Cosmetic Dermatology

Sculptra® is an injectable collagen stimulator used to restore facial volume gradually and subtly. Rather than filling a line directly, it works by prompting your body to produce its own new collagen over time. Its active ingredient is poly-L-lactic acid, a biocompatible material that is absorbed by the body over several months while the collagen framework it stimulates remains. The result is a gradual improvement in facial fullness and skin quality that develops slowly enough that most people around you will notice you look well rather than notice you had something done.

Appointments generally take about 30 to 45 minutes, and there is little to no downtime. Because Sculptra works through your own collagen production, results appear over months rather than days, and most patients need a short series of treatments. With our location in Phoenix, an appointment is just a short drive away.

What Is Sculptra Used For?

Sculptra is best suited to broad, gradual volume loss across the face rather than to sharply defined lines. It is FDA-approved for correcting shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds, including nasolabial folds, in patients with healthy immune systems.

Your provider may recommend Sculptra if you are looking to address:

• Hollowing in the temples
• Flattening or volume loss in the cheeks
• Nasolabial folds and smile lines
• A softening jawline
• Overall thinning and loss of facial fullness
• Crepey skin texture in the treated areas

Sculptra is not used in the lips, and it is not the right choice when you want an immediate, visible change.

What to Expect

Your provider will begin with a full assessment of your face to identify where volume has been lost and how much correction is realistic across a series of sessions. Sculptra is reconstituted before use, and your provider will discuss the dilution and depth appropriate for each area.

The product is placed with a fine needle or cannula in the deeper layers of the skin, and a topical numbing cream is generally used first. You may see some fullness right after treatment, but this is from the fluid the product is suspended in and will resolve within a day or two — it is not your result. Your provider will give you specific instructions for massaging the treated areas afterward, which is an important step and worth following closely.

After Your Treatment

Mild swelling, redness, bruising, or tenderness at the injection sites is common and typically settles within a few days. You can return to normal activities right away, though we usually suggest holding off on strenuous exercise and significant sun or heat exposure for the first day or two.

Results build gradually as new collagen forms, generally becoming noticeable after several weeks and continuing to develop for a few months. Most patients need a series of two to three sessions spaced roughly a month apart, with the total depending on how much volume is being restored. Once the full result is in place, it tends to be long-lasting — clinical studies have shown improvement persisting for up to two years — and many patients return periodically for maintenance.

Am I a Candidate for Sculptra?

Sculptra suits patients with generalized facial volume loss who are comfortable with a gradual result and willing to complete a series of treatments. It is often a good option for people who want meaningful restoration without an obvious change from one week to the next.

Sculptra is not recommended for patients with active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area, a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, or known sensitivity to poly-L-lactic acid, and is not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Your provider will discuss the risk of small nodules or bumps forming beneath the skin, which is uncommon but a known consideration with collagen stimulators, and will review how technique and aftercare reduce that risk.

Our approach & expertise

Sculptra rewards planning. Because the result develops over months and depends on your own collagen response, it takes real experience to judge how much product to place and where, and to set expectations accurately along the way. The providers at Camelback Dermatology will map out a full course of treatment with you at the start rather than treating each session in isolation, and will tell you honestly if a different product would give you the result you have in mind. Sculptra also combines well with neuromodulators, hyaluronic acid fillers, and resurfacing treatments as part of a broader plan.

Kybella® is an injectable treatment that permanently reduces fullness beneath the chin, an area many people find resistant to diet and exercise. Its active ingredient is deoxycholic acid, a synthetic form of a molecule the body naturally produces to break down dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, it destroys those fat cells, and once they are gone they do not return. Kybella is the only FDA-approved injectable for improving the appearance of submental fullness in adults.

Each appointment takes about 20 to 30 minutes and involves a series of small injections across the treatment area. Because Kybella works gradually, most patients need more than one session, and results build over several months. With our location in Phoenix, an appointment is just a short drive away.

What Is Kybella Used For?

Kybella addresses fat beneath the chin specifically — often described as a double chin. It is a good option for patients who want a non-surgical alternative to liposuction and who are comfortable with a treatment that takes time to show its full effect.

Your provider may recommend Kybella if you are looking to address:

• Fullness or a soft contour beneath the chin
• A jawline that appears less defined than you would like
• Submental fat that has not responded to weight loss
• Fat beneath the chin that is inherited rather than weight-related
• A profile you would like to improve without surgery

Kybella treats fat, not loose skin. If skin laxity is contributing to the appearance of your neck, your provider will tell you directly and may recommend a different approach or a combination of treatments.

What to Expect

Your provider will start by assessing the amount and depth of fat beneath your chin and confirming that Kybella is the right tool for it. A temporary grid is then marked on the skin to guide placement, and a topical numbing cream or local anesthetic is typically used to keep you comfortable.

The treatment consists of multiple small injections delivered across the marked area. You may feel warmth, stinging, or aching during and shortly after the injections — this is expected and reflects the product beginning to work. The number of injections and the number of sessions depend on how much fat is being treated. Sessions are spaced at least one month apart, and most patients need two to four; the FDA labeling allows up to six.

After Your Treatment

Swelling is the main thing to plan around, and it is more pronounced than with most injectables. Expect noticeable swelling beneath the chin that peaks in the first few days and gradually resolves over one to two weeks, along with possible bruising, numbness, tenderness, and firm areas under the skin. This is a normal part of how the treatment works, but it is visible, so it is worth scheduling your sessions with any upcoming events in mind.

Results appear gradually as the body clears the destroyed fat cells over the weeks following each session, with continued improvement after every treatment. Because the fat cells are permanently eliminated, further treatment in the same area is generally not needed once you reach your goal.

Am I a Candidate for Kybella?

Good candidates are adults in reasonable health with a moderate amount of fat beneath the chin and reasonably good skin elasticity, who understand that results build over months rather than appearing at once.

Kybella is not appropriate if you have an active infection in the treatment area, and your provider will want to know about any prior surgery, cosmetic treatment, or scarring in the chin or neck, any difficulty swallowing, and any bleeding or clotting disorder. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Your provider will also review the risks specific to this treatment, including nerve injury that can cause a temporary uneven smile and, less commonly, difficulty swallowing.

Our approach & expertise

Kybella requires precise anatomic knowledge — the treatment area sits close to important nerves and structures, and correct placement and depth matter a great deal. The board-certified providers at Camelback Dermatology will give you a straightforward assessment of whether Kybella will achieve what you are hoping for, and will say so if a different treatment would serve you better. We also make sure you know what recovery actually looks like before you commit to a session, so there are no surprises.

Neuromodulators are injectable treatments that temporarily relax the specific muscles responsible for expression lines, softening wrinkles that form when you frown, squint, or raise your eyebrows. They are among the most requested cosmetic treatments in dermatology because they work quickly, require no downtime, and produce results that look natural when placed by an experienced injector. At Camelback Dermatology we offer Botox® Cosmetic, Daxxify®, Dysport®, Jeuveau®, and Xeomin® — all FDA-approved formulations of botulinum toxin type A.

Appointments generally take 15 to 20 minutes, and most patients return to their normal activities immediately afterward. Because the products differ slightly in how they are formulated and how long they last, your provider will help you choose the one best suited to your facial anatomy, your treatment history, and your goals. With our location in Phoenix, an appointment is just a short drive away.

What Are Neuromodulators Used For?

Neuromodulators work on dynamic lines — the creases created by repeated muscle movement — rather than on volume loss or sun damage. Used consistently, they can also help keep existing lines from deepening over time.

Your provider may recommend a neuromodulator if you are looking to address:

• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Horizontal forehead lines
• Crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes
• Bunny lines across the bridge of the nose
• A downturned mouth or dimpled chin
• Vertical neck bands
• Excessive underarm sweating
• Jaw tension and clenching

The Products We Offer

All five are purified botulinum toxin type A and all work by the same mechanism, but they are not interchangeable, and dosing differs between them.

• Botox® Cosmetic — the longest-established option, with the largest body of clinical data and a highly predictable result.
• Dysport® — tends to spread slightly more within the treated area, which some injectors prefer for broader regions like the forehead.
• Xeomin® — a purified formulation without the accessory proteins found in other products, sometimes chosen for patients who have become less responsive to another brand over time.
• Jeuveau® — developed specifically for cosmetic use, most often for frown lines.
• Daxxify® — a newer formulation studied for a longer duration of effect than the others.

What to Expect

Your provider will begin by watching your face at rest and in motion to map exactly which muscles are creating your lines and how strongly each one pulls. This assessment matters more to the final result than the product itself, and it is why treatment plans differ so much from one patient to the next.

The injections themselves are done with a very fine needle and take only a few minutes. Most patients describe a brief pinch or sting rather than real pain, and numbing is usually unnecessary. You may see small raised bumps at the injection sites, similar to a mosquito bite, but these settle within about 20 minutes.

After Your Treatment

Plan to stay upright for about four hours afterward, avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area, and skip strenuous exercise for the rest of the day. Mild redness or a small bruise at an injection site is common and easy to cover with makeup the following day.

Results appear gradually rather than immediately — most patients notice a change within three to seven days, with the full effect visible at about two weeks. Depending on the product used, the dose, and how your body metabolizes it, results typically last three to four months before muscle movement returns. We usually schedule a follow-up about two weeks after your first treatment so your provider can assess the result and fine-tune the plan for next time.

Am I a Candidate for Neuromodulators?

Most healthy adults bothered by expression lines are good candidates. These treatments work best on lines that are still primarily dynamic; if a crease has become deeply etched at rest, your provider may recommend combining a neuromodulator with a filler or a resurfacing treatment for a better result.

Neuromodulators are not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, or for patients with certain neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis or ALS. Let your provider know about any prior reaction to a botulinum toxin product, any recent injections elsewhere, and all medications and supplements you take, since some increase the likelihood of bruising.

Our approach & expertise

Neuromodulator results depend almost entirely on the skill of the injector. The providers at Camelback Dermatology treat these injections as a matter of anatomy rather than a set formula, tailoring product choice, dosing, and placement to your individual muscle pattern. Our aim is a refreshed, natural result — softened lines with expression preserved, not a frozen or heavy appearance. We also keep detailed records of what was used and where, so your results stay consistent from one visit to the next.

Body rejuvenation treatments are non-invasive procedures that restore tissue tone, comfort, and confidence in intimate and pelvic areas. Learn more.

Feel like yourself again with treatments designed to address concerns that are common, rarely discussed, and very treatable. We offer confidential consultations and customized treatment plans built around your comfort and your goals.

Types of Body Rejuvenation Treatments

These non-surgical treatments require no anesthesia and little to no downtime. Contact your dermatologist to learn more about any of the following:

EmSella®

EmSella is a breakthrough treatment for incontinence and confidence. Using High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM®) energy, EmSella stimulates thousands of supramaximal pelvic floor contractions in a single session — far more than can be achieved voluntarily. These contractions strengthen and re-educate the pelvic floor muscles that support bladder control.

Treatment takes about 28 minutes, and you remain fully clothed and seated throughout. A typical course is six sessions scheduled over three weeks. Many patients report meaningful improvement in urinary leakage and pelvic floor strength, with results continuing to build over the weeks that follow.

ThermiVa®

ThermiVa is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that uses gentle radiofrequency energy to help rejuvenate and tighten vaginal tissues while supporting overall intimate wellness. By stimulating collagen production and improving tissue elasticity, ThermiVa may help address concerns such as vaginal laxity, dryness, and mild urinary leakage. Treatments are comfortable, require no anesthesia, and involve little to no downtime.

Each session takes about 30 minutes and is typically performed as a series of three treatments spaced about a month apart, followed by periodic maintenance. Most patients return to normal activities the same day.

Am I a Good Candidate for Body Rejuvenation Procedures?

You may be a good candidate if you are experiencing mild urinary leakage, changes in tissue tone or comfort following childbirth or menopause, or a general loss of pelvic floor strength. These treatments are designed for patients who want to address these concerns without surgery or recovery time.

Your provider will review your health history and discuss which treatment, or combination of treatments, best fits your situation. Some concerns are better evaluated by a gynecologist or urologist first, and we will tell you honestly if that is the right next step.

Talk to one of our professional clinicians at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery. Contact us today to learn more.

About Botox

What is it?

Botox is an extremely popular wrinkle treatment that’s ideal for dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles that form over time from repeated movements, such as smiling or frowning). Derived from Botulinum toxin, Botox is injected through a very fine needle into a muscle underlying a bothersome wrinkle. This process blocks the nerve impulses that move the muscle, causing it to relax. The result is a smoother wrinkle and a softer-looking appearance. Since only the targeted muscle is affected, surrounding muscles continue to move freely, allowing your facial expressions to be easily shown and avoiding the dreaded “frozen face” look when performed by an experienced dermatologist. Botox is ideal for the upper half of the face, including the areas around the eyes, the upper nose, forehead, cheeks, and jaw.

What to expect

A single Botox injection session often lasts under an hour and is virtually painless. You may feel a tingling sensation during the process, but there is no downtime; you can go about your daily routine afterward. Side effects are typically mild and typically include tenderness at the injection site, muscle stiffness or weakness, bruising, itchiness, and swelling.

After the procedure

Within a week after your Botox injections, you should start to notice results, although this can vary from patient to patient. Over the following 3-4 months, the targeted wrinkles gradually vanish, and touch-up injections are suggested every 6 months in order to maintain the rejuvenating effects of the treatment.

Providers

Our approach & expertise

About Hair Loss

What is it?

The average human head has more than 100,000 healthy hairs, and many people have well over 150,000. Typically, you may lose around 50-100 of these hairs every day, which isn’t noticeable. However, once you start to lose well over 100 individual hairs daily, your hair loss starts to affect your appearance. Both men and women are affected by hair loss but in different ways. For example, while it’s common for men to have a noticeable loss on their hairline or crown, women tend to experience thinning hair in a more random, widespread pattern.

What causes it?

There are various reasons contributing to the loss of hair. The most common causes include genetics, severe stress, poor nutrition, certain medications, and autoimmune disease. Sometimes a small biopsy and lab work are needed to determine the exact cause of hair loss.

Common treatments

The hair and skin experts at our dermatology practice have the experience and knowledge to provide you with solutions that stabilize hair loss and help stimulate hair growth. These options include prescription topicals, oral medications and in-office procedures.

Our approach & expertise

Sclerotherapy is a treatment for varicose veins and broken capillaries.

Although sclerotherapy is non-surgical, it is not non-invasive. The treatment consists of multiple injections of a solution into the vein. The solution causes the vein to swell, which leads to a loss of blood flow, making the vein shrink. When the vein shrinks, it is either less noticeable or invisible on the surface of the skin.

Sclerotherapy is nearly painless, aside from a slight pinch when the needle is injected. Most patients report discomfort rather than pain. Sometimes one session of sclerotherapy is enough to see the desired results. Other times, multiple sessions are needed.

What is Sclerotherapy Used For?

Sclerotherapy is used by dermatologists to treat:

• Varicose veins
• Spider veins
• Broken capillaries

Each of these conditions responds favorably to sclerotherapy. The best results occur when the patient makes lifestyle changes that support healthy veins, such as:

• Staying out of the sun
• Using sunblock
• Avoiding excess alcohol
• Quitting smoking
• Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals
• Getting sufficient exercise

Long-lasting results depend on not engaging in behavior that is likely to cause vein damage. Otherwise, other veins may be damaged, and more sessions of sclerotherapy treatment may be needed.

Types of Sclerotherapy

There are different types of sclerotherapy available for the treatment of varicose veins and spider veins. These include:

• Ultrasound sclerotherapy. This type of sclerotherapy is done using ultrasound technology. The ultrasound detects the location of the damaged veins more readily. This is useful when the varicose vein is deeper than the surface.
• Liquid sclerotherapy. This type of sclerotherapy is used for smaller varicose veins and spider veins. The liquid is injected into the vein, which causes it to inflame, scar, and then shrink and die. The vein is then absorbed into the body as waste. Healthy blood vessels in the area then take up the slack where the damaged vein was.
• Foam sclerotherapy. In this type of sclerotherapy, a specific chemical is injected into the large varicose vein. The chemical is mixed with CO2 and air. It treats the varicose vein using displacement. The vein then becomes inflamed, shrinks, and dies, as with the other types of sclerotherapy.

The type of sclerotherapy that your dermatologist recommends for you will depend on the type of vein issues you have.

Am I a Candidate for Sclerotherapy?

Anyone who suffers from varicose veins and spider veins is a potential candidate for sclerotherapy. Results from sclerotherapy will vary according to the individual and the extent of the vein issue. To find out if you are a good candidate for this treatment, talk to your dermatologist at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery.

Varicose veins and spider veins can cause pain and low self-esteem. But you don’t have to suffer from these conditions. Treatment is available.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers, sometimes called cosmetic fillers, are dermatological treatments for aging skin.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are used by dermatologists to help patients achieve a more youthful appearance. As skin ages, it begins to show signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging.

Hyaluronic acid fillers plump up the skin, so wrinkles disappear, and sagging diminishes or becomes less noticeable. These injections do not lead to permanent results but repeat treatments are safe. This way, anyone can achieve the more youthful appearance that they desire.

Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery offers several hyaluronic acid fillers treatments, including Juvéderm® and Restylane®.

What are Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Used For?

The primary purpose of hyaluronic acid fillers is to enhance the appearance of older skin. For this reason, hyaluronic acid fillers are most often done on the face; however, they can also be done on other areas of the body, including the hands.

Most often, though, hyaluronic acid fillers are used to:

• Soften facial creases and fine lines
• Plump up thinning skin
• Improve the appearance of facial scars
• Plump lips
• Enhance facial contours and give more support and structure to the face

Types of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers are frequently referred to by their brand name. For instance, many of the types of hyaluronic acid fillers listed here are actually brand names that contain very similar ingredients. They include:

• Juvederm
• Restylane
• RHA

Hyaluronic acid fillers are FDA-approved and considered safe for most individuals; however, certain side effects may occur with some hyaluronic acid fillers formulations.

If you have side effects with one type of hyaluronic acid filler, it doesn’t mean you and your dermatologist can’t use another type of hyaluronic acid filler. Talk to your dermatologist at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery to determine if one type of filler may be more suitable for your needs than another.

Am I a Candidate for Hyaluronic Acid Fillers?

If you suffer from unwanted wrinkles, thin skin, or sagging skin, hyaluronic acid fillers could be a great treatment option for you. Anyone who wishes to appear more youthful is a good candidate!

Do you feel healthy and vital on the inside, but your outward appearance makes you look older than your actual years? Or perhaps you have a professional job that puts you in the public eye and you want to appear more youthful and full of vitality? Hyaluronic acid fillers can help.

We offer technology to help you easily achieve a more youthful appearance through cosmetic injections. It may take more than one visit in order for you to achieve your desired results. On the other hand, our goal is to deliver natural, beautiful results, so we sometimes believe less is more.

Your dermatologist at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery can help guide you through the process.

Body contouring procedures are non-invasive cosmetic treatments that target stubborn fat cells, tone, define muscle, and tighten the face and body. Learn more.

Achieve your goals with the latest technology in body contouring. We offer customized treatment plans that target your areas of concern or whether you are looking to reduce fat, tone, gain muscle or maintain.

 Types of Body Contouring Treatments

Non-surgical body contouring can help you look and feel your best!  Contact your dermatologist to learn more about any of the following treatments:

Vanquish™

Vanquish targets the stomach, love handles, and problem areas that diet and exercise don’t fix. Lose inches with Vanquish with just four weekly 30-minute treatments. Typically there is no pain compared to other aggressive devices. Sensors built into the device “read” the patient’s body fat and calculate the amount of energy the machine will deliver during the 30-minute treatment. The average person loses up to two inches from their waistline.

Vanquish heats the skin to 101 degrees and the underlying fat to 120 degrees in order to destroy fat cells. Because the device destroys the cell (and not just its fat content), the results are long-lasting.

Exilis™ Lipo Laser Therapy

Exilis Body Shaping is a non-invasive Laser with proven results for fat reduction. Using Mono Polar Radio Frequency with proprietary cooling, Exilis delivers deep thermal heat to ramp up the metabolic activity in fat cells. In essence, fat cells become leaky eliminating triglycerides and toxins.

Imagine a shapelier body or reduced cellulite without Liposuction or Surgery. With Exilis, it is possible to reshape your body. Unlike outdated devices, you can trust the leading-edge science behind Exilis as it is the industry leader in delivering targeted heat with proprietary cooling. This is a treatment worth making time for!

EmSculpt

EmSculpt is a therapy that helps grow muscle while simultaneously lowering fat, resulting in regions that are more toned and sculpted. The abdominals, buttocks, biceps, and triceps are among the areas treated. 

HIFEM® (High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic) is a patented non-invasive technique utilized by Emsculpt to produce intense muscular contractions that are not possible with ordinary training. Emsculpt causes contractions in muscles that cannot be actively controlled.

Avéli™

Avéli delivers a long-term reduction in the appearance of cellulite in the buttocks and thighs for a wide variety of women covering the full spectrum of cellulite complexity. Smoother skin in the procedure area is visible shortly after a single in-office procedure once swelling and bruising subsides.  Avéli works using a handheld device to manually target and release the septa bands causing cellulite from the inside out.

Am I a Good Candidate for Body Contouring Procedures? 

You are a good candidate for body contouring treatments if you have areas that are carrying excess fat, or cellulite, or are looking to increase muscle tone. 

Talk to one of our professional clinicians at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery. Contact us today to learn more.