The health, safety and well-being of our patients remains our top priority during the COVID pandemic. The UCSF Department of Ophthalmology is implementing a recovery plan to resume patient clinical and surgical care while making every effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. We have taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of all our patients visiting our practices (Clinic Visit Fact Sheet) and our operating rooms (Surgery Visit Fact Sheet) during these times. We value the opportunity to provide you the best in eye care. Should you have an urgent eye problem, please contact us at (415) 353-2800. The following UCSF websites are also provided for reference: Resources for Patients and Preparedness for Surgery and Other Procedures
Minimally Invasive Rejuvenation
Botulinum injections are used to treat dynamic wrinkles of the face created by the muscles of facial expression. Botox is a purified protein that relaxes muscles by blocking nerve impulses. With careful placement, treatment can soften wrinkles including those in the forehead, frown lines (11’s), around the eyes (crow’s feet), nose (bunny lines), lip lines, chin wrinkles and neck bands. It is the most common cosmetic procedure performed in the United States that can be done with no down time or recovery. With the application of a topical anesthetic, the injections are performed with a tiny needle, making for a near painless experience. The effect begins within days and typically lasts 3-4 months. Consultation with one of our skilled physicians will allow a customized treatment paradigm to address the areas of concern.
A soft tissue filler is a material that is injected in the face to rejuvenate areas where there is wrinkle formation, volume loss or descent of soft tissues. They can be used to camouflage aging and help in the appearance of lower eyelid bags, deflated cheeks, nasolabial folds, shrinking lips, marionette lines, and lower face jowls. There are many different types of fillers with varying composition. This provides them with unique properties suitable for application in specific areas of the face. A careful evaluation with one of our providers can tailor a customized treatment plan.
A peel is a solution that is applied to the skin that causes it to exfoliate and slough off. The new skin is typically smoother with fewer wrinkles and more uniformly colored. There are several levels of peeling that penetrate the skin at different depths and thus treat the skin to a varying degree. A superficial peel such as alpha-hydroxy acid will penetrate the outer layer of skin to exfoliate it, rejuvenating the appearance of the skin and improving mild skin discoloration. A medium peel such as trichloroacetic acid will penetrate deeper into the middle layers of skin to improve aging spots, fine lines and wrinkles, freckles and moderate skin discoloration. A deep peel such as phenol will deeply penetrate the middle layer of skin and address more moderate lines and shallow scars in addition to skin discoloration. Peeling, when appropriate can also be combined with surgery.
Botox
Q. What areas of the face are best treated with Botox?
A. Botox can be used to improve wrinkles of the forehead, frown lines (11’s), around the eyes (crow’s feet), nose (bunny lines), lip lines, chin and neck bands.
Q. Is Botox a type of filler?
A. No- Botox does not augment soft tissue volume. It works to relax muscles whose contraction causes wrinkles.
Q. Who is not a candidate for Botox injections?
A. Individuals with active skin infections or a known allergic response to prior injections should not receive Botox. Botox should also be avoided in people with the following neurologic conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Lambert-Eaton syndrome. Also individuals who are nursing or pregnant should avoid injections.
Q. Is Botox dangerous?
A. Botox was approved by the FDA in 1989 and has been safely used since that time. It is the most common aesthetic procedure performed in the U.S. The doses at which it is injected for aesthetic application are safe and do not pose a threat to human health.
Q. What are the possible side effects or complications of Botox?
A. The most common side effects of Botox are temporary swelling at the injection site, bleeding, and bruising. Less commonly headaches may be experienced, eyelid drooping, dry eyes, and facial asymmetry.
Fillers
Q. What can a soft tissue filler be used to treat?
A. Fillers are appropriate for addressing wrinkles, volume loss and soft tissue descending on the face. They can help with the appearance of lower eyelid bags, deflated cheeks, nasolabial folds, shrinking lips, marionette lines, and lower face jowls
Q. Who is not a candidate for filler application?
A. Fillers would not be recommended for individuals with active skin infections, active Herpes simplex cold sores, uncontrolled diabetes, connective tissue disorders, or on blood thinning agents.
Q. Is filler application painful?
A. There is mild discomfort from filler application. To mitigate pain, topical numbing creams are applied with ice compresses placed over the treatment area. If necessary, anesthetic injections can be performed. Many fillers are constituted with lidocaine so as the injections proceed an anesthetic effect is provided to the tissue bed.
Q. What are the possible side effects or complications of fillers?
A. The most common side effects of fillers are swelling, bruising, bleeding, lumps and bumps. Uncommon side effects or complications include numbness, allergic reactions, infection, blisters and cysts, inflammatory reactions, migration of filler material to another site, and loss of blood supply to the tissue bed.
Peels
Q. When is a peel appropriate?
A. Peels can be used to treat aging or sun damaged skin, fine to moderate wrinkles, and shallow scars.
Q. Who is not a candidate for a peel?
A. Peels work best on people with fair skin complexion. They are less effective in people with darker skin complexion. Individuals with active skin disease, inflammatory skin conditions, cuts, sunburns or active Herpes simplex cold sores should not have peels. Also people who are nursing, pregnant, or have taken Accutane in the last 6 months are not candidates.
Q. Is treatment with a peel painful?
A. Peels do sting but do not cause substantial pain. Depending on the degree of peeling varying stinging, irritation, swelling and redness can be encountered. Use of creams and gels after the peel is applied will reduce these symptoms.
Q. What are the possible complications of a peel?
A. These include temporary or permanent changes in skin color, secondary infection of the skin, scarring of the skin, and/or reactivation of Herpes simplex cold sores.
Minimally Invasive Rejuvenation
Botulinum injections are used to treat dynamic wrinkles of the face created by the muscles of facial expression. Botox is a purified protein that relaxes muscles by blocking nerve impulses. With careful placement, treatment can soften wrinkles including those in the forehead, frown lines (11’s), around the eyes (crow’s feet), nose (bunny lines), lip lines, chin wrinkles and neck bands. It is the most common cosmetic procedure performed in the United States that can be done with no down time or recovery. With the application of a topical anesthetic, the injections are performed with a tiny needle, making for a near painless experience. The effect begins within days and typically lasts 3-4 months. Consultation with one of our skilled physicians will allow a customized treatment paradigm to address the areas of concern.
A soft tissue filler is a material that is injected in the face to rejuvenate areas where there is wrinkle formation, volume loss or descent of soft tissues. They can be used to camouflage aging and help in the appearance of lower eyelid bags, deflated cheeks, nasolabial folds, shrinking lips, marionette lines, and lower face jowls. There are many different types of fillers with varying composition. This provides them with unique properties suitable for application in specific areas of the face. A careful evaluation with one of our providers can tailor a customized treatment plan.
A peel is a solution that is applied to the skin that causes it to exfoliate and slough off. The new skin is typically smoother with fewer wrinkles and more uniformly colored. There are several levels of peeling that penetrate the skin at different depths and thus treat the skin to a varying degree. A superficial peel such as alpha-hydroxy acid will penetrate the outer layer of skin to exfoliate it, rejuvenating the appearance of the skin and improving mild skin discoloration. A medium peel such as trichloroacetic acid will penetrate deeper into the middle layers of skin to improve aging spots, fine lines and wrinkles, freckles and moderate skin discoloration. A deep peel such as phenol will deeply penetrate the middle layer of skin and address more moderate lines and shallow scars in addition to skin discoloration. Peeling, when appropriate can also be combined with surgery.
Botox
Q. What areas of the face are best treated with Botox?
A. Botox can be used to improve wrinkles of the forehead, frown lines (11’s), around the eyes (crow’s feet), nose (bunny lines), lip lines, chin and neck bands.
Q. Is Botox a type of filler?
A. No- Botox does not augment soft tissue volume. It works to relax muscles whose contraction causes wrinkles.
Q. Who is not a candidate for Botox injections?
A. Individuals with active skin infections or a known allergic response to prior injections should not receive Botox. Botox should also be avoided in people with the following neurologic conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Lambert-Eaton syndrome. Also individuals who are nursing or pregnant should avoid injections.
Q. Is Botox dangerous?
A. Botox was approved by the FDA in 1989 and has been safely used since that time. It is the most common aesthetic procedure performed in the U.S. The doses at which it is injected for aesthetic application are safe and do not pose a threat to human health.
Q. What are the possible side effects or complications of Botox?
A. The most common side effects of Botox are temporary swelling at the injection site, bleeding, and bruising. Less commonly headaches may be experienced, eyelid drooping, dry eyes, and facial asymmetry.
Fillers
Q. What can a soft tissue filler be used to treat?
A. Fillers are appropriate for addressing wrinkles, volume loss and soft tissue descending on the face. They can help with the appearance of lower eyelid bags, deflated cheeks, nasolabial folds, shrinking lips, marionette lines, and lower face jowls
Q. Who is not a candidate for filler application?
A. Fillers would not be recommended for individuals with active skin infections, active Herpes simplex cold sores, uncontrolled diabetes, connective tissue disorders, or on blood thinning agents.
Q. Is filler application painful?
A. There is mild discomfort from filler application. To mitigate pain, topical numbing creams are applied with ice compresses placed over the treatment area. If necessary, anesthetic injections can be performed. Many fillers are constituted with lidocaine so as the injections proceed an anesthetic effect is provided to the tissue bed.
Q. What are the possible side effects or complications of fillers?
A. The most common side effects of fillers are swelling, bruising, bleeding, lumps and bumps. Uncommon side effects or complications include numbness, allergic reactions, infection, blisters and cysts, inflammatory reactions, migration of filler material to another site, and loss of blood supply to the tissue bed.
Peels
Q. When is a peel appropriate?
A. Peels can be used to treat aging or sun damaged skin, fine to moderate wrinkles, and shallow scars.
Q. Who is not a candidate for a peel?
A. Peels work best on people with fair skin complexion. They are less effective in people with darker skin complexion. Individuals with active skin disease, inflammatory skin conditions, cuts, sunburns or active Herpes simplex cold sores should not have peels. Also people who are nursing, pregnant, or have taken Accutane in the last 6 months are not candidates.
Q. Is treatment with a peel painful?
A. Peels do sting but do not cause substantial pain. Depending on the degree of peeling varying stinging, irritation, swelling and redness can be encountered. Use of creams and gels after the peel is applied will reduce these symptoms.
Q. What are the possible complications of a peel?
A. These include temporary or permanent changes in skin color, secondary infection of the skin, scarring of the skin, and/or reactivation of Herpes simplex cold sores.