Article from Racked on tallow in skin creams

Click on the link (or copy the link and paste in your browser) below to see my take on tallow-based skin creams.


http://racked.com/archives/2014/11/20/paleo-beauty-products-tallow-animal-fat.php

Aesthetic Blueprint with Kent Remington, M.D.

My partners and I just returned from the Aesthetic Blueprint Conference with Dr. Kent Remington in Dana Point, California.

I am now armed with my aesthetic calipers so I can measure everyone's intercanthal distances and verify that they have properly place brow peaks and cheek apices.

Tightening Saggy Skin

For years we have not had good treatment options for improving lax, saggy skin from the neck down other than surgical excision.  Many people will develop saggy skin after weight loss, hormone changes, pregnancy in women, sun damage and simply aging.  Non-ablative lasers, ultrasound and radiofrequency devices are capable of some modest skin tightening and stretch mark improvement but only after multiple treatments - three to ten depending on the device.  In addition, ultrasound (Ultherapy) is infamous for being very painful, yet no more effective than some of the radiofrequency devices.  Recently, subcutaneous radiofrequency treatment has been introduced as a more effective skin tightening option.

Subcutaneous radiofrequency skin tightening is known by the brand name ThermiTight or ThermiRF. It can be done for saggy skin of the jowls, lower face, neck, arms, abdomen, back, neck, and legs (buttock, thighs).  The procedure is done one time, outpatient, with local anesthesia and light or no sedation.  It takes one hour to a few hours depending on the size or treatment area.  Results after just one treatment are exciting and equivalent or much better to multiple treatments with the laser and device treatments I described earlier.

Results after any procedure designed to stimulate new collagen and elastin via heat ( as in laser, ultrasound, and radiofrequency) may take 3-6 months to see the full improvement.

Trick or Treat: Sodas, sugar, aging and acne

It's the sugar in sodas that a recent study found causes faster aging via shortening DNA telomeres.  There are other studies that show how sugar binds to collagen in the skin via glycation, stiffening the collagen so it cannot function properly and accounting for some wrinkles and saggy skin.  In addition, a high sugar (high glycemic) diet has been linked (in multiple dermatologic studies) to acne.

Hmmm....bad news for Halloween weekend.

CoolSculpting my office staff

We just CoolSculpted on of my medical assistants last week.  CoolSculpting is cryolipolysis, where fat is frozen underneath the skin.  She is a beautiful girl and she is getting married next summer, so really wanted to look her best.  She is only 24, and has stubborn pockets of fat that we treated below her belly button, and on her hips.  She did fine this week, and just had a little sensitivity in her waist.  One or two days she had some nerve pain beginning on day 4 after the procedure but that has since subsided by day 7.  She took a medication called Gabapentin which helped with that.  We were told this side effect is transient and rare, <10% of people who CoolSculpt.  Her new hourglass figure should be visible at the earliest 30 days and latest three months.  Sometimes a second treatment is needed for larger fat pockets.  Today we are treating a man for "man boobs."  I will try to post pictures in another month of my assistant.

CoolSculpting - to loose stubborn pockets of fat

As with other bodysculpting methods (Vanquish, Liposonix, Lipodissolve, see Page on Bodysculpting) CoolSculpting is meant to remove a stubborn pocket of fat that is resistant to change with diet and exercise.  CoolSculpting from the Zeltiq company is cryolipolysis for body fat removal. Basically, pockets of fat gradually dissolve (over 2-4 weeks) after freezing treatment that lasts an hour.  CoolSculpting has become wildly popular in the past few years across the U.S. mainly due to excellent marketing from the manufacturer.  I am happy to report that I offer this procedure and can vouch for the good results we are seeing with this.

CoolSculpting may be our most rapid and powerful non-surgical fat slimming treatment other than Vanquish, which have never been compared head to head.  I also carry Vanquish which is radiofrequency heating to remove stubborn fat pockets.  I prefer the Vanquish for people with mild to moderate fat and saggy skin.  The CoolSculpting I like for people with moderate or worse fat with or without saggy skin.  CoolSculpting has not been formally studied for skin tightening whereas the radiofrequency technology in Vanquish has been.  That being said, many people report skin tightening with both devices.  Recovery from CoolSculpting involves swelling, soreness, bruising, for a week or two.  Results are usually seen in four weeks.

Skin lifts and tightening without surgical cutting

Thermi-RF SKIN TIGHTENING

A non-surgical neck and lower face lift  !

Thermi-RF has been available in the United States for over two years now, but too many people are not aware of this incredible option.  It is deemed by the top cosmetic physicians to be the closest thing to a surgical neck and lower face lift, but done with local anesthesia, and without surgical cutting.  Results are more dramatic than Ulthera and other non-invasive skin tightening treatments which are done on the outside of the skin.  We are seeing more effective new collagen and elastin formation with skin tightening done under the skin rather than from the outside.

What is Thermi-RF ? 

Thermi-RF is controlled radiofrequency heating of skin to stimulate new collagen and elastin formation, to remove wrinkles and skin laxity resulting in rejuvenated skin.  Anyone with saggy skin may benefit.  Even if your skin laxity is most severe and you thought surgery was the only answer, improvement will still be seen.  It can also be used to tighten skin with stretch marks or after weight loss. During the treatment, the patient is relaxed with valium, and local tumescent anesthesia (Lidocaine or Marcaine) is given to the treatment area.  A heat-sensitive camera is used to visualize the skin during treatment.  A radiofrequency probe is introduced through a very small puncture in the skin.  Multiple radial movements of the RF heat probe under the skin are performed to evenly heat the dermis to the precise temperature to achieve safe and effective new collagen and elastin formation.  The treatment takes less than an hour for neck and lower face.  It can also be done for lax skin on arms, legs and abdomen and more.  Following treatment, the patient must wear a compression garment to the area for 4 days or until swelling is mild.  After treatment, patients should expect swelling for a week or less, mild bruising, and tenderness for a few days to a week.  By contrast, with surgical skin tightening, involving incisions and cutting, recovery is many weeks to months.  The cost of Thermi-RF is based on size of the treatment area.  The average neck treatment is $3500.

Dr. Karen Stolman performs Thermi-RF Skin Tightening regularly and will do free initial consults for interested patients.  To schedule a consult, call Dr. Stolman's office in Salt Lake City at 801-595-1600

No more turkey neck ! Thermi RF, the non-surgical neck lift

My office tested Ulthera and Thermage and compared it to Yag laser neck tightening and found the Yag laser to be more effective, and much faster and less painful.  Until now, I would not recommend anything other than the Yag laser for non-surgical saggy skin tightening.  The Thermi-RF is a newer device which employs radiofrequency heating with a subcutaneous probe.  It achieves neck tightening and can be used to tighten saggy body skin anywhere - abdomen, arms, legs, sides, breasts.  The treatment is done with local tumescent anesthesia.

Thermi RF...it is the next best thing after the surgical neck lift!

A non-surgical brow lift with filler

As we age, our brow will tend to sink downward and the tails of our eyebrows will trend downward as well, that is if we still have adequate hair (see eyebrow hair transplant for more info,).  In a woman, if the brow is sunken, it will tend to masculinize as well as age the face.  In a man, it will age and make for a meaner or more angry expression.

A subtle natural brow lift, as can be achieved with hyaluronic acid filler, will serve to feminize and rejuvenate a woman giving her a more alert and healthier look.  For a man the lift will rejuvenate, and also give a more approachable, happier, healthier look.

Brow lifts with hyaluronic acid (HA) filler can last a year, and each time stimulates new collagen and elastin for more permanence.  It can be modified or adjusted easily with the enzyme that dissolves HA filler which is more forgiving than a permanent correction with surgery.

The filler can also be placed in the brow, to improve symmetry.  Asymmetry can be unattractive and distracting.  Many people will develop worse brow droop on their left side due to many years of excess UV radiation through the car window and worse skin laxity on that left side.  Filler is helpful to correct this problem.

With filler treatment, expect slight tenderness within 24 hours after, and possible bruising and swelling for a few days to weeks.  Most physicians will suggest a follow up visit where additional filler or adjustments may be needed.

PicoSure Laser for Tattoos

We got it !

I now have the PicoSure Laser available for tattoo removal treatment.  It is supposed to clear the dark tattoos faster than the usual 1064 Q-switched Yag laser but more data on is needed.  As soon as I get some feedback about that from my patients, I will let you know.  This laser is not as safe on darker skin types or tanned skin, which should instead be treated with a 1064.  Fortunately, we will have a 1064 picosecond laser soon, but itis currently not available yet.

P.S. I will remove a radiation marker tattoo in a former cancer patient NO CHARGE!  Please check with your oncologist prior to booking your removal appointments.

Sorting out what cream is best for your aging face

It can be overwhelming, the many choices of rejuvenating facial skin creams.  I frequently get asked about which is the best cream or cream(s).  While I do not believe there is one best cream for everyone, I do believe there is a best combination of creams for any given person.  The latest philosophy on daily home skin care rejuvenating regimens is to include the following:  Growth Factors, Retinoids, Antioxidants, Sunblocks and Specialty Products (like skin lighteners).  The SkinMedica line coined the term "GRASS" to help us remember these five components of a good anti-aging daily skin care regimen.  Most women and men will benefit from a GRASS regimen if their goal is to fight aging changes in their skin.


To find products that contain these ingredients, please see my skin cream ingredient database, www.skincreamguide.com

SKINGREDIENTS

THE FIRST COSMECEUTICAL SKIN CREAM INGREDIENT DATABASE

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• Click On A Letter To Find An Ingredient

Thursday, September 4, 2014

WHICH INGREDIENTS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR HOME SKIN CARE REGIMEN

For Anti-aging...

The main components of a rejuvenating home topical skin care regimen should include the following:
1.  Sunblock
2.  Antioxidants
3.  Growth Factors
4.  Retinoids
5.  The as needed Extras:  skin lighteners, anti-redness, DNA repair, exfoliating, acne-fighting.
It is best if you see a dermatologist to have your regimen personalized and designed based on your skin type and any other special needs.

For Acne-prone skin...

1. Exfoliating cleanser or gentle cleanser (if sensitive skin)
2. Retinoids
3. Anti-inflammatory
4. Anti-bacterial
5. Sunblock

For Rosacea-prone skin...

1. Gentle non-medicated cleanser
2. Sunblock
3. Anti-redness, calming, vasoconstricting
4. Anti-inflammatory

Channel 2 news, KSL Health Expo in Sandy, UT

Making the nose look smaller with filler

                Before                         After

 

 

If your nose has a scooped out bridge or concavity on the dorsum, adding a little hyaluronic acid filler may give the appearance of a smaller nose.

Gentle Laser vaginal tightening for help with urinary incontinence and/or sexual pleasure

Have you ever leaked in your pants after jumping up and down in a dance class or while jogging?  Would you like to improve your sexual pleasure for both you and your partner?

The gynecology literature states that trauma from pregnancy and aging changes both contribute to urinary incontinence and vaginal tissue laxity in many women.

Treatment of vaginal aging and pregnancy changes does not have to involve surgery.  I am excited that we now have the laser technology to safely and gently but effectively treat vaginal tissue and skin laxity and urinary incontinence with laser.

In my office in Utah, as laser skin and tissue treatment experts we offer treatment for vaginal tissue/skin laxity and urinary incontinence with our Fotona brand Erbium:Yag laser.  Treatments take just a half hour to 45 minutes, are usually pain-free, and need to be done 1-2 times for improvement and sometimes eradication of symptoms. Even with a history of bladder prolapse this treatment is helpful.  In fact, it is often because of tissue laxity that prolapse occurs, and tissue laxity is the target of this treatment.

The Fotona Erbium:Yag laser has a variety of settings so it can be used for a variety of medical or cosmetic treatments.   For vaginal tightening we are relying on lower energy and longer pulse durations of the laser, which translates to thermal heating of the tissue dermis in order to stimulate new collagen formation.  So it is essentially controlled heating at precisely the right depth to result in tissue rejuvenation.

This treatment has already swept Europe where there are long wait times to get in, but american gynecologists are thrilled with the technological advance and have been referring their patients for this exciting treatment.

Scar Treatments

Scar treatments keep advancing and improving.   The best treatment for your scar depends on whether the scar is thickened (hypertrophic) or thinned (atrophic) and/or discolored (pink or brown or full of blood vessels.) 

What is a keloid scar?  The term "keloid" seems to be one of the most misused words in dermatology.  A true keloid is a tumor-like growth of scar tissue that goes significantly beyond the original borders of the scar both in height and width.  True keloids are more common in darker skin types.  If a scar is just thickened but still roughly within the confines of the original wound or scar, then dermatologists prefer to call it a hypertrophic scar.

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are often treated with a steroid injection, or liquid nitrogen followed by a steroid injection.  There are some unusual, off-label (not FDA-approved) treatments for scars and keloids like 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin and interferon injections that are still considered safe by most dermatologists, especially because of the small quantities that are use for treatment.  In addition, fractionated lasers are often very helpful for both hypertrophic and atrophic scars.  All these treatments, including laser, need to be repeated multiple times for full benefit.  The number of treatments varies depending on the severity of the scar and the power of the laser.

Discolored scars can be improved with laser treatment.  For example, if the scar has redness or prominent vessels, an IPL device or pulsed-dye laser can help.  In addition, if the scar is brown, the IPL device, QS-alexandrite or fractionated 1927 nm lasers may help.