Frequently Asked Questions…

1. When is Volbella available?

Now!  Juvederm Volbella is now FDA-Approved and available early at The Derm Institute.  As an Allergan Medical Facial Aesthetic Speaker Trainer, Dr. Annie Chiu is among the first physicians to be offering this fine line lip filler in the United States.   As a premier injectable expert in the Southbay, Dr. Chiu also had advanced training in Volbella.

2. What is Juvederm Volbella used for?

Volbella is a “fine line” hyaluronic acid filler used to soften small etched lines, especially around the mouth.  It is not meant to give “big” or “full” lips, it is for the most subtle of lip enhancements or to attack pesky vertical lip lines that are aging in appearance.

• To make vertical lip “smoker’s lines” or “lipstick lines” disappear
• To give crinkly lips a glossed appearance so they look rehydrated
• To better define the cupid’s bow, or M portion of the lip
• Define the lip borders
• Upturn the corners of a downturning mouth

3. Where else can Volbella be used?

Volbella is a durable, extra smooth gel that can be used for any fine, etched line or a thin-skinned area that needs softening of hollows.  Examples include:

• Undereye hollows
• Etched horizontal forehead lines
• Etched crow’s feet
• Deep etched frown lines that do not completely improve with Botox

4. What makes Volbella different?

Volbella is in the Juvederm Voluma  family.  The special VYCROSS technique allows this injectable filler to be administered with virtually no swelling or downtime while still giving long lasting duration.  The ultra smooth gel also allows it to be completely natural looking.

5. How long does Volbella filler last?

Volbella typically lasts about 1 year in duration.

6. Does it hurt?

Volbella is pre-mixed with anesthetic, and we always use topical numbing to ensure a comfortable experience for our patients at The Derm Institute.

7. Is there downtime?

Volbella filler for the lip, etched lines, or undereye is unique in its formulation in that there is virtually no swelling or bruising, making this a true lunch time procedure.

Come experience Juvederm Volbella today by contacting our clinic and get a little magic courtesy of Dr. Annie Chiu

…Shared by the TDI team

Want glossy pillowy lips without the dreaded “trout pout”?  Now is the time to put your fears away—Vobella is here!

Volbella is the newest filler approved by the FDA.  Like its cousin, Voluma, Volbella comes from the makers of Botox, and is comprised of cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid, but its defining characteristic is its ultra smooth, ultra fine, and ultra soft consistency, making it an ideal filler for pesky lines around the mouth, aka “smoker’s lines” (although these occur in non-smokers too!), and for those who want a very natural lip rejuvenation.

There are so many fillers on the market–what makes Volbella different?

Volbella is part of the Juvederm Voluma family, uniquely characterized by VYCROSS technology, which through special efficient crosslinking, allows longer lasting results with minimal swelling.

• Minimal swelling effect, unlike other lip fillers on the market where you have a few days of swelling before the lips settle down.
• Not for building enlarged lips, more for a glossing, slight plumping effect, like wearing the best lip gloss you can imagine 24-7.
• Ideal for fine etched lines around the mouth, including vertical, “smoker appearing” lip lines.
• Can be used for etched fine wrinkles other than the lip area as well.

How long does it last?  What kind of results can I expect?

Dr. Chiu has perfected her TDI “Lip Glossing” technique with lip fillers.  Her technique with Volbella, as well as other lip fillers is to achieved a “just kissed” look—where the lip is slightly plumped, has a glowing sheen, and a dewy appearance.  Just a touch of sexy . . . and with Volbella, the results are so natural no one will know!   Let’s say your secret will be sealed with a kiss . . . And it’s long lasting—up to a year!

When will it be available in the United States?

Because Dr. Chiu is a nationally recognized master injector and physician trainer, The Derm Institute will be among the first clinics in Los Angeles to offer Volbella, this revolutionary new filler which is slated for wider release in October.  Contact the office to get on the waitlist today!

Then, stay tuned for Vol-Lift . . .  in the TRIAD of VYCROSS fillers. . . also coming this year.

… Shared by the TDI Team

The TDI Effortless Lift is The Derm Institute’s Patented Liquid Lift Procedure. An exclusive, essential package dedicated to the natural lift and glow everyone desires and can achieve by catering to individual skin beauty needs.

As we become more expert and advanced at rejuvenation of the face and neck, more and more patients are noticing the changes that occur over time on the hands. This is one of the most age-telling areas on the body, as it is almost always exposed.

Chronic sun exposure and time thins the skin and collagen, and the skin becomes lax and discolored with sun or age spots. The hands lose plumpness and firmness, becoming more “bony” appearing, with veins and a skeletal appearance.

Treating these changes is an incredibly easy set of non-invasive, non-surgical procedures that result in extremely high satisfaction and duration of improvement (1-2 years!).

Step 1: Replenish Volume

The FDA recently approved Radiesse as the first and only injectable filler to correct for thinning, bony, skeletal appearing hands that have more bone and vein show. Radiesse instantly restores and replumps to give a more youthful appearance. Radiesse is a filler made of microspheres of natural calcium hydroxylapatite, which provides a scaffold to stimulate your own body’s production of collagen. The product has been used safely for facial rejuvenation for many years, and is eventually metabolized out of the body.

Placed beneath the skin on the back of the hands, Radiesse provides instant smoothing of wrinkles and long lasting results up to 1-2 years in a 15 minute treatment session! The result is smooth, beautiful, and natural.

Step 2: Brown Spot Removal

In an easy treatment with either a V-beam or IPL laser, 1-2 sessions can clear brown spots on the hands with very minimal downtime. These lasers target the discolorations on the hands so the skin appears even toned and not “spotty.”

Step 3: Maintenance and Nourish

The texture of the skin is important to maintain. Keeping the hands sun protected, nourished, and moisturized is important to discourage the return of brown spots, reduce fine lines and crepiness, and also give the appearance of healthy thickened skin.

• Daily sunscreens for your hands should be reapplied throughout the day. We powder them up with Sunforgettable SPF 50 Powder for quick reapplication in the car.
• Nightly treatment with a product like Revision’s Lumiquin hand cream with licorice root extract, Vitamin C, and peptides brighten and reduce fine lines. This keeps the hands smooth and soft. Dr. Chiu loves this product. She keeps a tube on her bedstand and puts just a pea-size on the back of the hands nightly.
• Light Peels can maintain the suppleness for hand holding . . . Try SkinLab’s Boost Weekly Power Peel Pads.

Extra tips:

• If you drive a lot, use fingerless sunprotective gloves, available on amazon
• If you get gel manicures, request a LED light for curing, NOT a UV lamp

All these procedures and products are available at The Derm Institute. Our hands do so much for us every day, isn’t it time they got a bit of pampering?

Call The Derm Institute today for specials celebrating FDA’s recent approval of Radiesse for hands at 310-939-9800.

…Shared by The Derm Institute Team

We all know the look of a masculine, virile man . . . Modeled after superheroes as we know them, the chiseled jawline–no double chins, no slackening of skin– gives the sense of confidence, strength, being in shape and of course youth.

More and more men are seeking non-invasive cosmetic procedures to give them not just a competitive edge on aging, but in the workplace as well. A well defined jawline, without saggy double chins, portends strength and success, yet was previously determined mostly genetically. Nowadays, subtle and completely natural appearing enhancement can occur in about 30 minutes at a dermatologist’s office.

Look at profile pictures of CEO’s and you will see the chosen LinkedIn shots tend to be angled to highlight a sharp, masculine, superhero like jawline. Maybe it is our obsession with superman and batman (who prominently only shows his jawline), but this feature somehow conveys to the human eye a sense of control, power, and intensity–characteristics that often define success.

Weight loss, getting fit, and skincare do not address the jawline laxity that starts occurring as early as 30s in both men and women. That is because bony remodeling and the resorption of jawbone occurs over time, causing the skin to appear more lax over the weakened underlining scaffold of bone. As the skin loses laxity, the under chin fat pad (aka the dreaded double chin) becomes more prominent, and that border between the neck and jaw somehow starts to blur. Some men are under the misbelief that working out can improve this–but it can often worsen the condition, as stronger neck muscles can pull down the jawline skin even further.

Most men who come to The Derm Institute or seek a dermatologist’s help can’t identify this exact issue. But they do notice a slackening and tiredness of the face, a sense of weight gain that shows around the jaw, and of course the double chin. There’s a reason men in their mid thirties suddenly sport some sort of facial hair–as this often masks the lack of sharpness in the jawline and gives a shadowing to give an impression of definition.

For all you superhero, CEO, and success inspired men out there– don’t fear, nowadays there are numerous options and methods to re sculpt the masculine jawline:

1. Botox/Dysport.

Advanced techniques can be utilized to reduce the downward pull of muscle fibers in the neck, known as platysmal bands, on the jawline to give the face better contour. This is an easy, painless 15 min procedure.

2. Kybella.

For those with a prominent fat pad under the chin, a newly FDA approved series of injections can be used to essentially destroy the fat cells that give you the dreaded double chin appearance. Non-invasive and with minimal downtime, this is an exciting new development in jawline rejuvenation.

3. Fillers.

Some patients are born with a “weak chin”, or the bony remodeling over time makes the chin appear smaller, losing the strength of a sharp jawline. With products like Radiesse, Voluma, Restylane Lyft, and Sculptra, advanced cosmetic injectors such as Dr. Chiu can resculpt, relift, and redefine the entire chin and jawline area in less than 45 minutes. Results are immediate for those who love instant gratification with minimal downtime.

4. Radiofrequency tightening.

Breakdown of collagen with age, sun exposure, smoking, and genetics causes thinning and loss of elasticity in the skin. Radiofrequency can heat the collagen, stimulating new collagen production and tightening of collagen fibers to redefine the jawline.

A lot of these procedures can be combined for the best results depending on each individual’s needs. The Derm Institute is committed to a comfortable low pressure environment for every patient to discuss their concerns. See someone with extensive experience in treating men, such as Dr. Annie Chiu, as specific techniques are important not to feminize the male face. Instead we can help you work towards a chiseled, non-jowly, confident you.

You are all superheroes at TDI 🙂

…Shared by The Derm Institute Team

It’s here! The FDA has approved Restylane Lyft! This is a dermal filler with a history of longstanding safety. It is a unique product that has over 15 years of proven safety data, and is a hyaluronic acid product previously known as Perlane.

What’s New?

This is the First and only FDA approved filler that is indicated to address multiple areas of the face. This includes the cheeks and smile line areas. These are the areas that have a more pronounced appearance as we age because this is where we lose the most volume in our face.

Its WOW Factor

TDI refers to Restylane Lyft as the “one syringe wonder”. We can use it to safely and effectively lift the cheeks, soften the smile lines, turn up the corners of the mouth, and soften under eye circles. It is a great choice for someone who may be looking for a product that can target a large area for volume enhancement, achieving a natural and beautiful lift.

Why should you use it?

With age we lose collagen and this causes volume loss in the face. This leads to sagging or droopy areas of the face. This can lead to heavy folds near the mouth and feathering of the central part of the face. Restylane Lyft is specifically targeted to provide top tier results when it comes to restoring volume and lifting the face in these areas.

Schedule an appointment by clicking here. Let TDI help get you Lyfted!

…Shared by The Derm Institute Team