Faqs

Botox® is a cosmetic injectable that is injected into the muscles to soften movement and action to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Dysport® is an alternative cosmetic injectable to BOTOX that reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other skin imperfections that appear with age.

Botox /Dysport is injected directly into the muscles on the patient’s affected areas to effectively block the nerve signals being transmitted along the nervous fibers that signal the muscles in these areas to contract.

A Botox /Dysport treatment typically lasts about 3 to 6 months. As muscle action slowly returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to reappear and need to be treated again. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with time because the muscles are shrinking.

It’s best to avoid alcohol starting at least 1 week before the procedure. You should also stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications 2 weeks before treatment to help prevent bruising.

Some may say that it is mildly uncomfortable upon injection, however other patients report that they don’t feel the treatment being administered. Some areas tend to be more sensitive than others.

You may see slight swelling or redness around the injection sites, which fades quickly. You only have a few of restrictions: Do not massage the area treated, no strenuous exercise for 24 hours, no hot sun, saunas or excessive heat for 72 hours, and avoid alcohol and salty foods to limit swelling. Botox carries some risk of bruising around the injection site.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or allergic to any of the ingredients, you are not a candidate.

The results appear in about 7 to 14 days, so if you have an upcoming event and want to look your best, plan your treatment at least two weeks in advance. When treating fine lines and wrinkles, a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles should result once the treatment takes effect. Follow up or alternative treatments may be necessary if further correction is desired.

Avoid rubbing the injection site for 24 hours so you don’t spread the Botox to another area. Your doctor may also tell you to stay upright for 4 hours after the shots and to take a day off from exercising.

Dermal fillers, sometimes called soft tissue fillers, are substances designed to be injected beneath the surface of the skin to add volume and fullness.

Different types of dermal fillers are designed to treat varying signs of aging. Depending on the filler selected, they may:

• Plump up thinning lips
• Enhance or fill in shallow areas on the face
• Decrease or remove the shadow or wrinkle under the eyes caused by the lower eyelid
• Fill in or soften the look of recessed scars
• Fill in or soften static wrinkles*, especially on the lower face

*Static wrinkles include those around the mouth and along the cheeks. These wrinkles are usually a result of a loss of collagen and elasticity in the skin.

The differences between Botox and fillers are:

• Botox: This freezes muscles to stop creases and wrinkles caused by facial expressions. These are typically found in the upper face, such as the forehead and around the eyes.
• Dermal fillers: These use hyaluronic acid and similar substances to “fill in” or plump areas that have lost volume and smoothness. This includes wrinkles around the mouth, thin lips, and cheeks that have lost fullness. They may also be used on forehead wrinkles, scars, and other areas that need extra volume for a smoother look.
• Botox results last 3 to 4 months. Dermal filler results vary, depending on which filler is used.

Because Botox and fillers are different substances designed for different uses, they can sometimes be combined in one treatment. For instance, someone may use Botox to correct lines between the eyes and a filler to correct smile lines around the mouth.

Kybella® is an FDA approved prescription injectable used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin (submental fat), also called “double chin.”

The active ingredient in Kybella®® is synthetic deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that breaks down and absorbs fat by breaking down cell membranes of fat cells. When injecting Kybella®, the response is that fat cells are targeted to destruction. The dissolved fat then gets cleared by the lymphatic and circulatory systems, as any waste product in our bodies does. These target fat cells remove themselves gradually over the span of several weeks. As for the Kybella®/deoxycholic acid, it follows the same path; It gets metabolized and broken down, and then excreted as waste.

Most patients typically see results after just one Kybella® treatment. The full results may take up to four treatments scheduled about one month apart to achieve the desired look. Since the results are permanent, once they are revealed, no more treatments are necessary.

The common side effects from a Kybella® treatment are bruising, swelling, redness, pain, and numbness and areas of hardness in the treated area may result. Please keep in mind that these are not all of the possible side effects from Kybella®.

Those with an infection in the desired treatment area should not receive Kybella®. Pregnant or nursing mothers should also not receive Kybella®. Kybella® should be used with caution for those with bleeding abnormalities, as bleeding or bruising in the treatment area may occur.

There is no recovery with Kybella® treatments. Patients may return to their normal activities immediately following their appointments. On top of that, once the desired look has been achieved, they are permanent. It is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet to ensure a sculpted look is maintained.

Restylane is a highly versatile injectable dermal filler that can immediately restore lost volume from aging and smooth out moderate to severe lines and wrinkles.

Small amounts of Restylane are injected into trouble areas and distributed evenly using very gentle pressure. Composed of a highly biocompatible hyaluronic acid base, Restylane acts very much like the body’s naturally occurring hyaluronic acid, instantly hydrating the affected areas to visibly smooth out folds and add definition and fullness to aging areas of the face.

The results obtained with the initial treatment with Restylane will be immediately noticeable right after the procedure and will last 9 to 12 months.

Common side effects with Restylane include tenderness, redness, swelling and bruising at the injection sites. These are expected to improve within a week.

The Restylane family of products should not be used by people who:

• Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under 22 years of age
• Have recently used drugs that thin the blood or prevent clotting
• Have had previous bad allergies, particularly to microorganisms known as gram-positive bacteria
• Have serious allergies to drugs that have previously required in-hospital treatment
• Have bleeding disorders
• Have a known allergy to lidocaine, if using Restylane lyft, Restylane, Restylane Refyne or Restylane Defyne

Immediately following Restylane treatments, there may be some slight redness or swelling at the injection sites. This is temporary and typically resolves itself within a day or two. We recommend you avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for about 24 hours to allow the swelling to subside.

HydraFacial Keravive™ is a unique and relaxing 3-step treatment designed to cleanse, stimulate, and nourish your scalp and hair follicles for fuller, thicker, healthier-looking hair.

HydraFacial Keravive™ is a 3-step treatment:

1. Cleanse + Exfoliate: Relaxing, painless suction and hydration removes dirt, oil, and dead skin, and cleanses hair follicles.
2. Hydrate + Nourish: Optimized delivery of a proprietary blend of 5 biomimetic growth factors and 2 skin proteins.
3. Deliver daily scalp and hair follicle nourishment and stimulation

HydraFacial Keravive™ is designed to help remove impurities and reinvigorate your scalp to help address hair and scalp concerns such as dry, damaged, or thinning hair, clogged hair follicles and dry scalp.

For best results, it is recommended that patients have the HydraFacial Keravive™ in-office treatment once a month for three consecutive months, along with continued use of the at-home spray. A maintenance in-office treatment every 1-3 months is also encouraged.

HydraFacial Keravive™ does not require downtime nor recovery. After your treatment, you can continue your normal daily activities. This treatment is suitable for all skin types, is rejuvenating, gentle, non-invasive, and effective.

Keravive™ may be combined with many other hair loss treatments in our office such as microneedling. Many patients choose to undergo combination treatments in order to achieve the maximum aesthetic result.

If you have been considering a chemical peel or laser treatment to renew your facial skin but are worried about redness and discomfort, you have another option. The HydraFacial®, sometimes referred to as the “red carpet facial”, is a non-invasive, non-laser skin resurfacing procedure that can be used to target dark spots, wrinkles, fine lines, and clogged pores. The technique thoroughly cares for your skin by providing cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, and hydration in one gentle process. The procedure includes a Vortex-Fusion of antioxidants, peptides, and Hyaluronic Acid for an added boost.

HydraFacial is a 30–40-minute procedure that consists of 3 steps:

1. Cleanse & Peel: Uncover a new layer of skin with gentle exfoliation and relaxing resurfacing.
2. Extract & Hydrate: Remove debris from pores with painless suction. Nourish with intense moisturizers that quench skin.
3. Fuse & Protect: Saturate the skin’s surface with antioxidants and peptides to maximize your glow.

• Combat fine lines and wrinkles
• Restore elasticity & firmness
• Even out skin tone
• Restore skin vibrancy
• Improve skin texture
• Correct hyperpigmentation
• Clear oily or congested skin
• Reduce enlarged pores

HydraFacial is for everyone. The HydraFacial treatment is designed for all skin types. Even the most sensitive skin easily tolerates the HydraFacial treatment. Your physician or skincare professional may choose specific treatment serums and/or customize the treatment for your unique skin conditions and needs. Consult your physician or skincare professional for a skin evaluation and sensitivity test.

HydraFacial is for everyone. The HydraFacial treatment is designed for all skin types. Even the most sensitive skin easily tolerates the HydraFacial treatment. Your physician or skincare professional may choose specific treatment serums and/or customize the treatment for your unique skin conditions and needs. Consult your physician or skincare professional for a skin evaluation and sensitivity test.

Microneedling is a 45 minute, minimal to no downtime, collagen inducting treatment that uses a handheld device with micro needles to penetrate the skin (at varying depths from .25 mm to 2.5 mm) to treat active acne, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, pore size, uneven skin tone, stretch marks and poor skin elasticity.

At KIVA MedSpa we use only the SkinPen® which is the only FDA-approved microneedling device on the market. The convenient cordless design of the SkinPen® allows us to effectively treat any area of your body, including face, neck, chest, arms, hands, legs, abdomen, and back.

Microneedling works by creating thousands of tiny micro-injuries on the surface of your skin with very small needles, triggering your body’s natural collagen and elastin production. This process allows 80% more absorption of the growth factors that are applied to your skin during the treatment, which further enhance your collagen and elastin response. This treatment is safe and effective for patients of ALL skin types.

Microneedling is recommended for the treatment of:

• Aged and sagging skin
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Vertical lip lines “smoker’s lines”
• Skin tightening and rejuvenation
• Enlarged pores
• Stretch marks
• Scars, including acne scars, surgical scars, trauma injury scars, and burn scars
• Hair loss
• Uneven skintone

All of our SkinPen® microneedling treatments include extra-strength prescription numbing cream to ensure your treatment is as comfortable as possible.

Total prep and procedure time is one hour. We ask that you arrive with no makeup on so our practitioner can properly examine your skin and make the best recommendation for your personal skin needs.

If you are using topical retinoids of any sort we ask that your stop using them about a week before your treatment.

Upon arrival you will consult with the practitioner to discuss your specific skin needs. After deciding which Microneedling treatment will be best, the practitioner will apply a topical lidocaine compound to your face and neck and let you numb for 20 minutes.

She will begin using the SkinPen® device on your forehead in a circular motion while continuously applying the the designated serum. The micro needles create tiny injuries to the skin and penetrate into the dermis triggering your collagen response and allowing for maximum product penetration. She will then repeat this process for the rest of your face and neck. The forehead and bridge of your nose tend to be the most sensitive, but for the most part you’ll just feel small vibrations and find this treatment very comfortable. Immediately after, you’ll be pink or red comparable to a sunburn and may want to lay low the rest of the day. By the following morning you can go back to your normal routine and use a gentle cleanser, SPF and even apply a little makeup if you wish.

You will typically start to see results after the first or second treatment due to the time it takes for your collagen and elastin to grow and cause a visible change in your skin. Your skin will continue to improve over the next 6-12 months after you complete the recommended treatments. The number of treatments recommended will vary based on what skin issues you are treating and your goals.

First, your skin is thoroughly cleansed, and numbing cream will be applied if necessary. The solution is applied to the skin and left on for a prescribed amount of time. At that time, a neutralizing agent will be used, and the peel is removed. You will be given a topical ointment to apply to the skin regularly after your treatment to support and sooth the skin during the healing process.

Recovery often depends on the type of chemical peel you have. Superficial peels usually don’t require any downtime, and you can head back to your daily activities right away. Deep peels will likely need multiple weeks for full recovery. Lighter peels reveal subtle improvements that show up over time, while deeper peels will produce more dramatic results.

After treatment, the skin may become red and swollen, which can last for up to one week. Bruising can accompany these symptoms, and the skin may be very tender to the touch. Our practitioner will provide specific instructions on how to care for your skin during the recovery process to promote healing and ensure an optimal outcome.