Skin Rejuvenation Treatments

My Top Nine Blog Posts in 2019

Happy New Year! Thank you to all my loyal and new followers!

I love you!

It’s been a hectic year. Stretching my product knowledge from Aesthetic Medicine to Alternative Medicine. Working hand and hand we are learning about ways to ease pain after surgery, help treat skin conditions and gain a better understanding of overall wellness.

As a look back, I though it would be fun to share with you my Top 9 Blog Posts for 2019. So here you go….

Filling Eye Hollows continues to be my #1 Blog post year after year. Despite all the times I’ve had mine filled, I’ve never been totally happy with my results. It’s very frustrating!! Despite going to some the best in aesthetic medicine. Maybe 2020 will be my year for great filler results!!

Love

10 Cosmetic Treatments You Should Not Do

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may make a commission.

You want to look your very best!!

‘Tis the Holliday season. Dinner with friends and family, holiday parties, weddings and special dates. You’ve bought your dress, shoes, accessories, scheduled your hair and make-up.

You look into the mirror feeling you need a little perk. I know that feeling all too well!! I’ll wake up one morning thinking I must get some fillers, botox and a facial stat! I’ll look at my calendar and try to plan. If I’ve had a dental cleaning or any dental work, I’ll wait three weeks before any fillers. I don’t want to get a Biofilm infection.

There is a menu of services and specials at every medical spa, dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s practice during the holidays. It’s very tempting.

Plan!! Schedule these treatments allowing yourself the proper time for healing or any adjustments. You don’t want to look bruised, swollen or red before your event. Since I am a bruiser, I’ll schedule my treatments 3 or 4 weeks before any event because sometimes my bruising lasts 10 days. But, there are times I want a quick fix and this maynot be the wisest decision. If you can’t get in to see your favorite dermatologist, esthetician or injector, my advice is to schedule after your event. I wouldn’t suggest going on Instagram and choosing a doctor you’ve never meet before. This is not the time to experiment. f you do bruise there are many makeup tips to help cover your bruising or redness. Ask your doctor or injector about zapping the injection sites with laser. You can usually see bruises pop out quite quickly. I always get zapped before I leave the office and sometimes have to go back a few days later.

My favorite cover-up is from Colorscience. It helps to cover bruising, uneven tone and redness.

Colorescience Mineral Makeup Palette, Beauty On the Go, 5 Neutralizing Makeup Shades

Schedule these treatments at least two weeks before your event

Botox– you may bruise, need a tweak or develop a droopy eye which is very rare but a reality.
Laser– depending on the type and depth you could be red, swollen, itchy, and peeling. One treatment may not give you the results you are seeking.
Mico-needling – you may look red, and slightly swollen. This usually resolves quickly unless its a combination of laser and micro-needling.
Don’t change your skincare routine or introduce new products. Start 6-8 weeks before an event on the off chance you may get a reaction.
Stop any Retin-A treatments a week before you are planning a trip or event so you are not red and peeling.
Lip Fillers- Swelling, bruising and soreness is very common. You may be swollen for 7 days and you really will not see the final result for two weeks. Juvederm swells more than Resytlane.
Filling your eye hollows or tear throughs. This can be very tricky. Bruising and swelling is very likely. There is a chance you could be overfilled or underfilled. Tweaking this area is common.
Facial Fillers – Two to three weeks in advance. You may bruise, and have swelling. Plus if you need any adjustments you will have time. This includes Juvederm, Volumna, Restylane, Radiesse and Sculptra. Hyaluronic acid fillers (HA) like Juvederm swell.
Hand rejuvenation with fillers. Your hand will be swollen and may feel hard for several days.
Looking to rid of brown spots with IPL? Chances you will need to have several treatments. Those ugly brown spots turn dark brown before they go away.

Most importantly always consult a board certified plastic surgeon, dermatologist or a certified aesthetic nurse.

Be Beautiful Not Botched!™

Love,

Review: Skin Tightening Without Surgery Thermage FLX- Five Months After

I had my first Thermage treatment for a loose neckline in 2009, as I was a long way away from any surgery. Ouch! The treatment was not only very painful, I saw no results.

So when Dr. Vic Narurkar , San Francisco dermatologist and Laser King asked if I’d like to try the new Thermage treatment for training purposes, I said yes. For years, Thermage has been called “the gold standard” for skin tightening.

Thermage FLX delivers radio-frequency energy deep below the surface of the skin were the collagen is produced. The energy heats and smooths out the existing collagen and creates new collagen. It also heats up the skin faster. FLX is the newest version and a big game changer as it produces more predictable results. The tips are 33% larger so larger treatment surface areas can be treated, allowing for faster treatment times. A face and neck can be done under 60 minutes, making all the treatment areas more comfortable. You will see immediate off the table results but optimal results are generally at the 3 to 6 month mark . Retreatment is done every 1 to 3 years.

I’m always a little skeptical about skin tightening devices. Patient selection is key, as not everyone will benefit. Since my last Thermage in 2009, I’ve had a face and neck lift. However, my neck was never tight enough, so I was willing to give this a try.

I expected to get numbing cream before the treatment, even though I knew it could not hurt as much as the first time. I was told that I did not need numbing cream and that it would not hurt. My anxiety level went up 100%. However, I put my faith into Dr. Narurkar’s skilled hands and trusted him. Once we started the treatment, I was incredibly surprised to feel almost nothing. I was dozing off. Amazing!

Dr. Narurkar used a setting of 2.5 to 3.5 on my face and 1.5 to 2 on submentum and 0.5 to 1 on my neck. 900 count tip. About 4 to 6 passes per anatomic area.

Sadly, Dr. Vic Narurkar suddenly passed away in late January this year. He is greatly missed.

Right after my treatment, my face had a nice glow and I could see it looked tighter.

It’s been five months since my treatments. I see a little lifting around my jaw line. My brows do look elevated. It’s hard to tell if there is any improvement in my neck, but I was not expecting much.

In conclusion, Thermage FLX is extremely comfortable. As results improve over time, you have to be patient. It’s not a quick fix. Results take 3-6 months. The treatment is a great adjunct after a facelift. If I had a Thermage treatment soon after my facelift, my facelift may have lasted longer than it did. As I said, patient selection is important and you have to manage your expectations. Combining Thermage FLX with Botox and Fillers helps in maintaining a youthful appearance. Keep in mind, if you really need a facelift and have lots of loose, sagging skin you may not be happy with the results. Results are different with each person. Before you decide, please seek the advise of a Board Certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon who has a lot of experience in treating patients of all age groups with Thermage.