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Try as we may, we simply are not able to see ourselves as we really are. At least, not after the age of 30. We latch on to one thing, that may or may not be there, and miss the other thing that is crying out for attention.

But whether we are able to pin-point the “something’s different” and know, with certainty, just what it is, we usually do know that something has changed. And it bothers us. It may take a while before it bothers us enough, but it doesn’t go away. Until we make it go.

And when the time comes to “look like ourselves again” it’s important to remember that it’s not our own mind’s eye that sees what needs to be done, it’s in the eye of a top-notch professional.

You may go for the wrinkle-removing magic of BOTOX L.A. when it’s really the facial filler of Beverly Hills Restylane that’s required. You might make an appointment for Laser Skin Tightening when it’s Intense Pulsing Light that will provide the right skin rejuvenation.

Today’s anti-aging treatments and non-invasive procedures are life-changing. On any birthday, at any age. Recognizing what needs correcting and the subtle procedure to achieve it is the gift awaiting in the office of an experienced cosmetic dermatologist.

In 2002, BOTOX shined a beacon of light on a brand new era of miracle, anti-aging products and procedures.  Out of the darkness of costly and painful surgical facelifts and less expensive, but ineffective, creams and lotions and potions promising youth and vitality for your aging skin, here was the real deal. Verifiable, indisputable and non-invasive results for diminishing or erasing lines and wrinkles, lifting brows and so much more.

And, of course, the fabulous facial fillers like Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse and others, basked in the following sunlight.

But oh, that sunlight, the double-edged sword. There is a litany of skin damage and signs of aging that are also linked to the sun. Age spots, premature wrinkles and hyperpigmentation also come under the sun’s ultraviolet spotlight.

Enter IPL or Intense Pulsed Light Photofacial treatments. Designed to treat the above sun damage, IPL targets so much more: blemishes, broken or “spider” veins, rosacea, acne scars, redness, broken capillaries, premature wrinkles, enlarged pores and other skin conditions as your doctor might advise.

While the face is the most popular area of treatment, any area with frequent sun exposure, i.e., your neck, chest, arms and hands are also ideal areas for IPL rejuvenation. The treatment, itself, is simple and is usually completed in 15 – 20 minutes. In most cases, there is minimal discomfort and numbing or freezing agents are not even applied.

A very intense pulsating laser light penetrates deeply below the surface of the skin and is calibrated to target very specific pigments in the skin. Red, discolored or darker pigments absorb the light in much greater amounts while normal skin is not affected. And the process also helps in the natural production of new collagen which results in firmer, smoother, more supple and youthful-looking skin. Modern miracles, indeed.

Depending upon the type and severity of the skin condition, several IPL procedures may be necessary, for total correction. But with no down time, short treatment duration and practically no side effects, Intense Pulse Light Photofacial treatments are light years ahead of the competition!

Do you want to hear something absolutely amazing about “aging?” It only happens to other people! Now how did we get so lucky? Easy. We see ourselves every single day.

But what if you didn’t look into the mirror for three or four years? Then you take a peek. Quick! – what do you see? A slightly startled face staring back at you, wondering.“When did that frown line grow so deep? My lips look so much thinner and I never even noticed the hollows in my cheeks. What happened to my face? Why do I look so…different?”

Gravity happened. Dry skin happened. The sun happened. Loss of volume happened. Age happened. Fortunately, it happens over time. Slowly, but relentlessly. So slowly, in fact, that not only do we never see it coming, we never see it even when it arrives. Until…

Until someone snaps a picture when we aren’t looking. Or we catch an un-posed glimpse in a mirror.

Do you want to hear something else absolutely amazing about “aging?”

To some, they’re called the facial fillers; to others, the Fountain of Youth. But no matter what you call them, they’re the reason that “70 is the new 40” and no one, in their 60’s, looks a day over 30. Or needs to.

Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm and Radiesses…the new “Fab Four!” While Restylane was the first ground-breaking filler to receive FDA approval, in 2003 the family of products that followed, each added a nuance of difference and a more customized treatment for you.

Perlane, launched in the U.S. in 2007, is very similar to its sister, Restylane, as both products are created with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance already found in the body. No testing, no worries, no adverse allergic reaction.

So what’s the difference? Perlane is formulated with a larger or thicker “molecule” than Restylane and is better suited to diminishing deeper folds and wrinkles and for adding lift and volume to larger areas of the face. Lower cheek hollows or chin augmentation are perfectly suited for Perlane. But this is where the skill and experience of your practitioner comes in. Which filler for what desired effect is part of the artistry. Search for it. Use it. Love it.

And the love keeps coming. Perlane is known to last up to 8 months or so, if the right volume is injected or a touch-up session takes place within a month of the first treatment. It dissolves gradually and can be replenished just as naturally.

And the best part? Smoother, clearer and more supple skin. Your youthful radiance is restored. And that’s the most amazing part of the aging process. Reversing it…in an instant.

 

When it comes to the one product that has granted more wishes and answered more prayers, BOTOX rules. The #1 sign of premature aging, the woeful wrinkle, is diminished or disappears. Like the magic of a mini brow-lift, hooded eye lids open wide. And the down-turned corners of our lips, once more, have something to smile about.

Cosmetic dermatology truly is an art and a science. And with BOTOX, the science has performed beautifully. But making the magic real, is in the experienced eye and skillful hand of the practitioner. The artist. The sculptor. Because that’s what creating beauty, with BOTOX, really is. Artistry. So let’s give credit where credit is due.

Before administering a single injection, the doctor or nurse or other qualified practitioner must first see the client’s face. Not just look, but see. Imagine. Create. Where would the product work best? Where would the results most shine? Where to pinpoint each injection? How much product? How little product? How close? How far? When is less more? When is “more” best?

If you’re living near or may be visiting BEVERLY HILLS or L.A. you’re in the place that’s truly home to the most dazzling, glamorous people in the world. This is “show business”country. And this is also home to the most experienced, up-to-the-minute and best BOTOX specialists in the cosmetic dermatology industry. But you don’t have to be a super star in the entertainment industry to feel like one!

A little research, a phone call and you’ll be on your way to renewing the more youthful, attractive and star power person you always knew you could be.

Long, luxurious locks of hair have always been considered one of a woman’s sexiest, most desirable attributes. Even men have discovered the captivating quality of the curl.

But as we discussed, last week, hair can also be a source of considerable embarrassment and cosmetic concern. Facial hair for women, back hair for men, any hair that appears in the wrong place at the wrong time is deemed “unwanted” and targeted for removal.

Fortunately, modern medical technology has provided many ways to treat unwanted hair: depilatories, shaving, tweezing, electrolysis and today’s most preferred method of hair removal, from Beverly Hills to L.A. – the laser.

The process is fast, cost effective and, usually, permanent. But, as with any hair removal procedure, you can only remove the hair that’s there. Visible. Above the surface. Available for removal. So, laser treatments must be repeated to achieve good results.

To make your Laser Hair Removal as effective as possible – and to avoid an unnecessary number of treatments, read“cost” –  here are a few simple tips to follow, prior to your treatment.

For at least, two weeks prior to your laser treatment, avoid sunbathing. The UV rays may interfere with the laser process. And for maximum results, avoid plucking, bleaching or waxing for four weeks, prior to treatment. The laser beam detects the darkness of your hair and bleaching causes a “hide and seek” game by lightening your hair and its follicle.

Tweezing and waxing removes hair at the roots, interferingwith the natural growth cycle. This is one time when the more hair follicles, the better. A depilatory or razor, which only removes hair above the skin surface, is allowed, if needed.

Finally, right before treatment, do shave the area to help minimize any discomfort as the laser follows the hair down to the root of the follicle. While most people tolerate the laser well, there’s never a need to “suffer in silence.” A numbing cream can be applied or the practitioner may adjust the laser to a more comfortable level.

And remember, small facial areas, like lip and chin, are usually completed within 10 minutes.

After your session, you might experience some redness or swelling, which is usually gone, within hours, by the application of an ice pack. And please note, it might appear as if some of your hairs are still present. It’s normal. Sometimes the hair doesn’t fall out for several days after the treatment.

Be gentle on your new skin and protect it with a sunscreen with an SPF of 30, for the next two weeks. And schedule your follow-up appointment for four weeks later. Then celebrate your new-found freedom: hair-free and lovin’ it!

Sometimes, when talking about beauty and skin care and conditions and treatments and on and on, there are subjects that are very difficult to discuss. Sometimes those subjects are of great importance; often, of great concern.

Unwanted body hair, for women and men, is one of those subjects. So – let’s talk.

For women, the unwanted hair is usually facial; for men, it might be hair on their backs or ears or even an over-abundance of chest or arm hair. Everyone reacts differently to their perception of what’s “normal” and what is not. But one thing that is common to all, is the embarrassment, shyness and downright distress that unwelcome hair growth causes. To everyone. Perceived or real.

While there are no absolute causes for this condition, in addition to heredity, there are some factors that do play a pivotal part. Androgens, the male hormones that become active at puberty are one of the primary triggers of unwanted hair.

Medications, like some birth control, migraine headache, high blood pressure and steroid pills might also activate the growth.

But regardless of the cause, the good news is that there are many treatments to alleviate or eliminate the unwanted hair. Shaving, depilatories, waxing and electrolysis are the old staple treatments. Some are daily, some messy, some have uneven results and some are simply unacceptable.

Today, Laser Hair Removal is the most high tech, state-of-the-art, “I’m serious about this,” permanent hair removal process available. In the most “serious about beauty” cities in America –  L.A. and Beverly Hills. And when it comes to the play-off between electrolysis and laser hair removal, according to both the practitioner and the patient, the laser wins. Hands down.

For covering larger areas; for fewer treatments resulting in less cost; for less discomfort; for less procedure time, laser hair removal offers all the benefits you desire.

So how, exactly, does the laser process work? As the name implies, a high-intensity beam of light and a steady level of heat is focused on the hair follicle. The hair is destroyed, at its root. Immediately, a corresponding cooling process is also administered to minimize the discomfort, curtail side effects and prevent the laser from affecting the surrounding skin, as well.

A bit more tech than you needed to know? Perhaps. But not a bit less remarkable in its results. There’s a reason important things are done “laser fast” and we “focus like a laser” when precision really counts. Indeed. There’s a reason the laser has become the process of choice in swift, precise hair removal. It works.

Restylane – the facial filler that changed everything. Look years younger, instantly. No surgery. No painful recovery. No staples or tubes. No lost work time.

The standard procedure, for all the fillers, is the same. A series of small injections are administered below the surface of the skin. Depending upon the number of areas treated – the lips, under eyes, nose-to-mouth and mouth-to-chin areas being the most popular – the entire process takes about 30-minutes.

Restylane has also been FDA approved and the product may now be combined with the anesthesia Lydocaine, in the same syringe. Additionally, a variety of numbing agents may also be applied, topically, if you desire.

Following the procedure, you might experience some minor swelling, redness or tenderness. In some instances, there might also be some spots of bruising. All of these side effects will usually disappear in less than 7 days. Applications of ice, immediately following, combined with Arnica tablets or cream, does wonders to further reduce any discomfort. And here, with the vast experience in Beverly Hills facial fillers and Restylane L.A., physicians are skilled at making it easy.

Your practitioner may also discuss other precautions you might take in the week or days prior to treatment. Halting your supplement regimen and aspirin/ibuprofen products or blood-thinning drugs and limiting alcohol or sugar might be suggested to further prevent swelling.

Be assured that few products have undergone the long term research and rigid testing as the wonder drugs of modern cosmetic dermatology. And while there are more than 100 facial filler drugs, in use, around the world, there are only nine approved here in the U.S.

It’s safe, reasonably priced with minor and short-lived side effects and the results are stunning.