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Schlessinger Eye & Face March Madness!!

Botox starting at $199 (normally $450)…Juvederm & Restylane starting at $499 (normally $650)…Microdermabrasion just $99 (normally $150)

*Entire month of march - free touch ups DO NOT APPLY*

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….

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Photo Facial treatment) book 2, get second treatment at half price! A $900 value for only $675 through 2/28/2010 only

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.

Botox, Restylane, Juvederm $100 off of any of these injectables through 2/28/2010 only

Microdermabrasion 20% 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!!!

Schlessinger Eye & Face Winter 2010

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

Best,

Dr. Dave

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?”

Photo source: www.theflowerexpert.com

While most of us would agree the seemingly never-ending recession does not hold too many advantages, it does seem to encourage creative thinking when it comes to ways to save. The cosmetic surgery/treatments domain may not appear to leave much room for negotiation but even that seems to be changing. A rise in the number of early or preventative treatments is now justified as a means to avoid more invasive and thus expensive procedures in the future. Creative to say the least! Still, a closer look at patient demographics reveals more than just signs of recession-provoked effects. Women in their early twenties are undergoing treatments such as Botox® and Restylane® in an effort to delay the signs of aging.

While products such as Botox® and dermal fillers will not ultimately prevent what nature intended, their effect is much more promising on dynamic wrinkles (those caused by facial movements such as laughing and frowning) which also happen to be the most troublesome and difficult to treat. Although this claim has yet to be supported by scientific proof, we can find early evidence in the cases of people with a stroke or facial nerve palsy who do not get dynamic wrinkles on the paralyzed side of the face. Fillers like Botox® act to temporarily paralyze facial muscles; therefore, preventing movement that would contribute to these wrinkles.

Most people prefer to steer clear of surgery unless definitely needed. After all, the associated cost is higher and complications several. Non-invasive treatments such as Botox®, on the other hand, are quick, simple and more economical. And for many women, early intervention as a way of preventing wrinkles is proving increasingly popular.

While people are bound to have different takes on what is acceptable and fitting, most share a common goal: a procedure that minimizes wrinkles without a significant financial investment and with minimal recovery time.

Photo Source: www.prettylikeme.com

Who doesn’t love a good deal? The pressures of the recent economic bust have caused even the most frugal to pinch their wallets a little harder and look for ways to save on just about everything. Online shopping has made it easier to compare costs and save some extra cash with sites like eBay listing everything from DVDs to designer shoes at bargain prices. Recently however, sellers on eBay have been auctioning illegal Botox® kits and services to unsuspecting consumers. Online buyers beware.

Since receiving FDA clearance for cosmetic purposes in 2002, Botox® has become ingrained in our pop culture lexicon. As the public became more knowledgeable about the toxin, some “do it yourself” individuals feel they are skilled enough to take on the task of injecting their friends and family, or even themselves, without any prior training. This should never happen, and there are numerous reasons why.

For starters, Botox® is a prescription-only toxin that must be stored/refrigerated properly in order to maintain its effectiveness. Online buyers who purchase it from an unaccredited source have no way of knowing how or where the Botox® was located prior to showing up at their doorstep. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the product contained within the vial is actually Botox®. It’s like playing Russian Roulette with your wrinkles. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?

Furthermore, injecting Botox® is a learned skill that takes time to perfect. How many times have you seen someone with uneven brows that are arched too high, or a forehead that never moves? The end result can be drastically affected if the injector uses too much Botox®, doesn’t inject the correct area; the list goes on.

Is saving a few dollars really worth it? After all, one seemingly small mistake can cost you a lot more in the long-run. In addition to the risks just mentioned, patients stand the risk of disfigurement, infection and scarring. These effects are usually temporary, but could last up to six months. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders may be at an even higher risks for more serious side effects such as difficulties swallowing. These issues don’t typically occur within the parameters of a medical practice where you’re being injected by a skilled physician.

If you’re considering Botox® or another injectable/wrinkle filler like Restylane or Juvederm, it is in your best interest to do your research and seek out a qualified physician. Save eBay for those times that you’re searching for antiques and electronics. As of now, the site is pulling all ads offering illegal Botox®, which is an action I support whole-heartedly.

Full and plump lips are not only a symbol of sensuality but also universally synonymous with youth. While for many the quest for ideal lips continues, today there are many options available to help achieve pout perfection. For those who would prefer to forgo the higher costs and implications of surgical alternatives, the good news keeps coming. Lip augmentation techniques have vastly improved with the use of injectables that temporarily enhance thinner lips, boost the shallow contours, as well as reduce and soften wrinkles caused by aging and smoking.

Lip augmentation via injections is a technique which entails injecting a natural or synthetic biocompatible material in the patient’s lips. Although temporary and requiring periodical repeats (longevity is contingent upon the material used), one injection is often sufficient to produce the desired results. For most patients, there is little discomfort and you may apply make-up immediately following the procedure.

Options include:

Juvéderm®, one of the top lip injectables on the market today [and my favorite option], is a smooth gel made of hyaluronic acid. When injected, the gel instantly restores volume and smoothes away facial wrinkles and folds – like “smile lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds). The injection process takes approximately 15 minutes, with minimal downtime, so you can return to your normal activities right away. Results last six to nine months, or more.

Restylane® is a clear injectable gel made from hyaluronic acid – similar to Restylane® – and is very close to that naturally found in the body. A tiny amount of the gel is injected into the skin by means of a very fine needle. The result is almost instantaneous, producing a long-lasting, natural enhancement. The results are sustained for up to six months or even longer – almost twice that of collagen.

Silikon® 1000 is a medical-grade, pure form of silicon that has been used as a filler by cosmetic doctors for 30 years. Utilizing a micro droplet technique, the body forms collagen around Silikon 1000®, resulting in plumper lips. The amount of collagen formed depends upon the body’s sensitivity to Silikon® 1000, which can also affect the durability of the product. For this reason, I prefer the first two injectables listed above as I can more closely control the final results. If this is the option you choose, make sure you’re physician is experienced at using silicon due to its permanent nature.

If you’re still pondering about what you’d look like with a set of fuller, more sensuous lips or have already made up your mind that lip augmentation is for you; know that the choices are many. The procedure or product of choice depends on a number of factors. To find which is right for you, consult your cosmetic surgeon.