FAQ's

Our treatments are at the forefront of varicose and vein treatments. Many physicians offer sclerotherapy but our center offers comprehensive vein care that treats the underlying cause of varicose veins and eliminate them. We can treat nearly all people successfully. Some people who have venous ulcers, a history of deep venous thrombosis or other hypercoagulable states (such as lupus, Factor V Leiden deficiency, etc.), are morbidly obese, or poorly controlled diabetics may not be good candidates at this center. We will however do everything possible to help you find specialists who are more experienced at handling these difficult circumstances.

With the endovenous laser ablation therapy (EVLA)-success rates are now at 98%. By using a combination of therapies in addition to EVLA we can successfully treat almost all candidates for varicose and spider veins.

EVLA-usually one treatment has a 98% success rate at treating the underlying cause of the varicose veins. Sclerotherapy-this varies from person to person depending on the number of and size of the veins to be treated. Typically the average person needs 2-4 treatments. Phlebectomy-by using micro-incisions to extract the vein, typically one session will eliminate the visible varicose vein.

Insurance will typically cover procedures such as EVLA (endovenous laser ablation therapy) and Phlebectomy so long as the below conditions are met:

Venous Ultrasound reveals that you have documented venous reflux (blood flowing in the wrong direction in your leg veins) and that your veins are causing you to have symptoms.

The other procedures-visual sclerotherapy and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy-even though they are an essential part of the comprehensive care of veins, they are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance.

Step 1: Get a formal consultation. We will examine you and do a history and physical examination. We will educate you about venous disease as well as formulate which combination of therapies is right for you.

Step 2: Get an ultrasound done of your legs. This tells us if you have venous reflux (the flow of blood backwards in your veins that causes varicose and spider veins) and takes about 15-20 minutes per leg.

Step 3: Review ultrasound reading and set up treatments: If you have insurance, we will start the process of pre-authorization for EVLA and phlebectomy if you are a candidate. In the mean time, certain insurers require a trial of compression stockings first (it never resolves the cause). However it is a step that is required by the insurance companies-not us. Do the insurance companies have any way of knowing you actually wore the stockings? No. If you are paying cash there is no need to wait for pre-authorization and we may start treatments as soon as you like.

Step 4: Treatment day. EVLA and possible Phlebectomy procedures: These are often done on the same day (for your convenience). No need to fast the night before like surgery. We require you to bring in a pair of compression stockings (we will fit you here and order the appropriate size for you). Please adhere to this because treatment success relies upon the post-treatment plan as much as the procedure itself. If you like, before the procedure we can give a mild oral sedative so long as you have someone to drive you home. There is no down time. You may resume activities that day! We do require you to wear the stocking/leg for 24 hours and then one stocking/leg for the remaining two weeks, so a total of three weeks of stocking use after the procedures.

Visual Sclerotherapy/Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy: These can be done anytime. No preparation is needed. Most people need 2-4 treatments of visual sclerotherapy on average.

Step 5: Follow up visits and ultrasound: We will do a follow up ultrasound the next day as well as follow up visits after one month, after six months, and at one year. We follow you to make sure you are getting excellent results that you deserve.

EVLA - Most people report some "tightness" in their thighs that typically goes away after one week. Some people have a small amount of bruising at the laser entry point into the vein that typically goes away after a week or two. The complication of deep vein thrombosis almost never occurs (less than one percent of the patients) but we will follow you with ultrasound to make sure you are thoroughly screened and safe from this complication.

Phlebectomy - Most people have a small amount of bruising near the micro-incision sites, but it typically goes away quickly with compression, ice, and time.

Sclerotherapy (visual, ultrasound guided) - Some people have mild itching that only lasts a couple of days. Brown spots, or "hyperpigmentation" is a temporary problem that some people have after sclerotherapy that resolves on its own spontaneously. 70% resolve themselves at 6 months and nearly 99% resolve themselves at 12 months. Ulceration and blistering occur when sclerotherapy solution is accidentally injected into an artery. With the VeinViewer machine we employ (the only one on Hawaii) we greatly minimize the chance of this occurring. With proper care of this uncommon complication, most people heal with any problems.

Phlebology is a field of medicine that pertains to advanced vein care. Currently many types of physicians including vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists have pioneered it. Drs. Chung is a Board Certified Emergency Physician and because of his background in Emergency Medicine, inserting catheters into veins (the hardest part of any of the vein treatments) is a routine procedure, perhaps more than almost any other specialty. Drs. Chung is an active member of the American College of Phlebology. Dr. Chung is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Phlebology.

Most people with varicose and spider veins are self-diagnosing. To better understand what is going on to cause varicose and spider veins we must know what the difference between arteries and veins are. Both are designed to carry blood in only one direction-like cars on a freeway. The difference is quite simple. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and bring it to the extremities. Veins do the opposite. Veins carry blood back to the heart from the extremities. In the legs they must do so against gravity. How are they able to bring blood back against gravity from the legs to the heart? They do so with the help of one-way valves in the veins. They allow blood to travel up but not back down towards the feet.

Varicose veins and spider veins appear when those valves fail and allow blood to flow in the wrong direction back toward the feet. This blood flow in the veins toward the feet is called venous reflux, or reflux for short. The chronic pressure of blood flowing back toward the feet causes blood to pool in the veins and produce damage to the vein valves, which eventually leads to visible vein bulging, and their appearance depending on size & depth of location produces what we call varicose and spider veins.

The visual appearance of purplish, knotted veins is what most people note first. In addition to being unsightly, many people experience one or more of the following: 

Pain (aching or cramping feeling), Heaviness/Tiredness, Burning or tingling sensations, Swelling/Throbbing Tender areas around the veins

The symptoms typically will progress over time and you may form more varicose and spider veins. In addition you may form one of the below complications as well:

• Inflammation of the veins (phlebitis)
• Blood clots (e.g., deep venous thrombosis a.k.a. DVT)
• Ankle sores or skin ulcers
• Bleeding

Varicose veins are a very common problem. They affect 40% of women and 25% of males. Forty percent of people of Japanese descent have varicose veins. There are many risk factors that predispose one to having varicose and spider veins.

Gender - Women have a higher incidence of varicose vein disease due in part to female hormones and their effect on the vein walls.

Pregnancy - Blood volume increases during pregnancy and hormonal effects contribute to vein enlargement.

Age - The tissues of our vein walls lose elasticity as we age causing the valve system to fail.

Prolonged standing - Occupations that involve standing for a long period of time causes increased volume and pressure of blood in the lower limbs due to the effects of gravity. Your veins must overcome gravity to bring blood back to your heart and prolonged standing makes it harder to do so.

There are two sets of veins in your legs called the superficial and deep veins. Superficial veins are the ones that are responsible for the formation of varicose veins. One vein in particular-the great saphenous vein (GSV)-is the most often malfunctioning vein that is the cause of varicose and spider veins. This is the vein targeted for closure by our endovenous laser ablation technique.

The deep veins are the veins that carry most of the blood from the legs back to the heart. Under normal circumstances they carry 80% of the blood in the legs back to the heart. They are capable of carrying 100% of the blood back to the heart. They usually are not the cause of varicose veins.

Perforator veins are the tiny veins that connect the superficial and deep veins.

Unfortunately-having a connection between the superficial and deep veins allows the blood to escape from the veins that never cause trouble (deep veins) into the veins that can cause varicose veins (superficial veins). This allows more blood to pool in the legs and cause varicose and spider veins. Closing the perforator veins provides an extra measure of security from forming varicose and spider veins.

Performed under the supervision of a physician, automated microneedling is a new innovation to aesthetic dermatology for the improvement of facial acne scars and other skin surface irregularities. During this treatment, the microneedling device creates thousands of controlled micro-injuries to initiate the skin’s natural wound repair process resulting in an improvement in the appearance of facial acne scars.

The Eclipse MicroPen EVO™ is an FDA-cleared Class II device that is ergonomically designed to give the physician the greatest flexibility and control of any microneedling device.

Intended Use: The Eclipse MicroPen EVO is a microneedling device and accessories intended to be used as a treatment to improve the appearance of facial acne scars in adults aged 22 years or older.

Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure to treat facial acne scars. The technique involves using multiple tiny, sterile needles to puncture the skin and cause physical trauma. This trauma prompts the derma, a deeper layer of skin, to rebuild. Microneedling may help address many skin-related complaints, including facial acne scars.

While a relatively new procedure, the reported high efficacy, safety, and post-treatment recovery rates has made it popular for both dermatologists and patients.

Ideal results are typically achieved after multiple sessions, however, most patients report improvement after the first procedure.

LATISSE® solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker.

Hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough eyelashes.

LATISSE® is believed to affect the growth (anagen) phase of the eyelash hair cycle in two ways: first, it increases the length of this phase; and second, it increases the number of hairs in this growth phase. The exact way it works is unknown.

LATISSE® is a once-a-day treatment you apply yourself each evening to the base of the upper eyelashes.

LATISSE® users may see results starting at 4 weeks with full results after 16 weeks. The growth is gradual overnight, over time.

No, LATISSE® does not work in place of mascara. However, mascara is a nice complement to LATISSE® to help make your new longer eyelashes look even more attractive.

LATISSE® solution is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for inadequate or not having enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker.

If you miss an application or a few, don't try to catch up. Just apply the LATISSE® treatment the next evening and stay on schedule.

If you stop using LATISSE®, your eyelashes are expected to return to their previous appearance over several weeks to months.

First, ask your doctor if LATISSE® is right for you. Although any doctor can prescribe LATISSE®, some may be more familiar with this product than others. That's why we encourage you to use the interactive "Find-a-Doctor" locator tool to find a doctor near you who will more likely know about this new FDA-approved treatment. When making an appointment, be sure to tell the receptionist that you want to find out more about LATISSE®.

The most common side effects after using LATISSE® solution are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness. This was reported in approximately 4% of patients. LATISSE® solution may cause other less common side effects which typically occur on the skin close to where LATISSE® is applied, or in the eyes. These include skin darkening, eye irritation, dryness of the eyes, and redness of the eyelids

LATISSE® solution is an ophthalmic drug product. If any gets into the eye, it is not expected to cause harm. The eye should not be rinsed.

Do not use LATISSE® solution if you are allergic to one of its ingredients.

Active ingredient: bimatoprost

Inactive ingredients: benzalkonium chloride; sodium chloride; sodium phosphate, dibasic; citric acid; and purified water. Sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust pH. The pH during its shelf life ranges from 6.8—7.8.

This is a common, usually harmless condition in which areas of skin become darker than the surrounding skin color. This occurs when there is an increase in the melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, in the skin. Skin hyperpigmentation is a possible side effect of LATISSE®, but may be reversible after discontinuation of the product.

This is a condition where the pressure inside the eye is higher than normal. LATISSE® may decrease IOP. So talk to your doctor if you are using IOP-lowering medications. Concurrent administration of LATISSE® and certain IOP-lowering medications in ocular hypertensive patients should be closely monitored for changes in intraocular pressure.

Eye redness may occur immediately after use, but should usually last only for a short period of time. Eye redness alone is not an allergic reaction or inflammation, and doesn't mean that your eyes are being harmed. Please use the LATISSE® applicators as instructed to help to minimize the occurrence of eye redness.

Eye color change – iris pigmentation – was not reported in the LATISSE® clinical trials. Iris pigmentation has occurred in patients who applied similar medications directly into the eye to treat elevated intraocular pressure/glaucoma. Keep in mind that the amount of product applied to the base of the upper eyelashes is only 5% of the volume vs. when applied directly into the eye. Most of LATISSE® is absorbed by the skin at the upper eyelid margin. Please consult your doctor to learn more about LATISSE®.

You should always only use the FDA-approved sterile applicators to apply LATISSE® solution directly to the base of your upper eyelashes. The applicators have been specially designed and manufactured to meet FDA standards, and ensure that the correct dose of LATISSE® is applied. This will maximize effectiveness and safety.

A clinical trial of LATISSE® was conducted on patients who applied the product to the base of their upper lashes only. Applied nightly, the transfer of LATISSE® solution from the upper to lower eyelid may occur naturally because the eyelids are closed and the eyelashes touch each other. Excessive application may increase the chance of experiencing side effects. To ensure safety and maximize effectiveness, please follow the directions provided.

Eye itching may occur immediately after use, but should usually last only for a short period of time (one to two weeks during initial use). Eye itching alone is not an allergic reaction and doesn't mean that your eyes are being harmed. Consult your doctor if the itching persists or you notice other symptoms as well.

Submental fullness, sometimes referred to as “double chin,” is a common yet undertreated facial aesthetic condition that can impact a broad range of adults, including both women and men. Causes may include:

Aging: It may naturally develop as you age

Genetics: Simply said, it may be part of your DNA

Weight gain: It may be a result of gaining weight

SOMETIMES, no matter how much you diet or exercise, the condition may not go away, and can make you look older and heavier than you actually are.

IF YOU’RE BOTHERED BY IT, YOU’RE NOT ALONE According to a 2014 survey conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) 68% of people said they’re bothered by submental fullness*

KYBELLA™ is the first and only FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment that contours and improves the appearance of submental fullness. Is a nonsurgical, 15- to 20-minute in-office treatment session Is customized to help you achieve your treatment goals. Destroys fat cells when injected into the fat beneath your chin. Once the aesthetic goal is achieved, re-treatment is not expected. The most common side effects of KYBELLA™ include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness, and areas of hardness in the treatment area.

The active ingredient in KYBELLA™ is deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath your chin, KYBELLA™ causes the destruction of fat cells. Once destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat.

KYBELLA™ may be right for you if you’re bothered by submental fullness, surgery is not an option for you. You feel the condition makes you look older or heavier than you actually are. You eat well and exercise, but submental fullness does not go away .

KYBELLA™ has been the focus of a global clinical development program involving more than 20 clinical studies with more than 2600 patients worldwide, of whom more than 1600 have been treated with KYBELLA™.

KYBELLA™ is typically given in a 15- to 20-minute in-offi ce treatment session. Your doctor will give you a series of injections into the fat under your chin at each treatment session. We will customize your KYBELLA™ treatment based on the amount of submental fullness you have and your treatment goals. Together, you will decide the treatment plan that’s right for you.

Many patients treated with KYBELLA™ experience visible contouring of their chin profile in 2 to 4 treatments.* Some people require up to 6 treatments in order to achieve results. Once your chin profile has improved, you may not need to be treated with KYBELLA™ again.

79% of patients treated with KYBELLA™ reported satisfaction with the appearance of their face and chin. After being treated with KYBELLA™, patients reported improvement in self-perception, including feeling happier and younger, based on their chin profile, as well as feeling less embarrassed, less self-conscious, less overweight, and less bothered by submental fullness.

For most patients, downtime was minimal and occurred most commonly after the first treatment session. When scheduling your treatments, keep your social plans and work commitments in mind.

As with other injectable treatments, you may experience side effects with KYBELLA™. The most common side effects are swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness, and areas of hardness in the treatment area. Prior to administering KYBELLA™, your doctor may apply ice/cold packs or topical and/or injectable local anesthesia to the treatment area to make you more comfortable. He may also suggest you take an over-the-counter pain reliever before your appointment. After treatment, apply ice or a cold pack to the treatment area for 10 to 15 minutes, as needed.

The 3-step laser treatment process uses photo-acoustic technology to control the inflammation of acne, reduce sebum production, and induce skin cell turnover.

At the first treatment session, all acne types will begin to reduce in size. Several more treatments will be needed within a 2-3 week interval. Acne is dramatically reduced.

While laser treatments are considered to be long-lasting, they are not permanent. Patients can help maintain their new appearance by carefully following the post-care instructions.

You will see improvement after the first treatment, but results are more dramatic after 3-4 treatments.

Unlike other procedures, SpectraPeel is virtually pain-free with no downtime. The treatment offers a greater margin of safety than topical or oral medications and has predictable and consistent results.

The SmartLipo™ procedure takes an average of 2–3 hours per session.

Most patients typically require only one treatment. Each SmartLipo™ session may last from 45 minutes to one hour for each area treated. SmartLipo™ can also be used for touch-ups and revisions to previously treated areas.

The SmartLipo™ procedure will improve the body's shape and may reduce cellulite to a certain degree.

Most patients can see results immediately following the SmartLipo™ procedure, and they can expect their skin to return to normal within three months.

However, as with traditional liposuction, you will need to practice patience since the full SmartLipo™ results may not be visible for up to a year. The more fat that was removed, the longer it will take to achieve maximum results, as your body needs to adapt to a more significant shape change

No. SmartLipo™ is performed as an out-patient procedure under local anesthesia. You won't be required to stay in the hospital, since recovery from SmartLipo™ works best within the comfort of your home.

SmartLipo™ may be extremely effective for improving upon body areas that have been previously treated with traditional liposuction. With the SmartLipo™ procedure your doctor can further sculpt or contour those areas on the body that have droopy skin, especially if you are a relatively thin, healthy person who wants additional toning and tightening.

• It offers the smoothest, best body-contouring results.
• It entails only a short recovery time.
• Minimal discomfort is involved.
• It is safer than traditional liposuction.
• It tightens the skin around the treatment area.
• It is more affordable than traditional liposuction.
• The results are permanent.

Yes. Since the aiming beam at the tip of the SmartLipo™ laser allows the doctor to know exactly where he or she is at all times, the procedure is very precise. As such, SmartLipo™ is very effective in body areas that are not suitable for traditional liposuction, such as the face, neck, back and knees.

Dr. W.Y. Chung MD, owner and chief medical officer of the Vein and Skin Center of Hawaii®, was the first doctor in Hawaii to offer the life-changing SmartLipo™ technology.

FDA-approved, this revolutionary treatment greatly enhances the appearance of the skin, by literally melting away fat from the thighs, arms, back, stomach, and neck via laser liposuction. SmartLipo™ also works to tighten and firm up the skin, making it one of the most popular procedures at the Vein and Skin Center of Hawaii®.

Here’s what one patient had to say about her SmartLipo treatment.
“Following the treatment the skin may feel sensitive, so I wore a garment on my stomach. I took off the garment on the second day and immediately saw results. I could see that my stomach was flatter. I had SmartLipo in February and every day, the skin continues to tighten and look more toned. That’s the benefit of SmartLipo, you get two treatments in one session, removing fat cells and tightening the skin. I would highly recommend SmartLipo to treat focused areas of the body that you’d like to tone and lose a small bit of fat. It’s definitely not as invasive as traditional liposuction treatment. I would probably do it again, the results are worth it.” – Sara 

Call (808) 949-8346 to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Chung and find out if SmartLipo is the right treatment for you.

The ReFirme™ ST procedure combines safe and effective levels of infrared light and bipolar radio-frequency energies to remodel the dermal layer of the skin by stimulating new collagen growth. Both laser and radio-frequency have been used separately for decades in medicine and surgery, but the ST exclusively combines infrared light and bipolar radio-frequency energy for ideal treatment outcomes with a very low risk of side effects and virtually no down-time.

ReFirme™ ST can improve skin laxity and sagginess of the face, neck and some body areas such as the abdomen or upper arms. Skin texture can also be smoothed out by the tightening and firming effect of treatment. This treatment is performed non-ablatively, which means that this is a non-invasive procedure. Most people leave the treatment office with only slight pinkness or no pinkness at all. Patients can return to normal activities immediately.

Refirme™ is a gentle, comfortable treatment requiring no downtime. Many patients return to normal activities immediately after the treatment. Cooling of the skin's surface provides enhanced safety and additional comfort.

Most patients will have between 3-5 sessions typically 3-4 weeks apart. The best results are seen 3-6 months post completion with maintenance every 6 months.

Most patients see gradual and cumulative results throughout the Refirme™ skin tightening treatments. The total number of required treatment sessions depends on the patients skin condition.

The ReFirme™ ST procedure is well tolerated by most patients without any topical anesthetic or other means of analgesia. The treatment tip is chilled so it provides contact cooling to the skin surface for added comfort.

Any medical aesthetic procedure has risk of side effects such as superficial blistering, crusting, and pigmentary changes in the skin. These risks are rare and usually quickly resolved.

Refirme™ can safely treat all skin types for laxity, sagginess, loss of elasticity, or textural irregularities. Treatment can be done on the face, neck, or other areas of the body.

Juvederm® is the only HA filler with FDA approval to last up to one year.* Ask your physician how you can get long-lasting results with Juvederm®. Juvederm® injectable gel is a next-generation smooth consistency gel dermal filler that helps to instantly restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds like your smile lines or parentheses (nasolabial folds—the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth). Juvederm® comes in two formulations— Juvederm® Ultra and Juvederm® Ultra Plus.

*Juvederm® is indicated for injection into the mid to deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds).

Juvederm® injectable gel temporarily adds volume to facial tissue and restores a smoother appearance to the face.

Juvederm® Ultra and Juvederm® Ultra Plus injectable gels are indicated for injection into the mid to deep dermis (below the outer layer of skin) for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds (the creases running from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth, aka smile lines or parentheses).

Juvederm® injectable gel is available in two formulations to allow your healthcare professional to tailor treatment to your unique needs. Juvederm® Ultra provides versatility in contouring and volumizing facial wrinkles and folds. Juvederm® Ultra Plus is a more robust formulation for volumizing and correcting deeper folds and wrinkles.

JUVEDERM® is the ONLY hyaluronic acid (HA) filler FDA approved to last up to 1 year.* Our unique manufacturing process provides a high concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid for long-lasting results. It also works to create a smooth consistency gel that flows easily into the skin and provides a smooth, natural look and feel. All other hyaluronic acid dermal fillers currently on the market are made of granular consistency gels. And, Juvederm® is the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler that has demonstrated its safety and effectiveness in persons of color.

*Juvederm® is indicated for injection into the mid to deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds).

Juvederm® injectable gel is a next-generation hyaluronic acid dermal filler that provides volume and is used to treat wrinkles and folds resulting from a loss of volume beneath the surface of the skin such as perioral lines and nasolabial folds (lines around your mouth and nose). Juvederm® restores your skin's volume for a smooth, natural look and feel. BOTOX® Cosmetic is not a filler. BOTOX® Cosmetic relaxes muscle activity and is used to treat moderate to severe lines caused by the dominant frown muscles between the eyebrows (the glabellar area). This allows the two vertical lines between the brows, often referred to as the 11, to temporarily diminish for a smoother appearance.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in all mammals that helps to hydrate and add volume to your skin. In addition to its use as an aesthetic treatment, hyaluronic acid has also been used for more than 20 years for injection into arthritic joints to aid movement as well as for eye surgeries and wound repair.

Uncross-linked hyaluronic acid in its natural form is in a liquid state. Cross-linking is the process through which hyaluronic acid is made into a gel product that can be injected into the skin for long-lasting results.

Your healthcare provider eases Juvederm® injectable gel into the skin using a fine needle to temporarily fill in and augment the treatment area and smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds such as smile lines or parentheses (nasolabial folds) and marionette lines (oral commissures). Juvederm® temporarily adds volume to the skin and may give the appearance of a smoother surface.

Juvederm® injectable gel will help to smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Most patients need one treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothing. One treatment could smooth your lines and wrinkles for up to 1 year. Ask your doctor what you should expect from your initial treatment and when they would recommend rescheduling another appointment.

Injections may cause some discomfort during and after the injection. The smooth consistency gel of Juvederm® allows your doctor to administer it easily and smoothly. Juvederm® is injected directly into the skin using a fine needle to reduce injection discomfort. Your doctor may choose to numb (anesthetize) the treatment area to further minimize discomfort.

The injection process takes only about 15 minutes. You'll also need to allow time to consult with your doctor prior to treatment.

Any authorized healthcare professional can administer Juvederm® injectable gel, but dermatologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors), or physicians specializing in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced.

No. Correction is temporary; therefore, touch-up injections as well as repeat injections are usually needed to maintain optimal corrections.

JUVEDERM® is the ONLY hyaluronic acid (HA) filler FDA approved to last up to 1 year.* Talk to your healthcare professional about Juvederm® today—so you can start seeing results!

*Juvederm® is indicated for injection into the mid to deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds

Most side effects are mild or moderate in nature, and their duration is short lasting (7 days or less). The most common side effects include, but are not limited to, temporary injection site reactions such as redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration. As with all skin injection procedures there is a risk of infection.

Yes. In fact, Juvederm® injectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that has proven its safety and effectiveness in persons of color. Studies with Juvederm® showed no increased risk of hyperpigmentation or hypertrophic scarring in patients of color.

Melasma is a skin condition characterized by brown or tan patches on the skin occurring generally in women. These light patches or spots appear symmetrically on the cheeks and around the eyes. These are generally the result of hormonal changes during the aging process or sun exposure. This can also occur during pregnancy or in women taking birth control pills.

Your skin contains a brown pigment called melanin. The amount of melanin in your skin determines your actual skin color. When produced in excess, either by exposure to the sun or as a result of other factors, it forms a concentrated deposit which can result in darker patches.

Spectra Laser Toning is Lutronic's patented 2-part procedure involving the application of a photo-enhancer with laser energy to reduce visible pigmentation. Laser Toning not only improves the texture and unevenness of the skin, but also reduces pore size.

In general, if you have melasma, you should avoid the sun whenever possible. Prolonged exposure to the sun may worsen the condition. In addition, prolonged exposure to the sun can limit the effectiveness of your treatment. Applying a good sunscreen after Laser Toning will not only help your treatment to work better, but will also help reduce the chances of the spots reappearing.

It is important to allow adequate time for results to occur. Melasma treatment is a gradual process that requires 6-8 sessions to produce effective results. With no downtime and minimal side effects, you may immediately return to your daily activities.

The SR/SRA uses focused light and bi-polar radio-frequency energies to restore skin to a more youthful state. Brown spots (pigmented imperfections) from sun damage and aging, red blotchiness from spider vessels or rosacea (vascular imperfections), and uneven skin texture will improve over a series of treatments.

Each SR/SRA treatment will result in gradual lightening and improvement of pigmented and vascular imperfections. Textural improvements are appreciated towards the end of the treatment series.

Treatments are repeated every month for a total of 5 treatments.

Temporary pinkness in the skin lasts a very short time, and most people return to work or normal activities immediately after treatment. The improvement in pigmented and vascular irregularities can often be appreciated by the time patients return for their next treatment a month later. Brown spots temporarily go darker before they lighten.

Photo damaged skin, erythema from Rosacea, Telangiectasias and pigmented lesions typically require 4-5 treatment sessions. Some resistant vascular and pigmented lesions may require more than 5 sessions to achieve fading or improvement. Fine lines, pore size and superficial depressed scarring may also show noticeable softening after 4-5 treatment sessions.

Treatment is very safe for the skin. There are many advances in the SR/SRA technology that make it unparalleled for skin safety, without compromising effectiveness for treatment. There are no long term health hazards from light or electric energies used in the SR/SRA. Both have been used for decades in medicine, surgery, and aesthetics without adversity.

The sensation is often described as hot pinch feeling. The sensation only lasts for fraction of a second, and you may feel warmth or tingling sensation for a short time afterward. Most people tolerate treatment without topical anesthetic, but individuals who are more sensitive may prefer to have the skin numbed before treatment.

Anyone who wants to improve the signs of sun damage and aging in the skin, such as pigmented and vascular irregularities, uneven or rough skin texture. Skin rejuvenation can be done on the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is a nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines. The treatment is usually done in about 10 minutes, and no recovery time is needed. Within days, you may see an improvement that can last up to 4 months. Results may vary.

Those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows form over time as the result of muscle activity. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscles between your brows. It works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those persistent lines to form.

Within days, you may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows. Lines continue to improve for up to a month, and results can last for up to 4 months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated the improvement in their appearance as moderate to better 1 month after treatment. Results may vary.

Results from treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic can last for up to 4 months. If you discontinue treatment, the frown lines between your brows gradually will look like they did before treatment. Results may vary.

Any authorized healthcare professional can administer BOTOX® Cosmetic, but dermatologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors), or other physicians specializing in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced. One of the above listed physicians can help you decide if BOTOX® Cosmetic is right for you.

Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, your physician may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people are in and out of the physician's office without downtime following BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.

BOTOX® Cosmetic should not be used in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation. Patients with neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

The most common side effects following injection include temporary eyelid droop and nausea. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

Although results are visible, a treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic will not radically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you "had work done." The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases between your brows.

If you do not continue treatments, the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows will gradually look like they did before treatment.

When considering your facial aesthetic options, BOTOX® Cosmetic is quite affordable. According to an American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery survey, BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the low-entry-cost facial aesthetic procedures in the United States. Like other appearance-related investments, such as hair coloring and cuts, teeth whitening, and chemical peels, the cost must be weighed relative to your expectations. Consult your doctor for further information.

To get the best results, it's important to go to a doctor who is experienced in administering BOTOX® Cosmetic. You may want to consider choosing a doctor from the BOTOX® Cosmetic Physicians' Network. Members of the Network have medical practices that focus on facial aesthetics, as well as detailed knowledge of facial anatomy and experience injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic.

The Mosaic CO2 laser beam heats and vaporizes the skin tissue, instantly removing the superficial layers of the skin. Each fractional micro spot creates a thermal zone. Intact cells around the treated area help during the healing process. This process induces cell regeneration. Immediate tightening and textural improvement is seen after one week of the procedure.

When the upper dermis is heated, the natural wound healing process is stimulated. The fibroblasts respond naturally producing collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans generating dermal restructuring. Mosiac CO2 combines the 10,600 wavelength, multiple scan sizes, and depth of penetration from 50 microns to 2.4mm. Using a proprietary laser delivery algorithm, eCO2s Controlled Chaos Technology (CCT) delivers each fractional beam as far away from the previous beam to maximize heat dissipation . This Fractional methodology produces a calculated tissue thermal relaxation time resulting in a faster healing process and less pain.

The result is a smoother, clearer and more youthful appearance of the skin. There is an immediate tightening. The procedure allows removal of sun spots, reduction in pore size, wrinkles, acne scars via soft tissue coagulation, and other textural irregularities. There is progressive improvement of the skin appearance due to the continued collagen production resulting in added improvements for 6 months following the treatment.

Certain conditions associated with enlarged pores can be safely and dramatically reduced for both men and women utilizing the SpectraPeel laser.

In most cases, 3-5 treatments will be required for optimum and long-lasting results. It is recommended that treatments are repeated every 2-3 weeks for pore size reduction. For maintaing clinical results, treatments should be performed twice a year.

The laser's energy is utilized to create heat causing a photo-acoustical effect to remove excessive sebum, clean away dead skin cells, and simultaneously unclog the pores. This process stimulates the inner walls of the pores as well as promoting collagen remodeling.

While laser treatments are considered to be long-lasting, they are not permanent. Patients can help maintain their new appearance by carefully following the post-care instructions and by avoiding prolonged sun exposure.