In this newsletter

 

 

Sculptra:A New Long-Lasting Filler for Contour Depressions

 

Sculptra is a new long-lasting filling agent that was recently approved for use in the United States by the FDA. Sculptra is a safe, synthetic, biocompatible material that is used to correct depressions and surface irregularities in the skin. Skin creases, wrinkles, depressions, and folds can all be treated and improved with Sculptra. Sculptra is made from poly-L-lactic acid, which is a well-known material that has been used in medical products for more than 20 years. It is commonly used as a component of dissolvable stitches and surgical implants. Sculptra is biodegradable, meaning that it is gradually broken down and eventually completely eliminated from the body.

 

Sculptra is injected below the surface of the skin into the areas that are undergoing treatment. Over the next few weeks, Sculptra stimulates the production of your own new collagen. It is this new collagen that ultimately produces the improvement in the appearance of the skin that results from Sculptra. Generally, two to four treatment sessions every four to six weeks are required to obtain the optimum result.

 

After a Sculptra treatment, most patients can resume their normal activities immediately after leaving the office. Make-up may be applied a few hours after the treatment. After completion of the treatment course, skin creases, wrinkles, depressions, and folds are all improved. Treatment results last for up to two years in most patients, and in some patients even longer! The desired results can be maintained after that with minor touch-up treatments. Patients have been quite pleased with the results of their Sculptra treatments. Sculptra treatments may also be combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures to further enhance the result.

 

Question of the Month – What is Rosacea?

 

This month, we are inaugurating a new section of our newsletter, the “Question of the month.” In this section, we will discuss common skin conditions so that our patients can familiarize themselves with disorders of the skin that occur frequently.
 

Rosacea is a skin disease that causes red patches, bumps, and broken capillaries on the face. Although it can occur at any age, it is most likely to start in fair skinned people in their thirties and forties. Often, the first symptom noticed by people with rosacea is a tendency to blush (facial flushing), which becomes more frequent and noticeable over time. Eventually, the redness of the face becomes permanent, although it can vary in intensity. Small dilated blood vessels, known as telangiectasias, may appear in the affected areas. Small white bumps, called milia, and red bumps may also occur. Although rosacea is frequently mistaken for acne, rosacea does not cause the blackheads and whiteheads that are common in acne. The most likely areas to be affected by rosacea are the nose and cheeks, but in more severe cases rosacea can affect the entire face and neck.
 

Doctors grade the severity of rosacea on a mild-moderate-severe scale. If left untreated, rosacea may progress over time from mild to moderate disease, and eventually to severe disease. The severe form of rosacea is characterized by intense bouts of facial flushing, swelling, facial pain, and debilitating burning sensations. At this stage, some patients may also develop a rhinophyma (rino-fi-ma), a bulbous enlargement of the nose. It is said that W.C. Fields developed his famous nose as a complication of rosacea.
 

Some patients with rosacea may also develop eye problems. Commonly occurring symptoms include dry eyes, itchy or burning eyes, gritty eyes, and a sensation of a foreign body in the eye. Redness and swelling of the eyelid may also occur. Rosacea patients with eye involvement should see an ophthalmologist.
 

Although there are many theories, the cause of rosacea is still unknown. Genetic and environmental factors probably play roles in the development of rosacea.
 

The treatment of rosacea begins with sun protection. Patients who have rosacea should carefully monitor their exposure to the sun and routinely use sunscreen. Antibiotics, either taken orally or applied topically to the affected areas, are also regularly used to treat rosacea. Topical azaleic acid may also be used, especially if antibiotics do not give sufficient improvement. The redness and dilated blood vessels associated with rosacea are best treated with either laser therapy or intense pulsed light. The good news is that by combining several skin care modalities, an experienced skin care professional will be able to control nearly every case of rosacea.

 

Barbara-Thorne-Our-New-Aesthetician

 

We are pleased to announce that Barbara Thorne has joined the office as our newest aesthetician. Barb works in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Patients who have not previously received aesthetic services in our office may see Barb and receive a 50% discount on their first facial or other aesthetic treatment through the end of the year. This is an inexpensive way to experience our signature AmerianTronic Facial Rejuvenator, as seen on “Oprah” and also seen multiple times on TLC’s television show “Ten Years Younger.”

 

Three of Our “Ten Years Younger” Shows to Air in September

 

We recently completed our second season of work on the television show “Ten Years Younger.” If you have not yet seen the show, the patients on the show undergo a series of non-surgical treatments and enhancements designed to optimize their appearance and help them to look “Ten Years Younger.” Doing the show has been a lot of fun.
 

During the show’s first two seasons, our office treated 16 patients. We utilized all of the various modalities of non-surgical facial rejuvenation. These methods included treatments with the Fraxel Laser, Thermage, Intense Pulsed Light (FotoFacial), Vbeam Laser, Botox, Collagen, Restylane, chemical peels, and Joni’s famous facials. Episodes in which we participated will air on Wednesday September 14th, Monday September 19th, and Friday September 23rd, all at 1:00 PM on The Learning Channel (TLC). “We hope you enjoy the show.”