BIO-STIMULATION
By law in Australia, we aren't allowed to advertise the brand names of any medicines - including the brands of any products used by cosmetic injectors. But Dr Jake uses the Galderma product for skin bio-stimulation.
In your consultation Dr Jake will aim to get an understanding of your 'wants' (what you think you might like) vs your anatomical 'needs' (what he recommends based on your clinical photos and facial examination). Sometimes these marry up nicely and sometimes they don't, so each consultation aims to help you understand your face, your anatomy and what the treatment possibilities are that will leave you looking natural.
Every face is special and therefore a treatment plan is often mapped out over a period of time to help you achieve holistic results whilst also managing your budget.
WHAT IS BIO-STIMULATION?
Regardless of what you book in for, in your consultation every option will be considered and discussed depending on your needs. But common symptoms suitable for considering bio-stimulatory treatments include:
- reducing laxity of the skin of the face or neck
- improving a gaunt or very thin-looking face
Facial aesthetics and the signs of facial aging are complex. Dr Jake rarely focuses on individual facial areas alone because this quite simplistic approach can risk looking disjointed, jarring or 'obvious' - for example treating the lips in isolation when the rest of the face doesn't match.
It's been said that a beautiful result from a skilled injector should be appreciated but not necessarily 'seen' - meaning that you should appear to look rested, youthful and vibrant but what was done remains a secret. This is why you can't tell if someone with a good result has had or not, but oppositely those with more obvious treatments tend to be viewed more negatively.
KEY FEATURES OF BIO-STIMULATION CONSULTATIONS
Consultations
New patient consultations +/- treatments = 60 mins.
Existing patient consultations + treatments = 45 mins.
Full face indications
These treatments are suitable for the entire lateral aspect of the face including the temples, the cheek bone area, the area in front of the ear and the area of skin near the corner of the jaw.
Outstanding satisfaction
The results will show only after 3-4 months. This slow burn is excellent for patients wanting subtle and slow changes.
Excellent longevity
Dr Jake Sloane will suggest the right amount of product for each facial region. Bio-stimulation product has been clinically shown to last for up to 5 years. Dr Jake will guide you to avoid looking over-done or unnatural.
DOWNTIME & AFTERCARE AFTER BIO-STIMULATION
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Every patient who has bio-stimulation will experience a degree of swelling, tenderness +/- bruising immediately after. One to two weeks of mild down time will always occur after these treatments and this is a normal soft tissue response to the needles used and the product added.
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This downtime period should be factored into your diary, work arrangements and social life before you commit to a treatment. The vast majority of Dr Jake's patients will happily go to work the next day with no problems but new patients are reminded that these treatments are medical procedures and not simple beauty treatments.
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You will be shown how to massage the areas treated. This
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After 1 weeks, you may wonder if the product has disappeared! Unlike facial volumiser products, bio-stimulators aren't palpable under the skin. instead, they work a bit like a fertiliser, signalling to your skin to synthesis more collagen and elastin over time. This process takes 3-4 months per session and some patients may need 2-3 sessions spaced over 12 months for the best results.
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How do wrinkle treatments work?Wrinkle treatments are performed using tiny injections. They work by temporarily and reversibly blocking nerve signals to specific areas of the facial muscles, allowing the muscles to relax. As a result, the skin overlying the muscles also relaxes, smoothing out the visible lines. Over a period of on average 4 months, the treatment wears off and wrinkles slowly return.
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How should I prepare for my wrinkle treatment?As for all injectable treatments, please come with no make up, foundation or similar on your skin. This will reduce the risk of an infection. To reduce the risk of bruising: - avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior - stop any fish oil supplements at least 5 days prior - stop any garlic, ginger, gingko biloba or ginseng in high doses - avoid any anti-inflammatory medicines (neurofen, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc) for 5 days before your treatment if possible. Prescription medicines that can make bruising much more common include warfarin or other anti-coagulants. If these are prescribed by your GP, it's not recommended to stop them. You can still have injectables but you should expect bruising to be much more common and obvious.
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What can't I do after a wrinkle treatment?You can go back to your normal daily activities after a treatment except for two simple rules: 1) Don't massage, rub or wash the areas injected until the next day after your treatment. This also includes not doing things like having a massage, facial or similar straight after an anti-wrinkle treatment. (for at least 12 hours afterwards) 2) Avoid sports, exercise or vigorous activity for 12 hours afterwards. These rules help prevent the anti-wrinkle product spreading and affecting other muscles of the face that we don't want to treat. Failure to follow these increases the chance of complications, most importantly eyelid or eyebrow drooping. These are both avoidable and reversible side effects but can take several weeks or even months to settle. Avoiding alcohol after any injectable treatment until the following day also reduces your risk of worsened bruising.
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What are the potential side effects?The most common side effects include: - Mild discomfort during the procedure - very temporary swellings and redness (that disappear within minutes) - bruising (always a risk when a needle is used) Rarer side effects include: - In less than 1% of cases, patients can very rarely experience eyebrow or eyelid heaviness (called a 'ptosis'). This is very rare, temporary and often resolves in three or four weeks on it's own. This might be caused by a failure to follow the after care rules described above. In this scenario, some special eyedrops might be prescribed to you to help lift the heavy eyelid but you'll need to be reviewed in person first.
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Do wrinkle treatments hurt?The injections only take minutes to perform and no special measures are needed. Dr Jake uses the smallest needles available and most patients are pleasantly surprised at how easy the process is.
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Are there any people who shouldn't have a wrinkle treatment?There are just a few but important conditions that are contraindications to wrinkle treatments: - Pregnancy or breastfeeding. (Patients trying for a baby, undergoing IVF or who are unsure if they are pregnant will also be refused treatments) - Rare neurological diseases such as Myasthenia Gravis Those taking the following medicines should also not have these treatments: - Aminoglycoside antibiotics (Gentamycin, Neomycin, Streptomycin, etc) - Penicillamine (used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis) - A known allergy to human albumin A detailed medical history will be taken prior to your treatment but it is your responsibility to declare any medical problems to us in good time.
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How often should I have treatments?If the recommended dose is done on the day of your treatment, the results will last 2-4 months on average. Most people therefore come every 3-4 months to help maintain a consistent appearance.