Category: Fraxel Repair
Uncover That Neck
Many of you tell me that you are happy to wear turtlenecks in the fall and winter–but maybe you don’t have to. Because the skin on the neck is so delicate, it’s prone to changes in tautness, smoothness and color, particularly as we age. There are many ways, though, that we can improve its appearance.
Some of you may notice little lines or bands that run horizontally around the neck or vertical cords (platysmal bands) that become prominent. Also, when collagen and elastin decrease over time, the skin on your neck may sag and look crepey. Changes in color may include brown spots and pigmentation, particularly on the decolletage, the chest area. Or, you may see red, blotchy or wrinkly skin, most often due to excessive exposure to the sun.
There are some measures that you can take at home, such as moisturizing and using SPF and retinol products, as you would on your face. But if you are still not happy, come see us. We have many ways to help your neck look beautiful and more youthful. Here are a few:
Infini: This radiofrequency microneedling treatment tightens the neck and jowls and reduces crepiness, too.
Thermage CPT: This tightens skin on the neck and jowls, non-invasively. It’s often called a “Thermal Lift” treatment, and it’s highly effective for many areas of the body.
Exilis Ultra 360: Another thermal treatment, Exilis Ultra 360 tightens skin on the neck and jowls and reduces fat, non-invasively.
Fraxel Repair: This laser treatment resurfaces and tightens the skin on the neck and jowls and reduces crepiness and hyperpigmentation (brown spots). It is the procedure of choice for deep lines, hard-to-erase lip lines, pronounced photodamage, sagging face and neck skin, facial wrinkles and discolorations, age-related/sun-damaged rough skin texture, acne and surgical scars.
SmartLipo Triplex: This laser procedure permanently removes fat by destroying fat cells, removing them and tightening the skin. It is effective for large areas of the body as well as smaller ones, like the neck.
Kybella: This series of injections dissolves submental fat permanently and causes some skin contraction, too. Once fat cells are destroyed, they can no longer store or accumulate fat, so re-treatment is not expected.
So, if your neck is making you unhappy, call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation. We’ll devise an individual treatment plan just for you.
See you soon.
Beauty Time for New Moms
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are rough on your body, causing skin and shape issues that perhaps, you’ve never experienced before. Some of you may not be feeling like your old self, which can be disconcerting. So, after you’ve settled in to this new phase of life, it could be time to correct some of these concerns.
It’s not uncommon for young mothers to notice skin and stomach issues such as acne, acne scarring, melasma (darkened facial skin), cellulite, unwanted fat, unwanted hair growth, prominent facial blood vessels, loose skin, brown spots and stretch marks.
You may feel that you don’t have the time or energy to take care of yourself, or that doing so is too indulgent. But, feeling and looking as great as you can is critical for your self-esteem and general well-being at this exciting time.
Here are conditions that new moms often face and treatments that work well to minimize then and help you feel more like yourself in the process.
- For acne: pulsed dye laser, DermaFrac, microdemabrasion
- For melasma: Fraxel DUAL laser
- For cellulite: Cellulaze, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted fat: SmartLipo TriPlex, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted hair growth: Laser Hair Removal, IPL Hair Removal
- For facial blood vessels: Diolite (KTP532) laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), GentleWaves
- For loose skin: INFINI™, Thermage CPT, Exilis Elite, Fraxel lasers, SmartLipo TriPlex
- For brown spots: Fraxel DUAL laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), Diolite (KTP532) laser, chemical peels,GentleWaves
- For stretch marks: Fraxel lasers
- For acne scarring: INFINI™, Fraxel lasers, pulsed dye laser, dermal fillers
We can help you figure out a treatment plan that will help minimize some of these conditions. Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
The Fraxel Decision: Which is Right for You?
The gold standard of laser skin rejuvenation treatments, Fraxel is a state-of-the-art procedure for repairing skin. Whether you suffer from sun damage or the effects of aging and the environment, Fraxel lasers safely and effectively restore your skin. Pinpointing just the areas that need improvement, Fraxel will return your skin to its youthful radiance, texture and tone.
You have two options for treatment, Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair.
Here is what each can do for you…
The Fraxel DUAL Laser provides moderate-level treatment for many skin conditions, including pigmentation, uneven tone, lines and acne scarring, poor texture and more, both on and off the face. It’s safe for use on all skin types, stimulating your body’s natural healing process as it resurfaces and restores damaged skin. There is no downtime, though you may need several treatments for optimal effects.
Fraxel Repair, a more aggressive approach than Fraxel DUAL, provides a higher level of treatment. It’s a great choice for deep lines, hard-to-erase lip lines, pronounced photodamage, sagging face and neck skin, facial wrinkles and discolorations, age-related/sun-damaged rough skin texture, acne scars and surgical scars. Fraxel Repair deeply penetrates the skin with carbon dioxide laser beams, which minimize wrinkles and discolorations and also tighten skin. Typically, just one treatment is necessary, yielding superior results. Old damaged skin is removed, allowing for new collagen formation. Recuperation time is more considerable than that of the DUAL.
With either treatment, your skin will emerge looking youthful, smooth and beautiful. Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation, and we’ll help you determine which procedure is best for you.
See you soon.
Sun Spots: Inevitable, but Reparable
No matter how religious you are about avoiding the sun, you’ve probably noticed a freckle or two by this point in the summer. Ultraviolet radiation has a way of seeping through hats and sunscreen, no matter how hard you try to cover up, and it’s a major cause of visible aging. Blotchy, uneven skin tone lends a weathered appearance, but we can help to restore the clear complexion of youth.
Using the most advanced treatments for all different kinds of pigmentation and skin types, we can decrease the appearance of sun spots easily and effectively. Here are a few tried-and-true methods:
Diolite
Lasers generate an intense beam of light that destroys the unwanted cells in the affected area, leaving only healthy cells behind. Diolite is gentle, precise and controlled. We can direct the light to the sun spot only, leaving your surrounding tissue intact.
Intense Pulsed Light
IPL is a breakthrough, age-defying photo-rejuvenation procedure that quickly, effectively, and non-invasively treats skin damage. Pulsed-light systems treat pigmentation very similarly to lasers. IPL is a versatile treatment that repairs imperfections including rosacea (facial inflammation), vascular lesions and acne scarring, in addition to freckling. It can be used on your face, neck, chest, hands, legs–almost anywhere–except for the delicate skin around your eyes. Photo-rejuvenation offers long-term results without any downtime, recovery time or chemicals.
GentleWaves
GentleWaves is a low intensity light-emitting diode treatment that activates your skin’s natural rejuvenation process. And, the best part, it’s entirely painless. You’ll notice changes after just a few treatments.
Fraxel
Fraxel laser treatments offer the most advanced technology for improving skin’s radiance. Fraxel re:pair, Fraxel DUAL and Clear & Brilliant provide different levels of treatment, depending on your individual needs.
It may be a good time to think about sun spot treatment, with just a few weeks left of the summer season. Call our office for a complimentary consultation, and we’ll help you determine your best options.
See you soon.
The Skin Cycle: What You Can Expect, Decade by Decade
Your skin has a natural plan. With each year that passes, it undergoes assorted stressors, some that it has experienced before and some that are brand new. And it reacts to these changing stimuli in different ways, subtle and not-so. Unfortunately, while you may not feel any older, your skin has another story to tell. Aging plays tricks on its delicate composition. But do not despair–you have strategies at your disposal for warding off the first signs of attack. The trick: know what’s coming and take as many precautions as possible.
Here is what you can expect:
In Your 20s and 30s: Get ready. Hormonal changes may happen during this time, causing adult acne. We can treat it, though, with our Pulsed Dye Laser. Also, you may notice hints of wrinkles (yes, they begin early) and pigmentation. Botox and Dysport will help minimize lines, keeping them from setting and deepening. Catching them early is more effective than waiting until they are extreme. Fraxel DUAL and IPL will help reduce discoloration, brown spots and freckling.
In Your 40s: Your skin may begin to lose its luster, appearing dull and rough. Also, age spots may appear since the skin can’t repair itself as quickly or as completely as it used to. You may notice, too, that your skin doesn’t glow as much, since skin cell shedding begins to slow down. But, we can brighten and smooth out your skin with Clear+Brilliant, Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair laser treatments. Your skin tone will look even, and wrinkles and pores will diminish. During your 40s, wrinkles may be deeper than they were before. Dermal fillers such as Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk, Voluma, Juvederm, Belotero and Radiesse, and neurotoxins, such as Botox and Dysport, are effective in reducing the appearance of these lines and folds.
In Your 50s and 60s: Subtle lines may have turned into deep wrinkles and previously taut skin may have begun to sag. Declining collagen and elastin levels cause your skin to become thinner and more fragile. As the underlying skin structure is less supported, the skin falls down and droops. We have many laser treatments that can work wonders to resurface skin and stimulate collagen production, which will help lift up and plump your skin, nonsurgically. The treatments will also help to brighten and lighten any discoloration caused by sun exposure or simple aging.
At all times of your life, remember to do what you can to preserve your skin’s natural beauty. Wear plenty of sunscreen (and not only in the summer), avoid the sun as much as possible, steer clear of smoking and cleanse and moisturize often.
Call our office for a complimentary consultation. We’ll help you look your most natural youthful best.
See you soon.
Eyes: Windows To Your….Age
No one really wants to reveal his or her age. But there are places on our bodies that can give secrets away, namely, the eyes.
The skin surrounding your eyes is extremely delicate, making it susceptible to cosmetic problems that make you look older than you are. Also, because it moves so much during facial expression, lines and wrinkles form over time. Crow’s feet emerge on the outside of the eye and creases appear underneath the lash line, for instance. Add dark circles, hollowing, drooping lids and puffiness, and you will appear tired and worn. Perhaps you’ve tried creams that claim to tighten skin or cold tea bags and cucumbers that temporarily reduce fluid retention, but you are still not happy when you look into the mirror.
We offer a range of nonsurgical treatments that will help return a well-rested look to your eyes and ultimately, your face. Depending on your individual needs, we can craft a personal plan that will help you look refreshed and more youthful, with minimal downtime and recuperation.
Here are a few of our most popular eye treatments:
- Thermage CPT
- Botox
- Dysport
- Dermal fillers (Belotero, Juvederm, Restylane, Restylane Lyft)
- Fraxel Repair Laser
- Fraxel DUAL Laser
- Laser Wrinkle Reduction
- Clear & Brilliant
- Microdermabrasion
- GentleWaves Photomodulation
Come talk with us about how we can help. Call our office today to schedule your complimentary consultation. And meantime, keep applying that sunscreen.
See you soon.
Men Are Body-Conscious, Too
When people talk about body image, we often assume that they are referring to women. But men experience similar insecurities about their physical appearance, according to many studies published worldwide.
Many men worry about beer bellies, love handles, man “boobs” and hair loss, among other issues associated with aging.
More than four in five men (80.7 percent) talk in ways that promote anxiety about their body image by referring to perceived flaws and imperfections, compared with 75 percent of women, according to a study from the University of the West of England. The study also revealed that 23 percent of the surveyed men didn’t go to the gym because they were concerned about their appearance and 63 percent thought that their arms and chests were not muscular enough.
A study in 2016 by Chapman University researchers, published in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinity, showed that:
- About 25 percent of the men were dissatisfied with their appearance, compared to about 28.5 percent of women.
- More than half of the men had gone on diets in the past year, and nearly 42 percent were unhappy with their weight.
- About 37 percent did not like the condition of their muscle tone.
- About 69 percent felt judged on their looks and felt pressure from magazines and television to have a slimmer and more muscular body.
So, if you are male and concerned about your body shape, you are not alone. It’s likely that you
have dieted and spent hours in the gym. Sometimes, these tactics are not enough for certain trouble spots or for men of certain ages.
In our offices, one of the most popular procedures for men is SmartLipo Triplex, particularly for the neck, abdomen and breast area. SmartLipo Triplex is a minimally invasive method for removing unwanted fat and sculpting areas of the body that you’d like to change.
We also find that Kybella is effective for reducing the double chin, a common male problem that often resists diet and exercise. This procedure slims and contours the area below and around your chin and neck, without surgery.
You may also be concerned about the effects of aging, sun damage and stress, all of which can negatively impact how you feel about yourself at home and at work. Many male patients come see us for Botox, particularly for their foreheads and crow’s feet, and for dermal fillers that minimize the folds around their noses and corners of their mouths. Some of these fillers include Belotero, Juvederm, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk and Radiesse. Also, to decrease wrinkles and sagging on the face and around the eyes, many men come to us for Thermage CPT, Infini and Fraxel Repair Laser Treatments.
If you’re not entirely happy with how you look, don’t hesitate to call our office for a complimentary consultation. We’ll try to help you look and feel your best.
See you soon.
Rescue Those Aging Eyes
So much of your appearance–how young or old, happy or sad, or refreshed or worn out–begins with your eyes. If you feel you’ve lost the sparkle that you used to have, you’ll be happy to know that we can help.
The delicate skin in this area is extremely thin and becomes thinner with time. Because it contains little subcutaneous fat, it is vulnerable to conditions such as dark circles, bags or swelling, hollowing, and drooping lids and brows. Also, it is especially sensitive to stress from facial movements such as laughing, squinting and frowning, repeated motions that contribute to the formation of lines and wrinkles such as crow’s feet.
Also, the thick collagen network that gives skin structural support begins to break down with time. Your body’s internal processes and external factors such as sun exposure increase the levels of enzymes that break down collagen.
What can help: We have a repertoire of nonsurgical treatments that are safe and effective. Here is a quick run-down:
Dermal fillers, such as Belotero, Juvederm, and Restylane will plump up crow’s feet, lines and wrinkles under the eye and hollowing that may result as we age.
Injectables such as Botox and Dysport will help minimize crow’s feet and lines caused by normal facial expression.
Lasers, including Fraxel Repair, Fraxel DUAL, Laser Wrinkle Reduction and Clear & Brilliant, will help add smoothness, glow and luminosity to the area around your eyes.
Finally, Microdermabrasion and GentleWaves Photomodulation are two more useful techniques for brightening your eyes by restoring vigor to the delicate skin surrounding them.
We’re confident that all of our treatments will help you look happy and younger and feel that way, too.
Call our office today to schedule your complimentary consultation. I’ll develop a treatment plan just for you.
See you soon.
And Now, Your Neck: Option 6 – Fraxel Repair
Finally, let’s talk about Fraxel Repair, the last of our six treatments for improving the appearance of your aging neck. As the first physician in Long Island to offer this procedure, I am particularly pleased with its continued positive results, particularly for the delicate neck area.
Over time, our skin becomes damaged by a host of factors. We can avoid some of them, but not all. The sun, air pollution, stress, fatigue, smoking and other life and age-related challenges can impact the quality of our skin, keeping us from looking as good on the outside as we may feel on the inside.
Fraxel Repair is the gold standard for laser skin rejuvenation treatments, the procedure of choice for deep lines, hard-to-erase lip lines, pronounced photodamage, sagging skin, facial wrinkles and discolorations, age-related/sun-damaged rough skin texture, acne scars and surgical scars. For the neck, it offers terrific results, tightening and smoothing out the fine crepey lines that form on its delicate skin.
Fraxel Repair allows for deep dermal laser penetration, leaving the skin surrounding the treatment area alone. This untreated skin is unharmed and your healing process in treated areas is accelerated. Fraxel Repair uses carbon dioxide laser beams, which not only minimize wrinkles and discolorations, but also have the ability to tighten skin. This is why it is a smart choice for sagging neck skin.
If you’re not sure which of the six options we’ve talked about is best for you, we can help you determine the optimal choice. Whichever treatment you select, we know that you’ll be happy with the effective results, minimal downtime and limited recuperation.
Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
And Now, Your Neck: Option 5 – SmartLipo Triplex
Last week, you read about Exilis Elite, one of several effective nonsurgical options for an aging neck. This week, I’ll tell you about another successful treatment, SmartLipo Triplex.
You may be bothered by the tiny wrinkles that have formed over time on the delicate skin of your neck. It may look crepey rather than smooth and taut, and you may have taken to covering up this part of your body with scarves and turtlenecks. Though traditional surgery has been the go-to solution in the past, now we can eradicate the signs of aging with a less invasive procedure, SmartLipo Triplex.
Perhaps you’ve heard about this treatment before, or have even chosen it for reducing fat in other areas of your body, such as the stomach, waist, hips, legs or back. You may not realize that SmartLipo Triplex is highly effective for smoothing skin on the small area under your chin and on your neck. SmartLipo Triplex is an FDA-approved laser that offers precise high-definition body sculpting in targeted areas. Fat cells are virtually destroyed and skin is tightened, all in one treatment in our state-of-the-art office.
This laser method for fat removal and body sculpting has been used in Europe, Asia and South America for about 10 years and was approved by the FDA for use in the United States in 2006.
As with all of our treatments, a specific plan will be developed just for you, depending on your individual needs and concerns.
Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Next week, we’ll talk about another safe and effective procedure for your neck…Fraxel Repair.
See you soon.
Treat Yourself Now: Schedule a Mommy Makeover
If it’s been about six months since you’ve had your baby, you may be feeling more like yourself. You may have lost most of your pregnancy weight and stopped nursing, you may be sleeping more, you may be back at work. But there may be a few cosmetic issues that have lingered, and really bother you. Most new moms aren’t prepared for some of the changes that their bodies will endure, but many of them are reversible.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can take a toll on the skin and body, specifically the face and stomach. It is not uncommon for you to experience an array of conditions, including acne, acne scarring, melasma (darkened facial skin), cellulite, unwanted fat, unwanted hair growth, prominent facial blood vessels, loose skin, brown spots and stretch marks.
You may be feeling that you don’t have the time or the energy to address these issues right now, but your self-esteem and general well-being are important. A few simple cosmetic treatments can boost your overall mood more than you may imagine. Now, with a few holiday weeks coming up, you may find that you have some extra time to invest in yourself.
Here’s how I can help:
- For acne: pulsed dye laser, DermaFrac, microdermabrasion
- For melasma: Fraxel DUAL laser
- For cellulite: Cellulaze, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted fat: SmartLipo TriPlex, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted hair growth: Laser Hair Removal, IPL Hair Removal
- For facial blood vessels: Diolite (KTP532) laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), GentleWaves
- For loose skin: INFINI™, Thermage CPT, Exilis Elite, Fraxel lasers, laser wrinkle reduction
- For brown spots: Fraxel DUAL laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), Diolite (KTP532) laser, GentleWaves
- For stretch marks: Fraxel lasers, Infini
- For acne scarring: INFINI™, Fraxel lasers, pulsed dye laser, dermal fillers
Also, mark your calendars for our Two Days of Holiday Merriment on December 13 and 14. Check your email and our website for discounts and details.
Meantime, call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation. I’ll tailor a post-baby treatment plan just for you.
See you soon.
Lasers: A Crash Course
You’ve heard the word “laser” so often, but what does it truly mean and how does it work so well for so many conditions?
The word is actually an acronym, standing for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. This means that the device produces an intense beam of bright light that travels in one direction, toward the area that needs treatment. The laser beam can cut, seal or vaporize skin tissue and blood vessels, allowing us to perform all sorts of procedures on the face and body.
What is special about the laser is that it has the unique ability to produce one specific color, or wavelength, of light, which can be varied in its intensity and pulse duration. The wavelength and power output of a particular laser determines its medical application. Unlike light from the laser, light from non-laser sources is composed of many different colors and looks white.
Lasers have been used for the treatment of skin lesions since the 1960s. Since then, technological advances have improved the devices, making them a superior technique for treating skin blemishes, facial changes due to aging, discoloration and numerous other conditions.
We use a variety of lasers, including Fraxel Dual and Repair, Clear + Brilliant, Diolite, Gentlelase, Smartlipo Triplex and Cellulaze.
Call our office today and schedule a complimentary consultation. I’ll help you determine which laser is right for you.
See you soon.
