Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for treatment with Fillers?
Fillers are gel-like substances that can be injected under the surface of the skin to add volume and soften fine-lines and wrinkles. Common treatment locations include most parts of the face and the backs of hands. Patients that are pregnant or breast feeding should not use cosmetic fillers. They should also be avoided in individuals with a history of severe allergic reactions (i.e. anaphylaxis).

How much does it cost?
The cost of fillers varies with the type and amount of product used. We offer a wide variety of different fillers that perform optimally in specific locations and/or for certain issues. Dr. Lee often uses a combination approach to give you a balanced, natural-looking result.

Does it hurt?
There is mild to moderate discomfort during the procedure, but this resides quickly. Numbing medication may be used prior to the procedure in order to minimize discomfort.

Is there anything that I need to do to prepare for my treatment?
It is best to refrain from alcohol one week before treatment. Stop all anti-inflammatory medications (i.e. Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, etc.) and aspirin 2 weeks before treatment, as this will minimize your chance of bruising with the procedure. If you take aspirin because you have a history of heart disease or stroke, please consult with your primary physician before stopping aspirin.

How long will it take?
The procedure is brief and generally takes less than 30 minutes.

Is there any down time?
You may resume normal activities immediately after the procedure, though for the first 24 hours after the procedure you should avoid strenuous exercise, extensive sun or heat exposure, and alcoholic beverages. Exposure to any of the above may cause temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the injection sites. It is also recommended that you avoid massaging or rubbing the injected areas as this can cause the filler to migrate. Makeup may be applied 24 hours after treatment.

What are the side effects?
Most side effects are mild and of short duration (7 days or less). The most common side effects are temporary injection-site reactions such as redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration. As with all skin injection procedures, there is a small risk of infection. Serious and irreversible side effects are extremely rare.

When will I see results and how long will they last?
You will see results immediately. Most patients achieve optimal wrinkle softening in one treatment. If several areas are being targeted and/or the extent of desired correction is significant, Dr. Lee may plan for a series of step-wise treatments to gradually and naturally arrive at the preferred outcome. The duration of each individual filler varies specifically on the product and the location where it is injected. Results can last for 6-14 months. Follow up treatments 1-3 times a year are recommended to maintain results. Many patients note results last longer with consistent, additional treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are spider veins?
Spider veins of the legs are a common problem, particularly affecting women. These small, purple/red veins can form anywhere on the leg, from the top of the thigh to the ankle, and generally serve no functional purpose. Although spider veins do not pose major health problems, they may cause discomfort. Many people who suffer from spider veins also find them unsightly and often attempt to conceal them with clothing or cosmetic cover-ups. Sclerotherapy is an effective treatment to correct unwanted spider veins of the legs.

What causes spider veins?
It remains unknown why some people are affected with spider veins and others are not. There may be a slight familial predisposition to the condition. Trauma, prolonged standing and/or sitting may all possibly contribute to the formation of these veins. More women than men seem to develop this condition, perhaps as a result of pregnancy or hormones.

What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a simple, in-office procedure in which a solution is directly injected into unwanted veins. Different types of solutions can be used and the majority work by irritating the lining of the blood vessel which causes them to collapse and become less noticeable. Smaller, spider veins which serve no functional purpose tend to respond best to sclerotherapy.

Is sclerotherapy time consuming?
Sclerotherapy is a brief procedure and is usually completed in less than a half hour.

Does the procedure hurt?
Patients report only minimal discomfort with sclerotherapy. Some patients experience a slight to moderate burning sensation immediately after the injection, but this disappears within a few seconds to minutes.

How many treatments are required?
Depending on the severity of your spider veins, you may require multiple treatments to achieve your desired level of improvement. The majority of our patients achieve good results in 1 to 2 treatments. Most veins will disappear within 2 weeks to 2 months after treatment.

Will I need maintenance treatments?
Most patients who have undergone sclerotherapy repeat the procedure anywhere from every 1 to 4 years. What typically happens is these patients slowly develop new spider veins as they age and/or or old ones re-emerge and a treatment is performed once these become cosmetically undesirable.

How much does sclerotherapy cost?
The cost depends on the number and extent of veins being targeted. Most treatments average around $350 per treatment.

How should I prepare for my sclerotherapy appointment?
We recommend that you avoid shaving your legs for 2 days prior to your sclerotherapy appointment, and avoid using blood thinning substances such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E at least 2 weeks before treatment in order to decrease your risk of bruising or bleeding. If you take aspirin because you have a history of heart disease or stroke, please consult with your primary care physician before stopping aspirin. It is also recommended that you avoid excessive sun exposure for 2 weeks before treatment. It helps to wear loose fitting shorts to the procedure and bring medical- grade support hose (compression stockings) or tight leggings with you to your appointment to wear following the procedure.

Is there any recovery time?
You may resume normal activity after the procedure, but it is recommended that you avoid strenuous physical activity such as aerobics, jogging, and heavy lifting for the first 2-3 days after the procedure. It is also important to avoid hot baths or showers for 2 weeks after the procedure, and instead use lukewarm water. We advise avoiding prolonged standing in one position after the procedure.

What are the side effects after treatment?
Most patients experience no side effects with sclerotherapy. Rarely, some slight blistering may occur in the skin surrounding treatment areas. These blisters typically resolve rapidly. Patients also occasionally report a small area of hyperpigmentation (skin darkening) in some treated areas. These spots generally resolve on their own over time, and they also respond to treatment with bleaching creams. Other side effects include temporary bruising or small inconsequential clots at the site of the injection. These clots may be removed within 2 weeks in order to allow the healing process to progress normally, if necessary. For patients whose jobs require standing or sitting for long periods of time, swelling of the treatment area may occur. This swelling is treated with elevation and compression stockings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for laser hair removal?
During laser hair removal treatment, the laser emits an intense beam of light which is selectively absorbed by the dark pigment in the hair follicles. The ideal targets for the laser are dark, coarse hairs on background fair skin. Lighter, more fine hairs are not targeted as effectively by the laser, and as such do not respond as well to treatment. In patients with darker skin tones, the laser does not target the hair follicle as efficiently and treatment results may vary. For these patients, a test spot may be performed in order to ensure that no hyperpigmentation (skin darkening) occurs after treatment.

How much does it cost?
The cost of laser hair removal can vary depending on the area that you would like to have treated. There are 22 different treatment areas that can be targeted, with the cost depending on the size of the area being treated. Smaller treatment areas are less expensive, while larger treatment areas cost more. Patients can purchase a 5-pack of treatments upfront and receive their sixth treatment for free.

Does it hurt?
Most patients note slight discomfort with each pulse of the laser, describing a sensation akin to a hot rubber band snapped against the skin. Depending on the location, a numbing cream may be applied before the laser hair treatment to help minimize discomfort.

How long will it take?
Depending on the size of the area being treated, the procedure can take a few minutes to upwards of an hour.

Is there any downtime?
There is no downtime after laser hair removal and patients are free to resume all normal activities after the procedure. It is recommended that patients avoid direct sun exposure for at least one week after treatment, since the sun can sometimes darken theskin recently treated with a laser.

What are the side effects?
Patients often notice swelling or redness immediately after the procedure which usually resolves within a few hours to a few days. More rare side effects include bruising, blistering, or discoloration in the treated area.

Could the treated areas ever re-grow hair?
After 6 laser hair removal treatments, ideal candidates typically experience ~80-90% reduction in hair growth that lasts for one to several years. After that time, patients may require occasional treatments for maintenance.

Is laser hair removal ever covered by insurance?
Laser hair removal is generally considered a cosmetic procedure, and as such, is not covered by most insurance companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for intense pulse light (IPL) treatment?
During intense pulse light (IPL) treatment, the device emits an intense beam of light which is selectively absorbed by structures with primarily red and brown pigment. The common targets for IPL treatment include unwanted sun spots, freckles, broken blood vessels, angiomas (also known as blood blisters), and discolored scars. IPL produces the best results when these targets occur on fair, non-tanned background skin. In patients with darker skin tones, IPL does not eradicate targets as efficiently and treatment results may vary. For these patients, a test spot may be performed in order to ensure that no hyperpigmentation (skin darkening) occurs after treatment.

How much does it cost?
The cost of IPL varies depending on the area that you would like to have treated. Individual lesions and/or smaller treatment areas are less expensive, while larger treatment areas cost more.

How many treatments will I need?
Most patients are quite satisfied after one treatment. One treatment will typically eradicate an unwanted individual lesion and/or clear upwards of 50-70% of the undesirable targets. However, the ultimate number of treatments truly depends on the extent of the original problem in the context of the background skin. Ideal candidates typically achieve good results with 1-2 treatments whereas patient with darker skin tones may need additional treatments. If multiple treatments are necessary, they are usually done one month apart.

Which areas of the body can be treated with IPL?
IPL can be performed on most parts of the body. The most commonly treated areas are the face, neck, decollette area, backs of hands, forearms, and legs.

Does it hurt?
Most patients note slight discomfort with each pulse of the device, describing a sensation akin to a hot rubber band snapped against the skin. Depending on the location, a numbing cream may be applied before the treatment to help minimize discomfort.

How long will it take?
Depending on the size of the area being treated, the procedure can take a few minutes to beyond a half hour.

Is there any downtime?
There is no downtime after IPL and patients are free to resume all normal activities after the procedure. It is recommended that patients avoid direct sun exposure for at least one week after treatment, since the sun can sometimes darken the skin recently treated with the device.

What are the side effects?
Patients often notice swelling or redness immediately after the procedure which usually resolves within a few hours to a few days. More rare side effects include bruising, blistering, or discoloration in the treated area.

Will the treated spots ever come back?
The results of IPL generally need to be maintained. Most patients treat problem areas every 1-4 years. Individual lesions may come back or new lesions may arise. The rate at which undesirable lesions emerge often depends on one’s current and previous sun exposure history with more sun exposure resulting in quicker relapse.

Is IPL ever covered by insurance?
IPL is generally considered a cosmetic procedure, and as such, is not covered by most insurance companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel is a simple and safe procedure that can improve skin texture and tone, reduce the appearance of fine lines, lighten undesirable dark spots and scars, and promote a healthier, more youthful appearance.

How much does a chemical peel cost?
The cost depends on the type/strength of the peel and the location(s) being treated. We also offer a set of 3 peel treatments that comes with additional savings.

How many treatments will I need?
You may require multiple treatments to achieve your desired results. Chemical peels are most effective when used in a series of at least 3 treatments spaced approximately one month apart.

Does a chemical peel hurt?
Some patients report feeling a mild to moderate burning or tingling sensation during some parts of the peel. This generally passes very quickly and fans can be used during the procedure to help minimize discomfort.

How long will it take?
A chemical peel is a quick procedure that is typically completed in less than 25 minutes.

Is there any downtime?
Following your chemical peel, your skin may experience some stinging, burning, redness, tightness, and sensitivity. After about 48 hours, a slight flaking may occur, which can be controlled with moisturizers. Non-irritating make-up can be applied and worn immediately after and during the peeling process. It is extremely important to use sunscreen during this time, as your skin will be more sensitive to sunlight and prone to sunburn. It is recommended that you avoid sun exposure, glycolic acids, topical vitamin C, scrubs, and retinol creams during the peeling period. After one week your skin should look clearer and smoother and you can resume using your normal skin care products.

What are the side effects?
Patients may experience redness, stinging, itching, burning, tightness, minor swelling, and peeling of the superficial layers of the skin after a peel. Chemical peels may also cause pre-existing skin conditions to flare, such as peri-oral dermatitis, acne, or herpes simplex (i.e. cold sores). Some patients may experience skin darkening or lightening after a chemical peel, though this is very rare. Any pigmentary change usually resolves on its own, though in extremely rare instances, these changes may be prolonged or permanent.