The 3 Top Ways to Remove Sun Damage

Sun Damage Removal with Intense Pulsed Light One of the top issues that are clients come into our Orlando Medical Spa-Winter Park Laser for is sun damage skin including age spots, uneven skin tone, hyper-pigmentation and poor skin texture. Perhaps, it's because our medical spa is in Orlando Florida that we our clients have so much damage but I also think it's a generational issue as more baby boomers are seeing the effects of using baby oil in the 70's and more sun damage emerges with age. Here are the Top 3 Ways to Remove Sun Damage that we use in our Orlando Medical Spa: #1: IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photo-Facials: Intense pulsed light treatments deliver energy to target and destroy vascular and pigmented lesions associated 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. 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. #2: Vi Peel from Kalil (chemical Peels): The Vi Peel is safe for all skin types and uses Vitamin C, Phenol (for numbing), Salicylic acid, TCA, Tretinoic Acid (Retin-A) to remove the top layers of sun damaged skin and reveal new fresh skin with a more even skin tone and tighter pores. #3 Pharmaceutical Grade Skin-Care Especially Pigment Lightening Serums such as Hydroquinone: Here is one of our favorites from Glytone http://www.glytone-usa.com/products/learn-more-about-glytone-products/details/category/skin-type/product/clarifying-gel-rx/beauty.html Clarifying Gel, Rx Clarifying Gel, Rx A nighttime gel formulated with 4% Hydroquinone helps to lighten dark patches on the skin For more information on how to remove sun damage contact our Orlando medical spa at www.winterparklaser.com or call (4o7) 601-1185.

Questions to Ask before Getting Laser Tattoo Removal

Our Medical Spa has now been offering laser tattoo removal for 3 years and we have become local Orlando experts in this technology. We would like to share our advice for those seeking Laser Tattoo Removal at any medical spa anywhere in the United States. Laser Tattoo Removal is an amazing technology that has come a long way and can provide an opportunity to erase something that was once though permanent. The reasons that people get Laser Tattoo Removal vary from person to person but lately a lot of them have been military related as it is now impossible to enlist in most military branches or get hired at government agencies such as police stations or Fire Departments or prisons if you have any tattoos that show. We also just have those clients who now parents or just feel differently than they did when they got the tattoo when they were 18. While laser tattoo removal is the best option to remove tattoos there are important questions to ask before selection a medical spa for treatment. Question #1 to Ask: What type of laser do you use & is it specifically for laser tattoo removal? Why: Technology is so important and there are certain lasers created only for tattoo removal. Unfortunately I have heard of hair removal lasers being used for tattoo removal which can cause blisters or worse. Question #2 to Ask: How old is the laser being used? Why: Again, technology has gotten better and if the laser is really old the results not be effective. Question #3 to Ask: Is this laser safe for dark skin (if you have dark skin) Why: Only Q-switched Yag lasers are truly safe for dark skin types, anything else can cause scarring and blisters. Question #4: Who is performing the treatment, are they certified, licensed & what are there qualifications and experience Questions #5: Always ask to see before & after photos of their work-not stock photos! For more information on laser tattoo removal go to www.winterparklaser.com

How to Remove sun Damage

I often get clients into our Medical Spa (Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center) in the sun capital-Orlando FL who say "I don't know how I got this sun damage I wear sunscreen all the time now." My first questions is did you tan when you were younger? Then the real story comes out-that same client used the tanning beds or was a baby boomer who used baby oil do get a tan when they were younger. The fact is that most sun damage (about 80%) is accumulated by the time you are 20. As you age more and more sun damage comes out. Compound that with the fact that your skin tone becomes more uneven due to dead skin cells combined with hyper-pigmentation issues caused by hormones everyone starts to think that they "just got the sun damage." So the questions is once you have all this sun damage appearing on your skin are you stuck with it or is there a way to remove it? The good news is that you can remove a lot of your accumulated sun damage and there a few methods depending on how severe it is. Chemical Peels are one way to remove some minor sun damage by exfoliating and removing excess pigmentation caused by sun damage. My favorite treatment is IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) photo-facials-it's pulsed of light that target pigmented lesions and once the lesions absorb the light and are destroyed the flake off naturally within 1-2 weeks leaving your skin with less sun spots and a more even skin tone. After 2-5 treatments you can have clear, and even skin tone with improved texture as well. For more information on Intense Pulsed Light photo-facials in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com

What is Melasma & how to treat it

Melasma is often referred to as "the mask of pregnancy" because it can be brought on by hormone changes including pregnancy, birth control or any hormonal changes and is often worsened by sun damage. Melasma can also be caused by medications or certain cosmetic treatments. Melasma generally occurs when estrogen and/or progesterone stimulate pigmentation hormones, causing dark brown or grey, irregular sized patches on the face. Melasma is most common in dark skin types 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 is in Florida we see a lot of Melasma due to the excessive sun use and clients who have darker skin types that are of Meditteranean or Latin skin types. Melasma can be very difficult to treat and the results rely heavily on patient compliance. We have done a lot of research over the past 9 years at Winter Park Laser to find the best treatments for Melasma and hyperpigmentation and we want to share them. #1 The Mini-Melanage or full Melanage Chemical Peel: The Melanage Skin Lightening System is a supercial peel designed to improve the texture and appearance of hyperpigmented skin which involves a medicated masque and an at-home regimen. After 1 to 3 peels Dark spots will lighten and skin texture and tone will improve. #2 Skin Lightening Treatment products such as Hydroquinone which will help to suppress the underlying pigmentation from worsening. #3 Limited Sun Exposure: Sun can make Melasma worst so the more one stays away from sun by wearing a full broad spectrum spf 30 everyday and wearing large sunglasses and large hats to protect your skin. For more information on treating Melasma in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com

How to Get the Best & Safest Botox Cosmetic Treatments

The Medical Spa industry is still fairly new (about 20-25 years old) and continuously grows with new laws and FDA supervision of treatments. However laws still vary and their are still many medical spas, and physicians that abuse the system in order to save money. I bring this up because while the prices of cosmetic treatments have gone down due to the economy there are still those that want to save even more by looking for the "cheapest" and easiest deal. One of the biggest treatments that has become of topic lately is Botox Cosmetic. Botox Cosmetic is an amazing treatment that has become so popular because it's easy, affordable, and it works! However, Federal regulators have warned more than 350 medical practices that Botox they may have received from a Canadian supplier is unapproved and could be counterfeit or unsafe. So I wanted to give a few tips to finding a good, legitimate, and safe medical spa or physician's office to get Botox Cosmetic treatments. Here are the top 3 Red Flags for unsafe Botox Injections 1.) If the price is too good to be true-it probably is! Why: Botox generally runs $9-$13 per unit in the Central Florida area, so if you see it for $5-$8 per unit this could be a generic form of Botox-not what you want! 2.) The location is not supervised by a physician or they only do it once a month (such as your local salon or nail spa). Why: You want to go somewhere that specializes in Botox injections such as a medical spa or Doctor's office that does it on a daily basis and is Board Certified and supervised by a Doctor. 3.) If you do not see the bottle of Botox Cosmetic (by Allergan) that they are using to inject you. Why: The only FDA approved brand of Botox is Botox Cosmetic by Allergan & you can ask to see the bottle-there should be a hologram on it as well that says Allergan. General tips: Do your research-ask who performs the treatment and if they are certified & how much experience they have. If you walk in and feel uncomfortable or the nothing is explained to you prior to the treatment then leave. Read online reviews or ask your friends for referrals! For more information on Botox Cosmetic in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com or call (407) 601-1185.

Valentines Day Specials at Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center

Valentine’s Day Packages Purchase $250 or More in Gift Cards and Receive a $25 Product Credit. Must Be Purchased 1/25/13-2/15/13 $85 “Love Me Softly” (Value: $120) A 1 Hour Customized Light Chemical Peel with cleansing facial. A de-Puffing Eye Treatment to sooth tired, and swollen eyes & iron out crow’s feet. $345-$450 “Kissable Plump Lips” (Value: $395-$545) 1 Small or Large Syringe of Juvederm Ultra XC Dermal Filler to plump up your lips while bringing volume back to them & erasing lip lines-lasts 6-9 months on average! IMAGE Lip Balancing Enhancement Complex to enhance volume $305 “Love the Sunscreen, Not the Sun” ($370) A 1 hour Light Exfoliating Chemical peel with Cleansing Facial. One IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photo-Facial to remove years of sun damage, redness, and broken capillaries. 1155 North Kentucky Avenue Winter Park FL 32789 www.winterparklaser.com (407) 601-1185

The Benefits of Non-Invasive Body Sculpting Vs. Surgery

After consulting for a Medical Spa (Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center in Orlando) for 8 years I have had the fortune of seeing many clients who are great candidates for non-invasive body sculpting treatments and some who were better suited for a personal trainer or plastic surgery options and I have happily been honest & referred those patients to someone who could better help them. Unfortunately not everyone out there is honest-and certain surgical/invasive procedures such as "smart lipo" are sold to those who were not the best candidates-and sadly I have seen the results of many poor smart/slip lipo jobs that probably shouldn't have been done in the first place! The good news is that we have used Velashape II to correct a lot of the negative side effects from these surgeries. I want to explain a few basic rules to help you know if you are better suited for surgical or non-surgical treatments! Body Sculpting Surgery such as Smart or Slim Lipo & regular Lipo definitely have their place but I would like to emphasize that "smart" or "slim" lipo is for very small pockets of fat on someone who is relatively small-if you have a lot of fat that you want removed you are much better off with a full lipo job or a tummy tuck (if in the abdomen area). So best candidate for Smart lipo-small pocket of fat (not cellulite) on the thighs or abdomen. Best Candidate for Full Lipo-Someone with a lot of fat to lose (not cellulite). Cellulite should not be treated with Lipo-as cellulite is a tissue damage and a lot of time Lipo makes the appearance of dimples look worse as the fat is sucked out and the cellulite stays creating a "honeycomb" effect. Best Candidate for Non-Invasive Body Sculpting treatment like Velashape II-someone with a little fat deposited in the abdomen or anyone with cellulite on the thighs, or arms looking to reduce it, tighten the skin and lose a few inches without the downtime of surgery. How it Works: VelaShape II™is Powered by the revolutionary elos™ Technology utilizing bi-polar radio frequency, it treats the deeper tissue, offering a measurable reduction in fat layers, circumference and the upper layers of the skin, resulting in cellulite reduction, the smoothing of the skin’s tone and texture, inches lost, and noticeable reshaping of the treated area in 5-6 treatments. We use an infrared thermometer to ensure your body heats up to 104 degrees-the temperature it takes to melt fat. Many clients describe the treatments as feeling like a warm deep tissue massage. The Velashape II is 20% more powerful than its predecessor Velashape I giving you shorter treatments, with better, longer lasting results in fewer treatments. This treatment has no discomfort, is non-invasive and requires no down-time. For more information on cellulite reduction or body sculpting go to www.winterparklaser.com