The benefit of exfoliation

In our Orlando Medical Spa-Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center, I must use the word "exfoliation" fifty times a day to clients because it is my favorite word & activity!!  Exfoliation can change everything in a woman or man's skin including texture, pore size, acne, pigmentation, and dullness.  Unfortunately, many people never exfoliate their skin, or do not do it correctly, which is sad because they are many the boat on it's effectiveness.  While, laser skin resurfacing and aesthetic injectables are so amazing in my opinion exfoliation is still necessary to enhance these procedures and improve skin texture.
Exfoliation is essential because at any age dead skin cells start to pile up on the skin which cause dull uneven skin tone & texture even preventing many skincare products penetrating properly.  Skin exfoliation should not only be done on the face but the body as well and at least on a weekly basis.  Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells that cling to the skin's outermost surface, or epidermis.
Exfoliation is easy with new medical grade skincare products that contain glycolics, exfoliating beads, or with medical grade chemical peels and dermaplaning.
Here are the Top Methods of Exfoliation:
Chemical Peel Exfoliation uses various enzymes, alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) or betahydroxy acids (BHAS) loosen the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to slough away. Facial chemical peels are a form of chemical exfoliation. Chemical peels can be mild or stronger levels of exfoliation.
Dermaplaning is another new and amazing exfoliating treatment that provides an alternative to microdermabrasion and is a good choice for anyone with extremely sensitive skin. The dermaplaning treatment is performed by an experienced aesthetician who uses a modified blade to gently exfoliate the outer layer of dead skin cells. A noticeable improvement is immediate with smoother texture and fresh skin appearance. Hair returns softly and will not become coarser because of the treatment. Even products penetrate the skin better following this treatment and a chemical peel can even be performed directly after for deeper penetration.
Medical Grade Exfoliation Skincare products are those you purchase in a physician's office that you use at home once a week.  Typically they have various glycolic, or other AHA/BHA's in them to slough off dead skin.  Retinol is always a must product for constant exfoliation.
For more information on the benefits of exfoliation go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

What is Melasma & How to Treat It

elasma is a term that has become more commonplace over the past decade especially in regions such as Florida with an excess of sun exposure.  Melasma is often referred to as "the mask of pregnancy" because it is usually caused by hormone changes especially with pregnancy, birth control or menopause, and is made increasingly worse by sun exposure.  Melasma can also be caused by medications or brought on by post imflammatory hyperpigmentation due to certain burns of laser treatments.  Melasma generally occurs when estrogen and/or progesterone stimulate pigmentation hormones, causing dark brown irregular sized patches on the face that are normally rather large.   Melasma is most common in ethnic skin types especially hispanic or meditteranean although it can occur in light skin types as well. Genetic predisposition may make one more susceptible to melasma, and thyroid dysfunction may also increase susceptibility.
Since our medical spa Winter Park Laser is located in Florida we see a lot of Melasma due to the to the amount of sun exposure and the high amount of hispanic population in Florida. Melasma can be very difficult to treat and the results rely heavily on patient compliance and the type of maintenance done by the patient.  Here are some of the top ways to treat and maintain melasma.
#1 The Vi PeelL this is a strong chemical peel safe for all skin types to treat melasma.  It is a proprietary blend of TCA, Retinoic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Phenol, Vitamin C and a mineral blend.
#2 At Home Skincare: It is crucial to use Skin Lightening Treatment products such as Hydroquinone bleaching creams, or Skinmedica lytera which will help to suppress the underlying pigmentation and prevent more patches of melasma from surfacing.
#3 Limited Sun Exposure: Sun can make Melasma worst so the more one stays away from sun by wearing a full broad spectrum minimum spf 30 everyday and reapplying,  and wearing large sunglasses and large hats to protect your skin.

For more information on treating Melasma in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com

In Honors of Father's Day-the Best Aesthetic Treatments for Dad

So it's Father's Day this weekend, and in honor of that I would like to go over the best aesthetic treatments for Men & for Dad.  Fifty years ago, men would never be the ones to be in the market for aesthetic treatments, but in today's generation men account for more than a quarter of all surgical and non-surgical procedures.  These are the top aesthetic treatments that don't require surgery for men and dad's in 2015.
The Best Aesthetic Treatments for Dad (men)
#1 Brotox
"Brotox" is a new slang word for Botox for Men.  While Botox has been FDA approved for 14 years, men have become increasingly popular.  BOTOX^® Cosmetic is a FDA-approved treatment to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows and crow’s feet as well as used to treat wrinkles on the forehead  & to provide a temporary brow lift for men and women.  Men love it because it is quick (20 minutes) always deliveers great results, has no down-time and shows a nice improvement without looking "done" like surgery might do to a man.
#2 Laser Hair Removal
More and more Dads and men come to our Orlando medical spa-Winter Park Laser for laser hair removal.  Men get tired of shaving everyday and still having a "5 o'clock shadow" by the end of the day.  Many men also do laser hair removal to deal with in-grown hairs on the beard, neck or more.  Laser hair removal is a fairly painless procedure with no downtime that requires 6 sessions on average.
#3 Dermal Fillers such as Juvederm
Many men start to have sagging jowles as they age especially if they have lost weight.  While men want to look younger, not many of them are up for surgery so they turn to non-surgical options.  Dermal fillers such as Juvederm Voluma can give a "liquid Face-lift" effect by filling in hollow cheeks and deep lines around the nose and mouth.  JUVÉDERM^® XC is the first and only non-surgical hyaluronic acid (HA) filler FDA-approved to instantly smooth moderate to severe wrinkles around your nose and mouth for up to one year with optimal treatment and Juvederm Voluma® is approved to replace mid-face volume for results up to two years.
For more information on the best aesthetic treatments for Dads & men go to htttp://www.winterparklaser.com

Liquid Face-Lift is the Alternative to Surgical Face-lifts

In the past decade or more ago the only option for sagging skin on the face was for a surgical face-lift.  A surgical face-lift that required time off work, incisions, going under with anesthesia, spending $7,00-$10,000 and weeks of down-time to recover.  However, in this decade there are many other options for sagging skin and anti-aging than simply turning to surgery.  Many patients are looking for options that require less down-time and give natural results that don't cost as much as a car.
There are many options in the world of medical aesthetics for non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as ablative skin resurfacing, ultherapy, chemical peels, and mincroneedling.  One of the most popular non-surgical treatments is the "liquid face-lift" which utilizes various types of dermal fillers and injectables such as Botox cosmetic , Juvederm Ultra, Sculptra, and Juvederm Voluma to lift, and tighten the face in a treatment that takes an hour with minimal recovery time a less expensive cost of around $1,500-$2,000 which is way less than a surgical face-lift.
A "liquid face-lift" using cosmetic dermal fillers especially Juvederm Voluma that gives a great lifting effect when injected in the mid-face cheek area and can be performed on several areas of the face or focus on "trouble spots" such as the deep naso-labial folds (laugh lines) around the nose and mouth and hollow cheek area. This treatment can fill in hollow cheeks again which pulls up sagging jowles, mask bags under eyes, lift brows, lift jowls and reshape and restore plump lips, rounded faces and plump cheeks.  Once corrected this procedure can make women and men look 10-15 years younger instantly.
Liquid Face-lifts are performed by nurse practitioners, Physican Assistants, and physicians.  Winter Park Laser is an Orlando medical spa that has has experts performing liquid face-lifts on a regular basis.  For more information go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

How dark skin types can safely have laser hair removal

In the past when laser hair removal began it's roots 2 decades ago treating dark skin types was considered taboo but today with the right precautions and preparation laser hair removal can not only be safe but extremely beneficial for ethnic and dark skin types.  At our Orlando medical spa Winter Park Laser we have treated dark skin types with different lasers for hair removal for 11 years and these are our expert tips.
How dark skin types can safely have laser hair removal
Here are our tips to get laser hair removal for dark skin types:
#1 Ask Questions
You should be able to have a complimentary consultation at any medical spa.  Ask them a lot of questions.  Some key questions are: "How long have you been performing laser hair removal?", "Do You have Experience treating dark skin types with laser hair removal & how many cases have you performed?"  "Do you offer test spots?"  "What type of laser do you use & is it safe for dark skin?"
#2 What Type of Laser is being used for Laser Hair Removal
Research the laser being used on dark skin and make sure it is safe-that is has a built in cooling system and is a newer model.  The Vectus Laser by Cynosure which is a Diode laser is currently the safest laser on the market because it is the only laser with a built in melanin reader-the skintel that actually reads dark skin types and adjusts the settings automatically.  However, there are other diodes and yags on the market appropriate for ethnic skin.
#3 Get a "Test Spot"
If you have dark or ethnic skin you should be able to ask the laser tehnician to perform a small "test spot" on a less visible patch of skin.  You would know within 24-48 hours if you had a negative reaction before you have a large area treated.
#4 Ask a Friend
Ask your friends for a referral and read reviews before deciding on where you should get laser hair removal.
For more information on laser hair removal for dark skin go to www.winterparklaser.com

Busting Myths on Laser Skin Resurfacing

After Being in the Medical Spa industry for 10 years the technology for non-invasive cosmetic treatments has consistently involved and improved.  One of the top treatments to burst on to the seen in the past year is laser skin resurfacing using non-ablative and ablative lasers to treat scars, wrinkles, stretchmarks and more.  At our medical spa Winter Park Laser in Orlando we utilize several fractional lasers to treat a variety of aesthetic concerns. However, while laser resurfacing is such a viable option for treating skin concerns there are many myths and incorrect information out there.  My goal is to bust the myths on laser skin resurfacing.
Myth #1: Laser skin Resurfacing is Painful

Fact: This isn't true anymore.  Most lasers now have built in cooling systems, and topical numbing cream can be applied 30-60 minutes prior to treatments for an extremely comfortable treatment.
Myth #2: Laser Resurfacing involves extreme downtime of being raw, bloody & red for weeks.

Fact: This is not true, certain older ablative lasers such as CO2, Fraxel, and Urbium used to cause severe downtime for 10-21 days as the holes took 96 hours to close.  However, Palomar's Ablative Fractional Laser Resurfacing hand-piece only requires a "rug burn" effect for 4-7 days as the holes close in 6 hours also significantly reducing any risk of infection.  There is also non-ablative laser skin resurfacing which involves multiple treatments but has no downtime with the exception of slight pinkness for a few hours and is great for minor wrinkles, acne scars and stretchmarks.
Myth #3 All Lasers for Skin Resurfacing Treatments Are the Same
False: While this may have been true a decade ago, it definitely isn’t today.  There are a growing number of different lasers and various brands which can be classified as either ablative or non-ablative.  Ablative laser skin resurfacing removes the top layer of your skin whereas non-ablative relies on wavelengths to penetrate the epidermis and stimulate deeper tissues.  Newer lasers (less than 3 years old) are safer, require less down time and have better built in cooling systems for great results.
Myth #4 If you have a surgical face-lift you won't need any other treatments such as Laser Resurfacing or Fillers
Fact: This is a common myth among surgical procedures but the fact is that surgical does not improve the texture of your skin.  Laser skin resurfacing will stimulate your own collagen & elastin to tighten skin, reduce wrinkles, and tighten pores.
Myth #5: Dark skin Types are not safe for Laser skin resurfacing.
Fact: This isn't true for non-ablative laser resurfacing but it is true for ablative laser skin resurfacing.  Most non-ablative lasers such as Palomar 1540 are color blind so they are safe for all skin types.

For more information on busting myths about laser skin resurfacing for Fractional ablative or non-ablative lasers at Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center in Orlando go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

Why laser hair removal is a necessity & not a luxury

So when laser hair removal started it's roots after FDA approval in the early 1990's it quickly grew in popularity but was definitely a luxury item.  Many of the companies that started offered laser hair removal were large franchises and chains that treated it as a high end treatment and charged as such.  However, in more recent years as more individual medical spas like ours; Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center in Orlando have made laser hair removal more accessible to the general public.  This blog is to explain why laser hair removal has become a necessity and not a luxury.
Here are some of the top reasons laser hair removal is necessary:
1.) It saves time:  We live in an age where everyone has less time; moms are working more, and men are busier that ever, the more time you can save the better. Laser hair removal will save hundreds of hours of your life on not shaving, waxing or threading anymore after 6 short treatments of laser hair removal.
2.) It saves money: Over 10-20 years you will save $5,000-$15,000  not spending money on razors ($20 a month on avge), waxing ($300-$1200 a year) or threading ($200-$1000 a year).
3.) It is a cure for folliculitis (in-grown hairs): Darker skin is especially susceptible to ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal can give permanent relief to in-grown hairs with less than 4 treatments. Laser hair removal helps by thinning out the hair and can also help reduce the hyperpigmentation (excess pigment) caused by ingrowns which mainly occurs in darker skin types.
4.) If you live in warmer climates, you will always be ready for a swim suit: Laser hair removal will ensure that you don't have embarrassing stubble or ingrown hairs in your swim suit.
5.) It eliminates facial hair for women: It is embarrassing for many women and young girls to have facial hair. Laser hair removal can rid the hair and build confidence for life!
Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center is a privately owned medical spa in Orlando that has been performing laser hair removal for 12 years and was the winner of "Best Laser Hair Removal Orlando 2009". Go to www.winterparklaser.com for more information on laser hair removal.