Facial symmetry’s role in the overall beauty of a face is well documented and widely known. Of all factors contributing to facial beauty, symmetry is perhaps the most vital. While some asymmetry is okay, natural, and lends character, significant facial asymmetry can cause distress and is often associated with low self-esteem. There is no precise measure of how much asymmetry is acceptable, and regardless of how it is perceived by others, it is your perception of your own facial asymmetry that is the most crucial determinant of whether correction should be attempted.

Most of us sleep on one side of the face, resulting in a loss of volume and more wrinkling on that side than the other. Both environment and genetics effect a face’s asymmetry, and problems it causes rarely effect only one area of the face. Often it may be the whole side, from forehead to chin, cheek retrusion, eyebrow lowering, or nasal deviations.

Dr. Pavlova offers a multitude of facial asymmetry corrections including changes to the forehead, eyebrows, temples, nose, cheeks, lips, chin, jawline, and submental area. More than any other procedure, facial asymmetry correction requires an artist’s vision to design and execute. A combination of tiny, varied adjustments can result in a dramatic, natural looking improvement. Procedures include:

• Masseter Reduction/Narrowing with Botox
• Chin Augmentation
• Lip/Corner of Mouth Lifts
• Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty
• Cheek Augmentation/Sculpting
• Browlift
• Forehead/Brow Augmentation
• Temporal Line Augmentation/Reduction

After a thorough assessment using photographic imagery, a list of structures contributing to your face’s asymmetry is created and prioritized. Dr. Pavlova then works with you to choose the procedures you value and feel will improve your face the most, in the most natural way possible.

Post Procedure: what to expect

As no two faces are alike, neither are any two procedures, so recovery process and time varies for each person. What stays consistent throughout each patient is Dr. Pavlova’s dedication for designing and executing a treatment tailored to your specific aesthetic goals. Every face carries the potential of its own perfection – it just takes the right vision to see, and the expert touch to bring to light

Full, well-shaped lips are a staple of beauty, and arguably the most alluring feature on a woman’s face. Supple lips signal vitality, can enhance the balance of your entire face, and are widely associated with health and sensuality in popular culture. For both sexes, the mouth creates an immediate and lasting first impression.

Treatment is recommended for people of all ages, but can have particularly special implications for older patients. This is because even if you’re lucky enough to have naturally beautiful lips, time, smoking, and the elements take their toll. A decrease in upper lip volume occurs as we lose fat, signaling a loss of youthfulness.

Lip augmentation is among the most popular cosmetic procedures, with injectable fillers quickly becoming the preferred solution over older, more invasive options. Not only are fillers a durable, cost effective, and time efficient option, they provide more dexterity than lip surgery, allowing the lips to be shaped in a more diverse number of ways. Dr. Pavlova uses Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero, all hyaluronic acid (HA) based fillers. HA fillers are the best option for lip injections because hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies and makes up, along with collagen, our lips’ dermal layer. Injecting HA allows lips to retain more water, and thus more volume. A popular and effective strategy for increasing volume is usually to begin with 1ml of filler. Volumes greater than 1ml should be reserved for patients wanting substantial lip volume and is best accomplished in two treatments, approximately 2 weeks apart.

Dr. Pavlova has particular expertise in identifying and achieving a look that is both ideal and unique: an ideal of beauty, unique to you. Together, you and Dr. Pavlova design a vision and course of action for your needs and goals while considering your unique symmetry and balance. Dr. Pavlova possesses the necessary experience to determine exactly which formula to use, how much to inject, and precisely where the site of injection would be best. The balance between plump and overdone requires no less than an artist’s eye and a surgeon’s touch, and is the difference between looks of admiration and negative attention.

Post Procedure: what to expect

No special recovery is required for these injections. Patients should avoid manipulating their lips for 2 – 3 hours after the treatment. Typically, a 20% enlargement is noticed in the first 24 hours due to swelling, but most patients’ lips return to injection volume in 48 hours and then soften over 2 – 3 weeks, the effects lasting for several months.

Recovery time: 0 – 7 days.

Botox and Dysport utilize a natural, purified protein administered at very low doses to reduce the contractions of wrinkle-inducing muscles. While Botox is a classic treatment, Dysport has gained popularity in Europe over the past decade and has now made its way to the US. At Wave Med NYC, Dr. Pavlova utilizes these leading wrinkle relaxing treatments to reduce the appearance of dynamic lines, specifically:

• Crows feet
• Smile lines
• Furrowed brows (the “11”)
• Horizontal forehead creases
• Banded neck creases
• Low eyebrows
• Chin dimpling
• Lines at the sides of the nose, “bunny lines”
• Under-eye bulges
• Gummy smile
• Over-active masseter muscle (jaw)
• Other patient-specific lines associated with facial movement.

Dr. Pavlova produces a natural result by injecting into a more selected area of the muscle resulting in a more targeted and refined outcome. Her technique aims for a moderate effect that retains your natural beauty and ability to show emotions through facial expression, resulting in change that is dramatic but never radical. The treatment is customized for each person’s specific anatomy and aesthetic goals.

Post Procedure: what to expect

Botox/Dysport treatments are quick, administered with a fine needle, and produce minimal, momentary discomfort, which quickly subsides, yielding results that last for several months. Most patients return directly to normal activity immediately.

Recovery time: None

PRP’s popularity as a natural, effective means of facial rejuvenation has grown considerably over the past two years, as many patients have found that they can achieve tighter skin, a more natural, healthy glow, scar reduction, and a more youthful appearance without the invasive, traumatic surgery of a facelift.

This revolutionary new anti-wrinkle treatment utilizes your own blood plasma, enriched through a complex process to increase the concentration of platelets. These platelets contain bioactive proteins and growth factors that serve to accelerate tissue repair and regeneration, and activate stem cells. Rather than adding artificial volume, this non-surgical, age-defying procedure stimulates your own collagen production and cell migration to eliminate lines, folds, and wrinkles, resulting in fresh, healthy, younger looking skin. The improvements are subtle and natural. The procedure can take as little as half an hour, but last up to two years depending on individual body chemistry and skincare regiment.

Post Procedure: what to expect

A little bruising, swelling, and redness can be expected following your PRP treatment, and typically dissipates after a week. The skin should get slightly inflamed in order to stimulate the natural healing process and the production of collagen. As with most cosmetic procedures, it is advisable to avoid the sun (even on cloudy days) for a day or two after treatment and, as always, wear lotion with SPF.

It’s important to remember that regeneration doesn’t happen overnight. Most people’s plasma takes the better part of 3 weeks to regenerate, so patients can expect to start seeing results in approximately 3 week’s time. Individual results may vary and depend heavily on factors like genetics, sun exposure, skincare regiment, and smoking.

Recovery time: 0 – 7 Days.

As we age our face begins to reduce the production of essential substances such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, both crucial for keeping our skin resilient and supple. One of the most noticeable transformative consequences of aging is the loss of facial volume. When the volume is diminished, the skin begins to sag and droop. Volume loss is due in part to the absorption of fat and bone, which together provide the skin the necessary scaffolding to counteract falling with time. To preserve this, structure must be reintroduced. This is where volume restoration comes in as a subtle way to enhance your natural contour, shave years off your age, slow facial aging, and revitalize your resting facial expression. Cheek augmentation comes in various forms, all of which require an artist’s judgment and a surgeon’s touch to realize.

The most effective procedures focus on increasing facial volume and accenting natural shape. This can be accomplished by using filler to add a dermal layer underneath the skin. Dr. Pavlova will typically use noninvasive and temporary fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, or Radiesse. Beauty in the cheeks is based upon the proper aesthetic size and shape in comparison with the individual face.

Post Procedure: what to expect

While the swelling and redness of invasive surgical cheek implants can take months to fully abate, dermal fillers offer a much shorter recovery period while taking mere minutes to apply. After treatment patients can expect to experience redness, swelling, and tenderness around the treated area, which typically subsides within a day or two. Although not permanent, fillers can provide long lasting results if administered properly, lasting for up to a year.

Recovery time: 0 – 7 days.

Get the nose you want without the painful recovery of surgery, and enjoy your new nose in as little as an hour. Non-surgical rhinoplasty utilizes injectable fillers to help your nose better honor your natural proportions for a more harmonious face and enhanced self-esteem. While nonsurgical rhinoplasty will not resolve every nose problem, it is effective for a range of flaws that impact facial appearance. Some of the most common aesthetic issues treated non-surgically include:

• Bump on the bridge of the nose
• Concave bridge
• Deep nostril humps

In sometimes as little as under an hour, Dr. Pavlova can use fillers to fill depressions, smooth out sharp angles, or change the angle of the nose’s tip, restoring symmetry and attractiveness. Many times, adding volume to the nose can actually make it look smaller, as the volume serves to eliminate bumps (which draw the eye to the nose) and helps your nose blend smoother into your face.

Post Procedure: what to expect

While an invasive nose job requires significant preparation and weeks of recovery, non surgical rhinoplasty recovery times can be as little as a few hours. Swelling and bruising is minimal and can usually be covered with concealer. Most patients, even those in social and public jobs, return to work immediately without issue.

Recovery time: Approximately 2 days.

Balanced, sculpted, and non-invasive chin augmentation is the ideal solution for a weak or receding chin without the cost, pain, risk, and recovery time of chin implants. A stronger chin can balance your facial symmetry, correct your profile, and complement your natural silhouette.

Dr. Pavlova implements a variety of fillers, typically Radiesse or Voluma, to give you results aligned to your unique facial contours without the burdens of surgery. Voluma fillers can last up to two years, while Radiesse last for 9 to 14 months, depending on the individual. Neither filler is animal based, so no allergy testing required.

After applying a topical numbing cream, Dr. Pavlova injects small amounts of the chosen filler to precise areas, building up the chin and bringing your profile into balance. Dr. Pavlova expands only the areas that are absolutely necessary for the optimal cosmetic effect, resulting in a much higher degree of precision and customization.

Post Procedure: what to expect

Minor bruising, mild swelling, redness and tenderness may follow the treatment, though most people are back to work the next morning with a natural appearance.

Recovery time: None.

Tear trough deformity can occur due to genetics and/or with the onset of aging between the nose and lower eyelid. The lower lids weaken and intraorbital fat begins to push out against the skin. The descent of cheek fat can emphasize this depression. Dermal fillers are an excellent option to correct the problem. Radiesse and Belotero injections are a particularly effective method of correction, as they are injected close to the bone, permitting elevation of the depression with visibility of the filler. Fillers can last up to two years, helping you look more youthful and less tired with the elimination of the dreaded blue circles. The treatment takes about 30 minutes.

Post Procedure: what to expect

For 4-5 hours after the treatment, patients are encouraged to remain upright to allow the filler to better settle. Strenuous activity and exercise should be avoided for 24 hours. Bruising can occur, and varies on an individual basis. Although it may take several days for bruising and swelling to fully subside, icing the area can help and benefits tend to last for 8-12 months.

Recovery time: 7 – 10 days.

The smile lines, or ‘parentheses’, are a tell-tale sign of aging. In addition to the dynamic factor of facial movement, nasolabial wrinkling develops due to soft tissue atrophy and loss of skeletal muscle and fat, especially when the fat is redistributed. Loss of suspension of the fat pad along with skin redundancy expands the fold to a deeper grove. The loss of elasticity and collagen support increases the development of wrinkles along the nasolabial area. Gravity does the rest.

Dr. Pavlova uses Juvederm, Restylane, or Radiesse to achieve correction and restore skin tightness via puncture, threading, or fanning. The results are dramatic and restorative, lasting up to 6-12 months after a procedure that can be performed in as little as 15 minutes.

Post Procedure: what to expect

Typically, the process leaves little to no bruising and minimal swelling, though occasional, temporary redness may be present for a few days after treatment. Light makeup can camouflage the area, and an ice pack can also reduce the effect.

Recovery time: 0 – 7 days.

The masseter muscles can create a large, heavy looking jaw, making you look years older. With time, genetics, or continuous teeth grinding or clenching, many people develop an enlargement of their masseter muscle. Some patients clench and grind their teeth only at night, and aren’t even aware they’re doing it. These factors can contribute to a square and pronounced jaw, which can result in a masculine look for women.

To slim and improve your lower face’s contours, Dr. Pavlova utilizes Botox injections to reduce the masseter muscle size. Botox partially weakens the muscle, causing it to atrophy over time. The weaker muscle is less able to grind and clench, reducing swelling and growth as well. For optimal results, Botox injections should be performed 3-4 months apart over the course of a year, after which jawline reduction is often maintained. Discomfort and minor bruising or redness at the point of injection are minimized by using the smallest possible needle and through Dr. Pavlova’s expert, practiced touch.

Post Procedure: what to expect

There is no recovery time needed for jaw slimming Botox, and you may resume your usual activities immediately. It is however advisable to avoid exercise for the rest of the treatment day.

Recovery time: None.

Say goodbye to your extra chins. The first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment for moderate to severe fat below the chin, Kybella is quickly rising in popularity. This noninvasive solution to the dreaded “double chin” directly targets and destroys fat cells in the submental area. Once dissolved, those cells can no longer store or accumulate fat. Kybella accomplishes this dissolution when injected into the fat beneath the chin by aiding in the breakdown and absorption of fat through the activation of a naturally occurring molecule. The treatment is safe, effective, and on the rise.

Post Procedure: what to expect

Following the initial treatment, patients may experience a mild aching sensation under the chin for a short time, as well as some initial swelling before the area gradually tightens and hardens. Don’t be surprised if the area looks a little worse before looking better. All swelling and discomfort usually subsides within a few days. Most Kybella injections require more than one treatment, and treatments are usually separated by a month or two.

Patients themselves tend to notice the swelling more than others, and going back to work the next day is certainly an option, though some take a day or two to let the swelling subside. No specific care is required and patients can swim, wash, shave, and exercise within a day, experiencing mild to no discomfort.

Recovery time: 2 – 5 days.