Muscle Relaxants And Fillers/Volumizers | Australia Cosmetic Treatment | Non- Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Information

Polymethyl Methacrylate – cost and medical cover

September 30, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

How much does it cost? Is it covered by medical insurance?

PMMA treatment cost varies at it depends on the complexity of the procedure and on the amount to be injected to be able to achieve optimal results.

On average, a treatment can cost up from $1000-2000. The cost is also dependent on where you will be getting your treatment (geographical location) and on the expertise of your doctor.

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Filed Under: Artefill®

Polymethyl Methacrylate – how it works, safety and side effects

September 29, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) is novel synthetic injectable volumiser.

It is one of the longest lasting products on the market for the treatment of wrinkles, folds, facial fat loss, nose bumps and skin hollowness.

In Australia, it is marketed as ArteFill®, which is a combination of PMMA and collagen.

How does PMMA work?

Injectable PMMA is delivered a suspension of smooth PMMA microspheres and collagen. When injected into the dermis, the collagen fills in the target area. But then as it is absorbed over the next few months, the new collagen that is stimulated by the presence of these microspheres starts to take over.

The principle is the same as with PLLA, which acts like a foreign body and triggering the body’s response to wall it off with scar tissue. The matrix of collagen and elastic fibres, laid down from the skin’s reaction to the beads, steadily increases the volume of the areas of skin depressions and strengthens the structure of the skin and facial tissues.

However, unlike PLLA, PMMA is not reabsorbed and effectively permanent.

Optimal correction usually requires two to three treatments, and touch-up implantations to ensure a smooth and consistent result.

Any injection into the face, even with tiny needles may cause bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection site.

Applying an ice pack can help relieve pain and discomfort. However, these side effects usually disappear after a few days.

Contact your physician and seek for medical advice if side effects persist for more than a few days or get progressively worse.

Too superficial an injection may lead to permanent changes in the skin surface texture or colour. Some patients may also experience lumps or cysts at injection site. These may be felt but are seldom visible. These side effects are largely operator dependent, and are far less common in practices experienced with this product.

Unlike other injections, when you are specifically told not to touch or massage the injected area, some doctors will instruct those who have PMMA injections to frequently massage the treated area to prevent the formation of lumps or an uneven appearance.

Nonetheless, treatment around the eyes and lips should be avoided. PMMA should not be used if there is a known history or susceptibility to keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring.

Although extremely rare, patients may also experience serious side effects such as infection and rarely allergic reactions. Your risk can be assessed by a specific skin test prior the full injection procedure. However, it is not eliminated.

Contact your physician or go to the nearest hospital for urgent medical attention if you experience swelling of the face, mouth, throat or tongue accompanied with difficulty in breathing or swallowing as this may indicate a serious allergic reaction.

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Filed Under: Artefill®

Injectable Collagen – cost and medical cover

September 27, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

How much does it cost? Is it covered by medical insurance?

The cost of the Autologen procedure varies, depending on several factors such as the fee for collagen extraction, the number of injections used, and the severity of the condition.

Autologen injections can range from $1000 to $1500.

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Filed Under: Autologen (Autologous Human Collagen)

Hyaluronic Acid – cost and medical cover

September 26, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

How much does it cost? Is it covered by your medical insurance?

Restylane® and Juvéderm® treatments in Australia are “prescription only” drug and may only be used if prescribed by a medical practitioner.

Doctors generally charger per syringe (about $300-500) and the cost depends on several factors such as facial characteristics, target areas, the formula used during the procedure, and doctor’s fees.

Because this is a cosmetic procedure, it may not be covered your medical insurance.

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Filed Under: Juvéderm® Gel, Restylane®

Poly-L-lactic Acid – cost and medical cover

August 28, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

How much does it cost? Is it covered by medical insurance?

Sculptra® can only be used when prescribed by a medical practitioner.

The cost of Sculptra® depends on several factors including the amount of the product used, the number of areas to be treated, and the severity of the wrinkles and folds that needs treatment. The geographical location of the clinic and the experience of the surgeon are also taken into account.

In Australia, the average cost of Sculptra® is $700 per vial. You may be charged more if the treatment requires multiple syringes.

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Filed Under: Muscle Relaxants and Fillers/Volumizers, Sculptra®

Fillers and Volumisers – preparation, expectation, recovery and care

July 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

You only need minimal preparation for treatment with Fillers or Volumisers.

Minimal preparation is needed before the injection of collagen. Your doctor may ask you to avoid taking warfarin, aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, like NSAIDS (e.g. ibuprofen, ketoprofen) one to two weeks before the procedure to reduce your risk of bruising. Some doctors also recommend stopping vitamin E, ginseng, fish-oil tablets, or herbal supplements with anticoagulant effects for the same reason.

On the day of your treatment, make sure that your skin is free from facial products such as make up, moisturizer, lotions, oil, etc.

Allergy skin test may be required prior to the treatment for those using products containing bovine collagen (i.e. Polymethyl methacrylates (PMMA) – e.g. Artefill®).

What should you expect before, during and after the treatment?

Injection with filler is a medical procedure performed by a licensed and highly trained physician at a doctor’s office or private clinic.

After your doctor’s assessment, the injection sites and the amount of filler will be determined and individually tailored in order to give you the best results. Your face is washed with soap and water or with an antiseptic before the location of insertion points are marked with a washable pen.

Although it’s not necessary and the treatment is generally not painful, your doctor may either inject a mild localized anaesthetic or apply a topical numbing cream on the target area(s) prior to the injection to help reduce any feelings of discomfort.

Using a fine needle, the physician will inject the filling gel under the targeted areas of your skin, into the mid to deep dermis of the face, to fill the wrinkles and folds. This treatment lasts for approximately 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of targeted areas that are to be injected.

Injection with dermal fillers is a simple procedure and there is usually no downtime.

You can return to your normal everyday activities after getting the treatment.

Your physician will let you know when it’s appropriate to apply makeup again. Most doctors only recommend the use of mineral-based makeup after the treatment.

After each treatment it is advised to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, heat and cold, or strenuous physical activities for a day or two, as these can increase bruising and swelling. Other skin-enhancement procedures such as laser enhancements and chemical peels should be avoided in the short term.

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Filed Under: Artefill®, Collagen Stimulators, Muscle Relaxants and Fillers/Volumizers

Botulinum Toxin A – cost and medical cover

July 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

How much does it cost? Is it covered by your medical insurance?

The cost of each procedure mainly depends on the number of units administered. The number of units used is determined by the degree of visibility of the fine lines and wrinkles, the toughness of the facial muscles, the number of areas to be injected and your gender. Men usually require approximately twice the dose compared to women to achieve the same effect.

Although costs vary across the country and between physicians, in general, treatment of glabellar lines, crow’s feet and forehead creases may cost between $210-$510, $360-$510 and $90-$360, respectively.

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Filed Under: BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin A), Crow's Feet, DYSPORT®, Forehead Wrinkles, Glabbelar Lines

Botulinum Toxin A – recovery, care and results

June 19, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Recovery and Care after the Procedure

After the procedure, the patient is free to leave and to go on with their normal daily routine. There’s usually no downtime and the recovery period is short. Vigorous activities should be modified or avoided for the 24 hours after the procedure.

It is also advised not to touch or rub the injected area and avoid lying down for 3 to 4 hours after the procedure. This will reduce the chances that the toxin will diffuse into adjacent areas, where it may have unwanted effects.

Your surgeon may sometimes prescribe application of ice packs to the treated areas to prevent pain, swelling and redness.

Results and Duration of Effects

Any results are not immediately seen after the injection. It is normal to have to wait for 3 to 5 days before any improvement of wrinkles is noticed. Its best effects are achieved after 1 to 2 weeks. So do not rush into getting a re-treatment if the results are not immediately apparent.

There’s really not much difference between Dysport® and Botox® in terms of their effectiveness. Dysport® is generally used in a higher dose than Botox®. Some studies have shown that Dysport® works a little quicker. But it may also show greater diffusion and migration of its effects into adjacent muscles, resulting in an increased risk of side effects.

It needs to be remembered that the effects of Dysport® and Botox® are temporary. The muscle that has been paralysed by the injection, gradually regains its ability to contract, as new nerve endings grow back in over 3 to 6 months, depending on the individual and on the treated area. This can mean dynamic wrinkles will start to reform.

To maintain the anti-wrinkling effects of injections, additional procedures are generally scheduled every 3 to 5 months, with or without other cosmetic interventions, to prevent re-forming of wrinkles.

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Filed Under: BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin A), DYSPORT®

Hyaluronic Acid – how it works, safety and side effects

June 17, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Hyaluronic acid (HA) products are the most popular injectable fillers used in facial rejuvenation.

In Australia, two different products are currently available, Restylane® and Juvéderm®.

How does Hyaluronic Acid work?

HA is a natural component of the skin. It is a glycosamianoglycan (GAG) that acts to as a protective lubricating gel, to bind with water and plump the skin.

HA also stimulates the skin to make new collagen. Young skin is full of moisture and volume partly due to the abundance of HA and other GAGs. As we age, the production of GAGs in the skin declines. This results in a loss of skin hydration, volume and elasticity that eventually contributes to wrinkling, sagging and hollowing of facial features.

Because HA keeps the skin hydrated, it has also become a popular ingredient in many skin-care products, although it penetrates poorly as a topical cream.

The natural properties of HA have been harnessed in cosmetic medicine, by chemically cross-linking a number of HA molecules together. This transforms liquid HA into a gel, which can then be injected. The injected HA adds volume into the skin as it absorbs more than 1,000 times of its own weight in water.

The chemical cross linking of HA also slows down its rate of absorption from the body, prolonging its effectiveness. The more cross-linked the product, the longer it holds its effect. For example, Juvéderm® Ultra Plus is more highly cross-linked than Juvéderm® Ultra, and its effects can last up to one year. The downside is that these agents are more challenging to place correctly than other fillers, because of their (thicker) viscosity.

Hyaluronic Acid is a safe and effective filler.

However, any injection into the face, even with tiny needles may cause bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection site. However, these side effects usually disappear after a few days.

Contact your physician and seek for medical advice if side effects persist for more than a few days or get progressively worse.

The HA used in fillers is not derived from animal sources, but is produced from bacteria. Although extremely rare, patients may also experience serious side effects such as infection and rarely allergic reactions.

A key advantage of HA is that any reaction can be quickly reverse with an injection of hyaluronidase, a natural enzyme than breaks down HA.

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Filed Under: Juvéderm® Gel, Muscle Relaxants and Fillers/Volumizers, Restylane®

Botulinum Toxin A – preparation and expectation

June 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Minimal preparation is needed before the administration of Botox® or Dysport®.

Your doctor may ask you to avoid taking warfarin, aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, like NSAIDS (e.g. ibuprofen, ketoprofen) one to two weeks before the procedure to reduce your risk of bruising.

Some doctors also recommend stopping vitamin E ginseng, fish-oil tablets, or herbal supplements with anticoagulant effects for the same reason.

On the day of your treatment, make sure that your skin is free from facial products such as make up, moisturizer, lotions, oil, etc.

What should you expect before, during and after the procedure?

Injections are performed in a surgeon’s clinic by a qualified physician or by a registered nurse who is supervised by a physician.

Before the injection, the area for treatment is thoroughly washed cleaned with an antiseptic agent, and then dried.

Generally, anaesthesia is not necessary during the procedure. However, some doctors and patients sometimes prefer that a local anaesthesia or a numbing cream is applied before the procedure.

Some doctors choose to apply ice to partially numb an area. After this, the doctor will mark the target areas on the face using a washable pen. Your doctor will most likely select numerous injection points for each area to be treated.

Depending on the technique, severity of wrinkles and muscles involved, the dose per injection varies between 5 to 50 units divided into equal parts, which will be injected to 3-5 injection sites.

The drug is then injected just beneath the skin using tiny needles into the specific injection points. The number of injections will vary according to the area targeted. About 5 sites are injected in the treatment of glabellar lines. Between 3 and 5 sites are injected into each side of the mid line for treatment of horizontal lines on the forehead. To smooth out crow’s line, 3 to 4 injections are applied to each side of the eye.

Because of the fine calibre of needles that are used, and the anaesthetics agents applied, it is not usual to experience any discomfort and the procedure itself is usually almost painless.

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Filed Under: BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin A), Crow's Feet, DYSPORT®, Forehead Wrinkles, Glabbelar Lines

How much does it cost? Is it covered by medical insurance?

Wrinkle Fillers and Volumisers – Other Posts

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) is novel synthetic injectable volumiser.

How does PMMA work?

Any injection into the face, even with tiny needles may cause bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection site.

Wrinkle Fillers and Volumisers – Other Posts

How much does it cost? Is it covered by medical insurance?

Wrinkle Fillers and Volumisers – Other Posts

How much does it cost? Is it covered by your medical insurance?

Wrinkle Fillers and Volumisers – Other Posts

How much does it cost? Is it covered by medical insurance?

Wrinkle Fillers and Volumisers – Other Posts

You only need minimal preparation for treatment with Fillers or Volumisers.

What should you expect before, during and after the treatment?

Injection with dermal fillers is a simple procedure and there is usually no downtime.

Wrinkle Fillers and Volumisers – Other Posts

How much does it cost? Is it covered by your medical insurance?

Botulinum Toxin A (Botox® and Dysport®) – Other Posts

Recovery and Care after the Procedure

Results and Duration of Effects

Botulinum Toxin A (Botox® and Dysport®) – Other Posts

Hyaluronic acid (HA) products are the most popular injectable fillers used in facial rejuvenation.

How does Hyaluronic Acid work?

Hyaluronic Acid is a safe and effective filler.

Wrinkle Fillers and Volumisers – Other Posts

Minimal preparation is needed before the administration of Botox® or Dysport®.

What should you expect before, during and after the procedure?

Botulinum Toxin A (Botox® and Dysport®) – Other Posts

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