Hello Friends,
It's spring in Kentucky...or so they tell me...Derby fever has passed, and we're left with rain and allergy season. Post-Derby blues are common around here, so resolve to lift your spirits by getting ready for a new you for summer! A couple of news items first...
ASAPS (The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) convened last week in Boston. The society is composed of approximately 2800 board certified plastic surgeons who primarily perform cosmetic surgery of the face, breast and body in our specialty. The hot topics seemed to be fat transfer and stem cell technology, cosmetic laser facial rejuvenation and fillers, as well as the new non-invasive body contouring devices. As many of you now know, my office was the first to offer the Sciton Contour Profile cosmetic laser for facial rejuvenation and resurfacing, and I have posted a recent blog summarizing the benefits of becoming familiar with our laser menu of options for facial rejuvenation. I also recently blogged about facial injectables, and there are links on my website for viewing patient results with Juvederm, Botox, and Sculptra.
I have recently become very interested in non-invasive body contouring as well, and offered the first such system here in Louisville as of September 2010, Vaser Shape. I think the timing for a non-invasive device in this economy couldn't be better, and non-invasive devices certainly add to excellent treatment options already available in a busy body contouring practice such as mine. However, discerning products that truly work versus those that represent true sales hype is an ongoing challenge for the consumer (and physician consumer too, I might add!). After extensive research regarding other competitive technologies, and after seeing some of the early clinical results presented in Boston, I remain firm in my conviction that ultrasound technology remains the clinical leader at this point...for its versatility, cost effectiveness, deep (as well as skin level) effect and safety. I have contributed to several journals regarding the use of non-focused ultrasound in this respect, as well as have agreed to author several publications which are pending regarding clinical results to date. There is ongoing clinical and animal research, but preliminary results are very promising, and these corroborate the results we are currently seeing in our patients. I am hosting a webinar next month specifically designed for our existing Vaser Shape physician users, so that we may all continue to collaborate to see that our patients are beneficiaries of the ongoing, developing fund of knowledge regarding early treatment parameters.
Additionally, I am happy to inform our patients that we are forming a new partnership with select local businesses... the first to be announced is an upcoming special evening we are hosting with Glasscock Boutique. The event will take place at Glasscock on Thursday May 26, 2011 from 4PM to 8PM, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit The Derby Museum. The evening will offer Botox and Juvederm at special savings, as well as selected skin care products from several lines, and a trunk showing from a selected designer. If you would like to be included on our guest list, just call the office and let one of my staff know.
Stay in touch, and we hope to see you this spring!
Many thanks,
Julene
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Vaser Shape in Sydney, Australia
Good da' mate! If you have listed Australia on your bucket list of places to visit...I highly suggest you wait no longer! Thank you to all of the new friends I met during my recent visit...it was a great meeting and a wonderful way to share the US experience with Vaser Shape (Med Contour in other countries) with our Australian colleagues. Bella Media Services (thank you so much Gemma and Michelle!) did an excellent job of coordinating my visit with the Australian fashion and beauty magazine editors (Madison magazine, Cleo, Shop til You Drop, the plasticdiariesblog, thebeauty directory.com, Bella Beauty Magazine and The Plastic Surgery Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, and Vogue magazine...did I forget anyone?). It was such an enjoyable experience, and an extra big thank you to Donna and Louis from Australian Medical Aesthetics...THE source for Med Contour in Australia. I hope that everyone enjoyed the complimentary treatments, and it was great to meet you all and share our US experience with you. We will look forward to reading the many editorials we know will follow the trip. It is the beginning of autumn in Australia, and I loved the welcoming nature of Australians...the country is absolutely lovely, and Sydney so centralized to the beautiful Blue Mountains, coast, harbor, and all the culture and cuisine offered by a large coastal city. I only wish Cynthia could have allowed me to stay longer, and that my whole family could have joined me. Next time I WILL be found touring the wine country or Gold Coast, surfing on Manley or Bondi beach, and riding horses on Cox's River in the Blue Mountains...as weather and time did not permit those activities this time! During my trip I did find that the clinics I visited, and the results that are being achieved by Donna McNeill, the Australian trainer, are very reflective of the great results we are experiencing here in the US...Med Contour/Vaser Shape really works!!! During my visit, I was able to share our favorite US treatment settings with our Australian colleagues, and we all learned from one another. All of the fashion and beauty magazine editors were very pleased with the immediate results of their treatments, and thought Med Contour was far superior to competitive technologies. I am pleased to report also that more information will be forthcoming regarding further reports on results of the initial 3000 patient treatments from the first 11 Vaser Shape clinical sites here in the US, as I have agreed to serve as lead author on the publication of those results in an upcoming publication. So far, I can tell you this...we are on average, after 4 to 6 treatments in most patients, seeing a loss of 0.5 to 1 inch in the first and each of subsequest treatments, an average of 2 to 4 or more inches lost after 4 treatments, skin tightening in all treated areas by IR imaging, and fat cell contents in the lymphatic system. I have also used Vaser Shape now in several pre-liposuction situations (the fat seems to be more easily mobilized and removed at surgery), as well as in several post-operative patients (tummy tuck and liposuction patients), and find Vaser Shape to be a nice complement to surgery when necessary. Thanks for being a friend to the practice, and stay tuned for more updates. Join us for our next Cocktails and Consults, featuring not only Vaser Shape demonstrations, but also our favorite Sciton Laser facial combinations, and our favorite facial injectables...Juvederm and Sculptra! Join us on April 28th from 4PM to 7PM for this event...RSVP please. Best always, Julene
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Part III: Winter Skin Tips...Laser Options and Vaser Shape Update
Hello everyone!
It's certainly been a BUSY winter here in our practice! Seems like more than just a few people have taken Part I and Part II of my blog to heart and gotten busy skimming inches off their bellies and thighs with Vaser Shape and Vaser Lipo! (That was Part I of my last blog). Just as an update...we now make HcG injections part of our menu of options for those hoping to trim down before spring and summer. Call my office for more information on this, as we have diet and exercise advice to add to the traditional HcG diet popularized by Dr. Simeon's in the 1950's. For many patients, the metabolic boost provided by HcG injections makes following the diet so much easier...quite simply, I know of no other quicker or safer ways to lose unwanted poundage! (Like many of our patients, surgeons are notoriously interested in quick and immediate results!)
To update our Vaser Shape followers...we have now completed our initial series of 70 patients with at least 4 Vaser Shape treatments each, and Melanie, Rita, Terry and I continue to hone our skills in achieving at least one or two inches of lost circumferential measurement in ALL patients! Most patients are losing an average of 2 to 4 inches in a month without dietary intervention. Some of our patients are using HcG in addition, and although we do not enter their data into our research protocols, they are pleased as they can be!
There are now some exciting results coming in from animal studies which are delineating how well the Vaser Shape non-invasive ultrasound is working to create both skin tightening as well as fat reduction, and I have just submitted some of our patient data for the first publications on Vaser Shape, and will be doing some international speaking regarding results and treatment protocols being developed. I will be hosting a workshop in Sydney, Australia next month, so will hopefully be able to collaborate with other practitioners who are finding clinical success with Vaser Shape around the globe! As always, we are happy to meet with prospective patients either one on one or in group consultation for a discussion of the best Body Contouring options...Vaser Shape or traditional liposuction/tummy tuck via Vaser Lipo. Also, join us for our next Cocktails and Consults, March 3rd from 4PM to 7PM on Vaser Shape and Vaser Lipo. We will have a great local food sponsor, drinks, and our local celebrity patient, Linda Lambert from 102.3 The Max radio station! Other Vaser Shape and Vaser Lipo patients will be there as well, both devices will be on hand, and Chuck Wright, our Sound Surgical representative, will be joining us. During the evening, I will give a presentation followed by live patient Vaser Shape demo's! Call to RSVP!
Now on to Part III of our winter skin tips...
Last blog we covered our favorite skin care products, and each of our staff weighed in with their "must-have" products. This week I wanted to touch on some of our favorite laser procedures for the face, neck, chest and decollatage areas. As many of you know, we own the Sciton Contour Profile laser system which is a uniquely designed device. We designed the laser specs for a device that has the flexibility to treat many skin problems within a single laser system. Since I was the first physician to bring this technology to the Louisville area, my nurses and myself now have over 6 years of experience in skin peels, ProFractional skin tightening, Broadband light treatments for sun damage and brown spots, treatment of visible facial and leg blood vessels and rosacea, and non-invasive skin tightening of the face and neck. I employ two registered nurses to assist with and perform laser treatments every day. We are happy to meet with prospective patients in one on one consultations to design a comprehensive treatment program of laser and skin care products that work together. There is still time before spring and summer to really work on your skin.
One of my favorite no downtime procedures to do all year is a combination Skin Tyte and BBL treatment for sun damage. I am outside all year long riding horses and running and love the pigment control and tightening I receive with a single ST/BBL laser treatment. I recommend a series of 6 treatments a year for patients who want the convenience of a no recovery procedure and who are trying their hardest to either put off the facelift, or who are trying to maintain the results of a facelift. As the laser gently heats the deeper layer of skin (the dermis or collagen layer), it thickens the skin, which makes it tighter and smoother.
For patients who can afford 3 to 5 days of mild swelling and bruising, and who want more visible tightening in a single session, I recommend ProFractional. We can vary the depth of treatment to control both the amount of tightening as well as the recovery period. Since all of these treatments are performed right here in our office, there is no anesthesia or facility fee.
For patients who desire skin smoothing, we like the laser peels. We can do a light or superficial peel or we can do a deeper treatment, depending upon how much recovery time a patient can allow, or how much smoothing they desire in a single treatment. The look of the skin after a peel is either similar to a mild sunburn or, for a deeper treatment, perhaps like a sunburn when the blister has come off. Again, no anesthesia or facility fee. Recovery times are 3 to 7 days, depending upon depth of the peel. This is the treatment we recommend the most frequently for acne scar patients or patients with deeper wrinkles. We can really do a lot of smoothing in a series of 1 to 3 peels for large pores, deep wrinkles or acne scars.
Probably the laser procedure I love the most is the combination laser peel plus ProFractional. Rita and Melanie are way skilled in making patients comfortable for this combination laser treatment, in which we can combine the peel for skin smoothing, and the ProFractional for skin tightening...a winning combination for wrinkles, large pores, pigment problems, and skin that is beginning to become lax or saggy. The face and neck are done together, and again, depth is decided upon after considering what the patient needs, as well as how long they can allow for recovery, usually only slightly longer than each treatment performed alone (ie, days to a week).
Since the Sciton laser uses evaporative/ablative wavelengths of light to effect the magical changes seen in our skin smoothing treatments like the peels, there is no heat involved in a typical peel, and therefore the healing times are much quicker and more comfortable. It is really the heat incorporated in other laser resurfacing treatments which hurts, and creates the significant downtimes with respect to skin redness following the treatments. In certain patients who desire more of a deep treatment, we can provide a bit of oral sedation and do a much deeper treatment, or in select cases (deepest acne scars or wrinkles), we might elect to go to an outpatient surgical facility such as our Eastpoint Surgery Center, to do a deeper laser resurfacing peel under anesthesia. However, most patients prefer to do moderately deeper peels right here in our office, and can do a series of even 3 deep "doctor peels" with me, and still not spend as much money as one deeper operating room peel, and with less recovery time.
So you really can use these bleak winter months to make significant improvements in the quality of your skin! Look over our Blogs, find out what your "hot topics" are, and schedule an appointment to come in and let me, Rita or Melanie put together a treatment package just for you. You might also want to call us or go online and see what "Spring Break specials" Cynthia is putting together right now. Be sure you have an updated email address for us to use to stay connected with the latest our office has to offer! Join us on Facebook or our website for new postings to Blogspot, and contact me personally to suggest new topics for our blog, Sculpt. I will discuss my favorite injectable treatments in an upcoming post.
Here's to a great-looking face for 2011!
Best to you,
Julene
It's certainly been a BUSY winter here in our practice! Seems like more than just a few people have taken Part I and Part II of my blog to heart and gotten busy skimming inches off their bellies and thighs with Vaser Shape and Vaser Lipo! (That was Part I of my last blog). Just as an update...we now make HcG injections part of our menu of options for those hoping to trim down before spring and summer. Call my office for more information on this, as we have diet and exercise advice to add to the traditional HcG diet popularized by Dr. Simeon's in the 1950's. For many patients, the metabolic boost provided by HcG injections makes following the diet so much easier...quite simply, I know of no other quicker or safer ways to lose unwanted poundage! (Like many of our patients, surgeons are notoriously interested in quick and immediate results!)
To update our Vaser Shape followers...we have now completed our initial series of 70 patients with at least 4 Vaser Shape treatments each, and Melanie, Rita, Terry and I continue to hone our skills in achieving at least one or two inches of lost circumferential measurement in ALL patients! Most patients are losing an average of 2 to 4 inches in a month without dietary intervention. Some of our patients are using HcG in addition, and although we do not enter their data into our research protocols, they are pleased as they can be!
There are now some exciting results coming in from animal studies which are delineating how well the Vaser Shape non-invasive ultrasound is working to create both skin tightening as well as fat reduction, and I have just submitted some of our patient data for the first publications on Vaser Shape, and will be doing some international speaking regarding results and treatment protocols being developed. I will be hosting a workshop in Sydney, Australia next month, so will hopefully be able to collaborate with other practitioners who are finding clinical success with Vaser Shape around the globe! As always, we are happy to meet with prospective patients either one on one or in group consultation for a discussion of the best Body Contouring options...Vaser Shape or traditional liposuction/tummy tuck via Vaser Lipo. Also, join us for our next Cocktails and Consults, March 3rd from 4PM to 7PM on Vaser Shape and Vaser Lipo. We will have a great local food sponsor, drinks, and our local celebrity patient, Linda Lambert from 102.3 The Max radio station! Other Vaser Shape and Vaser Lipo patients will be there as well, both devices will be on hand, and Chuck Wright, our Sound Surgical representative, will be joining us. During the evening, I will give a presentation followed by live patient Vaser Shape demo's! Call to RSVP!
Now on to Part III of our winter skin tips...
Last blog we covered our favorite skin care products, and each of our staff weighed in with their "must-have" products. This week I wanted to touch on some of our favorite laser procedures for the face, neck, chest and decollatage areas. As many of you know, we own the Sciton Contour Profile laser system which is a uniquely designed device. We designed the laser specs for a device that has the flexibility to treat many skin problems within a single laser system. Since I was the first physician to bring this technology to the Louisville area, my nurses and myself now have over 6 years of experience in skin peels, ProFractional skin tightening, Broadband light treatments for sun damage and brown spots, treatment of visible facial and leg blood vessels and rosacea, and non-invasive skin tightening of the face and neck. I employ two registered nurses to assist with and perform laser treatments every day. We are happy to meet with prospective patients in one on one consultations to design a comprehensive treatment program of laser and skin care products that work together. There is still time before spring and summer to really work on your skin.
One of my favorite no downtime procedures to do all year is a combination Skin Tyte and BBL treatment for sun damage. I am outside all year long riding horses and running and love the pigment control and tightening I receive with a single ST/BBL laser treatment. I recommend a series of 6 treatments a year for patients who want the convenience of a no recovery procedure and who are trying their hardest to either put off the facelift, or who are trying to maintain the results of a facelift. As the laser gently heats the deeper layer of skin (the dermis or collagen layer), it thickens the skin, which makes it tighter and smoother.
For patients who can afford 3 to 5 days of mild swelling and bruising, and who want more visible tightening in a single session, I recommend ProFractional. We can vary the depth of treatment to control both the amount of tightening as well as the recovery period. Since all of these treatments are performed right here in our office, there is no anesthesia or facility fee.
For patients who desire skin smoothing, we like the laser peels. We can do a light or superficial peel or we can do a deeper treatment, depending upon how much recovery time a patient can allow, or how much smoothing they desire in a single treatment. The look of the skin after a peel is either similar to a mild sunburn or, for a deeper treatment, perhaps like a sunburn when the blister has come off. Again, no anesthesia or facility fee. Recovery times are 3 to 7 days, depending upon depth of the peel. This is the treatment we recommend the most frequently for acne scar patients or patients with deeper wrinkles. We can really do a lot of smoothing in a series of 1 to 3 peels for large pores, deep wrinkles or acne scars.
Probably the laser procedure I love the most is the combination laser peel plus ProFractional. Rita and Melanie are way skilled in making patients comfortable for this combination laser treatment, in which we can combine the peel for skin smoothing, and the ProFractional for skin tightening...a winning combination for wrinkles, large pores, pigment problems, and skin that is beginning to become lax or saggy. The face and neck are done together, and again, depth is decided upon after considering what the patient needs, as well as how long they can allow for recovery, usually only slightly longer than each treatment performed alone (ie, days to a week).
Since the Sciton laser uses evaporative/ablative wavelengths of light to effect the magical changes seen in our skin smoothing treatments like the peels, there is no heat involved in a typical peel, and therefore the healing times are much quicker and more comfortable. It is really the heat incorporated in other laser resurfacing treatments which hurts, and creates the significant downtimes with respect to skin redness following the treatments. In certain patients who desire more of a deep treatment, we can provide a bit of oral sedation and do a much deeper treatment, or in select cases (deepest acne scars or wrinkles), we might elect to go to an outpatient surgical facility such as our Eastpoint Surgery Center, to do a deeper laser resurfacing peel under anesthesia. However, most patients prefer to do moderately deeper peels right here in our office, and can do a series of even 3 deep "doctor peels" with me, and still not spend as much money as one deeper operating room peel, and with less recovery time.
So you really can use these bleak winter months to make significant improvements in the quality of your skin! Look over our Blogs, find out what your "hot topics" are, and schedule an appointment to come in and let me, Rita or Melanie put together a treatment package just for you. You might also want to call us or go online and see what "Spring Break specials" Cynthia is putting together right now. Be sure you have an updated email address for us to use to stay connected with the latest our office has to offer! Join us on Facebook or our website for new postings to Blogspot, and contact me personally to suggest new topics for our blog, Sculpt. I will discuss my favorite injectable treatments in an upcoming post.
Here's to a great-looking face for 2011!
Best to you,
Julene
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Winter Skin Survival Guide
Hi friends!
By now, your skin has started to reflect the harshness of the change in climate, and once the bit of color from summer fades, we sometimes see all kinds of "badness". Even those of us who try our best to protect our faces from summer's rays, know that we have a bit of a glow after summer's end that can hide some common skin problems. Plus, the naturally paler color of winter skin can expose common pigmentary problems, large pores and fine lines. Our skin is drier due to less humidity in the air and the colder air and winds of winter. Bottom line...winter is typically the perfect time to correct hyperpigmentation, provide hydration and smoothing, and to more deeply correct the signs of aging, which are all more noticeable during the winter.
I have asked my wonderful staff to list some of their favorite skin care products, and they are found below..."Staff picks"!!! Enjoy the list, and as always feel free to ask us about any skin care advice specific to your needs.
CLEANSERS:
CYNTHIA...lists Dermesse Sugar Scrub among her favorite cleansers. She uses it every day, and who wouldn't want skin like hers...porcelain, I call it! For face, she likes Dermesse Creme Cleanser, especially after laser or chemical peels.
MELANIE, JULENE AND RITA...like Dermesse Cleanser Gel for the refreshing feel it gives oily skin.
TONERS:
CYNTHIA...likes SkinCeutical's Revitalizing Toner for its nice cucumber extract scent (which is a natural emollient with calming, soothing agents - maybe that's why she is so unflappable), as well as its lavendar oil (which is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and anti-bacterial). She says, "it also contains horsetail, which speeds connective tissue repair...hee haw!" (never mind that's a noise a donkey makes, not a beautiful horse, Cynthia)
MELANIE, JULENE AND RITA...seem to be in agreement again, that we like Dermesse Toner. It leaves a refreshed feel to the skin and is carefully pH-balanced with the cleanser to set the stage for easier absorption of the corrective products apllied later. It also closes pores to prevent some of the day's damage and helps to control breakouts.
BLEACHING AGENT:
CYNTHIA, JULENE, MELANIE AND RITA...we all apparently agree, hands down, that Neocutis' product for hyperpigmentation, Blanche, is the best. It works to fade brown spots, hyperpigmentation and melasma from a unique combination of ingredients, including 4% Hydroquinone and Melaplex. Also, as Cynthia points out...it is formulated with anti-oxidants and hydrates the skin with shea butter and jojoba oil, is steroid free, fragrance free, and non-comedogenic. If you have an intolerance to hydroquinone, like I do, then Kojic acid is a great substitute and can be found in SkinCeuticals' Phyto Plus. OR...the alternative to a topical for hyperpigmentation is of course to use the laser (Sciton, of course)- for this we would recommend a series of treatments with BBL (broadband light).
EXFOLIATING AGENTS:
CYNTHIA and JULENE...SkinCeuticals' Retexturizing Activator, used morning and night, improves texture and tone by stimulating enzymes that promote desquamation while hydrating the skin via hyaluronic acid and Kombuchka (say THAT 3 times after a Cocktails and Consults evening) to promote its natural barrier functions. It basically smoothes, resurfaces and moisturizes skin, all at the same time! Cynthia says, "This product is UNBELIEVABLE, and I like to use it every day as well as right before a laser or chemical peel."
MELANIE and JULENE...Dermesse Exfoliator, which contains a unique blend of alpha-hydroxy acids, gently smoothes skin and is available in 2 strengths.
RITA...likes Dermesse Sugar Scrub for body, and the Dermesse Exfoliator for face.
SKIN SMOOTHING AGENTS:
CYNTHIA...likes NIA 24's Skin Strengthening Complex Repair Cream, because it has the Pro-Niacin to strengthen the barrier function of skin, as well as vit A to improve texture and elasticity, anti-oxidants green tea and rosemary, and ceramides, evening primrose and wheat germ oil to moisturize the skin. Phew. CYNTHIA and JULENE like SkinCeuticals' A.G.E. Interruptor and A.G.E. Eye Cream (at night only) due to their ability to improve the creping and thinning of our "mature" skin due to an aging process in older skin called glycation, when excess glucose molecules cause collagen and elastin fibers to stick together leading to the formation of Advanced Glycation End-products (A.G.E.) ie, bad things, which cause wrinkles, ick. Also, we both like Neocutis' product Lumiere for eyes, which contains Swiss technology growth factors and proteins specifically well-suited for smoothing the delicate eye area. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which is a natural hydrating agent.
YOUNG MELANIE...thinks her skin never looks smoother and pores smaller than when she uses a combination of Dermesse Cleanser Gel, Toner and Exfoliator!
RITA and JULENE...say "Retin A baby!!!" A longtime favorite skin smoothing agent is good old retin A. Many patients find its precursor, retinol, available in different strengths, to be easier and less drying to use, but you can't argue either's effects of deep penetration to the dermal layer where wrinkles begin.
***special note to self...for the fastest skin smoothing known in these parts, the Sciton laser is a quick way to smoothe skin utilizing laser peels and profractional treatments, alone or in combination! (Stay tuned for my next blog)
SUN DAMAGE AND DNA REPAIR:
CYNTHIA, JULENE, MELANIE and RITA...we all seem to agree on this one, Nia 24 Sun Damage Repair is a nutrient-rich cream that delivers intense moisture while it improves the appearance of photo-damage on the decolletage, shoulders and hands. As Rita says, results are seen very quickly and within 6 weeks! This product works very well in combination with our laser packages to visibly add to results (when used between laser treatments).
***special note to self...one of the nicest things to add to a good home skin care program, is to work in a couple laser resurfacing treatments a year to slowly eliminate the sun damaged layers
SUNPROTECTION AND SUNBLOCKS:
CYNTHIA...likes CE Ferulic Serum in conjunction with either Dermesse or Nia 24's Mineral Sunscreens.
JULENE...likes Dermesse Sunblock SPF 30.
MELANIE...likes SkinCeuticals' SPF 50.
RITA...likes Nia 24 also, because it is not oily and it absorbs instantly.
MOISTURIZERS:
CYNTHIA and JULENE...love the combination of SkinCeuticals' Hydrating B5 Gel and masque, because they contain hyaluronic acid, the body's natural hydrator, to bind moisture to the skin. It is often used along with vit C treatments, and is oil-free.
***note to self...if one can improve the overall health of the skin over time, it really will need less topical moisturization, so most moisturizers will only need to be used in the dead of winter when nature's elements are most harsh!
There you have it! The experts have spoken! But, always after that ONE FAVORITE recommendation, for those of us on a budget who want just a few really good products, I asked each of my staff what single product for each area would they go back into a burning building to save (if they knew they could still get out alive, and the family and household pet were already safe!), and here is what it distilled down to...
for FACE:
CYNTHIA...Phloretin CF is her all-time favorite because it is a serum, it is both preventive as well as corrective, and as an anti-oxidant, it helps to prevent and correct the aging process by supporting elastin and collagen synthesis, while increasing cell turnover, thus giving her skin its radiance and firmness (did you know she's really 75?) Cynthia uses it at night, and notes that it also contains vit C to help with inflammation and in prevention of skin cancer.
JULENE...realizes that although it is expensive, like Loreal says, "it's worth it!" I absolutely LOVE Skin Medica's TNS Essential Serum. I can tell the next morning if I've used it or not, because of the smooth, glowing look it gives my skin. Really. It contains the renowned growth factor formula TNS Recovery Complex in one chamber and APS Corrective Complex (a potent mixture of anti-oxidants and peptides) in the other. The combination - and it comes out together in one expensive little clump of liquid gold - has been clinically proven to improve tone, texture and elasticity, and to work on brown spots and wrinkles, as well as to tighten skin and help it regenerate and protect itself. What else is left to fix? Although this is my all-time favorite single nighttime product, I love mixing it up and using a good serum or cream several nights a week, like Neocutis Bio-Gel, Bio-Serum, or Hyalis, or SkinCeuticals' A.G.E. Inrerrupter. And yes, my cosmetics closet looks like a pharmacy lab.
MELANIE...is a big fan of Dermesse Exfoliator, and says she has man-eating pores the night after she forgets to use it!
RITA...stands by A.G.E. She likes the A.G.E. Interrupter, A.G.E. Retexturizing Activator, and A.G.E. Eye Cream the best.
for the EYES:
CYNTHIA ...A.G.E. Eye Cream AM and PM. She likes the fact that it is good for menopausal skin and that it contains blueberry extract to help prevent future wrinkles in the very thin eyelid skin. (But won't we sell less Botox Cynthia? How can that be good?)
JULENE...likes a serum under make-up for daytime use and a cream at night for extra moisturization, so I like Skin Medica's Uplifting Eye Serum in the morning. RITA likes this too, because it is not oily, and because one tiny drop will take care of both under eye areas, so it lasts a long time. I like either Neocutis' Lumiere at night or SkinCeuticals' A.G.E. Eye Cream.
MELANIE...likes Skin Medica's Eye Repair Cream the best, because it begins to work immediately, and she sees fewer fine lines as early as the next day.
for the NECK:
CYNTHIA...likes Neocutis' Bio-restorative Hydrogel with PSP (processed skin proteins), or Bio-Gel, because it restores a refreshed appearance to aged, stressed skin.
JULENE...likes Neocutis' Bio-restorative Skin Cream (Bio-Cream)) with PSP, for the same reasons, but I just like a cream on the neck rather than a gel, because I think it hydrates better, and lasts longer.
MELANIE...likes SkinCeuticals' A.G.E. Interrupter, because it is not oily and feels like silk! It works very well to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.
RITA...likes
A.G.E. Interrupter. (She didn't say why, so I guess you'll just have to ask her. She is a woman of few words SOMEtimes.)
A.G.E. Interrupter. (She didn't say why, so I guess you'll just have to ask her. She is a woman of few words SOMEtimes.) Lastly, I asked the girls to comment on any category I forgot, and Cynthia mentioned the wisdom of a good old skin peel periodically. I think this is a very good alternative for those who do not desire the downtime of a facial laser procedure, or the cost. Although the laser procedures go deeper, the 3 minute Skin Medica Peel is great. It can be modified to be either an Illuminize Peel, a Vitalize Peel, or a Rejuvenize Peel, depending upon the strength of the acid chosen and the depth of penetration. A peel can be formulated to produce varying degrees of exfoliation based on each patient's individual needs, but works on tone, texture, acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma, large pores, fine lines and wrinkles.
Call us with questions!
Ho Ho Ho and Fa La La! Have a wonderful holiday season full of blessings everyone!
Julene, Cynthia, Melanie and Rita
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tips for Surviving the Holidays (and that dreaded "Winter Skin")
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I am beginning Part I (of III) today... we will have a discussion involving my personal tips for surviving the holidays (how to improve our bodies and weight management tips), and then I also plan to provide tips on how to use the winter months to work on problem skin, to treat existing problems, but also tips on how to take a more proactive stance on anti-aging. I do not have all the answers, mind you, but I certainly have opinions, and isn't that what blogging is all about Tommy, honey? I get to express my opinions to whoever wants to listen!
As always, feel free to call us for some personal recommendations on anything that suits your fancy. We are hosting another "Cocktails and Consults" here at the office on Friday December 10th, from 10AM to 6PM, during which a portion of our proceeds on services rendered or purchased that day will go to Support The Boys' Haven. Join us for drinks, appetizers and some live talks and demonstrations on Botox, Juvederm, Sculptra and Vaser Shape. We will have special pricing that day on skin care and injectable products, as well as laser services... and it will help a really good cause. Angela Ariatti is helping us to organize the day's events, and is our Boys' Haven sponsor. (She is also Lexie and Kaitlyn's riding instructor and incredible female role model/mentor, ie., "life coach").
The most important things to remember when re-evaluating body proportion and "problem areas", is to do your best to be patient with yourself, and to be realistic as you reset your goals. We can all make some level of improvement in our physical fitness, but a balanced program is required. Diet, exercise, reasonable goals and a real commitment (and sometimes, intervention, surgical or otherwise) are necessary. I am a physician and a plastic surgeon, not a dietician, nutritionist or fitness instructor. I do however, care about my fitness , have done a fair bit of reading and research over the years with respect to diets and exercise disciplines, and have a large experience with different techniques myself on a personal level, and consider my medical background and training to be a sound base for the evaluation and interpretation of various methods of staying fit. Coupled with the fact that I have a significant surgical experience in treating and caring for patients - men and women - who care about their physiques as they age, I think I am at least able to render some sound advice on this subject. So...here are my thoughts, for what they are worth...
After menopause, or even in the pre-menopause or "perimenopausal years", there is no doubt about it...hormonal fluctuation and decreased metabolic rate are all contributing factors to the slow, steady weight gain many women experience, so that despite sometimes our best attempts to stay lean, we are undone. Finding an exercise program that is truly enjoyable to you is often the key to the next challenge, which is finding the time to work it into a busy schedule. I like to run and bike and ride horses...all of which I like (or must) do outdoors. Although I have a treadmill and elliptical trainer, I much prefer to be outside, so I use these devices mostly in the winter months. Although I think the commitment provided by working out with a trainer is wonderful, motivational and ensures that the proper change and flexibility of varying a workout routine is adhered to, I simply find my schedule too restrictive and inflexible to allow me the luxury of a regular workout with a trainer. (Not to mention the cost involved with finding a good trainer and the typical gym membership.) In recent years, my husband and I have just found it more time-efficient and doable for our schedules to buy a bit of workout equipment to keep at home so that we can work out whenever we want. In addition to our treadmill, elliptical and bike trainer, we have some free weights, and I recently purchased the P90X DVDs to firm up "softer" :-) areas this winter. Basically, any regimen that incorporates some aerobic conditioning and training with resistance training using weights or bands will work, and you don't have to spend a lot of money on a home gym. Aerobic training that is consistent and maintained at a certain heart rate level for a sustained 30 to 45 minutes 4 to 5 days a week will improve fitness. Much less than that will probably only help you maintain a certain fitness level, rather than improve fitness.
In addition to the proper work out plan, of course one must add a smart diet. Having read all of the diets my patients routinely ask me about, like...The South Beach Diet, Sugar Busters, The Zone, Atkins, etc...I think of things rather simplistically as follows: If calories taken in exceeds calories out, those extra calories will be stored as fat. If we eat the wrong kinds of carbs, they work just like sugar. Most women are fairly protein-deficient and need to eat more lean meat. The best proportion of food calories consumed is about 30% fat, 40% carbohydrate, and 30% protein. When you eat (in relation to the calories you burn that day) is as important as what you eat. Certain types of work out or training periods may change the recommendation of the above things a bit, but in general, these seem to be sound principles. So what I try to do is eat small frequent meals (around 450 cal per snack or meal 6 times a day, or a larger meal earlier in the day with fewer snacks) so that I can burn more easily the calories consumed, try to eat more lean meat and "good carb" vegies, limit sugary foods, consider the rule of portion size (palm of hand size), and not eat after 8PM. I love what is taught in The Zone...that food really is a "drug" that we put in our systems every day, that the food we eat regulates the hormones insulin and glucagon to regulate glucose metabolism and fat storage, and that if we want to better utilize (rather than store as fat) the calories we consume, we must eat to stay in "the zone", where our body's glucose levels stay fairly constant, we are utilizing the calories we are consuming, there are not large rises and falls in sugar levels which then cause us to store the excess glucose as fat, and we maintain a stable glucagon and insulin milieu (and therefore, stabilize weight). If it is weight loss we are after, then we MUST consume fewer calories than we utilize, and to avoid muscle loss, that means combining calorie restriction with exercise. Although I learned this from every trainer I have ever known, and I still believe this to be the best way to achieve longterm successful weight loss and improved fitness, I would also say that I now believe that sometimes (especially after the onset of those menopauseal years), that I do see the value of jump-starting one's slowing metabolism, via alternative means.
We have recently begun to offer short courses of metabolic supplements to some of our surgical and nonsurgical body contouring patients who are trying to achieve timely weight loss in order to enhance results seen with both Vaser Shape, a nonsurgical method of body contouring now available in my office (see my website or previous Blogs) and Vaser Lipo (operative liposuction). We would be happy to evaluate anyone who wants to hear more about HcG injections or sublingual drops in this context. I do believe that patients who can "reset" their metabolic rates with these supplements will be more likely to maintain results they achieve with (Vaser Lipo) or without surgery (Vaser Shape).
The bottom line is that it is really exciting to get to assist patients with their body change goals in a very holistic manner, because as a woman who is also a plastic surgeon, I can help my patients with diet and exercise recommendations, with metabolic supplements and weight management tips, as well as meaningful interventional techniques, ie, Vaser Shape (non-surgical ultrasound body contouring), and Vaser Lipo (surgical liposuction, with or without tummy tucks or lifts).
As always, we welcome the opportunity to design a plan specific to each patient's needs.
Happy Thanksgiving! (eat more turkey than mashed potatoes)
Julene
I am beginning Part I (of III) today... we will have a discussion involving my personal tips for surviving the holidays (how to improve our bodies and weight management tips), and then I also plan to provide tips on how to use the winter months to work on problem skin, to treat existing problems, but also tips on how to take a more proactive stance on anti-aging. I do not have all the answers, mind you, but I certainly have opinions, and isn't that what blogging is all about Tommy, honey? I get to express my opinions to whoever wants to listen!
As always, feel free to call us for some personal recommendations on anything that suits your fancy. We are hosting another "Cocktails and Consults" here at the office on Friday December 10th, from 10AM to 6PM, during which a portion of our proceeds on services rendered or purchased that day will go to Support The Boys' Haven. Join us for drinks, appetizers and some live talks and demonstrations on Botox, Juvederm, Sculptra and Vaser Shape. We will have special pricing that day on skin care and injectable products, as well as laser services... and it will help a really good cause. Angela Ariatti is helping us to organize the day's events, and is our Boys' Haven sponsor. (She is also Lexie and Kaitlyn's riding instructor and incredible female role model/mentor, ie., "life coach").
The most important things to remember when re-evaluating body proportion and "problem areas", is to do your best to be patient with yourself, and to be realistic as you reset your goals. We can all make some level of improvement in our physical fitness, but a balanced program is required. Diet, exercise, reasonable goals and a real commitment (and sometimes, intervention, surgical or otherwise) are necessary. I am a physician and a plastic surgeon, not a dietician, nutritionist or fitness instructor. I do however, care about my fitness , have done a fair bit of reading and research over the years with respect to diets and exercise disciplines, and have a large experience with different techniques myself on a personal level, and consider my medical background and training to be a sound base for the evaluation and interpretation of various methods of staying fit. Coupled with the fact that I have a significant surgical experience in treating and caring for patients - men and women - who care about their physiques as they age, I think I am at least able to render some sound advice on this subject. So...here are my thoughts, for what they are worth...
After menopause, or even in the pre-menopause or "perimenopausal years", there is no doubt about it...hormonal fluctuation and decreased metabolic rate are all contributing factors to the slow, steady weight gain many women experience, so that despite sometimes our best attempts to stay lean, we are undone. Finding an exercise program that is truly enjoyable to you is often the key to the next challenge, which is finding the time to work it into a busy schedule. I like to run and bike and ride horses...all of which I like (or must) do outdoors. Although I have a treadmill and elliptical trainer, I much prefer to be outside, so I use these devices mostly in the winter months. Although I think the commitment provided by working out with a trainer is wonderful, motivational and ensures that the proper change and flexibility of varying a workout routine is adhered to, I simply find my schedule too restrictive and inflexible to allow me the luxury of a regular workout with a trainer. (Not to mention the cost involved with finding a good trainer and the typical gym membership.) In recent years, my husband and I have just found it more time-efficient and doable for our schedules to buy a bit of workout equipment to keep at home so that we can work out whenever we want. In addition to our treadmill, elliptical and bike trainer, we have some free weights, and I recently purchased the P90X DVDs to firm up "softer" :-) areas this winter. Basically, any regimen that incorporates some aerobic conditioning and training with resistance training using weights or bands will work, and you don't have to spend a lot of money on a home gym. Aerobic training that is consistent and maintained at a certain heart rate level for a sustained 30 to 45 minutes 4 to 5 days a week will improve fitness. Much less than that will probably only help you maintain a certain fitness level, rather than improve fitness.
In addition to the proper work out plan, of course one must add a smart diet. Having read all of the diets my patients routinely ask me about, like...The South Beach Diet, Sugar Busters, The Zone, Atkins, etc...I think of things rather simplistically as follows: If calories taken in exceeds calories out, those extra calories will be stored as fat. If we eat the wrong kinds of carbs, they work just like sugar. Most women are fairly protein-deficient and need to eat more lean meat. The best proportion of food calories consumed is about 30% fat, 40% carbohydrate, and 30% protein. When you eat (in relation to the calories you burn that day) is as important as what you eat. Certain types of work out or training periods may change the recommendation of the above things a bit, but in general, these seem to be sound principles. So what I try to do is eat small frequent meals (around 450 cal per snack or meal 6 times a day, or a larger meal earlier in the day with fewer snacks) so that I can burn more easily the calories consumed, try to eat more lean meat and "good carb" vegies, limit sugary foods, consider the rule of portion size (palm of hand size), and not eat after 8PM. I love what is taught in The Zone...that food really is a "drug" that we put in our systems every day, that the food we eat regulates the hormones insulin and glucagon to regulate glucose metabolism and fat storage, and that if we want to better utilize (rather than store as fat) the calories we consume, we must eat to stay in "the zone", where our body's glucose levels stay fairly constant, we are utilizing the calories we are consuming, there are not large rises and falls in sugar levels which then cause us to store the excess glucose as fat, and we maintain a stable glucagon and insulin milieu (and therefore, stabilize weight). If it is weight loss we are after, then we MUST consume fewer calories than we utilize, and to avoid muscle loss, that means combining calorie restriction with exercise. Although I learned this from every trainer I have ever known, and I still believe this to be the best way to achieve longterm successful weight loss and improved fitness, I would also say that I now believe that sometimes (especially after the onset of those menopauseal years), that I do see the value of jump-starting one's slowing metabolism, via alternative means.
We have recently begun to offer short courses of metabolic supplements to some of our surgical and nonsurgical body contouring patients who are trying to achieve timely weight loss in order to enhance results seen with both Vaser Shape, a nonsurgical method of body contouring now available in my office (see my website or previous Blogs) and Vaser Lipo (operative liposuction). We would be happy to evaluate anyone who wants to hear more about HcG injections or sublingual drops in this context. I do believe that patients who can "reset" their metabolic rates with these supplements will be more likely to maintain results they achieve with (Vaser Lipo) or without surgery (Vaser Shape).
The bottom line is that it is really exciting to get to assist patients with their body change goals in a very holistic manner, because as a woman who is also a plastic surgeon, I can help my patients with diet and exercise recommendations, with metabolic supplements and weight management tips, as well as meaningful interventional techniques, ie, Vaser Shape (non-surgical ultrasound body contouring), and Vaser Lipo (surgical liposuction, with or without tummy tucks or lifts).
As always, we welcome the opportunity to design a plan specific to each patient's needs.
Happy Thanksgiving! (eat more turkey than mashed potatoes)
Julene
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Perseverance...
I took my twins to a 3 day horse trial last weekend outside of Knoxville in the Smoky Mountains. They both compete in the sport of "eventing", which is a 2 or 3 day horse trial encompassing the elements of dressage, stadium jumping and cross-country jumping. All 3 phases of riding are scored, and the order of finishing places is determined by the lowest penalty scores after all 3 phases of riding are completed. Usually, 2 of the 3 phases of the riding are accomplished in the first day of the horse trial, with the other element finished the final day of the horse trial. The kids may walk the jumping courses with their trainer prior to that phase of the competition, but the horse is not allowed to school either the stadium jumping course or the cross-country course prior to the actual riding of the courses. Dressage is a practiced, coordinated and very controlled test of horse and rider communication, where form and style over the various gaits are judged in a small arena. Stadium jumping is a timed ride over a variety of jumps in an arena, and cross-country jumping is a timed ride over jumps in open fields over several miles of a cross-country course.
The kids on our "recognized" eventing team are trained by Angela Ariatti in Goshen, KY, and range in ages from 12 to 17. They travel the country competing in horse trials that are recognized by the USEA (United States Eventing Association), and accumulate points over the course of a calendar year, culminating in their qualification (or not) for the AEC's (the American Eventing Championships) year-end competition. This is a competition entered by riders, both amateur and professional, from all over the country, and it serves as a chance for our young riders to associate with and observe high level competitors, many of whom are top-ranked riders in eventing, and even international or Olympic level, competitors.
Angela took 4 of our team members (including my Lexie and Kaitlyn) to River Glen last weekend, a beautiful equestrian park in Tennessee along the banks of the French Broad River. I was so proud of all of the girls, and it was a very mixed weekend of results. We had a rider fall during stadium jumping, which is an automatic elimination from the competition. We had a 6th place finish in the Open Novice division (Lexie), and 2 fourth place finishes, Kaitlyn in Open Beginner Novice, and another in the Open Training division.
All of the kids amaze me over the course of these competitions, because in order to be successful, they learn that all 3 phases of the competition are important, and they all 3 matter. They learn that they must remain focused and competitively optimistic as all 3 phases of the riding progress, and that it is a cumulative score they are seeking. They learn to emphasize their own strengths as well as the strengths of their mounts in order to optimize scores in each of the riding phases, and they learn to persevere on to the next phase of the competition even when one element may not go as well as they'd hoped. They learn to persevere. Can you think of a more valuable lesson in life?
The team member who fell off her horse at stadium stayed to cheer on and support her fellow team-mates even after her own elimination from the competition. Kaitlyn persevered in order to move up consistently through all 3 phases of the competition, from 12th after dressage, to 7th after stadium, to an ultimate 4th after cross-country, behind riders who were all her senior in age grouping and experience.
As the weekend progressed, and as an adult, I thought about how the kids handle the challenge of a 3 day competition, how they handle the nerves and the stess in order to do their best in all 3 phases of the riding. I watch them learn how to watch the mistakes others make and to learn from them, how to plan with Angela their best course of action, and I watch them swallow the hard lumps as they make their own mistakes and learn to go on to the best of their abilities. In the end, Angela only expects them to do the best that they are capable of, and they know this, but it is truly amazing to observe this learning process, for it is a journey they each make.
Achieving goals in life is all about having the courage to dream of the goal, consistently working hard toward that goal, and persevering to never lose sight of the goal...individuals who can do this oftentimes exceed the expectations or achievements of others. And they amaze and inspire us all.
Congratulations girls.
The kids on our "recognized" eventing team are trained by Angela Ariatti in Goshen, KY, and range in ages from 12 to 17. They travel the country competing in horse trials that are recognized by the USEA (United States Eventing Association), and accumulate points over the course of a calendar year, culminating in their qualification (or not) for the AEC's (the American Eventing Championships) year-end competition. This is a competition entered by riders, both amateur and professional, from all over the country, and it serves as a chance for our young riders to associate with and observe high level competitors, many of whom are top-ranked riders in eventing, and even international or Olympic level, competitors.
Angela took 4 of our team members (including my Lexie and Kaitlyn) to River Glen last weekend, a beautiful equestrian park in Tennessee along the banks of the French Broad River. I was so proud of all of the girls, and it was a very mixed weekend of results. We had a rider fall during stadium jumping, which is an automatic elimination from the competition. We had a 6th place finish in the Open Novice division (Lexie), and 2 fourth place finishes, Kaitlyn in Open Beginner Novice, and another in the Open Training division.
All of the kids amaze me over the course of these competitions, because in order to be successful, they learn that all 3 phases of the competition are important, and they all 3 matter. They learn that they must remain focused and competitively optimistic as all 3 phases of the riding progress, and that it is a cumulative score they are seeking. They learn to emphasize their own strengths as well as the strengths of their mounts in order to optimize scores in each of the riding phases, and they learn to persevere on to the next phase of the competition even when one element may not go as well as they'd hoped. They learn to persevere. Can you think of a more valuable lesson in life?
The team member who fell off her horse at stadium stayed to cheer on and support her fellow team-mates even after her own elimination from the competition. Kaitlyn persevered in order to move up consistently through all 3 phases of the competition, from 12th after dressage, to 7th after stadium, to an ultimate 4th after cross-country, behind riders who were all her senior in age grouping and experience.
As the weekend progressed, and as an adult, I thought about how the kids handle the challenge of a 3 day competition, how they handle the nerves and the stess in order to do their best in all 3 phases of the riding. I watch them learn how to watch the mistakes others make and to learn from them, how to plan with Angela their best course of action, and I watch them swallow the hard lumps as they make their own mistakes and learn to go on to the best of their abilities. In the end, Angela only expects them to do the best that they are capable of, and they know this, but it is truly amazing to observe this learning process, for it is a journey they each make.
Achieving goals in life is all about having the courage to dream of the goal, consistently working hard toward that goal, and persevering to never lose sight of the goal...individuals who can do this oftentimes exceed the expectations or achievements of others. And they amaze and inspire us all.
Congratulations girls.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Watch a Vaser Shape treatment and talk to the patient!
This week's update on our Vaser Shape experience is very special...we will be featured on the evening news Thursday at 5PM on WAVE 3. Health reporter, Lori Lyle, was in the office last week to tape an actual patient having the procedure performed. Lori interviewed Tracy, who was gracious enough (and pleased enough with her results) to also allow taping of her actual Vaser Shape treatment. This was Tracy's second treatment with Vaser Shape of the tummy and hips, and her measurement change so far is an unbelievable 2 inches lost above the belly button and over 4 inches at the hips!!! I know what you're thinking...I thought the same thing...this is really too good to be true. So, I measured again, and again...
So, tune in Thursday, and see for yourself! Tracy talks about her goals for the treatment, how it feels, and I speak to its place in our body contouring armamentarium. Lori asks great questions about the evolution of this technology, and results we are seeing in all patients.
One of the best ways to receive more information about Vaser Shape is to join us here in the office for a group or individual consultation. We will outline the technique and its applications in an informal setting with a powerpoint presentation, and then provide one-on-one consultation about who and what areas might be good candidates for treatment with Vaser Shape.
Another way to find out if Vaser Shape is right for you and to view current patient results, is to join us Friday, November 19th, here in the office for our next "Cocktails and Consults", where we will be doing a live demonstration of Vaser Shape. The theme for this evening of cocktails and information gathering will be Mexican...so bring a friend and come and have a margarita with us!
We hope to see you soon!
Best,
Julene
So, tune in Thursday, and see for yourself! Tracy talks about her goals for the treatment, how it feels, and I speak to its place in our body contouring armamentarium. Lori asks great questions about the evolution of this technology, and results we are seeing in all patients.
One of the best ways to receive more information about Vaser Shape is to join us here in the office for a group or individual consultation. We will outline the technique and its applications in an informal setting with a powerpoint presentation, and then provide one-on-one consultation about who and what areas might be good candidates for treatment with Vaser Shape.
Another way to find out if Vaser Shape is right for you and to view current patient results, is to join us Friday, November 19th, here in the office for our next "Cocktails and Consults", where we will be doing a live demonstration of Vaser Shape. The theme for this evening of cocktails and information gathering will be Mexican...so bring a friend and come and have a margarita with us!
We hope to see you soon!
Best,
Julene
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