Around this time of year, we can start to feel the effects of spending less time outdoors and the decrease in daylight hours. Our skin begins to really feel dry from the weather and the indoor heat. Are you feeling the Winter Blahs? You are not alone!
In addition to running a Special Event in my office in an effort to help you chase away those Winter Blahs and get you ready for Valentine’s Day, here’s a bit of advice on how to minimize the blues this winter.
Schlessinger Eye & Face Winter Blues Event
Aside from the pick-me-ups you can get in my office what are some other ways to combat the blues we feel from the long Winter?
Keep up the exersize! Exersize is a great way to release those endorphins that make us feel good.
Try to get out in the sun for 15-20 minutes a day. Some sun exposure can be beneficial as it is a great source of Vitamin D!
Limit your alcohol intake. A glass of wine is fine but remember that too much alcohol disrupts your sleeping patterns and causes dehydration - not good for your skin!
Drink plenty of water. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - water moisturizes your skin from the inside-out. Try to drink 24 ounces a day.
Spend time with friends, especially those that make you laugh - a good laugh is the most fun way to do a crunch and work your abs.
After healthy living and good habits, what next? At Schlessinger Eye & Face, we will do our part to help you feel rejuvenated by offering some special Winter pick-me-ups including….
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) facial rejuvenation can correct or erase the signs aging. The IPL machine treats sun damage, brown spots, freckles, broken blood vessels, enlarged pores, rosacea and uneven skin tone on the face, hands and body. Following treatment, you will see smoother skin, smaller pore size and fading of sun spots. Rosacea, a common vascular problem, will show significant improvement.
Microdermabrasion20% off. If you book a SERIES OF %, discount increases to 25%
A technique for gently exfoliating the topmost layer of your skin delivering immediate results for tighter, glowing, more beautiful skin. Microdermabrasion treatments for the face, neck and eye area combat the visible signs of aging and sun damage, reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and diminish fine lines, as well as sun and age spots. Microdermabrasion is a wonderful alternative to laser or chemical peels because it is non-invasive procedure that requires no downtime. Ideal results are achieved over a series of treatments (customized depending on skin type and condition) approximately two weeks apart. Following treatment you’ll see an immediate vibrant ‘glow’ to your complexion which gives way to an overall rejuvenation of your skin’s total health.
January is almost over and Spring is just around the corner!!!
Got last minute notice today that a segment that I taped for The Today Show was about to air. This is a piece that features a friend (and patient) named Leslie Adler.
Take a look at this interesting piece that explores honesty in relationships and how much information we exchange with our partners versus keeping some information personal. Here, Leslie takes a day to go shopping and get a little Botox. She takes the position (as many of us do) that there is nothing wrong with avoiding the days’ events when it comes to her spouse.
Here’s the clip. What do you think? In my line of work I see many couples who do not share their visits to my office with one another, and incidentally, those are “secrets” that stay in the confines of the Doctor/Patient relationship. As I state in the segment, there have been instances when I see one spouse in the morning and the other in the afternoon and both ask me to keep their visits in confidence….a favor I will of course honor without even being asked.
Certain subjects like cosmetic injections, plastic surgery and a day of shopping are ones that people view differently. Sneaking new clothing items into the house may be more difficult than smuggling in your newly injected Juvederm.
As far as your visits to your favorite boutique, I will leave that to you, but you can rest assured….your visits to Schlessinger Eye & Face are a secret that is safe with me!
Oh, and for the record, I am an Ophthalmologist specializing in Oculoplastic & Aesthetic Eyelid Surgery, NOT a Dermatologist as stated in the segment.
If you are interested in learning more about the exciting cosmetic injectable procedures BOTOX Cosmetic® & Juvéderm™ or if you want to learn more about how to enhance your overall cosmetic appearance, then my November 11th Seminar is for you….
BOTOX Cosmetic®, Juvéderm™ performed in the office - LIVE.
You can schedule an appointment for same-day Botox/Juvederm (if available) at substantial savings of 25%!!
Please call 516-496-2122. Seminar hours are 10:00am - Noon and breakfast is on me!
Today there was a piece in the New York Post in the “Pulse” section all about Bunny Lines. I love when a new phrase is coined by the media in an effort to identify a supposed condition or malady.
What are Bunny Lines you ask? Great question. In lay terms, they are the fine lines that begin to form around the area between the top (bridge) of your nose and the inner corners of your eyes. They are, in truth - present in many women, regardless of their experience with cosmetic injectable use using products such as Botox or Restalyne.
The presence of Bunny Lines should not be alarming to you if you suspect you have them. They are common and so easy to treat, but as I always say - each patient is different so you should be seen by a qualified physician with experience in this particular area.
Here are a few examples of Bunny Lines as seen in some very familiar faces. They may or may not have been previously treated with fillers or Botox - of this we cannot be sure, and none of these women are my patients but I will make my educated guesses….in the cases of the two women below, I would think that they have had Botox in the past, the application of which can help to accentuate your Bunnies or to completely remove them (temporarily), depending upon the skill level of your Doctor.
Bunny lines - do you have them? Have you grown attached or would you like to see them as they hop off into the distance? Give my office a call and we can discuss options
As expected, the FDA has recently approved Reloxin®, which is priced 15% lower than Botox®. How will it affect the industry? With the current economic situation and everyone on tight budget, Reloxin® - chemically the same as Botox® - may be a good alternative for people who want to maintain the results achieved via Botox®, but at a cheaper price point.
You may have seen or read a lot more about Botox® recently. Rumor has it that Allergan has been ramping up their PR efforts online in order to prepare for their inevitable competition. So what’s the difference between the two?
Botox® VS Reloxin®
There are small differences between the two, but the essentially work the same way. Both relax the muscles, which in turn causes wrinkles to diminish. The effects of Botox® typically last anywhere between 3-6 months, and the makers of Reloxin® are claiming that results last a little longer with little or no side effects. Another plus of Reloxin® being FDA approved is that the lower price point may in turn drive down the cost of Botox®, which will certainly be beneficial for everyone.
It is still too early though. Botox has a 20 year proven track record, so it may not be prudent to change in order to save a few dollars. We will have to wait between six to 12 months to see how good it is. One thing for sure is that Reloxin® - the new kid on the block - is getting a lot of attention and the makers of Botox® will definitely be looking over their shoulder the next few months.
Mother’s Day is a time of commemoration and celebration for your mom. It is a time of breakfast in bed, family, pampering and…cosmetic treatments? This year, give mom (and maybe yourself) some treatments to make her look and feel refreshed.
A great treatment to start with is BOTOX® as it reduces and eliminates the appearance of facial wrinkles. While it is a very common procedure in my office, most people are still unsure of how it works. Typically injected under the skin in to areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth, BOTOX® smoothes crow’s feet, frown and worry lines, as well as lines on the neck area. Made from a purified protein, BOTOX® relaxes wrinkles and gives the face a rejuvenated look. Results can be seen within a few days and can last as long as 3-6 months.
Another great option are wrinkle fillers (“plumpers”) such as JUVÉDERM®, Radiesse®, Restylane® or SILIKON®. These soft tissue fillers are injected under the skin to “plump up,” contour and smooth wrinkles, lines and hollow areas in the face, and to augment the lips or cheeks for a younger, fuller appearance. These also work well for a more mature woman that has some volume loss in her face do to the natural aging process. A few strategic injections can make the world of difference and make any woman looks years, if not a decade younger.
If injectables aren’t your cup of tea, Microdermabrasion is a great treatment for achieving flawless skin. During this procedure, the top layer of skin is gently exfoliated leaving you with an immediate vibrant ‘glow’ to your complexion. This treatment is a perfect alternative to laser or chemical peels, as there is no downtime and results are almost instantaneous. Microdermabrasion is a great way to rejuvenate your skin and keep it looking and feeling healthy.
Finally, to complete the day of pampering, eyelash tinting is a great way to enhance your eyes. Lashes are dyed darker to give you fuller, more defined lashes in just 15 minutes. Eyelash tinting is especially beneficial to people that are sensitive to make-up and have little to no time (i.e. Mothers) to apply make-up daily. This means you can walk out the door each morning without mascara and no one will be the wiser.
If you still have questions, visit my website to read more on all of these procedures and more. Just one of these treatments will leave everyone questioning; “Is that your mom or your sister?”
Side effects caused by our bodies’ reaction to different chemicals used in cosmetic procedures are various and include temporary swelling, scarring and discomfort. If these procedures are performed by unlicensed personnel, we can also add death to that list. This was the case witnessed at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in Bronx, New York the morning of March 17, when a woman’s search for curvier thighs and hips turned tragic. What started as dizziness, vomiting and trouble with breathing ended in cardiac arrest after the silicone used in her procedure – which was smuggled into the country illegally – clotted in her lungs. The medical examiner announced the case as a homicide and concluded the mother of two died of a silicone pulmonary embolism. The examiner also said the injections were performed by a “nonmedical, unlicensed person.”
The price of cosmetic procedures and treatments may still denote a luxury to many patients, but it should never be paid for with their lives. With the economic downturn, it would seem that more patients are turning to their discount medi-spas, or in the case mentioned above, to backroom injectors who are not licensed to use these injectables. Any patient considering a cosmetic procedure, however simple and minor it may seem, should always be aware of the complexity involved with any substance entering the body and realize the ultimate danger an uncertified and illicit practice could pose.
The tragic news of the case in the Bronx may come as a shock to many but it’s only one of many sad occurrences. Injecting silicone into the body has long been popular among the transgender community where a few years ago a 23-year-old in Georgia died a month after receiving backroom injections. Known as “pumping”, the procedure involves a motel room or house and industry-grade silicone which is injected directly into the body (conversely, medical-grade silicone is implanted under the skin in sealed pouches).
The most unfortunate aspect of these stories is that patients are often aware of the risks involved, yet still willing to jeopardize their health, or in some cases lives. Medical advancements in the plastic surgery field have made possible what couldn’t even be imagined a few decades ago and, luckily for us, made safety a priority. Still, it is the patient’s responsibility to be informed before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, no matter how safe the treatment may be. Click here for a checklist of questions to ask your physician before making any decisions regarding your cosmetic options.
A common misconception people have about non-surgical cosmetic procedures is that they’re non-medical. This false and dangerous assumption, together with the steady rise in the popularity of such treatments, could be the contributing factor towards the alarming increase in the number of non-certified practitioners performing said procedures. This belief can lead to disaster as the large number of cases where treatments go awry clearly shows.
Retail or spa-like settings, often referred to as a medi-spa, are perfect for routine beauty treatments but procedures such as Botox®, laser treatments and dermal fillers to name a few, should be left to the experts or performed under the close supervision of a board certified physician in a clinical setting where conditions are sanitary. In many so-called medi-spas, there isn’t even a physician on-site overseeing day-to-day operations. Instead, an aesthetician or physician’s assistant may be performing your IPL treatment or injecting your Botox. Both are legal practices but ideally, both should be performed by the MD, especially if the facility is presenting as a medi-spa.
Ensuring the proper qualifications of the practitioner is just the first step, as being a lice licensed physician doesn’t automatically mean they are qualified if they lack the right technology and experience to perform a particular procedure. Below I’ve included the top ten questions that patients should ask their physician prior to undergoing any cosmetic treatment:
Are you a licensed physician?
What is the best procedure/product for the end result I’m trying to achieve?
How does the treatment work?
Are there any side effects or risks associated with this treatment?
Where does the product come from (i.e. what is it made of, are there any substances within that I may be allergic to)?
How much of the filler will you be injecting, and in what areas? (NOTE: This is important information should you move or decide to switch physicians, as it allows your new doctor to provide the adequate dosage for maintenance purposes.)
How often will I need to return to maintain my results?
Should I expect any pain or discomfort?
Can I expect any downtime from this procedure (NOTE: Some procedures can result in very minimal bruising, so in some cases it is important to allow adequate healing time before any major event)?
May I see before and after pictures, and/or speak to patients you’ve treated?
While treatments such as Botox® and dermal fillers work to enhance the appearance when performed by a skilled physician, they are not to be regarded as an ultimate cure for a particular condition. Patients must also be aware of false promises such as 100% safe procedures which in turn usually indicate red flags. For optimal (and safe!) results, always consult a physician first and never be afraid to ask questions.
Our society’s intense appraise of beauty goes past mere awe and appreciation. It’s become increasingly obvious that our culture rewards those who are beautiful. Having come to accept this as a fact of life, women have long learned the way they look affects their performance in the job market. The male population seems to be quickly picking up on the strong signals. Now more than ever, male executives find themselves competing against a much younger demographic and therefore, recognize that looking more refreshed and vigorous can be a significant advantage in retaining or obtaining a position.
Image maintenance is no longer exclusive to a woman’s domain. In recent years, the men’s grooming industry has been progressively expanding as men want to look and feel better regardless of their age. One may say a transition into cosmetic procedures is simply the next step. The number of men opting for treatments such as Botox®, even facelifts, is constantly on the rise with men including these treatments on their to-do list. Cosmetic treatments have become maintenance, the same as a trip to the gym or hairdresser.
Is this increasing trend a result of a change in attitudes and mentality, what is now perceived as socially acceptable, or an inevitable outcome of what advances in cosmetic surgery have made possible?
Many people forget that while 50 years ago men did in fact choose to let nature take its course undisturbed, they also had no other choice in the matter. Thus logic invites us to an evident assumption: why should men sit back and accept the signs of aging as an irrefutable phenomenon when often a simple and minimally invasive procedure can effectively “turn back time?”
Reports by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show over a million Americans do not [sit back]; the percentage of the male population sitting in the waiting room of a cosmetic physician’s office is growing rapidly as men from diverse ethnic backgrounds now comprise an increasing percentage of this market.
So, whether it’s done as a good “business move” to survive a moribund economy, a way to get back in the dating scene, or simply because they want to enhance their appearance, men are joining women in a common goal towards looking healthy, youthful and more attractive.
Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeon Dr. David A. Schlessinger, serving Hauppauge, Woodbury, Huntington, Syosset, Plainview, Smithtown, Melville, Farmingdale, Westbury, Roslyn, and all surrounding areas.
