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We’ve written several blog pieces covering the many advantages that CoolSculpting offers as a safe and effective way to remove fat selectively. Some readers have expressed concerns about how safe the CoolSculpting procedure is, so we’re concentrating on that subject today.

Non-Invasive

The most significant advantage that CoolSculpting offers is that it is entirely non-invasive, meaning that CoolSculpting is not a surgical procedure. It doesn’t require that patients are anesthetized, and consequently, no recovery period is needed after treatment before one can resume normal activities. 

Intrinsically Safe

CoolSculpting removes fat by selectively cooling fat cells to the specific temperature at which they begin to freeze. As fat cells start to solidify, they are damaged, causing them to die, after which they are naturally eliminated from the body over the days and weeks following treatment.

The cooling process is carefully designed to avoid damaging any other cells in the body – this is possible because fat cells are particularly sensitive to temperature, and because they are affected by temperatures that other body cells can tolerate without damage. 

Careful Monitoring

The CoolSculpting procedure uses carefully designed propriety equipment that ensures that the fat cells are targeted quickly and efficiently, minimizing your exposure to cold temperatures, and reducing discomfort to the bare minimum.

The CoolSculpting practitioner is responsible for carefully monitoring the process, and ensuring that the body’s skin, nerves, and muscles are unaffected by the cold temperature used during CoolSculpting procedures. 

Natural Fat Elimination

After the fat cells are killed by cooling, they collapse and are removed from the body through the natural processes that the body uses to remove dead cells. The CoolSculpting procedure “leverages” the normal functioning of the body, and avoids introducing any foreign substances into the body.

This dramatically reduces the chance of patients developing adverse side effects during or after CoolSculpting treatment and results in it being classified as one of the safest cosmetic procedures. 

FDA Cleared

The FDA has officially cleared CoolSculpting for treating excess fat under the chin and jawline, on the thighs, abdomen, and love handles, as well as on the upper arms, beneath the buttocks, on the back, and between the armpits and bra. It’s also approved for use in reducing the appearance of lax skin around the jaw and neck.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care 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 the procedure. We have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures.

We can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your goals, combining different procedures when appropriate. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Chemical peels are one of the top three most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedures and provide a very effective way to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, eliminate acne, and resolve hyperpigmentation. However, they require a great deal of skill and experience on the part of the practitioner who performs the procedure, and they are capable of producing poor results when used by unqualified or careless hands.

Chemical peels come in three primary categories, depending on how deep they penetrate the skin’s surface – mild, moderate, and deep. All chemical peels are based on acidic or caustic compounds of varying strengths, applied under highly controlled conditions. Generally speaking, mild and moderate peels are the safest, while deep peels carry the potential for more unwanted side-effects and require correspondingly greater care and oversight in their application. 

Here’s a summary of the various problems that chemical peels can address, as well as applications for which they are not best suited.

Wrinkles and Fine Lines Reduction

Mild chemical peels are used to stimulate the replacement of the outer skin layer and can result in the lessening (or elimination) of fine lines and wrinkles. They can also help improve general skin tone and texture.

Treating Acne-Prone Skin

Salicylic acid-based mild peels are an effective and safe way to treat acne-prone skin by reducing inflammation and are effective for treating oily skin, as well as rosacea. Chemical peels are also useful as a way to treat mild acne scars, once the acne infection has been cleared up. Scar treatment requires a more aggressive chemical peel than acne treatment does.

Treating Discolored or Sun-Damaged Skin

Chemical peels can help to even out irregular skin tone resulting from sun damage.

Having covered the areas where chemical peels can help, here’s a list of situations in which they should not be used, or used only after careful consideration:

Reducing Visibility of Blood Vessels 

Chemical peels will not help address visible blood vessels or capillaries.

Reducing Raised Scar Tissue

Chemical peels cannot help to reduce the visibility of any raised keloid scar tissue.

Tighten Sagging Skin

Another area where chemical peels cannot help – they won’t help to tighten up any loose or sagging skin. They can, however, help to address rough skin texture, as well as to reduce pigmentation imbalances, so they’ll certainly help to improve the look of your skin.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care can provide you with the expert advice that is needed before deciding on any treatment using chemical peels. We have extensive experience using chemical peels, as well as many other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals, including how best to combine different procedures when appropriate. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Choosing the best dermal filler can be difficult – there’s considerable overlap between the various products, and this isn’t helped by somewhat confusing marketing messages. 

Available fillers fall into three leading product families – Restylane, Juvederm, and Sculptra Aesthetic. Each family contains several different products, each optimized for use in a particular situation.

Here’s a summary of the problems that can be addressed using dermal fillers, and our recommendation on the best dermal filler to use in each situation. 

Fine Line Removal

Fine lines require subtle correction – The thin hyaluronic acid-based fillers are specifically designed to help address these superficial lines, particularly Restylane Silk and Juvederm Volbella. Restylane Silk is particularly adapted to smoothing fine lines around the mouth.

Deeper Line and Fold Removal

Several alternatives are available to address deeper lines or skin folds (particularly those around the nose). Restylane family products include Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, and Restylane Defyne; Juvederm family products include Juvederm XC, Juvederm Ultra XC, and Juvederm Vollure XC.

In addition to these products, variants are also available that include Lidocaine, especially useful when treating the extra-sensitive areas around the nose.

Lip Augmentation

Depending on whether you’re looking for a subtle enhancement to your lips’ size or shape, or if you’re going for more aggressive changes, there are several available products. Juvederm is suitable for adding volume, while Juvederm Volbella and Restylane Silk can be used to crispen and add definition around the edges of the lips. 

Juvederm Ultra XC can be used to achieve more substantial changes, while Restylane and Restylane-L (with Lidocaine) are also available when additional support is needed.

The recently-approved Restylane Kysse product has the potential to be a cost-effective way to add lip volume while also remaining flexible and natural-looking. 

Restoring Lost Volume

Compensating for lost volume requires the use of a thicker filler, perhaps also including the ability to stimulate the natural production of collagen by the body to augment the filler’s effect. 

Restylane Lyft and Juvederm Voluma XC are intended for deep injection in the cheek area and are the go-to solutions for age-related volume loss and sagging tissue. 

Sculptra Aesthetic also provides an effective solution to hollowed-out facial areas and is especially effective at stimulating collagen production over the long-term. 

Correcting Saggy Skin

Although it depends on the degree and amount that your skin is sagging, Juvederm Voluma and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC can be used to compensate for missing volume while also providing lift.

Improving Facial Definition

For cases where the loss of cheek volume is the problem, Restylane, Restylane, Lyft, Juvederm Ultra Plus, or Juvederm Voluma can add needed definition. 

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care can provide you with advice on the best ways to use and combine different dermal filler products, giving you the most effective and cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. We have extensive experience providing dermal fillers, as well as a host of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Not all men are comfortable with their body and facial hair, and many are tired of regular shaving as a way to control it. Although it’s often assumed that women are the main clients for hair removal, a sizable percentage of our hair removal customers are men.

Where on the Body?

The primary areas of interest for men are the chest, back, face, and neck. Laser hair removal allows not only the permanent removal of unwanted hair from anywhere on the body but also allows men, with an absolute minimum of daily upkeep, to combine well-defined facial hair with stubble – an increasingly fashionable look today.

Reasons for Hair Removal

Some niche markets, such as bodybuilders, swimmers, or cyclists are well acquainted with the advantages of hair removal on the body and limbs, but this technique is accessible to anyone who is uncomfortable with excess body hair.

Body Hygiene

Not to put too fine a point on it, but for some, especially those living in hot climates, hair removal can help to lessen the discomfort (and odors) that can come with excess sweating. Hairy chests, backs, legs, and even buttocks are perfectly acceptable to many, but are associated with less desirable connotations by others. Heavy body hair will trap moisture, and can increase skin irritation and general itchiness in the heat. 

Laser hair removal can also offer a solution for those that suffer the irritation and even infections that can accompany the ingrown hairs that are often the result of shaving. Those with especially sensitive skin will also benefit from laser hair removal. Laser hair removal effectively prevents hair follicles from growing new hairs, and completely eliminates the need to shave, wax, or apply caustic chemicals to remove hair growth.

Why Laser Hair Removal?

First and foremost Laser hair removal is an effective way to achieve long-term hair reduction or removal; it offers a very low-maintenance way to achieve a well-groomed look for the face and neck, as well as allowing long-term hair removal from other parts of the body or limbs. It’s also a very convenient way to remove hair from parts of the body that might be quite difficult to effectively shave with a razor.

For those who shave their heads, but who suffer from cuts and irritation, laser hair removal offers a very attractive alternative to shaving.

Your Laser Skin Care

We are highly experienced with laser hair removal, along with a host of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We can give advice on the most effective way to remove hair, and answer any questions you may have regarding the procedure. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation or visit us online for more information.

 

CoolSculpting is rapidly growing in popularity as a highly effective way to selectively achieve visible reductions in unwanted fat deposits in many parts of the body. The CoolSculpting procedure is relatively straightforward and allows highly targeted fat reduction to be performed with minimal side effects. Despite its relative simplicity, there are still several ways to improve the results that CoolSculpting brings, following the following recommendations before treatment. 

Try to Lose Excess Weight

It might seem strange to recommend losing weight before having a fat-reduction procedure, but this can be very beneficial. CoolSculpting is not an effective weight-loss mechanism – and although it’s effective at removing excess fat from specific areas, it’s limited in which body areas can be treated. In particular, it’s mostly effective at removing subcutaneous fat and is much less effective at targeting deep-body visceral fat.

By getting close to your target weight before CoolSculpting treatment, aside from the general health benefits that will follow, you’ll maximize the CoolSculpting procedure’s effectiveness. CoolSculpting can help eliminate the hard-to-lose subcutaneous fat deposits that are often left behind after significant overall weight loss.

Minimize Complications by Avoiding Some Medications

You can minimize the chance of developing bruising following a CoolSculpting session by avoiding the use of any medications and supplements that can act to modify normal blood clotting, for a week or so before treatment. Even over-the-counter medications like aspirin (an effective blood thinner) can make bruising more likely, and supplements like fish oil or vitamin E can have similar effects.

Protect Your Skin

Unnecessary sun exposure is generally frowned upon but is especially discouraged before many cosmetic procedures. You don’t want to worry about any extra pain or discomfort due to sun-burnt or sun-damaged skin interfering with or complicating the use of the CoolSculpting cooling pads. Similarly, any other skin damage, such as cuts or bruises, are best left to heal before starting CoolSculpting treatment.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is considered to be bad for your health, with or without other considerations. If you are a smoker, seriously consider stopping for several days before treatment to ensure your body is in the best possible shape to recover quickly from the loss of fat during each CoolSculpting procedure.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care can provide you with advice on the best ways to prepare for a CoolSculpting procedure, as well as helping you choose the most effective (and cost-effective) way to achieve your cosmetic goals. We are also highly experienced in the use of many other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation or visit us online for more information.

Uneven skin pigmentation is a widespread problem, and typically appears on the parts of the body regularly exposed to sunlight. Dark spots also referred to as hyperpigmentation, are more common among those over the age of 40 with darker complexions. These spots are flat and can vary in size and color. Smaller spots are typically caused by exposure to the sun, while hormonal imbalances can cause larger areas of hyperpigmentation. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can also develop after healing from skin injuries such as acne.

Conceal or Treat?

Judicious application of makeup can, of course, help conceal hyperpigmentation but is a time-consuming procedure. There are also a large number of products that may provide some relief, ranging from exfoliating skin cleansers, spot treatments, retinoid-based products, and prescription hydroquinone.

Acid Peels

Salicylic acid can also be used to help lift away uneven pigmentation, although this requires a skillful practitioner to be effective.

Light-Pulse Technology

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photofacials can provide a highly effective way to treat hyperpigmentation, whether composed of small dark age or sun spots, or larger patches of uneven pigmentation. The light pulses stimulate rejuvenation of the skin and provide several benefits in addition to evening out pigmentation imbalances. These benefits include reducing or eliminating spider veins, reducing the effect of rosacea, and relieving blotchy skin.

IPL photofacials are non-invasive, safe, and require the absolute minimum of recovery time. Side effects may include short-term redness or swelling but typically last only a few hours. IPL photofacials are FDA approved and have been in use since the 1990s. IPL photofacials do require a skilled practitioner to maximize the benefits and minimize any side effects.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care can provide you with advice on the best ways to treat your skin pigmentation problems. We are highly experienced in the use of IPL and laser skin treatments, as well as many other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We can advise you on the safest 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.

We all know that preventing problems from occurring is a better strategy than trying to fix problems after they’ve appeared. Although we can now treat spider veins and varicose veins, it’s a good idea to consider ways to delay or even prevent their appearance by modifying your diet. 

Spider and varicose veins are the results of damage to the walls of the veins, caused by damaged valves inside the blood vessels that serve to keep blood flowing normally. The damage may be due to several reasons, including excessive weight and obesity, increased blood pressure, tight-fitting garments, standing for lengthy periods, hormonal imbalance, as well as plain hereditary chance.

Modifying your diet in the following ways can help reduce the chance of aggravating (or creating) these conditions and improving your general health in many other ways:

Hydration

Keeping hydrated is very important, but at the same time, one must avoid foods that can cause excessive water retention, which can lead to increased pressure inside the blood vessels. For this reason, cut down on your use of added salt.

Weight Control

Added weight creates a host of health problems, especially over time. But extra pounds lead directly to increased pressure in your blood vessels and reduced mobility, both of which create the conditions which favor spider and varicose veins formation. 

Berries

Antioxidants are found in several berries and can help strengthen blood vessel walls. They include especially blackberries, which also contain high levels of rutin, an anti-inflammatory flavonoid which guards against blood clots and generally protects blood vessels. 

It can also reduce the chance of developing new varicose veins by affecting the mechanism by which capillary blood vessels grow. Rutin is also present in Apples, grapes, cherries, and apricots.

Avocados

Avocados contain high levels of vitamins C and E, which together have anti-inflammatory effects and help to thin the blood and prevent blood clot formation.

Watercress

Watercress contains vitamin K, along with several other vitamins and elements. It’s traditionally been used to treat varicose veins.

Ginger

Another anti-inflammatory, ginger is known to improve blood circulation, and it helps to dissolve fibrin, which is responsible for the hardening of the veins.

Beets

Beets are high in nitrates and also contain betacyanin. These ingredients can act to fight damage to blood vessel walls and improve blood circulation by increasing the flow of oxygen in the blood.

Asparagus

Asparagus is rich in several important vitamins, elements, and amino acids. It can help strengthen blood vessel walls and help prevent varicose vein development.

Rosemary

Rosemary is traditionally used to boost blood circulation and contains compounds that fight against tissue damage caused by free radicals.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care can provide you with advice on the best ways to treat varicose or spider veins – we have extensive experience providing both laser vein therapy and Sclerotherapy treatments. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation or visit us online for more information.