Beauty Insider
Skin vs Surgery: Conflict or Complimentary?
012 days
If you want a facelift you go to the plastic surgeon. If you want better skin you go to the dermatologist. Right?
Not necessarily.
The scientific sessions at this year’s biggest meeting of aesthetic minds (American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, ASAPS 2012 in Vancouver) have chronicled the latest in everything from liposuction to lip injections, as one would expect, but skin care here is also a significant topic.
Excuse me—if these are surgeons, why are they talking about skincare?
Simple. They know that:
- Good skin is a must to enhance a surgical result.
- Women want natural-looking results, which require a full spectrum of services (from products and peels to neurotoxins and knives).
- We’re busy! We don’t want to have to go to multiple doctor’s offices to get the full spectrum of services.
Besides, most plastic surgeons these days also have a staff of expert estheticians and RNs that bring their skin and non-surgical expertise to the practice too.
The fact is, the lines between skin and surgery having been blurring for years—and for the most part, it seems to be in the aesthetic plastic surgeon’s favor. While aesthetic surgeons have been getting smarter about skin, dermatologists are generally limited to skin and non-surgical modalities. (And given the general preference to avoid the scalpel whenever possible, that’s not necessarily a bad thing!) Given the expanded potential for surgeons to meet all needs, however, it’s not really a surprise, then, that one of the big trends at ASAPS 2012 is all the chatter about knowing how—and when—to use non-surgical vs surgical procedures or a blend of both to provide natural, affordable, long-lasting results. Hands down, the best explanation of how this works is articulated by our very own Julius Few, MD, who believes that beauty exists along a continuum.
Learn more! Read the philosophy behind developing your own Continuum of Beauty.
ASAPS Day 1: Chewing the Fat
015 days
Day 1 in beautiful Vancouver – Done!
I just finished 9 hours of sessions at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and I’ve got the goods on what’s hot… and what’s not.
First up: Fat.
No one wants it around the waist, but they’ll happily take it in the face! The buzz for years has been about its viability as a “natural” facial filler, but the jury’s also been out on how to control results and make it worth your while. The data continues to pour in with fine-tuned techniques that produce permanent results. Turns out that fat is more than just a passing fad…
Next-Gen Lipo
Ask almost any plastic surgeon about fat reduction tools and you’ll hear that good old fashioned liposuction is the most efficient way to get rid of the excess. However, experts today agree: If you’ve got 250 cc or less in love handles that you’re looking to lose, the cooling power of Zeltiq really will make it disappear!
Disappearing Act
Fat under the chin? (aka, submental fat) A novel fat dissolving injectable treatment is in Phase III clinical trials, with great results and no major adverse side effects. (That’s right: A simple shot will make it go away!) Stay tuned for more on ATX-101…
Blood vs. Belotero
Vampire Facelift, anyone? The experts today say “no.” This pseudo “lifting” technique may have gotten some attention with the Twilight film craze that swept the nation, but the fact is, it’s nothing more than a marketing tactic (and not a very good one at that). The Vampire Facelift is actually just a not-so-pretty description of mixing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your own blood with hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. The HAs give you an immediate improvement where injected, but there isn’t a preponderance of evidence that you’ll get much from the PRP addition in the long-term. One MD expert explained that he’s able to give his patients a subtle improvement in the tear trough area (those hollows under your eyes) with PRP growth factor, but he’d rather use Belotero.
Stay tuned for more from ASAPS 2012!
The Male Patient: Biology & Behavior
017 days
No doubt about it, the cosmetic surgery industry is dominated by female patients.
Fact: Women had 91% of all cosmetic procedures last year according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery statistics. Men made up the remaining 9%.
Although 9% seems to be a number of slight consequence, the reality is that men have actually seen a 121% increase in cosmetic surgery procedures over the past 15 years. Today men are fixing their post-sports injury noses, tired of their beer guts (hello, lipo!), don’t want to have cave-man brow, and yes, even get facelifts to remain competitive at work.
But as the so-called stronger type, we know, Ladies, that men generally don’t handle pain and doctor’s offices well. In fact, I just read a great article in Men’s Health called, “Why Men are Horrible Patients,” where an MD himself calls out men as babies (he goes on to explain that perhaps it’s not that they’re babies, but “fragile” and fearful of anything that threatens their masculinity. Read it. It’s a good one!).
So take that medicine-resistant man and put him in the plastic surgeon’s office. How does he fare as a surgical patient in a female-dominated industry? (The ultimate double whammy!) Here’s what industry docs and staff members have shared with me about male behavior in general:
- Men deny that they need pain meds after surgery, but in reality they don’t tolerate discomfort well (don’t we know it!).
- They find it difficult to limit their activities and take time to heal.
- Men have a hard time caring properly for their incisions after surgery. (Nurse!)
- Guys think they can eat whatever they want despite dietary restrictions. (No comment.)
- They avoid follow-up appointments. (Oh, boy…)
- (BUT) They call the office with every little question.
At the end of the day, I think I speak for women and MDs world-wide: Guys, we’re happy you’re becoming more comfortable with the idea of getting into the doctor’s office to take care of yourself… But if you’re the kind of patient that needs some support, make sure you’ve got someone on your side who will help to keep you on track!
Spring Cleaning In 3 Steps
019 days
IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN – it’s time to clean out your makeup bags!
And the best part is that it can be done in just a few easy steps, according to Charisse Washington, RN, TFI’s very own makeup expert:
1. SORT. Group and organize lipsticks, glosses, blushes and eye makeup.
2. TOSS. Throw out makeup you haven’t used in the past 8 months. Mascara or foundation that is more than 6 months old should not be in your bag!
3. ADD. The Spring must-haves?
- Go matte with a physical sunscreen that does double duty: first to protect, and second to create the matte complexion that is this year’s trend (try our own MelaShade E!).
- Rosy is the word, so try a pink-hued bronzer that gives your skin a warm, soft glow.
- Pale is pretty! Try a nude lipstick or gloss (though red still sizzles too!).
- Lash out with a new mascara for the Twiggy-inspired “bare-eyed” runway look (Don’t forget the Latisse!)
Want more? Contact Charisse
to find out what’s right for you!
cwashington@fewinstitute.com
How SPF Savvy Are You?
024 days
Yes, I’m the self-proclaimed Queen of SPF. (You would be too if you had my red-hair-and-freckles complexion!) But we know today that sun protection isn’t just about preventing skin-damaging sunburns, it’s also about preventing premature skin aging—from wrinkles to sun spots—and, let’s not forget, skin cancer (!).
In decades past, we didn’t know a whole lot about UVA rays and their silent, but damaging effects. So until recently, sun damage was often measured by how good a job you (and your favorite sunscreen) did preventing sunburns. In fact, that’s the basis upon which the whole SPF system was initially created. The higher the number, the better the protection… Right?
Last year the FDA said, “Wrong,” and announced new regulations for sunscreen products, giving product manufacturers until this summer (2012) to comply. Here’s what you can expect to see as part of the new labeling requirements for all sun protection products:
1. Color by Number
Using an SPF 75 might make you feel like you’re doing a better job at protecting your skin, but you won’t find it on the shelf anymore! At the top of the SPF ladder, all you’re going to find is SPF 50+. The FDA believes that there is insufficient data to show that any SPF greater than 50 actually provides more protection. On the flip side, any product with a number lower than SPF 15 or that does not include both UVA and UVB coverage will be required to include a warning label that they do not reduce the risks of skin cancer.
2. Name Game
It’s time to toss the word “sunblock” right out of your vocabulary! The FDA says that there’s no evidence that your topical sun protection provides a total block from radiation, so these products can only be referred to as sunscreens.
3. Water Works
While “waterproof” is clearly convenient when you spend all day poolside, the FDA taking this word off the shelf. Instead, products will only be able to claim that they are water resistant for 40 or 80 minutes, which means that you’ll need to reapply, and reapply often to gain the real benefits of what your sunscreen offers.
The reality is that sunscreen products offer limited protection. So the best way to be sun smart is to also avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day, wear a hat, and grab some shade whenever you can.
Interested in reading more? Here’s what the FDA itself has to say.
