Monthly Archives: April 2022
We’ve Got Your Back
When we think about how we look, we usually focus on the attributes that are in plain view…the ones that we see in the mirror, the ones that other people see when they first meet us. So, we think about our faces, necks, stomachs and hips, the features that are seen from the front. In the way that we focus on the front view of a new haircut and not as much on the back, we tend to forget about the view from behind since it is not what we commonly see.
One over-looked part of the anatomy is the back. For many women, the area above and below the bra line is prone to rolls of extra skin and fat, at any age. Because the skin of the back and shoulder must accommodate a wide range of arm motion up and over the head, it can easily become stretched. With gravity and added weight, the fold becomes pronounced, and it droops.
In some cases where there isn’t much fat, the issue is excess skin. In other instances, people who have greater body mass may have a large amount of fat deposited in this region. Finally, for patients who have lost large amounts of weight, there is a great deal of deflated skin, which hangs over the bra. Each of these types of patients requires a different treatment.
For some of you, wearing a form-fitting top makes you feel uncomfortable. Now, with bathing suit season fast approaching, the thought of even a one-piece, let alone a bikini, could be anxiety-provoking. We have treatment options available to you that will dramatically reduce the presence of these bra fat lines and folds.
Exilis Ultra 360 is the latest advancement in nonsurgical, pain-free aesthetic procedures for reshaping your body and tightening your skin. Exilis is an FDA-approved treatment that offers patients real results without surgery (or anesthesia and incisions) and without downtime. It gives us maximum power with total control. Now, we can safely and effectively deliver the right amount of thermal energy in order to tighten, firm and tone loose and sagging skin and reshape and melt stubborn fatty deposits anywhere on your face and body.
Also, SmartLipo Triplex is a minimally invasive laser treatment for removing unwanted fat and sculpting areas of the body that you’d like to change. It offers precise contouring capabilities that are effective for treating targeted spots in the back area. You’ll see results after only one treatment in our state-of-the-art office, and your new shape will continue to improve in the months following. (There is plenty of time before the height of beach season.)
Call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation. We’ll design a treatment plan suited just for you.
See you soon.
The Happiness Factor
As a doctor, I think about you–my patients–all the time. I think about your health, your general well-being and what I can do to improve both of these aspects of your lives. This past week, as I’ve watched you come into the office looking and feeling one way and leave looking and feeling another, I’ve been thinking a lot about your happiness.
It has always been important to us to make sure that you are pleased with our treatments. It’s critical for us that this extends beyond the actual procedures and into your every day life, and I think that it does. Our goal is for you to live your life in a happier and more confident way, and we are so thrilled that we see this even as you walk out the door.
Contentment with one’s physical self, we know, translates into contentment with a whole lot more. When you believe that you look good, your walk changes. Your posture improves. You wear different clothes, different makeup. You get a new haircut. You smile more, you engage other people more. You are optimistic and, simply, happy.
This coming week, as you visit us in our offices, think about the emotional shift that is about to happen. Your face and body will look their most beautiful and equally exciting, so will your outlook.
See you soon.
What Makes Someone Beautiful, Anyway?
The notion of attractiveness seems simple. When we see a person, we know immediately whether we think he or she is beautiful. We don’t really have to decide; our reaction is involuntary, and it is personal. You might think that a particular person is stunning, while your best friend might not.
Interestingly, studies over the years have shown that most people tend to agree, for the most part, on what constitutes a beautiful face, and that the reason they do relies more on brain science than on preference. Consider the ability of babies to recognize faces and prefer the ones that society deems pretty.
So, how we assess appearance might be more complex than simply liking large eyes better than small ones or full lips rather than thin ones. The brain has the capacity to recognize not only attractiveness, but also emotions, personality traits and fertility. The part of the brain that allows us to do this, the fusiform, is also responsible for our ability to recognize familiar faces. When it is damaged, we can’t recall whom we’ve just met, and we can’t distinguish between plain faces and beautiful ones. When we decide that someone is beautiful, we are really thinking that the person is healthy and vital, studies have shown. Smooth skin and symmetrical facial features, for instance, indicate to our brain that a person has good genetics and is not ill, both of which lead us to think that the person is attractive.
However our perception is formed, appearance–of others and ourselves–has a powerful effect on so many of our emotions.
See you soon.
Here Comes The Sun: Time To Get Ready
Living close to the beach requires discipline. That may seem like a strange statement, given how relaxed and casual the environment is here. But when it comes to your skin–and wrinkles, dark spots and melanoma–you need a serious regimen.
Now is the time to put your sun protection plan in place, if you haven’t done so already. It is easy to do if you simply make it part of your daily routine. Here is what I recommend:
Think 30: Every day, whether you are going to the beach or not, and even when it is cloudy, apply a moisturizer with an SPF of 30 or above. Use it on your face before you put on makeup and on the exposed parts of your body. You may choose a moisturizer formulated specifically for the face and another just for your body, or you may use the same for both. If you are at the beach, where the rays are intensified, remember to reapply after two hours or after swimming or perspiring.
Search for Shade: Sun damage is cumulative, so every minute spent out of dangerous rays will help your skin stay young-looking and healthy. So, avoid the sun when you can, at all costs–cross to the shady side of the street, sit under the umbrella on the restaurant patio, carry an umbrella in your purse.
Beware the Bewitching Hours: The sun is strongest between 10 am and 2 pm, so do what you can to avoid it during this time.
Hats On: Go for a wide brim, and make sure that it covers the back of your neck, too. Make wearing other protective clothing a habit, too, such as sunglasses and long sleeves. Keep a basket of summer sun gear in your car, as you would a fleece throw in the winter.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, we’ll be happy to help you look and feel your best.
