The 6 step non-surgical facial rejuvenation program

There is an anti-aging revolution occurring in healthcare today and that you are the main beneficiary. Nowhere in the field of anti-aging medicine are the breakthroughs and technological advances more exciting, more relevant and more readily available for immediate application and benefit to you than in the field of facial rejuvenation. Better, the most exciting, effective new discoveries are non-surgical methods for facial rejuvenation. Yes I said non-surgical and I said effective.

How do we change from that radiant 16 year old with smooth glowing fresh skin to the 40 something who is beginning to see her mother looking back at her in the mirror to the 65 year old with hooded eyes, puffy lower eyelids, jowls, and loose skin folds hanging under the chin. Let’s review and clearly understand what these changes are that we must look for, recognize and then take steps to correct.

Skin Texture Changes (Surface Irregularities)

The aged facial skin looks dry when compared to a child’s skin. Over half of the crucial natural skin moisturizing agent Hyaluronic Acid is lost by the time we turn 50 and you cannot replace HA by taking a pill or applying it to your skin. Loss of hormonal support during menopause accelerates this change. Dry aged skin loses its glow, looks dull, almost grey. The aged skin is wrinkled and rough and pore size is enlarged.

Uneven pigmentation, brown spots, and red spots (Pigment and Blood vessels)

Uneven pigmentation and over growth of blood vessels are characteristic of aged facial skin. These blemishes are a protective and inflammatory response of the skin to years of exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun and injury from free radicals released by harmful agents in our environment and diet.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Fine lines and wrinkles are classic signs of facial aging. Static wrinkles are those that are present in the skin when the face is at rest. These wrinkles are caused by the loss of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin. Collagen is destroyed by UV light from the sun and free radicals from other sources. As the collagen disappears volume is lost beneath the skin and the skin wrinkles. This is not unlike the way a grape wrinkles after drying to produce a raisin.

Dynamic wrinkles are those that you see when the face is moving - frown lines, laugh lines, worry lines, and crow’s feet. These lines are actually caused by the pull of the facial muscles beneath the facial skin. Dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles after years of repeated pulling by the facial muscles.

Deep Facial Lines

Deep facial lines are those lines around the mouth called the Nasal-labial fold line and the Marionette lines. These lines are different from wrinkles in that they are caused by a combination of the pull of the facial muscles and loose sagging skin. As the face ages, the skin becomes loose and falls over the line created by the facial muscle pull, for example the smile line.

Loose skin

The skin of the aged face has lost it’s elasticity and has become loose. The cheek has fallen and created loose skin on the jaw called jowls. The skin beneath the jaw on the neck is also hanging down, a phenomenon called the turkey wattle.

What Is Facial Rejuvenation

The definition of rejuvenate is to make young or youthful again or restore to an original or new state. True facial rejuvenation requires correction of all of the above facial aging changes for the face to be made young or youthful or restored to an original state. The 6-step program mis designed to address all aging changes without surgery.

The 6-Step Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation Program

The 6-step facial rejuvenation program consists of the following 6 steps:

1. Exfoliation

2. Stimulation of new collagen formation

3. Removal of abnormal pigment and blood vessels

4. Relaxation of lines of facial expression

5. Fill deep facial lines

6. Skin tightening

The 6-Step Program In Action - How it’s Done

Step 1-Exfoliation

I start all of my patients on an exfoliation routine consisting of topical exfoliating creams and microdermabrasion or superficial chemical peels with glycolic or salicylic acid. The latter peels are no down time procedures, you leave the office a little pink but with a refreshed glow. The exfoliating creams I use are Retin A® or Tazarotine®, although for patients with sensitive skin I use Vitamin C topically.

For patients with more severe aging changes I use a deper form of exfoliation called MicroLasaerPeel®. This procedure goes deeper than a Microdermabrasion® and is more effective, but you leave the office quite red and need 4 to 6 days for your skin to look normal. This is a great improvement over laser resurfacing, which goes much deeper and requires many weeks of recovery. MicroLaserePeel® does not lighten the skin or leave demarcation lines as does laser resurfacing. Many physicians use deeper chemical peels with TCA, but I prefer the MicroLaserPeel® because of its accuracy and reliability.

Step 2- Stimulate New Collagen Formation

After deep exfoliation, this is the most important step for removal of static facial wrinkles and fine lines. This step is also the most time consuming and tedious and requires patience on your part. There is no quick non-surgical way to remove visible facial wrinkles. Laser resurfacing can quickly and effectively remove facial wrinkles but I consider laser resurfacing a surgical procedure and the prolonged recovery and down time make laser resurfacing unacceptable for most people.

While the topical creams mentioned above and deep exfoliation stimulate new collagen production, additional stimulation is required. Several new laser techniques, IPL, and radiofrequency machines can stimulate the skin to form new collagen in the deeper layers without producing damage to the skin surface. These techniques are called non-ablative, meaning they do not remove the surface skin cells as is done in laser resurfacing, which is an ablative technique. Consequently these non - ablative techniques are no down time procedures meaning that after a treatment you are pink but recover quickly within hours.

There are many different brands of machines that can perform non-ablative stimulation of collagen formation often called photorejuvenation. I prefer one called Lasergenesis® because it is easy, painless, and effective. IPL is also effective and is very useful in patients who have a lot of pigment and abnormal blood vessels, but IPL is stronger, involves contact of the machine to the skin and must be used with caution by a person who is trained and experienced in its use.

Collagen stimulation is a lengthy process. Effective results that you can see in the mirror, that is fewer wrinkles, requires at least 5-7 treatments and 5-7 months for the benefit to be visible. But, it took 30-40 years to form those wrinkles, so removal in 7 months without surgery and down time is pretty good.

Step 3- Removal of Abnormal Pigment and Blood Vessels

Although creams and exfoliation can remove many light brown spots and the lasers and IPL used in step 2 remove smaller vessels, more aggressive therapy is needed for removal of darker pigment and brown spots and larger vessels. There are many non-ablative lasers available for removing pigment and blood vessels. While these lasers are non-ablative they do leave a reddish mark which is visible for a day or two and easily covered with make up. I have used a laser called the Versapulse® for many years which works very well, but new Versapulse® lasers are so expensive that they are rarely being manufactured today. A newer laser called the Coolglide® is very effective for larger blood vessels. Today, the IPL is the choice for combined pigment and smaller blood vessels that appear as a flush similar to Rosacea.

The above therapies are effective and results are visible in about six weeks. Usually 2 or 3 treatments are needed.

Step 4- Relaxation of Muscles of Facial Expression

Botox® is a revolutionary new drug which effectively removes dynamic lines and wrinkles caused by the muscles of facial expression. The frown lines, worry lines, crow’s feet, and bunny lines all may be lessened or removed by the injection of Botox®. Lipstick lines, the fine wrinkles around the lips may also be lessened with Botox® but only small amounts can be used, otherwise the lips will be weakened.

There are several new “peptides”, one of which is acetyl 3 hexapeptide, which when applied topically as a cream are reported to have a Botox®-like effect in reducing fine lines. Eventually these agents will be perfected, be more effective and possibly make Botox® injections unnecessary.

You may read more about how these muscle relaxing, wrinkle removing agents work in Chapter 7, No Down time Facial anti-aging Procedures.

Step 5- Fill Deep Facial Lines and Contour Deformities

Soft tissue fillers such as Radiesse®, Restylane®, your own fat and other fillers can be injected into the skin beneath a deep facial line to plump the line and camouflage the line. They may also be used to plump the aging lip and to fill contour deformities caused by facial aging.

These fillers are temporary and must be repeated every 6 months to a year. Fat injections can last longer and if done properly may not need to be repeated. Remember however, the filler techniques are a camouflage, not a correction.

Step 6- Skin Tightening

Skin tightening is a very important component of any facial rejuvenation process. Prior to the past year or two, a face-lift was the only option for tightening facial skin. However new technologies using Infrared, Radiofrequency, and combined 1319/1064 wavelength laser energy are showing promising results as non-surgical skin tightening methods.

Two of these methods, Thermage®, which uses radiofrequency energy, and Titan®, an infrared device have been used for 2 years and results are improving. These methods are not a non-surgical face-lift as so often advertised, so do not be misled. They can however tighten skin by as much as 30% in properly selected patients. There have been complications with Thermage® consisting of depressions in certain areas of the facial skin so knowledge and experience with the use of these machines is very important.

As with other non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques skin tightening requires multiple treatments and takes time to see the final result, often 5 months. As with the other laser and photo techniques above skin tightening is achieved by stimulating the deeper layers of the skin to remodel and form new collagen, a process which takes time, usually 5 to 6 months to see your result.

Non-surgical skin tightening is most useful for younger patients who are beginning to have loose skin in the neck, along the jaw-line, and in the cheek. Older patients with severe facial sagging can be improved but results will be less impressive.

The 6-step facial Rejuvenation Program is a carefully structured method for the application of revolutionary new methods to obtain effective non-surgical rejuvenation. This program takes time, but the results are visible and real after about 7 months, the same time frame most people spend using creams and diets only to end up seeing no difference in their face. Remember, it took a lifetime for your face to age, does it make sense that this damage can be reversed overnight-of course not.

The non-surgical facial rejuvenation program is expensive. These new technologies are costly and of course you need to be treated by a qualified physician. However, with the six-step program you get what you pay for, facial rejuvenation without the risk, discomfort, and expense of surgery. If you total the cost of your skin creams, facials, fad diets, and spa visits and save this money for the 6-step program many of you will be very close to covering the cost. For those of you who already have facial rejuvenation treatments in a doctors office, the 6-step program will produce better more effective results and save you money.

Layman guide to cosmetic surgery

Every one wants to be beautiful. If they are already beautiful, they want to become more beautiful. Increasing demand for perfect beauty and the advancement of technology in medicine had given birth to cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is a surgical method which enhances your physical appearance. It can be done either to correct your appearance which has undergone damage after an accident, or to simply enhance your facial and physical features, which tend to deteriorate with age.

Who uses Cosmetic surgery?

Just about anyone who wants to improve his/her look goes for cosmetic surgery. It is not limited to women. According to a survey 11% of men also opt for cosmetic surgery. It can be a painful and an expensive procedure. It is not covered under your insurance policy. Hence cosmetic surgery is considered to be the domain of the rich and famous.

Where can I get it done?

Check your local listings or ask your family physician for links to a good and reputed plastic or cosmetic surgeon. Always make sure that the surgeon is certified by either The American board of plastic surgery, or the American board of cosmetic surgery.

What do I need to go through?

Every one is scared of surgery. More so if it is done on your face area. Ask the doctor about the pros and cons involved in the procedure. Ask him his experience in the field. Every cosmetic surgery may have certain risks involved. It is always good to be clear about the entire procedure before you start.

Ask the doctor how long you need to be away from work, will it be painful, and about the best and worst case scenarios post cosmetic surgery. He may have an album displaying pictures of previous patients if they have given him permission to use it. Check the before and after pictures to give you a brief idea about how you may look post cosmetic surgery.

What it does not do?

Remember, getting a facelift or a nose job done does not change the person within you. You are still the same person from inside.

Enlarging your bosoms with surgery an overview

One of the more popular plastic surgery procedures involves breast enlargements. Let us take a closer look at the type of procedures available.

Enlargements are often thought to be the most popular form of plastic surgery. In truth, it is the third most popular procedure and covers more option than most people consider at first blush.

The procedure is technically known as augmentation mammaplasty. It involves the placement of an implant into both breasts for the purpose of enlarging and shaping the breasts. The earliest form of this procedure was undertaken in the 1860s in Germany with fatty tissue from the body used to perform the enhancement. As time passed, silicone implants became the implant of choice, leading to one of the most contentious debates in medical science. Ultimately, the silicone implants were banned in 1992 by the Federal Drug Administration. Improved design and further medical research has led to the reintroduction of some silicone implants and the FDA is considering approving further models.

There are several techniques used in enhancements and you should discuss the best option with your plastic physician. Nonetheless, the options are sub-glandular where the implant is placed in the body of the breast, sub-muscular for small chested individuals where the implant is placed below the musculature, and sub-fascial where the implant is placed between the muscle and outer fascial. The specific procedure is dependent upon the pre-existing conditions each person has.

A second issue that you need to keep in mind is the type of incursion technique. Specifically, where will the surgeon create an incursion in the body to put the implants? The axillary approach involves creating an incision in the arm pit and bringing the implant in from the side. Peri-Areolar involves an incision around the lower half of the nipple, in a semi-circle format. The Infra-mammary approach involves an actual incision into the lower flesh area. The incursion technique should be discussed carefully with your surgeon, particularly as it pertains to scarring issues. Incisions result in scars, and even tiny ones have to be taken into account.

The decision to have enlargement surgery necessarily involves a lot of choices. Make sure to fully discuss the options, risks and benefits with your physician to determine if the surgery is appropriate for you and the best option to get a result you are happy with in the future.

The top 5 fragrances and perfumes of all time

People love perfume. It is no doubt that the perfume industry worldwide makes around ten billion dollars every year. Perfume has been there for a very long time. Because people love to always smell good, perfume manufacturers always try to come up with a fragrance that would smell appealing to people.

Through the years, several brands of perfumes have been introduced to the market. All seem to smell good. However, there are only some that remain in the market and have been all-time favorites by many people and are even worn and endorsed by some of the famous and well-known personalities in the world.

The taste for perfume is different for everybody. Some like strong and some like mild. Despite this fact, the tastes for perfumes always have a point where almost everybody’s tastes seem to meet and compliment. These are irregardless of price because both ordinary and above ordinary like them. People of the past and present never grow tired of them. Below are the top 5 noted perfumes for women of all time. These are not in particular order.

* Chanel No. 5

It was created by Coco Chanel in 1921. One of the most famous personalities who claim to love this perfume much is none other than Marilyn Monroe. In an interview, she said she wouldn't wear any perfume to bed but Chanel No. 5. This perfume has stayed popular through the years not only because Marilyn Monroe or other celebrities endorsed it. It's the classic powdery scent and staying power that makes it a favorite and remain up to this very day.

* L'heure Bleu

It was created by Guerlain long before other perfumes were created. Its name means the blue hour. This perfume has a sweeter fragrance that creates its delightful scent. This is perfect for both young and old.

* Creed Tuberose Indiana

It was created in 1980 and until now, many women including well-known celebrities go after it. Its fruity and citrus scent that creates a sexy feeling is loved by Madonna, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Goldie Hawn and others.

* Bulgary Pour Femme

It is one of the most original scents of Bulgari which was created in 1994. The scent is perfect for a free spirited woman. Its scent has a blend of jasmine, orange blossom and violet. This blend creates a floral scent which is loved by Whitney Houston, Lisa Kudrow and others.

* Christian Dior Eau de Dolce Vita

This citrus floral and happy scent was created by Christian Dior. Known to anyone, particularly celebrities such as Charlize Theron and Kristin Scott Thomas, this perfume created in 1998 creates an exquisite scent of femininity.

Perfumes are not only created for women. Men also have passion for perfumes. Since men, do not wear cosmetics like women do, they invest much into perfume which is considered as their main cosmetic. Like women’s perfume, several brands have come and go but there are these perfumes that men love most. Below are the top 5 perfumes for men in no particular order.

* Giorgio Armani Emporio Armani Night

Though it was launched only in 2003, this perfume has a blend of spice and aromatic woods and grapefruit that creates a masculine effect has soared high in the market. It is worn by many male celebrities particularly. This is perfect for older and younger men. It is highly recommended to be worn on daytime.

* Polo Sport by Ralph Lauren

With its clean scent, it is perfect for men always on the go. It was introduced in 1978 and until now, men still go for this all time favorite scent. It’s a classic scent that never really grows old.

* Hugo Boss for Men

This fragrance is perfect for men full of energy. The blend of fruits and spices conveys freshness bound by a masculine effect.

* Cool Water Cologne Eau De Toilette Spray for men by Davidoff

With its cool scent, most men prefer using this Davidoff created fragrance. It was created in 1988 blending the finest of rosemary, sage and coriander accented with amber and oak wood. This finest blend created a scent perfect for everyday use.

* Eternity Cologne Eau De Toilette Spray for men by Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein launched this perfect scent for men in 1989. It contains the contrasting blend of sweet and spicy aromas that create a cool masculine effect to those who use it.

Fragrance indeed is a personal choice. You should pick one that smells good on you. The above mentioned top 5 perfumes for men and women are just guide to help you pick you’re your choice. Many men and women, not to mention different famous people in the world have liked them making them the top 5 among many other brands. Your choice might be the same as theirs.

When you need an expert laser hair removal

When it comes to laser hair removal, many times the answer you receive to questions you ask bears little resemblance to fact. The Toronto Laser Hair Removal Experts provide comprehensive answers to common laser hair removal questions.

A unique hybrid of spa and cosmetic treatment center is becoming increasingly common. Sadly there are locations that do not conform to acceptable standard of practice and ethics. Arming yourself with answers to some important questions is a strong first step in unmasking clinics to avoid.

For instance, according to the Toronto Laser Hair Removal Experts at laser-hair-removal-tornoto. org laser hair removal treatment should always be performed by a licensed physical or laser doctor. Some facilities bypass this mandate. It’s also true that some clinics will guarantee complete and permanent hair removal. The truth is, multiple sessions may be required to arrest the continued growth of hair in the targeted area. The methods of therapy can never be a one time solution because hair grows at different rates which is why 5-7 sessions are typically required to treat the majority of hair regrowth.

Toronto Laser Hair Removal Experts pride themselves on the information they provide and stand ready to answer your questions by providing a variety of online resources that assist you in making an informed choice when exploring the possibilities associated with laser hair removal.

When you visit laser-hair-removal-tornoto. org you will find a FAQ section along with a section for both related publications and personal consultation.

One of the most common frustrations for those who are assisting patients with quality laser hair removal is there are those who would seek to convince you that they are providing the same services, but may be utilizing Radio-Frequency Devices (RF) or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). These methods cannot provide true laser hair removal - primarily because they are not lasers.

When visiting with a potential laser hair removal provider you are encouraged to ask what type of equipment they utilize. The two approved lasers are the ND-Yad laser (primarily used with darker skin types) and the Alexandrite Laser (primarily used in lighter skin types). Both of the above mentioned laser hair removal systems are considered highly effective and are the current standard for this type of cosmetic procedure.

One of the more fascinating parts of the Toronto Laser Hair Removal website is the quick link section providing the latest news in laser hair removal. This section provides further evidence that the goal of this site is simply to provide the information needed to make an informed choice.

The site editor is John Keller M. D. Ph. D. who is a board certified laser physician who operates a laser and vein clinic in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A site linked Doctor’s Blog allows further information to be gathered while adding a strong human touch to laser-hair-removal-toronto. com

The experts at Toronto Laser Hair Removal Experts insist that you feel confident and comfortable with your choice in a laser hair removal expert. Some of the questions they suggest asking include whether or not you will be able to see an actual physician during your consultation. They also recommend discovering the total number of laser hair removal procedures the clinic does each year. You should also seek to determine if a physician will be performing the procedure or if a physician will be in the room supervising your treatment.

Should you be considering laser hair removal, you will find many of the most common questions answered at laser-hair-removal-toronto. com This site provides knowledgeable, straightforward answers for a treatment that has held promise for many, but has been routinely abused by ill-equipped providers.

Brewing your own scent

If you don't like any commercial perfumes, make your own. That's probably the best thing to do rather than get frustrated from spending hours and hours smelling perfumes in department stores and speciality shops. Also, you might end up creating a scent that is cheaper yet richer and more perfect for your body.

When making your own scents, you should always remember that perfumes have three basic structures or layers, namely: the base notes, heart or middle notes and top notes. Top notes are the first smell that you'll notice and it is also the first one to evaporate.

Top notes handle the first impressions. It creates the mood and the one that immediately captivates. Meanwhile, the heart notes or otherwise known as the middle or coeur notes. These scents appear later and last longer. They give character to the perfume. The final layer is the base notes which lasts the longest. They slowly come out blending with both the heart note and the top note.

Make certain that you don’t put natural essential oils and absolutes as top notes. They are basically complex compounds that sometimes already contain middle notes and even top notes characteristics. So care should be taken when you start mixing or blending different kinds of essential oils.

Ideally, top notes are made from citrus oils like bergamot, lemon, mandarin, orange, etc. Conifer oils such as cypress, fir, pine, spruce, etc. can also be used. Also popular top notes oils include mint oils, cardamom, basil, chamomile, juniperberry, ginger, petitgrain and rosemary. When it comes to middle notes, probably the best oils to use are floral oils and absolutes such as caraway, black pepper, cinnamon, clary sage and clove bud.

Oils from elemi, coriander, galbanum, sweet marjoram, geranium, lavender and nutmeg are also great middle note materials. Palmarosa, thyme and violet leaf absolute have also been used before and their blending capabilities have proved to be quite effective. Wood oils like cedarwood, gaiac, linaloe wood and sandalwood are great as base notes. So are resin oils like frankincense and myrrh.

Perfumers also use labdanum, patchouli, oakmoss absolute, vetiver and even vanilla as base notes for their perfumes.

When making your own perfumes, it is always, always important to know your materials. Essential oils for example have different characters, behavior, strength and weaknesses. Each characteristic should be considered and their effects studied closely. You need to know the effects of the essential oils and perfume blends on your skin.

You need how to understand how the mixture will react when diluted or when it is set over time. You need to be prepared and know or at least have an idea on how the mixtures will react. It is, therefore, perfect advice that you write down all the processes that you undertook, from measurements to blending procedures.

And as important as the actual steps are, one needs to take regular breaks. Not only will this help in raising creativity but it will help make you safe from some harmful effects of prolong exposure from oils. Remember that you are working with essential oils.

These oils are highly concentrated and give off very strong smell. It is, therefore, possible to become sick if you spent too much time working on them especially in unventilated areas. And also, there's also a limit to how much scent or perfume your nose can take.

Ingredients...are you getting your money s worth

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Have you ever purchased commercial lotions or soaps that claimed to contain natural ingredients or some other moisturizer only to determine that you've wasted your money? If you said yes to this question, you're not alone. The commercial cosmetics industry list natural ingredients of aloe vera and here lately shea butter on their product labels to satisfy the consumers quest for natural products. You may even pay more for the inclusion of natural ingredients, but are you getting your money's worth

Keep the following in mind when purchasing products that make specific claims on the label:

1) The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires that ingredients be listed in descending order of quantity. This means which ever ingredient makes up the bulk of the product should be listed first; therefore, If you're looking for a shea butter product, look for that ingredient towards the top of the ingredient list.

2) Natural means that ingredients are extracted directly from plants or animal products as opposed to being produced synthetically. Supposedly there is no proof that natural ingredients are better for the skin, but I can certainly tell the difference when using all natural bath oil verses the 100% mineral oil (a synthetic derived from petroleum), I've used in the past.

3) Hypoallergenic on cosmetic labeling claims the product will most likely not cause a allergic reaction. When you read terms "dermatologist-tested," "nonirritating," and other statements that imply the product has been tested isn't a guarantee that you won't have an allergic reaction.

4) Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) are the ingredients used in products that claim to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Always use caution when applying these ingredients by testing a small area first to determine if a reaction will occur. You should also avoid the sun and use a sunscreen when using AHA.

5) Soap as you know it, is actually a snythetic detergent bar regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and is not required to meet FDA regulations unless it claims to do something other than cleanse. If the soap claims to be a deodorant soap it is considered cosmetic and must abide by FDA regulations. If it reduces dandruff or makes some other medical claim it must be considered a drug, carry the required drug labeling and also meet FDA safety and effectiveness requirements. I've used handmade soaps for some time and don't experience the skin dryness as when I've used commercial soaps. This is because handmade soaps retain natural glycerin, a humectant which attracts moisture to your skin, whereas the commercial soaps remove the glycerin to use in more profitable products.

Keep in mind that typically handmade bath and body products contain a higher percentage of natural ingredients. Whether you purchase commercial or "natural" products, I encourage you to shop around as all products are not created equal. Know what to look for regarding ingredients and how they are listed to determine if you are getting your money's worth. Take into consideration how the product makes your skin feel, does it dry your skin or does it feel soft and moisturized.

This article is not meant to bash commercial products, but should serve to help you make an informed decision concerning products and what you're actually getting.

For more information on cosmetic ingredients visit the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association; the Federal Drug Association