Jeffrey Drayer, M.D. has been practicing cosmetic dermatology for eight years, both in Beverly Hills and here in Bakersfield. He has extensive expertise in Botox, Restylane, Laser treatment, Photofacial, Sclerotherapy for leg veins, and Chemical Peels.
Please scroll down the page for further information on:
BOTOX COSMETIC
RESTYLANE and HYALURONIC ACID
PHOTOFACIAL
VASCULAR LASER
SCLEROTHERAPY
CHEMICAL PEELS
(The headings above each section are links to the individual manufacturer's page, if available)
BOTOX® Cosmetic
BOTOX® Cosmetic is the revolutionary protein that makes wrinkles disappear.
Why do I have wrinkles?
Wrinkles are simply creases that have been worn into the skin by making the same expression over and over. Common areas include between the eyes (glabella), the forehead, and the sides of the eyes (“crow’s feet”).
What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein. Although BOTOX® Cosmetic, at very high doses, is considered a toxin, we use a dilution several million times less than the levels at which toxicity occurs. There have been no serious side effects reported from its use to treat wrinkles.
How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
By injecting a tiny amount into the muscles that cause wrinkles, the nerve impulse to that muscle is blocked, causing the muscle to relax. As the muscle relaxes, the skin above it smoothes, causing the wrinkles to soften and eventually disappear.
Does the injection hurt?
There is a minor sting which lasts for only a few seconds. Once the injection is complete, there is usually no more discomfort.
Can people tell I was injected?
The injection sites are usually not noticeable – most people are able to go right back to work. Occasionally, there can be very mild bruising, which clears in a matter of days.
Do you dilute your BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Unlike many offices, which offer BOTOX® Cosmetic at low prices because they water it down, causing it to wear off quickly or not work at all, we reconstitute our BOTOX® Cosmetic to the precise concentration recommended by the manufacturers.
Does BOTOX® Cosmetic affect other facial expressions?
No – it only affects those areas which are targeted. You will still be able to make all your other normal expressions.
How long does a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment last?
Approximately three months, though this often increases after several treatments.
Restylane® and Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acids (HA) such as Restylane® are cosmetic fillers, used to smooth deep lines, augment the lips and lip borders, contour the cheeks and chin, and volumize areas that have become sunken and hollow. Other hyaluronic acid fillers include Hylaform®, Hylaform Plus®, and Captique®.
Why do I look older?
As we age, we lose volume in our faces as the subdermal fat disappears. This causes our lips to become thinner – often associated with multiple lines to form on our upper lip, the so-called “smoker’s lines,” the corners of our mouths to droop, the lines between our nose and mouth (the nasolabial folds) to deepen, and the space below our eyes to hollow and wrinkle. By replacing the volume loss with even small amounts of HA, we are able to re-create a fuller, younger look.
What is RESTYLANE®?
RESTYLANE® is a hyaluronic acid (HA) gel. HA is the natural sugar that makes up a large portion of our deep skin. It’s main function is to provide volume and pliability to the skin. Since it is a natural part of our skin, there is no need for allergy testing, and it is non-toxic.
Does the injection hurt?
The area to be injected will be numbed beforehand. Nonetheless, when augmenting the lips, there is usually some mild discomfort. Feel free to take a Tylenol 30 minutes before your appointment. Once the injection is complete, there is usually no more discomfort.
Can people tell I was injected?
There is no swelling, and the injection sites are usually not noticeable – most people are able to go right back to work. Occasionally, there can be very mild bruising, which clears in a matter of days.
Does RESTYLANE® affect other facial expressions?
No – it simply fills the spaces needed to give a younger, fresher look.
How long does a RESTYLANE® treatment last?
Approximately five to six months for lips and areas around the mouth, and approximately a year below the eyes.
PhotoFacial™
A PhotoFacial™ Treatment is a series of pulsed light treatments which improve the appearance of sun damaged and aging skin, resulting in a more youthful appearance with little or no downtime.
How does PhotoFacial™ work?
An intense light is emitted in a series of gentle pulses over the skin of the face, neck, chest or hands. This light penetrates the skin at all levels to destroy superficial blood vessels and pigment, and stimulates production of new collagen, the substance that gives skin its structure and elasticity.
What conditions does PhotoFacial™ treat?
Sun-damaged skin; red, flushed faces; areas of flat or slightly-raised pigmentation, enlarged pores.
Is there any downtime after PhotoFacial™ treatment?
No – patients may experience a slight bit of redness, but are almost always to go about their normal business directly after the procedure. Mild bruising appears in less than 1% of patients.
Does PhotoFacial™ treatment hurt?
Most patients describe it as having a rubber band snapped against your skin. For those patients sensitive to pain, a topical anesthetic can be applied prior to the procedure.
How much improvement will I see?
After a series of 3 treatments, 75-95% improvement in sun damage may be seen.
How many treatments will I need?
Though most older machines require five to eight treatments, new technology allows us to complete treatment in only 2-3 sessions.
Vascular Laser
The Vascular Laser is a 595 nanometer pulsed-dye laser which selectively removes unwanted facial lesions. This is particularly effective in treating broken capillaries and facial redness
How does the VASCULAR LASER work?
Laser light of this wavelength is absorbed selectively by the blood vessels of the skin, without affecting the surrounding tissue. These vessels are gently heated and coagulated, and then re-absorbed by the body. The laser’s cooling device protects the rest of the skin, providing extra comfort and safety.
What conditions does the VASCULAR LASER treat?
Broken capillaries, spider veins, rosacea, port wine stains (birthmark hemangiomas), warts, and some scars and red or inflamed stretch marks.
Is there any downtime after VASCULAR LASER™ treatment?
Patients usually experience slight redness equivalent of a mild sunburn, which fades over the next 24-48 hours. Mild bruising appears in less than 5% of patients.
Does treatment with the VASCULAR LASER hurt?
Patients describe the feeling as having a rubber band snapped against their skin. For patients sensitive to pain, a topical anesthetic may be applied beforehand.
How many treatments will I need?
Usually significant improvement for facial redness and vessels can be achieved with just one or two treatments. Sometimes, however, patients happy with the results will request further treatments to increase the beneficial outcome. Certain conditions, such as port-wine stains or scars, often require multiple treatments for optimal outcome.
How long do the results last?
The veins that are removed will not come back. However, new blood vessels may be formed over time, especially in patients with significant rosacea. Therefore, some patients choose to undergo maintenance procedures every 1-3 years.
SCLEROTHERAPY
Small veins on the legs are often hereditary, though they worsen with age and pregnancy. The best treatment for this is sclerotherapy, which involves a painless injection into the vein that causes them to disappear gradually over several weeks or months.
How does Sclerotherapy work?
A solution is injected into the veins which makes them close up, and dissolve.
Does the injection hurt?
Usually not – the veins are right at the surface, and therefore the injection is very superficial.
How long do the results last?
Forever. Of course, new veins may form in the future. But the ones treated successfully with sclerotherapy will not return.
Chemical Peels
A chemical solution is applied to the skin, usually of the face or neck, which causes the damaged skin to peel off. The regenerated skin beneath is smoother, less wrinkled, and healthier in appearance.
What conditions do CHEMICAL PEELS treat?
Acne scarring and significant hyperpigmentation. Each is normally difficult to treat. However, through a series of chemical peels, significant improvement can be seen in both conditions.
Which peels do you use?
We use Glycolic, Salicylic, and TCA peels. All of these are medical-grade, and can only be applied by a licensed physician.
Does the peel hurt?
The patient may experience slight warmth during the procedure, which goes away once the solution is removed.
Is there significant downtime?
After a peel, expect redness and perhaps mild soreness at the level of a mild sunburn for the first 24-48 hours, as the skin peels off microscopically. If sunscreen is applied as instructed, these symptoms should fade within 1-2 days.
How many treatments will I need?
A series of 3-6 peels is usually recommended for best results.
