What Causes Acne

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All acne is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which is made up of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a hair. The number of pilosebaceous units is greatest on the face, upper neck, and chest. Sebaceous glands produce a substance called sebum, which is responsible for keeping the skin and hair moisturized. During adolescence sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more sebum under the influence of hormones, also called androgens. After about age 20, sebum production begins to decrease.
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Mesotherapy vs. Liposuction

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There is a big difference between the two.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that requires incisions and the insertion in the patient's body of metal probes that with a back and forth motion, causing significant trauma. Liposuction is suctioning out the fat cells, that will never return but if patients eat too many calories they will reaccumulate fat in other area where they never had fat before. The back, thighs, arm are frequent sites of new fat accumulation.

Mesotherapy works by disrupting the fat cell membranes, destroying the fat cell and releasing the fat to be metabolized and excreted in the same way it is processed when we loose weight with diet and exercise. (It is recommended that mesotherapy patients follow a reduced calorie diet during treatment to prevent the fat form being re-absorbed by other cells.)

There are no abnormal sites of accumulation and it is more difficult to reaccumulate fat in the areas treated.

Although the costs could be similar, mesotherapy offers no down time and is much safer compared to any surgical intervention.

Collagen Point Induction

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Until now, laser resurfacing has been an effective way to rejuvenate facial skin. But why destroy the epidermis of the face to make it look smoother? Laser destroys the epidermis so that the tissues of the papillary and reticular dermis can be destroyed and thereby instigate the normal post traumatic inflammatory reaction. The extensive damage eventually leads to the dense production of collagen and elastin with subsequent skin tightening. There is no doubt that laser has made a lot of people happy… in the beginning. It is now time to look for a more physiological way of inducing collagen and elastin.
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Can We Prevent Aging?

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Longevity research has revealed one proven anti-aging method to slow aging and extend lifespan in mammals: caloric restriction of a nutrient-rich diet. Longevity research has demonstrated this to work in rats and mice, and it is now being studied in monkeys. While no anti-aging therapies have been shown to retard aging, there is a body of scientific evidence suggesting that they have this ability.
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Molecular & Cellular Aging

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Cells lose their ability to divide over time unless they become cancerous. This limit to cellular replicative capacity (Hayflick's limit or phenomenon) can be demonstrated in fibroblasts removed from the umbilical cord of newborns and cultured in vitro. The fibroblasts divide only until they are dense enough to contact each other--a phenomenon called contact inhibition. If diluted, the fibroblasts divide again until maximum density is reached. Studies have shown that the loss of replicative capacity does not depend on the total amount of time cells are cultured (chronologic age) but on the number of divisions (biologic age).
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Theories Of Aging

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There are more theories of aging than facts. Aging clearly occurs at different rates for different species, and even within a species, aging occurs at different rates among different individuals. The only reasonable conclusion is that aging must be genetically controlled, at least to some extent. Both within and between species, lifestyle and exposures may alter the aging process.
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Med Spa? Finding A Non-Surgical Specialist

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There are many medical anti-aging options available today, but most are less effective and more time consuming than the newest batch of non-invasive cosmetic medicine. With the popularity of these treatments skyrocketing, it may not be difficult to find a service provider. Before booking an appointment, remember, this is a medical procedure. Taking the time to locate a qualified practitioner within a medical spa ensures your safety and satisfaction.


Use the following tips to select your provider:

1. Opt for a consultation before booking any treatment. Use this opportunity to check out the medical spa's physicians and staff.

2. Pay attention to your comfort level with the staff and level of customer service provided. Are your questions and concerns addressed to your satisfaction? Are you treated warmly and with respect? It is important that you feel comfortable and trust your provider.

3. Inquire if a physician is always present in the facility and sees every patient before they are treated. State laws (as well as medical ethics) require that a medical doctor physically be on site to monitor laser or medical treatments. If there is not a physician on-site, they are breaking the law and putting their patients at risk.

4. Determine the specialty of the staff physicians. Physicians who specializes only in non-surgical / non-invasive medicine, is preferable to a general dermatologist or plastic surgeon, for example. Many doctors are buying a piece of technology, taking an hour long class, and branding themselves an expert. Look around. If the clinic is run by a plastic surgeon, how can he specialize in non-surgical treatments?

5. Ask how many different medical devices they have. If the answer is just one or two, they aren’t really specializing in non-invasive medicine and are probably an “add-on” clinic. Look for a clinic that has multiple devices of different types.

6. Make sure that your skin type is accurately determined if you’re having a laser or IPL treatment. If your skin type is determined with a questionnaire, go elsewhere. Questionnaires have been determined to be inaccurate 70% of the time. The best clinics use a special “skin-type” meter (spectrophotometer) to scientifically determine exactly how much melanin is in the treatment area.

7. Discuss any issues for your skin type that may arise during treatment. You'll want to know side effects to expect, or if a specific piece of equipment is best suited for you. A knowledgeable professional is willing to discuss your concerns, and is familiar with options.

The key to finding the right provider is to actively research your options, and voice your needs. You want to only work with a specialized medical practice; one that addresses your concerns and welcomes your questions. Managing your treatment will improve the level of care you receive, and your satisfaction with the procedure's results.

By Catherine Hayes (MedSpa.Com)

Face Lifts: Surgical vs. Non-Surgical

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The aging process has an effect on our skin tone and overall appearance. Over time, the skin looses elasticity and begins to drape. Lines form between the nose and the mouth, as well as the eyes. Jaw lines become droopy and fatty deposits can form. While no procedure can reverse the aging process, there are surgical and non-surgical methods for addressing the toll it takes on your skin.
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Pointé Lift

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Pointé Lifts were developed to provide an alternative to traditional surgical lifts (face, brow, neck, thigh, breast and even the derriere) without cutting, stretching, stitches or recovery time. This new technique involves placing a small, special suture under the skin through a tiny needle hole. These sutures hold the skin in the desired location in much the same way as surgical techniques. After the procedure the skin quickly flattens out with its own natural tension. Local anesthetic is all that is required for the procedure allowing the patient to resume normal activities immediately. The result is a completely natural-looking lift without cutting, scars, recovery time or the “stretched look of traditional surgical lifts. Best of all, they're completely reversible.
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Clear² PDT Fotofacials

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Clear² PDT Fotofacials are the most effective fotofacial treatment for acne, sun-damage, unwanted pigment, rosacea, actinic keratosis and even pre-cancerous skin cells. A solution containing 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) is applied topically to the skin. This medication is absorbed down through the dermis at a predictable rate and is absorbed by more quickly by fast-replicating cells like actinic keratosis and pre-cancerous cells and makes acne-causing bacteria P. acnes photoactive, allowing a special light e.g. BLU-U, V Beam or IPL to target and kill the bacteria.
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Liposolve Mesotherapy

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Liposolve micro-injections are a physician-administered treatment that uses an organic human compound to gently dissolve fat cells anywhere in the body without the surgical trauma of liposuction surgery. Common treatment areas include under the eyes, abdomen, thighs, necks, jowls, and- of course- those ever-pesky love handles. Best of all, there’s no recovery time and the fat cells are gone forever. Three to four treatments are usually scheduled at intervals. This “time lapse” method provides many advantages during the course of treatment to achieve optimal results.
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