Those of us who work in the cosmetic business usually look with a cynical eye at the way the media portrays certain cosmetic treatments. Oftentimes, highly effective cosmetic procedures are treated as a punchline, like sitcom characters ending up with paralyzed faces for laughs. I have to admit, this kind of drives me a little nuts, as it can scare away some who would otherwise benefit from cosmetic procedures, but are now worried about potential side effects that are greatly exaggerated for comic reasons. Botox, one of the most popular and effective non-surgical treatments out there to treat wrinkles, is often minimized and demonized with misinformation and scaremongering.

There's a new filler in town, actually, two new fillers and they're billed as the next big thing in the fight against laugh lines. Galderma, the pharmaceutical company behind injectables like Restylane, Sculptra, and Dysport, recently announced FDA approval of two new fillers: Restylane Refyne and Defyne.

Remember, the real danger of sun exposure isn’t the use of chemicals in sunscreen. But no matter which type of sunscreen you choose, make sure it’s labeled “broad spectrum” for protection from both types of harmful rays and has an SPF of 30 or greater.

If you have a skin type that is not likely to respond well to cosmetic laser treatments, you still have many effective alternatives that will do a similar job in a different way. Understanding the differences is the first step to your path to perfect skin! 

Recent advancements in the cosmetic dermatology field have led to a slew of new, surgery-free treatments and machines that claim to eliminate stubborn, fatty areas using heat, ultrasound, radio frequency, and freezing. 

To this day, when most people think of lasers, they think science fiction. They think space battles, Star Wars, weapons that fire energy.

The reality of lasers is quite different. Lasers have changed the world, but not in a violent, sci-fi way. Lasers are used extensively by plastic and cosmetic surgeons to treat skin conditions.

Laser skin treatments can minimize scarring, reduce acne, fade dark spots, improve wrinkles and eliminate sun damage. In the hands of a skilled, SkinSpaMED plastic surgeon, laser treatments can really make a huge difference in a patient’s complexion, literally resurfacing the skin - if you have the right skin for it. 

Injectable wrinkle fillers can give you a more youthful look for a fraction of what a traditional facelift costs. Most will fill hollows, lines, and wrinkles in less than 30 minutes with results that can last from 4 months to more than a year.

Injectable wrinkle fillers, unlike Botox injections that relax the muscle under a wrinkle, fill the line, crease, or area with one of several different substances. As a result, trouble spots nearly disappear.

Medical Spa and Laser Clinic SkinSpaMEDhas been recognized for reaching the Club 500 of the CoolSculpting Practice Recognition Club.

Having completed well over 500 treatments already, we are on our way to helping more patient permanently reduce unwanted fat in the belly, back, love handles, arms, thighs and chin.

PRF is a second-generation version of PRP therapy. PRF has a higher concentration of platelets, fibrin, and white blood cells. In addition, PRF has a small percentage of stem cells, which cannot be found in traditional PRP therapy.

PRF is 100% natural with zero additives. The treatment works by forming a gel after 15 minutes to hold a nice form, which makes PRF especially effective when used in conjunction with a number of fillers

It should come as no surprise for most people their 20’s are often the best years for their skin. This makes sense considering the 20’s is commonly the sweet spot after the acne and blemishes associated with our teenage years have faded, but before wrinkles and other visible signs of aging begin to emerge. Still, it’s never too early to start thinking about preserving the health and condition of your skin.

By being proactive and caring for your skin during your 20’s, you can build a foundation for healthy skin that can last for years. To help you maintain radiant, young-looking skin through your 20’s and beyond, the beauty experts at SkinSpaMED have some tips.

While other laser treatments are off-limits during the summer months with the constant lingering temptation so spend all your time in the sun, Ultherapy, the noninvasive ultrasound treatment shines! 

Ultherapy, the summer friendly treatment is the noninvasive way to tighten skin without surgery.  Everybody wants to avoid downtime, and with Ultherapy the no downtime treatment allows you to keep to your busy fun filled schedule.  

As we turn more attention to skin health and preservation, we often turn to the internet for tips and tricks to achieve an ageless appearance. Before long, we start to focus on what’s going on inside our bodies, but now, doctors are offering patients a way to personalize their skin care, and it involves taking a look at an individual’s DNA.

What sounds to be out of a cheap science fiction movie is actually pretty obtainable, where a test can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.

We love Botox, and we love Dysport. These are just facts.

In the wake of our Botox event, we found a lot of patients were asking about the difference between Dysport and Botox.

Allow us to clear some things up. 

The ZWave uses radial waves that alternate between pressure pulses and tensile waves.

It is effective for treating muscular injuries, such as sprains and strains, and can help alleviate muscle shoulder pain, back pain, sciatica, knee pain, and foot pain.

You diet. You exercise. You look amazing! But there’s one thing that exercise and dieting won’t correct: cellulite. 

We are excited to now offer a new cellulite treatment called Z-Wave at both SkinSpaMED locations that breaks up cellulite without needles or surgery.

Voluma is a game-changing filler product which is placed deep under the skin resulting in volumizing, lifting and contouring cheeks, cheekbones, and the jaw line. 

What is in Voluma?

Voluma is made of a thick hyaluronic based gel that enables us to re-fill areas that aging has caused to deflate. Voluma is the latest addition to facial fillers made by Allergan (makers of Botox and Juvederm).

The high energy radial shockwaves scientifically proved to have a large impact on collagen structure and the skin connective tissue, improving blood circulation.

So, what does all that mean for you? 

Treatment recommendations:

• Cellulite
• Stretch marks
• Combination with laser (Softlaser)
• Skin tightening (general)
• Aesthetic scar treatment
• Supporting lymphatic drainage

"My face looked my age, but my chest and cleavage appeared twenty years older," says Gigi Howard. "I was a notorious side sleeper—one of the main causes of chest wrinkles—so I tried sleeping on my back, looked for products, pillows, gadgets, anything that would help, but there was no proven solution."

With directional recent runways laying heavy emphasis on an exposed swath of décolleté, a new emphasis is being given to keeping the area as fresh as your face.

Since the problems of the neck and chest, like those of the face, are varied, we suggest layering multiple in-office treatments with at-home care.

Recommendations for the most common complaints:

A thread facelift is a safe, convenient alternative to traditional facelift surgery. Designed to be less invasive, it can reduce sagging around the cheeks, jawline, and neck more quickly and with less risk than the conventional approach.

Special threads are used during this facelift to discreetly hold repositioned skin and facial tissue in place. And while thread lifts generally produce noticeable results almost immediately and with less risk and inconvenience than more intensive procedures, thread lift costs are quite reasonable compared to traditional options.

So what is a thread facelift?

One of our favorite treatment options available at SkinSpaMED is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), or photofacial. This procedure is a non-invasive treatment that erases skin damage without disrupting the skin's surface – hence, minimal to no downtime.

Photofacial is a term for a skin treatment that uses some kind of light-based technology, primarily for boosting collagen, treating brown spots, and diminishing broken capillaries.  Other names for photofacials are foto facials, facial rejuvenation and photo rejuvenation.