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We recently came across descriptions of serious injuries caused when some people attempted to “freeze” parts of their own body, typically by applying ice packs for extended periods.  Needless to say, we’d very much like to dissuade anyone from trying to experiment on themselves this way – we’ll explain why “DIY CoolSculpting” is not only a particularly bad idea but potentially quite dangerous.

The Theory Behind CoolSculpting 

Medical research has demonstrated that fat cells are more sensitive to being damaged by low temperatures than surrounding tissue. By reducing the temperature of fat cells for specific periods of time, it’s possible to actually kill the fat cells, after which they will be naturally eliminated from the body over the days and weeks that follow. Fat cells expand or contract during your lifetime, but once killed they are not replaced. Hence any loss of damaged fat cells will be permanent. By targeting fat close to the skin, it’s possible to effectively remove fat deposits and cosmetically reshape parts of the body. 

Despite the fact that the technique is often referred to as “fat freezing,” fat cells are not in fact “frozen” when CoolSculpting is used. They are instead cooled to the precise temperature proven to be the most effective at damaging them.

What Equipment Is Used by Your Doctor?

Allergan produces the specialized equipment used in a CoolSculpting session. It uses a sophisticated control unit and applicators, which effectively cool the area being treated to a precise temperature while using suction to ensure that the skin stays in close contact with the cooling pads. The system ensures that fat beneath the skin is cooled to the temperature that’s the safest and most effective for fat removal. Several different applicators are available, depending on the part of the body that’s being treated. The process is designed to not only be effective at fat removal but also to protect your skin from damage during the process.

The Theory Behind DIY

If freezing fat cells kills them, why not just put on an ice pack and do it yourself? You can find “LipoBelts” online that claim to provide effective ways of eliminating fat. Regardless of how effective these seem, there is no medical evidence to suggest that they work, nor that they’re even safe to experiment with.

Potential Problems

The main problem with DIY methods is that you have to guess how cold your body needs to be, and for how long. To be both safe and effective, fat must be cooled to a specific temperature for a carefully controlled period. If incorrect temperatures are used (almost guaranteed to be the case when using ice-packs), you risk frostbite, pain, even serious skin burns. The risks of serious side effects greatly increase for those with circulatory problems or diabetes and could result in permanent tissue damage.

Ice packs also melt, making it impossible to maintain the precise constant temperature over time that’s needed for effective fat removal.

 There are other problems: ice packs are not adapted to the shape of the parts of the body that you’re trying to treat. So even if you manage to cool the area to the correct temperature and avoid any of the problems, you will not be effective at removing fat. You may also cause blisters if you allow your skin to warm up too quickly after cooling it. Finally, even if you do manage to kill fat cells effectively, you run a substantial risk of leaving your body misshapen and unnatural looking.

By using an experienced and qualified doctor to perform the CoolSculpting procedure, you will be maximizing the benefits you draw from the treatment while minimizing the possibility of undesired side effects. Your doctor will draw on their experience to ensure that you gain the most benefit from the smallest number of treatments, closely monitor the process to ensure you remain safe and tailor the process to ensure that your fat loss looks balanced and natural. 

We will be happy to answer any questions you have about CoolSculpting or any of the other non-invasive procedures we offer. If you are in the Los Angeles area, please visit us online or call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation.

 

Although Botox has a deserved reputation as a highly effective way to reduce or eliminate facial lines and wrinkles after they have begun to appear. In recent years, it’s also increasingly being used by patients in their 20s and 30s as a way to prevent these typical signs of aging from starting to develop.

There is some controversy as to whether Botox can have a long-term anti-aging effect, and if it is an effective way to prevent skin wrinkles from developing later in life, so we decided to summarize the main issues on both sides of the question.

How to Prevent Lines from Forming in the Future?

Some patients are more likely to develop lines and wrinkles than others – particularly people having more dynamic facial expressions, those who may be starting to develop persistent frown lines, and people with naturally thinner skin. Others are more genetically predisposed to developing lines in the corners of their eyes or between their eyebrows – you can get a good idea where you are likely to develop lines by using the example of older members in your family.

To prevent these problems from happening, your practitioner must be able to determine where facial lines are likely to develop in order to inject Botox effectively. Skilled practitioners use their experience of many years to do this. By analyzing the way your facial muscles cause your skin to move, they can predict where lines will eventually appear before they become apparent. In most cases, patients will already have very fine, barely visible lines that indicate where future problems are likely to occur.

Minimize Your Risk

Most negative Botox experiences are the result of the over-enthusiastic application of Botox by inexperienced practitioners. Using too much Botox in the wrong place is not only a waste of your time and money but is the prime reason patients complain about unnatural results.

There is often a very fine line between using an appropriate amount of Botox and using too much. The aim is not to leave you with frozen features, but to allow your face to continue to move naturally.

Consider Combining with Other Treatments

It may also be the case that using Botox in combination with dermal filler products is a more effective way to treat some types of developing facial lines, so choosing a practitioner who has expertise using both types of products is highly recommended.

Finally, there are other ways to prevent or delay lines and wrinkles from developing – you should already be following a routine that involves moisturizing and applying sunblock, with appropriate use of chemical peels and/or laser resurfacing. But there’s also often no effective alternative to Botox, especially when your facial expressions result in repeated flexing and stretching of the skin along fixed lines.

Your Laser Skin Care in Los Angeles specializes in Botox and Fillers injections, laser hair removal, vein therapy, chemical peels and IPL among many other services. Please call us at (323) 525-1516 or visit us online at www.yourlaserskincare.com to schedule a free consultation.

An IPL Photofacial is a well-established non-invasive procedure that uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to treat a wide variety of surface skin defects on the face. It differs from laser treatments by using a broad spectrum of light frequencies, in contrast to laser treatments which make use of a single light frequency. One advantage of using several light frequencies is that they can be used to target multiple skin layers and types of skin cells at the same time.

By delivering light energy both to the outer layer of the skin and to the skin cells underneath, IPL Photofacials can assist in healing visible surface imperfections, while at the same time stimulating the various processes by which the skin heals naturally, including collagen production. The IPL Photofacial results in clearer, more youthful looking skin – it can also be used proactively to prevent signs of aging from developing.

The IPL Photofacial’s ability to smooth surface imperfections allows it to be used to treat many different types of superficial skin imperfections, including sun damage, age spots, freckles, acne scars, and rosacea. It can also help to reduce the size of skin pores, improve skin texture and tone, and can reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles by tightening loose skin.

In common with all cosmetic procedures, it’s highly recommended to start by consulting with a specialist physician, both to determine that the skin imperfections you want to address are appropriate for treatment by IPL, and perhaps to decide whether to combine the IPL Photofacial with other treatment options to achieve your aims in the quickest and most cost-effective manner.

The actual IPL treatment is done without anesthetic, although a cooling gel is usually first applied. The IPL pulses are gentle, and result in slight skin warming, accompanied by a snap similar to that produced by a rubber band.

Normal recovery time after an IPL procedure is minimal. Typically some redness and mild swelling occur – both should subside in the hours following treatment and can be concealed using makeup. You can expect to see results start to become apparent within 24 hours, and continue to develop in the weeks following treatment. Multiple treatments are often used to achieve better results and are typically performed after a three-week resting period.

Similar IPL techniques can also be used to treat skin imperfections on other body areas, including the neck, chest, arms, hands, back, shoulders, and legs.

For more information about the IPL Photofacial, contact Your Laser Skin Care for a free consultation.

CoolSculpting is rapidly gaining visibility as an effective way to target stubborn, hard-to-lose fat deposits. Although it’s not a cure-all, the technique is increasingly being seen as an extremely effective way of addressing the following classes of problems:

Double Chins and Drooping Neck Skin

This is perhaps the area most typically associated with CoolSculpting treatments – excess fat under the chin can be very effectively treated by CoolSculpting, and typically allows a significant reduction in this particularly visible, and for many people, very hard to lose accumulation of fat.

Love Handles

Another area that stubborn fat is often found – many patients find that even after extended dieting and exercise it’s not possible to eliminate the fat deposits that form on the side or flanks of one’s abdomen. Fortunately, CoolSculpting has also proven to be very effective at reducing or eliminating fat in this area and can be applied to both sides of the body at the same time, to ensure that you remain symmetrical as you lose the fat.

Upper Arms

Loose fat rolls under the arms are a particularly distressing symptom of aging for many, particularly for women. It’s relatively simple to isolate the unwanted fat and loose skin and treat them with CoolSculpting in an area that is very difficult to effectively target just through exercise. CoolSculpting results in gradual fat removal, allowing you to maintain a natural look during treatment.

Belly Fat

Treatment in this area normally takes more than one session to achieve wanted results, not least because quite large accumulations of fat can occur in this area.

Thighs

Both inner and outer thigh areas can be treated with CoolSculpting, and as with the other areas described above, the ability to treat both thighs at the same time allows a more natural look to be maintained, as unwanted fat is removed. The CoolSculpting technique has also been specially adapted to be more effective at treating this body area.

In all the above cases CoolSculpting works by permanently destroying fat cells. Each CoolSculpting treatment (depending on the area) typically removes approximately 25% of fat cells in the targeted area. It’s proven to be a very safe non-invasive technique with very limited side effects.

Your Laser Skin Care in Los Angeles specializes in this innovative CoolSculpting treatment. Please contact us at (323)-457-8740 or visit our website to schedule a free consultation.

Of all the cosmetic problems that you might want to address, hair removal has the widest range of available treatment options. They range from traditional shaving, plucking, and waxing techniques, through depilatory creams, threading, electrolysis, IPL, and on to our favorite – laser hair removal. Read on for a summary of the various advantages offered by this treatment method.

Highly Effective Hair Removal

Laser hair removal has been extensively tested and is regarded as providing the most reliable, safe, and long-term solution for hair removal. Depending on the laser equipment being used, it can now be used by people with light or dark complexions, and with any hair color. Laser light pulses are focused and applied very precisely, allowing very fine control over which hair follicles are targeted by each treatment. A consequence of this is that individual treatments provide more “bang for your buck,” and allow desired results to be more quickly achieved.

No Annoying Side Effects

Lasers can be used to target hair anywhere on the body, with the sole exception of areas immediately surrounding the eyes. Laser hair removal provides long-term results – hair typically doesn’t re-grow for years, and if it does reappear it is typically finer and lighter in color. Laser hair removal does not cause razor burn, skin irritation, or ingrown hairs following treatment, avoiding major causes of discomfort and irritation caused by more traditional techniques. As laser light pulses are used to target hair follicles beneath the skin’s surface, they’re also effective at removing any existing ingrown hairs.

Due to the way that individual hair follicles exhibit cyclic behavior, and because laser pulses can only kill hair follicles when they’re actively growing, you will need to repeat laser hair removal more than once before all hair in a given area will be removed. Permanent (or long-term) hair removal will be achieved after several sessions – sometimes as few as five or six, sometimes more.

Quick and Easy Treatment Sessions

Convenient individual treatment sessions are typically short in duration, normally between 10 and 20 minutes. Results are normally apparent within a week or two. Unlike other techniques, laser hair removal is effective without needing to first wait for individual hairs to grow out to the skin’s surface. This means that you can continue shaving in the midst of a course of laser hair removal sessions – unlike waxing, for example, when you have to show up for treatment with visible surface hair in place. As individual treatments are relatively short, you should be able to schedule laser hair treatment at a time that’s convenient for you.

Cost-Savings Over Time

Cost-effective laser hair removal is not only an effective and rapid way to eliminate unwanted body hair, but its results are also long-lasting. Consequently, it will allow you to avoid having to regularly schedule hair removal sessions and/or purchase hair removal supplies. Once the cost and time savings that come with being able to eliminate regular hair removal treatments are factored in, laser hair removal is the most cost-effective long-term solution. Electrolysis is sometimes regarded as a less expensive alternative to laser hair removal, however, it requires a far larger number of treatments to be equally effective, making its overall cost higher.

Plus, laser hair removal offers a very low chance of side effects; any that do occur are overwhelmingly minimal and of short duration. When administered by an experienced practitioner it is regarded as a very safe technique.

Los Angeles Laser Hair Removal

Your Laser Skin Care specializes in a number of safe and minimally-invasive aesthetic procedures. To learn more about eliminating unwanted hair for good, contact us at 323-525-1516 for more information.

A common symptom of aging is the loss of volume in the face, leading to more prominent wrinkles, lines and folds in the skin, and deepening eye sockets. The primary causes are the natural age-related loss of collagen, fat, and water beneath the skin, in addition to the stretching both of the skin, and of the ligaments beneath the skin. However, loss of facial volume can also be due to several other causes, most of which can be avoided or minimized.

– Too Much Sun Exposure

 Although exposure to UV radiation present in sunshine has no direct link to loss of facial volume, it does contribute to the loss of collagen which in turn reduces skin elasticity and overall vitality. Sun exposure prematurely accelerates the aging process – we are all more susceptible to loss of facial volume as we age, but that’s no reason to hurry this process along.

– Too Much Dieting and/or Exercise

Many people go through many cycles of weight gain and loss as they try to achieve long-term weight reduction. There are several reasons why this can be undesirable, not the least being that the constant changes in body volume can result in facial ligaments becoming stretched, reducing one’s face’s natural elasticity. Excessive exercise can also have similar results if exercise burns so many calories that fat layers beneath the skin are reduced.

– Loss of Bone Mass

The loss of estrogen during the menopause has many undesirable effects on the body, including reductions in calcium levels in the bones. Loss of estrogen can directly lead to loss of facial volume, and indirectly (through calcium loss) to reductions in bone mass. Similar problems are also possible when experiencing non-menopausal hormonal problems. Taking calcium supplements may help combat bone loss and will provide women in particular with benefits – helping to slow down bone loss and osteoporosis.

– Smoking

Smokers, and in particular heavy smokers, have plenty of other negative health effects to worry about, but you can count loss of facial volume as one of them. Smoking contributes to premature aging of the skin (particularly in women), causing wrinkles. However, smoking can also result in reduced levels of estrogen, reduced blood flow, and damage to elastin fibers, leading to the same negative effects on facial volume as detailed above.

– Poor Diet and/or Dehydration

It’s important to ensure that you consume a balanced diet, including plant protein (from soybeans, nuts, and seeds), omega 3 fatty acids (from flax seed and fish), calcium (available from dairy as well as many other sources), and vitamins C and D. Adequate hydration also helps to maintain collagen levels.

Many people concentrate on the condition of their skin while neglecting to pay enough attention to the bones that provide support to their facial features. A healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, and supplements can alleviate many of the causes of facial volume loss, particularly if started early.

Your Laser Skin Care offers non-invasive procedures to help alleviate this condition, including the use of several different injectables that can be used to restore lost facial volume. Restylane, Juvederm, Juvederm Voluma, and Sculptra Aesthetic products can be used to address a wide range of facial problems and can help you combat any loss of volume to rejuvenate your face.

Some common-sense tips can be applied to the use of dermal fillers, Botox, and other injectables to help you achieve the improvements you’re looking for while still keeping a natural look. We assembled the following list to help you achieve the best results.

Understand the causes of a problem before trying to correct it.

This is where an experienced practitioner will be able to supply invaluable help – often the cause (or causes) of a problem can be far from obvious, and not necessarily even located in the same area.

Applying fillers in one part of the face can easily result in changes of appearance elsewhere -changes that may be positive or negative.

Maintaining balance and proportion between different parts of the face is critical to maintaining an overall natural appearance. As a result, fillers must often be applied to areas that may not seem directly connected to the problem area you’re aiming to address.

Don’t over-correct.

 One person’s idea of a natural look can be very different from another’s. So “over-correct” can mean very different things to different people. But all injectables have a common characteristic: multiple treatments can be used cumulatively. In other words, plan on using multiple procedures to achieve your desired look, and stop when you’re happy, before going too far. Even for injectables whose effects can be reversed, it’s far better not to have to roll-back from overdone results.

Don’t wait too long.

The best way to avoid having to make major corrections is to make minor ones proactively. It’s becoming far more popular to start early, treating cosmetic treatments as preventive rather than corrective. By addressing problems as soon as they show signs of starting to develop, it’s possible to avoid needing aggressive treatment. This also gives you the best chance of maintaining a natural look both during and after treatment.

Use injectables appropriately.

This is where your practitioner’s advice will be invaluable – each injectable (and there are many) has different characteristics, and choosing which one to use where, and to what degree, is more art than science. Some products are designed to fill-in sunken areas, while others are more adapted to repairing fine wrinkles, or in enhancing areas where maintaining a smooth skin texture is vital.

We choose between many different injectables according to your specific needs and desires. The list includes the Restylane, Juvederm, Voluma and Sculptra Aesthetic filler products, Botox for wrinkle reduction, and Kybella for fat reduction.

Be patient, don’t rush results.

By not trying to fix every problem in a single visit, but instead moving relatively slowly and giving each treatment time to show results, you will end up with more natural results, and may even require fewer visits to accomplish your goals.

Use a trained and experienced practitioner.

By far the best way to ensure that you get the best, most natural looking results is to choose your practitioner with great care. Experienced doctors will draw both on their medical training and on their experience treating patients over many years. Finding a doctor who combines this experience with a good eye will give you the best guarantee of good results. 

Your Laser Skin Care in Los Angeles specializes in Botox and Fillers injections, laser hair removal, vein therapy, chemical peels and IPL among many other services. Please call us at (323) 525-1516 or visit us online at www.yourlaserskincare.com to schedule a free consultation.