Monday, January 17, 2011

Thermage CPT Skin Tightening


Plush Medical Spa is excited to be Dothan's exclusive provider for
Thermage CPT skin tightening treatments!

    Thermage is the only non-invasive procedure that helps tighten and contour your skin in a single treatment—with no surgery, no injections, and no downtime. Instead,    Thermage uses unique radiofrequency (RF) technology to safely heat the deep layers of your skin, while cooling the surface of your skin to keep it intact during the procedure.This deep heating stimulates your body's natural skin renewal process, which helps tighten existing collagen and form new collagen. Over time, sagging or wrinkled skin is replaced with smoother, tighter skin; improved tone and texture; and an overall younger looking appearance.

   Thermage can be used to rejuvenate several areas of your body, including your face, stomach, knees, arms, legs or buttocks. Thermage was originally used to tighten facial skin, smooth wrinkles and improve facial contours without incisions or downtime. The procedure is often a good option for people who don't want a full facelift, and for those who worry that an injectable filler like Restylane, Juvederm or Radiesse won't have results lasting long enough.
   When applied to the face, Thermage can lift sagging eyebrows, increase the prominence of cheekbones, and redefine the jawline. Additionally, Thermage can tighten wrinkled facial skin, improve the appearance of double chins and turkey necks, stretched-out tummies, saggy knees, waving underarms, and the signs of aging on the hands.
What is different about Thermage CPT?
    The new Thermage CPT System represents a leap forward in skin tightening and contouring technology. Superior results and greater patient comfort are at the core of the new system, which leverages our proprietary Comfort Pulse Technology™ and a vibrating handpiece for more comfortable treatments. This next generation Thermage CPT is MUCH less painful than previous Thermage units, providing optimal comfort while delivering the maximum energy possible.


The Procedure

    Thermage is typically performed in a doctor's office and takes about an hour, depending on the size and condition of the treatment area. The Thermage CPT is applied to your skin and you feel warmth. The experience is often described as a deep heating or mild pinching sensation, but the new vibrating hand piece has led to significantly less discomfort.
   Thermage delivers radio frequency energy to heat collagen, a structural protein located in the deep layers of the skin. Thermage helps build and contract collagen, which in turn tightens the appearance of the skin's surface. During each pulse, the outer layer of the skin is cooled while the deeper layers of skin and fat are heated to induce collagen tightening. Each energy pulse takes two to seven seconds. The entire face may require 400 to 600 pulses, and the stomach area may require 400 pulses. The amount of pulses for other treatment areas varies.
   After the procedure, you can go right back to work or your regular routine with absolutely no downtime!

The Results
  Thermage results may be apparent after just one procedure. In fact, some women who have undergone body contouring around their love handles with Thermage have lost 1.5 inches of girth around their abdomen immediately after one treatment.The skin tightens during the initial process and continues to tighten for three to six months afterward. The procedure also stimulates your body's healing process, which produces more natural collagen over time. That means pictures are important, since over time we forget just how different we looked before Thernage.

Best Candidates for Thermage
   Thermage may work best for people who require a few millimeters of facial tightening, compared with the 1 or more centimeters offered in a brow lift.
   Body contouring candidates include those who have lax skin in the lower abdomen, such as women who have had children. Women with flabby upper arms, inner thighs and buttocks are also candidates for Thermage.
Thermage Side Effects
   Thermage side effects are rare, but can include swelling, redness, blisters, peeling, bumps or dimpling. If a side effect occurs, it usually goes away within a few days to a few weeks.

Pricing
   Plush Medical Spa is offering introductory pricing on Thermage CPT - so low we can't advertise it! Call 334-702-6869 to schedule your free consultation with Dr Bell.


PICTURES, VIDEOS & PHYSICIAN REVIEWS
 

Thermage


Here are a few Plush patient pictures:


Watch a Thermage video! More before/after videos at the bottom of this post!

Physician Reviews of Thermage


By Grant Stevens, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
The newer Thermage CPT has much more consistent results then the old Thermage.  The old Thermage energy distribution was different, the hand pieces and sizes of the tips have changed and vibration mechanisms have been added.  Patient comfort is high, virtually painless, and results are consistently good to great.  We are thrilled with what Thermage CPT has done for our patients.  Thermage is the best non-surgical skin care device out there at this time. 

By Grace Liu, MD - Newport Beach Dermatologic surgeon
With the new Thermage CPT upgrade, the results are consistently much better an the older machines. I think one of te most important factors is appropriate patient selection. If a patient has too much laxity that would be better addressed with a facelift then I will refer the patient to plastics. One of the interesting things I have noticed in our diverse patient populations is that Asian, mediterranean, and Latino skin types seem to be slam dunk consistently repeat great results.

By Jordana Gilman, MD - New York Dermatologic surgeon
Thermage is a non-surgical skin tightening treatment that provides subtle skin tightening and contouring.  It absolutely works, but it isn't surgery so no one should expect the same results as with surgery.  Anyone who expects dramatic skin tightening is going to be disappointed.  People choose Thermage because they want skin tightening without the risks of surgery, without the downtime, and without anyone knowing they have had anything done.  They also choose Thermage to postpone or prevent the need for surgery, or to maintain their surgical results.
Thermage CPT is different from previous versions of Thermage.  There is more cooling of the skin surface and more energy delivered with each pulse.  More energy means a more effective treatment.  There is also vibration with each pulse, and between the vibration and the increased cooling the treatment is quite comfortable.  Patients do not need any pain medication and report that the treatments do not hurt.  Thermage CPT gives a more comfortable, more effective treatment.







Sunday, January 2, 2011

Winter Skin Rejuvenation!

The winter is a challenging time for your skin. Cold, wind, temperature changes, and central heating all cause damage. But with the right routine and the best tools you can prevent the dreaded flaky skin and chapped lips that characterize most people’s winter faces.  Here are some tips on how to improve your skin this winter:

Amp up your regimen!
If you are not already using a prescription skincare line, wintertime is the best time to start. At Plush, our Licensed Estheticians have training in all areas of skincare, including extended training in the Obagi Medical Skin Systems. Along with Dr Bell they can customize a medical-grade routine for you whether your focus is anti-aging (dark/age spots and wrinkles), acne, rosacea or anything in between. Make an appointment for a free skin care consultation at Plush, and we can answer all of your questions.
Winter is the right time to renew your skin, because we tend to get much less sun exposure in the winter months. This is the ideal time increase your usage of Retin-A (tretinoin) or up the concentration of your current tretinoin cream or gel.  Dr Bell dispenses Retin-A micro at Plush. We offer a price that the chain drugstores can't beat and save you the trip to the pharmacy. 
The 1st 1-3 months on any retinoid is a challenge for most, with new skin production causing flaking of dead skin, and overuse in sensitive areas potentially causing tender redness. If irritation occurs, stop using it for a few days, then start back more conservatively, perhaps mixing your Retin-A with moisturizer. For those with sensitive skin, use Retin-A every other night, at the 0.04% concentration. Use it very sparingly around the eyes and mouth to avoid irritation. After this transition period is over, you will most likely be able to use Retin-A every day without difficulty. Retin-A can make the biggest anti-aging difference in your skin, more than any other product or regimen.



Exfoliate & Renew
Flaky, dry skin is dead skin that should be removed to achieve a smooth appearance. Medical microdermabrasion and chemical peels are the best way to remove the outer epidermal layers, and winter is, once again, the best time to have these procedures. Removing excess epidermis is important for evening skin texture and tone as well as shrinking those pores! Sun protection (SPF) is very important after chemical peels and while using Retin-A because new skin is very vulnerable to developing hyperpigmentation (dark spots).  You can't skip the SPF, even in the winter, if you want to maintain youthful skin.

Moisturize, MoisturizeMoisturize
Moisturizing in the winter months is one of the best things you can do for your skin. It’s really important that you moisturize when the weather is cold to help keep your skin soft and chap-free. Applying body lotion after a bath will protect from loss of natural oils and keep your skin protected. Leave your moisturizer on your face longer than usual to keep the skin as soft and hydrated as possible.
Protect your lips
The skin on your lips is thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, so it's particularly susceptible to damage in the cold. Dry, chapped lips can be sore and look unsightly, so it’s important that you protect your lips whenever you go out. We recommend Jane Iredale Lip Drink to protect lips in the winter. Or even better, exfoliate (with brown suger!) then plump while moisturizing with Jane Iredale's double-ended Sugar & Butter pictured here! Awesome!
Switch from bath to shower 
Long hot baths may feel fantastic, but they aren’t good for your skin. Hot baths strip your skin of their natural oils leaving your skin extremely dry.  Ideally the water should be luke-warm every time you bathe, though if you do prefer to have a hot bath, try and cut them down to two to three times a week rather than every day. If you just can’t give up your hot baths, try a bath cream that contains a deep moisturizer.