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4 Benefits of Juvéderm’s Newest Innovation, Skinvive

Posted on by The Derm Institute
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In the ever-evolving world of cosmetic dermatology, advancements provide innovative ways to enhance our natural beauty and restore youthful radiance. Juvéderm, a household name in the realm of dermal fillers, has again taken a pioneering step by introducing Skinvive, microinjections designed to transform skin rejuvenation.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Annie Chiu wants to introduce you to the fascinating world of Skinvive, exploring what it is, how it works, and why it’s gaining rapid popularity among people seeking to improve their skin texture and overall appearance.

What Is Skinvive?

Skinvive is a revolutionary microinjectable version of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring sugar molecule that keeps our skin hydrated and healthy. Skinvive by Juvederm gives the skin a firmer, smoother, and more hydrated appearance.  An injectable moisturizer that lasts 6-9 months! This unique product has gained attention for its ability to rehydrate the skin, improving quality and appearance. Skinvive can be used successfully in any skin type and can benefit the vast majority of our patients.   

Unlike traditional dermal fillers that focus on restoring volume, Skinvive’s formulation boosts hydration, elasticity, and overall smoothness. It’s a perfect choice for anyone seeking a natural-looking result and just more luminous, radiant skin with next to zero downtime!

How Does Skinvive Work?

Skinvive’s active ingredient is hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that maintains moisture, suppleness, and firmness. Starting in our 30s, the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid levels decrease, leading to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of overall skin quality.

Skinvive works by replenishing the lost HA, effectively hydrating and revitalizing the skin from within. The treatment involves a series of tiny micro-injections into target areas like your face, neck, décolleté, and hands. These injections deposit the HA gel beneath the skin’s surface, where it works its magic over time.

Skinvive Benefits

If you want to enhance your skin from within, Skinvive offers numerous benefits.

1. Improved Skin Texture

Skinvive has a remarkable ability to enhance skin texture. This treatment addresses various concerns that can affect your complexion’s smoothness and overall quality.

  • Fewer lines and wrinkles: Injecting Skinvive’s hyaluronic acid gel beneath your skin’s surface replenishes lost moisture and stimulates collagen production. This process gradually smooths fine lines and wrinkles, leading to a more youthful and refreshed appearance.
  • Enhanced skin smoothness: Skinvive’s hydration is particularly beneficial for people with uneven skin tone, rough patches, or acne scars, as it can help minimize these imperfections.
  • Soften acne scarring: Skinvive gives a slight plumping effect on skin that has mild acne scarring to reveal a smoother more even texture.
  • Increased elasticity: Skinvive’s hydration and collagen-stimulating effects contribute to improved skin elasticity. Your skin can bounce back more readily, reducing laxity and sagging.

2. Enhanced Hydration

Hydration is the cornerstone of healthy, youthful-looking skin, and here’s where Skinvive excels. Hyaluronic acid, the primary component of Skinvive, can retain up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

  • Deep and long-lasting hydration: Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet, attracting and locking it in. This deep and long-lasting hydration revitalizes the skin’s appearance, making it look plump, supple, and radiant.
  • Dryness and dehydration relief: If you struggle with dry skin, Skinvive can be a game-changer. It replenishes moisture levels, alleviating discomfort, flakiness, and tightness.
  • Improved skin barrier function: Adequate hydration supports the skin’s natural barrier, shielding it from external threats like pollution and UV radiation and leading to a healthier and more resilient complexion.

3. Outstanding Results

Skinvive stands out for its ability to provide a subtle-looking improvement. Unlike other injectables designed to volumize, Skinvive prioritizes enhancing skin quality without altering your appearance. This gentle touch-up is an excellent choice for maintaining your natural beauty.

Whether you want to target a specific area of concern or achieve an overall improvement in skin quality, Dr. Chiu can tailor Skinvive treatments to meet your needs and goals. With Skinvive, there is a minimal risk of overcorrection or an artificial appearance. The focus on hydration and skin quality ensures results blend seamlessly with your features.

4. Versatility

Another significant advantage of Skinvive is its versatility. It can improve various areas of your body, including your face, neck, hands, décolleté and anywhere on the body. This flexibility allows you to address multiple concerns in one treatment, making Skinvive a comprehensive and convenient solution. You can achieve a harmonious and youthful appearance across your face and body.

Whether you’re looking to smooth fine lines, boost skin hydration, or achieve a natural-looking rejuvenation, Skinvive can help you attain your skin care goals with minimal downtime and impressive, long-lasting results.

Get Glowing Skin With Skinvive

If you’re considering Skinvive as a treatment option, remember that choosing a qualified provider is the secret to a successful outcome as best results come with customization. With the guidance of board-certified Dr. Chiu in Redondo Beach, you can unlock Skinvive’s full potential and enjoy the benefits of revitalized, radiant skin. Dr. Chiu was a clinical investigator in the studies to earn Skinvive FDA approval in the United States.

Named a “Skin Genius” by Elle Magazine, Dr. Chiu specializes in results-driven skin care and cutting-edge procedures. A Stanford Medical School graduate, Dr. Chiu has earned national recognition and renown as a master injector and instructor of aesthetic clinicians. She takes an artistic and comprehensive approach to skin health. Using multiple techniques including Botox, fillers, chemical peels, the latest lasers, skin tightening, body contouring treatments including CoolSculpting, and tailored cosmeceuticals, Dr. Chiu believes everyone deserves to look their best and feel confident.

Schedule your consultation today by calling (310) 939-9800 or reaching out online.

5 Benefits of Brightening Your Undereyes with Restylane Eyelight

Posted on by The Derm Institute
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Are your under eyes plagued by dark circles, bagginess, and fine lines that betray your age or make you appear perpetually tired? Through the expert hands of Dr. Annie Chiu and her skilled team at The Derm Institute, you can unlock many benefits beyond conventional cosmetic procedures.

Restylane Eyelight is a filler that can help address some of these common concerns. The hyaluronic acid-based gel filler is injected beneath the skin to address the volume loss and shadows that contribute to dark circles. As the filler integrates into the skin, it adds subtle volume and triggers collagen production, a critical factor in maintaining youthful skin. This dual-action approach ensures not only immediate improvement but also long-term rejuvenation.

What Is Restylane Eyelight?

Restylane Eyelight is a cutting-edge solution for brightening the under eyes, offering benefits ranging from diminishing dark circles to replacing lost volume. With its non-invasive nature and long-lasting results, this treatment is a game-changer for those seeking to rejuvenate their appearance without surgery.

Unlike other dermal fillers, Restylane Eyelight is carefully crafted to target the specific issues that commonly affect the undereye region, making it a highly effective and specialized option.

One of the distinguishing features of Restylane Eyelight is its unique composition, which includes hyaluronic acid and carefully selected ingredients that target pigmentation concerns. By explicitly addressing the pigmentation that contributes to dark circles, Restylane Eyelight achieves a dual-action effect that adds volume and reduces discoloration. This combination produces a brighter, smoother undereye area that radiates a youthful glow.

Below, Dr. Chiu explores five remarkable benefits of using Restylane Eyelight for brightening your under eyes and how The Derm Institute helps its patients achieve a refreshed and youthful appearance.

1. Diminishes Dark Circles

Dark circles are a common concern stemming from genetics, lack of sleep, and age-related skin thinning. Restylane Eyelight is a specialized dermal filler formulated to address these issues. The treatment involves injecting a hyaluronic acid-based filler under the skin, which adds volume to the area resulting in a visibly brighter, less shadowed, and more smooth undereye area.

2. Reduces Puffiness

Puffy under eyes can make you appear tired and older than you are. Restylane Eyelight contains a unique blend of hyaluronic acid and other skin-loving ingredients that work to hydrate and plump the skin, reducing the appearance of puffiness. The treatment provides a refreshed and more awake look by targeting the underlying causes of puffiness, such as fluid retention and weakened skin structure.

3. Smooths Fine Lines

As we age, the delicate skin around the eyes becomes more prone to fine lines and wrinkles due to decreased collagen production and repetitive facial expressions. Restylane Eyelight not only adds volume to hollow areas but helps to smooth fine lines and restore a smoother, more radiant appearance to the undereye region.

4. Quick and Non-Invasive

One of the significant advantages of Restylane Eyelight treatment is its non-invasive nature. Unlike surgical procedures, this treatment requires no downtime, allowing you to immediately return to most daily activities. The process typically takes around 15 to 30 minutes, making it a convenient option for individuals with busy lifestyles.

5. Long-Lasting Results

Restylane Eyelight offers long-lasting results, extending for up to a year or more. This benefit allows you to enjoy your brighter and more youthful undereye area without the hassle of frequent touch-up appointments. The gradual breakdown of the hyaluronic acid filler allows for a natural fade, ensuring the transformation remains subtle and beautiful.

Discover a Brighter You at The Derm Institute with Dr. Annie Chiu

If you’re ready to experience the transformative benefits of Restylane Eyelight for yourself, look no further than The Derm Institute, led by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Annie Chiu. With a wealth of experience and dedication to providing personalized care, Dr. Chiu and her team will help you achieve your aesthetic goals in a safe and comfortable environment.

Dr. Chiu’s expertise ensures you receive a tailored approach that delivers the most natural-looking and beautiful results possible. Whether you’re looking to diminish dark circles, reduce puffiness, smooth fine lines, or all of the above, Restylane Eyelight at The Derm Institute can provide the solution you’ve been searching for.

Your journey to a revitalized undereye area and renewed confidence starts here. Book your consultation today and embark on the path to radiance and beauty.

Meet Volux, Juvéderm’s Newest Filler for Sculpting the Perfect Jawline

Posted on by The Derm Institute Team
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Image provided by manufacturer.

The jawline is a critical facial feature for attractiveness and beauty, and many people desire improved definition in this area. With age, your face loses volume and descends over time with gravity, resulting in jowls that soften the distinction between your jaw and neck. Though skillful makeup application can help in the short term, these hide the problem instead of solving it.

If you want to look your best but struggle with a weaker, smaller chin, droopy jowls, or a less defined than desired jawline either due to age or genetics, Dr. Annie Chiu of The Derm Institute is proud to offer Juvéderm Volux for lower face contouring, including the chin and jawline. Here’s what you need to know about this advanced dermal filler.

Volux for a Defined Jawline

The Derm Institute now offers Juvéderm Volux, an FDA-approved, hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler, to enhance jawline definition and the contours of the lower face.

  • Long lasting results
  • Defined youthful appearance
  • Natural looking results
  • Safe and Effective

Allergan, the makers of Juvéderm, designed Volux to deliver a natural definition to areas like the angle of the jaw, jowls, jawline, and chin. Dr. Chiu can partner with you to create a more defined and youthful lower face. The hyaluronic acid-based filler Volux is a next-generation dermal filler that is designed to give a natural, revitalized lift to the chin and jawline without the telltale signs of artificial filler.  Using advanced injection techniques, Dr. Chiu can use Juvederm Volux to enhance the contours of the lower face, diminishing the appearance of jowls, and create a more chiseled, or heart-shaped face depending on the need. 

Clinical trials showed a high satisfaction level for Volux, with improvements lasting well over a year. Balancing the jawline and chin with an injectable like Volux optimizes facial appearance and improves symmetry.

Potential areas Volux can address include:

  • Visible signs of lower facial aging
  • Jowls
  • A weak or ill-defined jawline
  • A deeply cleft chin, a small chin, or a retracted chin

The choice of fillers for facial rejuvenation is important for optimal results. But choosing who performs the injections is the most critical, which we’ll explain below.

Is Volux the Same as Voluma?

While Dr. Chiu utilizes all current FDA-approved fillers available in the United States, fillers like Restylane Lyft and Juvéderm Voluma create facial symmetry, while Juvéderm Volux is differentiated as a hyaluronic acid filler in that it contains a thicker, more cohesive and robust formula. The durable quality of Juvederm Volux is ideal to enhance jawline definition, lift the jowls, and balance the chin with natural-appearing results like other hyaluronic acid fillers that last up to 18 months. Through cohesive formulas designed with poly-L-lactic acid are appropriate to enhance jawline definition, most patients prefer hyaluronic acid fillers for natural results that last up to 18 months. Therefore, Juvéderm’s Volux can fill the non-surgical gap for jawline improvement.

Like our other Juvéderm injectable products, Volux is a hyaluronic acid filler to address lost facial volume and revitalize treated areas.  On the lower face, the Volux consistency imitates more closely bone and is more proficient in lifting tissues along the lower face including the chin and jawline.

Is Volux FDA-Approved?

On Aug. 3, 2022, Allergan announced the FDA approval of Juvéderm Volux for adults over 21 with moderate to severe jawline volume loss as studied in clinical trials. Lower face volume loss transcends race, gender, ethnicity, and age. Because so many people struggle with this aesthetic issue due to genetics or soft tissue loss, Dr. Chiu is excited to introduce them to Volux to improve chin profiles, jawline definition and eliminate saggy jowls.

Is Volux Available in the U.S.?

Juvéderm’s Volux for jawline contouring is now available with Annie Chiu, MD at The Derm Institute.  Contact us if you are interested! Volux’s FDA approval represents the most significant leap in innovation for Juvéderm’s hyaluronic acid fillers since it introduced Voluma. It complements our product line at The Derm Institute, offering more structure and lift capacity to enhance your jawline contour for first-time impressions or social media posts. This product has high satisfaction in men and women alike.

How Long Will Volux Last?

Juvéderm Volux is Allergan’s longest-lasting hyaluronic acid dermal filler. Clinical studies have shown a duration of up to two years. The length of dermal filler benefits ultimately depends on how quickly your body breaks down the product, which varies from patient to patient. As with all hyaluronic acid fillers, you can have Volux dissolved by using the hyaluronidase enzyme if you are dissatisfied with your results.

What should I expect after my Juvederm Volux Treatment?

You may experience some minor swelling and redness at the injection site.  This is normal and should resolve over a few days. 

If you wish to minimize bruising, please follow our Pre-Filler Directions detailing what medication to avoid to decrease your risk of bruising. 

Image provided by manufacturer.

Can You Combine Volux With Other Injectables?

For comprehensive facial rejuvenation, Dr. Chiu offers the patented TDI Effortless Lift. This non-surgical treatment includes fillers in facial areas and injectable neuromodulators like Botox. Dr. Chiu will sculpt, lift, and volumize facial contours by taking advantage of each product’s slightly different enhancements and using a layering effect. This process is the best approach for total facial rejuvenation, as it doesn’t focus on one problem area but your face as a whole.

The application of various non-invasive treatments, combined with Dr. Chiu’s expertise, sets The Derm Institute apart. She uses no shortcuts, inappropriate dilutions, or discounted supplies. Dr. Chiu and her team prioritize providing safe, expert, and artistic facial rejuvenation.

Juvéderm Volux at The Derm Institute

We unconsciously associate facial symmetry with health and beauty. For most patients, Juvéderm Volux can provide a stronger, more defined chin and jawline without surgery, liposuction, or implants.

If you’re looking for a quick and convenient treatment to reshape your jawline, eliminate jowls, and enhance your weak chin with long-lasting outcomes, reach out to us to schedule a personal consultation. Juvéderm Volux is the only FDA-approved hyaluronic acid filler designed to lift, define, and contour the jaw and chin area.

What Is Brotox, and Why Is It Becoming So Popular?

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Older man with beard on beach

Often referred to as “Brotox,” more men are seeking regular Botox treatments than ever. In fact, the number of men seeking Botox has risen by a surprising 355% percent over the past 15 years. Despite its appealing name, Brotox is precisely the same procedure as the Botox injections received by women to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance that will help boost the patient’s self-confidence. Those men who have undergone this treatment will attest to how much misperception is around this procedure.

No, men do not need to look frozen. No men do not need to look lineless. Subtle treatment differences between genders needs an expertise like Dr. Annie Chiu to guide. The goal is a rested refreshed appearance, and a preventative plan towards slowing down looking tired or aged. The goal is impactful improvement that is so natural no one will notice. It almost just appears like healthier skin.

Since this treatment is generally quick and easy to administer, it’s often referred to as a “lunchtime procedure,” since it can be scheduled during one’s lunch break. It typically requires only 15- to 20-minutes with no discomfort and no downtime afterward.

Men and women of all ages choose Botox treatment to help treat dynamic movement lines like the expression lines on the forehead, the “11 lines” between the eyes, and fine lines or crow’s feet at the corner of the eyes when they smile. And the best part is that the results are readily apparent within 2-7 days following treatment and last anywhere from 3-6 months.

As an expert injector, board-certified Dr. Annie Chiu of The Derm Institute in Manhattan Beach, CA, has mastered the art of Botox injections. She can help patients achieve natural-looking facial rejuvenation that turns back time without ever looking “frozen” or “done.” Having participated in numerous studies on Botox and as an Allergan Black Diamond level and Galderma Presidential injector, she has the knowledge and skill to produce results that will have you radiating confidence in no time.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox is a neuromodulator capable of binding the receptors in the muscles. It is administered via tiny injections that soften the appearance of movement-related facial wrinkles.

By blocking neurotransmitters that trigger the muscle’s ability to contract, Botox reduces the activity of the muscles in the area targeted, which stops wrinkles from being able to form. Usually requiring less than 15 minutes to perform, Botox injections make it the perfect treatment for even the busiest schedules.

Why Is Brotox Becoming So Popular?

While men choose Botox treatment for similar reasons to women, there are three common reasons among men considering or who have already had this injectable treatment.

Men aren’t immune to the aging process

With changing social norms and a shifting focus on our online presence, men increasingly want to undo the effects of time and look a little younger, more rested, and energized. This trend explains the increasing emphasis on physical appearance for both men and women and why cosmetic procedures like Botox or “Brotox” are becoming highly sought after.

Growing need to remain competitive in today’s job market.

The job market is constantly becoming more competitive, with a perceived direct link between one’s physical appearance and career success. Many men who want to stay competitive in their careers decide to take advantage of Botox to maintain that virile, energized look displayed by younger colleagues.

Improve self-esteem and quality of life

As for women, men can also benefit from the confidence-boosting younger profile provided by Botox. When you know you look your best on the outside, you tend to also feel better about yourself inside, with a positive effect on your overall sense of happiness, wellness, and quality of life.

Taking the Next Step with a Brotox Treatment With Dr. Chiu

There is no need to feel awkward, Brotox treatments are an easy yet effective way for men to maintain their youthful complexion well into their 30s, 40s, and beyond. For more information on Brotox with Dr. Annie Chiu at her practice in Redondo Beach, California, call us at (310) 939-9800 or contact us online to schedule a personalized consultation.

Botox vs. Fillers, What’s the Difference? | The Derm Institute

Posted on by The Derm Institute
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Almost everyone has heard of Botox, but few people understand the differences between Botox and the vast range of injectables known as fillers.

Botox and fillers are two common but very different aesthetic skin treatments. Both are designed primarily to restore youthfulness to your facial features, which is essential in today’s online world.

Here we talk about the similarities, differences, and benefits of Botox vs. fillers so that you are better prepared for when you contact The Derm Institute in North Redondo Beach, California. At her boutique practice, Dr. Annie Chiu will create an individualized plan for you by carefully selecting the best combination of injectables that will help you regain your youthful appearance without surgery.

What Are the Differences Between Botox and Fillers?

The aging process leads us to start looking older than our years, and as it undermines our self-confidence, many of us become determined to find a solution. That solution could well be in the form of either Botox, injectable fillers, or even both.

You may have been lead to believe that Botox and fillers are the same. However, this is far from the truth. So how do you choose between Botox and other aesthetic injectables for your face, especially with all the different brand names on the market?

Both Botox and dermal fillers are delivered via injection and used to treat wrinkles on the face. But this is where the similarities end.

Botox®

Botox (together with Jeuveau, Dysport, and Xeomin) is a botulinum toxin type A neuromodulator that best treats facial expression areas such as crow’s feet, frown lines, and the ‘11s’ between the eyebrows. It is also used to treat neurological disorders that cause muscle weakness and treat migraines and other medical conditions.

As a wrinkle treatment, these neuromodulators are primarily used to treat “dynamic” wrinkles naturally occurring around the eyes and mouth and between the eyebrows, which become more pronounced with age. These injections, which take just a few minutes, relax the muscles near these wrinkles. By preventing the muscles from moving, the appearance of dynamic wrinkles is reduced.

Dermal fillers

Dr. Chiu expertly administers dermal fillers to treat wrinkles on the face and plump up the lips or cheeks that have to begin to sag due to aging. Whereas Botox relaxes the muscles underneath the skin, fillers add subtle volume to restore a more natural look to the face. A variety of fillers having a unique composition are also on offer, including Juvederm, Voluma, Vollure, Volbella, and Restylane, to name just a small selection. Dr. Chiu will help you determine which filler will benefit you the most when you come in for your personalized consultation.

Find Out About Botox Versus Fillers with Dr. Annie Chiu

Explore the differences between Botox and dermal fillers and how they can help restore your youthful appearance by contacting Dr. Annie Chiu at her practice in Redondo Beach, California. She offers you the most advanced age-defying rejuvenation solutions, including injectable neuromodulators such as Botox, Jeuveau, Dysport, and Xeomin, and her expertly administered range of dermal fillers.

Call (310) 939-9800 or contact us online today to schedule your personalized consultation!

Botox & Filler During COVID: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

Posted on by The Derm Institute
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You already know that the demand for Botox and dermal fillers has increased considerably over the past few months. Stay-at-home orders have led to delays in continuing our treatments, and our feelings of stress and anxiety are worsened when we see our tense, wrinkled, and furrowed faces reflected back at us during those nonstop Zoom video calls. Now more than ever, we don’t want to look tired or old or angry.

To maintain the results of your earlier visits to The Derm Institute, you may already have enjoyed products with crosslinked hyaluronic acids like SkinMedica’s HA5 rejuvenating hydrator from our Online Skincare Store. Products like these help your skin maintain its plump and hydrated appearance and are great additions to boost your filler treatments as you plan to schedule your next visit.

Your next visit to Dr. Annie Chiu will look a lot different from the last time, even before you walk in the door. You have already noticed from our website that we have additional safety precautions to protect you, our staff, and other patients from contracting the coronavirus.

Is It Safe To Get Botox and Fillers Again?

We are all about keeping you and others safe

When scheduling your appointment, please pay special attention to our website’s pop-up checklist with our new COVID office protocol. It highlights our safety precautions: On your arrival, wait to be called to enter the office, wear a mask or face covering, use the hand sanitizer provided, let us take your temperature, and be sure to let us know if you have any worrying health symptoms or if you’ve been in contact with anyone who has tested positive with COVID.

What Happens During the Treatment?

After you have checked in and as you’re escorted to the treatment room, you’ll notice our office may seem emptier than the last time you visited. When your doctor comes into the room to discuss and provide treatment, she’ll be wearing two masks (N95 and face mask) over her nose and mouth, as well as a clear protective shield covering her face.

What’s Your Next Rejuvenation Treatment Going to Be at North Redondo Beach, CA?

Dr. Chiu’s boutique practice offers the most advanced rejuvenation approaches, including injectables such as Botox® and  Dermal Fillers. Be sure to ask about her newer generation of hyaluronic acid fillers known as Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA) Fillers. Manufactured to closely resemble the natural hyaluronic acids found in your own body, they allow your skin to stretch and integrate beautifully even in areas of high movement or expression. You’ll enjoy some of the most natural but transformative results, giving you smooth contours and a youthful, soft, and rested look for up to 15 months. Perfect for those Zoom calls!

You can feel reassured in our safety precautions and the superior care you’ll receive by renowned physician Dr. Annie Chiu and our amazing office staff. Call us today at (310) 939-9800 or contact us online to schedule your personalized consultation!