1. Check the Better Business Bureau to ensure the practitioner has a positive rating (B or better)
2. Always compare prices based upon a level playing field. One place may charge more per visit, but may require fewer visits
3. Check the experience of the laser technicians? Do they have the proper medical or technical expertise to do the procedure? How long have they been doing it? Remember that an inexperienced or ill-trained technician can do permanent damage to your skin. Always trust your gut.

When you enter the clinic or treatment area, is the facility clean? Does it feel right to you? Do you get a good impression from the nurses or doctors you talk with? Are they straightforward and honest when answering your questions? If not, keep looking.

How to assess a doctor, physician or laser specialist? You should always research the qualifications of the medical director of the facility. Try to determine if he or she is board certified in dermatology (always a plus)? Ask whether or not there will be a physician present in the office during the procedure? Try to determine whether or not the personnel performing the procedure are licensed doctors or registered nurses? Most importantly, determine how many patients your particular physician has performed the required laser treatment on in the past.

Testimonials: Any clinic or physician with experience will have a number of former clients that could testify to both the effectiveness of the procedure as well as the skill of the doctor. You may review written testimonials or see if the doctor has former patients that would be willing to talk with you (although these may be hard to come by as many don’t want to be bothered). You may also ask to see “before and after” photos for work that the doctor has done on similar patients with similar skin and hair types as you. Remember, when it comes to the medical field, proof always overcomes doubt.

Ultimate Image has a state of the art facility located in Clearwater Florida.  Ultimate Image does more cosmetic procedures than any other facility of its kind in the Tampa Bay area.  Laser Hair Removal is done by Dr. Karl Swanson.

The latest liposuction surgery available today is vaser lipo (abbreviation for liposuction). Widely seems as the gentlest and most powerful form of liposuction, the results have impressed both the medical profession and patients who have had the treatment.

Vaser is an acronym for vibration amplification of sound energy and resonance and the science behind it lies in its selectivity i.e. it can be very precisely targeted.

Vaser Lipo makes use of ultrasound energy which breaks up fat in the body. Its great advantage is that it leaves veins, nerves and local connective tissue intact. This in turn gives smooth results together with faster healing,and causes less pain than more traditional treatments. Swelling and bruising are minimized

Men also seek help with such treatments and typically the areas they are looking for improvement on are love handles and male breasts, whereas women normally request work on their abdomen, thighs and buttocks.

Until now more delicate areas of the body,such as chins and knees, were seldom worked on but vaser lipo offers much more accuracy and these areas can now be treated successfully.

The first part of the process is to melt or dissolve body fat using ultrasound which is delivered to the target area using grooved probes. These help turn fat into liquid which is then removed using suction and massage. The ultrasound only works on fatty cells and simply bounces off nerves, blood vessels and other body tissue. This is why there is much less damage to the body and why recovery times are better. However a local anaesthetic is needed

Results are very quick and all swelling associated with the procedure takes about 7 days to settle and, over the coming months, skin naturally tightens.

In order to demonstrate the improved medical technique a recently published report stated that people having vaser lipo, do not suffer from conditions such as seroma, skin induration or necrosis which have all been associated with earlier liposuction methods. Compared to other types of liposuction treatment, the amount of fat to be removed can safely be increased.

Today, laser is the latest “in thing” in hair removal. Electrolysis is passe and painful, while the other methods are non-permanent, therefore annoyingly repetitive. But is everyone suitable for such treatment? This is one very important criterion to weigh before investing your money in such an expensive, permanent treatment.

Laser hair removal works by targeting the melanin in hair follicles. When the laser beam hits the skin, the melanin-rich hair follicles turn the laser’s energy into heat. This heat “burns up” the follicle quickly and painlessly, changing its cellular structure so that the hair gets thinner or stops growing altogether.

In order to do this effectively, two things are required -

1. The color difference between hair and skin must be above a certain minimum. While lasers have advanced enough to treat people of most skin and hair tones – say light-skinned blondes or dark-skinned brunettes – there are still some additional precautions to be taken before opting for this.

2. The hair follicle must be in its “growth” stage, as opposed to “dormant” or “resting”. This is necessary to cause the desired changes in the follicle’s structure.

Laser hair removal is quite suitable for most people, especially those who have rapidly growing, coarse hair they want to get rid of. The pubes and underarms, for example, always respond well to laser. The chest, back and arms, especially, can require a higher number of sessions, though the exact number varies from case to case.

People with sensitive skin or any skin disorders should let their practitioner know before scheduling an appointment. If necessary, some treatment may be taken before the hair removal process to decrease side-effects. In any case, side-effects are quite mild – limited only to pain, swelling and blistering.

Most people prefer going for laser before a beach holiday rather than after, and this is definitely the way to go. Tanned skin is not suitable for laser treatment, so wait till you have your normal coloring back before your laser sessions. This may take several weeks, so be prepared to wait.

Some medications tend to irritate the skin, so check with your laser practitioner and ask if the topical medications you use will clash with treatment. You may have to discontinue these for months.

Also, postpone your laser hair removal immediately if you have cuts, blisters, inflammation or irritation on the skin to be treated. Remember to stay healthy before your appointment, as any infection will cause your treatment to be postponed yet again.

Moles, birthmarks, beauty spots or other dark marks on the skin are also contraindications for laser treatment, as they have attract the laser’s energy toward them. You can opt to remove these marks before going for hair removal, though.

Finally, lupus, epilepsy or diabetes will immediately put you off the list for laser hair removal candidates.

Your medical doctor should always be consulted before you do something as drastic as permanent hair removal to your body, and should take all precautions generally taken before any form of surgery. Though laser hair removal is extremely common today, do not forget that in the end, it resembles a surgical procedure. Take the same precautions, and you will definitely emerge with great results.

There are lots of anti-aging injectables on the market for the purpose of smoothing lines and wrinkles, adding volume and filling in scars. Because there are so many how do you know what is right for you? Some are good for mild to moderate issues while others are better for severe case. Still others are used primarily to plump and add volume to the face.

They are made of different ingredients and work in different ways, but the end result is still the same- a younger, refreshed looking face. Here’s the low-down on the most popular products: BOTOX, Juvederm, Restylane:

BOTOX is an injectable like the other products, but it is not a facial filler. This product is derived from the botulinum toxin which is actually a neurotoxin. It works by inhibiting the muscle contractions in the brow and wherever it is injected. It freezes these muscles which cause wrinkles.

They are called dynamic wrinkles because they appear as a result of movement like facial expressions. Results typically last between 3 and 4 months.

Juvederm is hyaluronic acid filler with the consistency of a gel to treat moderate to severe lines and wrinkles by adding volume under the dermis. There are three different densities available depending on the severity of the wrinkles. Common treatment areas that respond well to this thick filler are those deep lines from the corners of the nose to the edges of the mouth.

The base for the filler is hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring substance in the body making it a safe procedure. Your results should last up to 9 months.

Restylane also has a base of hyaluronic acid gel. It is used primarily to smooth out fine to moderate lines around the mouth and eyes. It is also a popular lip plumper. The hyaluronic acid is not derived from an animal source and it is safe for use as an injectable.

This product is for the treatment of static lines and wrinkles. For lip volume, results last up to 6 months while the reduction of lines and wrinkles lasts up to 9 months.

Your doctor will evaluate your face and determine the severity of the lines and wrinkles as well as skin elasticity. Which filler to use is determined on a case by case basis. It may be that you even need treatment for dynamic and static wrinkles in which case, you would benefit from more than one product.

Acne occurs when oil and dead skin cells block the pores and cause sebum to build up inside the pore.

This cause the inflamation of the skin that we usually call pimples. There are many products and treatments that claim to help you get rid of acne, however most of them are useless. There is a new treatment that is getting great reviews called levulan blue light acne treatment.

If any of the traditional anti acne treatments haven’t work for your, then you should really take a look at the blue light treatment, it is completely safe and you can get rid of acne in just a few sessions.

What this treatment do is expose your face to a blue light that will activate some substances in your sebus and this free radicals will open your pores and eliminate dead cells.

People that have tried this method have had very successful results in just a few months. When you are starting, you will take two sessions per week, results will vary from each person. Some people will experience faster results and others will need various months to completely eliminate acne.

The Levulan light acne treatment is very safe and can be used by anyone from teenagers to adults.

The cost is affordable compared to other treatments such as laser surgery, but you will need a few hundred dollars to start and follow a complete treatment.

Nasolabial folds, also sometimes referred to as “parentheses” is the term used to refer to the folds of skin that one sees running from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth on each side. Normally just a mild depressed line or none at all in the young up to the age of 25 years, it starts to make its presence felt with age. With the effect of age and gravity, the cheek pads on both sides tend to become heavier and larger and drags down over the fold to try to reach the mouth, so to speak, and this results in deeper and more obvious nasolabial folds, evidence that the person is ageing, and making the person feel and look his or her age, or worse still, older than he or she actually is. The depth of the folds is accentuated by smiling and grinning.

Look at yourself in the mirror, which does not lie. Concentrate on your nasolabial folds. Are they deep? Put your fingers to the sides of your cheeks and pull gently backwards and slightly upwards to spread the cheeks apart. In doing so you open up the nasolabial folds. Notice how you look 10 years younger immediately. Men and women have, from time immemorial, tried their best to look younger than they actually are, in an effort to recapture the youth that faded away a bit too fast.

There are three major ways to reduce nasolabial folds. The first two are somewhat more traumatic and reserved for the much older person. These are facelifts and thread lifts, both designed to fight gravity by pulling the skin of the cheeks to the back.

The third, easier and more acceptable way is by using cosmetic fillers, and an ideal filler for the nasolabial folds is Juvaderm. Juvaderm (more correctly known as Juvederm) is a cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel -like filler, a biosysthesised completely safe compound that has been altered by cross-linkage to last up to one year in the human body after injection. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance seen in the matrix of the dermis layer of the skin, and is very capable of absorbing water, adding to the natural volume of the skin. Juvaderm does not cause any allergy reaction by virtue of its very nature of being hyaluronic acid and not foreign material.

Injection of Juvaderm is normally done as a lunchtime procedure under local anesthetic, either from application of anesthetic creams or local injection of Xylocaine near a regional sensory nerve. The procedure of Juvaderm cosmetic filler injection is quite fast in skilled hands, taking usually less than 10 minutes with direct injection of Juvaderm into the dermal layer of skin in several smooth and unbroken lines till the fold gets filled up along the crease from the corner of the nose till it ends past the corner of the mouth.

After the injection of Juvaderm, the needle is withdrawn and the result is shaped to satisfaction by pressure with the fingers on the injected Juvaderm gel. The injected Juvaderm stays where it is after molding. A follow-up visit to the doctor is normally suggested in one week for re-assessment and topping up of Juvaderm if necessary to correct any left over defects. Juvaderm stays put up to one year, by which time the substance will have been completely absorbed and the nasolabial fold recurs. Normally the patient will have been so pleased with the result (don’t forget, it’s 10 years taken off your age!), that there is no hesitation in asking for a repeat Juvaderm injection!

Thermage is being heavily hyped as the “Lunch Hour Facelift” or the “Non-surgical Facelift.” However, just because Thermage has a marketing bonanza behind it, does that make the best for your skin? Thermage does offer great results, but other non-surgical treatments such as Titan(TM), Fraxel®, or IPL Photofacial have also been found to be effective. In the end, you might find that there’s no clear winner between Thermage, Titan, Fraxel, or Photofacial.

Why Thermage has Become so Popular

Thermage is really picking up press mainly because it’s so different. Thermage, Fraxel, and IPL are all light-based treatments, whereas Thermage uses radio frequencies. New technologies always get the media hype. Thermage’s debut has definitely made the skincare world abuzz with laser clinics, medical spas, and dermatologists all signing up. However, Thermage treatments and laser treatments basically do the same thing: increase collagen productions. Instead of light energy, however, Thermage uses radio frequencies to accomplish the same thing. Thermage is also FDA approved for skin tightening which adds to its allure. Titan, whose treatments are very similar, is not FDA approved for skin tightening, but instead approved for muscle relief.

Thermage vs. Titan

Titan is really the closest treatment to Thermage in terms of what it can actually provide. Titan uses infrared light to tighten skin around the face. In regards to technical power, Thermage has Titan beaten hands down. Thermage’s radio frequencies are more powerful, require fewer treatments, and simulate collagen production for a longer period of time. Titan, however, can provide a little more control. One complaint with Thermage is that it can sometimes cause dimpling. Titan laser treatments have a more even dispersal of energy.

Other Lunch Hour Facelifts?

Besides Thermage, other non-surgical facelifts include Fraxel and IPL Photofacial. Fraxel is a brand of fractional laser resurfacing. Other kinds laser skin resurfacing are also available, but Fraxel has become the most popular because it offers very little downtime. IPL Photofacial isn’t really considered a non-surgical facelift treatment. It can, however, help eliminate some facial wrinkling. Photofacial is definitely the least powerful of these treatments, but it’s also the least dangerous and the least expensive.

You should keep in mind that Thermage can eliminate some facial creasing, but not all. These treatments also work best on younger skin, those of you in your 30′s or 40′s. Cases with more prominent wrinkling will probably see little to no results with either Thermage or Titan. The best thing you can do is so what your local laser clinic or medspa can provide because no matter which one you choose, any of these energy treatments might be able to provide the lift that you’re looking for.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 people rush to cosmetic surgeons to undergo the common procedure of having their face lifted. In the United States, this is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for both females and males. The reason facelifts are so popular is because the technique wipes years away from the appearance of the face. The results amount to a thoroughly younger look in the skin. But, this is not always the way individuals wish to go especially those who are afraid of having surgery.

Facelifts require incisions that are made in the skin around the scalp, forehead and around the ears. Not only does this approach offer the threat of infection and throbbing pain, but it also takes time from the things you love to do or have to accomplish. Although the procedure lasts about 1-2 hours, the aftermath takes much longer to bear. Sometimes people recuperate for about a month or so, taking time off from work to recover from their facelift.

So, what are people to do when they wish to have a more youthful facial appearance but do not want to have surgery? A current cosmetic approach toward achieving facial improvements is here and it is called Thermage.

How Thermage Treatments Work: What to Expect

As the skin ages, the collagen that gives the face its structure and youthful elasticity starts to deteriorate. This is why unsightly wrinkles and fine lines start to form in the skin. Thermage works to reenergize the skin and promote the gradual increase in newly developed collagen. Through this procedure, wrinkles are temporarily decreased and the face begins to adhere to its former, youthful structure.

When undergoing a Thermage treatment, you will become rather acquainted with a tool called ThermaCool, which is used to tighten the skin, as well as give your face that extra lift.

The ThermaCool device uses what is called the ThermaTip, which produces the RF energy needed to penetrate the skin. It is a doctor that controls how much RF energy enters the skin by weighing your personal comfort with how to provide the best results. The treatment will be conducted in a comfortable office setting.

As the ThermaTip makes contact with the skin, a high level of heat penetrates the deeper layers of collagen. Although a hefty amount of heat is used to encourage collagen growth, there is also a cooling effect that covers the outer layers. This effect also offers protection. As time passes, the skin will continue to tighten and after awhile, a more healthy, smoother-looking appearance is achieved.

Good news for health and safety conscious consumers: the ThermaCool device is approved by the FDA for the effective non-evasive treatment for wrinkles and beyond.

The Difference Between Thermage and Surgical Facelifts

Thermage is a temporary, quick, easy and convenient technique that does not cut into the skin. There is also no downtime involved with this procedure This means no lost wages from taking time off from work. Although the results of Thermage bring about healthier, younger skin, they do not last as long as a surgical facelift. But, this is a small price to pay for not cutting into your skin. Typical facelifts can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, whereas Thermage has a shelf life of about two years. Thermage treatments still last longer than costly injectable fillers that use fat or collagen. These approaches only enhance the skin and face for only 4 to 6 months.

What About the Pain?

There is less pain with Thermage when compared to a facelift. Although you may feel a fleeting sensation of heat, the discomfort is brief. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to later apply a topical anesthetic to the treatment surface. As with the common facelift, the risk of infection or scarring is present and, depending on the skill of your surgeon, you may have paid a bundle for something that does not even meet your expectations. With Thermage, some of the potential side effects include bumps, redness, swelling and blisters; all of which will usually disappear in a couple of days.

Treatment Length

For those that are completely impatient when it comes to how long something takes, you will be delighted to know that the Thermage procedure can take as little as a couple of minutes to an hour. The time period it takes to complete a Thermage treatment is determined by how vast the facial space is. It is so simple that some people have used their lunch hour to have a Thermage treatment. For this reason, it is not uncommon to hear of this procedure being jokingly referred to as the lunch hour facelift.

Thermage Results

After having a Thermage treatment, you will immediately feel slightly tighter and smoother skin. Over time, the tightening process will continue and you will experience additional gradual changes over the course of 3 to 6 months. Depending on how fast your skin responds, increased results may occur sooner. The results are different in each and every patient. How long the treatment will last also varies per patient. You will find that the aging process is different for every person. For the maintenance of Thermage results, additional visits are needed. If not, the face will gradually slip back into the way it looked before treatment.

The Cost

For a single treatment, Thermage may cost as low as $2000 but may go up to as much as $5000. These prices may change over time, so it is best to call a qualified doctor to see what they are charging for a single procedure. Sometimes, financing is available for this face-lifting choice of treatment.

The Benefits of Using Thermage

Besides not having to deal with painful incisions to the face and taking time from everyday activities, Thermage allows patients to accomplish a tighter appearance in their skin. This is what gives the look of youthfulness to the face. For some, it is the eradication of wrinkles that proves most helpful. If your decision is to undergo a Thermage treatment, you will be pleasantly pleased with the results.

Your eyes are probably one of the most important parts of your body. Not only do you use it to see the world around you, but often, it is used by others to see through you. Thus, it is important that you know how to take care of them.

And take note that it is not only their health that you need to carefully consider. How your eyes look is also essential as it is often a sign of how well you are yourself. Here, one of the worse sights that people can see on you are eye wrinkles.

Contrary to popular belief, eye wrinkles are not restricted only to older people. In fact, they can come out on people as young as their early twenties. There are a lot of factors that lead to eye wrinkles, aside from the commonly associated signs of aging. Stress, for instance, can greatly hasten the formation of wrinkles around your eye. Continuous exposure to the harsh elements, like dust and pollution, can also contribute greatly. Even some beauty products that are supposed to enhance your appearance have also been proven to cause wrinkles.

Aside form using eye wrinkle creams, there are a few things that you can do to help in removing, or at least lessening, the unwanted wrinkles around your eyes. And here’s the best part, they are actually very inexpensive, which means that you don’t need to fret with the cost, which will stress you out and cause more wrinkles.

Fruits are by far the most popular wrinkle curers out there. Though you can use a wide variety of them there are a few that will certainly prove to be useful. The humble pineapple for instance, has an ingredient that effectively removes wrinkles. You can simply rub this on your wrinkles and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes every night before you sleep for the best effect.

Also, simply drinking eight glasses of water can help you in staving wrinkles off much longer. How so, you might ask. Drinking the right amount of water will help in moisturizing you skin, which will prevent the early formation of wrinkles. Also, this will aid in regulating your other body functions, which can also greatly contribute to your desired wrinkle free eyes.

Going for a healthy lifestyle will also help you a lot in staying young looking. Thus, it would certainly help a lot if you start staying from cigarettes and alcohol from now on. Regular exercise and proper diet will also greatly improve your skin’s flexibility and prevent eye wrinkles.

Collagen-Stimulating Fillers: How They Help Restore Volume Loss

Collagen stimulating fillers restructure and add volume to fat-deficient areas of the face. There are different types of collagen fillers; Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse are the most well-known options. Both are highly effective in combating age, but choosing between the two can be a complex decision, as the best choice depends on a patient’s needs and what they want to achieve from their liquid facelift.

Sculptra is composed of synthetic poly-L-lactic acid and FDA-approved for nasolabial fold treatment and facial wrinkles, making it suitable for older men and women who have thinner skin and substantial volume loss.

Sculptra’s website claims to anti-age you overnight, with instant results that are subtle but work gradually to turn back the hands of time over a period of two years. Patients are advised to follow an aftercare routine that includes facial massages while Sculptra works to restore collagen to the skin. Sculptra promises a more youthful appearance without making you look as if you’ve “had work done.”

Sculptra’s side effects, risks and complications include itching, bruising and bleeding at the injection site. Pain, redness, bruising, swelling, tenderness and bumps, both small and large, may form. You must talk to your (preferably board certified) cosmetic surgeon if you experience any side effects or have questions after treatment.

Formerly known as Radiance, Radiesse is biocompatible, non-toxic and non-allergenic, reduces the facade of wrinkles, reduces certain scars and reduces the deepness of skin folds around the mouth and nose. Radiesse contains a hyaluronic, calcium based formula immersed within a water-based gel. The calcium gel has an organic compound of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, glycerin and sterile water. Thin connective tissues construct around the microspheres within the liquid filler, allowing it to permanently plant at the location.

Most cosmetic surgeons would prefer to use Radiesse on patients who are younger or have minimal volume loss or sagging. Ideal patients for Radiesse are between the ages of 35-65. They can expect to see a vast improvement -up to 80% – within one week. While these results last an average of one to two years, Radiesse users should be aware they may require booster shots to maintain their investment.

Side effects, complications and risks of Radiesse include swelling, which usually ends within 36 hours or less. Discomfort, bruising and irritation at the injection site are also common. Patients are usually asked to stay out of the sun, but can otherwise resume normal activities almost immediately. The growth of nodules is a rare side complication that will require steroid treatment or surgery to address. Abnormal pain and symptoms should be immediately handled by your plastic surgeon in order to preserve your health in the event something goes wrong.

Scheduling a personal consultation with a trust cosmetic surgeon can allow you to truly determine which method is best for you. You’ll have to consider how many injections you’ll be able to withstand, how much you’re willing to spend and how long you wish your results to last.