Kybella results sent in from a patient

Date: 12/13/20

Kybella after 3rd session for double chin and stronger jawline. Picture sent in from my patient to post on Social Media. I received the picture on Instagram. I appreciate the help in making before and after pictures! The results and pic to res look amazing!! Kybella is a procedure in my office done with a tiny needle or cannula. The procedure is relatively quick. It is for double chin / neck fat. Kybella is made by the Allergan/Botox company. Kybella results are considered permanent.

Thank you so much for sending me this picture update! Our patient tells us that she is looking forward to a 4th session.

How much for Botox

On Facebook, I was posting about a Kybella live injection demonstration event at my office, Surgical Artistry in Modesto, and I got a few questions about Kybella and a few questions about Botox.  I wanted to try to answer this Botox question here which was a question about how much Botox costs.  I think this is a somewhat difficult question to answer because everyone wants something different.  Sometimes extremely different.  But this answer might be a good generalization

How much for Botox?

I approach all my procedures as surgical procedures including my Botox injections. Injected by me, I charge $12.75 per unit for Botox (2017 pricing, subject to change). To expand this further, Let’s say one was to inject the glabellar complex (the area between the eyes). On average I use 20 units for that area. That comes out to $255 (2017 pricing, subject to change). However that might not be the right amount based on your goals. We can definitely do less or do more. There are pros and cons to each decision and I would work hard to listen and create the right result for each unique patient. And I would work hard to make sure the Botox was used very efficiently without any wasting of the very very valuable product! Thanks for asking!

I wrote this little essay which might be of interest:

What it means to me to be your doctor

Question about Obagi Nu Derm numbers on the bottles

My staff recently sent a question to me.  His question was:

Why do some of products related to the Obagi Nuderm Skin Care system not have numbers?


My answer to the Obagi Nu-derm numbering question:

Another EXCELLENT question!!

Here are my possible answers:

Obagi Medical doesn’t know how to count. But a better reason would be, that as time went on, new products got invented and thus they didn’t want to change the numbering system – but that doesn’t explain why the Tretinoin itself doesn’t have a number – maybe they didn’t own a company at the time that made tretinoin. How’s that for an answer?

Or

Obagi is selling that “set” as a “STARTER set with numbers” – it is enough to get started and then they should add the Elastiderm, Vitamin C Serum, Vitamin C peptide, and very importantly the Tretinoin. So these are things that need to be customized for the patients preferences and budget.

So the unnumbered products which are eventually needed:

  1. Elastiderm
  2. Vitamin C serum
  3. Vitmain C-Peptide
  4. Tretinoin 0.05% or Tretinoin 0.1% (sometimes Retin-A)

My summary of the order of how to use Obagi Nu-Derm System – the Surgical Artistry Modesto Way:

AM

  1. Cleanser
  2. Toner
  3. Elastiderm Eye cream
  4. Vit C
  5. Vit C peptide
  6. Clear #3
  7. Exfoderm / Forte
  8. Sunfader
  9. HYDRATE
  10. Sunscreen (SS50)
  11. Make up

PM

  1. Cleanser
  2. Toner
  3. Elastiderm Eye cream
  4. Vit C Peptide
  5. Clear
  6. Blender/Tretinoin Mixture
  7. HYDRATE / or Hydrate Luxe

 


Dr. Tammy Wu added a few more thoughts to this Obagi question:

You don’t know this because you weren’t here when Obagi Starter Set didn’t have Hydrate as one of its products; in its place was Sunfader. That’s why Sunfader was numbered #6, as it was #6 in the original Obagi Starter Set.

Sunfader is an excellent product to add for those patients who have hyperpigmentation or freckles due to sun damage or melasma due to pregnancy.

Hydrate is a very recent addition to the Kit and replacement for Sunfader. Sunfader used to be in its place in the kit. Hydrate came about because of people’s complaint of peeling and dry skin after product application. Hydrate does ease the temporary peeling and dry skin feeling for people just starting the products. But it is also an excellent moisturizing retainer – it holds water in the skin for up to 8 hours, just like Hydrate Luxe does.

Therefore, for those with dark spots on their face, I will add the SUnfader to their regimen ALWAYS, because Sunfader is a prescription product with Hydroquinone and chemical sunscreen which will help lighten the dark spots.

What it means to me to be your doctor

I will work hard to listen to my patients’ desired goals and work hard to satisfy every patient. We will have conversations which involve my brutal honesty. Patients will not be allowed to leave until I feel that I’ve completed my best work for what we had planned. I welcome patients with “high standards” because I have very high standards myself.

There are patients out there who believe that a “syringe is a syringe” and that the surgeon doesn’t matter.  Those folks can go elsewhere. In the end, I hope my patients will put more value in the procedure with me in control rather than the generic “vial” or generic “syringe” which can’t inject itself. And I hope my patients will believe that I will always try to give them the best value for the highest quality. I strive to use the least amount of product for maximum result.

I view all my needle related procedures (acupuncture, Kybella, Botox, Juvederm, etc) as minimally invasive surgeries.  They ARE surgeries.  For me, they require, surgical planning and surgical precision.

My big three aims are to achieve excellence with safety, results, and comfort. Complications can sometimes happen, and if they occur, I will do all that I can to resolve it.

I am truly honored to your doctor. Thank you to all my patients for trusting me and allowing me to practice medicine, acupuncture and surgery at the highest level possible.


I think this explains very well my reason for creating and working at Surgical Artistry.  I think in some ways they call this a personal “mission statement.”  I work with needles all day.  I place needles for Acupuncture.  I inject Kybella, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, Volbella, and Asclera for veins.

Surgical Artistry is 1 year older than the iPhone

I just heard on NPR today that the iPhone turns 10 years old today.  Today is 1/9/17. This means that on 1/9/2007 the iPhone was unveiled to the world by Apple.

We are 1 year older than the iPhone!!!

Timeline of events

  • 2003 – Dr. Lee and Dr. Wu came to Modesto from Springfield Illinois.
  • 2006 – Surgical Artistry was founded.  Birthday is 2/24/2006.
  • 2006 – Dr. Calvin Lee plays heavy metal on the violin at the Fat Cat with famed violinist Rachel Barton
  • 2006 – Dr. Calvin Lee was given the award as Outstanding Community Faculty Physician by the Stanislaus Family Practice Residence, affiliated with UC Davis and Doctors Medical Center of Modesto.
  • 2007 – Surgical Artistry becomes a founding Presenting Sponsor of the Surgical Artistry Modesto Symphony Pops series.
  • 2008 – Dr. Tammy Wu came on the board of directors for the Cooperative of American Physicians based in Los Angeles.
  • 2008 – Dr. Calvin Lee plays at the Gallo Center for the first time as part of an Assyring Rock Band with Walter Aziz and Ashur Bet Sargis.
  • 2009 – Dr. Calvin Lee played violin with the YouTube Symphony at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  This is his second time at Carnegie Hall.
  • 2009 – Dr. Lee had a write up about his violin playing in Strings Magazine
  • 2009 – Dr. Lee and Dr. Wu, as Surgical Artistry, helped to start the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon.  The date was 11/13/2009
  • 2009 – Dr. Lee soloed and toured around Asian countries playing violin
  • 2011 – Dr. Lee got to be a speaker for Allergan on the topic of Latisse
  • 2012 Boston Channel 5 aired a clip on Dr. Calvin Lee performing facial rejuvenation acupuncture.
  • 2015 – Dr. Lee becomes the first surgeon to inject Kybella in Central Valley, California.  It was an honor to be selected to have access to Kybella by the Kythera company who developed Kybella.
  • 2015 – Dr. Lee won a piano concerto competition and soloed with orchestra in Los Angeles
  • 2016 – Surgical Artistry became presenting sponsor for Rina’s Run half marathon, 10K and 5K in Ripon
  • 2016 – had the 7th running of the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon
  • 2016 – Surgical Artistry became presenting sponsor for Modesto Moves and Ripon-Manteca Moves.
  • 2016 – 3rd year in a row of getting the Best-of Stanislaus award from Contentment Health Magazine.
  • 2016 – Dr. Lee and Surgical Artistry gets an award from Allergan becoming a Diamond Level account, top 4% of accounts.
  • 2017 – Dr. Lee finally gets his first smart phone.
  • 2017 – Dr. Calvin Lee / Surgical Artistry becomes top 500 account at Allergan.  We estimate that Allergan has 20-30,000 accounts in the USA.

 

Kybella Scientists

Picture with the Director of Facial Aesthetics

I am honored to be able to keep in touch with the smart scientists at Allergan.  Here I am pictured with Dr. Diana Romero, PhD, Director of Facial Aesthetics for Allergan.  Kybella is one of her expertise as well. She has provided me with research papers regarding best use and best safety.  Much much appreciated.  Thank you Dr. Romero!  We are pictured here at the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego and we are exploring breast surgery advances.  She gets involved in that field as well!  Dr. Romero is based in Irvine, California.  She was also with Medical Affairs at Kythera Biopharmaceuticals.  That was the company which developed Kybella.  Also conincidentally, her brother is a helicopter pilot for trauma services at Case Western Reserve – that’s where I did a bunch of my Trauma Surgery training.   Small world indeed.

Feel free to visit our new Breast Surgery webpage.

 

 

Kybella Patient

Survived!  Our patient, is still smiling right after his 1st of 4 treatments of KYBELLA. He encouraged me to be brave and tag him in this photo. Side plug: I got some amazing window coverings for my house 5 years ago from him – He’s in the window treatment/covering business. If anyone needs window treatments in the Modesto area and beyond – I have his contact info.

Yes, proof that one can still smile after Kybella injections

 

More than 3 vials of Kybella per session?

Yes, I use frequently use more than 3 vials of Kybella per session

More than 3 vials of Kybella here

I frequently use more than 3 vials of Kybella per session.  I feel that allows my patients to get the most out of each session.

Here’s picture proof from one Kybella session.  Here are 7 syringes which come out of more than 3 vials of Kybella.

How much does Kybella cost?

Kybella Video from Kybella Folks

Published on Jul 26, 2016

Adra and other real patients share the personal experiences that led them to consider KYBELLA® (deoxycholic acid) injection 10 mg/mL treatment.

Please give Dr. Calvin Lee and Surgical Artistry a call to find out more information about Kybella injections in Modesto, California

This is a nice video regarding Kybella!  Adra provides her feedback.

This video includes real patient testimonials.

 

Kybella Video with Karla

Kybella Injection by Dr. Calvin Lee, in Modesto, CA

Karla, who works at Surgical Artistry, volunteered to have us videotape her second Kybella injection session with me to help with her double chin.  Even with one session, we’ve seen nice improvements in her neck contour.  This was a very informal video, and the sound from the conversations was somewhat hard to hear.  But this video shows the essence of the procedure which we do in Modesto.  I hope it also gives an indication of the amount of “suffering” a patient (and an injector) goes through during a Kybella session.  Most patients do not consider this to be painful.  In this video, Karla, elected not to use any sort of numbing method, no ice, no numbing cream, etc.  It was purely her choice to show that the needles themselves do not hurt too much.  I normally encourage the patients to let me at least ice the area to reduce the discomfort from the small needles used to inject Kybella.