Introduction
New York City is a hub for advanced cosmetic procedures, especially those related to hyaluronic acid skin - boosting. Hyaluronic acid has become a cornerstone in the field of aesthetic dermatology and plastic surgery due to its remarkable ability to enhance skin volume, reduce wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture. In this article, we will explore the top 4 strength plastic institutions in New York City that are well - known for their expertise in hyaluronic acid skin - boosting treatments. But first, let's understand the basics of hyaluronic acid and related concepts.
Understanding Hyaluronic Acid
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is a naturally occurring substance in the body. It is a glycosaminoglycan that plays a crucial role in moisture retention and skin structure. In youth, our tissues are abundant in hyaluronic acid, which gives the skin its plumpness and elasticity. As we age, the natural levels of hyaluronic acid in the body decline, leading to the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of volume in the face and other areas of the body.
Hyaluronic acid is formed by a polymer of two primary disaccharides, D - glucuronic acid and D - N - acetylglucosamine. Hyaluronic acid filler injections are commonly used to boost the volume of the skin via subcutaneous injections. Many hyaluronic acid fillers use hyaluronate cross - linking technology, which connects hyaluronic acid molecules with a plasticizing agent for optimal facial contouring. For example, hyaluronic acid - based fillers can attract water and encourage collagen production, making them a popular choice for patients interested in achieving a rejuvenated appearance.
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
- Natural - looking results: Hyaluronic acid fillers blend well with the body's natural tissues, providing a subtle and natural - looking enhancement. They can be used to address various cosmetic concerns, such as the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth (including marionette lines, smile lines, and perioral lines), lip augmentation, chin augmentation, jowl correction, cheek augmentation, and correction of age - related volume loss in the midface.
- Reversible: One of the significant advantages of hyaluronic acid fillers is their reversibility. If a patient is not satisfied with the results or has an adverse reaction, hyaluronidase, an enzyme, can be injected to dissolve the filler and reverse its effects.
- Minimal downtime: Compared to more invasive plastic surgery procedures, hyaluronic acid filler injections are relatively quick and require little to no downtime. Patients can usually return to their normal activities immediately after the treatment.
- Hydrating properties: Hyaluronic acid is excellent at retaining water, which helps to hydrate the skin and improve its overall texture and appearance. This hydration can make the skin look more supple, smooth, and youthful.
The Role of Hyaluronidase
What is Hyaluronidase?
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that occurs naturally in the body. It is produced by white blood cells to move more quickly through connective tissues. There are a variety of different hyaluronidase classifications, with the most common being Hyal1 and Hyal2. Hyaluronidase activity within Hyal2 has less enzyme activity but is able to break down hyaluronic acid with a higher molecular weight.
Hyaluronidase is an injectable enzyme that is marketed with several FDA - approved brand - name formulations, including Hydase, Hylenex, Amp Hadase, and Vitrase. These injections typically contain the enzyme collected from purified bovine tissue (ovine testicular hyaluronidase) or derived from human albumin sources (recombinant human hyaluronidase). Dr. Michele Green in NYC often uses Hylenex, a synthetic, recombinant DNA product made from human products, as it has a purity 100 times higher than some of the bovine preparations, and allergic reactions to Hylenex are very rare.
Uses of Hyaluronidase
- Dissolving hyaluronic acid fillers: One of the main uses of hyaluronidase is to dissolve hyaluronic acid dermal fillers and reverse poor cosmetic results. If a patient is unhappy with the appearance after hyaluronic acid filler injections, such as an “overdone” look or other unacceptable cosmetic outcomes, hyaluronidase injections can break down the filler and restore the skin to its original pre - injection condition.
- Medical applications: Hyaluronidase also has other FDA - approved medical functions. It can be used to improve the diffusion of anesthetics in pain therapy, aid in the absorption of treatment agents in chemotherapeutics and ophthalmic surgery, act as a spreading agent in subcutaneous injections, and assist in edema reduction (off - label use). It can also be used to treat vitreous hemorrhage, extravasation within chemotherapy patients to prevent tissue necrosis, and for retrobulbar anesthesia within ophthalmic surgery.
How Hyaluronidase Works
Hyaluronidase breaks down the linkages between hyaluronic acid molecules. When injected subcutaneously, it decreases the amount of hyaluronic acid from the dermal filler, ultimately reversing its cosmetic effects. Patients should wait at least two weeks after their dermal filler injections to consider hyaluronidase, as the fillers can take up to two weeks to settle.
The process of getting hyaluronidase injections is relatively simple. First, the patient meets with a doctor, like Dr. Michele Green, to discuss their concerns and medical history, and together they develop a treatment plan. The doctor will ask about the amount and type of hyaluronic acid fillers the patient wants to dissolve. Then, the doctor administers hyaluronidase to the initial hyaluronic acid filler treatment area. After the treatment, the patient can resume normal activity, and some potential side effects, such as swelling, bruising, and tenderness at or near injection sites, usually resolve independently within one to two weeks.
Top 4 Plastic Institutions in New York City for Hyaluronic Acid Skin - Boosting
1. Dr. Michele Green's Practice
Dr. Michele Green is an internationally renowned board - certified dermatologist with over two and a half decades of experience. She offers some of the world’s most discerning individuals the best non - invasive cosmetic treatment options, including dermal fillers and hyaluronidase injections.
Dr. Green takes a holistic approach to facial rejuvenation and embraces a less - is - more philosophy. She customizes each patient’s treatment plan to suit their particular skin concerns and overall aesthetic goals. She is consistently identified as one of New York City’s best dermatologists by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, and Super Doctors.
For hyaluronic acid filler treatments, she is very skilled at using popular brands like Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero. And in cases where patients are unhappy with their hyaluronic acid filler results, she can effectively use hyaluronidase to reverse the effects. Her use of Hylenex in hyaluronidase treatments ensures a high level of safety and efficacy.
2. Dr. Barry Weintraub's Practice
Dr. Barry Weintraub is a board - certified plastic surgeon who is ivy league educated at the Weill - Cornell Medical Center. He is a national spokesperson for the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has more than two decades of experience.
Dr. Weintraub uses common hyaluronic - acid fillers such as Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra Plus, Restylane, and Perlane. He applies a custom - made numbing cream from California, which comprises three different compounds, rather than the ubiquitous Emla found in most doctors’ offices. His treatments are relatively quick, and patients can usually return to work or their personal responsibilities immediately after the treatment. The hyaluronic - acid products he uses last on average 7 - 8 months, and they help the skin lay down a framework for stronger skin by promoting elastin and collagen production.
Dr. Weintraub's patients return to him because his well - trained eye and extensive experience produce natural and beautiful results. He also performs “liquid facelifts” in conjunction with Botox, which can erase angry expressions from the face, revolumize the face, and potentially postpone the need for a traditional facelift.
3. Dr. Adam Kolker's Practice
Dr. Adam Kolker is a double - board certified plastic surgeon. He approaches all facial aesthetic treatments by focusing on attaining the most beautiful and effective results using “the lowest rungs” of the treatment ladder, which maximizes beauty and safety while minimizing downtime.
There is a wide array of injectables and fillers available at his practice, including hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, and Belotero, as well as volume stimulators like Sculptra and autologous sources like growth factor - driven platelet - rich fibrin matrix (Selphyl) and fat grafting. Dr. Kolker spends time understanding each patient's specific goals and desires and carefully assesses their anatomic requirements to formulate a personalized cosmetic treatment plan.
For example, when it comes to hyaluronic acid fillers, he recommends different products based on the patient's needs. Juvederm Ultra is used for finer, more superficial fill and wrinkle corrections, while Juvederm Ultra Plus is for more intermediate depth fill and correction of deeper lines and shadows. Restylane is also a popular choice, and he has options with different concentrations to address various concerns.
4. Zuckerman Plastic Surgery
At Zuckerman Plastic Surgery, board - certified plastic surgeon Dr. Zuckerman has hundreds of hours of injectables experience. They offer Restylane Silk, the first FDA - approved injectable dermal filler designed for subtle lip augmentation and smoothing of perioral fine lines and wrinkles.
Dr. Zuckerman uses Restylane Silk for lip augmentation and nasolabial fold rejuvenation. The treatment results are seen immediately and last approximately 6 to 9 months. There is little to no downtime, and patients often return to work immediately after treatment. Dr. Zuckerman is able to minimize or eliminate bruising with his expert technique. They also offer the entire line of Restylane products, including Restylane Lyft for cheek augmentation, Restylane - L for tear trough rejuvenation, and Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne for nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
Choosing the Right Plastic Institution
Considerations for Patients
- Surgeon's qualifications: It is crucial to choose a board - certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Verify their board certifications and specialized training in facial procedures. For example, all the surgeons mentioned above are highly qualified, but it's still important for patients to do their due diligence and check their credentials.
- Experience: Look for a surgeon with extensive experience in hyaluronic acid filler treatments. Ask about the number of procedures they have performed and request to see before - and - after photos of previous patients. For instance, Dr. Michele Green and Dr. Barry Weintraub have decades of experience, which gives patients more confidence in their abilities.
- Reputation: Check the surgeon's reputation among other medical professionals and patients. Online reviews and testimonials can provide valuable insights. Doctors like Dr. Adam Kolker have many positive testimonials from patients who are satisfied with their treatments.
- Range of products offered: Different patients have different needs, so it's important to choose an institution that offers a variety of hyaluronic acid filler products. This allows the surgeon to select the most appropriate filler for each patient's specific concerns. Dr. Kolker's practice, for example, offers a wide range of injectables and fillers to meet diverse patient needs.
- Cost: Hyaluronic acid fillers vary in cost depending on the brand, treatment area, and location. However, safety and satisfaction should outweigh cost concerns. Make sure to get a clear understanding of the costs involved and compare different institutions, but don't compromise on quality for the sake of saving money.
Conclusion
New York City is home to some of the best plastic institutions for hyaluronic acid skin - boosting treatments. Dr. Michele Green's practice, Dr. Barry Weintraub's practice, Dr. Adam Kolker's practice, and Zuckerman Plastic Surgery all offer high - quality services, experienced surgeons, and a variety of hyaluronic acid filler options. Whether you're looking to reduce wrinkles, enhance your lips, or restore volume to your face, these institutions can provide effective and natural - looking results.
If you're considering hyaluronic acid skin - boosting treatments, don't miss the opportunity to consult with these top - ranked institutions. Take the time to research and choose the right surgeon and institution for your needs. By doing so, you can achieve the youthful and rejuvenated appearance you desire.
Call now to schedule a consultation with one of these top plastic institutions in New York City and take the first step towards enhancing your beauty and confidence!
