Thermage for the full-face is approved by FDA

Good News from the FDA....on June 22, 2004, the FDA approved full facial Thermacool lift. I have treated approximately 40 patients with Thermage and agree that the mid and lower face respond very well with improved tone and color.

My entire staff in Duxbury was treated with the Thermacool lift in March and we are still seeing positive changes in our skin. The procedure has all but replaced my mini-facelift because the Thermacool lift has no down time and leaves no scars!

The next frontier for Thermage....skin tightening of the breasts, inner thighs and abdomen. Trials are in progress now to test the efficacy of radiofrequency skin tightening on these previously resistant area. I would hope to offer my younger patients with loose lower abdominal skin from pregnancy a chance at scarless rejuvenation.

'Tis the Season

Now that summer is in full swing, I have noticed an increase in patient requests for treatment of spider veins of the legs and brown spots of the face. Unfortunately, sclerotherapy, the gold standard for treatment of small leg veins or telangectasias can leave unsightly bruises and brown spots for several weeks. I prefer to treat leg spider veins in the off season for two reasons. One, compression hose or ace bandages are more easily concealed under warm weather garb and two, unsighlty brown spots and bruises are more easily covered with long pants.

On the topic of brown spots....they are from the sun in most cases. Photorejuvenation or IPL(intense pulsed light) works well to eliminate the spots but the machine is confused by suntanned skin. It might be best to treat brown spots with bleaching creams for the summer months.

My number one pick for early summer.....breast augmentation....quick results minimal recovery and swimsuit ready in just a week or so.

Thermage - The Facelift of the Future?

At my Duxbury skin spa, we've recently added Thermacool lift by Thermage. Touted as the non-surgical face lift, the procedure has shown impressive results for certain candidates. The process uses radiofrequency dermal heating that causes contraction and tightening of the skin. It is FDA approved for the forehead and periorbital region. Together with Botox Cosmetic, lines and lax skin of the face can be diminshed significantly. The procedure takes approximately 1 hour, a full treatment can take several months, and results should last up to 3 years. Stay tuned for more progress reports.

Stacking Cosmoplast and Restylane for Fuller Lips

A fairly new technique that is showing good results for plumper, full lips is to use a combination of fillers, Cosmoplast and Restylane. To administer this, I use an oral local nerve block akin to a dental numbing block a few minutes prior to injecting a patient's lips. Restylane is used first in the deeper layers of the skin to provide the plump, and then Cosmoplast injections helps to smooth out and fill in fine lines creating a younger looking smile. See Restylane and Cosmoplast on my web site.