I See the Forest Through the Trees

December 5, 2011 | Posted in Day Spa

Patients often come into our Orlando medical spa focused on diminishing their facial folds (parenthesis) and wrinkles. In talking with these patients, we often discover that their desire for addressing these concerns stems from something they saw in a television ad for dermal fillers, such as Restylane®, RADIESSE® or JUVÉDERM®, or from what they were told at another day spa in Orlando. They often forget that the whole point of their visit is to leave the Hillcrest Aesthetic Institute looking and feeling younger and more beautiful.

Even though getting rid of those lines running down your cheeks may make your cheeks look smoother, it may not make you look younger. Here is where the art of using dermal fillers comes in: It’s not so much the amount you use; it’s how you use it. Too much filler can be worse than none at all. It’s also important to take time to study the patient’s facial features. If the patient is in a hurry, I can’t do my job well, especially if I am using longer-lasting fillers such as JUVÉDERM Ultra Plus or RADIESSE. With these treatments, it has to be right the first time.

Go into a consultation with an open mind. Look at yourself in the mirror and compare it to an old photograph. See what it was about your look that you loved so much, and ask, “Can I get that back?” See the forest through the trees.

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Many Ways to Treat Sun Damage

December 1, 2011 | Posted in Chemical Peel, Skin Care

We all enjoy the sunshine that Florida has to offer, but with this comes a great responsibility to control the aging effects of sun on our faces.

I cannot tell you how many times patients come to the Hillcrest Aesthetic Institute saying they received a laser treatment at a different day spa in Orlando, or a chemical peel, and didn’t see the results they were promised. Does it mean these tools don’t work? Absolutely not!

Often these treatments produced some type of change but did not address the specific problem the patient wanted fixed. In these instances, patients may have selected a particular treatment option because it fit within their budget or had a short recovery time. However important these reasons may be, choosing a procedure based solely on these criteria is not always beneficial.

Choose a treatment plan that guarantees the best results for YOU. This is based on your skin type, degree of wrinkles, amount of sun damage, etc. Select treatments that will help YOU, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Many of my patients who live in The Villages are in their 70s and play golf every day. They often have fair skin, deep wrinkles and a significant amount of sun damage. They come to the Hillcrest Aesthetic Institute hoping that I can eradicate years of sun damage and wrinkles but they do not want to change their vibrant lifestyle. For these patients, fractional laser resurfacing works well. This procedure is designed to address sun damage and wrinkles, which a superficial chemical peel does not. After the skin has been treated, we show them simple ways to avoid future sun damage and how to maintain their results.

An executive who works downtown may have substantially less sun exposure but still show signs of aging. This type of patient can benefit from a very different treatment regimen. It may simply be a matter of prescribing the right skin care line or performing a series of mild chemical peels to achieve this patient’s desired results.

We could go on and on about different treatments for different patients, but the general idea is that you ask yourself, “Am I getting what’s right for me?”

Shop wisely. After all, it’s your face!

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Why Is My Face Red?

November 25, 2011 | Posted in Day Spa

I was at a dinner party last week when I came upon a group of women who were avid tennis players. In this group of 5 ladies, 3 expressed concern about their red faces. “It’s even hard to hide with makeup,” they said.

Their problem may be rosacea, a condition for which our medical spa in Orlando has treated patients for years.

The National Society of Rosacea estimates that more than 16 million people suffer from rosacea. This chronic condition is characterized by:

  • Facial flushing (red face)
  • Papules and pustules (acne-like breakouts)
  • Tiny facial veins

Any one of these symptoms on the face may indicate rosacea.

If rosacea affects you, avoiding the following may help your condition:

  • Spicy foods
  • Chocolate
  • Dairy products
  • Soy sauce
  • Stress
  • Alcohol
  • Heat
  • Sun exposure

With lasers, photofacials and customized skin care regimens, the Hillcrest Aesthetic Institute has been able to help many patients manage their rosacea. Next time you are frustrated by a “red face,” know help is available at our Orlando day spa.

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Moisturizers: So Many to Choose From

November 16, 2011 | Posted in Skin Care

With the holidays fast approaching, more and more patients are coming to the Hillcrest Aesthetic Institute to see our estheticians. Organic skin care products and natural oils are becoming increasingly popular choices for skin care in Orlando. Among the most popular are moisturizers, which have become a billion-dollar industry worldwide.

It’s important to understand how these products work before you load up the holiday shopping cart. Moisturizers work in two different ways: as occlusives and as humectants. Occlusives keep water in the skin, and humectants pull water into the skin.

The most common occlusive is petrolatum. Many natural oils are occlusive, including jojoba oil, olive oil and sunflower oil. In addition to being moisturizers, many of these oils have antioxidant properties, which help to remove waste and toxins that result from sun damage. However, it’s important to realize that some essential oils also contain allergens: substances that can cause allergic reactions. Because of this, it’s always helpful to receive guidance from a licensed skin care specialist.

Humectant moisturizers are often touted as anti-wrinkle creams. They pull water into the skin, which temporarily plumps up the skin to create a smoother surface. However, there is no real long-term anti-wrinkle effect. Humectant moisturizers are great, but if used during the wrong time of the year, they can actually remove water from your skin. Therefore, it’s important not to take your skin care recommendations from an over-the-counter sales representative. Instead, get advice from a licensed esthetician.

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