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Here’s a video montage of Fraxel & Thermage media coverage that has been aired recently, courtesy of Solta Medical. You won’t find much information, but it’s still worth checking out if you’re considering treatment.

Laser-assisted Smart Lipo may be just the right solution for that junk in your trunk.  Do you think you’re becoming pear-shaped rather than hourglass-shaped? Can you no longer distinguish where your butt ends and your leg begins?  Talk about a blow to the ego, with your confidence coming in close second.

At a certain age, a shift occurs regarding weight fluctuations.  It doesn’t matter if we run on the treadmill, use the elliptical, lift weights, or practice Yoga and Pilates, we still may have dimples, bumps and bulging areas that are unrelenting. They won’t go away! The saddlebags (big puffs on the outer thigh) often don’t respond to exercise or diet.  People who undergo liposuction aren’t necessarily overweight.  In fact, many are in good shape but have body areas that bother them.

Fortunately there are new minimally invasive Liposuction procedures available that require little downtime.

One Liposuction technique uses a cannula fitted with a fiber-optic laser that melts the fat cells as it’s moving back and forth, making them easier to suck out. The cannula is so tiny it reduces trauma to the area so there is less bruising and swelling than with traditional Lipo.

Generally patients take a day or two off after the procedure and go back to work after that.

The new versions of Lipo destroy the fat cells, so they can’t be taken and injected into your wrinkles or lips or anywhere. Tumescent Lipo is still considered the gold standard and many doctors still believe it is by far the gentlest, safest and least traumatic – and the fat can be can be recycled to fill out wrinkles or lips.  Both techniques are effective and have beautiful outcomes. If you are interested in smoothing out and reducing areas of your body that bother, discuss your options with Dr. Stacy.

Don’t forget that ultimately, the most important Liposuction tool is the operator.

In hectic, unpredictable times such as these, physicians are busy caring for patients who present 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 appear more pronounced. If you had problems with your skin before, stress just makes it worse. Our patients say they notice differences in their skin when they’re stressed out, and they’re right.  These issues can persist for weeks and months, even years.

The big-time stressor this time of year is getting the kiddies ready to head back to school.  If you’re a parent you are probably scrambling to get them ready for their first day, spending money on school supplies, clothes and shoes. Of course, work doesn’t stop during this time.

Our bodies are reacting to external challenges too.  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 or your kids are using benzoyl peroxide be sure not to use it at the same time as you’re using 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. If you’re using high quality skin care products, try a chemical peel. 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!”

People sound plenty optimistic about the economy this week, but competition on the job market is still really fierce.  We’ve had more than a few patients at our Maple Valley location say they suspect that their age, or appearance is affecting their job prospects to some extent.

When you’re competing with young adults just out of college, who often accept a much lower wage, you need to present yourself in the best possible light.  To improve their chances, many job seekers have turned to a talented hair stylist for a new look, or their local surgeon for Botox or Dysport wrinkle injections.

Botox is the most popular non- invasive cosmetic procedure in the United States.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 5 million treatments were done last year. The cost of a single treatment is relatively low, but will vary, and it definitely pays to keep an eye out for monthly specials and events.

If you are going for treatments prior to a job interview, give yourself at least 7 days to heal and let the results take effect. Remember, doing well on an interview is not only about how you look, but whether you exude confidence about yourself and your ability to do the job.

Ask about our special Botox and Juvéderm rebate programs today!