Archive for the ‘medical spa’ Category

Latisse Wishes Challenge Campaign: June 15 – Oct 31

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 by newseditor

A new Latisse promotion just kicked off yesterday, and it’s designed to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In the Latisse Wishes Challenge, you can donate $20 or more to the Make-A-Wish foundation in exchange for a Latisse free trial certificate.

Only the first 10,000 people who donate will receive the Latisse free trial certificate. You might remember last year’s campaign led by Brooke Shields. This year, the effort is led by lifestyle designer Kathy Ireland, professional ballroom dancer Chelsie Hightower and style guide Bobbie Thomas. Watch the video to learn more about the campaign and see important product information about Latisse.

“With approximately 1.5 million bottles sold since launching the product a little more than a year ago, LATISSE is giving back by helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant the wishes of children. Through the campaign, we will double each individual’s donation, with a maximum donation of $250,000, through October 31,” said Robert Grant, President of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc.

Latisse Links: What People Are Saying About the Drug

Monday, February 8th, 2010 by editor

The unique eyelash enhancement drug Latisse is getting plenty of attention on the latisse-philadelphiaweb. Some people are interested but scared off by the possibility of side effects, while others are raving about their long, batty eyelashes. It’s obviously not right for everybody.

If you’re considering Latisse, you may want to check out these stories and resources:

  • A popular blogger “took the plunge” and started using Latisse in order to document her experience online. BellaSugar: Latisse Diaries

Diet & Skin Health: What's the Relationship?

Monday, February 1st, 2010 by editor

If you’re a fan of Fraxel laser on Facebook like we are, maybe you saw this link to nutritionDaily Beauty: Lycopene for Fewer Lines. It’s about new research suggesting a correlation between smoother skin and lycopene, the carotenoid found in tomatoes.

The story got me thinking more about the relation between diet and healthy skin – how important is it?

Nutritionists say it’s very important. Every day, our bodies naturally exhibit evidence of our lifestyles. However, the process is much more complicated than the old adage “you are what you eat.” Research shows that a cell-level battle is raging within each of us, a battle between the natural process of aging and the natural systems that help us resist that very process.

Oxygen is everywhere – in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and in the food we eat.  Oxygen has a natural tendency to combine with other processes in our skin at the cellular level to produce (evil) free radicals, the enemies of our skin tissue. Like the effects of oxygen on metal that cause oxidation and rust, in our bodies a similar process leads to inflammation, and this inflammation can take many forms. On the skin, inflammation can make pores look bigger and skin look dull, discolored, or aged.

So what can one do about these seemingly inevitable processes?

Well, consider the fact that Vitamins A, C, and E are “antioxidant rich” adversaries of the free radicals that hide in our cells and attack our skin. Consider that Selenium is a mineral that experts agree is critical to the production of glutathione, another enemy of free radicals. Consider that Thiamine is a B vitamin that helps skin cells function normally. Consider that Zinc assists epidermal cell growth, that protein is essential for skin repair, and finally, that Vitamin C helps the body naturally manufacture collagen, a protein that keeps the skin supple and tight. If you’re trying to look as young as you feel, good nutrition is obviously the place to start.

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Skin Care Companies Collide Over Anti-Aging Product Lines

Monday, January 25th, 2010 by editor

The skin care industry has always been competitive, but the battle for market shareobagi_product has been escalating in recent years.  Now for Obagi Medical Products, that battle has found its way into the courthouse.

Dr. Zein Obagi, founder of ZO Skin Health, is now suing his former company, Obagi Medical Products (OMP), for anti-competitive practices. According to the complaint filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Obagi Medical allegedly interfered with the distribution of Dr. Obagi’s new “ZO” line of anti-aging products. According to reports, the disagreement stems from a non-compete agreement between the two parties, and whether that agreement should stop ZO Skin Health from distributing its new line directly to consumers over the internet. Obagi Medical denies any wrongful conduct in the matter, and says it will vigorously defend the suit.

The demand for anti-aging skin care products is expected to increase as baby-boomers continue to take advantage of advances in skin care science. Between 2006 and 2008, U.S. sales alone rose 13% to 1.6 billion dollars, and the trend shows no sign of weakening. Skin health is affected by a number of variables, including the environment (sun, wind, pollution), lifestyle (diet and exercise) and genetics. As a person ages, the process of skin-cell-rejuvenation is also slowed. Topical aesthetic and therapeutic skin health products on the market today are specifically designed to address these issues.

Read more about anti-aging skincare and Obagi products in Eugene, Oregon.

Chemical Peel or Microdermabrasion: How do I choose?

Monday, January 11th, 2010 by editor

Are you hoping to get bright, clear skin?  Both microdermabrasion and a chemical peel can be good ways to get it, so how do you determine which treatment is right?

Microdermabrasion is a good choice if you have little time or when you’re anticipating an important event. The depth of exfoliation is very precise with microdermabrasion, so you’re less likely to experience side effects like redness or swelling. Typical healing time is about 3 days at the most.

Healing time for most chemical peels will require about 1 week.  However, with all the choices available in chemical peels, we can design a treatment that is very gentle if needed.

Can I choose both treatments?

Sometimes an aesthetician will recommend doing both. If done carefully, a light chemical peel such as AHA or salicylic acid can work in combination with microdermabrasion. Just make sure you work with an aesthetician or surgeon that has experience combining these treatments.

How to Find Effective Skin Care Products

Thursday, October 29th, 2009 by editor

Oregon skin careThe market for skin care products has been overflowing for a long time, and unfortunately, most of the brands you will find are not very effective.  What you get at the drug store, cosmetics counter, or beauty salon is often a poor substitute for the medical grade skin care products available from a plastic surgeon.

The most important difference between over-the-counter products and those you’ll find from a doctor is the pH – the level of acid present.  Here’s a handy dandy guide for understanding pH levels.

  • pH of 1 or 2 is high strength acid, what you’ll typically find in quality, medical grade products from a plastic surgeon.
  • pH of 3- 4 is medium strength
  • pH of 5-6 is weak
  • pH of 7 is neutral

Although an over-the-counter skin care product may advertise a high concentration of alpha-hydroxy acid, it will most often register as a 7 in pH, which is considered neutral.  High quality skin care products from a plastic surgeon contain strong acids with a pH level of 1 or 2.

Granted, run-of-the-mill skin care products from the drug store are very safe, but they don’t offer a pH level that will provide results.  So when you’re choosing a skin care regimen to cleanse the skin, improve complexion, and protect yourself from the signs of photo-damage, pay attention to the pH level rather than the advertised concentration of acid.

Women Over 50 Show Preference for Quality Beauty Treatments

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 by editor

Reuters reports that a recent survey of women over 50 found that many are still willing to spend a few extra dollars on high quality beauty treatments, despite the economic uncertainty of recent months.

60,000 members of the site VibrantNation.com, who the CEO labels as an “influential and fast-growing” demographic, reported paying a bit extra for antioxidants and hypoallergenic products.  The reported breakdown of spending for the group is as follows:

Respondents said their most significant beauty investment was…

* 61% anti-aging moisturizer
* 40% foundation/concealer/cover-up/color makeup
* 2% botox/fillers/lasers
* 2% plastic surgery

Furthermore, a whopping 45 percent said that “if money were not an issue, they would undergo plastic surgery.”

5 Professional Skincare Tips For Our High-Stress Patients

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 by editor

Oregon facialDuring uncertain, sometimes frantic times, physicians get busy caring for patients who come in with stress-related skin problems. Pimples appear out of nowhere, dry skin in desperate need of hydration appears overnight, folds around the nose and deep lines in the brow and around the eyes become more pronounced. If you had problems with your skin before, stress just makes it worse. Patients notice it too, and frequently report differences in their skin when they’re stressed out.  If you don’t take some time to address these issues, they can persist for weeks and months, even years.

Our bodies are reacting to external challenges.  Stress creates an adrenaline surge that elevates the level of a hormone called cortisol in the blood. Cortisol tells fat cells to dump sugar into the bloodstream for energy – which is great if you need to outrun a raging elephant but not so great on your body or your skin. Over time stress can damage your body in ways that are not so attractive when we examine ourselves in the mirror.  In addition, we rarely do our bodies or our skin any favors during hard times. As a matter of fact, that is when we sleep less, drink more and eat all the wrong foods.

While all these issues can be resolved, first you have to de-stress. Until that time comes, here are 5 professional tips on how to get by:

  1. Keep your hands away from your face, stop touching and stop popping those pimples! Keep your hands busy with a pencil or squeeze one of those strengthening balls. For goodness sake, get rid of that magnifying mirror!
  2. Go visit your doctor or cosmetic physician and pick up a few acne fighters.
  3. Get yourself a facial, even if you’re on a budget. Treat yourself to some downtime; even bring your teenage kid in for a facial with you. A twofer! It will be therapeutic and quite relaxing for you both.
  4. If you are using benzoyl peroxide, be sure not to use it with bleaching products (Hydroquinones) or copper peptides. You can use both products, but not at the same time.  Use one in the morning and the other in the evening.
  5. Are you using high quality skin care products?  If so, try a chemical peel as well. Because a peel removes the built up dead skin on the surface of your face, it allows therapeutic products to penetrate and get the job done more quickly and more effectively. Even a rejuvenating mask or anti-acne mask will give you a great head start on de-stressing your “epidermal anxiety!”

Long-Term Body Hair Removal is Now Possible For All Skin Types

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 by editor

lazerWe think hair is quite sexy…when it’s on top of your head. Anywhere else, it’s another story!  These days, if you desire, hair can be removed from your face, legs, back, arms and even underarms.

There are many ways to remove unwanted hair: you might like shaving, plucking, using electronic tweezers, radiofrequency tweezers, waxing, depilatories (creams), electrolysis (inserting a needle into each hair follicle one at a time followed by an electric spark to burn out the follicle). But these methods are temporary. The only permanent and effective treatment to remove unwanted hair is with laser hair removal.

Lasers send a low-energy beam through the skin. The dark pigment (melanin) present in the shaft of the hair follicles absorbs the laser beam. Initial hair reduction is seen immediately after treatment. Permanent results require repeated treatments because of the hair growth cycles.

There are different types of lasers that can be used to remove unwanted hair.  The first lasers approved for hair reduction by FDA were the ruby, alexandrite and diode lasers. But these could only be used on select individuals – not those with tans or ethnic skin.

The newest lasers – our Lumenis LightSheer XC -  have longer wavelengths and therefore, the ability to treat darker skin types, including African-American skin, Asian skin, and those with a tan.  One of the biggest benefits is the convenience; immediately following your hair removal treatment you can return to work, school or any of your regular activities.

Product Feature: Jane Iredale Eye Amazing Circle-Delete

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 by editor

circle-deleteYour eyes obviously play an important role in your facial aesthetic, so when shadows and dark circles appear beneath them it can really make a negative impact.  Dark circles are a common condition, caused by a variety of factors including heredity, allergies, and thinning skin under the eyes. We understand that many people become frustrated by this condition.  During the summer months, people are likely to get more exposure to sunlight, which causes the skin to increase pigmentation.  This same principle applies to the skin under the eyes.

You may be able to diminish the appearance of dark circles with Jane Iredale’s Eye Amazing Treatment Plus Concealer, which offers 3 different skin tone choices to pick from:

  • Number 1 combines Light and Medium Yellow for light shade
  • Number 2 offers Medium Peach shades
  • Number 3 offers deep yellow and deep brown shades

This top of the line concealer contains Jojoba Ester and Avocado Oil as moisturizers, it is high in vitamins A, C, D & E to nourish the under-eye area, and combines Zinc and Titanium Dioxide to protect the tender area under our eyes from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.

Of course, for those of us who need more coverage, you can combine Jane Iredale’s Active Light with Circle/Delete. Or you may want to use Circle/Delete as a standalone product.

We can show you how to apply one or both products to get the best results.

Hear what patients have to say about this product:

“I can actually blend and control those annoying dark circles under my eyes. The yellow tone blends perfectly with my skin tone and disappears after applied. The consistency is just right!”

“This is the best concealer – not cakey but smooth and literally transparent when applied! It allows you to fake flawless skin and cover any dark circles and blemishes. I’ve purchased this a handful of times and stock up when I remember to order as I can’t be without it for a day!”

“You get a two color creamy concealer that you can blend and that goes on smooth. You don’t have to go around with raccoon-eyes! It doesn’t smear when I use mascara and it really does provide continuous coverage when working long hours. It is great, no complaints.”

For more information, visit the spa side of our homepage or contact us at (541) 687-8900.