"Strip Mall" BOTOX ? Naples Plastic Surgeon Recommends Caution

    NAPLES, FL, November 26, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In the United States, convenience reigns with an increasingly diverse variety of services being offered right in neighborhood strip malls. Once reserved for a doctor's office, these days consumers can pop by a spa for a quick BOTOX Cosmetic or DYSPORT treatment while they run their errands. Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Kent V. Hasen, M.D. (www.drhasen.com) advises that qualifications should be a top priority when it comes to rejuvenating your face, and that choosing a highly trained plastic surgeon, dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon in Naples, Florida is important to the treatment outcome.

"It makes sense to combine everyday errands like shopping for groceries, picking up the dry cleaning, and even getting a manicure in one convenient trip," says Dr. Hasen, "But, just because BOTOX treatments are becoming as commonplace as hair styling doesn't mean that every business offering them is the right choice. These injectable treatments require specialized training and experience to deliver aesthetically pleasing results and ensure patient safety."

BOTOX Cosmetic is a popular treatment for dynamic wrinkles, which are caused by facial muscle movement. It is made using a natural, purified protein which in very low doses relaxes the facial muscles that cause unwanted wrinkles. Recently, the FDA approved a competing product to BOTOX Cosmetic named DYSPORT, which is made of the same type of purified protein. Typical treatment areas include the creases across the forehead, around the eyes, and along the sides of the mouth. BOTOX Cosmetic continues to be the top minimally-invasive procedure in the US, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

"When a person chooses to have a face lift in Fort Myers or Naples, they're naturally going to scrutinize the surgeon's training and qualifications," says Dr. Hasen. "The same care and caution should hold for injectable treatments. Although it may appear simple to administer BOTOX or DYSPORT, it is a highly specialized medical procedure that requires an understanding of the underlying anatomy of the facial muscles and nerves. There's a science to knowing exactly where to make the injections and how much product to inject."

Florida, as well as many other states, has seen a steady increase in medical day spas, also called medspas, offering services that go beyond those that are found in a typical day spa, like injectable wrinkle fillers and laser hair removal. More medspas are being opened in convenient locations like shopping malls. While these medspas are associated with licensed physicians, that physician does not always oversee every procedure and is not always on the premises.

A board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Hasen's extensive experience performing BOTOX treatments earned him the distinction of BOTOX Gold Level Network Provider since 2007. "With the consistent popularity of these simple treatments, it's easy for patients to let their guard down," he cautions. "It's important to choose a highly trained and experienced specialist such as a board-certified plastic surgeon to maximize your safety and satisfaction with your results."

Kent V. Hasen, MD (www.drhasen.com) is a Naples, Florida plastic surgeon and medical director of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of Naples, a full-service cosmetic practice that has developed a strong reputation in South Florida since opening its doors in 2002. Dr. Hasen is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and was named to the Top 40 Under 40 as one of Southwest Florida's rising stars in 2006 by Gulfshore Business Magazine. In addition to offering medical spa services and cosmetic surgery for the face, breast, and body, Dr. Hasen is an active member in the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

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