Monthly Archives: October 2019
Lips, Naturally: It’s All About Balance
Many of you have a simple request when you come to my office: you don’t want anyone to know that you’ve been there. One of the biggest giveaways is the overdone lip.
My guiding principle has always been “less is more.” Much more. When it comes to restoring lips, this philosophy is critical. To restore lips to their more youthful selves, naturally, I like to utilize a triple-play: Define, shape and add volume.
To give your lips the appearance that they once had, I carefully use dermal fillers in small specific ways to create subtle changes that provide maximum visual impact. The secret is balance. If any part of the lips is too fat or too thin, the result will affect the entire appearance of your face.
First, I define the edge between the top lip and the skin above it, beneath your nose. Then, I place gentle injections in key spots to reshape and plump the upper lip, keeping it looking natural. The upper lip should have variation across the lower border and a bow across the top.
As for the lower lip, which typically has a uniform shape all the way across with a little extra volume in the middle, I take all angles into account. When I look at your lip from the side, I want to make sure that it isn’t too puffy, and when I look from the front, I like to see some extra height.
Lip injections take only a few minutes, and you should be able to go back to your normal activities right after the procedure.
Lips tend to thin out and lose fat as we get older. A variety of lip injection options are available to take care of your concerns, and the results should last from several months to a year, depending on the type of filler used. We like to use the hyaluronic acid fillers Restylane, Restylane Silk, Belotero, Volbella and Juvederm.
So, call our office to talk about how we can give you back the lips of your youth.
See you soon.
Hands Down, The Best Treatment
You may have a fresh face and youthful body, you could be giving away your age every time you wave hello. Your hands are subject to all sorts of use, all the time, not to mention environmental and age-related stresses. Their delicate skin pays a price.
But there is a solution. Radiesse, the dermal filler that we’ve used for years to plump areas of the face, is an effective option for hand augmentation. It plumps the hollow spaces that form on the backs of your hands, restoring volume and providing smooth natural-looking results. Radiesse is the first and only FDA-approved product for this use.
In one treatment, you’ll notice immediate improvement that can last a year or more. You may want to couple Radiesse with a laser treatment that minimizes the dark spots that often emerge on hands for sun exposure or natural aging.
Radiesse injections have been used for years to treat deep lines and depressions around the mouth. It has also been used to correct facial wasting, or hollowing. Because it’s bio-compatible, it can act to stimulate your body’s production of collagen, the natural material that provides structure beneath your skin.
Call our office to learn more about how your hands can look as young as the rest of you.
What is Fat, Anyway?
It’s what men and women talk about, complain about and feel bad about. It is a feature that often embarrasses us, makes us feel insecure, and affects our behavior in negative ways. Being overweight is complicated for many people, and it causes powerful emotions. But what exactly is going on, physiologically, to have such impact on people, mentally? What is fat, anyway?
Another term for it is adipose tissue, which is made up of fat cells, a unique type of cell. Imagine a cell to be a tiny, microscopic plastic bag that is filled with an oily substance. Generally, fat is found underneath the skin. There’s also some on top of each kidney, some is stored in the liver, and an even smaller amount is in muscle. We are born with a certain number of these cells, and at birth, our bodies stop making them. If we gain weight, the cells become bigger; if we lose weight, they get smaller.
Your weight is determined by the rate at which you store energy from the food that you eat, and the rate at which you use that energy. When you use it, you are breaking down the fat, and the cells become smaller. Most experts agree that the way to maintain a healthy weight is to eat a balanced diet of appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, fat and protein; eat about 1,500-2000 calories a day; and exercise regularly.
When men gain weight, they tend to carry body fat in the chest, abdomen and buttocks, producing an “apple” shape. Women tend to carry fat in the breasts, hips, waist and buttocks, creating a “pear” shape.
But what do you do if diet and exercise don’t help you lose unwanted fat? We suggest that you consider laser-assisted liposuction, or SmartLipo Triplex, which is a way to remove fat cells, for good. Once they are removed, they are gone forever. Laser-assisted liposuction works on small, localized areas of fat on the face and body. Areas that can be treated with laser-assisted liposuction include the face, neck, jowls, abdomen, hips, waist, arms, back and male breasts. As the laser comes into contact with the fat cells, its heat causes the cell membranes to swell and burst into fatty oil, melting away the fat.
Also, the laser triggers the production of collagen, which gives skin its strength and firmness. After SmartLipo, you will have lost inches and your skin will be tightened.
Come talk with us to find out if SmartLipo is right for you. Schedule your complimentary consultation today.
And remember…save this coming Thursday…and make your reservation asap for our Fall Beauty Seminar. Come hear about what’s new in cosmetic treatments. All attendees will receive free gifts and special discounts and drawings will be held for free procedures.
Call (631) 878-9200 to register. Don’t wait, as seating is limited.
When: Thursday, October 17th at 6:00 pm
Where: Atlantis Banquets and Events Sea Star Ballroom, 431 East Main St., Riverhead
(next to the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center)
Wine and cheese will be served.
Lumps and Bumps No More
If you’ve noticed dimply skin on your hips and thighs, you’re not alone. Nearly 85 percent of women over the age of 20 experience cellulite. And 100 percent of them can’t stand it.
We can help you feel better. With the Cellulaze laser, we can attack cellulite where it begins, under the skin. Cellulite is a degenerative condition that creates dimples and depressions within layers of the skin. It usually appears in the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks and arms and is caused by physiological changes that occur as women age. These changes may include an increase in the size of fat cells pushing up through the tissue beneath the skin, thin connective tissue under the skin that becomes stretched or distended, and undulations caused by hardening of tissue underneath the skin.
With just one treatment, the Cellulaze laser can give you smoother skin.
Diet and exercise can help reduce your weight, but neither can help you get rid of stubborn lumps and bumps. Other treatments temporarily treat the appearance of cellulite, but the Cellulaze laser removes it by diminishing pockets of fat and releasing areas of skin depression. The result: increased elasticity, smoother skin.
Cellulaze is minimally invasive and FDA-approved. And, we were among the first on Long Island to perform it.
Come talk with us to see if Cellulaze is a good choice for you. Schedule your complimentary consultation today.
And…Remember to register for our upcoming Fall Beauty Seminar, scheduled for Thursday, October 17 at 6:00 pm. You’ll learn about the latest cosmetic treatments, including Infini, the nonsurgical approach to reducing sagging skin and wrinkles on the neck, and Kybella, the fat-melting “double chin” injection. You’ll also see me perform treatments and “glimpse the new you” on computer imaging. We’ll be offering exclusive discounts and free gifts to attendees.
RSVP (631)878-9200 or online at www.drcovey.com
Atlantis Banquet & Events Seastar Ballroom
431 East Main Street, Riverhead
See you soon.
