You want to look refreshed on your big day, but nobody wants to look different, so we recommend a four to six week plan that leaves enough time to safely address any issues associated with boosting your appearance.

Four Weeks Away: We usually consider microdermabrasion at this time if it is called for. The gentle resurfacing brightens the skin tone and stimulates collagen. We can usually administer up to 6 treatments in four weeks prior to picture time.

Three Weeks Away: Now is a good time to consider dermal fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm to smooth out any deep lines or problem wrinkle areas. The results are immediate with no significant down time, but it can take a week or two for the products to settle in and to allow time for any resulting bruising to heal.

Two Weeks Away: About 2 weeks before your event is the time to consider products such as Botox or Dysport cosmetics. These treatments take anywhere from a few days to a week to take full effect. Two weeks gives you time to live with the result, and to do any touchups to help you look your best.

One Week Away: At only one week away, it is not too late to consider a light chemical peel or a glycolic treatment. We offer many procedures and products that give instant results with little or no signs of treatment beyond a beautifully improved skin tone.

Patients seeking more substantial benefits may wish to consider a variety of options from surgical procedures to deeper peels and intense light treatments. If you are considering Laser Hair Removal, we usually recommend starting treatments 6 to 8 weeks in advance. Our latest Pain-free, Hair-Free™ laser techniques take about 5 weekly treatments to give you the smooth glow that you seek. These procedures may each take longer times to present their true endpoints, so a consultation is recommended well in advance of your event.

Contact us at 681-7844 to discuss special event packages that we will customize for your needs and wishes to help you prepare to look your best on your special day.

If you have hair where you wish you didn’t, Pain-Free, Hair-Free(TM) is for you.

The Comfortable Way to Eliminate Unwanted Body Hair

A revolution is underway, for permanent body hair reduction that is virtually painless. The Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ laser hair removal treatment, offered by spas and physicians around the world, can now free you from daily shaving, painful plucking and expensive waxing to give you silky smooth and beautifully bare skin.

Pain-Free, Hair-Free is the next-generation of laser hair removal. It’s an effective and permanent hair reduction solution that is simple and easy. It takes cutting-edge medical laser technology and combines it with the comfort and convenience of a trip to the spa. In fact, Pain-Free, Hair-Free uses new breakthrough technology that has been described as one of the most comfortable laser hair removal options available.

How It’s Different

Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ breaks the mold of previous laser hair removal systems. The system’s unique IN-Motion™ technology, along with the sweeping motion of the laser, safely and gently heats the targeted area under your skin while you stay comfortable.

Virtually pain-free

Most people find Pain-Free, Hair-Free treatments very comfortable. While pain tolerance is subjective, many patients often describe the sensation as soothing as a “hot stone massage.”

How it works

Pain-Free, Hair-Free works by using pulses of infrared diode laser energy to gradually heat the hair follicles in the subdermal layer of skin until they can no longer produce new hair. Using unique, IN-Motion™ technology and a patented DualChill™ treatment tip, the surface of your skin stays cool and comfortable. The sweeping motion also eliminates any skipped or missed spots common to other types of laser hair removal.

Hair Removal Treatments – Who It’s For

Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ is for everyone. It’s safe for all skin types, hair types and most hair colors. It can even be used on tanned skin. The bottom line is – if you have hair where you wish you didn’t, Pain-Free, Hair-Free is for you. The body hair reduction process is permanent, predictable, and virtually pain-free. You’ll go through a series of office visits to see the full benefits.

Where it’s for

Patients seek hair removal treatments for almost any body part, from facial or bikini line treatments to leg, arm, neck or back hair removal.

What you can expect

You can expect results from a series of relatively short sessions. (The actual time depends mainly on the size of the area you are having treated.) A trained nurse or laser technician performs each treatment and you are free to return to normal activities immediately after each session.

Because of Pain-Free, Hair-Free’s unique technology, treatment sessions can be virtually pain-free. Other benefits include:

• Complete coverage with no missed spots

• Fast treatment times

• Few side effects

• Return to normal activities immediately (no recovery or “down time”)

• Safe for all skin types, including tanned skin

Pain-Free, Hair-Free uses the most successful photoepilation wavelength (810 nm), which makes it the gold standard for laser hair removal. In addition, a patented DualChill™ mechanism ensures the surface of your skin stays cool and even more comfortable throughout your treatment.

Symptoms may include:
• Redness of the face in discrete areas or covering the entire face
• A tendency to flush or blush easily
• Increased number of spider-like blood vessels (telangiectasia) of the face
• A red nose that may or has progressed to a bulbous nose
• Acne-like skin eruptions (may ooze or crust)
• A burning or stinging sensation of the face
• Irritated, bloodshot, watery eyes

Treatment
There is no known cure for rosacea. The goal is to identify and avoid possible triggers, and thus reduce flare-ups. There are specific triggers you may have; you may be able to see a pattern of what makes your rosacea worse. Use this information to avoid future flare-ups.

Here are some steps that may help:
• Avoid sun exposure. Use sunscreen every day.
• Avoid prolonged exertion in hot weather.
• Try to reduce stress. Try deep breathing, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
• Limit spicy foods, alcohol, and hot beverages.
Triggers vary from person to person. Other triggers may include wind, hot baths, cold weather, specific skin products, exercise, or other factors.

Antibiotics taken by mouth (such as tetracycline, minocycline, or doxycycline) or applied to the skin (such as metronidazole) may control skin eruptions. Other medications (isoretinol or Accutane), which are similar to vitamin A, are stronger alternatives that your doctor or dermatologist might consider. Rosacea is not acne and will not improve with over-the-counter acne treatment.
In severe cases, laser surgery may help reduce the redness. Surgical reduction of enlarged nose tissue may also improve your appearance, if you so choose.

Causes
Although the cause of rosacea is unknown, you are more likely to develop this harmless skin condition if:
• You are fair-skinned
• You blush easily
• You are a woman (however, men with the condition are usually more severely affected)
• You are between the ages of 30 and 50
Rosacea involves swelling of the blood vessels just under the skin. It may be associated with other skin disorders (acne vulgaris, seborrhea) or eye disorders (blepharitis, keratitis). Your physician can usually diagnose rosacea.

Rosacea is not medically dangerous. It is not curable, but can usually be controlled with occasional laser treatments, diligent use of sunscreen and use of topical or oral medications.

Don’t neglect your skin.
Did you know that most skin aging occurs during the summer? So…consistent application of sun protection, regular professional facials, and a good home skin care routine are your best defenses against fun in the sun and heat.

Wearing sunscreen every day will significantly cut back on accumulative sun damage.
Recent information from the UCLA skin research department indicates that 78% of all the sun damage incurred in a lifetime is from incidental exposure! You may say “I’m not out at all during the day” but just walking to your car, and even driving in your car will expose you to unnecessary sun damage. Windshields do nothing to protect you from UV rays! Wear a moisturizer that contains a sun block with a minimum of SPF #15. Apply it in the morning so you’ll be covered all day!

It’s not about the SPF number, it’s how often and how much you re-apply your sunscreen.
People are always asking me which SPF number should they use. The truth is, an SPF 30 only offers 4% more protection than an SPF 15. You would have thought it was double the protection, right? As you get up in the higher numbers (SPF 45, 50, 70 +) that percentage comes down, but you’re also exposing your skin to more chemicals which might result in a negative reaction on the skin. The key to protecting your skin in the sun is to re-apply your sunscreen generously at least every two hours. A little dab won’t do you…you need to slather it on.

For those who suffer from back breakouts, avoid hair conditioner containing panthenol.
If back breakouts trouble you, it could be an ingredient in your hair conditioner that’s causing the problem. Panthenol, well-known for its benefit for strengthening the hair, may be a potential pore-clogger. Why the back? Simply because when you rinse out hair conditioner, a residue of the product stays on your back. Use hair products that do not contain Panthenol, exfoliate your back with a mild cleansing gel and exfoliating cloth three times a week and apply an anti-bacterial lotion and your back will be clear for summer.

Produce less oil on the face, never wash with a bar of soap.
One of the biggest complaints we hear during the summer is, “My skin gets so oily!” The binders that hold a bar of soap together are in an alkaline base (high ph balance), which will strip all the water and natural oils out of the skin, causing the surface of the skin to dehydrate. Your skin cells need to stay moist in order to be healthy, and without water, your skin will be producing more oil to compensate for the lack of water which is that last thing you want your skin to do in the heat of the summer! Using soap can also cause more break outs as the dehydrated cells being caused from the drying soap can cause a layer of dry skin cell buildup which can trap oil and keep them clogged in the pores. Try a sulfate-free cleansing gel such as a Clarifying Cleanser. .

Avoid dairy products if your skin is prone to break outs.
With the heat and humidity in the summer, break outs are a real concern for a lot of people. And we’ve all heard that greasy foods and chocolate cause breakouts. In our experience, when breakouts are cyst-like in the chin and jaw-line area, most often this is related to excessive dairy products in your diet. Try cutting out cheese, milk, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, and watch your skin clear up! There are many other ways to get calcium in your diet; broccoli, asparagus and orange juice.

When soothing sunburn, avoid applying lotion. Instead use cold yogurt!
Okay. So you thought you had on plenty of sunscreen and the next thing you know, you got fried. A common misconception about soothing sunburn is that you should keep re-applying lotion (especially aloe vera-based lotion) to keep the skin moist. Layering lotion on sunburned skin traps heat, keeping the skin red longer. Skin must breathe to let out heat. Cold plain yogurt applied to the skin works as an anti-inflammatory and heat remover. Apply, let dry for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat every hour.

Use hand cream that contains sunscreen.
Did you know that the majority of aging that occurs on the hands (sun spots and wrinkles) is attributable to driving in the car with your hands on the steering wheel? Make sure to use a hand cream with an SPF of at least #15 every day.

Load up with antioxidants, both topically and internally.
Research continues to indicate that antioxidants, when used topically in skin care serums and moisturizers and taken internally by eating spinach, tomatoes, berries and sweet potatoes, can provide your skin and body with the defense it needs to fight off damaging free radicals which increase aging. One of the main ways we get these damaging free radicals is through sunlight – even while wearing a sunscreen! Vitamin C is a popular ingredient that will provide your skin with age-fighting antioxidant protection.

Don’t rely only on your sunscreen.
Sunscreens wear off, sweat off, and wash off, so reapply every hour if you are out in the sun. Also, wear a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing to guard your skin against sun damage. If you want to look young, avoid the sun! No amount of sun exposure is damage-free. A little sun means a little damage, and a lot of sun means a lot of damage. And suntan beds are the worst!

Put the brakes on brown spots with a skin lightener.
Skin prone to hyperpigmentation and discoloration (brown spots), the summer sun can really exacerbate this condition. But did you know that it is not only the sun that causes these spots to come out during the summer, but the heat from UV rays? So even if you are absolutely diligent about re-applying sun protection and wearing a hat when outdoors, your melanin activity can still be stimulated resulting in an increase of brown spots. If you are prone to hyperpigmentation, you must use a skin lightener every day to suppress the melanin activity to prevent pigmentation from getting worse during the hot summer months.

The bottom line…
The #1 cause of lines and wrinkles is sun exposure. If you want to look young, avoid the sun. It’s really that simple.
A little sun damage = a little damage.
A lot of sun = a lot of damage.

1) Pigmentation. Don’t just think of your face, it also affects the hands, chest, neck and sun-exposed areas. It is very common and treatable. The hands and chest can be treated at the same time. These brown splotches that vary from a few millimeters to areas the size of a quarter  are caused by sun damage. The skin becomes dull and aged. They can sometimes be treated with prescription creams, however, the more “resistant” ones can benefit from laser. Virtually all this pigmentation can be greatly diminished or erased.  One or two treatments are usually all that is required. $500 per treatment.

2) Red spots or telengectasias. These dilated blood vessels or capillaries are also caused by sun damage and appear more frequently in fair skinned patients. These areas are treated with a specific laser which is absorbed by the red blood cells in the tiny vessels or capillaries . These red spots are eliminated or reduced in one or two treatments. The cost of the laser treatments depends on the number of areas treated. From $200 to $500 per treatment.

3) Fine lines around the eyes. Depending on the severity of the wrinkles, they can be treated with a laser which will substantially reduce these lines. This laser will result in some down time but can be accomplished without general anesthesia. $500 per treatment.

4) Hair Removal. This treatment is for dark or pigmented hair. Due to the growth of the hair follicle it must be treated over 5 sessions but will greatly reduce the hair on a permanent basis. Pricing dependent on size of area.

5) Ear lobe lift. With aging and heavy earring the ear lobes tend to lengthen. The lose of elasticity is what causes this aging of the ear lobes and can be successfully treated with a simple in office procedure. It is commonly overlooked but correcting it give a fresher more youthful look! The splits in the ear lobes can also be corrected at the same time. $700 for both ears or $450 for just repairing split ear lobes.

6)” Liquid Face Lift”. As we age, the skin loses elasticity. After 35 or 40 most of us stop producing elastin and collagen which keeps the skin youthful and vibrant. Aging also results in lose of volume especially in the mid-face. The fat in the mid-face reabsorbs. Depending on the shape of the face the volume lose occurs as early the  3rd or 4th decade of life. Radiesse is an excellent way to restore this volume in the mid-face. A 1.5 cc syringe is $750 or if  more than one syringe is needed a discount will be given. Other fillers are available or permanent procedures are also a consideration.

7) Lip rejuvenation. Is your concern thin lips or does your lipstick “bleed” into those pesky  lines? A simple 1/2 hour lip treatment can relieve both of these problems. Often a simple syringe of Juvederm is the answer. Cost $550.

8) Eyelashes. Want longer eyelashes? There is now a way of  accomplishing this by using Latisse. By simply brushing  this opthalmic solution your lashes will become longer and thicker in 8 to 12 weeks. This is by prescription only since there are side effects that must be discussed. Latisse can change the the color of the skin if used inappropriately and even cause unwanted hair growth. The cost of this is about $120 per kit .

9) Aged Hands. Do you have prominent veins? Aging of the hands is more than just pigmentation. Lost of fat makes the bones and veins more prominent. A simple addition of filler can make your hands more youthful. Both hands for $750, lasts about 1 year.

Let me explain. Microdermabrasion is a process that microcrystals to give the skin a healthier look . Dermasweep ( hydradermabrasion) uses a  crystal free dermabrasion with the pneumatic application of such material as antioxidant -rich serums . This allows for a more rejuvenated appearance .

First, and foremost, welcome to my new Beauty Blog. It’s my opportunity to communicate with you in real time about your interests and questions regarding the world of cosmetic surgery. The Beauty Blog provides you with the opportunity to ask direct questions, or read in on others questions and I can dialog with you and explore all the options.

The number of cosmetic surgery procedures may have slowed somewhat in the current economy, but it’s still a healthy and popular choice. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were 1.8 million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States last year; up 7% from the year before! Of those procedures, 10 million were so-called “minimally-invasive” procedures, such as injectable soft tissue fillers such as Botox, “facial rejuvenation” procedures such as chemical peels and new “laser resurfacing” treatments. It seems Hollywood movie stars aren’t the only ones opting for cosmetic procedures to reverse the signs of aging, or at least make temporary adjustments.

The recent renovation of the Sansum Clinic Department of Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics now enables my patients many new options for non-invasive treatments that temporarily restore and rejuvenate skin, but doesn’t take a bite out of your bank account.

New, exciting services include: Laser Micro-Resurfacing & Epi-Infusion Treatments and Pain-Free Laser Hair Removal. As we continue the Beauty Blog I look forward to discussing more about these new, exciting services and whatever else is on your mind, or should I say your skin…

For your good health,

David F. LaPatka, MD, FACS