Archives for October 2017

Defyne Your Expression

Correction of “smile lines” are a common request among patients seeking to improve their overall facial appearance. The smile lines typically begin in the mid to late 30’s, secondary to global fat loss in our face. As we lose facial volume, the skin has less support, which results in the descent of the cheek skin toward our lower face. Retaining ligaments in the face attach our skin to the underlying facial skeleton around our mouth which result in nasolabial folds, lateral smile lines, and marionette lines. However, our face is dynamic and cannot be treated as a static structure. Anytime filler is placed, it is important to assess the face at rest and with animation in order to optimize results and prevent overcorrection. The smile lines have traditionally been a difficult area to treat non-surgically due to the potential for overcorrection, harshness with movement or an unnatural appearance. Instead, correction has been focused on filling the upper face to lift the cheek skin, resulting in the softening.

Several new fillers have become approved for use this year which give us expanded ability to correct these difficult to treat areas. Restylane Defyne is a new hyaluronic acid filler available and enables correction of smile lines at both resting state and with animation. Restylane Defyne is unique in its ability to provide deep soft tissue augmentation in the lower cheek, while maintaining natural softness with movement such as smiling and laughing. The filler is distinctive because it is stabilized with XpresHAn Technology which allows for deep soft tissue correction of moderate to severe lines and folds while retaining flexibility for movement. An average correction will last one year and can be repeated as needed for optimal correction.

It is important to remember that not all smile lines can be corrected with filler. When significant tissue laxity is present, the best results may be achieved with a combination of treatments, such as volume replacement and a lower face lift. For early smile lines, skin resurfacing with collagen stimulating treatments can be corrective. To determine candidacy for smile line correction, a consultation is recommended to identify and guide the appropriate treatment.

Call us today to set up your consultation to see if this treatment would be best for you at (949) 276 – 4141.

The Perfect Pairing : Treatments With Products That Enhance

We all enjoy a fine glass of wine, especially when paired with the right meal. Just like the right steak can bring out and enhance the flavors of a beautiful glass of red wine, the right product can help to enhance and increase the results from a treatment. Using the right products after receiving a treatment is vital to enhancing and maintaining your results. I like to look at it as protecting your investment. You want to make sure your skin is receiving all the wonderful products and nutrients it can to look its absolute best.

One of the biggest concerns I see, especially being a resident in sunny Southern California, is dark spots or uneven complexion. Photofacials, aka IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), help to reduce pigmentation and red undertones. One great product that really helps to enhance this treatment is Lytera 2.0 by Skin Medica. This is a non- hydroquinone skin brightening complex that is mild enough to use on a daily basis, and unlike other exfoliating products, this can be used the day after you have your treatment done.

Microneedling has become a new favorite here at FAC. Microneedling helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, shrink pore size, and can improve acne scarring. Because microneedling is also know as CIT (collagen induction therapy), its main purpose is to trigger a response within our own bodies to stimulate collagen production. With this treatment, we like to pair it with a powerful growth factor. TNS Essential Serum is our go- to anti-aging serum. Within this product, the TNS growth factors penetrate through the skin, increasing cellular renewal and production (collagen). It also has an abundance of antioxidants to fight free radical damage and brighten the skin. This is so beneficial and important to incorporate into your routine during microneedling, that we even put that TNS growth factor on your skin in the office right after you have your treatment done so its able to travel through all those new micro channels the microneedling device created.

Another really great treatment that pairs well with the TNS Essential Serum, is our Fractional CO2. This resurfacing laser is a great treatment for the fall and winter time, as it helps to exfoliate off sun damage will stimulating collagen to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Just like with microneedling, the TNS Essential Serum helps to keep the collagen production going post treatment, helping you maintain and protect your results.

Who doesn’t love a good Botox treatment, especially before the holidays? Botox is great treatment to help inactive certain muscles on the face to reduce facial wrinkling and prevent future lines from forming. Here at FAC, we carry Wri-lax which has been clinically proven to increase the longevity of Botox up to 20%. This product uses a protein called Argireline, which also instantly improves facial expressions and lines. This is also a great alternative for women who are breastfeeding or pregnant and cannot receive their normal Botox treatment.

These are just a few of our favorite combinations of treatments and products. If you have any questions on what treatments and products would pair well with your skin, please schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our providers.

Article by

Nadia Bahash

Medical Esthetician

Microneedling : What it is, What it’s not and Why you want it…

Microneedling has become quite the topic of discussion over the past few years, and even more so in the past few months. There is a lot of misunderstanding, as some are referring to it as the “vampire facial” based on a post by Kim Kardashian. With this said, we thought some clarity would be beneficial as we hope to not only educate our Facial Aesthetic Concepts community, but also highlight why Microneedling is a great non-invasive treatment that gives you the subtle, rejuvenated glowing skin. Reasons why Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and other celebs are obsessed with this treatment.

What Microneedling is….

Microneedling is a technique that uses a needle studded wand to drive tiny holes into the skin to spur on collagen growth. There is no use of chemicals, topicals or lasers in this treatment. With microneedling, skin produces collagen to repair itself with no scarring, but instead giving you firmer, smoother, more hydrated skin with no flaking! This treatment has proven to reduce the appearance of fine line ,wrinkles, reduction in scars, pore size and stretch marks – improving texture and skin tone.

As lasers only affect the exterior layer of the skins epidermis, this treatment penetrates into the dermis to not only resurface the skin, but also to ignite a layer of collagen and elastin below the skins surface.

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What Microneedling is not…

As mentioned earlier, Microneedling has been confused with the “vampire facial.” As some are interested in this process that is called the “vampire facial,” it is different than microneedling and is not truly proven to have the results it claims. I fully understand how needles can be scary and it is correlated with pain. When you get the microneedling treatment done, we put on a numbing cream prior to the area to help take any discomfort away.

Why you want Microneedling…

Microneeding tightens, lifts and gives you that anti-aging glow about your skin. It can reduces acne scars, surgical scars and other scarring. “Micro-needling treatment can improve the appearance of shallow, diffuse acne scarring along with improving all-over skin tone and texture,” confirms Gary Motykie, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Beverley Hills. “For very deep acne scars, I would recommend combining micro-needling with another treatment such as dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, or scar treatment.”

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Microneedling also improves wrinkles and fine lines. “I have been using micro-needling for the past five years and have obtained gratifying results for treating fine wrinkles and scars, especially those around the mouth, on the neck and the crepeyness of the cheeks and on the sides of the eyes,” says Nelson Lee Novick, Clinical Professior of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC. But he warns, “Microneedling should be reserved for static wrinkles, i.e. wrinkles at rest,” and not those caused by repeated movements.

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Microneedling is a great alternative to laser treatments, especially if you are not ready to take that step as well as a fabulous treatment to do in between your laser treatments to maintain the healthy, subtle smooth skin. With little to no downtime, why wouldn’t you take the pludge and get the amazing improved complexion that you are wanting?! Be sure to call today and make your appointment.

For more information on this treatment from Facial Aesthetic Concepts, click here.

Fall In Love With Exfoliation

After we enjoy the summer sun, we need to restore our skin from the damage it causes and free radical harm. Our skin needs a bit of extra help to recover its glow as we enter the Fall season. The fall and winter months are an exceptional time to kick up your exfoliating therapies due to minimal heat and sun exposure which can cause skin issues such as:

Hyperpigmentation
Irritation
Dryness
Breakdown of the skin
Sunburn

Microneedling & Glow Combination

Microneedling: Designed to stimulate your skin’s natural ability to produce new collagen by creating “micro-channels” by vertically piercing the skin with tiny needles. This medical grade treatment can restore skin’s thickness with collagen production as well as improve fine lines and wrinkles, acne scarring, pore size, decrease hyperpigmentation and melasma. The downtime is minimal; patients can experience redness that can last 24 to 48 hours after, and dryness or flakiness (time can vary depending on the depth that is recommended for your skincare concerns). This makes it a great treatment for those that have a busy lifestyle and do not have the capacity for extended amounts of downtime. Usually, you will notice improvements in your skin tone and texture after the first treatment, more significant results will start to occur after 2 -3 treatments.

Polish & Glow Treatment: This treatment combines the manual exfoliation benefits of Dermaplaning with the chemical exfoliation benefits of our Express Glow treatment. This combination is a great way to improve the appearance of mild, dull skin and smooth out dry, rough skin. It is a great stand-alone treatment to enhance your at-home care or can be done post microneedling (SEE OUR GREAT PROMO) to continue to polish off and soften the texture, plump and hydrate and enhance the results of your microneedling treatment.

Fractional CO2

An ablative laser with fractional technology, which targets fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, melasma and improves overall texture. Most people can achieve great results after one session. The Fractional C02 laser energy removes surface tissue and heats at the level of the dermis to stimulate new collagen production and break up pigmentation. The downtime can typically last 5 to 7 days (healing time can vary per patient) for the face. This consists of mild redness and bronzing of the skin prior to sloughing. This is ideal for those who want dramatic changes in only one resurfacing treatment and have more availability for downtime. Consult with your skincare specialist today to discover the best treatment for your skin care needs!

Call us today at (949) 273 – 2736 to set up your FREE consultation as we see which exfoliation treatment is the right fit for your personal needs.

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Month: October 2017