Reflections on Beauty

Reflections Spa for smart lipo

When people think about liposuction, their first thought is probably removing fat from the stomach area. Of course, this isn't the only part of the body where excess fat shows up, which is why more individuals are turning to laser lipo procedures, such as smart lipo, to get rid of unwanted fat wherever it pops up.

Recently, WWL TV, a Louisana news source, reported on safe and effective solutions for loose, wrinkled skin under the arms caused by fat and aging. While diet and exercise may be able to make a dent in this problem, for many women it's not enough to get their arms looking the way they used to. According to the news source, this is where smart lipo and other laser procedures come in.

It's not just a problem for older people

The information provider spoke to Megan Zander, a 25-year-old doctor's assistant and Iraq veteran who, despite her young age and history of exercise, can't seem to get rid of pesky arm fat.

"It's the frustration behind being a very active person, being heavily into the gym, knowing how to workout right, eating properly and still not being able to get this area to go anywhere," said Zander of her arms, quoted by the news source.

Dermatologist Patricia Farris told the information provider that she sees many young women with the same problem as Zander, even if they exercise and eat right.

Laser lipo can help

The news source spoke to dermatologists who recommended laser lipo procedures, such as smart lipo, as a simple solution to the problem of under arm fat. A recently released report by Global Industry Analysis on the the cosmetic procedure market in the U.S. and Europe projects that the market will grow tremendously by 2017, due in part to the overwhelming popularity of laser procedures, such as laser lipo.

Plastic surgeon Cynthia Mizgala told WWL that laser lipo leaves almost no scar, and the patient can return to work the next day. Also, the procedure can be done with the patient is awake, eliminating the need for anesthesia, which can have unpleasant side effects.

After undergoing smart lipo, individuals may want to get laser skin tightening to perfect their look. According to DocShop.com, this minimally invasive procedure can help people achieve younger-looking, smoother skin without surgery.
 

How often do you hear the saying, "You are what you eat?" Do you think about this phrase when you're out at a restaurant, trying to decide between a side of fries and a green salad? Does it come to mind at your friend's cocktail party, where the desserts are beckoning to your waistline? If so, you may not only be looking out for your figure, but also protecting the vibrancy of your skin.

Nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains not only nourish your body, but they can help keep your face looking dewy, fresh and youthful as well. Skin care expert Nicholas Perricone, who penned a book called Forever Young on the art of aging gracefully, explained that radiant skin begins with a healthy diet.

"If you eat the wrinkle-free way for even a short period of time, you will experience dramatic changes, not only in how you look, but how you feel," he told Access Hollywood.

Fresh-faced actresses like Kate Hudson and Eva Mendes are big fans of salmon, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Grilling this wholesome fish for lunch after a healthy breakfast of eggs and fruit can be a great way to help ensure that skin stays firm. After all, it's the biggest organ in the body, and pampering it can go a long way toward keeping signs of aging – like wrinkles, sagging and fine lines – at bay.

Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow, whose glowing skin graces the red carpet on a regular basis, is a big advocate for incorporating as many vitamins and minerals as possible into her diet. According to MSN Entertainment, the star of the new movie Contagion believes that a nutritious diet helps restore the body's natural processes, including the maintenance of skin.

Paltrow, who offers lifestyle and diet tips on her personal blog GOOP, advises others to drink plenty of water for fresh, soft skin, since many Americans are chronically dehydrated.

It's never too late to start eating healthy. Women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond can take steps to improving their skin now. Focusing on good nutrition, using the right products for your skin type and looking into minimally invasive procedures like laser skin rejuvenation can help you look your freshest well into later life.

Sagging skin can be a drag, whether it's a result of having lost a lot of weight or simply growing older. A loosening of areas such as the neck, belly and thighs is usually attributed to a combination of aging and genetics. Those who are entering their 50s and 60s, for example, have less elasticity in their skin compared to younger people, and so they have a higher risk for the condition.

For those who exercise on a regular basis, gradually shedding the pounds is a good way to prevent drastic skin changes. Meanwhile, consuming a nutrient-rich diet that has plenty of vitamin E can promote elasticity and prevent damage. Those who consume plenty of vegetable oils, nuts, olives and seeds, as well as greens like spinach or asparagus, can decrease their chances of having saggy skin.

People who already have the condition in noticeable areas such as the neck may want to look into a cosmetic procedure like Thermage, which can help tighten up skin for a younger, fresher appearance.

"I have a lot of people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who don't need a facelift but have a little excess fat and maybe even some excess skin in the neck area," said plastic surgeon W. Jason Martin, quoted by American Health and Beauty. "We can clean up the whole jaw line, tighten up the neck area and have a fairly transformative effect on the patient."

Such cosmetic therapies are becoming increasingly common. Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicate that more than 11.5 million minimally invasive techniques were performed last year in the U.S.

The Thermage treatment is particularly recommended for loose skin because it only requires one treatment. During the one-hour procedure, radio-frequency waves target the collagen beneath the surface of the skin. This encourages greater production of the protein, which results in tighter, smoother skin and a more youthful appearance.

Many patients have expressed satisfaction with the technique, which can be done on a number of places, including the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hands and underarms. The process is particularly convenient in that most people go right back to their daily routine afterward and do not require any type of special care to ensure effective results.

Most people accept the fact that growing old is a part of life. What they don't like is looking old. After all, just because someone is chronologically in their 50s or 60s doesn't necessarily mean that they feel that old, which is one reason why so many Americans are choosing to stay in the workforce longer and delay retirement.

But even those who are energetic and young at heart can feel discouraged when the fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots and sagging skin begin to show up. These are perfectly natural signs of aging that develop after a lifetime of exposing one's face to harsh weather, sunlight and toxins in the environment, such as cigarette smoke.

"Free radicals, like the kind formed from sun exposure, [affect] the membrane of skin cells, potentially allowing damage to the DNA of that cell," New York-based dermatologist Ariel Ostad told Health News Digest. "When you help protect the cells from damage and disintegration, you also guard against premature aging."

This may be the reason why many experts recommend a healthy diet as the first line of defense against aging skin. Eating foods that are packed with antioxidants, nutrients that help fight the damage caused by free radicals, could be a good way to look and feel good. Fruits such as strawberries, blackberries and blueberries pack a powerful punch with regard to these protective compounds.

Fighting nature with nature is nothing new. A recent paper published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed that researchers have been looking into the use of poplar trees as a source for these beautifying antioxidants. The scientists created an extract from the leaf buds, called propolis, which appeared to have anti-aging effects on skin cells grown in the laboratory.

"The collective antioxidant properties of this extract suggest potential anti-aging properties which could be utilized in cosmetic and nutraceutical formulations," the research team explained.

In addition to eating a nutritious diet, doctors frequently recommend that people drink plenty of water to keep skin looking young.

These preventive measures can go a long way in terms of reducing the signs of aging, but what if one wants more immediate results?

Looking into laser skin rejuvenation at a facility such as Reflections Medical Spa may be the way to go. A wide variety of safe, effective, minimally-invasive procedures are available to treat everything from wrinkles and sun spots to creases and hollowing. Opting for such a treatment to supplement a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle may help people look as young as they feel for many years to come. 

If you're planning to spend a lot of time in the sun this summer, consider having sunscreen in your pocket or bag at all times. Shielding your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can prevent sagging, wrinkles and damage, not to mention save your life by reducing your risk for deadly diseases such as melanoma.

There are many different brands of sunscreen on the market and choosing one that's right for you can help you enjoy your time outdoors even more. All products have a sun protection factor (SPF) that is a measure of how well it can block out harmful rays, according to the Melanoma Foundation.

However, you should be aware that sun protection does not necessarily increase with a higher SPF number. For example, if you had to choose between an expensive SPF 34 sunscreen and a cheaper SPF 15 product, you would probably be better off going with the latter.

An SPF 15 sunscreen – which is recommended by dermatologists for year-round protection for most people – absorbs about 93 percent of UV rays, only four percent less than one with SPF 34.

"All sunscreens need to be reapplied, so follow the guidelines written on the bottle," the Melanoma Foundation advised. "Remember, expensive sunscreens are not necessarily of better quality."

Using these products, wearing long-sleeved clothing and limiting your time in the sun can substantially decrease your risk of developing melanoma. This type of skin cancer, in which pigment cells in the skin grow uncontrollably, affects an estimated 1 in 34 people in the U.S. According to dermatologists, more than 73 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.

A recent study published in the journal Neurology has found that people who have Parkinson's disease might have a higher risk of developing this type of skin cancer.

Researchers from the National Institute of Enironmental Health Sciences reported that men with the neurodegenerative illness are twice as likely to have melanoma than men who don't. A similar observation was made among women, though to a lesser extent.

"One possible explanation for the link between Parkinson's and melanoma is that the two diseases may share some genetic or environmental risk factors," said lead investigator Honglei Chen.

In the meantime, while more research is being conducted on this subject, Americans should do what they can to protect themselves from skin cancer. Talking to a skincare professional can help them learn more about sunscreen and how to choose the best product to fit their needs.

Most people are happy when the days get longer and the weather gets nicer, but summertime might make others nervous. After all, you can't hide the problem areas of your body when it gets too hot to wear anything but tank tops and shorts. If you have sagging skin or cellulite, you could consider surgery, but going under the knife is usually painful – not to mention time-consuming, since you could spend weeks recovering.

Fortunately, the skincare gods are sympathetic. Advanced 21st-century technology has made it possible for people to address their concerns through safe, minimally-invasive techniques such as the Thermage body treatment. This procedure is offered at leading facilities such as Reflections Medical Spa in New Jersey, where laser specialists help patients look great without having to undergo surgery.

Thermage could be an excellent option for people who want to lift, tighten and shape their bodies. The technique sends radio-frequency energy into the skin, where it reaches the collagen that is stored beneath the surface.

This protein is the main component of your cartilage, liagments, tendons and bone, and it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity. When we grow old, collagen degrades, leading to skin sagging and wrinkle formation.

Thermage works to encourage the body's natural renewal of this protein and since the energy is delivered in a precise, grid-like fashion, this ensures even, controlled stimulation. Most patients see satisfying results within six months – not bad for a one-time procedure that lasts only about an hour and requires no recovery time whatsoever.

"Men and women battling the appearance of fat deposits or sagging skin no longer have to endure a long and uncomfortable recovery," said skincare expert Bruce Katz. "With this latest advancement in radio-frequency technology, patients [can see] outstanding results without a large time or financial commitment."

The procedure can be performed on virtually any part of the body a patient wants to work on. This includes common problem areas like the thighs, buttocks and abdomen, or even the underarms and hands.

Thermage can also be administered to complement another rejuvenating technique such as laser liposuction. This powerful combination works to tighten the skin while shaping and contouring the body.

With such effective treatments at your disposal, there's no reason not to be excited for summer. Showing off fresh, young-looking skin and sculpted body can be as easy as speaking to a laser skincare specialist about the options available. 

Life sure can be tough on skin. Not getting enough sleep gives you dark circles. A poor diet can lead to breakouts. And then there's the sun, a source of light, warmth and … sagging skin.

Isn't aging bad enough without having to deal with these issues? The good news is, there's plenty of hope for those who wish they could get some youth back into their skin. According to an ABC 7 interview with plastic surgeon Craig Vander Kolk, all it takes is making a few lifestyle changes.

Perhaps Popeye made spinach his nutritional go-to for good reasons. The deep green vegetable is chock full of lutein, which can boost skin elasticity by 38 percent, the news source reports.

While regularly washing your face helps keep it clear, not overdoing it is important because this can strip the skin of its natural oils.

As for sun damage, there's no need to live the life of a vampire if you make sure to slather on a protective sunscreen.

In the end, it might be a good idea to talk to a qualified professional who can discuss safe, minimally invasive ways to revitalize damaged skin, such as Fraxel laser treatment.

Your skin will thank you for it.