Karen S. Harkaway, MD LLC | FAQ

 

Q: Does Botox® Cosmetic hurt and is there any downtime?


A: There is no downtime except for the possibility of a small bruise appearing where the Botox® Cosmetic was injected. if this occurs, the bruise will disappear within a few days. The injections feel like a small pinprick and the procedure itself takes about one minute to perform.


Q: Is Botox® Cosmetic safe?


A: Completely; it has been used for decades and has a wide variety of both medical and cosmetic uses. Botox® Cosmetic may be placed in the glabella, crows feet area, forehead and lip lines.

Recent media exposure related to adverse events after Botox® Cosmetic injections have all been in patients being treated for severe neuromuscular conditions, not cosmetic usage.


Q: Is sun damage reversible and/ or preventable?


A: There are many options to reverse sun damage depending on the amount you have. These options include our line of topical creams/cleansers under the name “Glytone”, chemical peels and laser therapy (IPL, Pixel and KTP). Sun damage is prevented by staying out of the sun altogether, using a daily SPF and by using a product called Vitaceuticals (a topical vitamin E preparation). Vitaceuticals is proven to prevent damage as it occurs and will render your sunscreen more stable.

Q: Is there a difference between varicose and spider veins?


A: Yes. Varicose veins are the largest tortous vessels that must be cared by a vascular surgeon. Procedures for varicose veins can sometimes be covered by insurance if deemed medically necessary. Spider veins are the smaller vessels caused by a combination of trauma, hormones, genetics and occupational habits. These vessels can safely and easily be destroyed by a process called Sclerotherapy. The vessels are injected with a solution that irritates their lining, causing them to collapse and then they are reabsorbed by the body.


Q: What is Pixel?


A: The Pixel is a non-ablative laser procedure used to smooth out the skin’s texture, pores, fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars. Treatments with the Pixel Bring dead skin to the surface without burning the skin below. Downtime includes 3-5 days of sloughing skin. Makeup can be applied to cover up the dead skin look so patients can go back to normal activity the next day. Patients are asked to apply a prescription cream called Biafine to hydrate the skin and increase the healing rate. Two to four treatments are generally needed.


Q: What are fillers?          


A: Fillers are man-made products that include CosmoDerm (collagen), Hylaform and Juvéderm® Injectable Gel (hyaluronic acid) and Radiesse®. These products are placed in the wrinkles of the face to instantly smooth out the lines. The result takes minutes to achieve with a minimal amount of downtime. Many times local anesthesia is mixed into the filler, leading to a very comfortable injection procedure!


Q: Which fillers lasts the longest?


A: Radiesse® is a filler proven to last approximately 12-18 months. Radiesse® is placed around mouth area and can also be used to plum up volume lost in the cheeks or right below the eyes. Juvéderm® Injectable Gel also lasts approximately one year and is often used for lip augmentation.


Q: Can hair be permanently removed?


A: Yes. Laser hair reduction safely and effectively removes at least 85% of hair follicles. The laser is be able to treat brown and black hair. It is not effective for blonde, very light brown and white hair. Patients with that color hair have an option of using a cream called Vaniqua, which slows down hair growth. Hair grows in three cycles, so multiple treatments are required. Six treatments are the average and some patients require touch-up treatments as needed for new hair growth. Treatments generally take less than 15 minutes and the procedure itself is now virtually painless.


Q: Can blood vessels on the face be removed?


A: Yes. A laser called “KTP” can achieve this result. The laser can effectively “erase” blood vessels instantly. Most times this can take as little as 1-2 treatments. Light scabbing, redness and possibly mild swelling are side effects which can last a few days after treatment. Ointment is applied for the healing process.