My Own Sculptra Story

Most if not all of the services that we make available to the patients in my office I have used, samples or subjected my friends and family to. If I can’t understand the use or the benefit, how can I explain it to a patient who wants to know what they will get out of it. The world of fillers and antiaging services just got a lot easier for me to share with my patients.

Although I have had a lot of experience injecting patients I was always struck with how enthusiastic they were AFTER they saw the results. In almost every case, they got MORE than they expected from Sculptra. I had had personal experience with other products and so had my patients. I found it always surprising just how thrilled they were when they used the sculptra, even if they had had other products.

I will share my photos with you. I have to tell you that it is kind of hard to photograph the subtle differences in the before and after. My friends and family (and some patients that I don’t see very often) comment on how well I look. Have you lost weight? You are getting younger? Why don’t you stop lying about your age? I have gotten all of these questions since having two sessions of sculptra. These photos were taken before and then six weeks after the second session. Sculptra is like the gift that keeps on giving since it makes your body produce more volume over time.

How painful was it? Not very because my skin was numbed by some very excellent topical cream applied 30 minutes before the product is delivered deep to the surface layer of skin. Sometimes patients bruise but I didn’t really do this (even though I consider myself someone who bruises easily). If bruising does happen, it goes away in a few days and can be covered up with foundation. So far, the men I have treated have not had to do this.

After the first treatment, I waited 6 weeks for the second session. I was planning on getting the third treatment 6 weeks after that but decided that it wasn’t necessary. Any filler can be overdone but I don’t think anyone wants to look like they have never looked before! The idea of sculptra is to replace the volume that is lost from intrinsic aging. This is generally in the temples, the cheekbone region, the crease between the mouth and cheeks (called the nasolabial fold). There are areas that sculptra is NOT to be applied and these include the lips, under the eyes and anywhere superficially. It is a DEEP filler and if placed incorrectly, bumps will form that take a long time to go away.

I am pleased at how subtle it is. As the volume is put back, the skin smoothes out and therefore you look fresher. When the skin becomes more three dimensional, light reflects better so patient tell me they feel as if they are glowing. Now I know what they mean!

A Complete Examination?

I was surprised last week when a patient whom I had not seen in about ten years came back to the office after having moved out of "driving range" from my office. She told me about seeing a doctor without seeing a doctor. I asked her what she meant.
If you make an appointment to see the doctor and the person who comes in and introduces themself to you is NOT a doctor then I say "buyer beware". To say what happened after this was a disaster is putting it mildly. My message to you is ask if you can see the doctor at some point in the visit. If that is not possible maybe you can ask to come back later or reschedule. This is really important if surgery is planned. Maybe the Doctor would not need to do surgery to find out what the assistant could not diagnose. I would bet on it. You are entitled to get what you paid for.....a doctor visit!

Demand Quality Care !!

The sad truth is that quality care costs more. If you are spending your health care dollar to see a doctor, then I think you deserve to see a doctor! This sounds simple but what has been happening lately to many people who are UNAWARE of who is sitting across from them in the "Doctors " office is really a shame. You pay your monthly insurance premium to company X. You make an appt to see the doctor for your cold, or gyn checkup or skin exam. When you get to the office the "health care provider" turns out to be a nurse practioner, a physician's assistant or someone who did not go to medical school but perhaps is masquerading as a doctor. Your insurance company gets the bill and it says that you saw a doctor. You didn't! You spent the same dollar, but you did not get the expert. If I went to see a doctor, but the doctor wasn't a doctor or did not come in to see me, I would leave! I think you should too! You are paying for the expert so thats what you should get. Buyer beware, because here you generally DONT get what you paid for if you did not receive treatment from the expert. No, the nurse practioner does not know as much as the doctor. They may call themselves doctors of nursing but, trust me, the training is not equivalent. You all be careful out there!

The Safety of Laser Hair Removal in Ethnic Skin-Pt 1

I was shocked to learn how often patients are told by misinformed health professionals that "dark skinned people" should not get laser. This is absolutely untrue. It is true that there are important differences in various shades of people. The melanin absorbs the laser light and so it can cause problems if the laser physician is unfamiliar with the settings that are necessary to use for each patient. I also think it is important to see a PHYSICIAN for treatment such as laser when, not know how to use the device, can lead to serious consequences!
Nearly every patient I that I have used the laser on in my 25 years of medical practice has been a skin type 4 or darker. I think these are some of my most satisfied patients because they had been told "it couldn't be done!" Before treatment, we explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the laser. We will have more on shaving alternatives in the next blog. Stay tuned!

How to have better nails!

The dry winter air, from having the heater on, can make it hard to stay moisturized in the colder months. You need to drink more water and pay attention to replacing the moisture on your hands after you wash them. This is really important when you use sanitizing hand gels. They contain alcohol which is potentially drying to the skin and the nails. Use cuticle oil, found in the nail polish section , and apply it to the nail AND the skin around the nail whenever you can.
Your diet also is important. If nails are brittle and fragile, Salem, OR-based Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Age-Proof Your Body (McGraw-Hill, 2006), recommends consuming iron-rich foods such as black bean soup or the occasional cut of steak. "Iron is essential for the growth and maintenance of the nails and nail bed," says Somer. "If nails are deprived of iron for too long, they can flatten out or curve abnormally." Somer adds that cooking foods in a cast-iron pan can also help increase your iron intake. The iron from the pan infuses into whatever dish you're preparing. I hope this information helps you have long and strong nails this winter!

The Color Divide

The issue of skin color is still with us, in the era that some people call "Post Racial" America.
A movie will come out this fall produced by the actor Bill Duke, called Dark Girls. I was interviewed by a reporter from WJLA about this topic. Yes, people still come to the dermatologist hoping to find a way to change their overall skin color. Its sad, but true. Here is a link to some of the conversation that I recently had with reporter Jummy Olabanji.
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/11/new-film-explores-the-issue-of-skin-tone-69074.html

Give yourself a Birthday gift

Skin screenings can detect cancer early
Baby boomers who baked in the sun during their youth are increasingly developing skin cancer, with 1 in 5 Americans projected to develop skin cancer sometime during their lives, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Early detection and treatment can prevent extensive damage and mortality. Patients should remain alert for asymetrical, multicolored, uneven or large moles or lesions, and patients who do not have insurance coverage can check the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery's website for local free screenings. The best gift you can give yourself is to maintain your health. Happy Birthday to all my fellow Scorpions!