50 at 30 - to keep me 30 at 50!!!

Alas, it's time again! Every 3 months it's time to re-do your Botox or Dysport injections to keep those wrinkles at bay. In fact, just last week Dr. Clinton injected me to keep my 30-something face looking the best it can. 50 units at 30 years old - so that I'll be looking like I'm 30 when I’m 50!

Botox and Dysport are both injectable solutions used to smooth wrinkles which are caused by muscular contraction. And, yes, they both work and they are both great! Both products work by temporarily relaxing the muscles of facial expression which are responsible for drawing the skin together and creating lines or wrinkles.

We use Botox and Dysport to treat frown lines between brows, fine lines on the forehead, eyes and lips, as well as “bunny lines” on the sides of the nose, the fine lines around the mouth and chin dimpling. Among other things, these products can also be used to smooth “necklace lines” and prevent the lines that result from the down-turning of the mouth. The treated muscles will progressively relax over the course of the several days following the injection and will reach their maximum degree of relaxation within about 5-10 days. The effects of Botox or Dysport gradually start to wear off between 2-3 months after the injection and most patients find that to maintain their treatment they need to be re-injected about every 3 months. As always, these figures can vary greatly depending on the patient.

At Timeless Skin Solutions, the cost of Botox and Dysport is priced by the unit rather than by the area as some other practices do. Each patient has their own individual needs for optimal treatment and we feel that each patient’s needs are best met with the exact amount that is appropriate for each patient's unique situation, i.e. muscle strength, patient desires and severity of lines or wrinkles.

So, what are the differences between Botox and Dysport? Well, to be honest, not too much! Botox has been used effectively for cosmetic purposes in the United States for many years, whereas Dysport’s approval for cosmetic use has been more recent (although it has been used safely for many years throughout Europe and many other countries worldwide). However, while they are similar in function, they are not the same drug. They have different dosages and may effect patients differently. While both compounds have good patient satisfaction, some patients have noticed clinical differences such as duration of onset and duration of effect.

Thank goodness for Botox and Dysport! Here’s to smooth, healthy and beautiful skin!

Don't go to bed naked!

That's right!

Let me clarify. Feel free to wear, or not wear, whatever you would like on your body, but when it comes to your skin listen to the doctor's orders.

What does Dr. Clinton suggest?

Dr. Clinton recommends her patients apply a product that contains Vitamin A to their skin on a regular basis. Vitamin A is a key ingredient in skin rejuvenation and anti-aging products. Dr. Clinton is very excited about SkinMedica's new Tri-Retinol Complex ES.

What's so great about this particular product?

Tri-Retinol Complex is clinically proven to repair and regenerate the skin. With three forms of vitamin A in a retinoid formulation of 1.10% this product will:

• Diminish the appearance of fine lines and coarse wrinkles by stimulating collagen production.
• Stimulate cell regeneration and cellular turnover to enhance skin tone and texture and reduce age spots.
• Encourage improved skin elasticity and firmness and minimize collagen loss.

Sounds pretty amazing, right? Well to be honest it is!

I forgot to mention that Tri-Retinol Complex gradually releases into the skin delivering all the benefits of a traditional Retin A product without the skin irritation Retin A's are known for. This is truly a new favorite of the staff at Timeless Skin Solutions.

Want to know more? Ask Dr. Carol

or stop into the office.

Special Life Moments

Tomorrow I will be attending my 20th year reunion for my Medical School graduating class at The Ohio State University. I look forward to seeing my friends! What did I do to freshen up - a bit of filler in my lower face in early June, a Pearl treatment in July followed by a silkpeel, and Botox this week. I'm ready!

Allyson’s Pick …

As a new Mom, efficiency is KEY! The most I can get done in the least amount of time is my constant goal. That's why Skin Medica's TNS Essential Serum and TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer with SPF are two of my faves! They both pack a powerful punch by combining multiple ingredients into one product. Beautiful! TNS Essential Serum is an AWESOME anti-aging product and TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer is the perfect daytime sunscreen. Both are staples in my skincare regimen!


Kristy’s Pick …

I’m a gadget person so my favorite products have to be my Clarisonic Opal and Clarisonic Brush. Honestly I was doubtful that either could make a difference in my skin but they have!

Don’t believe me? Stop in the office and check out my 47 year old skin! It looks pretty darn good.

I use the Clarisonic Opal morning and night around the eye area – and when I am out of the eye serum contained in the Opal I simply use my Obagi Elastiderm Eye Gel - another favorite. After I am done with the eye area I move on to my upper lip area. Although the Opal is designed for around the eye I figure it can’t hurt to infuse a little product into the upper lip area where women my age start to form lines!

The Clarisonic Brush is perfect to remove that extra layer of sunscreen I have been applying to my face all summer along with any dead skin cells that need a bit of help sloughing off. Better yet the products I am using can penetrate my skin better making them 30% more effective.

The best is that you can buy them both this week and save $113!


Amanda’s Pick …

I have been dealing with small breakouts off and on for about 6 months now and it took quite a while to find something that worked well for my skin. After trying to self medicate and do things my way, I took Dr. Clinton’s advice and found haven in the SkinMedica Acne Toner and the Derma-RX Blemish Spot treatment. I have to be honest, someone with more severe and persistent acne problems would probably need a more revved up skin care regimen, but this turned out to be the perfect combination for me. The Purifying Toner contains 2% Salicylic Acid and is gentle and non-drying. I use it twice a day right after washing and it leaves my skin with a nice tingly clean feeling. The Blemish Spot treatment is a really neat little concoction made of Sulfur, Salicylic Acid and Zinc Oxide. I use it at night before bed and just sleep in it, and if I wake up with a new pimple I put it on while I’m getting ready and take it off before putting on my makeup. It really dries up my pimples fast and I love it!

Kate's Pick ...

I have always had acne prone skin, so thick luxurious moisturizers or sunscreens are on my list of things to avoid. It wasn't until I came across SkinMedica’s AHA/BHA Cream that I was able to introduce a moisturizer into my life! This cream boasts the power to exfoliate, revitalize and protect skin with a combination of 15% alpha-and beta-hydroxy acids as well as antioxidants. I started using it at nighttime to help with some of the texture and dryness that I was getting from other acne fighting products and now I’m hooked! It is basically a blend of both glycolic and salicylic acid delivered in the form of a moisturizer. I use it 1-2 times daily and notice that it not only provides my skin with the hydration it needs but has made my makeup go on smoother as well.

Freshen Up Your Face!

Putting on foundation can be a blessing and a curse. It can temporarily cover up uneven skin tones, be a great base for eye make up, or if you're like my two male roommates, it's a great thing to take from my make up case to cover up a zit before a date (of course they never remember to return it!). For me, unfortunately, it can also cake onto the fine blond "peach fuzz" that I have on my face. Considering that lasers used for hair removal are unable to remove these fine hairs I was okay with just ignoring this minor annoyance (to be removed by a laser, hair you want removed must have pigment, so blond, red, gray and white hairs are not good candidates for laser hair removal). In my spare time I enjoy reading about our procedures I love learning about new things that I can do in terms of beauty and keeping my skin looking great. Dermaplaning was one of the very first services that I wanted to try.

Dermaplaning is a quick 15 minute appointment where a specialized tool is used to both lightly exfoliate the skin as well as remove fine hairs to leave a fresh, smooth surface behind. Not only did I love the results immediately after, but later on in the evening when it was time to do my normal nightly skincare regimen, my products had less to pass through to absorb into my face. Dermaplaning is now a normal part of my skin care regimen and I try to make sure I get a dermaplane at least once a month.

In addition to this procedure I wanted to treat my skin at a deeper level. Since I had a very busy weekend ahead of me it was suggested to me to try a very light chemical peel. Our Illuminize peel is a chemical peel we offer with a very small amount of peeling but the resulting benefits are amazing! All my life I've had fairly oily skin that seems to make my face feel heavy. Between my Obagi skincare regimen, regular dermaplaning and chemical peels my face feels fresh and bright. I previously had a much deeper chemical peel and peeled moderately on days 3 and 4 of that peel, but with the light Illuminize peel I only peeled mildly on spots where I had active acne.

Needless to say, with two exfoliating treatments my skin looked fantastic for my crazy weekend (mine and my mother's birthday). If you're looking for some beginner treatments to introduce yourself to a better looking (and fuzz free) face then this is definitely the way to get started!

My Own Dysport Challenge

If you're anything like me you're always looking for the next best thing (the iPhone 4 has basically ruined my life, my 3Gs will never look the same to me), but when it comes to choosing injectables, I want to know everything that's available to me and what it can do. Medicis, the company that makes Dysport, has a promotion right now called the "Dysport Challenge" where they offer rebates for trying out their product instead of the competing anti-aging injectable - Botox. With the option of "loving it" or "leaving it" I figured it was time to give it the old college try.

As my 25th birthday quickly approaches (tomorrow, AH!) I've been treating myself to preventative-aging procedures to take care of some of the fine lines that I had on my forehead. I was so happy with the results from those treatments I figured it was time to move on. I have a bad case of what I like to call "Jay Leno Chin". The muscle on my chin is so strong that it both makes my chin look larger than it actually is and makes the skin below crease under into an unattractive line that from a profile view can be mistaken for another chin (thanks for passing that on, Dad). Dr. Carol took me into her room and after two small injections I was on my way to subtracting a chin.

The rumor out there is that Dysport has a faster onset than Botox. In our practice we've noticed it's a Coke/Pepsi situation, it works differently for different patients, some people like it better than Botox and vice versa. At first I was confused as far as how many units I needed. Dr. Carol explained to me that I would need 2-3 times as many units of Dysport as I would with Botox, but with the lower price of Dysport will make my final total comparable to Botox. With the current Dysport challege (a $75 rebate!) it gave me the incentive to try this product and decide for myself what worked best for me. Whoever is injecting you (Dr. Carol or Allyson) can give you a better idea of how many units you would need, which product would be best for your body and what is the most cost effective for whatever your budget may be.

I've had the Dysport in my chin for about 3 weeks now and though others may not notice the difference, the way I feel about the way I look is monumental. As far as the "loving it" or "leaving it" put me down for love!

Medical Grade vs. Over-the-Counter Skin Care

Skincare is the first step to improving your skin. However, in order to get results, medical grade skincare is superior to products which can be purchased over-the-counter at the grocery, pharmacy or department store. Medical grade products are made up of proven ingredients that are purchased with a medical license and only available through physicians. These products are developed through clinical research and the amounts of active ingredients (what's actually going to make changes in your skin) are much higher than what over-the-counter products are legally able to contain. Simply put: higher amounts of active ingredients = better skin!

Think of it like buying a new Kate Spade bag at Nordstroms verses buying a Kate Spado bag on the streets of New York. You get what you pay for, so to speak, and with medical grade products you are getting A LOT more! Medical grade products contain the purest form of performance ingredients and are created from the newest technology. Hence, true cosmeceuticals are not sold over-the-counter. Over-the-counter products are often sold at lower prices, but only at the expense of cost cutting in raw materials which ultimately sacrifices the quality and efficacy of the product.

The other major difference between medical grade and over-the-counter skincare is the ability of the product to penetrate the skin. Many over-the-counter products sit on the surface of the skin, while medical grade products penetrate the epidermis to work deeper in the skin. Just like whitening your teeth at the dentist office verses useing whitening strips from Wallgreens - medical grade prodcuts can do so much more than what is available over-the-counter.

Medical grade products are worth it! They are safer, more efficacious, better quality, and proven through science.