Botox - Cosmetic National Physician Training Center and Top 1% In The World!
Allergan, Inc., the makers of BOTOX® Cosmetic has awarded the Berman Skin
Institute the coveted Diamond classification, recognizing us as the top 1%
of clinics in the world in providing BOTOX® Cosmetic to patients. We are
also the area's designated national physician training center where we train
physicians on this wonderful procedure. BOTOX Cosmetic remains the number one most commonly performed cosmetic procedure
in the United States.
Excessive sweating is a bothersome problem that results in awkward social situations for those that are affected. Studies have shown that salespeople with sweaty palms are at a distinct disadvantage. Although hyperhidrosis is generally not considered a cosmetic problem, many patients will come to the cosmetic dermatologist for treatment of this embarrassing disorder. Unfortunately, topical and oral medications, iontophoresis, and surgery have not proven to be desirable options for most patients. In fact, surgery can result in compensatory excess sweating in other parts of the body. Today, Botox can treat excessive sweating with good results. Our staff utilize the Starch Iodine Test to identify the location of the hyperactive sweat glands prior to each treatment, resulting in the most effective treatment available.
- Reduction or elimination of excess sweat production of the palms, soles, underarms, and/or groin area
Drysol™, Saldrize™, Certain Dry™ and other antiperspirant sticks
containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate and aluminum zirconium tetra chlorohydrex
glycine prevent sweating by plugging up the sweat ducts in the skin. These products
can be irritating with continued use and are largely ineffective in people with
excessive sweating.
Various medications taken by mouth may provide reduction in sweat production, but can result in side effects, such as blurry vision and dry mouth. Additionally, tranquilizers may reduce anxiety, but do not directly act to reduced sweat production.
Electrical iontophoresis machines are battery powered that use water and electrical gradients to reduce sweat production. These machines require hours of application, and are difficult to use properly. Additionally, they are only marginally effective for a great number of people.
Surgical alternatives include liposuction of sweat glands, cutting the sweat glands from the skin, as well as neurosurgical procedures which cut the sympathetic nerve responsible for sweat production. Surgery can result in damage to other structures in the neck, resulting in loss of motion of the arm, loss of sensation, and permanent dilation of the pupil of the eye.
The Starch Iodine Test is used to localize the hyperfunctioning sweat glands. Next, 10 to 20 tiny drops of Botox® are injected via a very small needle into the treatment area. Botox® is effective in reducing or abolishing sweat production in treated areas because the eccrine glands are innervated by sympathetic nerves that use acetylcholine as the neurotransmitter. As Botox® blocks this neurotransmitter, sweat production declines.
Most patients with excessive sweating may undergo Botox treatments. Patients with neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia gravis and who are pregnant should not undergo this therapy.
Botox® injections to the sweat-producing areas take effect within 48 hours
and can frequently provide relief for as long as six months. Many patients have
associated reduction of sweat odor, though this may not be as remarkable as the
reduction in actual sweat production.
With more than 2.0 million treatments performed last year and a superb safety track record, Botox has rapidly become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. Botox injections can result in small bruises at the injection sites, lasting five days or so. Weakness of the hand can occur with high doses. Such weakness is rare, and recedes away within days to a few weeks. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
None. You can return to work the same day and resume most of your regular activities.
Underarm areas usually require no anesthetic. The palms and soles require a cooling spray called The Zimmer, sprayed onto the skin during the procedure. Most patients find this very comfortable.
None
Normal activity can be immediately resumed, while heavy exercise should be avoided for several hours.
Our physicians, Physician Assistants and Registered Nurses.
The newest technique for permanent improvement of hyperhidrosis is the SmartLipo laser. Our technique is performed with local anesthesia, while you are awake and alert.
- Permanently reduce sweating in the axillary (armpit) areas
- Usually minimal sore muscle-type tenderness after the procedure
- Fast healing (most patients are back to work in two days)
- Minimal risk
Temporary treatments of hyperhidrosis include Botox, Robinul pills, and iontophoresis. Permanent treatment alternatives include nerve ablation and sympethectomy neurosurgery.
First, a solution containing a local anesthetic is infused into the fat layer of the skin in the axillary (armpit) area where the sweat glands are located. This fluid numbs the area locally. Next, the SmartLipo laser cannula measuring 2mm in diameter, is inserted into that fat layer. The laser heats and melts the sweat glands and surrounding fat, permanently reducing the ability of the sweat glands to produce sweat.
Avoidance of Stitches:
Our physicians make small incisions in the skin. After the SmartLipo procedure, most incisions are left open to promote drainage of any blood-tinged fluid. This minimizes fluid accumulation, swelling and bruising after the procedure. The open drainage system does require patients to wear absorbent dressings for a few days after the procedure to prevent staining of one's clothes.
Almost anyone with unwanted axillary sweating can consider SmartLipo treatment. Our physicians will consider the patient's medical history and physical exam prior to making any recommendations.
- You can expect a marked reduction in sweating
- Typically, patients are back to work within 2-3 days
- Bruising and swelling is minimized due to the laser microscopically closing off tiny blood vessels in and around the sweat glands as the treatment is performed.
Safety is of paramount importance. Notably, this local anesthesia approach completely eliminates the dangers of general anesthesia. This safe SmartLipo approach uses a large volume of very dilute anesthetic solution which is infused into the fatty tissue, resulting in a tumescent (swollen or firm) and numb surgical zone, allowing us to perform the procedure under local anesthesia.
Our state-of-the-art SmartLipo MPX laser also contains a built-in SmartSense thermometer to regulate temperature and prevent overheating during sweat gland treatment. Now with constant internal temperature monitoring, our patients have maximum safety and maximum benefit from their Smartlipo therapy.
The use of the SmartLipo laser system helps reduce post operative bruising. Since the laser closes off blood vessels as it treats, there is less bruising and swelling than with traditional surgical approaches to hyperhidrosis.
The majority of our patients take only Tylenol after their procedure, rather than narcotics which are routinely required after the general anesthetic surgeries. The local anesthetic provides a sustained anesthetic effect for approximately 18 hours after the procedure, allowing patients to return to their routine activity in short order. In fact, most of our patients return to work 48 hours after their procedure.
Avoidance of blood thinners such as aspirin, Motrin, Alleve is suggested for two weeks before the procedure.
Compression garments are worn under clothes for a few weeks. Our physicians leave most incisions open to promote drainage. Closing incisions with stitches requires extended use of elastic compression garments to enhance the absorption of the blood-tinged fluids that are trapped under the skin after liposuction. Though closing incisions with stitches has the advantage of avoiding the extra-hassle of wearing absorbent pads under the garment, the elastic compression garments are worn for a much longer time when the incisions are closed with stitches than if the incisions are kept open. We are able to cut in half the time required to wear elastic compression garments simply by maximizing drainage through tiny incisions that are left unstitched.
Our physicians with assistants.
