Lip filler experience

by Natalie at Surgical Artistry

I wanted to recount my experience pertaining to my first time getting lip fillers as a way to help others who may be thinking about getting a lip filler.

As you may know, I was very nervous and hesitant. I have always wanted to get my lips done, especially after assisting in so many of those lip procedures. I just needed to find the courage to actually do it. It was definitely a great experience being on the other side as a “patient” this time around and experiencing it from another point of view.

Before the procedure began, Dr. Lee and I had both agreed on choosing Juvederm Volbella XC as the most suitable filler for my lips. Since my lips were quite thin to begin with, it was important for me to choose a filler in which my lips could handle without it being too overblown. Volbella is known to be a smoother filler, with more of a natural look. Its also known to have the least amount of swelling. Eventually, if I want to have my lips injected again, I can also choose a different filler to coexist with Volbella. Other choices included a newer filler called Restylane Kysse. This filler, Restylane Kysse is a thicker product than Juvederm Volbella XC. There are about 10 different lip filler choices we could have used for lips. But one choice we weren’t going to do is Radiesse – that is a syringe used for growing collagen (hyperdilute radiesse) in areas where there aren’t too much muscle activity. Lips are mostly muscle and have a lot of movement.

I explained to Dr. Lee the type of results I was hoping to achieve. My top lip had a very defined “M” shape to it, while also being very thin. I wanted more volume on the top of my lip border around the cupid’s bow, without the sides looking very elongated.

“Before” photos of my lips were taken. Numbing cream was applied, and left on my lips for about 5 minutes. We went through the cold sores and lip questions. As nervous as I was, I knew I was in good hands with Dr. Lee since he is the lip filler expert! I was completely numb and felt little to no pain for the entire lip filler procedure. The most painful area I think was when he began to inject towards the middle of my lips, specifically, the philtral columns. I would rate the pain level a 4 on a scale from 1-10.

I enjoyed the fact that Dr. Lee would explain what he was doing while injecting. Lupe was also very comforting while she was assisting Dr. Lee. She put her hand on my shoulder which made a big difference in my anxiety level. They would take a moment to ask me how I was doing during the lip procedure, which was really nice and reassuring. The entire process was maybe 8-12 minutes long. The Once the procedure was over, Lupe handed me the mirror to take see my new look. I was so excited! Of course, my first reaction was being a little taken aback at my lips being bigger than they were before, but with that being said, I instantly fell in love with my new look. My lips turned out to be better than I even expected them to be.

Dr. Lee did an absolute amazing wonderful awesome job! I am so happy! I have always been very insecure about my lips being thin as well as having a gummy smile. Now I have so much more confidence and am so beyond happy.

Dr. Lee informed me that I can apply an icepack to help reduce swelling – especially for the first 30 minutes. He educated me on side effects regarding swelling for the next few days. In about 3 weeks, I should see the full results with the bruising gone and swelling gone.

I had an amazing overall lip augmentation experience for my first time getting my lips done. Thank you, Dr. Lee!!

Lip Links:

Lip fillers on YouTube with Restylane Kysse by Dr. Calvin Lee

Yelp reviews for Calvin Lee, MD many regarding lip fillers

Find us in Modesto!

How to reconstitute 100U Botox bottle

The above video made by me on YouTube explains “how to make Botox“, well, we’re not making the Botox, we are reconstituting it from a dry Botox form to a liquid Botox injectable form. You could mix it with as much saline as you like. Some would call this dilution, but I prefer the word reconstitution. Dilution implies that we are taking a known dose of Botox and making it a lesser dose.

I like 1cc = 4U of Botox

But it works well for me to place 2.5 cc’s of saline into the 100U bottle. This way every 1.0 cc of saline results in 4 Units of Botox.

Much of how Botox is injected now involves 4U of Botox in each injection site. Thus this would be 0.1 cc’s of Botox – and conveniently this shows up on the line in our syringes.

Some tips: When inserting a needle into the rubber top of the Botox container, consider using a 21 G needle rather than 18 G needle. Because the 18 G needle might damage the self-sealing aspect of the rubber top.

There are always subtleties and the video might give you more insight into the way I do it, which has worked well for me.

If you are curious, there are some questions in the comment section of the video. Someone asked where I get my medical degree. It was at Brown University. And someone asked why I wear a mask. I usually don’t talk when I’m reconstituting Botox, and I consider it to be a medication that I’m making that gets injected into a patient, I wanted to make sure I treat it like a surgery – for much of the same reasons – keep the work area from potential contamination. Extra talking creates microdroplets from our mouth into the air. And thus… I prefer to wear a mask if I’m doing some extra talking – for the camera or with a patient while working with Botox. It may be a surgeon thing. It makes me more comfortable knowing that I offered the best for my patients.

I hope the info helps. If you are a potential patient, feel free to visit my page about Botox and we are located in Modesto, California.

Botox Bottle Photography Art

Empty Botox Bottle

I had this used bottle of Botox laying around. I used to put little flowers inside this bottle just for fun. It was a particularly sunny day outside in my backyard and I decided to take this photo of the empty Botox bottle. It looks pretty – to me anyway – probably because injecting Botox is such an art form for me in Modesto, CA. The table is a stained teak patio table which needs to be stained again, but the weathering is actually quite beautiful in a way. This picture of the Botox bottle was done with a Canon 80D camera which I still haven’t learned how to use.

Does Acupuncture Help with Acne?

Acupuncture for Acne?

I got this question today and here’s my attempted answer:

Hi! I have tried acupuncture many times for Acne and still get requests for it – many times it’s in combination with other treatments for the patients – such as for stress or weight loss. My patients report that it helps with acne. But I’m not sure how well it really works. But I’m happy for the positive feedback from my patients. In my opinion, acupuncture is somewhat mediocre of a treatment for acne (in my hands). But because the side effects are low, I sometimes think that it’s worth a try. And by a “try” I usually tell the patients that we can try 4 sessions of acupuncture (spaced about 1 week apart) and if we see an improvement, then it’s worth continuing the acupuncture, if we don’t see an improvement, then it’s time to quit acupuncture. I currently charge $125 for the first visit then $75 for subsequent visits (prices subject to change – please call us). There is acupuncture for skin health and there is acupuncture for hormonal stabilization which are both modalities I use with acupuncture to try to help with acne. Feel free to call us if you want to schedule an appointment 209-551-1888. I also have other ways to treat acne along with acupuncture. It may involve prescribing antibiotics – topically for the skin. Or the Obagi Clenziderm system – all available with us. Or the Blue Peel Radiance which I would perform on the face for acne reduction – or perhaps a combination of all these things. Best of health!

Botox for Acne?

oh and on a side note – I can’t help but mention that Botox has been known to somewhat help with inflammatory processes of the skin – which includes Acne. Thus if there’s acne on the forehead and there are wrinkles in that same place – what a wonderful opportunity to try Botox! Same too for pebbly chin – we can inject Botox in the chin area! There is a new growing world of mesoBotox where Botox is injected in diluted amounts superficially into the cheek skin. This is supposed to create some tightness and I think it would reduce acne in that area – but I haven’t tried it enough to recommend it fully.

Calvin Lee, MD
Modesto Botox and Acupuncture

Summary:

For Active Acne we can try:

Acupuncture for skin health
Acupuncture for hormonal stabilization
Blue Peel Radiance
Obagi Clenziderm system
Topical Antibiotics – we also carry these in our office
Botox if on the forehead or chin.
MesoBotox for the cheeks perhaps something to try in the future.

Operating room becomes concert hall for two Modesto boys

IMG_6016 - cropped — We had a good time dressing up in scrubs and playing the violin at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California 6/6/15.

I had an opportunity on Saturday to spend some time with two amazing brothers who have passion for violin and aspire to become surgeons. I heard about them through social media, and I wanted a chance to meet them. Doctors Medical Center and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce helped to set this up. We were able to give them a brief tour of the operating room areas, and we had a private concert in a large operating room which is used for storage and backup in case of disaster trauma. We played some violin for each other. I was especially intrigued that they wanted to become surgeons. I wanted to give them a friendly taste of surgery life. I especially enjoyed giving them a chance to try out our surgical outfits, and I think they enjoyed spending time in an operating room – in a non-threatening way. And I wanted to impart that performing surgery is much like performing musical instruments. Jorge and Sebastian have a great deal of potential. I am honored to be able to spend a few moments with them.

I also got to meet a very talented Modesto Bee writer. She says she normally writes crime stories, but in this case I think she’s wearing a different hat:

Getting interviewed. — Getting interviewed by Modesto Bee’s Erin Tracy.

Below is the article from the Modesto Bee (text copied and texted), please visit the link below for the actual website which has a video and many other pictures. The pictures and videos in this blog are my own. But the article belongs to Erin Tracy and the Modesto Bee.

First, some of what I played that day on the violin:

Modesto Bee Article by Erin Tracy:

Operating room becomes concert hall for two Modesto boys

The operating table became a music stand, surgery lights transformed into stage lights, and forceps and scalpels were replaced with violins and bows for a special concert at Doctors Medical Center on Saturday.

Two Modesto boys – Jorge Mendoza, 12, and Sebastian Mendoza, 8 – had a booming business at the hospital last month during Lemonade Day, a nationwide program designed to educate children about business.

When violin-playing surgeon Dr. Calvin Lee learned the boys intended to use the lemonade stand’s profits for summer music camp and to save for a violin, he was intrigued.

When he was told Jorge also was interested in becoming a surgeon, he decided he had to meet the boys.

“I think playing the violin helps you become a better surgeon,” Lee said. “Because of the dexterity skills and the ability to break complex tasks down to a simple thing.”

He wasn’t able to make it to Lemonade Day, but with the help of hospital staff the doctor arranged for something even better: a concert in one of the operating rooms.

Jorge was dressed for the occasion in a sharp pinstriped suit, and Sebastian looked handsome in a blue plaid shirt.

Before entering the O.R., though, they covered up with green scrubs to match Dr. Lee. He taught them to tuck in the drawstring on the pants.

“Only the TV doctors let them hang out,” he said.

After a brief tour, the concert began in operating room 12.

Jorge and Sebastian first played a duet by Mozart, followed by a Beethoven solo by Jorge and Sebastian’s rendering of “Dragon Hunter” by Richard Meyer.

Then, Lee wowed the boys with Bach.

“As a trauma/general surgeon, Bach meant a lot to me,” he said. “When I hear the music of Bach, sometimes I feel like there’s somebody looking over me, guiding my hands.”

Lee worked as a surgeon at Doctors Medical Center from 2003 to 2006 but since has opened a plastic surgery practice, Surgical Artistry in Modesto, with his wife, Dr. Tammy Wu.

Wu was in the audience Saturday, along with the boys’ parents, Jorge Mendoza Sr. and Erika Mendoza, Modesto Councilwoman Jenny Kenoyer, Modesto Chamber of Commerce president Cecil Russell and hospital spokeswoman Tiffani Burns.

Jorge said he was initially a bit nervous about playing for Lee, “because I could tell he was going to be better than me and I’m so used to being really good since I only play at school.”

On Lemonade Day, he and Sebastian made a gross profit of $933.

After paying back the loan from their mother for overhead costs, the boys donated $125 to the Make a Wish Foundation. Sebastian bought a remote-controlled car, and Jorge used $190 to pay the balance owed for music camp after receiving a partial scholarship.

The remainder was put into savings accounts; Jorge is saving up to buy a violin, and Sebastian will use his to attend music camp with his brother in a few years when he’s old enough.

Erin Tracy: (209) 578-2366, @ModestoBeeCrime

Read the actual Modesto Bee article here: http://www.modbee.com/news/article23302287.html#storylink=cpy
Then pictures in this blog are taken by Dr. Tammy Wu, Modesto Plastic Surgeon.

Screenshot from the Modesto Bee Newspaper 6/7/15

We can behave and pose for the camera. Yes we can!

Walking into the operating room areas at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California

Doctors Medical Center Modesto

There we go, I need some Botox for sure.

Thank you for visiting this page. Consider visiting my Modesto Botox home page.

Pimples after Botox

I attempt to answer another public forum question about Botox. This question comes closer to my office in Modesto, California – it is from San Jose, California!

Why do I break out since having Botox?

In the exact same area where the injection was; is where i break out. As if causing a “man made pore” from the needle which then does not close up and gets filled causing an ongoing blemish effect. I ONLY break out now where I’ve had the injections. But why??

My Pimples and Botox Answer:

Wonderful question. I’ve encountered this question about having breakouts in the area of Botox injections in my own practice in Modesto, California about 3 times. So this is rare. The world of medicine is complex, and sometimes it seems strange. I have not had a case of the “man made pore” – so I can’t address that question except to speculate that it may be a scar of sorts or somehow related to a cyst? I’ve had an experience where there was a reddish – pimple like reaction to only one of my needle pokes. I suspect in that patient that there was an underlying infection in that area – such a pimple – which then got exacerbated when I decided to inject Botox too close to that area. Botox injections are tricky, we want our injections to be in strategic places, but sometimes in our patients, blemishes and veins get in the way of an ideal placement – and thus I have to compromise in my decision and Botox strategy.

Regarding the break-outs in the Botox areas. For some of my patients, I’ve come to realize that they are sensitive to some of the antiseptic methods I use to help prevent infections from the Botox procedure. Sometimes they are allergic to the antiseptic. There are various ones available out there and perhaps switching to a different antiseptic could help. Meaning, having your injector/surgeon/doctor/nurse switch to a different agent. And there’s the possibility that the actual needle poke – which is a very mild form of skin trauma – could incite a inflammatory process.

Ironically (to your question of why does Botox cause more blemishes), I’ve found most of the time that Botox helps calm down inflammation in an area of skin. This may be due to reduced sweating or a direct effect on rashes and pimples by Botox. Also, Botox sometimes shrinks pores as with what we’ve seen with meso-Botox.

Thank you for your question, I’m just answer from my own personal experience as a Botox injector. Without having seen you in person, I’m answering the best I can without physical examination info. My comments are meant for a general public discussion to help others who may have similar concerns. I’m also using my answers to build up library of information for my own patients and also to see how my answers compare with other doctors. There is always much for us to learn from each other. My answers are generalized medical information only, not directed medical advice. For medical advice please see your doctor/surgeon in person.

I hope this discussion is somewhat helpful.

Calvin Lee, MD – Botox Surgeon
Botox injections Modesto, California

Nature pictures of Modesto

After visiting New Zealand, I was inspired to see nature in a different way in Modesto, where I live. There’s beauty all around us – even in Modesto – especially in Modesto.

These were pictures taken by me in the Modesto Area – in Central Valley California.