Skin Care Tip: 

Skin Care Products to help prevent aging 

With all the different products and ingredients out there, how do you find what’s best for your skin?  First and foremost, it is suggested that you get to know your skin.  Are you oily, dry, or sensitive?  The best way to determine your skin type is to get a skin consultation.  You can meet with your Aesthetician to analyze your skin and help you find the right products for your specific skin type. 

Here is a list of ingredients that are most commonly used to help prevent aging:

AlphaHydroxy Acids:  AlphaHydroxy Acids (AHAs) are water soluble.  These products help with Skin rejuvenation by increasing cell turnover.  These are recommended for all skin types to use 2-3 times a week.  These products help slough off dead skin cells that regular cleansers alone cannot remove.  They help restore an even glow to the skin as well as get rid of dull, sallow skin cells that make you look older.  Some common (AHA’s) include Glycolic acid and Lactic acid.

BetaHydroxy Acids:  BetaHydroxy Acids (BHAs) are oil soluble.  This product works best as an exfoliant to help “unglue” the dead skin cells and help prevent blackheads.  BHAs are best for oily and acne skins.  These products are less irritating to the skin than AHAs because of their anti-inflammatory properties.  The most common BHA is Salicylic Acid.

Retin-A:  Also known as Retinols or Tretinoin, this is one of the best and cheapest anti-aging remedies.  The main component is Vitamin A, which is used to help treat acne and prevent wrinkles.  There are two main formulations of Retin-A, which need a Doctor prescription.  The two most common strengths are 0.05% and 0.1%.  Retin-A causes your skin to flake and peel, causing your skin cells to shed faster than normal.  Over time, this decreases acne by preventing the dead skin cells and oils to falling in the pores, which causes blackheads and inflammation.

Antioxidants:  Antioxidants help protect cells by combating Free Radicals.  Free radicals are formed when oxygen molecules are involved in a chemical reaction in the body.  The oxygen loses an electron and has to take one from another molecule.  This other molecule must now search for its missing electron and the cycle continues.  Some people believe free radicals cause our skin to age.  Free radicals are also formed when skin is exposed to Sun damage, Smoking, Alcohol, Pollution and Stress.  Antioxidants help to stop more free radical damage or help to reverse the damage.  Some common antioxidants include Vitamins C and E which help the skin to repair the damage that has already been done. 

Anti–aging Tip: 

5 to 9 a day for better health!

The FDA just approved the new charts for eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to help reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.  Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and low in calories so they keep you full longer and help cut out that sugar craving we all get.  Fruits and vegetables come in a variety of colors and by choosing different colored groups, you will benefit from the different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants present.   

Below is a list of the different colored groups of fruits and vegetables:

RED:  Lycopene is the main antioxidant found in red and pink fruits and vegetables.  Diets rich in lycopene help combat heart disease and some cancers.  Some common fruits and vegetables include tomatoes, grapefruit, watermelons and papayas.

GREEN:  Phytochemicals are present in all green fruits and vegetables.  Phytochemicals help keep your eyes and retina strong.  Studies are being performed to see if phytochemicals reduce the risk of cancerous tumors.  Green vegetables are also high in fiber.  Some common fruits and vegetables include spinach, broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and turnips.

ORANGE/YELLOW:  Carotenoids are natural antioxidants that are the main component of Beta-carotene.  This natural occurring antioxidant is being studied for its ability to enhance the immune system.  Folate, a mineral that should be consumed by all women of child-bearing age and beyond, also can help reduce heart disease.  Some common fruits and vegetables include sweet potatoes, corn, carrots, mangoes, oranges, pineapples and pears.

BLUE/PURPLE:  Anthocyanins, another phytochemical, is the most health-beneficial antioxidant.  It helps build the body’s defense mechanism to fight harmful carcinogens.  The most popular blue fruits are blueberries, blackberries and red grapes.

WHITE:  Allicin (another phytochemical) helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and helps the body’s ability to fight infections.  Polyphenols also help reduce the risk of certain cancers.  Some white fruits and vegetables include onions, leeks, garlic, shallots, pears, green grapes and cauliflower.

Plastic Surgery Tip:

Mid-Face Lift

The Mid-face Lift, also known as “S-Lift”, is meant to reposition the fat pad rather than remove from the eyes.  This face lift is not performed in every surgeon’s office but requires extensive experience and training.  The mid-face lift by definition is the elevation and tightening of the soft tissues of the cheek.  During this less invasive lift, the cheeks are “softly” pulled back to restore a more youthful look.  This lift may also be accompanied by a Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).  This procedure makes the face look “less pulled” than a traditional facelift.  Improvement is more subtle, which is why this procedure is occasionally treated as an “add-on to Blepharoplasty.”  For those over age 45, this surgery is often effective on its own.

This procedure has smaller scars and incision sites, which means less recovery time.  There is a small incision below the eyelid margin so the scar is blended in the small wrinkle.  The “flap” is lifted off and excess fat is repositioned.  The cheek lining of the bone is lifted off just below the orbital rim (eye area), which allows the cheek to become mobile.  The tissue in the cheek fat is lifted up towards the temple and eye area.  This lifting allows the cheek to have a more youthful appearance.  The excess eyelid skin is trimmed off and incisions are closed.  There are many different variations of this procedure, and this technique is still evolving with our society.  Please check out the wealth of information on our site by clicking here. 

Make sure you chose a board certified plastic surgeon.  A call to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or ASPS at 1-888-4-PLASTIC (ie. 1-888-475-2784) can tell you which doctors are legitimate plastic surgeons with outstanding qualifications.  You can also visit the ASPS web site at www.plasticsurgery.org. The ASPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. 

To help you in making your decision, please click here to check out the 7 critical questions to ask any plastic surgeon before letting them touch you!

By far, the most important factor in the success of your procedure is the surgeon you choose.  So please choose wisely...