Monthly Archives: April 2016
Men Worry About How They Look, Too
When people talk about body image, we assume that they are referring to women. But lately, men seem to be more concerned about being muscular and thin than they have been in the past.
A study earlier this year by Chapman University researchers revealed that men agonize about their bodies nearly as much as women do. The report, which was published in March in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinity, surveyed about 116,000 men between age 18 and 65 and about as many women. The findings showed that:
- About 25 percent of the men were dissatisfied with their appearance, compared to about 28.5 percent of women.
- More than half of the men had gone on diets in the past year, and nearly 42 percent were unhappy with their weight.
- About 37 percent did not like the condition of their muscle tone.
- About 69 percent felt judged on their looks and felt pressure from magazines and television to have a slimmer and more muscular body.
If you are male and concerned about your body shape, you have most likely dieted and spent many hours in the gym. Sometimes, these tactics are not enough for certain trouble spots or for men of certain ages. In our offices, one of the most popular procedures for men is SmartLipo Triplex, particularly for the neck, abdomen and breast area. SmartLipo Triplex is a minimally invasive method for removing unwanted fat and sculpting areas of the body that you’d like to change. An FDA-approved laser treatment that virtually melts fat cells and suctions them away, SmartLipo provided dramatic high-definition results after only one treatment.
We also find that Kybella is effective for reducing the double chin, a common male problem that often resists diet and exercise. This new procedure slims and contours the area below and around your chin and neck, without surgery.
We know that your self-image is not derived solely from your weight and muscle mass. You may also be concerned about the effects on your face of aging, sun damage and stress, all of which can negatively impact how you feel about yourself at home and at work. Many male patients come see us for Botox, particularly for their foreheads and crow’s feet, and for dermal fillers that minimize the folds around their noses and corners of their mouths. Some of these fillers include Belotero, Juvederm, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk and Radiesse. Also, to decrease wrinkles and sagging on the face and around the eyes, many men come to us for Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair Laser Treatments.
So, if you are not entirely happy with how you look, you are not alone; there are plenty of men just like you. Don’t hesitate to call our office for a complimentary consultation. We’ll try to help you look and feel your best.
See you soon.
How Looking Pretty May Actually Be Good For Your Health. Truly.
While hard data may be elusive, certain studies have shown that physical appearance plays a large role in the development of personality. The thinking goes like this: people form opinions about other people based on what they see. Then, the people being seen tend to fulfill the expectations that they think other people have for them. So, if they are viewed as pleasant looking or beautiful, they begin to think of themselves that way. If they believe that others think they are unattractive, they are conditioned to believe that, too.
This theory, then, links physical attractiveness with self-image. The more beautiful one is perceived to be, the higher the level of confidence and esteem.
If you take this notion one step further, you might make the case that confidence and self-esteem lead to happiness, or a certain amount of happiness. Look good/feel good, we’ve all experienced that. Interestingly, happiness has been correlated with better health, both in individuals and communities. Some studies have even suggested that states of happiness, positive mood, optimism and humor may be associated with lower stress-related hormones and better immune function, that general well-being can protect and predict health. Happy people may live longer, some might argue.
So, what does this all mean and how do we come in? If one way to boost self-image (and perhaps, health) is to look good, we can help you with that.
Last week, I talked about the subtle first-time treatments that can improve your appearance quickly and easily. Today, I’d like to remind you about certain other procedures that offer dramatic results: Fraxel Repair Laser Treatment, Kybella, SmartLipo TriPlex and Thermage CPT.
Fraxel Repair: This is the procedure of choice for deep lines, hard-to-erase lip lines, pronounced photodamage, sagging face and neck skin, facial wrinkles and discolorations, age-related/sun-damaged rough skin texture, acne scars and surgical scars. Fraxel Repair allows for deep dermal laser penetration in targeted areas, with greater response than other treatments.
Kybella: Finally, you can slim and contour the area below and around your chin and neck – without surgery. I’m proud to be one of the first physicians to offer the revolutionary Kybella procedure: the first and only FDA – approved, nonsurgical treatment to reduce submental fullness, more commonly known as “double chin.” Submental fullness affects both men and women, and can be influenced by several factors such as aging, genetics and weight gain. Submental fullness is often resistant to diet and exercise and can detract from a balanced facial appearance, resulting in an older and heavier look.
SmartLipo: Many times, no matter what we do, our bodies fail to look exactly the way we’d like them to. Body contouring, currently the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, provides a sure way to achieve your ideal body shape. SmartLipo TriPlex is a minimally invasive method for removing unwanted fat and sculpting areas of the body that you’d like to change. A laser treatment that virtually melts fat cells and suctions them away, SmartLipo is one of the surest ways to boost self-image.
Thermage CPT: This nonsurgical facelift will actually transform skin all over your body. The Thermage CPT thermal lift will tighten loose skin on the eyelids, under-eye areas, abdomen, arms, legs and even your sagging buttocks. Thermage CPT, the most effective lift treatment for a multitude of concerns, yields dramatic results without incisions and recuperation. In the eye area, for instance, Thermage CPT reduces “hooding,” improves texture, and tones and softens fine lines and crow’s feet. This new treatment is a safe, effective and unique option for “eyelid rejuvenation.”
Call our office to find out how you can enjoy these dramatic results…and dramatic happiness and good health, too, we hope.
See you soon.
I Never Thought I Would Do This
Thank you all for attending our Spring Beauty Seminar this past weekend. I was happy to see so many of you there and am hoping that you learned all that you could about the latest cosmetic treatments that we offer. I look forward to seeing you in our offices in the coming weeks, particularly as the temperatures climb. I like to call spring “The Beauty Season,” since so many of you want to look your best as you spend more time outdoors.
For those of you who are considering our nonsurgical cosmetic procedures for the first time, I understand that the idea of it may get in your way. Mainly, you may not want anyone to know that you’ve been in for treatment.
So, here are a few first-time procedures that no one will know that you’ve had (and that you will forget that you’ve had by the time you’ve left our office). With no incisions, anesthesia or downtime, your treatment will be our little secret, if you want it to be. All that will be obvious is your rested and youthful look.
Botox: Worry lines, frown lines, laugh or smile lines, crow’s feet …these are all “dynamic” wrinkles caused from years of living and using facial muscles to show expression. The more emotion we show, the deeper the wrinkles and lines can be. Botox injections can safely and effectively soften lines and reduce wrinkles. Botox is also known as “cosmetic denervation” – a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that many patients have come to depend on to show results in a few days. The procedure takes under ten minutes, too.
Dermal fillers: Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane (Silk and Lyft) and Voluma are a few of the FDA-approved treatments that restore fullness and contour that has diminished with age. These treatments are quick and easy, and show immediate results in all areas of the face, including cheeks, mouth, chin, nose and lips, as well as the hands.
Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is simple, convenient and popular among patients showing early signs of aging, sun exposure and other facial imperfections. It not only exfoliates the skin’s surface, but also promotes new cell growth in the basal, or deepest layer of the skin. It also cleans the pores and stimulates collagen networking to further improve the skin’s texture. After the treatment, your skin will have a new fresh-looking glow.
Intense Pulsed Light : If your facial skin has lost its youthful glow, Intense Pulsed Light Rejuvenation can help to restore a vibrant appearance. The procedure delivers broadband light through the skin, helping to decrease redness, pigmentation, lines and pore size, and improve the overall texture and tone of your skin. IPL can be used on the face, neck, chest, hands and legs. Also known as a “photofacial,” the noninvasive treatment treats imperfections including birthmarks, spider veins, rosacea, fine wrinkles, sun and age spots, vascular lesions and acne and acne scarring.
For new and return patients, please call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
Please, Do Not Feel Bad About Your Neck
I have just returned from the annual American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery conference in Boston, and I am energized. So many breakthrough treatments are on the horizon, and as always, my goal is to provide you with the most effective state-of-the-art cosmetic care in the area.
Wherever I turned, doctors were talking about the neck. I know, from treating you, that fullness from fat, crepey skin and visible band lines cause plenty of frustration. We have five ways to minimize the appearance of these conditions, so you have choices. There is no need to feel bad about your neck any longer.
First, the latest FDA-approved treatment is Kybella, a series of injections that eradicates fat cells permanently from the chin and neck area. We have seen great success with this new procedure. Then, there is Exilis Elite, which tightens, firms and tones loose and sagging skin and reshapes and melts stubborn fatty deposits. It is perfect for the chin and neck, as well as many other parts of your face and body. Thermage CPT, known as a nonsurgical facelift, is the most effective lift treatment for a multitude of concerns, yielding dramatic results without incisions and recuperation. Next, you can choose Fraxel Repair, a laser skin rejuvenation treatment that targets and improves sagging neck skin. Finally, we offer SmartLipo Triplex for the area under the chin. With this laser procedure, your fat cells will be melted and sucked away, leaving a newly shaped silhouette.
Call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation, and I’ll talk with you about the range of possibilities. Or, plan to attend our Spring Beauty Seminar this coming weekend, where you’ll learn all about these neck and other new cosmetic treatments, see live demonstrations and talk with real patients. It’s a free event, and you’ll receive exclusive discounts and gifts, too.
Saturday, April 9, 10:30 am
Atlantis Banquet & Events Seastar Ballroom
431 East Main Street, Riverhead
RSVP (631) 878-9200 or online at www.DrCovey.com
See you soon.
