Derm takes traditionally surgical procedure into the nonsurgical realm

Dr. Rokhsar, who practices in New York and is assistant professor of dermatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, thought it was a good idea.

"Until then, there really was nothing else that doctors were offering her in terms of improvement, except surgery. Radiesse, calcium hydroxylapatite, which at the time was Radiance, is very similar to bone mineral, is semi-hard and has a paste-like quality," Dr. Rokhsar says.

The dermatologist has since become known for his work in nonsurgical nose reshaping. He is about to publish the first paper on the topic, has lectured on it at professional meetings and has become a celebrity of sorts, doing the procedure live recently on "The Rachael Ray Show."

"We can really make a big difference in shapes of noses by just injecting them in less than 15 minutes," Dr. Rokhsar tells Dermatology Times.

Ideal candidates include patients who have bumps or dents in the nose, or noses with droopy tips, a sideways deviation or imperfections from surgical rhinoplasty. Dr. Rokhsar also uses the technique on Asians and blacks to build nasal bridges.

"So instead of harvesting cartilage, you just inject them, and can mold the Radiesse into the shape of a nose.

"The other great thing about it is that the nose actually looks smaller after injections, because the filler creates symmetry in the nose," he says.

The nonsurgical nose job lasts about a year, Dr. Rokhsar says. He also uses Radiesse to build the chin, create higher cheekbones and diminish marionette lines.

Celebrities get wind

Dr. Rokhsar has built a reputation among celebrities, and as a celebrity dermatologist. He says he feels at ease performing procedures live on television and enjoys working on famous people.

While he says he cannot divulge their names, Dr. Rokhsar worked on top Hollywood stars' skin prior to the MTV Music Awards show in Los Angeles early last summer. He later appeared on a segment of VH1's "Fabulous Life Of ..." as an expert on rejuvenation after 40.

Much of what Dr. Rokhsar does on celebrities involves using Botox, fillers and laser resurfacing. He even performs head-to-toe Fraxel rejuvenation, which costs clients a hefty sum.

"With the full-body Fraxel, each area takes five sessions, so it really comes out to being close to a year to complete. You have to break down all those body areas every one to two weeks."

Dr. Rokhsar says he has noted improvements in wrinkles, sun damage, brown spots, uneven skin and skin atrophy from facial and head-to-toe Fraxel treatment. Facial Fraxel resurfacing was the most popular request among the stars going to the MTV awards. He did those treatments a week before the show.