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

Aesthetic Solutions for Dark Under Eye Circles

Dark circles are a major complaint for at least 65% of the women and men who come into my office and has been for the past 11 years at Orlando medical spa Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center.  Dark circles occur for many reasons.  Sometimes it is for reasons that are difficult to treat such as hereditary reasons, or sinus infections.  Usually dark circles occur from lack of sleep, and are frequently shadowing caused from hollow tear troughs or hollow cheeks.  Whatever the reason for dark circles the good news it that there are aesthetic non-invasive procedures to help reduce the appearance of dark circles long term.
Here are the top 3 aesthetic solutions for dark under eye circles that actually work. .
#1 Belotero Balance® or Juvederm UltraXC® dermal filler injected into the tear-trough area between your orbital bone & cheeks.
Why? Belotero Balance® is a hyaluronic acid filler that comes fully hydrated-which means that the product doesn't have to be "under-filled" in the tear trough area for safety reasons to see the result, it also allows the injector to inject higher in the dermal tissue which lessens risk of "tindle effect-bluish tint".  Belotero Balance® costs around $475-$550 per syringe for a 1 ML pre-filled syringe.  The tear trough area is typically numbed with topical cream first and pre-filled with Lidocaine for an even more comfortable procedure.
The tear-trough area is the most sensitive facial area to inject so slight bruising and swelling may occur but overall this is a minimally invasive treatment with little side effects or downtime. The results typically last 10-13 months on average. The result of Belotero in the tear-trough area can give clients a more youthful look, with less hollowness, dark circles & wrinkles in the eye area also making them look more rested.
#2 Glytone EnerPeel: A chemical peel designed specifically to target under eye darkening as well as wrinkles and loose skin around the eyes.
Why?  This peel is especially designed for the eye area & combines Lactic acid (great for pigment issues) with TCA (tri-chloracetic acid) great for tightening loose skin and stimulating collagen.  The results are a significant increase in skin firmness around eyes, Decrease in fine lines, wrinkles and coarse crow's feet around eyes, &  a Decrease in dark circles.
#3 Skinmedica TNS Illuminating Eye Cream: No matter what in-office treatments you have performed it is still important what you do at home.
Why? It is important to use an eye cream to keep the area around the eyes hydrated, and the illuminating eye cream has light flecks and growth factors to lighten dark circles & tighten skin around the eye area.
For more information on top aesthetic solutions to reduce dark under-eye circles contact Winter Park Laser located at 1155 N Kentucky Ave Winter Park FL 32789 at www.winterparklaser.com or call (407) 601-1185.

Tips for getting the Best Botox Injections

While Botox® has become a household name and is the #1 cosmetic treatment performed in the world (both surgical and non-surgical) there are still many questions and mystery surrounding it. When deciding to get Botox injections it is important to know what to look for in a treatment provider as well as how to know you are really getting Botox® Cosmetic from Allergan and not an imitation Botulin Toxin. After performing Botox® consultations for 5 years at our Orlando Medical Spa Winter Park Laser I have come up with the best tips. Here are Tips for Getting the Best Botox® Injections #1 Ask for a referral from friends. Botox® is no longer a "taboo subject" amongst friends, it's almost as common as brushing your teeth these days and even if you think you don't no anyone who uses it, I guarantee if you bring it up at least more than a few of your friends will admit to using it and can give you a great referral. By using a referral from a friend you can see the types of results you want-the friend who looks so great but natural that you didn't even realize she used Botox®! You will therefore feel comfortable with the Treatment provider before you even begin treatment and you will have an idea of what to expect. #2 Verify that you actually getting Botox® Cosmetic from Allergan: Botox® is a brand of Botulin Toxin, and is the #1 type used however there are unfortunately imported Botulin Toxins from Canada or other brands such as Dysport or Xeomin. It is important when you schedule your appointment that you ask directly if they are using Botox® Cosmetic. You then want to ask to see the bottle and look for the Botox® Allergan hollogram on the bottle. It should also be a red flag that it may not be Botox® if it is 50% less than most place or is a groupon. #3 Bring a Picture of your "younger self" so you can express exactly the way you want to look and what you loved at that time and give to the consultant or treatment provider prior to your Botox® injection. This way the provider knows exactly what you want and there will be no miscommunication. You want to be direct and clear about what you want so that you can have reasonable expectations and know that Botox® is really what you need to correct your concerns. #4 Look at Reviews of your Botox® provider and check that they are listed on the Allergan website. This will of course give you an idea of the best and allow you to feel comfortable before you go. You will also know that they order directly from Allergan and feel more comfortable with that as well. For more information on tips for getting the best botox® injections go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

The Most Common Aesthetic Procedures in Today’s Medical Spas

While Botox is a common everyday term, there are many other procedures that have become equally common especially with the increase in opening of Medical Spas. Here are the most common aesthetic procedures now found in Dermatology offices, Plastic Surgeons, and Medical Spa’s. One of the most common and most consistent aesthetic procedures today is the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photo-facial. This is a great and easy treatment that can not only be performed on the face, but the chest, arms, back and legs as well. The IPL is used to remove pigmentation issues caused by sun damage, as well as broken capillaries, redness, and Rosacea. Juvederm Ultra Plus and Juvederm Voluma are extremely common as well. Cosmetic dermal fillers have grown in popularity because they work and they are the only treatment that can replace volume. Juvederm and fillers are mainly hualuronic acid based and when injected they can fill in hollow cheeks, plump up thin lips, and give a face-lift effect as well. Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is becoming more popular especially for acne scars and laser stretchmark removal. Fractional lasers are non-ablative so there is little downtime and it typically only takes 4-5 treatments to remove decade old acne scars by stimulating collagen and elastyn. For more information on common aesthetic procedures in today’s medical spas go to www.winterparklaser.com

Top 3 Fall Skin-Care Tips

Just as you change your wardrobe for Fall you have to adjust your skin-care routine as well. Every season brings changes to your skin and therefore you need to reassess the products and cosmetic treatments that you are using and think about switching them up each season. As Skin-Care experts at our Orlando medical spa Winter Park Laser&Anti-Aging Center we like to keep our clients up to date by educating them on the proper skin-care routine for each season based on their skin needs. Here are our top 3 Fall Skin-Care Tips Fall SKIN-CARE TIPS: TIP #1: Reassess your body wash. You'll want to find a shower gel that is soap-free as well as hydrating, try a cream not a gel wash. We like Avene Trixera wash. You also want to make sure that you are using a lotion everyday. Even if you drink a lot of water your skin needs outside hydration as well. Look for a body moisturizer with shea butter\r\n for extra hydration. TIP #2: Switch your Moisturizer. If you have been using a light weight moisturizer in the summer you might want to switch to a thicker creamier moisturizer or add a night time moisturizer. We like SkinMedica Dermal Repair cream for night-it has shea butter and vitamin A for extra hydration & silky skin. Your daytime moisturizers should still have an SPF because even when you are driving or it is cold you are getting sun exposure. It is important to moisturize everyday even if you have acne. We like Skinmedica Ultra Sheer Moisturizer as it doesn't clog your pores and feels great. TIP #3: Analyze your skin. Those who are normally oily might become normal, and those who are normally normal could turn oily. Find a skin-care expert such as an Aesthetician, medical spa or Dermatologist to help get you on the correct medical grade products for your skin.