BREAST IMPLANT AND LARGE CELL LYMPHOMAS (ALCL)

There has been some concern raised about Breast Implants and ALCL.  An article reviewed 83 published cases associated with implants.  The majority were ALCL.  There was no particular association with any particular type of implant.

Presenting symptoms could be a breast mass or an effusion or collection of fluid.  The death rate is very low when one considers the enormous amount of implant procedures performed every year.

DIET AND PROTECTING YOUR SKIN FORM THE SUN

We all know about sunscreens and their benefits to protecting our skin from the harmful effects of sun damage.  But now there are foods we can eat that will protect our skin form the inside out.  These foods can help thwart the harmful effects of UVA rays.

Three of these foods are carrots, tomatoes and onions.  Carrots have Vitamin A & C.  Tomatoes have lycopene.  Onions help our liver function and immune system.  Two other healthy foods are spinach and kale.  The famous cartoon character knew what he was talking about.  For those with a sweet tooth try apples and berries.

Apples have an antioxidant called quercetin.  The berries are a good source of Vitamin C.  And if you’re thirsty try some green tea.  So between these foods and some good sunblock – you can play 36 holes of golf.

BOTOX AND SKIN

We all know the effects of Botox on muscles, but what if any are it’s effects on a person’s skin. It seems there is a lessening of the wrinkles with repeated injections of Botox. So does Botox affect the elastic properties of skin? 

 Two researchers from Canada set out to answer that question. They took 48 women and injected the glabella, supraorbital area and the lateral orbits. They found a significant effect of the Botox on the elasticity of the skin. These improvements in the visco-elastic properties of the skin can last up to 3-4 months past injection.

BOTOX – WHAT’S NEW?

I used to think that every week a new laser came on the market, now it is whatever the latest “use” for Botox. How is this new miracle use done? They are now injecting Botox to block smokers from inhaling. 

By injecting Botox in your lips you can no longer purse your lips to draw in on a cigarette. It limits one’s ability to drink out of a straw. The treatments are about $100-$150 per session and can cause an individual to cease smoking or greatly cut down on the number of cigarettes.

BREAST AUG – HOW BIG IS TOO BIG?

One of the key questions women ask when undergoing Breast Augmentation is how big should I be.  Large implants (400 cc +) can put a strain on your back.  A recent Italian study involved 40 volunteers who were asked to wear 800, 400 and 300 cc. implants in a sports bra for 6 ½ hours, 1 day for every implant size.  The volunteers were then evaluated by a physiatrist.

They noted a significant increase in cervical lordoses when the women wore the 400 and 800 cc. prosthesis.  So one may have to sound a word of  caution with the much bigger implants.  This study was done in Povia  Italy.

CHEMICAL BLEPHAROPLASTY – POSSIBLE?

How many people know what bimatoprost is? No, it is not a new exotic food or a new disease but many women know it as Latisse – a drug used to treat hypotrichosis or deficient eyelashes. By using this drug “off label” one may be able to achieve a “chemical” blepharoplasty. 

A dermatologist at New York University, Dr. Sarnoff published her experience with Latisse beyond it’s use for eyelashes. Dr. Sarnoff in conjunction with Dr. Gotkin, a Plastic Surgeon applied Latisse topically to the upper eyelids. It was a 0.03% opthalmic solution. 

Dr. Sarnoff treated herself. She treated her upper eyelids daily for 3 months, then reduced it to 2-3 times weekly. She noticed less hooding in her upper eyelids and less fat bulging from her lower eyelids as well as lower lid Skin Tightening. It is promising but more controlled, double blind studies need to be conducted.

Chemical Peels, Microdermabrasion, Dermabrasion - What's The Difference?

Moving into summer, we want to shed the pounds, the layers of clothes, and, most especially, dull, wrinkled skin. Am I right or am I right?

Now is the perfect time to research and book a procedure that can diminish scars, wrinkles, blackheads and brown spots.

Personally, I've been noticing the results of a dry winter and past sun exposure, leaving my skin lacking in "freshness." That, and some tiny clogged pores plus not-so-tiny fine lines (getting more noticeable by the day!) have me thinking about what I can do to rejuvenate my skin and overall appearance.

As a lifelong chemical peel devotee, I immediately thought that another peel was in order, maybe a stronger one this time.

But looking into a few non-invasive procedures, I realized that I might be a better candidate for a different option.

Let's take a look at three of the most popular Skin Rejuvenation procedures – chemical peels, Microdermabrasion and dermabrasion and see which one I should pursue.

CHEMICAL PEELS

Best for:

• Lighter peels are great for exfoliating dead skin to improve texture, lines, acne and sun damage.
• Deeper peels can tackle wrinkles and uneven skin tone.

Types of peels:

Light

• Alpha-hydroxy acid peel (AHA)
• Trichloroacetic acid peel (TCA)

Deep

• Phenol peel
• Croton oil peel
• Trichloroacetic acid peel (TCA)

Procedure:
The liquid of the peel is brushed, swabbed or rubbed on to the skin and allowed to sit for a period of time. The longer the peel is on, the more intense the effect.
After a light peel, there is little downtime, though you will be more sensitive to the sun, so stay away from the rays!

Following a deeper peel, a protective ointment is applied to protect and moisten the crust that will form. The ointment should stay on for up to 2 days. (Follow doctor’s orders!) For severe peels, bandages may be applied and will require a longer recovery period.

Cost:
$574 Average Cost* (Varies by peel)

Recovery Time:
1-7 Days (7-8 Days for a deep peel)

Results:
The more intense the peel, the longer the results will last; a few months for lighter peels, up to years for deep peels.

MICRODERMABRASION

• Best for non-invasively resurfacing the skin to remove dead skin, which:
• Produces a healthy glow.
• Diminishes blackheads and whiteheads.
• Reverses sun damage, acne scars and fine lines.

Procedure:
You may remember an earlier method for microdermabrasion, which was essentially a small sandblaster for your skin, shooting tiny aluminum oxide crystals to remove the epidermis. Then the process evolved to use a wand or pen to shoot the crystals on to the skin in a more controlled fashion.

Now the diamond-tip method uses a diamond-tip hand device to gently loosen and exfoliate dead skin cells. Like crystal microdermabrasion, the dead skin is suctioned off after it is mechanically removed.

Other options include HydraFacial or DermaSweep which is a non-particle microdermabrasion which is usually done monthly.

Exfoliating the dead skin stimulates collagen growth for healthier looking skin that also feels smoother. Skin regenerates more slowly as we age, so mechanically removing the top layers is a way to kick up collagen production. Regular treatments will likely improve fine lines, blemishes, dull skin and sun spots. And--bonus!--once the dead skin has been removed, it allows moisturizers and lotions to more effectively and easily absorb into the skin.

Cost:
$127 per visit average cost *

Recovery Time:
1-2 days.

Results:
Can last for six to twelve months with diamond tip.

Depending on your desired results, it might be recommended to combine microdermabrasion with a light chemical peel to increase the effect. Immediately after your treatments, moisturize with SPF of 30 or higher.

DERMABRASION

Best for deeper skin scars and marks, such as:
Lines around eyes, nose or cheeks.
Facial scars from acne, chicken pox or another injury.
Blotchy skin or brown spots.



Procedure:
Dermabrasion purposefully "injures" the skin because good scar tissue can replace the bad scar tissue, which will reduce blemishes and wrinkles. (If that sounds freaky, all the more reason to seek an expert {link to: www.smartbeautyguide.com} for the best care.) A rough, small spinning wheel rubbed on the skin physically removes the outer layers of skin. Just like skinning our knees (I did that all the time), the skin that is removed is replaced by new, fresh and smoother skin.

Cost:
$1,611 average cost*

Recovery Time:
In 7-10 days, new skin begins to form. The skin may remain pinker than normal for up to a month (longer for some). Within six weeks you can begin to see the positive results of the procedure.

Make sure to understand the recovery period associated with the location of the dermabrasion, as anything close to the mouth (for those fine lines that cause lipstick to bleed) will affect eating and drinking routines. Also inquire about what other activities may be affected during recuperation.

Results:
Dermabrasion produces more significant results and the effects will last years or permanently. Yay!

Given my skin and my desired results, I think diamond-tipped microdermabrasion is calling my name!

Join me in saying hello to summer fun and good bye to blah and dreary winter skin.

*Based on Surgeon fees per Smart Beauty Guide.