As we age, we lose volume in our face resulting in lines around the mouth, sunken cheeks, loss of contour around the lips, and wrinkles. Many of these products are used to re-volumize an aging face. These include product fillers such as Restylane®, Juvéderm®, Belotero® and Voluma. Fillers can also be used to add volume to the lips and hands.

Is IPL right for you?

IPL Photorejuvenation may be the ideal treatment option if you:

• Want to improve the appearance of redness and rosacea
• Want to improve the appearance of brown pigmentation and age spots
• Want a procedure that has very minimal down time

IPL Photorejuvenation Results

• Improves rosacea and mottled pigmentation
• Reduces sun spots, age spots, freckles and sun damage 
• Stimulates collagen formation
• Virtually eliminates small red vessels

What is IPL Photorejuvenation?

IPL Photorejuvenation is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that improves the appearance of photoaged skin, removes age spots, most benign brown pigments and redness caused by broken capillaries. IPL Photorejuvenation can be tailored to your individual condition and skin type, providing superior cosmetic results and high satisfaction.

How does it work?

A broad spectrum of light is transmitted with the IPL handpiece through a small, smooth, transparent lightguide which is gently placed over your skin. The light penetrates the tissue and is absorbed by either the blood when treating vascular lesions or the melanin when treating pigmented lesions. The body's natural processes then remove the injured tissue giving the skin a more even tone and texture, and a more youthful appearance.

Where on the body can IPL Photorejuvenation be used?

IPL Photorejuvenation can be used to treat any area of the body. The most common areas are the face, neck, chest and hands.

Who can get an IPL Photorejuvenation treatment?

Most people can safely receive an IPL Photorejuvenation treatment. However, always consult with your physician to find out if IPL is right for you. Be sure to also ask your physician about all the other benefits of IPL treatments!

What is an IPL Photorejuvenation treatment like?

First, a cold gel is usually applied to the area to be treated, and you may be given dark glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from the bright light. The pulses of light are applied to your face, and you may feel a slight stinging. Each treatment typically takes about 20 minutes. Treatment is generally administered in a series of four to six sessions, and you will see gradual improvement that yields excellent long-term results with very low risk and very minimal downtime

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are small, thin veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. Although these super-fine veins are connected with the larger venous system, they are not an essential part of it. A number of factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including heredity, pregnancy and other events that cause hormonal shifts, weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing, and the use of certain medications. Spider veins usually take on one of three basic patterns. They may appear in a true spider shape with a group of veins radiating outward from a dark central point; they may be arborizing and will resemble tiny branch-like shapes; or they may be simple linear and appear as thin separate lines.

Treatment of Spider Veins

The treatment of spider veins is done with sclerotherapy. In this rather simple procedure, veins are injected with a sclerosing solution, which causes them to collapse and fade from view. The procedure may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling and night cramps. Sclerotherapy can enhance your appearance and your self confidence, but it's unrealistic to believe that every affected vein will disappear completely as a result of treatment. After each sclerotherapy session, the veins will appear lighter. Two or more sessions are usually required to achieve optimal results. You should also be aware that the procedure treats only those veins that are currently visible; it does nothing to permanently alter the venous system or prevent new veins from surfacing in the future.

Procedure – What are Nova PDO (polydioxanone) Threads and how are they used for skin lifting and rejuvenation?

The threadlift procedure was developed to fill an unmet need in cosmetic dermatology – instant non-invasive lifting of facial and neck skin with natural-looking results.  While neuromodulators (such as Botox, Dysport and Xeomin) relax muscles to smooth wrinkles and dermal fillers (such as Restylane and Juvederm) replace lost facial volume, PDO threads stimulate collagen that lifts and strengthens the skin without surgery or significant downtime.

PDO (polydioxanone) sutures are one of the safest materials that can be used in the body and they are fully absorbed within 4 to 6 months without leaving any scar tissue behind.  These sutures have been used for decades in different surgical specialties.

During the threadlift procedure, Nova threads are injected into the skin, instantly lifting tissue without cuts or incisions.  The sutures remain under the skin for 4-6 months until they are completely absorbed by the body.  During this time, your skin undergoes controlled healing, repairing and building collagen where the threads were inserted.  The results are immediate and continue to improve for the first 4-6 months.  Once the threads are completely absorbed, the effect of the treatment continues for an additional 4-6 months due to the new collagen production in the treated area.

Is it right for you?

Nova PDO Threads may be the ideal treatment for you, if you are interested in:

• Reducing fine lines and wrinkles, especially the wrinkles on the upper lip and cheeks;
• Gently lifting loose skin of the face and neck;
• A procedure that mobilizes your own body to produce new collagen naturally and has minimal downtime. 

Expectations and Results:

Generally, a series of 1-3 treatments, spaced 6-8 weeks apart is recommended for optimal results.  Yearly maintenance treatments are then recommended.

Topical numbing cream is usually applied prior to treatment.  For 1-3 weeks following the procedure, the treated area may feel sore and “prickly”, especially with amination.  Bruising and swelling following the treatment is also normal and expected.  To minimize bruising and discomfort, we strongly recommend icing the treated area immediately post treatment.  If bruising is visible you can start taking oral Arnica and apply topical Arnica cream to areas that are discolored.

The results of the Thread Lift are immediate and even more noticeable after 1-2 weeks when all the swelling and potential bruising has resolved. Continued results will be seen as your skin produces collagen in the area treated over the next several months.  The production of this new collagen makes the results of the thread lift last longer than the life of the threads. 

Where on the body can PRP Skin Rejuvenation it be used?

Nova PDO Thread treatments are commonly performed on the face and neck.  This treatment, however, can be used to gently lift and stimulate collagen in other areas of the body, as well.

Who is a good candidate for these treatments?

Nova PDO Thread lifts are safe for most individuals. There are very few contraindications, however, patients with the following conditions are NOT candidates: 

• If you have an active infection in the area desired to be treated;
• If you are taking anticoagulant medications/blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder;
• If you have a non-absorbable implant (silicone or previous thread) in area to be treated;
• If you are actively undergoing chemotherapy;
• If you have a history of or tendency for keloid scarring.

Hair Restoration using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections:

About Hair Loss and Alopecia:

Androgenetic alopecia, commonly called “male pattern baldness” is the cause of more than 95% of hair loss in men.  In fact, according to the American Hair Loss Association, by the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of noticeable hair loss, and by the age of 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair.  Unfortunately, men are not the only ones who suffer from pattern baldness.  Females also experience hair loss at a surprisingly high rate.  Female pattern hair loss occurs in approximately 50% of women by the time they reach the age of fifty.

We understand how unsettling and emotional it can be to have excessive hair shedding, thinning and loss.  If you are suffering from male or female pattern baldness, we have several options, ranging from topical scalp preparations, to oral supplements and PRP injections to help address your hair loss concerns.

Procedure – What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and how is it used to address hair thinning and loss?

Platelet Rich Plasma, or also known as “PRP” was first used to quickly heal pro-athletes and today has found many applications in the medical community.  Most recently, the interest in the application of PRP in dermatology for tissue regeneration, wound healing, scar revision and alopecia has increased.  

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an injection or micro-needling treatment whereby a person’s own blood is used. A fraction of blood (11cc-22cc) is drawn up from the individual patient into a syringe. This is a relatively small amount compared to blood donation which removes 500cc. The blood is spun down in a special centrifuge to separate its components (red blood cells, platelet rich plasma, and plasma). The platelet rich plasma is first separated then activated with a small amount of calcium to allow the release of growth factors from the platelets which in turn amplifies the healing process. PRP is then injected into areas on the scalp where hair loss or thinning has occurred.

Platelets are very small cells in your blood that are involved in the clotting process. When PRP is injected into scalp tissue it stimulates dormant hair follicles and hair growth.  This procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform and works best to help patients with thinning hair and for those in the early stages of hair loss.  Initially, a series of 3-6 monthly treatments are advised.  Single treatments may then be done every 6-months, after the initial series of treatments has been completed, to boost and maintain the results.  

Is it right for you?

PRP scalp injections for hair thinning and early hair loss can be a great treatment option for almost anyone who has not had success with over-the-counter hair loss medications, but also isn’t ready for hair transplant surgery.  This may be an ideal treatment for you, if you are interested in:

• Triggering natural hair growth and increased thickness of individual hair shafts;
• A procedure that mobilizes your own stem cells to stimulate dormant hair follicles and hair growth and has minimal downtime. 

Expectations and Results:

Generally, a series of 3-6 treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart is recommended for optimal results.  Single maintenance treatments are then recommended every 6-months.

Immediately following the procedure your scalp will feel tight and possibly sore.  Post treatment scalp itchiness is also not uncommon and may be noted for several days following the treatment.  Then, over the course of a few weeks, you will begin to see visible new hair growth.  Although hair regrowth is slow, there is typically some evidence of improvement by the third treatment.

Who is a good candidate for these treatments?

PRP used for aesthetic procedures is safe for most individuals between the ages of 25-80.  These injections work best for patients with visibly thinning hair or those in the early stages of hair loss. PRP can stimulate dormant hair follicles and hair growth, but it cannot create new hair follicles.

There are very few contraindications, however, patients with the following conditions are not candidates: 

1) Acute and Chronic Infections 

2) Skin diseases (i.e. SLE, porphyria)

3) Active Cancer 

4) Currently undergoing chemotherapy 

5) Severe metabolic and systemic disorders 

6) Abnormal platelet function (blood disorders, i.e. hemodynamic instability, hypofibrinogenemia, critical thrombocytopenia) 

7) Chronic liver pathology 

8) Anti-coagulation therapy/Daily use of blood thinners, including medically prescribed daily aspirin therapy

10) Systemic use of corticosteroids within two weeks of the procedure, and

11) Pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation:

Procedure – What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and how is it used in skin rejuvenation treatments?

Platelet Rich Plasma, or also known as “PRP” was first used to quickly heal pro-athletes and today has found many applications in the medical community.  Most recently, the interest in the application of PRP in dermatology for skin rejuvenating effects, tissue regeneration, wound healing, scar revision and alopecia (hair loss) has increased.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is an injection or micro-needling treatment whereby a person’s own blood is used. A fraction of blood (11cc-22cc) is drawn up from the individual patient into a syringe. This is a relatively small amount compared to blood donation which removes 500cc. The blood is spun down in a special centrifuge to separate its components (red blood cells, platelet rich plasma, and plasma). The platelet rich plasma is first separated then activated with a small amount of calcium to allow the release of growth factors from the platelets which in turn amplifies the healing process. PRP is then injected into the area to be treated or applied to the skin during micro-needling procedures.

Platelets are very small cells in your blood that are involved in the clotting process. When PRP is injected or applied during micro-needling it causes a mild inflammation that triggers the healing cascade. As the platelets organize in the tissue they release a number of enzymes to promote healing and restoration of tissue. As a result, new collagen begins to develop. As the collagen matures, it begins to shrink causing the tightening and strengthening of skin in the damaged area. When treating injured or sun and time damaged skin, this treatment can induce a remodeling of the tissue to a healthier and younger state.  This results in an improvement in the fine lines and wrinkles, texture and tone, pore size, luminescence and pigmentation of the treated skin.  The full procedure takes approximately 45 minutes - 1 hr. Generally, 3 treatments spaced every 4-6 weeks, are advised, however, more may be indicated for some individuals. Touch up treatments may be done every 6-12 months, after the initial series of treatments to boost and maintain the results.

If you are interested in using PRP to address hair loss, please refer to the Hair Restoration using PRP Procedure details.

Is it right for you?

PRP skin rejuvenation via micro-needling and/or injections may be the ideal treatment for you, if you are interested in:

• Improving the texture, tone and luminescence of your skin;
• Reducing fine lines and wrinkles and pore size;
• Improving old acne, traumatic or surgical scars;
• Reducing dark under eye circles and crepey under eye skin;
• A procedure that mobilizes your own stem cells for tissue rejuvenation and has minimal downtime.

Expectations and Results:

Generally, a series of 3 treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart is recommended for optimal results.  Maintenance treatments are then recommended every 6-12 months.

Immediately following the procedure your skin will feel sunburned, may be pink-red in color and show mild swelling.  Then, over the course of a few weeks, you will begin to see visible improvements in the treated skin’s color, tone and texture.  Typically, this is also accompanied by a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.  PRP treatments can also be effective in reducing old acne, traumatic or surgical scars.  The treated tissue often continues to improve for up to six months following the initial PRP treatment.

Where on the body can PRP Skin Rejuvenation it be used?

PRP skin rejuvenation treatments are commonly performed on the face, neck and décolletage.

Who is a good candidate for these treatments?

PRP used for aesthetic procedures is safe for most individuals between the ages of 25-80. There are very few contraindications, however, patients with the following conditions are not candidates:

1) Acute and Chronic Infections

2) Skin diseases (i.e. SLE, porphyria)

3) Active Cancer

4) Currently undergoing chemotherapy

5) Severe metabolic and systemic disorders

6) Abnormal platelet function (blood disorders, i.e. hemodynamic instability, hypofibrinogenemia, critical thrombocytopenia)

7) Chronic liver pathology

8) Anti-coagulation therapy/Daily use of blood thinners, including medically prescribed daily aspirin therapy

10) Systemic use of corticosteroids within two weeks of the procedure, and

11) Pregnant or breastfeeding.