• University of California, San Francisco
  • About UCSF
  • UCSF Medical Center
  • UCSF Ophthalmology
    • All May See
    • Francis I. Proctor Foundation
    • Frederick C. Cordes Eye Society
Giving Contact Us

UCSF Department of Ophthalmology

  • Patient Care
    • Patient Care
    • Clinics and Doctors
    • UCSF Laser Vision Center
    • Optical Shop
    • The Center for Oculofacial Plastic Surgery
    • Low Vision Clinic
  • All Faculty
    • All Faculty
    • Eye Doctors
  • Research
    • Overview & Publications
    • Faculty Research Summary
    • NIH P30 – Core Grant
    • Lab Websites
      • Chan Lab
      • Copenhagen Lab
      • Dunn Lab
      • Gould Lab
      • Green Lab
      • Horton Lab
      • Lakkaraju Lab
      • Lamba Lab
      • Nachury Lab
      • Nair Lab
      • Ou Lab
      • Ullian Lab
    • Postdoctoral Fellowships
      • Postdoctoral Fellows
    • Research Awards
  • Education & Alumni
    • Residency Program
      • Welcome / Program Goals
      • Meet our Residents
      • Curriculum
      • Clinical Rotations
      • Awards & Accomplishments
      • Research & Publications
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Application Information
    • Fellowship Programs
      • Welcome & Program Goals
      • Programs and Contacts
      • Fellows
      • Education & Career Development
    • Postdoctoral Fellowships
      • Postdoctoral Fellows
    • K12 Program
      • K12 Overview and Objectives
      • K12 Tracks and Mentors
      • K12 Scholars and Directors
      • K12 Awards & Accomplishments
      • K12 FAQ
      • K12 Initial Application
      • K12 Program Home
    • Medical Student
    • Alumni
    • Verifications
  • News & Events
    • All News
    • Grand Rounds and Meetings

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) 353-2020. The following UCSF websites are also provided for reference: Resources for Patients and Preparedness for Surgery and Other Procedures

Aesthetic Surgery

  • Overview
  • Our Surgeons
  • Minimally Invasive Rejuvenation
  • Surgical Rejuvenation
  • Contact Us for an Aesthetics Consult

Our Newsletter

newsletters

The Center for Oculofacial Plastic

Minimally Invasive Rejuvenation


Botox

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.


Fillers

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.


Peels

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.


FAQs

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.


Aesthetic Surgery

  • Overview
  • Our Surgeons
  • Minimally Invasive Rejuvenation
  • Surgical Rejuvenation
  • Contact Us for an Aesthetics Consult
The Center for Oculofacial Plastic

Minimally Invasive Rejuvenation


Botox

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.


Fillers

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.


Peels

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.


FAQs

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.


Our Newsletter

newsletters

Lasik

The proximity of leading-edge research to quality patient care for state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment. Learn More

Optical Shop

We offer comprehensive vision services, the latest in contact lenses, and quality fashion frames. Learn More

Aesthetic Surgery

The Center for Oculofacial Plastic Surgery provides cutting edge techniques for facial rejuvenation. Learn More

About Us

UCSF Department of Ophthalmology
(415) 353-2020
More Contact Info and Directions

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Faculty
  • Giving
  • Proctor Foundation
  • Residency Program
  • News, Publications & Events

UCSF Links

Accessibility page
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
A-Z Website List

© 2023 UCSF. All rights reserved.
Web Design by HelloARI
Comments about this web site?

Top