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Science behind Facials

Hydrafacial /

Have you ever wondered what are the actual benefits of a facial?   Many people enjoy a facial because it is very relaxing and makes your skin glow.  There are actually many benefits you can gain from having a facial or HydraFacial. If you think that facials are a waste of an hour (and money), think again! Because your skin is missing out on something that’s good for it.  There are hundreds of pressure points on your face that are connected to various systems in your body. When these pressure points are massaged, your body will respond.  A good facial massage not just keeps your skin glowing, but it also affects the functioning of the other organs.  And since it is not possible for you to know all the pressure points, you need to visit a professional to get that facial massage. Facials help to thoroughly clean the face by unclogging the pores and exfoliating dead skin.  Exfoliation is the process where the dead skin cells are gently sloughed off your skin’s surface. The cells die and tend to pile up on the surface (if not removed), making your skin rough and dry. While you can exfoliate your skin using a scrub at home, if you want to remove the dead skin cells properly, going for a facial is the best option. It involves using chemical peels that thoroughly clean the skin surface, revealing a healthy layer of skin beneath. Regular facials and face massages increases cell regeneration and promotes collagen.  This gives you younger looking skin!  With age, your skin loses its elasticity as the production of collagen diminishes. During facial treatments, the professionals use chemical peels, face packs, masks, lotions, and creams that are enriched with botanical extracts that stimulate the production of collagen and reduce the signs of aging. Even if you do not have blemishes, hyperpigmentation, severe acne, or any other problems, your face needs to be pampered by a trained professional to keep it healthy. How often should you have a facial?  In an ideal world, a facial should be performed every 4-6 weeks to keep your skin looking fresh and remove old dead skin. HydraFacial uses patented technology to cleanse, extract, and hydrate. HydraFacial super serums are made with nourishing ingredients that create an instantly gratifying glow. HydraFacial is a skin treatment available in medical spas and dermatology offices. It’s also sometimes called “hydradermabrasion” because it involves microdermabrasion-like exfoliation combined with hydrating serums. Known for its three-step process, the HydraFacial works to deep-clean, exfoliate, and hydrate your skin. This professional procedure may help treat a variety of skin conditions, including acne, dryness, and wrinkles. The noninvasive procedure is similar in principle to a regular facial you might get from a spa but is said to provide more dramatic results. This is achieved by a mechanized wand used on your skin to deeply clean and exfoliate while delivering serums customized to your skin type. If you’re curious about whether a HydraFacial is worth the hype, read on to learn more about the potential benefits, the possible side effects, and how it compares to similar treatments.

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Morpheus8 Skin Tightening

Morpheus /

Morpheus8 is a revolutionary technology that goes beyond what was ever thought possible.  Morpheus8 goes deep below the skin to help tighten the connective tissue, which is something no other treatment on the market can do.  Microneedling only works on the top layer of skin, which makes it helpful for fine lines and wrinkle as well as reducing pores.  Unfortunately microneedling does NOT tighten skin, as many estheticians will lead you to believe.  Other devices that use microneedles and radio frequency do not have the same power that Morpheus8 has.  In our practice, we have many client who see results even after the first treatment.  Typically this Morpheus8 requires 3 sessions for optimal results, and you can even do more. Morpheus is safe on skin types up to and including VI with little risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) which is common with other resurfacing methods.  Treatments are performed every 2 months to allow your ski to repair itself.  Younger patients may do it every 30 days since their skin recovers at a faster rate.

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Facial Contouring and Sculpting

Agnes /

When we talk about slimming the face or contouring the face, this can be done in different fashions.  Typically the lower part of the face is what people want to slim down in order to have that V shaped face.  Over time and with age, the lower part of the face tends to sag a bit.  With age we tend to get what are called “Jowls” that hang down.  These jowls result from a lack of supportive tissue and deep fat, which typically helps hold everything up and in place. Slimming the face can also be useful if you have a very round face, and you are looking for more definition. Fillers are the easiest way to lift up a small amount of sagging from the lower face.  Fillers need to be placed in the midface to help volumize the areas that have lost their deep underlying structures, such as fat.  Fillers can be a slippery slope, because you need to have the right amount of filler placed so that you do not become over filled.  People will often try and talk you into fillers and more fillers to lift the lower part of the face, leading to an over filled fat looking face.  Fillers in the face should be used with caution, and used more for balancing the face. Kybella can be used to remove fat from the lower part of the face as well.  Kybella is injected carefully into the lower part of the face, and only into the fat areas.  The injection of Kybella will result in swelling for 2-3 days.  You must keep in mind the swelling that happens when injecting Kybella, since some people have severe swelling after.  Kybella will need to be done at least 3-4 times to get the desired results.  The problem with Kybella, is that is indiscriminately kills fat, and not always in the exact spot you may want. Agnes is a new way to precisely destroy small areas of fat.  With this procedure, we can target very small areas of the face to remove fat.  Agnes allows us to actually chisel out and sculpt the face.  With this procedure, there will be some mild swelling as well, but not to the degree Kybella swells.  When we use this machine, we always like to combine it with Morpheus8 to help tighten as well for best results.  Agnes is currently the best way to remove small areas of fat, and it is what we get the best r with.

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Dark circles under eyes

Injections /

One of the biggest complaints that people have are the dark circles under the eyes.  There are many different causes of darkness under the eyes, such as being tired, lack of volume under the eye, thinning skin, blood vessels, dehydration.  Unfortunately there are no creams out there that will cover this up or make it better.  Most people are not aware that there is a simple fix.  By placing dermal fillers under the eyes, called the tear troughs, this restores lost volume.  In most people, there is a fat pocket in this area that keeps it full and plump.  Many people have had sunken in areas around there eyes for many years, while others notice it later in life.  As we age, we loose fat (deep fat and superficial fat), by simply replacing the lost volume it will bring about a more youthful appearance. Our technique is different…  We use what is called a “Microcannula” to access the area under the eye.  Why is this important?  By using a microcannula, it travels under the skin and is a small flexible tube.  Due to the flexibility, the microcannula will not puncture blood vessels as easily as a standard hypodermic needle.  For this reason, areas that were thought to be too difficult to get to, can now be easily accessed.

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Restylane Kysse for lips

Injections /

For many years Restylane Kysse has been used overseas in Europe for lip injections.  Recently Restylane Kysse was approved by the FDA in 2020 for use in the lips for plumping and making fuller lips.  Restylane Kysse is also approved for perioral lines above the lips as well.  Up until now Juvederm has been our favorite filler to use in lips due to its longevity and ability to hold a shape longer.  The makers of Kysse have promised us that this new filler will last 12 months, which we are currently putting to the test.  The nice thing about this filler is that it is very soft and natural feeling.  As far as swelling goes, it is difficult to say if the swelling is less than that of Juvederm or other fillers.  As far as bruising, this all depends on the injector and their technique. Traditionally in the past, soft fillers would mean that it would not last long in the lips.  Because there is so much movement in the area of the mouth, soft fillers tend break down quicker.  Restylane Silk still remains our least favorite and we do not use it in the lips.  Restylane silk breaks down far too fast and we have many unhappy customers who were talked into Silk at other facilities.

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PDO Thread Lift

PDO Facial Threading /

PDO Thread lifts have become a very popular procedure for lifting up sagging jowls and creating “Natural” volume from collagen production.  We have been performing for over 4 years and were the first in Arizona to perform this procedure.  Over the years our technique has changed and evolved to what we consider to be the best in all or Arizona.  PDO threads can be very difficult to place unless you have performed many of them.  Threads (sutures) are placed under the skin and anchor into the soft tissue to help lift the face and jowls.  The threads slowly dissolve over the period of a year.  The thread is placed in the hairline so that it is not visible and the end is cut off and slips under the skin.  Lidocaine in injected under the skin where the insertion point will be as well as under the skin.  The procedure takes about 45 minutes, and some times we like to also add a little filler to replace areas of bone and fat loss.  This is a great procedure to help lift and tighten and still maintain a natural appearance.

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Best Filler For Lip Injections?

Juvederm /

After using every filler on the market in search of the holly grail, I have narrowed it down to only a couple of fillers.  I have injected every type of lip, with every type of filler, and we are talking about THOUSANDS of lips.  If you ever spend enough time on Instagram you will see all types of fillers being used to perform lip injections.  I will list the worst and best for lip injections- Starting with the WORST…Restylane wins hands down.  Unfortunately this filler is a very thin filler and looks great for a couple weeks, then say goodbye to those lips and you money.  Restylane is a great filler for people who do not like to do lip injections, or they are not good at lip injections.  Restylane is very pliable and corrects easily after any mistakes.  I have so many complaints, and people upset that they were pushed to use Restylane in the lips.  Restylane is sold as a “Natural and Soft” lip filler.  Unfortunately these injectors are heavily influenced by sales reps who have never touched a syringe, but regurgitate what their company tells them to say.   The second worst filler for lips would be Volbella, Vollure, or Belotero.  Again, these are too thin of fillers and break down extremely quickly.  These fillers do not hold their shape and are just too soft to last in a very animated area of the face.  The sad thing is I see many plastic surgeons using these fillers for lips… most likely because they are not good at doing lip injections.  These fillers should be reserved for other areas of the face, which they work very well in. My favorite is good old Juvederm Ultra XC.  Many years ago the drug reps told me to use Juvederm Ultra Plus XC in lips because “It lasts longer” which was not true.  Why did the rep want me to inject Ultra Plus???  Because it cost more.  Unfortunately now both Ultra and Ultra Plus are the same cost to buy.  Juvederm Ultra lasts about 6-12 months.  This filler will have a stiffer fell for the first 3-4 weeks until it softens.  We have had patients lip filler last Juvederm last 2-3 years!!! A new filler on the market as of today is Restylane Kysse.  So far we have heard good things about this filler, but we have not injected enough to know its true potential.  This filler has a much smaller needle (which generally means it is not a thick filler) which makes it much less painful for patients getting their lips done. These views on fillers are strictly our own point view, and the findings are after thousands of lip injections performed.

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TruSculptID rates higher than Coolsculpting!!

Body Contouring /

TruSculptID is new technology that is gaining huge results in the noninvasive body contouring world.  Coolsculpting is slowly becoming outdated with all the new technology hitting the market.  TruSculpt used heat and radio frequency to permanently kill fat and tighten the skin at the same time, which is something Coolsculpting do not do. Unfortunatly Coolsculpting can cause nerve injury and damage, and will leave the area numb for a month or two.  Trusculpt has no downtime and no signs of treatment.  Coolsculpting can leave bruises, numbness, divots, and uneven areas on top of it being very painful after removing the applicator.  TruSculpt treatment in ONLY 15 minutes!!!  Coolsculpting is 30-45 min or even an hour.  Results for both are seen in the same amount of time. truSculpt iD offers a unique and personalized approach to improve upper arm contouring and definition. Unlike other devices, there is no placement limitation, it is easy to set up, and fast to treat. Provide your patients improved freedom to open their arms and wear sleeveless shirts with confidence. Unique approach to treat skin with laxity Sculpt challenging areas Synchronized treatment zones No downtime

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Voluma – Radiesse

Injections /

Voluma and Radiesse are two favorites for cheek fillers.  Both produce great results, but each one has it’s own pros and cons.  Voluma is a nice soft filler that comes in a 1ml syringe, whereas Radiesse is a 1.5ml syringe. Radiess has some characteristics that are called “biostimulators”.  A biostimulatory filler will cause the body to produce more collagen over time.  We have seen Radiesse last for over 2 years due to these biostimulatory traits, where Voluma will last about 12 months.  Depending on how Radiesse is placed, it mimics a injectable implant and can be firm.  Radiess can also have a soft feel when slightly hyperdiluted to help fill in large hallow areas.  Voluma is much softer and very natural feeling, which many people like.  Radiesse will tend to cause more swelling after injections than Voluma. Both are great fillers, but we recommend having your provider let you know what would be the best for you.

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Botox – Dysport

Botox /

Botox is great for helping to reduce the lines on the forehead, between the eye brows and around the eyes.  Botox works in the muscle by blocking the impulse going to the muscle which causes it to contract.  When there are strong muscles, it causes micro injuries into the epidermis of the skin which cause lines to form where the muscle squeezes together.  Botox or Dysport will not fill in deep lines or wrinkles, so we suggest a “filler” at the point.  Fillers are gel substances that help plump up sunken areas or deep lines. What is a good age to start Botox?  It is hard to say exactly what age is appropriate, but we typically recommend around the age of 30.  A lot of this has to do with the strength of the muscles, and not so much about the age of the person.  We have had 20 year old women with very strong muscles, and I have had 60 year old women with no lines and have never had Botox or Dysport before.  When you are younger, we typically recommend Botox every 6-9 months as more of a preventative measure. Is Botox Safe?  We uses thousands of units every month and have never experienced any severe side effects.  Possible side effects may include a slight headache, blurred vision and flu like symptoms.  These possible side effects only last 24-48 hours and resolve on their own.

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