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.

More men are getting "Brotox" (Botox)

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While we have always had men at our Orlando medical spa-Winter Park Laser the number of male clients as increased significantly in the past few years for all of our services.  However we have seen the biggest increase in men getting Botox injections.  It's not just us seeing this trend it is being seen nation wide.
While women have loved Botox cosmetic injections for nearly two decades it has been a slow incline in males getting Botox.  However, most men prefer to call it "Brotox" which means Botox for men and is a fun term that keeps it masculine.   Like many other non-invasive treatments the number of men seeking Botox Cosmetic  has increased 310 percent since 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
So why are more men getting "Brotox" (Botox).  There are many different assumptions but I think it comes down to the same reason the number of women seeking Botox has increased; it's a lot more socially accecpted than ever and it works.  Men are competing with younger counter parts for corporate jobs and want to stay looking young, and put together.  A lot of men also date younger counterparts that urge them to try Botox Cosmetic to correct wrinkles.
Whatever the reason for the trend, we love it! For more information on men getting "Brotox" (Botox) go to http://www.witnerparklaser.com

Top 3 Non-Surgical Treatments to Be Bikini Body Ready

Even in our sunny state of Florida there is still "bikini season" which usually begins in March for us.  Everyone wants to look their best in a bikini as you can't hide any flaws when you're nearly naked!  Fortunately there are some non-surgical aesthetic treatments that men and women can utilize to look their very best in a swimsuit.  All of these along with a healthy diet & exercise will have you looking like a "beach babe" in no time.  Here are some of our favorite body treatments we use at our Orlando medical spa Winter Park Laser.
Top 3 Non-Surgical Treatments to be bikini body ready
#1 Laser Hair Removal: Who wants to worry about stubble, redness, or ingrown hairsaround your bikini line or underarms?
Laser Hair Removal will eliminate stubble & ingrowns  and will give you permanent relief after 6 treatments. How it works: Laser hair removal works by directing concentrated beams of filtered 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.  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 as the hair grows in thinner.
#2 Velashape II Cellulite Reduction: Cellulite is caused by hereditary issues, stress, water retention, and other factors that make it difficult to treat with exercise and diet alone.
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. An infrared thermometer is used 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.  You will be dimple free in 5 weeks running down the beach!
#3 TruSculpt Fat Reduction & Body Sculpting: Sometimes areas like the abdomen and love handles are hard to reduce the stubborn fat.  TruSculpt helps make it easier so you can say goodbye one piece, hello 2 piece.
TruSculpt™ is the first RF Non-invasive procedure to give permanent surgical type results, previously only available through cosmetic surgery. Using radio frequencies, the practitioner deep-heats tissue over large areas of the body. This treatment is similar to coolsculpting by Zeltiq but offers more visible results with less pain.
In only 2-3 treatments, patients can quickly see permanent results in their appearance, such as smaller mass, tighter skin and less dimpling. TruSculpt™ can be used on any area where fat deposits can accumulate, such as around the buttocks, thighs, love handles, back, or abdomen.
For more information on top cosmetic treatments for summer go to www.winterparklaser.com or call (407) 601-1185

Why Dermal Fillers are the new Facelift

Dermal Fillers have been around for nearly 2 decades and each company continues to come out with better dermal fillers that last longer and do more.  It is because of this that dermal fillers have become an alternative to surgical procedures such as face-lifts.  The first cosmetic dermal filler on the market was Restylane, since then  Perlane, Belotero, Radiesse, Juvederm UltraXC, Juvederm Ultra PlusXC and Juvederm Voluma have all come onto the market. In our Orlando medical spa Winter Park Laser dermal fillers have become the hottest aesthetic trend in the US over the past five years.
So what is a dermal filler? Dermal filler helps to diminish facial lines & replace volume in the face because as we age the face naturally breaks down fat.  Then the facial skin is stretched out and sags. Dermal fillers can be very helpful in those with early signs of aging.
So why are dermal fillers the new facelift? Cosmetic dermal fillers require no downtime and give amazing results by filling in volume lost in the cheeks, lips, and smile lines as well as erasing wrinkles, or filling in deep scars.  The #1 cosmetic dermal filler in the United States is Juvederm Ultra PlusXC by Allergan.  The beauty of dermal fillers over surgery is that they cost a fraction of the cost, only take 45 minutes to perform, and give an amazing rejuvenation to the face making it look years younger.  The only downside is that they are temporary however there are new longer lasting fillers such as Juvederm VolumaXC.  JUVÉDERM VOLUMA^® XC is the first and only FDA-approved injectable gel to instantly add volume to your cheek area to correct age-related volume loss in adults over the age of 21. It can provide you contour and a subtle lift for up to two years with optimal treatment.
For more information on why dermal fillers are the new facelift go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

Latisse Frequently Asked Questions

Latisse® received FDA approval in 2008 as the first and only prescription product FDA approved to grow fuller, longer & darker eyelashes for patients with eyelash hypotrichosis or those wanting longer lashes.  Since then while giving many with no eyelashes, long, full & luxurious lashes there have been many truths, myths, and questions about it.  This blog is written to help those with questions about Latisse have accurate answers.
Here are top Latisse® Frequently asked Questions and Answers:
#1 What is the active ingredient in Latisse that makes it work?
Answer: The active ingredient is bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03% which was using in a Rx medication eye drop called Lumigan.  The makers of Lumigan (Allergan) started to notice that the side effect was longer lashes and that is how Latisse was created.
#2: Can blue eyes get darkening in the eye area?
Answer: No, this can not happen to blue eyes, it can only happen in hazel eyes but has only occurred with Lumigan not with Latisse® patients and the chance of it happening is less than 5%.
#3: How do you apply Latisse®?
Answer: Every box of Latisse® includes individually packaged applicator brushes to apply the solution once a day on clean eyelids at the base of the lashes. Usually applying it at night is the best way.
#4: Does Latisse® stop working it if you stop using it?
Answer: Yes, if you stop using Latisse® your eyelashes will shed and eventually go back to the way they were.
#5: How long does Latisse® take to work?
Answer: Usually a person using Latisse® consistently will see results after 8 weeks but will continue to improve for up to 16 weeks.
For more information on frequently asked questions about Latisse® go to http://www.winterparklaser.com