my crows feet. The first time I got the botox injections it lasted for about 5 months, which was amazing. I noticed that each time I get it done, it doesn`t last as long and doesn`t work as well. The effect is only lasting about a 1 1/2 months to 2 months. I`ve been told botox is recommended no sooner than every 3 months. Is this common? I was also told that it should last longer and get a better effect over time because the muscle isn`t used as much. Should I try a different product such as Dysport to see if it works better? Also, I got Radiesse injections and haven`t gotten any granulomas as of yet (3 1/2 months), does this mean that I am safe to use Radiesse again without fear of granulomas, or could I get them with future injections? Thank you so much!

  Answer:  I think the first thing to find out is if they injected the same dose reach time, I have seen patients get good results one time and then the next time the Botox was kept passed its recommended 4 hour window for mixing, was stored and used from a prior patient or was diluted more and then the injected dose was less and these issues lead to the Botox lasting less. There is nothing wrong with injecting Botox more frequently if it is wearing off, and trying Dysport might give you a different response, all things being equal. As to fillers with long term effects, I would say with Radiesse, it can happen for up to one year after the filler is placed, although the risks drop with time. Granulomas are also technique driven,not just product related, so there is no guarantee that future injections will always yield no granulomas. JG 1.17.12

• I have had, Radiesse (Perlane) injected at the tip of my nose twice now & it doesn`t last but a month & I am scared of going under the knife... My question is what filler could be used as an alternative because obviously my body is metabolizing the Perlane quickly. I was thinking Radiesse but was told it would appear white under the skin & be too obvious. Would you suggest layering? Maybe the Radiesse first & them on top the Perlane? Or knowing my body metabolizes Perlane at a fast speed maybe trying another filler?

  Answer:  If injected below the skin, the Radiesse should not look white, only if injected into the skin, could try Artefill, but it is also white. JG 1.17.12

• How Dr...in order to reduce marionette lines from the corners of the mouth to jawline, would you recommend a filler (like restalyne) be injected directly to the lines/folds or would you recommend filler to the cheeks? I want to get the most bang for my buck !

  Answer:  for quick fix, the filler directly into the fold is good, for a longer fix, but slower, then I suggest Sculptra if the cause for the fold is loss of cheek fat. JG 1.16.12

• Dr. Garcia, I`m getting dark circles underneath my eyes and getting hollow spots on my cheeks which I`ve been treated with radiesse. Does Sculptura really last longer and worth the money? How long does it really work and does it produce more collagen? Can this be used under the eyes? Thank you.

  Answer:  I believe Sculptra works better, but slower than Radiesse for the cheeks. It does produce much more collagen than Radiesse. It cannot be used under the eyes, but neither should Radiesse be used under the eyes. JG 1.16.12

• I READ THAT BOTOX CAN AFFECT THE BLINK REFLEX WHEN PUT IN CROWS FEET. IS THIS TRUE? THANKS SANDI

  Answer:  I have not seen nor heard of that happening. JG 1.16.12

• My question regarding restylane fine line,was when will it be approved by the FDA? I was interested in having it injected into the horizontal fine lines above my upper lip. Is that what you use for that problem? Thanks as always...

  Answer:  we use Prevelle Silk for the very fine lines, and I am not sure if and when Restylane Fine Line will be approved in the US. Sorry. JG 1.16.12

• What is the best way to improve the marionette lines near the corners of the mouth? They are not remarkable, but definitely visible. My age is 47 and have never had anything done to my face except a few microderms. I am looking for something affordable with good results. Thanks for your time.

  Answer:  if they are not deep, then fillers are the quickest. Might last 2-4 months. JG 1.12.12

• What is the best way to improve the marionette lines near the corners of the mouth? They are not remarkable, but definitely visible. My age is 47 and have never had anything done to my face except a few microderms. I am looking for something affordable with good results. Thanks for your time.

  Answer:  if they are no very deep, then fillers are the quickest way to hide them. Might last 2-4 months or so. JG 1.12.12

• i want to reduce glabella wrinkles and i have upper lid ptosis. if i get botox in glabella and crows feet do you think this is a place where the risk of getting more droop is possible. What area should i definitely avoid? i have had botox in glabella before with no problem but not wanting to risk more droopiness. thanks so muxch

  Answer:  properly injected Botox into the glabella and crows feet areas should not cause drooping, that can happen frequently when the forehead is injected though. Best of luck. JG 1.11.12

• Dr., one of your suggestions to alleviate the sad look of a minimal fold between the lower corner of lip to chin area was to inject filler into the cheeks. I notice that when I slightly lift the cheek area it does quite dynamically erase that fold. How much would this procedure cost, how long will it last, and what filler would you recommend? A million thanks to you for all the education you provide us with!

  Answer:  I would use Sculptra for that, but all patients are different and doctors charge differently, it might take 1-2 vials, so maybe $700-1400, should last a year or two. All the best. JG 1.7.112

• Hi Dr Garcia, I had juvederm injected into my lips and I am very disappointed. I was told that it would dissolve in 6 months….Well, it has been a little over a year and a half and I still have two air pockets on my top lip and they won`t seem to go away! I hate my smile and have become very self conscious. I heard there was a product that could dissolve these air pockets or whatever it is….please help and tell me what I need to do. Thank You

  Answer:  If it was real Juvederm, using hyaluronidase you dissole it will help. All the best. JG 1.7.12

• Dear Dr Garcia, Thank you for answering this in advance, you are very kind.A few years ago i had a fat transfer done in my cheeks. However the fat transfer in my left cheek has migrated and has formed a jowl that looks terrible. I am getting very self conscious as people i meet ask my why my cheek (lower cheek) has swelled up. One plastic surgeon i consulted me told me that there was nothing that could be done as the lumpy fat was sitting on an imporatnt nerve that could cause nerve damage. The second one told me that he could dissolve it using a small amount of lipodissolve in the area. he seemed very confident but i am a little hesitant-if i have the lipodissolve injected would the rest of the fat dissolve in my cheek or would it dissolve only the targeted lumpy bit? What kind of side effects might i experience? Is there ANYTHING that will dissolve this? The jowl looks prominent. My right side of the face is ok. I would appreciate your advise as i know you do not stand to gain financially.

  Answer:  lipodissolve does not work for all patients, but it will not typically dissolve fat in the surrounding areas. In experienced hands, it is worth trying. I do think that if it is fat that microcannula liposuction should work well though. The cannula tip is blunt so bruising a nerve is possible, but there should not be permanent damage to the nerve. Once the fat is dissolved or removed via liposuction, there is a chance that after a few months pass that the skin in that area will sag, as its kind of a letting the air out of the balloon type of phenomenon. I wish you the best and appreciate the kind words. JG 1.6.12

• Dear Dr.Garcia, In may of 2011, at the age of 46, i had a mid face lift and lower lid blepharplasty...the eyes looked perfect and bag free for about 4 months and then i began to notice hollowness that progressivley worsened. The reason i had the mid face lift was to get rid if nasal labial folds. Did NOT do that. I followed up with the dr. And he began to accuse me of having b.d.d. and refused to do anything. I am giving you the cliffnotes. After months of being mortified by the worsening eye hollowness, i took the little money i had left and went to a cosmetic dermatologist, who suggested Restylane for eyes and folds. Worked great....saw the restoration right before my eyes...lasted 2 days!!!!!! Went back, same scenario. Now what???? Help!

  Answer:  well, I am not sure why the Restylane did not give you a longer result. When placed in the correct area for certain problems, it should last 8-10 months. If injected into the orbital rim, that is my experience. If it is a true hollow of the lower lid between the eyelashes and the orbital rim, it likely went into the space where the fat pockets are/were and that is an area where results are known to be poor and I do not inject that area due to that reason. As to eliminating a nasolabial fold with a mid facelift or a facelift, that will never work. In lifting the tissues of the cheek that have sagged over time, the malar cheek pad is essentially augmented. When the cheek pad is augmented, the appearance of the depth of the nasolabial fold has to be deeper because the cheek pad is now higher than the upper lip skin. As to what remedies are available, it is hard for me to say without seeing you, but if the issue was due to an over aggressive removal of the fat pockets from the lower lid, I am afraid that there is not much reliable and safe that will work. Sorry. I wish you the best. JG 1.6.12

• what is your experience with cannula technique for injecting fillers? thanks

  Answer:  minimal difference compared to traditional needles, might cause slightly less bruising but it also might be harder to place the filler in the desired area as the tip is blunt. OK to use in deeper injections, but not for superficial dermal injections for fine lines. JG 1.4.12

• Hi Dr. G. I`ve had Radiesse on the bridge of the nose, with good results. My doctor thinks I can use more, and she recommends Artefill. What do you think? How far down the tip do you recommend? She tells me I can get good results going all the way down, making the nose looks higher and more refined but I am afraid the filler will make my already bulbous nose even more so. What do you recommend? (the doctor I am considering seems to be very good at what she does, knows how to handle the needs of Asian features and skin, and seems to have achieved that balance of art and science). Blessings to you!

  Answer:  I think Artefill is a good option for the nasal dorsum, I would not go to the tip itself, but stop right above it. Any filler will make the nose look larger though, no way to add something and not make it larger.If you nasal tip is bulbous, then surgery is likely a much better option as a filler to the tip will make it larger. All the best. JG 1.4.12

• Dr. Garcia, I am very desperate in looking for some help. I am only 38 & started getting lines above my lip at a young age. I got juvaderm last year and it worked pretty great for about a week. I then went back to my plastic surgeon just weeks later & bought another round (now $1200 later) it lasted about the same time. So some of my friends suggested that because mne are so deep on one side that I may need botox there. I can`t afford to keep trying so many different things & I was very thorough when I had my initial appt with my plastic surgeon when I was trying to ask what he thought would work best for me (laser, juvaderm, fillers,etc). Earlier this year I went to my dermo. & spoke with her & she recommended I speak with someone that comes into her office once a week and does some form of a lighter type laser treatment. This dr said after I filled out the questionaire, with my fair skin, I prob would have discoloring above my lip if I did the laser & that`s when she suggested this other type that`s not so strong. She said I would of course need to do all over & not just above my lip, but that I didn`t really have to do my forehead are but the remainder of my face she would def recommend. She said she would start less aggressive since I have no tolerance for pain but it would probably take about 3-4 treatments. I am now so scared because I don`t know what to believe from anyone. I don`t know of one person that has had my problem & had treatment to ask. My only option I feel is to make several appts with different surgeons around my town & one that is about 2 hrs away. But that doesnt mean I can still get the correct answer. Is there anything you suggest? I cry about this on a weekly basis. Thank You!

  Answer:  well, at our age a laser might be a good idea, if you have fair skin and not much sun damage. It will likely have to be a series of peels as most doctors now only do fractional lasers. That is for quicker healing and less downtime. I think you also need to stop drinking out of straws and sports bottles, stop smoking, and cease as much activity where you purse your lips. All fillers will last a relatively short period of time due to the degree of motion and the need to use the filler in a superficial level. The series of lasers will also eventually have to be repeated. I wish you the best. JG 1.3.12

• Is it possible for fat grafts to the cheek and mouth areas to migrate into the inner cheeks and gums if too much fat was injected? How long does fat grafting really last?

  Answer:  well, they can cause swelling and maybe scar tissue, but the grafts do not move much if placed properly. I think that the fat grafts will typically last about 6-12 months from what I have observed. JG 12.23.11

• Hi doc merry christmas to you and your staff I just had some hydraloise placed in an overfilled area above my lip and as soon as he placed it in it puffed up and is no bigger than before he said it will go down just checking if that seems right i have been iceing the area its been about 2 hours still puffy is this normal? thank you so much

  Answer:  Normal to a little swollen, if it is working the excess filler should be decreased in 24 hours. Best of luck. JG 12.22.11

• I had perlane injections in the marionette line area right below either side of my mouth 2 days ago. I had acne scar indentations there that I wanted filled. Today I have noticed a puffy lump above the lip on one side about an inch above the injection site that wasn`t there before. It feels hard and makes the moustache area look weird, making my lip look smaller on one side. Could it be that the perlane moved up? Is this possible? Thanking you in advance for your response.

  Answer:  unlikely the Perlane moved, more likely is swelling or a deep bruise is causing it. Time and massage should help. Best of luck. JG 12.19.11

• my friend has had radiesse she didnt know not to take ibruprofen it looks like she has a small birthmark on her right nasal labial fold and she has a cold this is 5 days after her injections is this normal and how long before it fades or will it be permanent?

  Answer:  Bruise should be gone in a week or so. JG 12.18.11

• Hi Dr. Garcia, I have hereditary hollow under eyes, they seem to be getting worse as time goes by.Iam 31 now. My skin is also very fine and pale. At a recent consultation a Dr. said she is very confident she can fix this problem. She would use Juvederm Voluma placed deeply.She said the voluma had no chance of lumps etc as she has a special device to dilute it first. It would be placed using a blunt cannula method through my cheeks which she said greatly reduced the chance of bruising. The second Dr. I saw said she would use Restylane injections. I am unsure as who to go with. I couldn`t find many reviews on Voluma used under the eyes, and none using the cannula technique.But given the Dr seemed confident I would have littlechance of bruising/lumps I am leaning towards her. What are your thoughts on the cannula technique on undereye fillers and also juvederm voluma placed deeply here? Thank you kindly

  Answer:  any and all fillers can leave a lump, there is no 100% guarantee that can be made. The blunt cannula only potentially lessens bruising but it still needs a sharp needle to pierce the skin, so there is still a potential for a bruise and diluting the Voluma will also not avoid lumps.Place the blunt cannula through the mouth will pierce more tissues that do not need to be pierced and makes it no better than a direct injection through the skin. I only use Restylane for that area and I inject directly through the skin. due to the exaggerated claims by the first doctor, I would go with the Restylane choice. Best of luck. JG 12.18.11

• Hi, Dr. Garcia. My plastic surgeon will often save my syringe of hyaluronic acid if I haven`t used it all at one appointment for future injections. I am getting Radiesse this week. After he mixes the product, do I need to use the whole syringe at one appointment or can it too be saved for another day if I don`t need the whole thing? A beautiful holiday season to you and your family -- and a healthy and peaceful new year. Thank you, thank you for all you do!

  Answer:  As long as stored in a sterile fashion, it can be saved. Happy holidays to you too. JG 12.17.11

• Good evening doctor. No questions tonight..just want you to know how useful and appreciated your Q&A`s are....a big heartfelt thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours...from Not so snowy Ottawa, Canada..Yet. Jg

  Answer:  Thank you very much and a Merry Christmas to you too. JG 12.17.11

• If you use the enzyme to dissolve restalyn what will happen if it is not restalyne

  Answer:  Momt much effect then, it will work on any hyaluronic acid. JG 12.15.11

Jump to Page: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98