La Peau Dermatology, led by Dr. Zaina Rashid, is offering several cosmetic treatments for the busy spring and summer months, including the extremely popular Botox injections, which reduce and prevent wrinkles.
Botox is injected into specific muscles in very small amounts as a treatment. It acts by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles and so paralyzes and relaxes the muscles.
“Botox tends to paralyze the muscle involved in movement of the facial anatomy,” Dr. Rashid stated. “So, if somebody has a deep line in between their eyes, this means the person frowns constantly and hence lines become prominent. If somebody frowns, that means the muscle there has to move quite frequently,” she continued. “So, if you put Botox in those muscles, it will prevent frowning.”
Dr. Rashid recommends preventative Botox treatments for young people who may not have developed deep wrinkles yet but are at risk due to animated facial expressions.
“Botox will prevent the muscles from moving and hence prevent that deep wrinkling in between the eyes, as well as the forehead, down the line as we age,” she said. “It’s a good preventative procedure for someone who wants to look fresh.”
It’s also a great way to look younger and more vibrant for a special event or occasion. With the injectable’s growing popularity, however, Dr. Rashid urges her clients to do their research before receiving a treatment.
“I always advise my patients, ‘Do your research. Do your homework,’” she said. “Not everyone can do this if they do not know the anatomy of the face very well. They have to know the muscles where they’re injecting. There could be complications from Botox if they don’t know what they’re doing.”
For Dr. Rashid, the most effective treatments come from a conservative approach to cosmetic Botox, including a consultation and a complimentary follow-up visit to ensure the muscles are reacting as expected.
Since everyone’s muscles are different, Dr. Rashid begins with a small amount, then perfects the treatment at the two-week follow-up appointment. She will determine where to administer the injections after having examined the ability to move certain muscles in the treatment area.
A very tiny needle is used to inject the Botox directly into the muscles. Generally, discomfort is minimal and dissipates quickly, so there is no need for a topical anesthetic cream.
In addition to Botox, La Peau Dermatology offers several other cosmetic treatments to prepare clients for spring and summer, such as cleansing masks and chemical peels.
Dr. Rashid recommends preventing and reversing sun damage going into the hot summer by applying a high-quality sunscreen and receiving regular skincare treatments.
“One, get a good sunscreen that has a high protection, making sure you reapply every two hours,” she recommended. “Two, do chemical peels every now and then to remove and reduce any sun damage, and three, do what we call the photodynamic therapy, which is the blue light to actually remove or show any areas the clinical naked eye cannot see that can be pre-cancerous. It brings it all to the surface and gets rid of it,” Dr. Rashid said.
La Peau Dermatology is located at 5424 E. Southern Ave., Suite 103. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call (480) 396-2300.