Performed in the higher end salons and medi-spas, the fractional laser promises long term results and it is the treatment that keeps on giving for months to come. In fact you may still be seeing beautifying results up to six months later and the effects are said to be long lasting – 2-3 years by some reports.

How It Works…

The process, on average, takes a few hours to perform. Your down time (again, on average) will be 2-4 days in which you will not want to socialize and perhaps not even be seen by anyone at all. You will experience redness, flaking, perhaps blistering. This is all largely dependant on your skin’s condition, how deep the doctor went into your skin, how many passes of the laser you had and how good your doctor was at the skin care treatment.

There are certainly horror stories online about fractional laser gone wrong. After quite a few hours of research I’ve surmised that most of the poor results were either due to a doctor that was less skilled, the client not purchasing the after care kit, and/or allegic reactions after care. Some of these may be: pets, dust, fragrance on sheets and linens.

The procedure is a literal heat induced creation of tiny tunnels of your skin. The skin swells and the untouched healthy cells grow over and into the tunnels created – giving your skin a smoother surface. Due to the tiny ‘hurts’ your body kicks into action and starts creating more collagen to send to the skin’s surface – creating a youthful, plumper look to your face. Everything ‘lifts’ – if anything was sagging previously.

This treatment has just been approved in Canada (sometime in the past year) and is being performed at clinics across the country from $800-$3,800. Although the lower end fees may seem that you’ll have a less skilled doctor or insufficient treatment to see the results you’d like – that isn’t always the case. What you should ask for when considering one clinic, medi-spa or doctor over another – are before and after photos and testimonials.

I am currently planning on having this treatment done to my facial skin. When I do I will create a daily journal with videos and photos so you can see firsthand how the treatment goes. If possible I will take the video right into the treatment room with me. If you are a doctor looking for a model and a lot of free, future promotion for fractional laser treatments, please contact me using the form below – perhaps we can work out a deal.

As much as we like to believe otherwise, our daily lives show up on our body in one obvious place -–our faces. For men, the slightly weathered look can be an attractive option as can well groomed gray hair. For women, facial blemishes, wrinkles and uneven pigmentation can give rise to unhappiness with your appearance. Peels offer one option to counter the impact.

A facial peel is designed to restore the youthful look of your skin. It is not a form of facelift nor a surgery per se. Instead, it is a technique where the outer layer of your skin is literally peeled off to reveal new skin below. The technique can produce dynamite results when the goal is to resolve wrinkles and blemishes. It can also be used to addressed skin weathered from excessive exposure to the sun or which has developed uneven pigmentation. Importantly, a peel is not designed nor will it accomplish any kind of a lift for parts of the face that have developed a droop including eyelids. Such restorations require facelift surgery.

Unlike a surgical procedure, a peel is not for everyone. This is because the peel is only best for certain skin types and pigments. You should consult with a medical professional to find out if you are a candidate for the procedure. In general, however, individuals with fair skin and light damage gain the best benefits.

In general, a peel takes roughly one to two hours for the entire face. Some candidates require less extensive peels and less time is required as a result. You are not sedated unless there is reason specific to your situation.

Following the procedure, you are going to have some unique sensations. New skin is being exposed to air for the first time, so throbbing, tingling and so on can be common. Your medical professional can fill you on the impact based upon your specific skin condition and procedure.

Peels are a very common procedure. They can make a marked difference in appearance without the necessity of invasive surgery.

Collagen is a natural substance produced in the human body that helps to form connective tissue. It also provides hydration and strength for the skin. Collagen is made in less quantity as we age. This reduction results in skin losing its elasticity, softness and tightness. Typical effects include sagging skin, wrinkles on flat plains of the face, as well as deep creases on the forehead and the neck. Both collagen and fat harvested from your own body can be used to plump up these areas that are sagging and creased. Collagen can also be used to plump up thin lips, a personal favorite of many celebrities as you no doubt have noticed!

Collagen is made using collagen harvested from animals, so there is a slight chance that your body may react to it. Also, collagen enhancements are not permanent. You will need to have repeat injections later on to maintain the look that you want. Besides collagen, other materials such as Alloderm and Goretex can be used to create the desired look without any cutting or major surgery. Recovery time is slight and the procedure is much less expensive than traditional surgery. No general anesthesia or operating room is involved. In fact, you can be in and out of most procedures in under an hour.

Side effects from collagen enhancements are rare, but there is always a chance they can occur. Side effects include bruising, swelling and allergic reactions. Some people also have allergic reactions to the local anesthetic used to numb the site. As the materials used are foreign to your body, you should discuss any medications you are taking and things you are allergic to with your plastic surgeon. To avoid reactions, of course, you can always choose to have the material drawn from your own body. Hips and buttocks are the most typical harvesting areas.

With collagen, there is a temptation to shop by price. Don’t do it! We are talking about modifications to your face. It is strongly suggested that you use a board certified plastic surgeon that can show you before and after pictures of his or her previous patients. This will allow you to understand the possible results and get the best care.

Your eyebrows frame the most important feature on your face. After all, your eyes are the window to your soul, and people connect with you through them! All eyes are beautiful, but sagging skin or abnormalities can detract from their beauty.

A brow lift is a simple procedure that can make a dramatic difference in the entire look of your face. It can be one of the easiest ways to correct the facial problems that prevent you from putting your best face forward!

What Can a Brow Lift Do For Me?

• Do you have eyelid bags, excess or sagging tissue around the brow and upper eyelid that hangs down over the lower lid, making you look tired or sad? A brow lift can lift the sagging tissue, bring your eyes out of hiding, and make your eyes appear larger and more open.
• If you have frown wrinkles between your eyes, a brow lift can eliminate them.

• If you have an eyebrow deformity, a brow lift can correct it.
• Do you wish your brows had more of an arch or a different shape? This can usually be accomplished with a brow lift.
• If you wish your brows were better positioned on your face, a brow lift can create a more symmetrical and natural look. By lifting your brows upward, you will appear fresher and more energetic.

What Happens in a Brow Lift Operation?

You are given a general anesthetic so that you are asleep for the entire operation. Five incisions are required for a brow lift, but they are so tiny that your hair need not be trimmed. Three are placed on your scalp above your forehead hidden by your hair, and the other two are made within the hair next to your temples.

The surgeon then lifts the tissue upward and repositions it based on your desired results. This procedure lifts any sagging skin and reduces wrinkles.

Scars generally heal very well and are hidden by your hair. You may even shampoo the day after the operation.

This procedure is called an endoscopic brow lift. Sometimes an endoscopic brow lift is performed along with eyelid correction surgery, which actually removes excess skin and fatty folds in the upper eyelid, creating a tiny scar in the upper eyelid that is hidden within the crease.

Alternatives to Surgery for Brow Lifts

You don’t need to go under the knife for a brow lift. In fact you can be in and out of the medi-spa’s doors in under an hour looking years younger with a skilled hand and the use of some dermal fillers. Better still you could keep the effects of your new look for a year and a half – maybe longer depending on your facial expressions and elasticity.

What Can I Expect After the Operation?

A brow lift is an outpatient procedure, so you can go home the same day. You will need someone to drive you home, however, as you might be sleepy from the anesthetic.

For two to three days following the operation, you will have some swelling, and your forehead will feel tight. Your eyelids may be bruised for about two weeks, but this can usually be covered by makeup after five to seven days. Patients generally experience less bruising with an endoscopic brow lift than with eyelid correction surgery.

You may experience a mild headache for the first couple of days after the surgery, for which you will receive a prescription.

Within two weeks of the procedure, your stitches will be removed, and you can return to work.

Your brows will probably be lifted slightly higher than you wish them to be in their final position. This is because they will drop somewhat as the tissues relax during the first few weeks after surgery. If your brows appear too high at first, you may compensate with makeup until they settle into their correct position.

Your eyebrows may not be perfectly matched even after surgery, but this is actually more natural. No one has eyebrows that are exactly alike, and the differences will be too slight to be noticeable.

A brow lift will not hinder your natural facial expressions at all. You will retain all of your normal eyebrow and facial movement abilities.

What Are the Risks of a Brow Lift?

While there is risk with any surgery, the risks of brow lift surgery are extremely small. You will be given written material to read, and all potential risks will be discussed with you prior to your decision to have a brow lift.

You and the doctor will evaluate and discuss the best brow position for you in order to achieve your desired results. Dr. Arthur Millman will strive to give you a natural look while correcting the problems that concern you, view before and after photos online at http://www.drmillman.net.

What is the Recovery Schedule?

* Headache and forehead tightening is usually gone within 2-3 days.
* Bruising and swelling is usually gone within 5-10 days.
* Stitches are removed, and you may return to work or other social activities within 7-14 days.
* Brows will relax into their final position, and you may resume exercise or athletic activities within 14-21 days.

Botox was once the darling”of the celebrity crowd has moved front and center into the business world where daring men and women go to great lengths to disguise frown lines, age lines and anything resembling Mother Nature’s wicked march across their faces.

Why?

They know their jobs require them to look fresh and healthy; old, deeply lined, tired, faces are becoming passé because ideas coming from someone wearing an out of shape, soft, sagging face can equate to old, stale ideas in the business arena. Botox, once used primarily by women is now used by more and more men as they, too, realize the importance of maintaining a more youthful appearance. Their jobs may just depend on it.

Some say Botox is a wonder drug that smoothes wrinkles and indeed it does; however there are a few drawbacks that are a concern. According to a London based newspaper (The Independant), people who have used or considered Botox are worried about possible side-effects. These may include developing fresh wrinkles as they change expressions to compensate for the paralysis in parts of their faces.”

Develop fresh wrinkles?

Dr. David Becker, professor of dermatology at Cornell Medical College, issued a caution linking Botox injections to development of new wrinkles when users recreate facial expressions. The paralyzed muscles cannot respond so nearby muscles are automatically summoned. The result? New wrinkles.

Botox has been used since the early 1990s to treat lines and wrinkles associated with the motion of underlying facial muscles. Expressions such as excessive brow movements can cause horizontal lines, eye squints produce crows feet and subtle sagging of the facial muscles can make skin drape unnaturally.

Botox cannot stop the sagging muscles. In fact Dr. Michelle Copeland, a plastic surgeon in NY said, because Botox wears off more frequent injections are required to maintain its effects or the patient’s face will return to its wrinkly state. Now this statement cased a lot of controversy and I’m not a believer – in fact what I have seen and heard is just the opposite – that fewer injections in smaller quantities are required over time. You’ll have to ask your doctor about the specifics of your skin’s elasticity, your age, and the point of injection for Botox treatments.

Is this true or just one doctor’s manner to stir up controversy?

1. Botox can result in the development of fine lines and wrinkles in other areas of the face.

2. Botox requires more painful injections to maintain results.
3. Botox is costly; treatments range from $200-$600.
4. Botox can result in undesirable side effects including allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, unusual muscle weakness, chest pain, headaches and dizziness.

What if you could avoid needles and scalpels and look younger? What if you could be in charge of the aging process and look healthier? What if you could manipulate and retrain your facial muscles to look and act younger without resorting to expensive, barbaric measures that are risky and dangerous?

Well, you can!

This is what I want to discuss with you next, so stay tuned to this website. As you’re about to see, less expensive and intrusive with longer lasting results is what has hit the rejuevenation clinics lately and I’ve seen results first hand.

In a forehead lift, muscles and tissues that cause the failure or paths are removed or modified to facilitate the forehead, raise the eyebrows and minimize lines to frown. The doctor may use the conventional surgical method, in which the incision is hidden behind or just in the hairline, or it will be done using an endoscope, a viewing instrument that allows the procedure to be performed with minimal incisions. Both techniques give similar results – smoother skin on the forehead and more animated.

A forehead lift is often performed in groups of 40-60 years to minimize the visible effects of aging. However, it can also help people of any age who have developed furrows or rows of frowning due to stress or muscle activity. People with hereditary diseases, such as low, high forehead wrinkles or lines on the nose may achieve a more alert and refreshed with this procedure.

Front lift is often combined with a facelift to provide a better overall appearance face. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) may also be done at the same time as a forehead lift, especially if a patient has wrought in the skin of eyelids higher. Sometimes patients who believe they need the upper eyelid surgery brow lift surgery find better meets their objectives.

Face Lift & Brow Lifts in Canada

Faces of the forties and fifties starting to show the effects of gravity – Other lines, your least facial muscles and sagging jowls. A facelift can easily reverse the signs of aging, leaving your face turned refreshed, healthy and young. It can be see and feel five to ten years. No wonder that the procedure most famous plastic surgery.

Many people still believe that face lifts does not work and you have been looking plastic and natural. Others believe that face lifts are for the rich and famous, or procedure shall be repeated again and again.

With advances in surgical technique, long-lasting facelift today, between five and ten years. Much people are procedures Repeat with great success. Surgeons have learned to strengthen not only the skin, underlying muscle, and also Learn how to remove excess fat in the throat, cheeks, neck and liposuction.

A facelift takes four to five hours. This a plastic surgery center under general or local anesthesia. You can expect to be back on your normal schedule in a week about when the sun should be limited for several months after surgery. Your new face needs about three weeks to heal completely. A few small scars are inevitable, but they are normally completely hidden and continue to fade with time.

Collagen is injected, beneath each wrinkle, to fill the lines in your face and plump up the area to give you a more youthful look. On a “how bad does it hurt” scale, it is no worse than an injection of any other dermal filler although some areas of your face will be more sensitive than others.

The nice part about dermal fillers of any sort is once the swelling of the injection point has subsided you have immediate results that could last up to 18 months.

It is important to ask your doctor which type of collagen will be used. Although not all are popular in Canada, make a point of knowing which you are being injected with.

• Bovine collagen is extracted from cow skin. The collagen is then purified, sterilized, and processed into a usable liquid substance.

• Autologen collagen is extracted from your own skin during a previous operation (such as a tummy tuck), then processed into a useable liquid substance.
• Isolagen collagen is similar to Autologen as it is made by cloning collagen that has been collected from your own skin.
• Finally, Dermalogen is extracted from human cadaver skin. It is then sterilized, purified, and processed into a usable liquid substance.

No doubt you want to know more about these four collagens, so here’s the skinny, the way I best understand it.

Description of Various Collagen Treatments

Bovine collagen injections will last only 6-12 weeks. Short effect times (given synthetic fillers and new technology), and possible side effects such as allergic reactions or connective tissue disorders, make this a less than desirable option.

Autologen on the other hand is harvested from your own skin, processed in a lab and stored up to five years. Standard practice is to give you 2-4 injections every 1-3 months. Although some doctors have been quoted as saying that Autologen is permanent I haven’t found any research studies to prove it yet.

Isolagen may be a good alternative for you if you’re not planning on having a tummy tuck or other cosmetic surgery. Your natural collagen is harvested from a tiny piece of skin from behind your ear. The lab then processes and clones the collagen which is returned to your doctor for injection within a few weeks.

Finally, I suppose I should be objective about Dermalogen, but I find it difficult. Even though the collagen is harveted is sterlized and processed I personally have a hard time considering this as an option for a cosmetic practice. I suppose I would feel different if it was a life saving operation. And, ultimately, it is your skin care, your decision.

As for prices for these various injections, they generally fall into this order: bovine, demalogen, autologen and isolagen.

If you haven’t heard of the Obagi line of skin care products please allow me to introduce you to them. This is the premier line of creams, home treatments, spa and medi-spa treatments, preferred by professionals. Although the products are high end and expensive, they work better than most (and that is only personal opinion).

The Blue Peel is a chemical peel that includes both the ‘Nu Derm’ and Blender products from Obagi. The treatment was developed by Dr. Zein Obagi as a stronger and more effective chemical peel in the salon. The mixture is of Trichloroacetic Acid and blue glycerine in a patented and proprietary process.

You may be advised to have anywhere between 1 and 4 peels which may or may not be applied at one visit. This is, of course, dependant on your condition and the physician’s advice. In most cases if you have more than one application applied at a time you may want or need a local anaesthetic before the treatment. In most cases you will likely be consulted to have a double peel which gives great effect without anaesthetic.

The interesting part about the blue glycerin and acid peel is that every coat or layer applied turns the peel a darker blue and one more layer of your skin is removed. The end result? Removal of damaged skin leaving a tighter, smoother and brighter skin below.

Final Effect of the Blue Peel

The Obagi Blue Peel is a regulated chemical peel performed only by trained physicians. The removed, damaged skin sloughs off in an even manner. When your skin has finished the treatment you will find a new and improved skin tone and complexion that will continue to improve over the course of one to one and a half months.

The average person opting for Sculptra treatments will have 2 to 3 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Once your first treatment is underway you will see noticable improvement in facial wrinkles and hollow zones of your skin. In a few days time however the water that is contained in the injection will be absorbed by your body and it will seem that your wrinkles will reappear. Don’t worry this is the natural process.

One of my favorite transformations - see www.Sculptra.ca for more!

After the initial injection your own skin’s collagen production is stimulated so even though it may appear that the wrinkes returned you will begin to see daily improvement over the course of the next few weeks. On the fourth week you should re-visit with your doctor or medi-spa for assessment. Take note that the best doctors in the field of skin care treatments with Sculptra are used to seeing excited patients at the 4 week mark.

Many women opt for an all-over Sculptra application but you might decide with the doctor’s consultation to just treat specific areas of your face such as your temples, eye rings, cheeks, nasiolabial folds, your marionette lines or your chin. In effect it is all about where you’re seeing the strongest effects of aging and how you would like your face to look after your treatments. You can, in effect, re-sculpt your entire look with a skilled practioner.

After your first and subsequent treatments you’ll need to do a little at home follow up. You only need to massage each treated section of your face 5 minutes, 5 times a day. Do this for 5 days and you’ll have a nice even distribution of the product under your skin which eventually leads to a more natural-looking end result. That’s all – no more special care is needed and in most cases you can start wearing makeup again within the same day (consult with your doctor though on each visit).

How much are you paying for the treatment? On average, Sculptra treatments range from $2,000 per treatment for one area of the face, to $5,000 per treatment for an all-over procedure.

That time frame makes Sculptra one of the most desirable skin care treatments. No more running into the clinic or spa for repeat injections of Botox, Restalyne or other dermal fillers every 3-6 months (although to be clear some fillers can last up to a year and a half on some people in some areas of the face).

Sculptra is most often recommended to men and women who are looking stressed, tired and starting to sag at the jowls or show a sunken look under the eyes and on the sides of the face. Treatments are non-invasive and has no known side effects. As this is a relatively newly released technology, it is important to note that the materials used in Sculptra treatments are not new to the field. In fact the substance has been used in the medical profession for over thirty years.

How Does Sculptra Work?

Sculptra is a filler, yes, but your transformation won’t be overnight. In fact the materials used stimulates your own production of collagen so you could be noticing improvements up to 3-4 months after your previous treatment. Your skin will literally tighten and smooth out after each session.

Although Sculptra promotes natural collagen production, it is a synthetic (poly-L-lactic acid derived from alpha-hydroxy fruit acids which is found in many over the counter skin care products). You might also like to know that this procedure has been in use for over 10 years now, in over 30 countries.

So, What’s It Like to Have Done?

On a pain factor of 1 to 10, with ten being the highest, Sculptra injections have been rated on average on the 2-3 scale (just uncomfortable). Your doctor should give you a topical and numbing medication as the materials is injected by a needle.

As stated above, the average session takes less than half an hour and most people only need 3-5 sessions to restore them to their former glory.