Micro Current Facial Lifts

As we get older, changes appear in our skin and our muscle structure as well. Exercise helps the skeletal muscles of our body stay healthy and firm, but what about the muscles of the face? If it were exercise alone, you would think with all of the talking, facial expressions, and chewing our faces would be toned. Instead we start to see the cheek muscles soften causing the nasolabial folds to deepen, the eyebrows seem to be a little lower, the lip line weakens, and there is a vertical wrinkle, or two, between the eyebrows. What is a good non-invasive treatment to consider?

It is well documented that electro-stimulation can be very effective. As we get older the receptors that cause muscle contractions become less responsive to nerve stimulation causing the muscles to become too relaxed, or too constricted. This micro-current apparatus does not exercise the muscles, but instead re-educates the muscles to regain good tone and respond more efficiently to the natural currents of nerve stimulation. Micro-current treatments can offer great results without any surgery or down time. It is also very effective when used as a maintenance routine for facelifts. Remember, not even surgery offers permanent results, . . . the aging process carries on. What can you expect? A visible change should be noticed after one treatment, usually the contour of the jaw is more defined, the eyebrows are raised, the lines soften around the eye, the lip line is higher, as are the cheeks. To enhance the initial result and have lasting results, these treatments are recommended in a series of 2 or 3 times per week for 12 treatments, followed by a maintenance treatment every 4 to 6 weeks. The completion of a series has the potential to shave off 10 years.

Each treatment takes approximately one hour, is completely relaxing, entirely pain free, and presents no risk factors. Costs vary, but a package of treatments will generally run on average $1200, give or take. The costs also greatly depend on the condition of your skin at the beginning of the treatments and on how well you treat your skin on a daily basis. Highly recommended.

* If you need assistance locating a spa or salon offering this type of procedure in your area, email us at beautyeditorpost@gmail.com

Dysport - The New Botox

Dysport (Medicis) is the new alternative to Botox (Allergan). In fact, Dysport is made from the same botulinum toxin as Botox. FDA clearance was recently granted to Medicis, famous for their two great dermal fillers, Restylane and Perlane. Dysport is said to be "faster acting" with a greater "spread" giving a more natural appearance and requiring fewer injections. Dysport has the ability to last up to a few months longer than Botox since it contains less protein which is more difficult for the body to break down. Botox, on the other hand, is recommended for a smaller, more specific localized area.

The downside? A big one. A human one. As always it is terribly important to select the right professionals with the proper credentials. Since the injections go deeper and the botulinum has a paralytic effect, there is a critical need for precision to avoid the potential that the drug may spread to nearby muscles and cause unwanted side effects in neighboring areas. The professionals who administer these injections really need to know their stuff. Make no mistake . . . there is no room for error.

Dysport (Medicis) vs Botox (Allergan) is going to be an interesting boxing match to watch. It is aptly being described as," the biggest feud since the Hatfields and the McCoys." Well said.

Vampire Lift Video Clip

The vampire trend has certainly caused a stir, bleeding over into the world of plastic surgery. The Vampire Lift's popularity is greatly due to the fact the procedure uses something from your own body reducing the likelihood of allergic reactions and negative reactions.

Liquid Face Lift

Can the signs of aging be erased with a needle instead of a surgical knife? Yes, in fact there are quite a few procedures to choose from. One procedure is called the Liquid Face Lift. The facial filler Juvederm has three different formulations, Juvederm, Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra Plus. A creative mix of these three gels are injected at varying depths to instantly fill space, plump, and smooth the facial features to create a more youthful shape. Juvederm can fill in the lines around the eyes and under eye area while softening the contours downward toward the cheek. Injections will add definition to the cheekbones, plump up the nasolabial folds and replace volume. The lines above the lips can be gently filled in and add volume to the area. Juvederm will add definition to the jawline and deal with sagging skin by adding much needed volume. The entire procedure takes approximately 30 minutes. Bruising is to be expected to last for approximately seven days. The great part? No incisions. The cost? Approximately $2,200 to $6,000 and will last for a year or so.

Mesotherapy Facial Treatment

A large percentage of those seeking a more youthful appearance are making very different choices when it comes to plastic surgery. The data clearly shows a very definite move away from invasive procedures and toward non-invasive (or minimally invasive) cosmetic enhancements. Dermal fillers and Botox are largely responsible for this trend.

Enter Mesotherapy. Europeans have popularized injectable Mesotherapy treatments for treating aging skin for decades. Mesotherapy is well known to effectively treat cellulite for a smoother, firmer appearance to the skin on the body. Recently, it is gaining speed as a treatment used to rejuvenate lackluster, sagging skin on the face, neck and hands. The treatment includes multiple injections just under the skin (meso layer) with one of a variety of special formulations consisting of vitamins, minerals, vital amino acids, natural extracts, nucleic acids, and coenzymes. These injections rejuvenate the cells and create activity, which in turn, stimulate the production of the body's own collagen and elastin.

Results are generally seen after the first treatment, but most medical professionals will recommend treatments repeated every second week for 10 weeks, followed by a consistent maintenance program. This treatment is not for the faint of heart. Each treatment will run between $200- $400 per treatment. It is not FDA approved.

Economy Down - Demand for Plastic Surgery High

The economy may be sagging, but that is not the case for those seeking a little help to remain youthful. Approximately 10 million plastic surgeries were performed in the United States during 2009. 46% of these patients were between the ages of 35 - 50 (5.4 million). Those between the ages of 19 - 34 had 21% of the procedures, age 51 - 64 had 25%, age 65 and older 6%, and age 18 and younger had less than 2%. Men have stepped into the plastic surgery arena and are responsible for 900,000 procedures in '09, showing an 8% increase over 2008. Neck tightening procedures are increasing in popularity for both genders with 70% women and 30% men (used to be 99% women). Facelifts have also seen a surge in popularity, 94,294 procedures, with results lasting for a period of six to eight years.

The top 5 procedures were:
Breast Augmentations - 311,957 procedures
Liposuction - 283,735 procedures
Eyelid Surgery - 149,943 procedures
Rhinoplasty - 138,258 procedures
Adominoplasty - 127,923 procedures

Good Thoughts . . .

Dry Lips

Why is it that the more you lick your lips, the drier they get? The answer is simple. Saliva contains digestive enzymes which will wreak havoc on the natural protective coating of your lips. The more you lick, the drier and more uncomfortable your lips will become. The skin on your lips is very thin and has no oil glands to help protect them from the environment.

Drink lots of water, use a humidifier at home, apply a waterproof lip balm that contains natural beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E (break open a capsule and apply to your lips), almond, jojoba, or coconut oils. Petroleum jelly works well, but it is a bit messy. Chapped lips, or those nasty little sores at the corners of your mouth, may indicate a deficiency in B-complex and/or iron.

Take care of your lips, . . . after all, they frame each and every word you say.

Fall and Winter Skin Care

Ah, . . . winter. Colder temperatures, cooler air, and depending on where you live, the possibility of rain and/or snow. When this happens we turn on our furnaces, start to use the heaters in our cars, and cover up for warmth. All of these things greatly affect our skin. The cooler temperatures cause a drop in the humidity leading to increased moisture loss, and the dry warmth of the furnace pitches in to finish off the job by robbing your skin's moisture levels. Did you know that sitting in your car with the heater blowing may feel warm and toasty, but it puts your skin into panic mode?

It is normal to have moisture move through your skin and evaporate from the skin's surface to some degree, but when the skin loses too much moisture it responds with defensive actions. For instance, oil production increases in an attempt to trap more moisture as it plays a large role in holding, or linking, moisture in the skin. The surface layer of the skin begins to thicken in an attempt to lessen the moisture loss. The result? A thicker, duller complexion with more dehydration lines, accentuated existing lines, and a definite feeling of tightness. If that is not bad enough, dehydrated skin is more susceptible to free radical damage accelerating the aging process.

During the fall and winter months it is paramount to switch up to a new day cream that will provide a little more emolliency and protection, and one that will boost hydration, . . . big time. If you cannot bring yourself to change your day cream, boost it with a serum day and night. Exfoliation will help address the thickening, minimize the lines and pore depth, increase the healthy color of the skin, and give a renewed look of vitality. Bring out the hydrating masks, daily if you need to, and don't forget to go and have a professional deep hydrating facial. Your skin will radiate with appreciation.

Yoga - The Yin and Yang of Beauty

Yoga offers so many benefits it is no wonder it is sweeping the globe. It balances the body's system, improves vitality, relieves stress and tension, brings more oxygen to the body, controls hormone levels, increases sluggish digestion, flushes out toxins, offers a new level of mental alertness, and improves circulation leading to the reduction in wrinkle formation and producing a natural face lift. Long story short . . . yoga offers a healthy, more youthful way of living.

This is the perfect time of year to incorporate 20 minutes of yoga into each day. Why now? November and December are the busiest times of the year when we have the least amount of energy to burn. Unfortunately, the physical math does not work. Winter is considered the 'yin' season, one that is cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet. Summer, on the other hand, is the 'yang' season and is the exact opposite with warm, dry, fast, masculine, and 'anything but quiet' energy.

Winter should be dedicated to storing energy. The winter solstice, three or four days before Christmas, are supposed to be the quietest days of the year, but instead we burn the candle at both ends while taking part in 'yang' activities. We are clearly at odds with our nature adding a great deal of stress to our lives. Stress turns itself outward by accelerating the aging process and causing illnesses.

Yoga has the ability to correct the problem, and in doing so, create a more youthful and harmonious balance. It is said, "if you want to change your appearance, you must first change your thoughts, emotions, and habits where stress and aging originate." A stressed out body and mind will project the same in our appearances. Conversely, if we nourish ourselves by adopting a healthy lifestyle, we will age ever so gracefully. So, what are you waiting for? O-m-m-m-m-m . . .

Alpha Hydroxy Acid Health Review

Does the use of Alpha Hydroxy Acids increase the risk of skin cancer?
There has been a fair amount of buzz, and perhaps a little bit of negative press, regarding AHAs and cancer. To date, no studies have found a credible correlation between products that contain Alpha Hydroxy Acid and cancer. There is, however, the distinct warning that Alpha Hydroxy Acids may make the skin more sensitive to the sun, and everyone knows that too much unprotected exposure to the sun has the potential to cause skin cancer. A word of caution, however. High concentrations of glycolic acid are being sold on the internet in home exfoliation/peel DIY kits. If the concentration is too high, or the product is improperly used, there is a very real possibility of burning the skin which could result in permanent damage. As always, do your homework. Leave this type of skin care in the safe hands of your estheticians and/or dermatologists. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Happy Halloween - The Power of Pumpkin

Halloween is a perfect time of year to take a closer look at the pumpkin's contribution to the skin care industry. Many interesting specialized products are based upon this beautiful superfood. Other than the natural fruit acids (yes, the pumpkin is technically a fruit), it is high in Vitamins A, C, & E, several B's, potassium, magnesium iron, zinc and copper. Quite the list! In fact, some have said that, "the pumpkin contains one of the richest supplies of bioavailable carotenoids known to man."

In skin care, however, the pumpkin has a unique ability to efficiently exfoliate dead skin cells while cleansing, detoxing and promoting a healthy healing process. It enables other ingredients to penetrate the skin more effectively, works on restoring the elasticity of the skin and offers moisturizing properties that leave the skin feeling silky smooth. Pumpkin skin care is most effective for dull, sluggish skin that screams for nutrition and the return of a long lost radiant glow. There are many great pumpkin products on the market that deserve your attention. It is clear that pumpkins offer so much more than just baking into great pies. Pumpkin power, indeed.