Archive for the ‘medical spa’ Category

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.

Today's Chemical Peels Are Much Improved

Monday, July 6th, 2009 by editor

People call it the ultimate “acid test” – or rather, the chemical peel. I know what you’re thinking; remember the Sex In The City episode with Samantha getting a chemical peel and looking like raw meat? That was really scary, but chemical peels aren’t exactly like that, especially now.

Today’s advances in chemical peeling have made the results outstanding. Now, peels can actually tighten the skin as they peel away layers and “brighten” even sun-damaged skin. Yes, you do need to be prepared to undergo some tingling upon application (less discomfort than waxing), outlay some money and be out of action for three days, but the results will be worth it – your skin will never look better!

Everyone will comment that you glow. Your skin will look dewy and soft, because let’s face it ladies, at age 50 your skin doesn’t look dewy without doing something! So if you’re not ready for surgery this is the best place to start by trying a safe and effective treatment under medical supervision.

To prepare for the peel and get the best results, you should begin using a range of day and night medical grade skin care products. They can stimulate collagen production and cell turnover and put some elasticity back in your skin.

Plan ahead and be ready to hunker down for three days (post-peel) with some wine, old movies, TIVO or DVR some of your favorite shows, catch up on some good books or magazines and have some great food in the fridge – be prepared not to answer the door unless you know who it is. By day five, you should be wearing makeup again and be resuming your normal activities.
Here are some of the best peels on the market that we provide.

  • Lactic acid
  • Glycolic acid
  • Salicylic Acid
  • TCA (Trichloroacetic) peel

See our homepage or contact us for more information about chemical peels.

Four Ways To Zap Stretch Marks This Summer

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 by editor

 If your size and body weight has fluctuated recently, you might be noticing stretch marks around your thighs, hips, stomach, or breasts.  These may be permanent, but thanks to medical advances there are treatment options available to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.  

As the warmer weather is upon us and we wear less clothing, it’s time to reveal the skin that has been hidden under our clothes all winter and spring.  Is that a frightening thought? Don’t despair: we’re with you on this – you don’t need stretch marks to ruin your summer. 

Here are some simple solutions to get your skin in warm weather shape, so you too can be comfortable enough to enjoy all the warm weather activities.

Laser Resurfacing has become more precise in recent years and can reduce the appearance of stretch marks after a series of treatments.  The laser zaps the top layer of skin and stimulates collagen production deep within the skin’s layers. This helps remove uneven skin tone, scars and other skin problems on the skin’s surface and restores your skin to a much healthier state.

Fractional Non-ablative Laser Most doctors agree that once stretch marks are white, a fractional non-ablative laser is a very effective treatment. It feels like rubber band snaps on the skin, your doctor will either recommend prescription-strength ibuprofen, acetaminophen and/or topical anesthetic. Most patients will need 4 or 5 treatments, every six to eight weeks. You can expect to improve the texture of stretch marks by nearly 50% after completing a series of treatments. 

Microdermabrasion Treatments are another effective method for treating stretch marks. This procedure buffs away the top layer of skin and also stimulates collagen production. Most patients need between 3-6 treatments to see a noticeable difference, but it is still cost effective and the results are pretty stellar.

Prescription Retinoids are the only topical products that have been demonstrated to be effective for treating and improving stretch marks in the early stages. For red stretch marks, a retinoid cream applied daily for six months has been shown to improve the appearance by about 14%. For white stretch marks, color will not be restored but a prescription strength retinoic cream can help even out texture. As always, talk directly to your doctor about the benefits, the method of use and any risks. For example, you shouldn’t be using retinoids while either pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Other non-invasive skin treatments, such as chemical peels and/or prescription topicals used in combination with microdermabrasion treatments, can help improve the texture and tone of your skin. Consult with us further about skin care and stretch mark removal treatments, so you can get that body ready for this season.

The Permanent Makeup Makeover: A 'Recession Proof' Treatment

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 by editor

 Look Great, Spend Less – permanent makeup is quickly becoming the choice alternative for cosmetic enhancement on a budget.  

Permanent makeup artists create the illusion of bold features: they can create perfectly shaped eyebrows by embedding colored pigment right into the skin, enhance the eyelids with permanent eyeliner, or create the illusion of fuller, younger-looking lips by ‘filling in’ their lips with a shade of pink or red. 

The procedure creates a subtler look than a traditional tattoo and allows many people to enhance the facial vibrance that has diminished because of age, illness, or other factors. 

For pure convenience, permanent makeup shortens the daily ritual of applying makeup before work or other social functions.  Patients say they especially love it in the summer months because it’s waterproof, so their eyes still look attractive and vibrant after activities like swimming or exercising.

To minimize risks, you should always choose someone with several years of experience in permanent makeup application. Ask to see photos of other patients who received the same treatment, or talk to former patients if possible. 

Permanent makeup only requires a topical anesthetic. Healing can take up to two weeks depending on the type of tattoo. Permanent Makeup is in-demand,  so call our Eugene, Oregon office today to find out more about the permanent makeover.

Visit Aesthetic Plastic Surgery This Summer!

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 by editor

Summer in Oregon is lovely.  It’s when we hit the beach, bring the kids to the pool, barbeque with our friends, and enjoy the warm weather. Meanwhile, protecting your skin from the sun and choosing the right treatments can prevent premature aging to keep you healthy and looking your best. If you’re heading out for some fun in the sun this summer, here are some skin management tips and rejuvenation methods that can keep you looking hot while you’re out in the hot sun.  

First of all, make sure you are maintaining the health of your skin with a regimen of medical grade skin care products.  It’s an easy way to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and even some forms of skin damage.  For some patients, this is all it takes to achieve smoother, more silky looking skin. 

Sunscreen is important any time of year, but especially during these hot summer months. Choosing the right sunscreen for your face – one that addresses your skin type and skin conditions – is not always easy. Use a sunscreen every day. For days spent mostly indoors, use a foundation with an SPF15 or higher. For outdoors you want at least an SPF45 that is waterproof or water-resistant. The right sunscreen can prevent sun damage, skin problems, and even skin cancer. Harmful UV rays can damage skin cells deep within the skin’s surface, making your cells vulnerable to toxins (free-radicals) in the environment.

If you exhibit age spots, zap them away with a Fraxel laser or try a Chemical Peel. Rejuvenate your skin while reducing or removing age spots. 

Our European or Maintenance Facials are another great way to remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, and they feel great! If you don’t need an intensive treatment but want to freshen up your look, a facial may be the right treatment choice.

Self conscious about unwanted facial or body hair? Laser hair removal can erase excess hair to keep your skin looking smooth and buff, reducing the need for shaving and waxing. 

Let us help you maintain the health of your skin. Come visit us at Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to find out which treatment will work best for your skin type; then look forward to looking hot all summer long!

Latisse: How The Hot New Eyelash Enhancer Arose

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 by editor

In recent years, many drugs have entered the market inadvertently, becoming hugely popular for uses that were never intended; such is the case with Latisse eyelash enhancement.  It was born out of a group of popular medications called topical prostaglandins, drugs frequently used to decrease intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients.

What optometrists labeled a ‘complication’ or side effect of using prostaglandins was “hypertrichosis,” a condition characterized by darkening, thickening, and lengthening of the eyelashes.  Allergan offered the topical prostaglandin Lumigan in 2001, a drug that contained the active ingredient bimatoprost. Two important precursors to Latisse occurred after the FDA gave clearance for Lumigan.

Jan Marini Skin Research Inc had over $2 million worth of product seized by the Food and Drug Administration.  The product, Age Intervention Eyelash, evidently contained bimatoprost, which was unapproved for cosmetic use at the time. Allergan later filed a patent infringement suit against Jan Marini and several other companies that had tried to market bimatoprost in their eyelash enhancing drugs.

Some doctors started prescribing Lumigan off-label to enhance eyelashes.  Knowing the desirable side effects it could produce. But Lumigan wasn’t formulated for cosmetic use and many believed more research was needed to confirm the safety of topical prostaglandins for cosmetic use.  

Clinical trials and further research is exactly what Alllergan Inc did.  278 healthy adults with minimal to moderate eyelash prominence applied bimatoprost or a placebo to their lash line.  The results were favorable; researchers observed that the average patient’s eyelashes were 25 percent longer, 106 percent fuller, and 18 percent darker, while only 3.6 percent experienced itchy eyes and redness, and only 2.9 percent experienced skin hyperpigmentation.  

Latisse received FDA approval late last year for the treatment of ‘inadequate’ eyelashes.  Allergan now owns the patent on use of bimatoprost for eyelash enhancement.

For more information on Latisse in Oregon, contact us.

NIA 24: Hydrates, Protects, Rejuvenates

Thursday, May 21st, 2009 by editor

Wrinkles, Age Spots, and Sagging: These are the three concerns women most often express about their skin. They are signs of aging due to sun damage.

If you don’t address sun damage quickly, undesirable skin conditions can appear later in life – conditions like uneven skin tone, sun spots and severe wrinkles.

Fortunately, we now have decades of research available on cell rejuvenation, skin health, and the ways in which certain ingredients aid this process. It is a proven fact that products containing the three key antioxidant vitamins – A (Retin, Retinyl, Retinoic Acid or Retinol); C (Ascorbic Acid); and E (Tocopherol), as well as the nutrient Niacin, accelerate cell turnover.

Vitamin A is beneficial in multiple ways; the most important benefit is probably the stimulation of collagen growth. Vitamin C and E are super-charged rejuvenators, and the nutrient Niacin acts as a sort of damage control. Together these components naturally rejuvenate by ‘turning on’ the cells that make collagen and elastin. When combined in a product, they can effectively treat signs of premature aging.

The TODAY SHOW recently featured the NIA24™ product line, which contains several of these potent ingredients.

One of the most important factors in skin health is retaining moisture and replenishing the water in our skin. NIA24™ deeply hydrates skin while also protecting against the environment. It also reverses pre-existing skin damage by aiding body’s natural repair mechanisms. The ‘power ingredient’ in NIA24™ is NIACIN.

Niacin prevents melanin production from reaching the skin to reduce unwanted pigmentation. Once you start using NIA24™ new sun spots will stop appearing the next important step in the process will being - gentle exfoliation. You will shed off those brown spots and sun damaged areas revealing healthy, clear skin underneath.

For more information on NIA 24 and our other skin care products, see this part of our homepage.  

Botox for Wrinkles, Headaches, Sweating….What Else?

Thursday, April 30th, 2009 by editor

botox-100unitsBy now, we have firmly established that Botox effectively smooths out facial wrinkles, but is that all we should use it for? Doctors once thought that off-label use of the drug – which was originally developed for treating muscles spasms – would be fairly limited. If you do a little research however, you’ll find that physicians are using Botox for many other interesting purposes.

Many doctors use Botox to treat headaches, and their basic procedures are hardly different than those of wrinkle treatment. It isn’t entirely clear how the Botulinum toxin provides relief; it may work to inhibit certain pain-transmitting nerves. But evidently, many people suffer from fewer headaches after being treated with Botox.

Last March, the New York Times published a story on the off-label use of Botox to help those who have suffered a stroke and have trouble relaxing certain muscles. According to the experts, “only about 5 percent of the stroke patients who could benefit from its use ever get it.”

As reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, researchers from Allergan Inc. conducted surveys about sweating, revealing that almost 3 percent of the U.S. population (7.8 million people) believe their sweating to be excessive. At the time of the survey (in 2004), less than half of the respondents had sought medical help for the problem. Botox blocks the localized release of a specific chemical that stimulates sweating, and so the FDA approved it for this use years ago.

Patients with even more obscure conditions have found success using Botox. In Feb 2008, USA Today reported that radio personality Diane Rehm (of National Public Radio) had received routine off-label treatments of Botox for a vocal disorder called spasmodic dysphonia.

Aside from these therapies, surgeons and dermatologists are finding even more cosmetic uses for Botox. Dr. Lawrence Reed recently told an ABC news affiliate that “we’re at the tip of the iceberg where Botox is going to be used.” Reed has apparently been pioneering some interesting new cosmetic applications.

For acne, Dr. Reed injects Botox just below the skin: “It decreases the muscle pump and blocks the production of oils, so we use it for acne,” he claims. Other patients of Dr. Reed found success using Botox to relax certain muscles and actually make their eyes appear larger, and to supplement laser skin resurfacing.

Just a few words of caution: If you’re considering Botox for any off-label use, make sure you choose a qualified physician. Despite the optimism surrounding Botox as a ‘wonder drug’, there have been complications and side effects associated with off-label use and inexperienced providers

Latisse Featured on The Doctors

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 by editor

On this recent episode of The Doctors, dermatologist Jessica Wu describes the benefits of Latisse, Allergan’s new eyelash enhancement drug.

Dr. Wu explains the composition of Latisse (which is derived from a glaucoma treatment) and boasts that the drug can give you “crazy long spidery lashes” in just 4 months. With a sterile applicator, you apply Latisse to the base of the upper eyelashes once each night, “just like liquid eyeliner.” According to Ms. Wu, the results should yield lashes that are 25 percent longer and 100 percent thicker!

See the video for a before & after photo; it is quite impressive. If you are interested in learning more about Latisse in Oregon, call or email our office.

Identical Twin Study Reveals Truth About Facial Aging

Friday, February 27th, 2009 by editor

A recent ASPS study revealed that the average person’s environment and lifestyle might play a more significant role than genes, at least when it comes to the onset and visible progression of facial aging.

Published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the study analyzed identical twins with contrasting lifestyle factors to visibly check for signs of facial aging.

Surgeon and author Bahman Guyuron M.D. says, “we looked at identical twins because they are genetically programmed to age exactly the same, and in doing so, we essentially discovered that when it comes to your face, it is possible to cheat your biological clock.”

The twin subjects were photographed, surveyed, and members of an independent panel analyzed the data.  The results yielded some interesting conclusions about lifestyle and environmental factors and their effect on facial aging.

Perhaps most importantly, researchers observed that subjects over 40 who were heavier than their identical counterpart actually exhibited a more youthful appearance. Dr. Guyuron speculates that this finding provides some scientific basis to support facial rejuvenation through volume restoration – i.e. the correction of facial lipoatrophy with dermal fillers like Radiesse or Juvederm.

Results also revealed a higher perceived age difference in divorced subjects and those who had used antidepressants.