Favorite Celebrity Cosmetic Treatments

I am writing this blog in honor of the awards season when you see nothing but fresh faced celebrities that only seem to look younger every year.  While celebrities want you think that they are naturally blessed with the best genetics in the world, most of them have had a little help.  So what cosmetic treatments are these celebrities utilizing that make them look so flawless.
Here are top non-surgical favorite celebrity cosmetic treatments:
#1 Botox Cosmetic: So sure there are a few celebs who claim they have never used Botox (as their forehead doesn't move) but there are many who have now embraced it and recognize that their smooth forehead is due to Botox such celebs include Jenny McCarthy, Vanessa Williams, and Kelly Rippa just to name a few.  Celebs love Botox as do most people because it is a quick, painless, has no downtime (so noone will know) and it works!  In 20 minutes they can have a treatment that kicks in within 1-2 weeks & smoothes out their wrinkles
#2 Dermal Fillers: While people would find out in hollywood if a celeb had a surgical facelift, however, a liquid facelift can be done in 45 minutes and a celeb can leave the office looking fresh as a daisy.  Dermal fillers such as Juvederm Voluma, Juvederm Ultra Plus, and Radiesse can be injected into the mid face to give back lost facial volume to areas such as cheeks will lift up sagging jowles and minimize deep smile lines.  Celebs who admit to using dermal fillers are Kris Jenner and Courtney Cox.
#3 Laser Skin Resurfacing: If you ever see celebs with smooth skin free of pores, wrinkles or scars that are older than they look or mention severe acne scarring as an adolescent they have probably had laser skin resurfacing.  Lasers like fractional non-ablative or ablative skin resurfacing utilize heat to cause superficial trauma to the dermis stimulating collagen & elastyn.  Non-ablative fractional resurfacing has no downtime with the exception of redness & swelling for less than 24 hours.  Mariah Carey & Brad Pitt are rumored to have had laser skin resurfacing treatments.
All of these treatments we have offered at our Orlando medical spa Winter Park Laser for 10 years and have treated some local celebrities whom shall remain nameless.   For more information on favorite celebrity cosmetic treatments go to www.winterparklaser.com

How to get rid of a pimple quickly

So every girl or guy has been there-you have a big event coming up such as a wedding and what shows up but a dreaded pimple on your face.  While there are many ways to treat acne breakouts that occur often on a long term basis such as antibiotics, topicals, and lasers it is nice to have an easy way to get rid of a big pimple fast.
The easiest and fast way to get rid of a big cystic pimple is with a Kenalog injection.  This can be performed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant in a medical spa or physician office.  Kenalog is an injectable medication used to treat large painful acne lesions resulting in significant improvement in appearance and discomfort within 24 hours.  It is also used to treat poorly healed scars know as hypertrophic or keloid scars resulting in improved texture and appearance over several treatments.
While Kenalog injections should not be used frequently as an acne treatment it is an excellent way to get rid of a pimple fast before a big and important event.

How to Get a "Face-Lift" Result without Surgery

I operate a Medical Spa so obviously I get clients coming to me all the time with a desire to have a "face-lift" result without surgery. Fortunately, there are options to get this result with laser treatments & injectables. Ultimately, the desire is to have tighter skin, less wrinkles, a smoother textures, and less sagging skin & jowles. Here are the best non-surgical treatments to get a "facelift result" without surgery. The best way to get an actual "lifting effect" if you are bothered by sagging jowles is a "liquid face-lift" using dermal fillers such as juvederm, radiesse, and Belotero. A “liquid face-lift” using cosmetic dermal fillers such as Juvederm (a hyaluronic acid product) 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. This treatment replaces volume lost giving one high cheeks again, improving the hollowness under eyes, lifting brows, lifting jowls and plumping lips, giving back the youthful look of full cheeks, lips, and less wrinkles. Once corrected this procedure can make women and men look 10-15 years younger instantly in 20-45 minutes. The next way to get a "non-surgical face-lift" effect is with Combo ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing. This treatment is perfect for those with fine lines, wrinkles, large pores or skin that is in need more tightening but don’t want the downtime of surgery or older CO2 and dot lasers that took 2-5 weeks of downtime. The Palomar fractional laser resurfacing only requires 4-7 days of healing and the holes close in 6 hours (on most lasers the holes close in 96 hours) which offers less risk of infection. Fractional ablative wrinkle treatment from Palomar uses beams of laser light that penetrates skin to just the right depth and with just the right level of heat to evoke a dramatic healing response that promotes collagen production, diminishing the appearance of fine lines around the face, especially the eyes and mouth which are most prevalent in clients without the discomfort compared to full surface CO2 resurfacing treatments. It’s a great alternative to a face-lift giving you tightening & texture improvement without surgery. For more information on non-surgical facelift results go to www.winterparklaser.com

7 Important Things to Know About Getting Botox Cosmetic Injections

Even though Botox has been around for decades now it continues to cause questions, and anxiety for many before they lose their "Botox virginity" in which most cases they then become life long worshippers of this little aesthetic miracle known as Botox cosmetic. Botox is a neurotoxin that causes temporary muscle paralysis and is used as a wrinkle-preventer. At our Orlando Medical Spa-Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center we have injected Botox for over 7 years and have come up with the 7 most important things to know about getting Botox Cosmetic Injections. 1. It's been around for 4 decades & for 2 decades used for Cosmetic Purposes Originally used in the 1960s to help realign crossed eyes, it's now used in the treatment of many medical conditions including muscle spasms, facial tics, cerebral palsy, strokes, obesity, migraine & excessive sweating. It became FDA approved to fight wrinkles in the early 1990's. 2. It is derived from the botulism toxin but is Completely Safe Botox is a purified protein made by the botulism organism & It works by blocking the body's production of acetylcholine, therefore relaxing the muscles. There have been more safety studies on Botox than any other cosmetic treatment. 3. Once injected, it doesn't go into your bloodstream Botox is injected directly into a muscle and remains in that muscle only, once it fully sets in 4-14 days after injection it stays put. 4. It's preventative as well as corrective Many women & men in their 20s are having Botox because it freezes the muscles that cause deep lines thus slowing down the ageing process & preventing one from getting deeper lines. 5. There is no downtime Botox is injected with insulin needles and therefore has very little downtime or risks associated with the treatment. You might experience mild swelling & redness for a couple of hours in the injection site and that's about it. There is a very small chance of getting a pin point bruise in one of the injection sites. 6. It Works Botox Cosmetic is the #1 Cosmetic procedure in the world because it works. The results relax muscles & wrinkles within days and can instantly make men and women look younger. 7. How do you find a Reputable Medical Spa? You want to make sure that anyone injecting you is a licensed & board certified PA, ARNP or physician, and that they are experienced. If it is a spa make sure they have a Medical Director that is a Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist. You can check the BBB websites, google reviews & best of all ask your friends-they are the best sources in many occasions! For more information on things to know about Botox cosmetic injections go to www.winterparklaser.com

Top 3 Reasons to Get Laser Hair Removal

After performing laser hair removal for 9 years at our Orlando medical spa Winter Park Laser we have definitely seen an increase in the amount of medical spas offering laser hair removal because it has become so popular. It's become popular because of how many benefits it has! Here are our top 3 reasons to get laser hair removal: #1 No more Ingrown Hairs (folliculitis): If you suffer from ingrown hairs-and many people do especially dark skinned men and women then this is the best investment you can give yourself! Laser hair removal works by destroying the active follicles in the anagen cycle (about 15-25% each treatments) so by getting even 2-3 treatments it will thin out enough of the hair so that 2 hairs aren't fighting to get through the same follicle which cause painful ingrown hairs. This treatment is safe for all skin types. #2 Being stubble free when you put on a swim-suit: The #1 dislike for beauty treatment among women is shaving-no one likes doing it! What is worse is a last minute pool adventure & you know you have embarrassing stubble. You don't have to worry about this with laser hair removal! #3 You save money compared to waxing or shaving over time Laser hair removal can be an investment, but it saves a lot of money over times. Razors and waxing can be expensive after you do it every month for years. For more information on laser hair removal go to www.winterparklaser.com

Tips for Getting the Best laser Hair Removal Treatments

Laser Hair Removal has become extremely popular and mainstream over the past decade. However, not all laser hair removal treatments or locations performing them are the same. There are many different types of lasers, factors, and technician training that go into getting a successful laser hair removal treatment. After managing a Medical Spa for 9 years-Winter Park laser & Anti-Aging Center in Orlando here are our top tips for finding a great place to give you successful laser hair removal treatments. Tip #1: Reputation is key-Always do your research on the company by doing an internet search to find online reviews, suggestions and check with your local Better Business Bureau. You can also look up how long they have been in business, what location they are found in and make sure that the person performing the service is licensed. A recommendation from a friend is always a great idea! Tip #2: Ask what technology/machine is being used on you and research that machine. We use the Palomar Starlux 500 and get great results. Pulsed light lasers can be just as effective as long as they are strong like Palomar. You want to ask how old the equipment is and if it has been serviced. Also, if you don’t feel it-it’s not working! Tip #3: Ask them who performs the treatment & if you will be with the same person every-time. Having the same experienced technician can make a difference because they know what settings they used on there and get used to your body and how you react. Also, at a franchise you will often get a different person every time as they have higher turn over this can often be someone inexperienced or not used to treating your body. Tip #4: Make sure you are a good candidate. If you are a blonde or redhead make sure that they have a handpiece especially for lighter hair or ask them to honestly tell you what type of result you can expect. If you have dark skin make sure they specialize in treating skin of color and hand a laser safe for dark skin, you can also ask them to perform a test spot on you to make sure you don’t have a negative reaction. For more tips on getting the best laser hair removal treatments go to www.winterparklaser.com

'Tis the season to look younger? Holidays see boost in Botox

While some are busy making plans for Christmas and New Year's Eve, others are planning trips to get cosmetic procedures. The Winter Park Laser and Anti-Aging Center said the holiday season has brought a boost in business. Managing Director Jennifer Calabrese said many people have been coming in to the Laser and Anti-Aging Center's managing director for quick procedures, like Botox or light cosmetic peels, before they head to holiday parties or events. "They want to look better and younger with a lot of instant gratification," said Calabrese. The spike in appointments isn't just from the ladies, either. Calabrese said she believes the social norms are changing, with more male celebrities getting cosmetic work done. "I think men are starting to realize that it's OK for them to do it, too," said Calabrese. "Plus, I have a lot of men who are recently divorced or dating younger women, and they want to look good, too. So, it's become an equal opportunity treatment." But be warned: If not done right, those procedures can be dangerous, and even life-threatening. Leaders with the Florida Department of Health said any medical treatment like cosmetic work must be performed by a doctor, a physician's assistant under supervision, or a registered nurse practitioner; and anyone going under the knife needs to know the risks involved. Calabrese agreed with the Health Department's warning. "Anytime you are getting anything that's a medical grade, be it a chemical peel or injectable, you definitely don't want to get this done in someone's home," she said. "These are definitely things that should be done in a medical setting." For customers like like Judith Christian, who went in Tuesday for a Botox injection, the results outweigh the risks. "It just makes me feel so much better about myself," she said. The Department of Heath urged consumers to verify the license status of all health care providers before seeking any medical treatment. For more information on Botox in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/12/18/christmas_and_new_ye.html

Laser Tattoo removal on the rise among women

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Tattoos can offer a veritable snapshot of a time when adulthood and responsibility seemed worlds away. To some, the ink from a spring break or a late night whim is a badge of honor. To others, tattoos can be a constant reminder of the person one used to be. That's why an increasing number of people are deciding to have them removed. Tattoo removal has never been easier, and businesses specializing in the laser procedure is booming. A recent visit to Winter Park Laser on Fairbanks Boulevard saw patient after patient going under the laser to remove tattoos they got when they were younger and now regret. Jennifer Calabrese, manager at Winter Park Laser, told Local 6 men and women are motivated to have ink removed for different reasons. Men often have tattoos removed for job prospects such as government positions. Many women, on the other hand, are trying to change the image they have of themselves or convey to others. "They don't reflect who they are now, when they are in line at their private school dropping their child off," Calabrese said. Calabrese said many of her customers are tired of covering up in the hot Florida weather. "They want to be able to wear v-neck shirts and spaghetti strap dresses," Calabrese said. "They don't want a dragon tattoo that they got when they were 16 to show at PTA meetings." The removal process can be a bit painful, so Calabrese recommends a local anesthetic. As for price, Calabrese said a good rule of thumb is to add a zero to the price you originally paid for the art. A complete removal can typically take up to ten sessions, with each session lasting 25 minutes. The size of the tattoo, as well as the color, can influence how long it will take to disappear. For instance, black and red inks are easier than yellow and green inks. Calabrese said her clients include everyone from lawyers to stay-at-home mothers, all sharing their regret for the tattoos of their youth. For more information go to www.winterparklaser.com or call Winter Park Laser at (407) 601-1185

November Medical Spa Specials

“BUY ONE, GET ONE LASER HAIR REMOVAL PACKAGE SPECIAL” lhr back of girl Purchase any Large Area Laser Hair Removal Package, and get a Second Small Area Package FREE!! *All packages include 6 treatments and are for original full price only. Not to be used with any other coupons or offers. Large Areas: Lower Legs, Full Legs, Full Arms, Full Face, Extended or Brazilian Bikini, Full Back, Full Chest, or Full Abdomen Small Areas: Underarms, Upper Lip, Chin, Side-burns, Hair Line, Sideburns, Stomach Strip, Neck, Hands, or Feet. SAVE UP to $699! “Holiday Make-Over Package” IPL b a half face INCLUDES TWO IPL PHOTO-FACIALS & One Medium Chemical Peel (includes Jessner or TCA Orange Peel) Total: $550 SAVE $150 Remove excess pigmentation, sun spots, Rosacea, broken capillaries, tighten pores, erase wrinkles & plump up fine lines! Go to www.winterparklaser.com for more information. image holiday kit IMAGE Holiday Kit- Great Holiday Gift! Products include The MAX Facial Cleanser Vital C Hydrating Anti-aging Serum Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 30 Vital C Hydrating Repair Creme Bonus Products: Plumping lip gloss & bronzer Get Your Holiday Liquid Face-lift juvederm before after Buy One Syringe of Juvederm Ultra or Ultra PLUS & Get 50% OFF the 2nd Syringe (Save $275) All Offers Expires: November 30, 2012

How to Erase Sun Damage with IPL Photo-Facials

Perhaps it's the fact that our Medical Spa is located in Orlando (Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center) or the fact that we treat Florida's baby boomers who slathered themselves in baby oil in the 70's but one of our biggest complaints from men and women is the excess pigmentation, age spots and sun spots on their face that they would like to be removed. I always smile because I know it's an easy fix-IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photo-facials and we use the best one on the market-Palomar's Max G handpiece. One IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) photofacial can be performed on the face, chest, neck, hands, legs and arms and will set you back only $199-$275 in most places but will give your skin a world of change. Palomar® Intense pulsed light treatments use the MaxG hand-piece to deliver energy to target and destroy vascular and pigmented lesions associated withveins, Rosacea, sun damage, and age spots from face, chest, hands, legs, and arms. During the procedure, the entire treatment area is scanned with an IPL handpiece and treated with multiple passes and customized settings. Once the pigment or redness absorbs the light & transfers it into heat-the pigmented lesions are destroyed and the capillaries constrict and fade. A noticeable change occurs within 1 treatment, however a series of 3-5 is normally necessary for the best results. The formation of new collagen results in an increase in the elasticity and overall appearance of your skin. Pigmented lesions come to the surface and slough off. Red and blue vessels typically disappear. Sun damage is repaired. The skin simply looks younger, feels tighter and pores appear smaller. For more information about IPL (intense pulsed light) photo-facials in Orlando please go to www.winterparklaser.com.

Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing Offers Non-Invasive Solution to Wrinkles in the Orlando Area

Fortunately in today’s society there are new ways to rid yourself of unwanted wrinkles, sun damage and sagging skin without surgery or facelifts. After performing laser skin resurfacing at our medical spa in Orlando for 4 years we have seen the improvements in the laser technology. The newest trend in laser skin resurfacing is Fractional Ablative & Non-ablative laser skin resurfacing. In one treatment you can tighten skin, shrink pores, reduce wrinkles, erase sun damage and fine lines with results last a minimum of 5-10 years this is a great alternative to surgery. This Hard-hitting lasers use short, concentrated laser beams to precisely target damaged skin. Although ablative lasers have been around for a long time, the technologies used today are far more advanced than those of the past and Palomar Medical has been pioneers in this field. In the past, ablative lasers like CO2 lasers fully removed the top layer of skin and left a white cast on the skin. The skin also took much longer to heal, with fractional ablative and non-ablative lasers what we use now there’s less risk of discoloration, infection and scarring. Fractional lasers create tiny holes or wounds which are made just where there is damage. The healthy skin that surrounds it helps the skin to heal, making new collagen and elastin. The Palomar 2940 ablative laser holes close in 6 hours instead of 96 hours like past lasers allowing for only 4-7 days of healing instead of 2-3 weeks and less risk of infection. After the healing the results will leaving you looking years younger with tighter pores, smoother skin and less wrinkles as well as sun damage. In Florida this treatment should be administered by a physician, Physician’s assistant or ARNP only. For more information on ablative or non-ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com

Laser Hair Removal for Men Increase in Orlando Popularity

After treating client for laser hair removal for the past 9 years in Orlando FL and Central Fl we have seen more male clients increase in our database here at Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center. In the past our laser hair removal clientele was 98% female but it is now at least 30% males. This is due mainly to laser hair removal being more widely accepted and public knowledge. The most popular areas for men are full backs and beard. Many men suffer from ingrown hairs or simply don’t want to shave anymore. Laser hair removal offers a safe and permanent solution for men offering them freedom from embarrassing ingrown hairs or stubble without the pain of waxing or the hassle of shaving or tweezing. Laser hair removal works by directing concentrated pulses of light to a group of hair follicles, using enough power to disable or destroy the root responsible for hair growth without harming the surrounding skin. It requires an average of 6-7 treatments to give you amazing results. Treatments are once every 4-7 weeks as hair growth cycles differ on various body parts and requires no down-time. After just one treatment you will see an immediate improvement. Your skin, hair color, coarseness of hair, age, metabolism and other factors influence your hair growth rate. Thanks to New Advances in technology all hair types including most blondes and red-heads can now benefit from laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is especially good for men with dark skin of African or latino decent as they are more prone to vicious ingrown hairs. We also do laser hair removal for bikini areas, abdomen, chest, and legs for men. For more information on laser hair removal go to www.winterparklaser.com

Laser Tattoo Removal Gives Orlando residents a Second Chance

When you are walking down the street in Orlando chances are you don’t know who has tattoo and who doesn’t. This is because there are many “upscale” residents including businessmen, elected officials, physicians, attorneys, and Mothers who don’t want you to know they have a tattoo. While you may not know-Winter Park Laser does. We have been performing laser tattoo removal in Orlando for 3 years. Many people got tattoos when they were very young and it is now something they don’t feel represents them as a person or their image and they want to be positive role models for their children. It is not uncommon for a wealthy businessman dressed in a suit to come in and want a crazy fraternity symbol or dare to be removed from his body. Laser tattoo removal gives a second chance to make a good first impression especially for those trying to get a job in law enforcement or the government as they now require that tattoos not show in uniform. While there are many types of lasers the best is a Q-switched Yag laser-we prefer the Naturalase by Focus Lasers. This is the highest energy q-switched system in the world. Take advantage of four Q-switched wavelengths in one system. Tattoo ink is removed by using specific wavelengths of light which pass into the skin, and is absorbed by the ink. A given wavelength targets only a single color (or a group of nearby colors). For example, the red wavelength removes the green ink and the green wavelength removes the red ink. The rapid absorption of the light energy (shock wave) causes the tattoo ink to break into tiny particles which can then be removed by the body’s natural filtering systems often referred to as the body’s lymphatic drainage system. For more information on laser tattoo removal in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com