Swan Dermatology Center—Procedure FAQs

FAQs—Frequently Asked Questions—Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

Acne Facials

What can I expect the treatment to be like?
Our skin care specialist will first steam and deep cleanse your face. Next, a 20% glycolic acid peel will be applied. It remains on the skin for about 3 minutes. During this time, you may feel a slight tingling sensation. Once the peel is thoroughly rinsed, the specialist will extract blackheads and clogged pores, and then finish with an application of moisturizer and sunscreen.

How many treatments will I need?
Each facial treatment takes about 30 minutes. Dr. Swan often recommends a series of 2-4 Acne Facials about 2-3 weeks apart along with other medical therapies. Once the acne is under better control, we recommend maintenance treatments every 4 to 8 weeks, or as needed.

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BOTOX® Cosmetic

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those persistent lines to form.

When can I expect to see results from a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment?
Within days, you may see a marked improvement in the treated areas. Lines may continue to improve for up to a month. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated the improvement in their appearance as moderate to better 1 month after treatment. Results may vary.

How long does BOTOX® Cosmetic last?
Results from treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic can last for 3-6 months. If you discontinue treatment, the lines gradually will look like they did before treatment.

Who can administer BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Any authorized healthcare professional can administer BOTOX® Cosmetic, but dermatologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors), or other physicians specializing in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced. Dr. Lori Swan is a board-certified dermatologist with over 6 years of extensive experience in administering BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Is treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic painful?
Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, your physician may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people return directly to work or normal activity following BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.

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BOTOX® for Severe Underarm Sweating

How does BOTOX® work to reduce severe underarm sweating?
Simply stated, BOTOX® blocks the transmission of nerve impulses from the brain. Just like in the more common application of the face, where BOTOX® relaxes the muscles that cause frowns or lines, in the underarm area, it blocks stimulation of the sweat glands.

How long has BOTOX® been used for severe underarm sweating?
First approved by the FDA in 1989, BOTOX® has since been in use therapeutically with tremendous success. Subsequent FDA approvals for the treatment of specific medical disorders have followed, including that of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (underarm sweating) in 2004.

Today, BOTOX® remains one of the most widely researched medicines in the world and is approved for use in more than 75 countries.

What is a BOTOX® treatment like and how long does it take?
The procedure is relatively straightforward and only takes 20 to 30 minutes. The BOTOX® is administered by a series of small injections in the underarm through a very fine needle. The needle is placed just under the skin, so it is possible to have some injection-related discomfort.

When will I see results?
Patients should see a significant reduction in underarm sweating within four weeks of the first treatment—perhaps sooner. In fact, at Swan Dermatology Center, some patients have reported reduced sweating within two days.

Are the results permanent?
No, but one treatment will typically last as long as six months, and sometimes longer. Beyond that, keeping severe underarm sweating under control will require ongoing treatments.

Are there any side effects?
BOTOX® is very safe and has minimal side effects. In clinical trials, the most frequently reported side effects (in only 3% to 10% of the patients studied) were injection-site pain and bleeding, and sweating in areas other than the underarm.

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Chemical Peels

What areas can be treated with chemical peels?
Chemical peels are most commonly used on the face, neck, chest, arms, hands, and back. Other areas may be treated depending on your particular skin issue.

What should I do before my appointment to get ready for my peel?
On the day of your peel, you may cleanse as usual. If you use topical agents such as Retin-A, Renova, Differin, Tazorac, Avita, or glycolic acid products, discontinue use to the area to be treated for 2-3 days prior to your appointment.

Is there any condition I may have that I should make the doctor aware of before I have my peel?
If you suffer from fever blisters (cold sores), advise the nurse or doctor before you have a facial chemical peel. These sometimes recur after chemical peels, so you may be placed on a medication to prevent this. Elective procedures, such as chemical peels, are usually avoided during pregnancy.

What should I expect of the procedure itself?
We will have you cleanse your face with a special cleanser to remove makeup and some of the skin oils. The skin to be treated will be degreased with alcohol, and allowed to dry. The chemical peeling agent will be applied and left on for approximately 3-5 minutes. You will feel a slight tingling or burning while the solution is on your skin. This will resolve a short time after the solution is removed. The solution is rinsed thoroughly with cold water, then cool compresses are applied to soothe and cool the skin. Then, a light moisturizer with sunscreen will be applied.

How should I care for the treated area after the procedure?
Your skin may appear slightly pink for one hour to two days following the peel. You may notice a tight feeling to your skin, along with mild to moderate flaking and peeling for up to ten days. Resist the temptation to manually peel off the dead skin during this process, as this may result in sores, scabbing or scarring. You may cleanse the skin gently with a mild, non-medicated topical cleanser. Do not scrub or use abrasive cleansers. For the following two to five days, avoid using topical retinoid agents such as Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, Differin, or any product containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. Makeup may be applied as soon as 3 hours after your peel. Oil-free moisturizer may be applied as needed for dryness. It is essential that a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher be applied daily for at least four weeks following the chemical peel. We strongly encourage our patients to incorporate the use of sunscreen into their daily skin care regimen year-round.

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FAQs—Frequently Asked Questions—Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

SERVICES

Acne Facials

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® for Severe Underarm Sweating

Chemical Peels

Dermal fillers:
     Juvéderm™
     Perlane®
     Restylane®

Laser Hair Removal

Laser Treatment of Red Faces & Red Noses

MicroFacials

Parisian Peel®

Sclerotherapy

Skin Care Consultations