The Face of Georgetown
Winterizing Your Skin
August 30, 2010
The summer is coming to an end, and with that, another year of school, social events and the advent of cooler weather. Just like you change your clothing to reflect the weather, your skin requires the same attention to the elements. There are numerous treatments to revitalize, repair and restore your skin. As with all medical procedures, it is important to select a professional that has experience in the procedure you choose and to determine which treatment is correct for your specific needs.
Prepping Skin for Winter Treatments
Exposure to summer’s elements can play havoc with your skin. To put on a fresher face and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, sun spots, and other common skin conditions, a variety of in-office treatments are available. But first, it is important that the skin be “prepped” so that the prescribed treatment is optimally delivered.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation involves the removal of (mostly) dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. The process exposes a fresher layer of skin which can better enhance penetration of nutrients and help your skin appear younger. Exfoliation can be achieved with the use of a special ultrasonic skin care brush and should not be performed more than once daily. There are many exfoliation products on the market-- from commercial scrubs to more abrasive treatments-- but the use of abrasive exfoliants are discouraged because of their tendency to irritate the skin. Professional procedures include Microdermabrasion, which can be performed in a doctor’s office in about an hour or so and requires no healing time. This not only will help diminish fine wrinkles and skin discoloration, but also prepare the skin to better accept topical nutrients. Another option is a series of chemical peels which are offered in varying strengths. Many peels are minimally invasive and can leave the skin looking younger and refreshed.
Hydration
Daily and nightly hydration is one of the keys to minimizing lines and keeping the skin fresh. As your body begins to lose water, the first place that it pulls it from is your skin. Be sure to drink enough water each day to provide not only enough hydration for your body, but your skin as well. Do not over cleanse the skin, as that can strip the skin of its essential oils. Be sure to cover the skin to protect it from harsh winds, cold or extreme sunlight. Eat well. Diets that are balanced and include enough natural fatty acids help to keep the skin hydrated and elastic. Of course, the face is the first thing we think of when it comes to skin care, but the skin covering the rest of the body is just as important. There are many good commercial moisturizers as well as premium doctor-recommended products that can help the skin retain its moisture.
Anti- Agers & Fading Creams
The newest anti-aging treatments include growth factors and youth protein activators which stimulate cell reproduction and regeneration. The best therapeutic creams tend to be those available through physician offices, but can sometimes be found in milder formulations over-the-counter. When used regularly, these specialized formulations have been shown to reduce the appearance of skin blotchiness, wrinkles, and scars. When used in combination with in-office treatments (see below), they tend to further enhance and maintain the clinical results obtained.
In-Office Therapeutics
Chemical Peels have long been used to rejuvenate skin. Depending on the severity of the problem, clinical results are often observed in a short period of time with little or no recovery necessary. Another treatment option is Laser Skin Resurfacing, which can diminish the appearance of wrinkles, acne scars, and sun damage, providing a younger, fresher appearance.
Visible veins of the face and legs can be treated with a variety of laser and light treatments as well as Sclerotherapy – the latter involving the injection of specialized solutions that irritate the blood vessels in order to cause their destruction.
These treatments are best performed in the Fall and Winter months when less risk of undesirable sun exposure is anticipated. In addition, it’s easier to cover arms and legs (after chemical peels or sclerotherapy) with clothing in the cooler seasons.
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The Coolest Way to Reduce Fat
August 9, 2010
The perfect body is nearly impossible to achieve. We have all seen the airbrushed photos, and let’s face it, most of us are human…in fact we All are! Perfection may be impossible, but improvement is not.
While there are procedures to contour the body that include things like liposuction, an invasive procedure requiring anesthesia and significant postoperatve recovery, the twenty-first century brings us some new treatments that require no healing time, are practically painless with long-lasting effects. Among the most recent of these is Zeltiq, a non-invasive procedure that utilizes an advanced cooling technology, the medical term for which is cryolipolysis—a process that breaks down fat cells without damage to other tissues. Physicians at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery were among the first to apply this cutting edge procedure in a clinical setting.
Once you and your physician have identified the areas on which treatment is indicated, a device is applied to the skin. No needles, incisions, anesthetic or recovery time is needed. A minor vacuum pressure and cooling of the skin is felt as the procedure begins to take effect. Days after the procedure is performed, the cooled fat cells begin to shrink. The cold destroys the fat cells in the region and the body naturally disposes of them through normal metabolic function. As this occurs, there is noticeable improvement in body contour. Measurable fat reduction is typically seen two to four months after a single Zeltiq procedure, after which time the degree of cosmetic improvement is assessed and consideration given to additional work if necessary.
Although the procedure requires no recovery time and patients may resume normal activity including work and exercise immediately after treatment, Zeltiq takes two hours or more in the office depending on the size and extent of the areas undergoing treatment. A pre-treatment consultation with the doctor will give you the opportunity to discuss how long your procedure will take so that you can schedule your time accordingly.
As with any fat reducing procedure, there is no magic bullet. This is not a substitute for a healthy diet and active lifestyle. The ideal candidates for Zeltiq are those patients in good general health and who have modest areas of fat they would like reduced. This is not for those who have a large amount of weight to lose or may be considered morbidly obese.
As with all medical procedures, it is important to choose a qualified physician that is experienced with these medical procedures. Choose one with which you are comfortable, both in relationship and in quality of work. You should always feel free to ask questions and understand the scope of the treatment and any potential side effects.
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Selecting the Right Professional For You
July 22, 2010
As a variety of skin treatments, especially injectables, are becoming more and more popular, it is important to consider the source. There are a myriad of entities offering treatments such as Botox and other neurotoxins and fillers, but it is important to consider if you have selected the correct professional to do the work. Not all outlets are of equal quality and not all people doing the work are as professional as others.
When considering who will be administering your treatment, there are some important things to keep in mind.
First and foremost, it’s wise to seek out a trained medical professional to plan and administer your treatment. The “best of the best” are members of the ‘core specialties’ of the cosmetic field (eg, dermatologists and plastic surgeons). Look at your physician’s credentials: are they board-certified in their specialty; have they published in medical journals; lectured at national meetings, had medical advisory status to appropriate companies (such as the makers of the products they are utilizing)? These would be among the leaders in the field.
Seek out information on experience. How long has your physician been performing these treatments? If you notice that there are various ‘Botox days’ or the like, you might question if the doctor has the regular patient volume to use up the product. You may also note if the physician is the one administering the treatment. If the actual injections are delegated to another person in the office, you are not receiving treatment by someone with advanced knowledge of facial anatomy—knowledge that is so important to achieving the optimal cosmetic outcome.
Lastly, note which product is being used. There are many out on the market-- each slightly different than the other. It’s vital that the correct product is being used on you—one that is right for your specific needs. Using the exact same combination of toxin and/or filler on every patient is just bad practice. Each individual face has different needs, and some neurotoxins and fillers are better suited to specific areas of the face like the cheeks vs. brow and lips vs. tear troughs.
Your face is among the first things people notice. Each one is our mirror; our presentation to the world-- we want to keep it looking the best it can. This is your goal is you are seeking these treatments. It’s important to remember that these injections are a medical procedure and, in the hands of a capable professional, you will achieve a highly satisfactory outcome that will last for many months. After all, you deserve to put your best face forward.
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