Dr. Bev's Blog

We have just completed a series of blogs on non invasive treatments that covers the nuts and bolts of cosmetic plastic surgery. Many of you are still wondering which treatment is best for you. Not so surprisingly, the beauty market has the same concerns and needs all over the world. The most visible youth seekers are the Hollywood A-listers who perform the same rituals and routines and have the same procedures as all of you.

Courtney Cox was seen on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno recently, and Leno showed a picture of her gracing the cover of New You Magazine. They spoke candidly of her beauty and she discussed her recent laser treatment to remove brown spots which resulted in peeling on her hands which she was trying to cover up.

Cox, a beautiful and accomplished actress and mother is like every other woman who wants to maintain a youthful appearance. While she hasn’t found that elusive fountain of youth, she has found multiple ways to turn back the clock. She is not shy to admit to taking advantage of a little medical help such as Botox when it comes to looking younger.

“You know what, I’m game for anything. I’m very open to trying to prolong the inevitable. I’m a big laser believer. I really think they are the wave of the future,” she shares in the interview in New You. “I just did [ultrasound skin tightening] Ulthera, which is supposed to produce collagen. And I’m about to do [non-invasive laser therapy] Fraxel, which will get rid of all these brown spots off my arms, chest and face.”

She realizes that medical treatments can only go so far. She has a daily beauty routine to help maintain her youthful appearance. She insists that skin care is all about moisturizing and hydrating, (and a lot of things in between).

Cox who is turning 50 in 2015 is not looking forward to the change. “That’s gonna be brutal,” she tells the magazine. “There’s so many beautiful people and there’s so much pressure you put on yourself,” Cox admits, “but David(ex husband David Arquette) has always said to me, ‘You’ve got to accept we’re all gonna age and just do it gracefully. And the sooner you accept, the easier your life is.’”

Non invasive plastic surgery gives you the tools to age gracefully without breaking the bank.

Please visit the section on Ultherapy, Botox and Fillers to learn more about these procedures and how they might benefit you.

If you are interested in learning more about what fillers can do for you, go to http://doctorbev.com/fillers.htm or call 973-912-9120 to schedule a personal consultation

While skin care is not technically non invasive surgery is does serve as a foundation for everything we do. If we were to take the crown jewels and display them against a dull worn background, they would not look as beautiful. By simply replacing that worn canvas with a bright satin canvas, those jewels project their true beauty. The same is true of the skin. Skin Care products can lighten and brighten the skin creating that smooth soft youthful canvas which we all want.

There are thousands of skin care products on the market. They all claim to work, but do they really? Most will coat the skin making it feel soft. They all tout magical abilities that reverse changes caused by aging . All products are not created equally. Most products do not have extensive testing or any science behind them. Some of these products simply irritate the skin causing a transient swelling which the user equates to hydration because the wrinkles and lines look better. There is no harm in using these products but they are doing no good either.

There are 2 basic products that everyone needs to use- cleansers and sunscreens. Everyone young or old, needs to be aware of the damaging effect of the sun and use sunscreens. The actual sunscreen , SPF, chemical or physical are a matter of personal taste. It may seem strange, but even today, people are still using on their skin. Soap dries the skin by stripping natural oils. Cleansers should be used instead.

It’s what is in between the cleanser and the sunscreen that will be dictated by the persons needs and skin type. The skin gets dehydrated as we get older. The best skin care products are ones that hydrate the skin from within. That is, those that causes water to actually move into the cell. Moisturizers coat the skin with emollients making it feel soft. They do not stimulate the cell to absorb water. This is a complex series of reactions that are associated with collagen. So, the best products on the market are going to stimulate collagen. The best product that I know of that stimulates collagen is Retin A. Obagi and SkinMedica make the best skin care products currently available and both have a Retin A component. Both are Dermatologist tested and have high levels of patient satisfaction. They are part of medically supervised programs that are available through a doctor’s office.

We have just seen that we need to hydrate the skin to restore its fullness and natural glow. We also need to smooth out any irregularities on the surface to maintain that youthful appearance. That is where peels and microdermabrasions play a role. They stimulate a deeper exfoliation which removes the surface imperfections creating a smoother surface. They also help to control pigmentation when applied to deeper layers or repeated.

In today’s market you can’t promise. You have to deliver. The cost of a medically supervised skin care regimen is in keeping with the cost of the better over the counter products. The difference is the medically supervised program will consistently deliver, while the others consistently make promises. Medically supervised programs are prescribed by trained health care providers who understand what it takes to make your skin look good, not sales people who are here today and gone tomorrow.

To learn more about skin care, to make an appointment to see Dr Bev or her aesthetician, Keri call 973 912 9120 or go to http://doctorbev.com/medispa.htm.

While arguably, ”Botox” is the best known of the non invasive procedures, fillers are a close 2nd. Fillers are becoming house hold words like “Botox”. They treat lines caused by aging, but instead of relaxing them to make them disappear , they fill them from the inside, plumping them out.

Collagen was the first generation of wrinkle treaters. It was released in the 1980’s. The industry exploded about 15 years after that with the development of products intended to treat virtually every region on the face. These newer products lasted longer, were not animal derived and were not associated with allergic reactions unlike Collagen. Women (and men) no longer had to accept facial lines as a fact of life.

Sorting out the different fillers can be very confusing. The best way to determine what is best for you is to seek the advice of a board certified plastic surgeon that has experience with all of the fillers, not just one or 2. She/he will design a plan that can tackle your wrinkles and help to ensure that your appearance is as fresh as your outlook on life.

That being said, having a basic understanding of the options is very important. Fillers offer a great deal of versatility and can be used in multiple areas. Most commonly, the Nasolabial folds or “parenthesis” are treated, but other areas such as the orbital rim, the lips and the marionette lines respond well also. The HA fillers, Juvederm and Restylane, are naturally occurring substances found in the skin and body. The newest addition to that group, Belotero Balance, augments the versatility of the group by offering a the ability to treat more superficial lines and wrinkles such as smokers lines and crow’s feet. They contain lidocaine, an anesthetic which helps to ensure a comfortable treatment experience.

Fillers such as Radiesse can be used to fill the Nasolabial folds and to enhance the cheeks. Also, naturally found in the body, Radiesse will stimulate natural collagen formation which helps to keep the skin looking more youthful. We call this filler a volumizer because it replenishes the fullness that we lose as we get older.

The last filler, fat, is ostensibly the best. Structural fat grafting allows us to use your body’s own fat to plump up your wrinkles. Once transferred it becomes a part of you, subject only to natural change in your body. Fat, however is a mini surgical procedure, and is associated with more down time and discomfort than the others.

If you are interested in finding out which fillers are right for you , please go to http://doctorbev.com/fillers.htm or call 973-912-9120- to set up your personal consultation with Dr Bev.

Things can get very hectic this time of year. Looking our best for all of the holiday parties and get togethers is important but who has the time? The most common problem that I face this time of year is how to make my patients look great with no down time—that is no swelling, no bruising and no flaking. My answer is treat yourself to a gentle peel. Peels are by far the easiest way to keep your skin looking its best for the festivities.

The winter conditions can be very harsh and drying on the skin. It is much harder to keep the skin looking fresh and youthful this time of year . There is a peel which can make you look beautiful and feel great , with no down time. The Illuminize peel by SkinMedica is a gentle peel that will tighten, brighten and rejuvenate your skin in a matter of minutes. Afterwards your skin will have a healthy fresh glow that will continue throughout the day and into the evening . It is perfect before a party and your friends will rave about how great your skin looks.

The illuminize peel is ideal for all complexions and all ages. It will gently exfoliate or remove the top layers of skin revealing a brighter smoother complexion. It is ideal for an on the go lifestyle and last minute preparations. Once you have had a peel you will also find that skin care products work a little better. If you have a little more time, deeper peels such as the Vitalize peel are great for improving fine lines, color imperfections, texture and tone. They are also great for all skin types but may be associated with 2-3 days of flaking so they need to timed just right around the holiday festivities. These peels will stimulate your own collagen formation giving you long lasting benefits. Peels are an essential part of any skin care program—-they are great alone but the effects are cumulative so they are better in a group of 3 or more.

There are many reasons to have a chemical peel. They can be a jump start to youthful glowing skin. They can be used to enhance the results of other procedures. They may be part of a start to a new skin care program. Or they may simply be used to help maintain a healthy skin.

If you are interested in learning more about what peels can do for you, go to http://www.doctorbev.com/bf-procedures_ancillary.htm or call 973-912-9120 to schedule a personal consultation with Dr Bev or her aesthetician Keri.

Cosmetic surgery is on the rise. Almost 10 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed last year, but less than 20% involved actual surgery. We want to look better quickly, painlessly and with as little down time as possible. As a result, non invasive or non surgical cosmetic procedures such as “Botox” or “fillers” have become commonplace. This blog is the first of a series on non invasive procedures that will touch upon the more common procedures such as “ Botox”, fillers, skin care and Ultherapy.

These procedures are intended to be used together to restore a natural more youthful appearance. Botox works great on the “elevens “ but if you don’t treat the parenthesis around your mouth-or the Nasolabial folds- it sometimes looks like you are wearing an ironed top , with a wrinkled bottom.

The products can be confusing to the consumer . Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are all types of highly purified botulinum toxin that are FDA approved to temporarily weaken certain muscles around the eyes, specifically, the glabella or the “elevens” as well as the crows feet and the forehead. One claims to be better than the other. Truthfully, having used them for quite some time, I find that they are all very similar. They take effect quickly and last on average 3-4 months. Some patients however prefer one over another.

These products interfere with the muscles causing the wrinkles. We associate wrinkles with age. By taking tension off of these muscles, they can relax making the face look more youthful, smoother and refreshed. Interestingly, they can also be used to reduce excessive sweating under the arms and on the hands. For those people who are needle averse, transdermal applications are being studied and may be widely available in a few years.

They should be used by experienced injectors who understand how the muscles work. I like to think of “designer Botox” where the product is injected where it’s needed which varies by patient. Injectors are popping up all over, not only in doctors’ offices, but in medi spas and even hair and nail salons. While the injector may have been “trained” to use the product, they may not have the skill or experience to apply the product correctly. Be wary of “botox” parties and always look for board certified plastic surgeons or dermatologists.

If you are interested in finding out if Botox, Dysport and other products are right for you , please go to http://doctorbev.com/botox.htm or call 973-912-9120- to set up your personal consultation with Dr Bev.

Several years ago, if someone told me I could lift and tighten the skin without surgery I would have said they were crazy. Yesterday’s dream is today’s reality. Ultherapy is a new energy based platform which uses ultrasound , the same ultrasound that has safely been used in medicine for over 50 years, to lift and tighten the skin of the face and brow. The beauty of the system is that it naturally lifts and tightens without any surgery. It focuses the sound where it will have its greatest effect on the muscle stimulating your own body to form new collagen gradually lifting the skin. There is no swelling, there is no hiding after the procedure and there is no downtime.

There has been a high degree of patient satisfaction after the procedure, although the procedure was uncomfortable making people hesitant to have the treatment. The system was recently upgraded to improve patient comfort without impacting efficacy. Other changes have been made which reflect best treatment practices. These upgrades allow us to reduce the discomfort while improving the results. How could it get any better? FDA clearance was initially given to the Ulthera® system for brow lifting, but now the FDA has added an indication for lifting and tightening the neck. The Ulthera® System was the first and remains the only energy-based device to receive FDA clearance for a non-invasive aesthetic lift indication.

Ultherapy focuses the sound energy so it acts where it is needed. The ultrasound permits us to see the tissue below the skin and create a treatment plan that is specific to the patients needs. We can safely treat at predetermined depths while bypassing the skin. That means no open wounds, weeping or oozinf after the procedure. The skin and muscle are thicker in some areas so the sound waves penetrate to the depth where they will do the most good. A recent addition to the system allows us to treat superficially targeting the fine lines around the mouth and crow’s feet. Previously, we were only able to address the muscle more deeply.

If you have been looking in the mirror pulling your skin and wondering what it would be like to restore more youthful contours to your face, there is no better time than the present to look into Ultherapy. You may obtain more information on the procedure at http://doctorbev.com/ulthera.htm or setup a personal consultation with Dr Bev to discuss restoring a more youthful appearance.