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The active ingredient in Latisse (Bimatoprost) was originally developed to treat glaucoma – it works in this case by reducing excessive pressure inside the eye which can lead to vision loss. However, it quickly became apparent that Bimatoprost has a useful side-effect – when applied to the base of the eyelashes it causes more vigorous hair growth. This hair growth results in longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes.

Naturally, this effect led to research on whether the product could also have a similar effect on the hair on other parts of the body, and especially on the areas that concern many – eyelashes for women, and receding scalp hair for men.

Latisse is thought to work by extending the normal growth cycle of the hair follicle so that the lifetime of individual hairs is extended, allowing them to grow longer before naturally falling out. Hair looks thicker because the number of actively growing hairs has increased.

Latisse and Eyelashes

Latisse has conclusively been shown to be highly effective at stimulating the growth of eyelashes and has received FDA approval for using it this way.

Latisse and Eyebrows

Research has shown that Latisse can also help improve hair growth in the eyebrows, although it may take six months or more before the effects become apparent. As with eyelashes, the benefits of using Latisse persist only as long as the product continues to be used. Latisse has not been officially approved by the FDA for use on the eyebrows, so you should consult with a medical practitioner before using the product this way.

Latisse and Scalp Hair

It appears that Latisse may be at least partially effective on the scalp, but several negative factors mean that using the product this way may not be practical. Firstly Latisse promotes the growth of active hair follicles, but it’s ineffective when used on follicles that have stopped growing hair. The skin on the scalp is thicker than the skin around the eyes, meaning that much more product would need to be applied to reach the targeted hair follicles. Lastly, and most significantly, Latisse is not cheap, and the larger quantity of product required for effective use on the scalp means that the cost would be prohibitive for most people.

Secondary issues also complicate the use of Latisse this way – it’s important to control exactly where the product is applied, as you risk hair growth in unwanted places if the product is not applied carefully. While it’s relatively easy to apply it with precision around the eyes, using Latisse on the head would be extremely difficult to control with precision. For example, simply washing your hair in the shower would result in product traces running over your body, potentially leading to hair growth in unexpected places. The FDA has also not officially approved the use of Latisse on the scalp.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners can evaluate you for the use of Latisse and can provide the necessary prescriptions. We are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about the product. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

CoolSculpting is the up-and-coming highly effective way to selectively remove fat deposits from particular parts of the body. It uses cooling pads to chill unwanted fat cells until they’re damaged, after which they are naturally disposed of by the body. It’s a non-invasive procedure, and it doesn’t involve any injections.

In the hands of a skillful practitioner, it’s possible to achieve very natural-looking results after only a couple of visits.

Even though the procedure does not require any significant recovery time, there are several precautions you can take to speed your recovery and minimize the chance of developing any negative side effects.

Normal Side-Effects

It’s fairly normal to experience minor redness, soreness, and mild bruising after treatment. Some patients also report itchiness. These symptoms should disappear quickly without needing treatment.

Maximize Healing

It’s best to avoid tight-fitting clothes over the treated areas immediately after treatment. Loose clothing will allow any of the above symptoms to resolve rapidly while avoiding further irritation. Tight clothing can also irritate the skin, which may be more sensitive than normal.

Staying well hydrated will also give your body the best chance of healing quickly, as well as helping it eliminate the dead fat cells after treatment. This is the easiest way to promote rapid healing but is often neglected. It can take several weeks, and sometimes more, for the full benefits of a CoolSculpting session to be seen. In some cases, fat elimination continues for several months afterward. So it’s best to ensure that you continue to drink enough water over the long term.

Avoid Regaining Fat

Although fat cells lost after CoolSculpting cannot re-grow, nothing will stop the remaining fat cells in your body from increasing in size if you follow a poor diet. CoolSculpting is not intended as a weight-loss procedure, so you must avoid unhealthy foods. Eat natural, healthy fruits, vegetables, and lean meat, and avoid fat, sugar, and excessive carbohydrates to give yourself the best chance of not gaining fat back again.

Avoid Skin Irritation

In addition to staying hydrated, excessive exercise can result in delayed healing. You also don’t want to heat up treated areas until they’ve fully healed. For this reason, you should also avoid very hot baths or showers for a few days. Dry yourself by gently patting with a towel, and don’t rub your skin vigorously.

Applying warm (not hot) compresses to the treated areas can help promote healing.

Unusual Side Effects

It’s usually fine to take your everyday pain killers if you’re feeling sore or if the discomfort is more than you can easily tolerate. However, if you feel other side effects, and especially if the treated areas seem swollen or enlarged, you should contact your practitioner immediately for advice.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in the application of CoolSculpting. We can provide you with expert advice on how best to use CoolSculpting to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about using the procedure. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Latisse is a simple, effective, and FDA-approved way to darken and thicken your eyelashes. It can increase eyelash length by up to 25 percent, and can also be used to stimulate the growth of eyebrows.

The advantages of using Latisse fall into five main areas.

Easily Achieve More Attractive Eyelashes

Latisse works by extending the active growth cycle of eyelash and eyebrow hair and is a proven way to combat sparse or inadequate eyelashes. It’s a simple serum that does not require regular visits to a doctor or provider to apply.

Do-it-Yourself Application

Although Latisse requires a doctor’s prescription, you apply the product yourself in the convenience of your own home. The product is simple to apply, using a sterile applicator to spread it along the edge of the upper eyelid. Normally Latisse is applied daily before going to bed.

Reliable Fast Long-Lasting Results

Latisse has been found to be a highly reliable way to achieve thicker, longer, and more lustrous eyelashes. Improved eyelash growth is normally visible within a month of starting the use of the product, with optimum results arriving approximately two to three months after starting. Eyelash improvements remain for as long as you continue to use the product.

Better Results than Alternative Solutions

Latisse stimulates the body’s natural hair growth cycle and results in completely natural-looking eyelashes. They will be indistinguishable from your own eyelashes, except longer, darker, and thicker. This is in contrast to other available ways to achieve thicker eyelashes, which involve gluing artificial extensions onto your own eyelids or eyelashes. Besides being an expensive and lengthy process, over time these techniques can actually weaken and break your existing eyelashes, especially when trying to remove artificial extensions.

Although Latisse results in long-lasting improvements, your eyelashes will eventually revert to their original appearance if you stop using the product on a regular basis.

Safely Use with Makeup and Other Cosmetic Procedures

Because Latisse actually strengthens your natural eyelashes, you can continue to use your normal makeup products, including mascara and eyeliner. You should remove all eye makeup before applying Latisse at night, however. Latisse can also be used at the same time as having other non-invasive cosmetic procedures performed if desired.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners can evaluate you for use of Latisse and can provide the necessary prescriptions. We are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about the product. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Injectable fillers are widely-used to address a number of cosmetic issues – they provide a way to increase the volume and resiliency of the skin in cases where the skin has become loose or wrinkled. They can also be used to recontour parts of the face caused by injury, scarring, or just cosmetic preference.

Lip recontouring is an especially popular use for injectable fillers. Specially formulated injectable fillers are typically used on the lips – these fillers have a smooth texture and can be readily molded to allow lips to be plumped up or to increase the definition of the lips.

Minimizing Lump Development

It’s possible for the filler to migrate after application, and it’s possible for lumps to develop after treatment. They can also be caused by swelling or bruising following treatment, as well as blood pooling in extreme cases.

Fortunately, these cases are rare, and in most cases, the problem will disappear after a few days. You can help to accelerate the healing process by cooling the affected area using a cold compress or an ice pack.

Correcting Persistent Lumps

In cases where the lumps do not resolve themselves, you should contact your practitioner. They will be able to determine the cause and supply appropriate corrective measures. In most cases, careful massaging can be used to redistribute the filler and smooth out most lumps that occur. In more extreme cases, the practitioner may opt to use another injectable product to correct the problem.

Correcting Fillers Overuse

Most injectable fillers use hyaluronic acid, and in cases where excess filler has been applied, your practitioner can correct the situation by using a different product that actually breaks down the previously injected filler. Obviously, this would only be done in extreme cases, but it does allow the overuse of fillers to be easily corrected.

Treating Painful Side Effects

You should contact your practitioner if you experience pain or extreme discomfort after treatment – there are rare cases when allergic reactions to the injectable filler develop. These situations can be treated using a number of products, including oral or injectable steroids.

Choosing the Right Practitioner

Injectable fillers are widely available, but you should select your practitioner with care. Applying the right amount of filler is crucial to creating an attractive and natural look, and over-application of lip fillers is very common. Choosing a practitioner who combines medical qualifications with extensive experience in applying injectable fillers will maximize your chance of achieving the best results and minimize your chance of developing unwanted side effects.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in applying injectable fillers. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Microneedling is a minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure that stimulates the body’s natural processes to rejuvenate the skin. It can be effective at combating a wide range of cosmetic issues.

How Does Microneedling Work?

Ultra-fine, very short sterilized needles are used to create large numbers of microscopic channels into the skin. This triggers the body’s natural healing processes and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. The microneedles essentially injure the skin cells being treated in a microscopic and controlled fashion, in such a way that the skin structure is strengthened as the skin cells heal naturally in the days following the procedure.

Depending on your skin type and complexion, the procedure may be performed over a number of sessions. This is often recommended for those with darker skin color as a way of minimizing unwanted side effects.

Collagen is the key component of the skin’s connective tissue – triggering collagen production strengthens the connective tissue within the skin, leading to improved elasticity and resilience, as well as enhancing overall skin tone and texture. By using an array of microscopic needles, collagen production is boosted evenly across the entire area being treated, leading to benefits distributed across a wide area.

Micro-needling can be used on any part of the body but is most effective on the face, neck, and chest areas.

Microneedling Benefits

The procedure will improve general skin tone and resiliency; it can also help reduce acne, scars, stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles, and some kinds of sun damage. It can also combat uneven skin pigmentation.

Microneedling is especially useful for those with darker complexions, as these patients can be more sensitive to cosmetic procedures that can heat the skin, such as laser or IPL based treatments. Microneedling does not raise the skin temperature during treatment and is therefore often a safer choice in these cases.

Post-Treatment Recovery

The procedure can result in temporary redness, light bruising, and occasional itching or peeling. These are the normal consequences of triggering the skin’s healing mechanisms and typically only last a day or two after treatment. Full healing from the procedure (and developing all benefits) can take several days or longer. It’s best to minimize your chance of infecting the skin as it heals by avoiding swimming and the use of any unnecessary lotions or skincare products.

Special Precautions

Microneedling can be a powerful tool and an extremely effective way to revitalize and improve skin tone. However, there are several ways in which the procedure can be misused, leading to negative results.

The main way that the procedure is misused is by over-use. There are a number of negative side-effects that can be caused by using the procedure too frequently or by using needles that are not properly sterilized. Professional practitioners will be well aware of these side effects and will avoid triggering them. However, we come across patients who have tried to perform the procedure themselves at home and who do so far too often for their own good. A range of negative results can be caused by too-frequent or too-aggressive use of the technique, including hyperpigmentation, scarring, blemishes, and even nerve damage in extreme cases.

Choosing a medically qualified and experienced practitioner is the best way to avoid any chance of developing these side effects and will allow you to safely benefit from the procedure. An experienced practitioner will be able to adjust the degree and frequency of treatment to correspond with your complexion and skin type, avoiding any chance of causing unnecessary skin irritation.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in performing cosmetic procedures, including microneedling. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.