Consumers satisfied with wrinkle-relaxers and body contouring.

A survey conducted by the ASDA found that consumers are most satisfied with wrinkle-relaxers, soft-tissue fillers and body sculpting treatments.

All three treatment categories received satisfaction ratings of 90 percent or above for the second straight year. And the ranks of those who declared themselves “extremely satisfied” increased significantly in all three groups.

Wrinkle-relaxers – Botox, Dysport and Xeomin – to soften facial lines and crow’s feet are at the top of consumers’ satisfaction list. Next are soft-tissue fillers – Belotero, Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane and Sculptra – which smooth wrinkles and folds and add facial volume.

Satisfaction also is high with body sculpting. Options include tumescent liposuction, performed in an office setting under local anesthesia; cryolipolysis, also known as “fat-freezing;” laserlipolysis to remove localized, stubborn pockets of fat; and other non-invasive treatments – using focused ultrasound and/or radiofrequency – for fat and cellulite.
ASDS President Mitchel P. Goldman said body sculpting is popular “because it works so well.” The average liposuction patient in his multi-dermatologic surgeon practice has 2.3 procedures within two to three years. “Once they see how easy it
is – downtime is a few days, typically – and that the results are so good, they want it done on a different part of their body,” he said.
The procedures with the highest satisfaction ratings reflect the top reasons consumers say they turn to cosmetic procedures: to look “as young as I feel or better for my age,” to appear more attractive and to feel more confident.

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Time to start thinking of laser resurfacing

Laser Resurfacing is defined as the improvement of surface irregularities of the skin with lasers. These irregularities include wrinkles and acne scars.  Our offices provide the best in laser resurfacing. It is important to determine the most effective treatment for one's condition during a consultation because the same technology used for acne scars can’t be used for wrinkles so.

For the treatment of wrinkles the CO2 laser remains the most effective treatment available. The laser removes outer layers of damaged skin to reveal the underlying skin which is softer and smoother.

We use the Ulta Pulse Co2 which is the Rolls Royce of the CO2 devices. There is a very definite one month preparation with topical and oral medications; followed by a very specific after care regimen. Down time is 7 days for local areas; 10 days for a full face. Substantial results are seen early and even improve with time.

Fraxel is the most effective laser treatment for acne scars. It is non-ablative ( no removal of skin & no downtime ) so it is able to go much deeper than any of the ablative lasers  which needs to heal from hair follicles, there by preventing penetration of the laser light to the bottom of many acne scars. It is also the treatment of choice for white stretch marks. If you’re interested in any of these laser treatments call our office to book your consultation and find out which is the best option for you.

Avoiding weight gain after a fat removal procedure

One common concern expressed by our body contouring patients is how to maintain results after undergoing their fat removal procedure. This is a very valid concern.  Patients should understand if they gain significant weight after the procedure (liposuction or non-invasive fat removal), fat can be gained and deposited in new and unpredictable areas of the body, especially with liposuction.

A healthy, balanced diet and exercise plan is a must to maintain results seen from a treatment and to maximize the effect of treatment. Some important points to remember are:

1. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight.

2. Exercise alone will not do the trick. You must exercise in conjunction with and proportional to a decrease in the amount of food/calories consumed. Just because you run 5 miles a few times a week does not mean you can eat KFC every day and still expect to loose weight. The right exercise program will vary from individual to individual, but generally it will require anywhere between 30-60 minutes three to five times per week.

3. Drink plenty of water.  Avoid store bought flavored waters. If you must have flavored water, try adding some sliced fruit, cucumber, herbs (such as mint) or spices (such as nutmeg or cinnamon sticks), into your jug of water.

4. Watch your meal portion sizes. If you find this difficult (the food tastes so good or you are hungry when you serve the meal) try giving yourself half of your usual serving and then wait 20 minutes, you may find you are not hungry anymore. Decrease the portion size to an amount that lets you eat until you are not hungry anymore, instead of eating until you feel full.

5. Stay away from refined sugar, too much salt, fat and preservatives/additives. This means staying away from packaged, processed or fast foods. Try and prepare as much food at home that you can. Make meals ahead of time and store them in the fridge or freezer. Take a sandwich or salad to work instead of grabbing a burger in your lunch break.

Remember, this is a long term plan, not just for a month or two after your treatment. Stay active, stay healthy, stay hydrated, and make the most of your treatment, you deserve it!

Non-Surgical Fat Removal with Lipodissolve

Lipodissolve is best for treating areas that diet and exercise cannot budge. Localized fatty deposits, such as love handles, back rolls, belly fat, bra rolls or thigh fat can be bothersome and hard to completely get rid of on your own.  For these areas, Lipodissolve may be the right treatment solution for you.

Lipodissolve is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure which consists of a series of tiny injections of a fat-dissolving mixture. The mixture consists of 2 naturally occurring chemicals, Phosphatidylcholine and Sodium Deoxycholate, which are normally secreted and stored in the gall bladder and help with the digestion of fat. Once injected, these chemicals begin to break down and dissolve fat giving you a more contoured and toned appearance.

The first appointment will be a consultation to visually inspect the areas of concern and evaluate if Lipodissolve is the best treatment solution for you. The size of the area and the number of treatments required will be determined during this initial consultation. Keep in mind that Lipodissolve is only meant to treat small pockets of fat, and not everyone is a candidate. Often, the first treatment will be administered that day also.

After the treatment, it takes several weeks for the broken down fat to be cleaned up and removed by your body.  The success of the treatment varies from patient to patient with some seeing better or faster results than others. It may take a few months for results to become obvious, depending on the size of the area treated. The removal of fat is permanent as long as you do not gain weight.  It is therefore important to maintain a healthy life style post Lipodissolve treatment with plenty of physical activity and a healthy diet.

If you think you may be a candidate for Lipodissolve, we offer free initial consultations in both our Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills offices. Please call us to schedule your free consultation (310) 275-6400.

FLAT TONED TERRIFIC ABS IN MEN

These can now be achieved with Therma Sculpting fat reduction and the new ultra high energy Thermage® to tighten skin.

Now you really can get and stay hard. The gym is up to you, but that only tones muscle; it doesn't remove abdominal fat or tighten skin.

Dermatologists experiment with non-invasive technology for back fat resistant to diet and exercise.

High intensity ultrasound being investigated for the treatment of women’s back fat, bra fat
OVERVIEW:
For many women, back fat that bulges along the bra lines is an embarrassing reminder that even a healthy diet and regular exercise can only go so far when it comes to one’s genetic predisposition to fat pockets. While tumescent liposuction has long been the gold standard for eliminating bothersome fat on many areas of the body, including the back, many patients do not want to undergo an invasive surgical procedure. 

Now, dermatologists are testing a non-invasive technology known as high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) – currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for abdominal fat – to target and safely eliminate excess back/bra fat.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY EXPERT
Information provided by Cheryl Karcher, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University (NYU) Medical Center in New York, NY.

ULTRASOUND TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS PRECISE ENERGY TO BACK FAT
Similar to how it is used to break up kidney stones, ultrasound technology is now being harnessed as an innovative approach to breaking up fat. By delivering focused, high-intensity sound waves at precise depths within the fat, HIFU heats and destroys the fat cells. The fat cells are then absorbed by the body and eliminated slowly eight to twelve weeks following the procedure. 

Dr. Karcher explained that HIFU has been shown to reach deeper fat and only requires one treatment session to produce measurable results. When HIFU has been used on abdominal fat, most patients have experienced a waistline reduction of more than 1 inch in circumference. Although not approved by the FDA for the treatment of back fat, Dr. Karcher is finding similar results during her study of HIFU.

ALL PATIENTS NEED NOT APPLY
Subcutaneous fat in the back and bra area tends to be very fibrous and dense, making it very resistant to diet and exercise. Patients with unsightly “back rolls” that form around the bra area may be good candidates for HIFU.  Dr. Karcher cautioned that the procedure is not for everyone and candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Able to “pinch an inch” (2.5 cm of fat) in the treatment area
• Have a body mass index (BMI) less than 30 with isolated fat (procedure is not intended for obese patients)
• Have no large scars or wounds in treatment area
• Have good skin tightness in the area to be treated
• Have no redundant skin folds

IMPRESSIVE EARLY RESULTS
In an ongoing study at Dr. Karcher’s practice, she has treated more than a dozen women who met the criteria for HIFU on back fat. While men can be treated, Dr. Karcher only has treated women and noted that men typically do not have fat in this particular area of the back. Dr. Karcher noted the following early findings:

• Two different frequencies are being studied – a lower energy that takes slightly more time to treat (one hour), and a higher energy that takes less time (45 minutes).
• The average circumference loss of fat has been 1.08 inches in the back/bra area.
• At this time, there have not been any significant safety concerns with this procedure.
• Pain medication can be administered before treatment to counter mild pain post-procedure.
• Some patients experience mild bruising following treatment.
• Best results were seen after eight to 12 weeks.
• Patients are advised to maintain a healthy weight and to exercise, as future weight gain could result in new back fat.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY EXPERT ADVICE:
“Our early results using HIFU to treat back and bra fat have been positive and well received by our patients, especially since this non-invasive technology doesn’t pose the risks associated with surgery,” said Dr. Karcher. “I think as we fine tune the technology, this off-label procedure can become widely used by dermatologists to combat this stubborn fat that affects countless women – many of whom may not even be overweight. In the meantime, if you have concerns about back fat, see your dermatologist for solutions that work with your lifestyle.”

Courtesy of The American Academy of Dermatology. www.aad.org.  

See the article on aad.org.

Cellucision: Permanent elimination of cellulite.

  © Marilyn Barbone | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Cellucision is a trademarked term that refers to what we believe is the gold standard for effective permanent elimination of areas of cellulite.

The procedure, using a subcision type minimally invasive technique of releasing fibrous bands with a small blade/needle, was originated by Dr. Doris Hexel, a dermatologist in Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The technique appears to be more precise and reproducible than a similar laser technique called Cellulaze. 

Post procedure care includes a compression garment that is worn for one month. Some bruising may occur however it generally fades in about 2 weeks.