Monthly Archives: October 2020
Love Your Lips: Definition, Shape and Volume
When it comes to restoring lips naturally, I like to think of it as a three-pronged approach: Define, shape and add volume.
To give your lips the youthful appearance that they once had, I carefully use dermal fillers in specific ways to create subtle changes that provide maximum visual impact. The secret is balance.
First, the edge of the top lip that borders your skin above it, beneath your nose, is defined. Then, injections are gently placed 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.
The lower lip typically has a uniform shape all the way across, with a little extra volume in the middle. 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.
As we age, our lips tend to thin out and lose fat, causing us to look and feel older or less attractive. 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 Kysse Volbella, Restylane, Restylane Silk, Belotero Balance and Juvederm.
So, call our office to talk about how we can give you back the lips of your youth.
And…thank you to everyone who visited with us last week at our Fall Beauty Seminar. We look forward to seeing you in our offices in the coming weeks.
See you soon.
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.
Look Better, Feel Great
You know how you feel when you put on a new dress or heels, walk out of the salon or even try the latest lip color. Clearly, taking steps to look your best makes you feel, emotionally, different. You like the change that you see in the mirror. And, who doesn’t mind when other people notice, too?
After having a cosmetic procedure, these positive feelings are stronger than they are when you put on that pair of shoes or swipe on the Ruby Red. Many people say that they have a renewed sense of confidence and control. They also are often more willing to try new experiences, take risks and feel empowered about their lives in new ways.
Before having a cosmetic procedure such as Cellulaze, SmartLipo or Exilis Ultra 360, people are typically self-conscious about a specific part of their body or a certain flaw. Usually, they try to hide this feature and in doing so, become less out-going, sometimes. Often, they focus only on what they don’t like, forgetting to feel good about what they do like. And sometimes, negative feelings about one aspect of their appearance can spread, creating generally depressed outlooks.
So, confidence is the key, and that is what we hope to provide with our nonsurgical cosmetic treatments. Self-assuredness makes you feel that you can go anywhere and do anything. It creates motivation for setting new goals and believing that you can actually achieve them. It fosters an adventurous and hopeful attitude, and most important, it simply makes you happy.
Come visit with me to talk about how we can help you look and feel your best, nonsurgically and naturally. Call my office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
Which Fraxel is Right for Me?
Every day, our skin takes a beating. Exposure to the sun, fatigue, stress, pollution, smoking and simple aging stress and damage delicate skin, particularly on our faces. Fraxel laser treatments repair and restore it safely and effectively, without surgery. Pinpointing just the areas that need improvement, Fraxel is the gold standard for laser skin rejuvenation treatments.
And, you have two options: Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair.
Here is what each can do for you…
The Fraxel DUAL Laser provides moderate-level treatment for many skin conditions, including pigmentation, uneven tone, lines and acne scarring, poor texture and more, both on and off the face. Safe for use on all skin types, the laser stimulates your body’s natural healing process as it resurfaces and restores damaged skin. Downtime is minimal, though you may need several treatments for optimal effects.
Fraxel Repair 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, with greater response. It uses carbon dioxide laser beams, which not only minimize wrinkles and discolorations, but also have the ability to tighten skin.
A more aggressive approach than Fraxel DUAL, Fraxel Repair usually requires only one treatment to tighten and resurface the skin, yielding superior results in the treatment of deeper lines, wrinkles and laxity. It actually vaporizes tissue, removing old damaged skin and allowing for new collagen formation. Recuperation time is more considerable than that of the DUAL.
Based on your individual concerns, I will help you choose the treatment that is best for you. Either way, your skin will emerge looking youthful, smooth and beautiful. Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
