Reflections on Beauty

We live in a cost-conscious time. All of us want to get the best value for the dollar, whether that’s in a purchase of laundry detergent or in plastic surgery. However, there’s a big difference between the two. A box of Tide is the same wherever you purchase it, but cosmetic surgery requires intrusion into your body and can have unexpected consequences in the wrong hands, particularly procedures such as liposuction.

Recently, the news has reported that a Manhattan-based Dominican Republic physician has been advertising cheap plastic surgery. Although the patients were examined in a Manhattan office, they flew to the Dominican Republic for the actual procedures. There were complaints that his patients developed severe infections and disfigurement. Because he is not licensed here in the US, he has been charged for unauthorized practice of a profession by the Attorney General’s office in New York state.

It’s extremely important that you closely examine the background of any surgeon you choose to perform cosmetic surgery on your body. While flying to another country may offer savings, the cost of airfare, hotel, meals and the need to bring a companion can outweigh any potential savings. Further is the potential for severe consequences such as infection, disfigurement and even death. Even in the US, where surgeons are held to a very high standard in their operating facilities this still leaves room for cut-rate physicians bent on doing thousands of surgeries at cheap prices to cover their overhead. Many don’t even carry malpractice insurance.

Dr. Chasin has extensive training in Aesthetic Medicine and has studied under some of the country’s most prominent physicians. He serves as a nationwide lecturer and teacher,  is often seen on national and regional television and is frequently quoted in magazines and journals.

Dr. Chasin is a Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery, a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a member of the International Society of Cosmetic Laser Surgeons, the American Academy of Cosmetic Family Medicine, the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Society of Liposuction Surgery, the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, and the International association of Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine.

You cannot put a price tag on training and experience. You wouldn’t let an unqualified person work on the electrical systems in your home; why do so with your body and your health?

New research shows that the 5-a-Day rule about fruits and veggies might not be adequate to cut the risk of dying from heart disease. In fact, 8 servings a day may be more appropriate.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that the diet and lifestyles of over 300,000 people over 8 European countries were studied. Those who ate at least 8 servings of fruits and vegetables a day had a 22% lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who ate 3 servings a day. They estimated that each additional serving of a fruit or vegetable per day was linked to a 4% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. One portion is about 80 grams, which would be roughly equivalent to a medium apple, a small carrot or small banana.

Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, accounting for about 25% of all deaths, this is wise advice.

One part “Bridezillas,” another part “Extreme Makeover,” E!’s new reality T.V. Series “Bridalplasty” pits brides-to-be against each other in a competition for nose jobs, implants, lipo and the ultimate prize: a celebrity-worthy dream wedding.

Many brides-to-be and their moms come into our New Jersey cosmetic surgery practice for rejuvenation treatments before the big day (laser lipo, non-invasive Zeltiq, Botox, fillers, Fraxel and Thermage) and it makes sense – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event and the day they’ll have more pictures taken of them than any other.  And while it’s important to look good on your special day, you don’t have to compete with others to get it.  Who needs that stress?  There are lots of affordable ways to make yourself look great on your special day, with your dignity intact.

Call us to see what we can do for your special day!

Before/After

Cosmetic Surgery Times reports that Fractional CO₂ laser treatment is an excellent option for periorbital rejuvenation (ie, around the eyes) that results in minimal downtime and has benefits for skin texture and laxity as well as brow elevation.

Dr. Dvora Ancona, director, Centro Medico Juva, Milan, presented the study of 200 patients, average age of 45, with wrinkles, tissue laxity, photo-aged skin and moderate extra eyelid skin. The patients were given an average of two laser treatments (range, one to four) spaced three to four weeks apart. They were followed for a period of up to two years.

RESULTS

The procedure was well-tolerated, and post-treatment after-effects, like redness and swelling, averaged 3-4 days, although downtime was generally limited to 24 hours.

Observers measured the results via digital photos. They were also given the measurements to show any changes in the distance from pupil to the midpoint of the brow.  The observers were also asked to evaluate skin changes such as wrinkling and tightening.

The results showed that after three months, the majority of patients had over 25% improvement in skin texture and looseness along with eyebrow elevation of at least 1 mm to 2 mm, and most of the benefits were still visible at the final follow-up nearly 2 years later.

“Changes around the eyes are often amongst the first perceived signs of facial aging, and so blepharoplasty has become a popular procedure for re-establishing a more youthful appearance,” Dr. Ancona says. “Although the fractional CO₂ laser treatment is not a replacement for blepharoplasty, it represents a useful noninvasive alternative associated with high patient satisfaction because of its outcomes and benefits of minimal after-effects and downtime.”

We’ve had great success in rejuvenating the eyes without the need for surgery, but it’s definitely a case-by-case determination. Some patients are great candidates for Fraxel or Thermage treatments around the eyes, while for others, a blepharoplasty is the only thing that will get them the results they seek.
If you are considering rejuvenating the area around your eyes, the best thing to do is schedule a free consultation with one of our doctors to determine the course of treatment that might work best for you.

Many of us have acne scars, ranging from one small “dent” in the face to a whole face full of nasty pits that are tough to cover with makeup and, for men, aren’t ever covered up unless they have a full beard. There are approximately 8 types of acne scars that we see here in our New Jersey practices. If you follow the link, you can likely identify the type of scar that you, or a loved one, have.

Acne scars are emotional reminders of past skin problems, not just physical reminders. For many, acne scarring has limited their prospects in business and social circles and caused self-esteem issues. In the past, there was little that could be done, other than very invasive treatments that came with risks of scarring from the treatments themselves. Thank goodness, our current technology is far and away a better bet toward reducing, if not entirely eliminating, acne scarring.

Two Treatments for Acne Scarring

One treatment for acne scarring is to fill the depressions, or pits, with dermal filler. Juvederm, Perland, Restylane and Radiesse are four dermal fillers we use here at the Reflections Center to treat depressed scars. Filling them with dermal filler plumps the skin in the scar, helping to smooth the skin’s surface. While it doesn’t remove the mark, it does lift the scar up, allowing makeup to camouflage the scar’s edges.

Another effective treatment include the skin resurfacing laser treatments such as Vbeam, Fraxel and Smoothbeam.

The Best Treatment for Acne Scarring

The best treatment is prevention of scars in the first place. There are both creams and oral acne medications that can help prevent acne scaring by treating acne early. They don’t always to the job, unfortunately, and when that’s the case, acne laser treatments can nip active acne in the bud. Caused by bacteria build-up in the skin, the lasers eliminate the bacteria to resolve the acne before it has a chance to develop into a permanent scar.

Nothing can completely eliminate all acne scarring, but laser treatments have become the very best tool for doing so. Don’t miss our before and after acne photos to see the great improvements made to those coming to us in New Jersey for acne treatments.

We all know that with the upcoming holidays comes the desire to look your best for parties, family gatherings and possibly a trip somewhere warm (it’s 37 in the tristate today!). Studies have shown that laser liposuction is the fastest and best way to remove fat if you’re interested in a rapid recovery and little chance of risk.

Many of us have pockets of fat that we carry around. It’s different for each person, based on genetics. Some of us develop fat around the middle, while others tend to develop fat in the rear and thighs. Laser Liposuction is a treatment option specifically designed for such areas and you can have your procedure and fully recover well in time for the upcoming holidays.

Laser liposuction, as practiced here at Reflections Center, involves removing fat cells that will never return. It’s a permanent way to improve the contour of your body with targeted laser energy. It’s safe and predictable!

How does Laser Liposuction work?

Local anesthesia is used in laser liposuction, not general anesthesia. Using local anesthesia makes the procedure quite comfortable and also restricts blood flow, which means less bruising. After fat is anesthetized, a special laser is used to melt the fat. Tiny cannulas then extract the liquid fat. That’s it! Candidates are men and women who have tried diet and exercise but can’t quite get the final areas of fat to go away.

What are the benefits of laser liposuction?

• Local anesthesia
• Minimal to no downtime
• Skin tightening! This cannot be achieved with traditional lipo.

What areas of my body can be treated with laser liposuction?

• The face and neck, including the jowls and jawline
• Men’s breasts
• The thighs and around the knees where fat tends to deposit
• The buttocks and hips
• The waist—especially good for love handles

At the Reflections Center, we have several liposuction methods and we’ll choose the exact method that’s right for you. Call today to schedule your consultation to see how laser liposuction can improve your figure and your self-confidence!

If you, or someone you know, suffer from migraines, you’ll be interested to know that the FDA just approved BOTOX injections for migraine treatment. Injected every 3 months in various spots of the face and neck, it’s approved for those who suffer with migraines at least 15 days a month for four hours of pain, minimum.

The studies are compelling. In one, chronic migraine victims reported 9 fewer days of headaches per month compared with those getting a placebo, who reported 6.7 fewer. Allergan also funded its own study, showing 7.8 fewer headaches per month compared with placebo of only 6.4 days’ fewer headaches.

Our practice, as always, is on the front of the news, and was already featured on Fox 5 NY television this week with an interview about this topic. See our Botox for Migraines video below.

Pick up the phone and put a stop to migraines. Share the word with friends, family and co-workers and schedule time with us to treat this problem. You’ll feel oh so much better.

Ever wonder why everyone talks about Michelle Obama’s arms?  StyleList.com reports that a new study has found men to be more attracted to a woman’s arms than legs.

The study, which was administered by Sydney’s University of South Wales, was published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology. The researchers asked Australian and Chinese men to view videos of 96 different women aged 20 to 49 years old. They then asked the men to rate the women according to their looks.

What the study found was that women with long, slender arms were consistently rated as the most attractive females. On the contrary, women with long legs had no significant effect on how attractive they were perceived.

While the overall appearance of a woman is the most influential factor in physical attraction, Brooks pointed out that hip to waist ratio, age and weight are also imperative.

Hit up the gym and work out those biceps! Next time you won’t be so up in arms about doing those push-ups.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Two of the latest body sculpting technologies, both of which are available at Reflections, were on the Today Show this morning.  Watch the clip and give us a call if you’d like more information on either of these breakthrough technologies or other body sculpting options.

While some patients are more upfront about the aesthetic enhancements they’ve had done, others prefer to be more discreet. According to a recent study from the U.K., a lot more patients prefer to downplay their cosmetic enhancements or even hide the fact that they have had work done.

Transform, Britain’s largest cosmetic surgery group, reported a drastic increase in patients seeking more subtle changes to their appearances. The reason? To conceal their procedures from their acquaintances.

According to Transform, more than half of women surveyed concealed non-invasive treatments—like Botox or Juvederm—from their significant other. Another 72% of women admitted to hiding said treatments from their family and friends.

Women apparently aren’t as bad as men. Transform reported hat 81% of male patients admitted to keeping their treatments a secret.

Not only that, three in five patients ask for subtle changes to their appearance that have a more gradual effect.

In the way of most commonly hidden surgical procedures, liposuction took the top spot. Thirty-four percent of women hid the fact that their weight loss was not a result of long gym sessions.

With plastic surgery becoming mainstream in the media, why are patients opting to be so discrete about their treatments? Perhaps the onslaught visibly “plastic” celebrities is giving patients a better understanding of what they don’t want to look like.

Here at the Reflections Center for Skin and Body, our motto is “People will notice, but no one will know”. We strive to enhance your beauty while giving you natural looking results.  At our offices in Livingston and Bridgewater, NJ, we have a plethora of non-invasive treatments available that offer little-to-no downtime.

Don’t worry—your beauty secrets are safe with us!