For those of you who would like more information about the new gold standard in laser resurfacing, OC Health published my article about Fraxel CO2 re:pair laser resurfacing this month. Visit this link to learn more.
These are tough economic times. But we still want to feel good about ourselves and to look our best. While many of my patients can still afford to do whatever they want to do for themselves, I have many patients who would love to do more for themselves than they can currently afford. Luckily there are still many great cosmetic procedures you can do as a second choice treatment. You can always put the first choice, best treatment on your “wish list” for the future.
Here are some common cosmetic treatments and their less expensive alternatives:
Instead of a:
Nose Job - get a filler nose job with Radiesse or Artefill (it takes just 10 minute and looks good immediately)
Face Lift - get a Liquid Face Lift or Fraxel CO2 re:pair laser treatment
Botox Crow’s Feet or Frown Lines - just get a Botox Brow Lift
Photo-Facial (IPL) for texture and brown spots- get a series of medical microdermabrasions
Microdermabrasion- get a series of light glycolic peels
Light Peels - use physician-strength skin care products
Vivite Complete Skin Care System - use Vivite Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30
Obagi Nu-derm System- use Vivite Vibrance with Obagi C-clarifying serum
Fraxel CO2 re:pair Laser - get a series of Fraxel re:store laser treatments
Fraxel re:store Laser - get a series of Photo-Facials (IPL)
Juvederm lip plumping - get a half size syringe and just outline and define your lips
Juvederm/Radiesse/Artefill treatment for wrinkles - get a smaller size syringe and treat the most important areas
Laser Hair Removal on legs - just laser your underarms or bikini areas for now
Eyelashes Extensions - use Lumigan at home (it’s also better than extensions since it grows your own eyelashes)
Any comments from my readers and patients?
I am very pleased to announce we are the first office in South Orange County and one of the first nationwide to offer the Fraxel CO2 re:pair laser, the most advanced skin rejuvenation treatment available on the market today. Results of a Fraxel re:pair laser treatment approach the tightening and wrinkle removal that we normally see only after a facelift, with very few complications and limited downtime.
While we still love our Fraxel re:store (the gentler Fraxel we’ve been using for over 2 years), this new Fraxel re:pair will help treat deeper wrinkles plus tighten skin!
As opposed to traditional CO2 resurfacing lasers which ablate 100% of the skin (vaporize and remove it all at once), leading to extended downtime, wound care and high risk of complications, the Fraxel re:pair Laser is the first CO2 laser to treat the skin fractionally and deeply. The Fraxel re:pair lays down thousands of tiny microscopic wounds in the skin, penetrating much deeper than traditional ablative lasers, but leaving the cells around these tiny wounds untouched. The tissue in each of the microscopic wounds is removed with the use of the CO2 energy. The healthy tissue surrounding the wounds then contracts which leads to immediate tissue tightening. This spared tissue between treatment zones also promotes rapid healing while stimulating collagen production in the deep layers and new epidermal cells in the top layer.
Fraxel re:pair laser treats:
• Wrinkles- mild, moderate and deep
• Skin tone, texture and pore size
• Skin laxity (tightens and smoothes skin)
• Severe sun damage
• Pigmented lesions and skin discoloration
• Acne scars and surgical scars
We will be having a Night of Beauty featuring the Fraxel CO2 re:pair laser on October 30, 2008 from 6-8 m at the Doubletree Hotel, Doheny Beach in Dana Point. Join us for refreshments, gifts and a chance to win a free Fraxel laser treatment. We will also be offering discounts for treatments scheduled that evening. Attendance is limited so please call to RSVP if you would like to attend: 949-363-1788.
I am very excited to announce that we are the first office in South Orange County to have the Fraxel CO2 Re:pair Laser. This is a new laser that became available this year, that takes the regular Fraxel (now known as the Fraxel “re:store” to the next level. Best of all, you will only need 1 treatment!
Many of you may be familiar with the old CO2 lasers that did a great job in removing wrinkles and scars but had several weeks of down time, left the skin red for months and had a high incidence of depigmentation (loss of color.) Because of these effects the CO2 laser fell out of favor among both physicians and patients and many physicians such as myself stopped using it.
The Fraxel CO2 re:pair laser combines fractionalized laser technology with CO2 technology to give us the best of both worlds: deeper, more effective treatment of wrinkles and scars, plus great skin tightening (some researchers feel it might eventually replace face lifts) with the faster healing and decreased down time of Fraxel, with just 1 treatment.
Yes, there will be some downtime (everything is always a compromise!), but it will be only 3-5 days, not weeks. Also, according to the company there has not been any reports of depigmentation to date.
We will be ready to start treating patients in a few weeks. Call my office at 949-363-1788 if you would like to be put on our interest list for this incredible treatment (no obligation, we’ll just let you know when we start scheduling treatments.) I will have an informational handout and page on my website shortly. We will also be havng an informational seminar October 30th in the evening. More information to follow.
Send your comments or questions if you have any.
I didn’t have any exciting or funny stories at my office this week, so I will share with you instead a great way to tighten up the skin of your eyelids. Many of you have heard of Fraxel Laser Treatment, it rejuvenates your skin, improving texture, wrinkles and scars. A new application for this laser is to tighten and rejuvenate eyelids. With a typical Fraxel Laser Treatment we can get close to the eyes but we don’t treat directly over the eyelids, as this could hurt the eye. Now we are able to treat eyelids quickly and easily by using special eye shields (they look like metal contact lenses) which protect the eye and enable us to safely and effectively treat the lids. This new way of using the Fraxel Laser is now available in our office. You can add it on to a full face Fraxel Laser Treatment or add it to a treatment around the eyes only. You also can just treat the lids themselves, if you have already had Fraxel and don’t need the rest of your face done again yet.
Fraxel Eyelid Tightening Special - print and bring in this page and receive $50 off your first Fraxel Eyelid Tightening Treatment. Offer expires 10/15/08.
My story of the week was prompted by several patients I saw this week whom I had treated with Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, Artefill and cosmetic lasers relating their stories to me about how their family and friends can’t guess why they look so good. Some say, “did you cut your hair?”, others say “did you lose weight?” Another common comment when they can’t pinpoint why you are glowing is “that is a GREAT color you’re wearing, it really makes you look good!” This is EXACTLY what we want as a result of great cosmetic treatments. When I treat my patients with BOTOX, Juvederm, Radiesse, Artefill and lasers, such as Fraxel Laser, I create a very natural look. I’ll never give a patient fish lips for example, but I can use Juvederm to create subtly fuller (if they desire) and/or younger looking lips! Nor will I give them frozen faces, but I can use BOTOX Cosmetic to lift brows, smooth frown lines and erase crows feet. The biggest compliment I can receive is when a patient comes back to my office, after his or her Restylane, Botox or other cosmetic injection treatment, and tells me that she or he got lots of compliments but no one could guess what they had done.
Remember, up to 90% of your results from these treatments is from the technique and artistry of the physician or medical provider performing your BOTOX, Juvederm, Radiesse or Artefill treatment. Choose wisely, not by price!