Micro-dermabrasion Benefits

, , Lifestyle

micro-dermabrasion

Micro-dermabrasion Takes Years Off Your Face

Your skin is overexposed to environmental elements and pollutants every day. Over the years, other damaging agents, along with the sun’s rays can result in wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and undesired pigmentation.

Micro-dermabrasion treatment can help reduce or eliminate these side effects, and restore your complexion back to a smoother, brighter and more even tone.

Micro-dermabrasion – What is It?

Microdermabrasion is a non-chemical, non-invasive procedure that uses microcrystals to exfoliate the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells. This process encourages the production of a new layer of skin cells with higher levels of collagen and elastin. As a result, microdermabrasion reveals younger, healthier-looking skin

How Does Micro-dermabrasion Work?

During a micro-dermabrasion treatment, a stream of micro aluminum oxide crystals is applied to the skin through a hand piece. These crystals exfoliate the skin, leaving skin debris and excess crystals on the skins surface, which is then removed from through a micro-dermabrasion system.

Microdermabrasion helps produce healthier, thicker skin layers, and multiple treatments are vital because they encourage the production of collagen and elastin. Both of these components are essential for vibrant, healthy skin and complexion.

It is recommended that five to twelve treatments; two to three weeks apart are needed to maximize the full micro-dermabrasion benefits. And because the procedure takes only 30-60 minutes, it is commonly referred to as the “lunch hour facial.”

How Do I Prepare for a Micro-dermabrasion Procedure?

Pre-treatment instructions will be provided by your skincare professional or plastic surgeon. Prior to your scheduled appointment, you will need to disclose your medical history and perform a physical exam. Some questions you may be asked include the following:

* Open sores, wounds, or cuts on your face that can lead to infection
* Medication that makes your skin sensitive
* Any skin conditions that may be exacerbated by microdermabrasion

In advance to your procedure, your surgeon will ask you to:

* Stop smoking at least six weeks before undergoing surgery to promote better healing
* Avoid taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs that can cause increased bleeding
* Hydrate well before and after surgery for safe recovery

On the day of your procedure, come prepared with a clean face without too much makeup or skincare products.

Micro-dermabrasion Risks and Benefits

Micro-dermabrasion is a safe, non-surgical procedure that provides multiple benefits:

* Reduces or eliminates fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, and other signs of aging
* Lessen the appearance of stretch marks
* Improves the appearance of acne scars and other light blemishes
* Improves hyperpigmentation and brightens skin tone
* Exfoliates the skin, resulting in collagen an elastin production
* Provides skin of all colors and types with a fresh, healthy-looking glow

Micro-dermabrasion does not present serious risks when performed by a qualified provider. While the risks are very rare, you may experience slight skin irritation after the procedure. This tends to disappear within a day. On occasion, the skin may bruise, burn, sting or become sensitive to sunlight. These, too, will go away without treatment.

Micro-dermabrasion is not recommended for candidates who have deep scars, active keloids, active acne (stages 3 and 4), an auto-immune system disorder or unstable diabetes. Candidates who are pregnant should not undergo micro-dermabrasion.

Candidates who have recently received chemical peel or other skin procedure should wait two to three weeks before undergoing micro-dermabrasion. Individuals with deep scars, facial creases or other moderate-to-severe skin defects should consider a stronger treatment such as chemical peel, dermabrasion or laser skin resurfacing.

What is the Aftercare and Recovery?

Your surgeon will provide you detailed instructions about your post-surgical care, and discuss how long it will be before you can return to your normal level of activity and work.

The post-operative care will include information about normal symptoms you will experience and potential signs of complication.

Depending on your skin sensitivity, the suction and exfoliation might cause some mild swelling and redness on your skin. This will disappear and normalize after applying moisturizer with SPF. Makeup can be applied and you may return to your normal daily activity as instructed by your surgeon.

As with most non-invasive procedures, it is recommended that you wait twenty-four hours before doing strenuous activity. If you have extreme or long-lasting pain or notice redness and swelling consult your surgeon.

How Long Will the Results Last?

Within a few days following micro-dermabrasion, you will notice a healthy glow. For best results, repeated treatments will be needed to maintain. For maximal results, five to twelve treatments, spaced two to four weeks apart is recommended.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Binder Today

Take years off your face with micro-dermabrasion. Don’t let fine line or wrinkles hold you back from feeling the way you want. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Binder today.

Thinking About Getting Botox? Here’s What You Should Know

, Lifestyle

botox beautiful girlWhen we take a look back throughout history, it’s clear to see that efforts to revitalize the skin and fight the signs of age are nothing new. Over the centuries, different methods and techniques have be used with this very goal in mind. More recently, Botox Cosmetic has stepped into the spotlight as an immensely popular and innovative wrinkle-fighting treatment. Ever since it got the go-ahead by the FDA in 2002, it has become all the rage, being used by celebrities, superstars, and men and women alike.

Splashed over the media are a few “frozen face” cases that have given Botox a bit of a bum rap. However, it continues to squash the stereotype through its ability to safely and effectively produce great results. If Botox treatments have been on your mind lately, here’s some important info that you should know:

What is Botox & What Can it be Used For?

Botox (Botulinum Toxin A) is a purified protein that can be used to reduce the appearance of pesky frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines, and more. How does it do this? Well, unlike injectable fillers that fill in unwanted lines and creases, Botox works to temporarily block nerve signals and muscle activity that brings about dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles caused by facial expressions). When these wrinkles relax, this produces a smoothening and softening effect and results in more youthful looking skin. But even beyond such aesthetic applications, Botox is used in the medical world for various purposes such as treating migraine headaches, incontinence, and excessive sweating.

Who Makes a Good Candidate?

Ultimately, your doctor will help determine if it’s right for you, but if you are in good health and have moderate to severe facial lines, your candidacy for Botox is off to a great start. On the other hand, these factors do not characterize an ideal candidate:

  • If you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
  • If you have a nerve or muscle disorder
  • If you are allergic to the ingredients in Botox

Do the Injections Hurt?

Generally speaking, most patients experience minimal discomfort or pain during the injections, as very small needles are used during treatment. It’s common for a momentary light pinching sensation to be felt, and if you are concerned about this part of the process, your administrator may apply a topical anesthesia or ice to numb the area.

How Long Does Botox Last?

After approximately 3 to 6 months, the facial muscle activity will resume and additional treatments will be necessary in order to maintain optimal the appearance of reduced wrinkles. On the same note, repeated treatments have been known to extend how long the results last.

Where to Go For Treatments

Being so popular, Botox can be found in all sorts of places. From salons, to parties, to even the dentist’s office, it seems like Botox is everywhere and ripe and ready for the administering. While that may sound fun and convenient, it’s important to go to a board-certified plastic surgeon or a qualified physician to ensure that the treatment is safely and appropriately performed.

How to Schedule an Appointment

Rest assured that aiming to keep wrinkles at bay with Botox, really should involve the help of a skilled professional. Dr. William Binder has extensively worked with Botox, including groundbreaking work with its use for migraines. Throughout his research and experience, he has developed a refined technique that has allowed patients to achieve excellent results. To schedule your appointment, contact our Beverly Hills office or call us at (310) 858-6749 today.

Preventative Botox: Benefits of Botox in Your Mid-Twenties

, , , Health Basics

Beautiful-Woman-Part-Of-The-FaMost people think that the time to consider Botox is at least after middle age. But recently, patients have started using Botox at a much younger age. While this may seem strange, Botox is a lot more beneficial when used as a preventative measure. Just as we should all exercise and eat healthy in order to prevent weight gain and disease, Botox can be used in a similar way to effectively slow the aging process. If you are close to the age of twenty-five, consider the following benefits if wrinkles are becoming a concern.

Using Botox Early Saves Money

From a purely practical perspective, using Botox in your mid-twenties saves thousands of dollars in the long-run. If wrinkles develop all over your face, the cost of counteracting the aging effect using thermage treatments could cost up to $3,500 for an entire face. Botox, meanwhile, can fix and prevent wrinkles from ever developing at prices starting at $280. If you plan to spend money on cosmetic treatments later on, consider changing your plans so you can save a lot of money.

If you were to use Botox three times yearly for three years at $280, you will have spent about $2,520, still $1,000 less than a thermage treatment.

The Process Is Quick and Painless

Expect a typical Botox administration to take up to fifteen minutes at the most. It involves wiping the area with alcohol, making a few facial expressions, and (if need be) marking your face with a pen (which is quickly wiped off afterward).

If you are afraid of injections, there isn’t much to fear. Every injection feels like a sharp pinch, but it only lasts for a second. Think of the process as getting your face pinched a few times, and the process is a lot easier to handle.

No Downtime

Botox does not take long to take effect: 2-4 days at most. In most cases, there are very few side effects following a Botox treatment. While some may experience swelling or redness, they typically disappear after only one to three hours. If bruising occurs, it is typically light and unnoticeable. Most of these areas may be covered by headwear, sunglasses, or even makeup.

Botox lasts a Long Time

Expect the Botox to last three months, or sometimes longer. This leaves you with plenty of time to earn a little more money and budget your finances in preparation for the next Botox treatment.

Botox Can Help Form Good Habits, Even After Wearing Off

Botox benefits you even after it wears off. For example, many people are used to scrunching their forehead, for various reasons. If Botox is injected into the forehead, it becomes impossible to do this. This allows you to break the habit, even after the Botox wears off.

Botox is Effective, Without Looking Unnatural

Many people worry that Botox will leave them looking dramatically different, so much so that they will have to warn their friends to avoid shocking them. Unless you go add a little too much Botox, this should not be a concern. A moderate amount of Botox will make you look slightly better, but not dramatically different.

If you think you will want cosmetic treatments in the future, why not start now? Contact Dr. Binder for a consultation on Botox treatment.

Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: How They Compare

, , , rhinoplasty

-young-woman-eyes-and-nose-portRhinoplasty has opened new avenues in the sphere of plastic surgery: improved nasal contours, enhanced facial harmony, and better breathing are just a few of the benefits made possible by this popular procedure. Regarding procedure options, rhinoplasty utilizes either the open or closed technique. When discussing rhinoplasty procedures, consider the comparisons differentiating the open and closed techniques to determine which approach is right for you:

Open Rhinoplasty

With open rhinoplasty, a small incision is made in the columella: the section of skin between the two nostrils. The skin is then lifted, allowing the surgeon better view of the nasal cartilage as he performs the desired adjustments to the nasal structure. This is the main advantage of the open technique. Generally speaking, open rhinoplasty is the preferred method when the details of the surgical procedure are complex.

Despite the benefits of increased visibility during surgery, the open technique has the unfortunate potential to leave a scar. The scar may fade if healed properly, but this is not guaranteed. Moreover, the open technique usually results in increased postoperative swelling and recovery time.

Closed Rhinoplasty

In closed rhinoplasty, all of the incisions are made internally within the nostrils. The downside to this technique is less visibility for the surgeon. However, due to the lack of an external incision, it reduces the potential for noticeable scarring. Closed rhinoplasty also produces less bruising, swelling, and decreases postoperative healing time.

Scheduling Your Rhinoplasty Consultation

Dr. William Binder has decades of experience reflecting his talent in the art of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Through these impressive rhinoplasty results, his patients have gained new inner confidence, self-esteem, and glowing radiance.

Dr. Binder will carefully review your needs and desires, and determine which technique is best suited for you. Call us at (310) 858-6749 today to schedule your appointment.

Why You Should Consider Botox To Treat Your Migraines?

, , , , Health Basics

Beauty-woman-giving-botox-injeBotox has quickly become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures on the market. However, some would be surprised to learn the Botox also treats a number of health issues, from hypertension to overactive bladder. Botox has also proven to be a highly effective treatment for those who suffer from chronic migraines- since the FDA approved it as a migraine treatment in 2011. If you suffer from chronic migraines, and have been thinking about using Botox to relieve your symptoms, here is what you need to know.

How does Botox Treat Migraines?

Botox works by preventing the movement of certain muscles as well as preventing the release of certain brain chemicals. Botox relieves headaches because, this muscle restriction, prevents the muscles from becoming tense and sensitive, as they would during a headache. In addition, it is believed that Botox blocks the nerves that send pain messages to the brain.

How well does it work?

Most patients that use Botox, to treat their chronic migraines, experience a significant decrease in how often they experience migraine attacks. In fact, the vast majority of chronic migraine patients a day experience, 7 to 9, fewer headache days per month, making Botox one of the most successful migraine treatments to date. Is important to note that these results take time and usually do not present themselves until up to a two weeks, after your Botox procedure. In addition, these results usually do not happen after the first round of Botox and are more likely to start after the second, or third, treatment.

Who should try it?

Chronic migraine sufferers who experience debilitating migraines 15, or more, days out of the month, lasting four hours or more, should consider utilizing Botox to treat their symptoms. Most doctors will want you to try more traditional migraine treatments before recommending Botox. But if other migraine treatments or medications are not working for you, or you have a health condition the medicine may interfere with, such as stomach ulcers, you should definitely consider Botox as an alternative treatment.

How long does it take?

A round of Botox treatment can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. For maximum and long lasting results, chronic migraine sufferers should receive Botox treatments every three months for a 15 month period.

What else should I know?

Botox treatments are virtually painless, so there may be a slight swelling, or irritation, at the injection site- particularly, for those for with sensitive skin. Most insurance companies cover Botox procedures as a treatment for chronic migraines but you should definitely contact your insurance company to verify that they do. In rare cases, they may want you to undergo certain tests before they agree to cover the procedure.

Now that you know how effective Botox treatments are for chronic migraines, if your suffering from severe migraines, this might be the perfect procedure to relieve you of this pain. To learn more about Botox treatment or discuss any of your questions or concerns about the procedure feel free to reach out to us today. Or to schedule a consultation visit doctorbinder.com.