Laser Stretchmark Removal Frequently Asked Questions

Until 4 years ago most physicians would tell women and men that there was no treatment or cure for stretchmarks.  However, that changed when Palomar Medical became the first company to receive FDA approval for laser stretchmark removal with their Fractional 1540 Laser for skin resurfacing.  Since then we have seen thousands of women and men receive up to an 85% reduction in their stretchmarks in 4-5 treatments at our Orlando Medical Spa Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center.   While laser stretchmark removal is extremely effective it is still a relatively new procedure in the asethetic field and therefor still garners a lot of skepticism and questions.  So here are frequently asked questions and answers.

Laser Stretchmark Removal Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

#1 Does laser stretchmark removal really work?

Yes! It really does work-the fractional laser penetrates to the deepest skin layer the dermis and breaks up weak stretchmark tissue, pushes it out, and the heat stimulates new collagen and elastyn, thus reducing the appearance of the stretchmarks.

#2 How does laser stretchmark removal work?

The Lux1540XD™ Fractional laser hand-piece can improve the unsightly color and skin texture associated with stretch marks, leaving women with smoother, better-looking skin with no downtime. The Lux1540XD hand-piece delivers an array of high-precision micro-beams to create deep, narrow columns of coagulation in the epidermis and dermis. This triggers a restorative natural healing process that creates healthy new tissue, including the deposition of new collagen on any area of the body eliminating embarrassing white or red striae (stretch-marks). Treatments are relatively comfortable and topical numbing is a complimentary option for an incredibly comfortable procedure.

#3 Is laser stretchmark removal permanent?

Yes, the results are permanent and usually require 4-6 treatments.

#4 Who is the ideal candidate for laser stretchmark removal?

While, laser stretchmark removal will give a reduction in stretchmarks for everyone, there are certain circumstances that garner better results.  Lighter skin types who have newer stretchmarks tend to do the best.

For more information on laser stretchmark removal frequently asked questions go to http://www.winterparklaser.com/services/stretch-mark-removal/

Give the gift of Beauty with Aesthetic Treatments

So every year around the holidays there are the same go to gifts-candy, perfume, jewelry etc for women and ties, scarves, wallets for men. However, after running a medical spa-Winter Park Laser in Orlando for 10 years every year our clients beg loved ones for our treatments as gifts. This year it is time to think outside of the box and give people what they really want and need.  While aesthetic treatments such as Botox, fillers, laser hair removal and more used to be a very private entity but now it is much more well known now and people are more comfortable to talk about these treatments and ask for them.  So this year instead of traditional gifts give the gift of beauty with Aesthetic Treatments.
Here are the top aesthetic treatments that our clients as for as a gift.
#1 Laser Hair Removal: Laser hair removal is the top gift asked for in our medical spa.  It is a great gift for women, men and teens.  The gift of not shaving is an amazing gift and will give people back extra time.  It is an easy painless procedure and can be extremely affordable to purchase especially for small areas.  For men laser hair removal for the neck, beard or back can give them the time and confidence they deserve especially for those with ingrown hairs.  Laser hair removal is a permanent solution for those with ingrown hairs.  Teen girls especially love the underarms as an area for laser hair removal.
#2 Botox® Cosmetic: If you know your loved one gets Botox® on a regular basis or it is something that they have been wanting to try this is an excellent gift that will be greatly appreciated. Botox® can be extremely affordable to gift-$250 would typically get one area treated and corrected.
#3 A Clinical Facial: If you have a co-worker, friend or loved one who doesn't get to pamper themselves a clinical facial is the perfect gift to give.  It is better than a traditional day spa facial because it will be performed by a medical aesthetician utilizing medical grade skin-care to give longer lasting results.

For more information on giving the gift of aesthetic treatments go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

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

Fall Skincare Tips for Glowing Skin

While you change your wardrobe and foot wear with the seasons it is important to remember to change your skin-care routine and products with the seasons as well.  Your skin adapts with the season changes and your skin-care products should follow suit.  I am a lead consultant at an Orlando Medical Spa-Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging so part of my job is to recommend the best products and when you should you use them.
Here are my top Fall Skincare Tips for Glowing Skin
#1 Exfoliate! 
Over the summer you accumulated a lot of superficial sun damage and pigmentation therefore it is important to exfoliate your skin in order to reduce pigment as well as break down dead skin cell build up, clean out your pores, and tighten your pores.  The #1 way to exfoliate is with a chemical peel.  Chemical peels can come in light, medium, and strong peels and range between light flaking to days of peeling. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, which makes it  eventually peel off revealing fresh skin. The new skin is tighter, less porous, brighter and smoother.  If you can't make it to your local medical spa for a chemical peel, then an at home scrub or product with Alpha Hydroxy Acid or Beta Hydroxy Acid will help as well.
#2 Still Wear a SPF in your Moisturizer everyday!
Even though you may not be at the beach in the Fall or it might even start snowing you are still exposed to sun.  When you walk to your car, drive your car, rake the leaves you are still accumulating sun exposure and damage.  It is important to stick to a moisturizer with a minimum spf 30 full broad spectrum UVA/UVB.
#3 Switch your moisturizer to a heavier daytime moisturizer or add a night-time moisturizer.
During the summer your skin tends to be more oily and a lighter moisturizer is necessary.  When the seasons change your skin typically becomes dryer which means to keep that sweet summer glow you need more hydration.  This is when you should switch to a thicker daytime moisturizer with SPF or add a nighttime moisturizer such as Skinmedica's Dermal Repair.
For more information on Fall Skincare Tips for glowing skin go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

Laser Hair Removal Benefits

Laser Hair Removal has been available to the public for nearly 20 years now yet so many men and women are still unaware of the benefits laser hair removal especially in comparison to other hair removal methods such as waxing, tweezing, or electrolysis. Laser hair removal has proven to be the safest and most effective treatment form of  hair removal available.
Many men and women  are uneducated about the facts and benefits of laser hair removal.  Just a few important things to know about laser hair removal are the following; it is now safe for all skin types with the appropriate lasers, blondes and red heads can be treated effectively with the correct laser for laser hair removal.  There are many benefits to laser hair removal other than just permanent hair reduction.
Laser Hair Removal benefits:
#1 It's Fast: New technology has allowed laser hair removal to become incredibly efficient. Treatments for small areas such as lip or chin can take only 5 minutes, and large areas like full legs or full back only take 30-40 minutes to complete and in less sessions-only 6-7 on average.
#2 Eliminate In-Grown Hairs (folliculitis): Laser hair removal destroys hair follicles and thins out hair so that hair follicles can no longer become clogged and cause in-grown hairs or folliculitis.
#3 More Personal Time: On average men spend a total of 35 days of their life shaving, and women spend an average of 72 days of their life shaving just their legs.  So in a nutshell laser hair removal can give you have 35-72 days of your life on average to spend doing more productive things with your time.
#4 It is the only permanent hair reduction method: Laser Hair Removal is 95% permanent which means that you might only have 5% regrowth caused by the follicle stimulating hormone and it should be as easy as a touch up once every 1--5 years on average.
#5 It Saves You Money: If you are waxing or shaving you are spending at least $50 per month on average for life for hair reduction.  Laser hair removal can be a little more of an investment in the beginning, but you only need 6-7 treatments on average and then you won't be spending money on hair removal on a monthly basis.
For more information on the benefits of laser hair removal go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

Professional Exfoliation Treatment A.K.A. Chemical Peel Benefits

Chemical peels have a deep history in the cosmetic treatment realm.  They were the first cosmetic treatment every created dating back to "Cleopatra" Egyptian times from 3,000 A.D. when enzymes/acids were used from sour milk (lactic acid today), and wine (tartaric acid) to exfoliate the skin leaving a glow once skin sloughed off.  However, even though chemical peels have proven their safety and efficacy throughout the years the term chemical peel can be frightening to many people who envision raw skin or the "Samantha from Sex in the City" peel episode.  So another great term for chemical peel is "Professional exfoliation treatment."
Professional Exfoliation Treatment A.K.A. chemical peel benefits are many but here are some of the top benefits for your skin.  Each exfoliating acid has a different mechanism of action resulting in various benefits which is why many manufacturers blend multiple acids to exfoliate dead skin cells and reveal healthier, new ones.
Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolics, lactics, malics, and mandelics are water-soluble acids that disolve fibrous bonds that hold skin cells together allowing for easier exfoliation.  Glycolic acids are great for stimulating collagen while lactic acids are great for pigment lightening and extra hydration.
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is very popular in many chemical peels such as VI peels by Kalil.  It is a great acid which dissolves aging dead skin cells to reveal new ones and produces collagen.
Chemical peels are also beneficial for reducing wrinkles by stimulating new collagen.  They also break down excess pigmentation caused by sun damage or "Melasma".  Many chemical peels include a popular ingredient: Retinoids which are a form of vitamin A. They are great at stimulating cell turnover, inhibiting pigmentation and producing new elastin and collagen.
Overall chemical peels and professional exfoliation treatments are ideal for anyone wanting to refresh and brighten their skin without a lot of downtime.
For more information benefits of exfoliation and chemical peels go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

Myths & Facts about BOTOX® Cosmetic

Even though BOTOX® Cosmetic has been FDA approved since 2002 to treat wrinkles and is the #1 most popular and utilized cosmetic treatment in the world there are still many myths and misconceptions out there about BOTOX® Cosmetic.  After performing BOTOX® Cosmetic consultations at our Orlando Medical Spa "Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center" I have heard every misconception, myth, and falsehood out there.  I always take the time with clients to explain the realities of BOTOX® Cosmetic and why it is the #1 cosmetic treatment used by men and women.  In this blog I will debunk the top myths about BOTOX® Cosmetic that I have heard throughout 10 years.
Here are the top Myths & Facts about BOTOX® Cosmetic:

#1 Myth: BOTOX® will freeze my forehead and I won't be able to make any expressions.
Fact: BOTOX® Cosmetic does not have to give you a "frozen" look at all.  It is all about explaining your desires to the injector and that you want a natural look.  You should still be able to express plenty of emotions and facial expressions with BOTOX® Cosmetic injected into any area of your face.
#2 Myth: BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers such as Juvederm are the same thing.
Fact: BOTOX® Cosmetic is used to relax muscles and wrinkles while dermal fillers are used to replace volume in hollow areas of the face such as cheeks, mid-face, and lips.  One does not replace the other and they are not made of the same ingredients.
#3 Myth: BOTOX® Cosmetic is painful.
Fact: BOTOX® Cosmetic is typically injected with insulin needles which are tiny.  The injections are extremely quick and minimal with hardly any discomfort at all.
#4 Myth: BOTOX® Cosmetic is poison.
Fact: Mainly due to the fact that large amounts of the Clostridium botulinum are known to cause botulism, one of the biggest misconceptions about Botox is that it’s a poison. However,BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein derivative of a natural product that happens to block the communication channel between a nerve and a muscle. So it doesn’t actually paralyze the muscle; it simply prevents the nerve from telling the muscle to move.
For more information on myths and facts about BOTOX® Cosmetic go to http://www.winterparklaser.com