Cosmetic Procedures Intel: How to Preserve, Rejuvenate and Maintain


By Grace Nguyen, Physician Assistant at the Flatiron location of Schweiger Dermatology Group located in the Manhattan Flatiron district. Grace specializes in skin rejuvenation through advanced techniques.

I have been practicing in dermatology and cosmetic surgery for over 13 years.  I truly enjoy what I do. I’m  excited to share my strategy to preserving a youthful glow and enhancing your unique beauty!

I want you to remember these three words:

You may have heard the term: “Medicine is an Art,” and it’s true! While many practitioners can be trained in cosmetic procedures, you have to have the vision to see the patient as a whole and be an artist in contouring while maintaining symmetry. Proper technique and advanced skills give great results. My goal with cosmetic treatments is to enhance the original.

First, seek an experienced practitioner in cosmetics, use your intuition for trust and build a rapport with your patient-provider relationship then express your concerns while the provider can discuss treatment options with combination of products to execute those goals.

PRESERVATION: Keeping You at a PAUSE!

Have you heard of Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin? These are purified proteins that are injected into the muscle to relax the muscle from creating the dynamic lines or wrinkles. While many people believe Botox and the like to be toxins, they are not. They are purified, and therefore safe to inject into the skin.

These products lasts 3-4 months. While facial expressions are generally good, having too much movement can create those deep lines and wrinkles.  The misconception about Botox and other neurotoxins it that they make you “look frozen,” however with good technique, you can still have eyebrow expression while preserving the forehead and glabella lines (furrows between eyebrows). “Never let them see you stressed!”

Other surprising cosmetic uses for Botox:

Correcting a Gummy Smile – Do you smile and see your gums? It is called the “Gummy Smile”.  Botox can help your upper lip muscle to relax the pulling upward motion of the upper lip while keeping your natural smile there no more gums exposed.

Turning Your Frown Upside Down – Do you constantly have a frown? Botox can be injected into the muscle that is pulling the corners of your lips to relax that muscle and stop the pulling downward movement.

Erase Lip Lines – If you have lines around your lips, Botox injected in the muscle around the mouth will soften the wrinkles around the lips.

Never Let Them See You Sweat – Botox cstrongan be injected into underarms to prevent excessive sweating. Botox is a treatment for hyperhidrosis and some insurance companies cover the procedure after failing other treatments.

Smooth Out Your Skin – After relaxing your muscles, the next step is to slough off the damaged or dead skin, which gets rid of the wrinkles you have already created. You can start slow with retinoids, ViPeel or go straight to laser resurfacing such as Fraxel or Fractional CO2 laser. ViPeel can be used on all skin types and helps with uneven skin tone. ViPeel is great because it does not hurt while applying and is well-tolerated.

PREJUVENATION: Fill in What You’ve Lost

As we age, we lose volume and collagen. This is where contouring and volumizing the face to create stronger cheekbones, fill in the hollowing in cheeks or under eyes, volumize and define lips, around mouth, contour the nose, and sharpen the jawline comes into play. I use a combination of dermal fillers such as Juvederm Ultra Plus, Voluma, Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse, and Belotero.

Depending on the area and product used, the dermal fillers can last 3 months to 1 year.  Some products have lidocaine in the product, so the procedure is well tolerated with mild swelling and bruising.  I prefer to keep a natural appearance therefore you look “refreshed and younger”.  Many people will not be aware you had any procedures done.

MAINTENANCE: Keep Up With Cosmetic Procedures

Keeping up with your cosmetic procedure regimen is like working out to stay fit. If you stop working out, then everything starts to sag and lose tone. Same thing with cosmetic treatments. If you don’t continue with a schedule of visits to the dermatologist’s office, your quest for perfect skin will not be successful. 

One thing I like to discuss with patients is a maintenance package, which covers how frequently they should expect to come in for follow up treatments in order to ensure they are getting the most our of their visits to the office.

I hope to see you in the Schweiger Dermatology Group Flatiron office soon and hope this helps in your endeavors to staying young & beautiful!

Book an appointment with Grace Nguyen for a consultation or cosmetic procedure at Schweiger Dermatology Flatiron, 21 West 19th Street, NYC.

About Schweiger Dermatology Group

Founded by Dr. Eric Schweiger in 2010, Schweiger Dermatology Group began as a single office in Midtown Manhattan with a mission to deliver high-quality dermatologic care without long waits. As demand grew, so did the practice. Today we have over 120 locations across 8 states with more than 400 of the nation's leading providers and were ranked as the number one practice nationally in cosmetic and reconstructive care by Castle Connolly. In 2023, we broadened our expertise by integrating allergy care into our services. We remain committed to offering exceptional medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology as well as comprehensive allergy services, ensuring patients receive expert care in a modern, state-of-the art environment.

Back to Top