Dr. Buckingham’s Q&A

Question:
I’ve been having Botox injections for 5 years now.  Is there a limit as to how many injections one can safely have?  I’m just wondering if I will face any special risks after having these injections for so long.

Answer:
There have not been any studies indicating that long-term Botox use is detrimental. You can have some muscle atrophy over time but if the Botox is stopped the muscles will regenerate.  The atrophy of the muscles is usually not noticeable by observation of the patient’s face.

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

Question:
I’ve begun to notice some ugly veins on my nose. Is this related to rosacea? What can I do to get rid of them?

Answer:
Vascularity of the nose can be an indication of acne rosacea or can occur as an isolated entity. The best treatment for broken capillaries or dilated veins of the nose is a KTP laser. This procedure is performed in the office with immediate results and limited down time. The process which formed the dilated veins or capillaries will continue however and they are likely to recur as years pass.  Usually a patient will get 2-4 years results.

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Question:
Is there a risk for hearing loss in a patient who has otoplasty?

Answer:
No aspect of the hearing apparatus is affected during otoplasty.  It would be highly unlikely for any injury to occur to the ear canal or deeper structures which would lead to hearing loss.

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

Question:
Is IPL a good treatment for aging skin? I’m in my early 40s with some minor wrinkles and sagging and texture irregularities.

Answer:
IPL is a good treatment for skin pigmentation and vascularity. It may provide some dermal thickening but is not a treatment for sagging, textural irregularities or wrinkles. Another laser treatment such as fractionated carbon dioxide laser was reviewed and is laser a better for fine lines and wrinkles.  Sagging tissues may be better treated with volume augmentation using fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm or possibly the patient’s own fat. More significant sagging is better addressed with surgical intervention for instance limited incision facelift.

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

Question:
If I look up close at my face in the magnification mirror, I see fine wrinkles almost all over my face. Are these tiny wrinkles the type of wrinkles that laser resurfacing erases?

Answer:
In general, I would recommend not utilizing a magnification mirror to analyze your face.  A better option would be to analyze the face in the mirror from 2-3 feet.  This will give you a better impression of the true aging characteristics of your skin.  Wrinkles which are visible in this manner can be easily treated with laser resurfacing techniques. There is a host of available treatments in fact to help fine lines and wrinkles and only a consultation will determine which procedure is most beneficial for an individual patient.

Posted by Dr. Buckingham