Category Archives: Uncategorized

Confidence is like beauty; they both originate from within and then project outward for the whole world to appreciate. It is vital to understand the dynamics of interior and exterior forces if we want to assess the best ways of maintaining your most attractive qualities.

The analysis of superficiality vs. depth is more than just a metaphor. We must treat the skin on its surface and below it simultaneously. After all, fine lines form along many planes of our complexion, so we need to eradicate them on multiple levels to fight the aging process comprehensively.

Botox and facial fillers work together (or separately) to enhance the skin and embrace your youthfulness. To learn which products are best for your brilliant skin, let’s get to the root of your aesthetic issues.

What Causes Wrinkles?

Skin is amazingly pliable. It stretches and contracts with astounding flexibility, but every complexion has its limits. After years of push-and-pull, the skin has trouble “bouncing back” like it used to in our younger years.

There are many reasons why lax skin develops creases. One of the main causes of wrinkles is the depletion of proteins like elastin and collagen in aging bodies. When we produce less of the supportive materials that prop up our skin, it slowly collapses. As skin hangs farther and farther away from its underlying muscle and soft tissue, the complexion puckers noticeably. 

Another root cause of fine lines is muscular contraction. Every time you wink, laugh or frown, your skin reacts. The repetitive motion of facial muscles creases skin, creating etched lines around the eyes, mouth, and nose. In order to halt the spread of unwanted wrinkles, we must identify the muscular activity that is exacerbating the aging process and relax them at their source.

Stop the Tug-of-War

Botox is a miraculous compound that eases muscular tension, ushering in a new age of placidity and smooth skin. The way it works is complex yet comprehensive. When your nervous system sends a signal to your facial muscles telling them to contract, your muscles follow their orders. 

By disrupting this signal, Botox allows you only to show the emotions you wish to convey rather than every involuntary twitch and cringe that persists on your face. Botox blocks the release of acetylcholine at the neural junction. This reduces the stretching and stress on your skin at the point of injection.

Even though the results of Botox are profound, they only take a short amount of time to take effect. Your skin may begin to show improvement in as little as 24 hours after an injection session, or they may take up to two weeks to integrate with your appearance. 

Enhance Your Skin from Within

Dermal fillers are similarly efficient in their activation. Restylane and Juvederm, for example, produce immediate results that only get better over the course of one to two weeks. During this time, the filler of your choice mingles with the natural substructures of your skin, bolstering their strength and preserving their youthful contours.

The active ingredient in Juvederm and Restylane is hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan (HA). The human body naturally produces HA, so facial fillers formulated with this compound are safe and effective. When your doctor gently injects HA below the skin, your complexion radiates its ideal fullness and hydration. Indeed, HA molecules bind with water, cradling moisture and delivering an enduring glow to its recipients.

Hyaluronan is part of the extracellular matrix (ECM), a network of scaffolding that gives skin its signature shape. When HA is added to sagging, sallow skin, the results are transformative. 

Think of a balloon that has lost its air. The surface is withered and wrinkled. But when you inflate it, it enjoys a healthy sheen along its surface. Your skin is like that balloon, and hyaluronic acid is the air that is necessary to bring radiance and volume back to your appearance. 

Fillers and Botox: Better Together

There are significant advantages to each type of injectable. Fillers add fullness to areas like the cheeks and chin to add definition where it is most needed. On the other hand, Botox is most often administered along the upper face to reduce forehead wrinkles and glabellar lines (the “11” shaped creases that arise between your eyebrows). 

But the variability of enhancement compounds extends beyond the face. Botox, for example, can help alleviate the stringy, taut lines that appear along the neck. Most people focus their attention above the jawline, but the neck is one of the most prominent places where aging first manifests itself. By easing the tension along the lower face and neck, you can give your face the pedestal it deserves.

Fillers can also help turn back time in places other than the facial region. When the skin along the hands loses its fullness, it can appear skeletal and gaunt. A smart filler strategy rounds out hands to their proper dimensions. 

If you struggle with both persistent muscular contractions and deflated features, you can benefit from a combination of Botox and fillers. The formulas complement one another beautifully when injected by a skilled, knowledgeable professional.

Comprehensive Improvement

When you want to look and feel like your best self, you don’t merely want to plump or perk one area. It would help if you had an overall boost that lifts your profile along with your confidence. Doctor William J. Binder understands the complexities and opportunities of the injectable realm.

To schedule an appointment with the most accomplished aesthetic thinker on the west coast, contact our Beverly Hills office today. We’ve got the formula for success, and we’re eager to share our expertise with you.

Our lips speak volumes, even when they don’t say a word. From the way a mouth pouts to the curve of a smile to the quiver of a near-cry, the lips are marvelously expressive.

Over time, however, lips lose their luster and grow thin with age. In its advanced years, the human body produces less collagen. This is the protein responsible for the maintenance and regeneration of skin, blood vessels, teeth, and bones. When collagen is depleted, it leaves the connective tissue below the surface of the lips unsupported and diminished. Lackluster lips can affect one’s confidence and cause them to retreat from social situations as the issue persists.

Dr. Binder can restore youth and vigor to your pucker. Every face is unique, so your aesthetic journey will be as individualized as you are. The following options are guidelines for your perusal, but feel free to contact our Beverly Hills office to schedule a personalized consultation.

DERMAL FILLERS

When lips get thinner, they begin to develop creases and wrinkles where the plumpness once was. Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm literally do what their name suggests: they fill in the gaps left by age. When the tissue below the surface is plumped, the lines above straighten out.

Another great benefit of fillers is their ability to stimulate collagen production. When your lips are creating their own building blocks of vitality and vibrancy, the benefits of lip enhancements extend well beyond the date of your filler treatment. Hence, you will enjoy the immediate results of wrinkle reduction as well as prolonged beauty from the newly stimulated collagen in your lips.

In addition to collagen, most dermal fillers contain Hyaluronic Acid (HA). This is another compound that the body naturally generates. HA is a marvel of biology; it can hold 1,000 times its weight in moisture! When your lips are sufficiently supplied with Hyaluronic Acid, they retain their hydration for months or even years to come. 

BOTOX FOR LIPS

Filling the lips is a great first step in providing a firm, full appearance. However, there may be deeper reasons for the crinkling dynamics you see on or around your mouth. Whenever your muscles contract, they pull the skin with them. Each of these contractions causes fine lines to appear, and these creases get more pronounced over the years and decades of our lives.

Botox disrupts the repetitive contraction of muscles by targeting them directly. When Botox is injected into a specific area, it relaxes that finite region, easing the tension that contributes to wrinkles. In the case of lip injections, Botox can help erase laugh lines, plump thin lips, and reverse the “gummy smile” phenomenon caused by strained mouth contractions. 

If you struggle with “marionette lines” or downturns around the corners of your lips, then Botox may be the perfect solution for you. 

STAR-STUDDED SUCCESS STORIES

When it comes to cosmetic enhancements, many celebrities remain tight-lipped (pun intended) about their respective procedures. There is an unfair stigma attached to getting “work done” because actors want to exude the impression that they simply inhabit their role without help from a team of stylists, artists, and yes, plastic surgeons.

But we know better.

Oscar winners like Renee Zellweger and Nicole Kidman have thrilled audiences for a generation. They stroll red carpets around the globe, facing the bright lights of acclaim and recognition. Both actors have transformed themselves on screen in movies like Bombshell and Judy, but they have clearly enjoyed the benefits of cosmetic enhancements in real life as well. Kidman and Zellweger are known for their expressive lips, and their allure has endured the test of time… most likely due to some help from dermal fillers and/or Botox.

Kylie Jenner is perhaps the most outspoken proponent of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. On an episode of her wildly successful reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kylie declared, “I have temporary lip fillers. It’s just an insecurity of mine, and it’s what I wanted to do.”

LIP FILLERS FOR MILLENNIALS 

Kylie serves as an empowering example of living life on your own terms and in your own style. The attitude has made Ms. Jenner a billionaire, which explains why millions of millennials are emulating her penchant for pouty lips.

The 20- and 30-something generation is the first to grow up in the age of social media. Every millennial selfie is posted, shared, liked and studied by their peer group, adding to the overall desire to look exactly how you want to look and broadcast your aesthetic to the world. 

In the past decade, the popularity of injectables has skyrocketed amongst millennials. Since 2010, Botox procedures have witnessed a 28% increase in the 20-29-year-old demographic and dermal fillers have plumped up by 32% in that same age group. Young people are not waiting until their golden years to contour their looks; they live for the moment, and they want that moment to be Insta-worthy.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

Whether you are a millennial, a celebrity, or an as yet undiscovered star, your lips should reflect who you are. When you look in the mirror, we want you to recognize the strong, smart individual that others see. If thin lips or facial creases are obscuring your self-confidence, Dr. Binder can help.

Contact our office soon and let us know how we can unleash your fuller, firmer facial profile. Your lips will thank you!

Why are you considering cosmetic surgery? It’s a simple question, but the answers are as complex as you are. Maybe you want a boost of self-confidence? Or perhaps you want to look younger to get an extra edge in the workplace? But one of the most universal reasons for wanting plastic surgery is to look more attractive to the gender of your desire.

But the romance doesn’t end once you’ve met that special someone. You want to look good FOR them, so maybe you want to look LIKE them. After all, you share a life, so why not share a look?

Beauty Matching

As surgical trends go, “beauty matching” is a relatively rare one… but it’s starting to become less so by the day. One of the most popular surgeons in Dubai reports that he welcomes two or three couples every year seeking to emulate one another’s looks.

More common, however, is the tendency for couples to share the desire for a new look rather than the specific look itself. The aforementioned doctor explains that when a wife experiences the benefits of a successful procedure, her satisfaction helps to convince her husband to seek his own path into cosmetic surgery. This phenomenon occurs about seven times more often than the “beauty matching” approach.

The Pragmatics of It All

While beauty matching may sound like an odd goal for some couples, there are several sound reasons for coordinating your reconstructive surgery plans with a significant other.

• Healing Time – No matter how minimal, every invasive procedure requires some amount of recuperation. If you schedule your appointment in conjunction with your spouse’s, you can plan to spend the downtime together.
• Research, Times Two – While we encourage you to explore all of your options when it comes to finding the right procedure for you, that research process could benefit your loved one as well. Ask each other questions, narrow down your choices, and devise a plan that works best for both of you.
• Grow Closer, Not Older – If you share a home with your significant other, then you have probably also shared some major discussions about aesthetics. How to organize your space, what color scheme to use, etc. Those commonalities of taste and a similar eye for details can also guide your quest into the realm of cosmetic surgery. You might both want an almond shaped eye or a pronounced cheekbone. Whatever your particular style may be, you can evolve together.

A Word of Caution

A healthy dose of competition is natural for a vibrant couple to share. You should challenge each other to learn, grow, and explore the world as a team. But competition should never be the motivation behind your decision to undergo plastic surgery.

In some relationships, there’s a sense of one-upmanship (or one-up-woman-ship, as the case may be). If one partner gets a facelift, the other has to get a more drastic one, and so forth. This “keeping up with the Joneses” approach is detrimental to your sense of individuality and self-worth. You should want your significant other to be the best him or her possible without allowing their successes to weigh down your esteem.

Encouragement, Not Coercion

As you prepare to embark upon your quest to be the best, it’s important to consult with your loved ones along the way. You’ll need someone to drive you to the hospital and pick you up after your procedure, but you should also ask how they might feel about seeing a new you as a result of the cosmetic change. Listen to their opinions, but follow your own truth.

For example, many husbands might love the idea of their wives getting breast augmentations, but they should make sure it’s right for a woman’s physique, health, and wellbeing. If your partner is pressuring you into enduring a transformation that doesn’t feel right for you, then it’s time to stop and ask yourself why you’re considering it in the first place… and also if you’re getting the emotional support you deserve.

It’s important to remember the key signifier of the term self-esteem: SELF. Cosmetic surgery is about you and your individual journey, not an attempt to change you into someone else. No matter how much you adore your significant other, they are another person from yourself. They will never live in your skin, so they shouldn’t dictate how it looks.

To mediate any doubts or curiosities you may have, Doctor Binder and his staff are always on hand. Schedule an appointment soon, either as a couple or as just your spectacular, sole self.

Botox Migraine Treatment is becoming an increasingly effective means of battling powerful migraines. However, as it is still a relatively new treatment – it was only approved for use with migraines by the Food and Drug Administration as recently as 2010 – some insurance companies might balk at the idea. So how does one go about getting insurance to cover it?

WHAT IS BOTOX?

Let’s start with what Botox is. It’s a neurotoxin that’s created using the bacterial compound onabotulinumtoxinA and, in medical circles, is intended to treat muscular disorders. In cosmetic circles, it’s known to eliminate wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles.

HOW DOES BOTOX AFFECT MIGRAINES?

When it comes to migraines, Botox is used in small but deeply concentrated quantities to stop brain signals reaching certain muscles. Typically, if left alone, those signals contract the muscles resulting in pain. With Botox, however, those muscles become relaxed and thus lessen the physical effects of the stress and tension associated with a migraine. This ultimately means that a migraine might be totally avoided (with no stress and tension to trigger it) – and it also means that by blocking nerve and muscle activity, Botox blocks the pain signals.

Botox therapy for migraines is not effective on every type of migraine; thus a patient’s eligibility for it is dependent on what they’re suffering from. According to the American Migraine Foundation, it works best on those experiencing chronic migraine. A chronic migraine is defined as more than 15 headache days per month as well as a minimum of eight migraine episodes – or if you suffer headaches that last a minimum of four hours.

THE THERAPY

With most migraine therapies, patients are required to administer medication once a headache has begun. Botox, though, is taken as a preventative measure. A person would get a set of 31 injections every 12 weeks with each session lasting around 15 minutes. Patients do not need to be sedated and can drive home after.

The botox is administered via injection.  Using a small needle, the doctor will inject into seven areas of both the head and neck including the nose bridge, the forehead, temples, and back of the skull. It is a relatively painless procedure; the patient only experiences tiny pricks.

It generally takes at least two sessions to begin to experience the benefit but some patients feel it sooner. The results last from four to six months. While it is an effective relief, it is not permanent – but some chronic sufferers can expect their headache days to be cut in half. Ultimately, botox treatment is just that; a treatment, not a cure.

The side effects can include stiff and sore neck muscles and some bruising or swelling around the injection sites. This usually only lasts for 48 hours. Other side effects may include dry eyes and skin rash – symptoms that mimic influenza. There are also nausea and headaches reported but nothing like the sort that is associated with migraines.

COST

The price of Botox migraine treatments can range from $200 to $500 per session. That can add up to serious money for the two to three courses a patient would require.  One option is the Botox Savings Program that allows eligible patients to save on costs – sometimes up to $1200 a year. The other, of course, is insurance.

INSURANCE

So how do you get insurance to cover Botox migraine treatment? In the past insurance companies saw anything Botox-related as cosmetic. There are some horror stories where patients were required by their insurance to try drugs that didn’t work. But times are changing and often, they will require evidence that other treatments have failed and this is more of a last-resort option. Since the FDA now approves the treatment, insurance companies can no longer claim the procedure is merely investigational.

And after all, migraines cost employers almost $13 billion every year – so it is definitely a huge health concern.

First, contact your insurance company provider to see what they cover. Some insurers work with your doctor and have you take several tests before they go ahead and authorize the treatment. This is known as prior authorization. The doctor will put together a report including your history of chronic migraines and submit this to them. You can assist your doctor with this report by providing additional information such as medications and treatments you’ve tried in the past and a detailed calendar of the frequency/intensity of your migraines.

FOUR BRIEF TIPS

Connect with your doctor’s nurse as your advocate.

Retrieve a recent copy of your insurance company’s formulary.

Compare policy coverage of the botox migraine treatment.

Talk directly to someone at your insurance provider.

You can also still use the Botox Savings Program in addition to insurance for a one-two punch at the costs. Either way, you should definitely get insurance before beginning what could be a costly but beneficial program.