Pregnancy can be a wonderful period of a woman’s life, but it’s important to take precautions to ensure the health of your baby. Women who come to my spa in Louisville for laser hair removal sometimes ask if they can have these treatments while pregnant.

There are no studies that show laser hair removal to be dangerous, but there is little or no evidence to indicate that it is safe during pregnancy, either. Since hormones can stimulate hair growth during pregnancy, many pregnant women seek out laser hair removal specialists, but I recommend waiting until after giving birth to have hair removed.

If a patient is in the middle of a laser hair removal treatment program and becomes pregnant, I advise her to wait until after giving birth to resume treatment. Since the results are permanent, there’s no need to worry that any progress from pre-pregnancy treatments will be lost.

Although looking and feeling great are important, it’s vital that women avoid any procedures that might affect their health or the health of their unborn child. If you have any questions about a potential procedure, I recommend speaking with a qualified specialist about your options.

For years, people have turned to BOTOX in the Lexington, KY area to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles around the upper portion of the face. However, many women and men are unaware that this popular treatment also can help reduce hyperhidrosis – excessive and unexpected sweating.

Extreme underarm sweating can interfere with the way you interact with other people because it causes embarrassing and uncomfortable sweat stains. Many people find that excessive sweating limits their clothing options, and they end up choosing outfits based on their ability to conceal this condition.

Doctors often recommend BOTOX for people with severe sweating who have tried topical solutions without success. Injections of BOTOX into the problem areas block chemical signals that stimulate sweat glands. The treatment is easy and effective, and most patients are able to return to their daily activities immediately after the injections.

While some patients use BOTOX regularly to control ongoing problems with excessive sweating, I recommend to others that they try it before important events such as weddings, parties and important meetings. If you have questions about your options for correcting hyperhidrosis, I recommend seeking a doctor with experience in this field to help you find the perfect solution.

For women and men in Kentucky, massage can relax and restore the body, but there are also a number of lesser-known benefits to this soothing treatment. I often recommend massage for patients who have a variety of concerns. Understanding the abilities of this treatment can help you feel and look your best.

• Even if the massage is focused on one area of the body, a chemical change can take place that may help reduce pain throughout the entire body.
• Some research shows that massage can boost the immune system, helping to protect the body from colds, flu and other ailments.
• Massage can increase flexibility and improve posture. When performed regularly, it can lead to greater joint flexibility.
• In some patients, massage has helped lower blood pressure by reducing the level of stress hormones.

These are just some of the benefits people at my day spa have experienced after massage therapy. If you have specific conditions that might be helped by massage, a qualified specialist can help you target the right areas of your body for treatment.

For those seeking an alternative to liposuction in Kentucky, I often recommend a non-invasive technology we offer that reduces fat and tightens the skin simultaneously. The procedure is called Exilis™ RF Therapy, and it provides non-surgical body contouring for the face and body. Exilis has been FDA-approved and provides noticeable, lasting results with little to no downtime.

The Benefits

The Exilis system has many benefits over other methods of fat removal. Some of the advantages include:

• No surgery, anesthesia, or topical numbing creams required
• Short, comfortable treatments
• Suitable for multiple areas of the face and body
• Proven, long-lasting results
• Tighter, smoother skin and improved appearance

The Technology

Exilis operates by using radio frequency energy to target problematic areas and heat up fat cells. The warming action speeds up cellular metabolism and causes the cells to shrink while simultaneously stimulating collagen and improving skin elasticity.

The Procedure

The total procedure time for Exilis is about 30 minutes, although this estimate may vary based on the area being treated. A computer-controlled device is guided over the treatment area, which causes a warming sensation on the skin. A digital monitor provides constant feedback regarding the skin’s temperature to ensure comfort and safety.

The Results

After Exilis, my patients typically enjoy smoother body contours and firmer skin. The results usually last about 6 months or longer when combined with an active, healthy lifestyle. Generally, I recommend 4 treatment sessions scheduled 7 to 10 days apart for best results.

For women considering breast augmentation in Louisville, there’s good news: Dr. William Maisel, chief scientist for the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices, recently affirmed the safety of silicone breast implants. The findings were announced in a press release issued by the FDA that highlighted, among other points, that “silicone gel-filled breast implants are safe and effective when used as intended.”

Although silicone gel implants were previously approved by the FDA in November of 2006, the new report is nevertheless reassuring. As a plastic surgeon, I am committed to my patients’ safety and remain up-to-date on the latest news and research in plastic surgery. I have both investigated and witnessed the benefits of the “new generation” breast implants and am aware of the many advantages silicone gel holds over earlier models, including:

• New generation silicone implants contain a cohesive gel that will not leak if ruptured.
• Mammograms can be successfully performed on women with silicone breast implants when performed by a trained technician.
• Silicone breast implants have not been shown to pose an additional risk of cancer.

Although the majority of women do not experience significant consequences after breast augmentation, it’s important to remember that no surgery is risk-free. I encourage all my patients to see their primary care physician for regular screenings to monitor their breast health for a successful outcome.

At our plastic surgery practice in Louisville, we believe that you are the most important person in your decision for cosmetic enhancement. Plastic surgery is a personal choice that is selected for many different reasons. Several of my patients are hoping to look as youthful and vibrant as they feel, while others want to change something that has bothered them for years. No matter the motivation, cosmetic surgery should be a personal decision made in your best interests.

Inevitably, friends and family members will have their own opinions regarding your decision for plastic surgery. Although dealing with unsupportive loved ones can be challenging and frustrating, it’s nevertheless important to listen to their concerns. Oftentimes, friends and family respond out of fear because they have outdated or false conceptions about plastic surgery procedures. You can help ease their worries by thoroughly researching your treatment and choosing a qualified plastic surgeon. By carefully planning for your procedure, you are likely to have a successful surgical outcome.

Another equally important opinion that you should take into consideration is that of your surgeon. You will need to schedule a consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon who can evaluate your physical and emotional readiness for surgery. Through in-depth discussion, your surgeon will determine your motivation for surgery, set realistic expectations, and assess whether or not cosmetic surgery is the right choice.

Many of our skin care patients in Louisville ask about chemical peels and their benefits. Chemical peels can be very helpful for improving the health and appearance of facial skin. Different levels of peels provide different benefits, and some provide more extensive correcting. So, knowing this information, you may be wondering, “Which peel is right for me?”

To help determine which level of peel you should consider for your skin care treatment, here are 3 tips:

1. Know your skin type. Knowing whether you have acne prone, sensitive, or dry/damaged skin will help determine the level of peel necessary.
2. Know the 3 types of peels. Chemical peels are divided into 3 categories which include: Alphahydroxy Acids (AHAs), Trichloroacetic Acids (TCAs), and Phenol (ranging from mildest to strongest).
3. Know your lifestyle. It is important to be realistic when choosing a chemical peel. For instance, a deeper peel will have a longer recovery time than a milder one. If you cannot devote time to a longer recovery period, a lighter peel may be optimal for you. You will discuss this with your skincare specialist during your consultation.

What do you think? Do you have any other tips?

You’ve probably heard about permanent makeup – but do you know what it really is? To start, permanent makeup is a procedure that implants color into the skin. During the treatment, the color will be implanted into both the inner (dermis) and outer (epidermis) layer of skin, and it will look darker than normal. As your skin heals, the epidermis will peel (as it does normally), and the final look of your permanent makeup treatment will be revealed.

One of the first things that permanent makeup patients ask us at CaloSpa, our day spa in Louisville, is if they can still wear cosmetics over their permanent makeup. Since the permanent makeup is implanted in the deeper layer of skin, it will appear soft and natural on its own. For those wanting a more dramatic look, topical cosmetics can be applied over the permanent makeup.

To perform a permanent makeup procedure, topical anesthetics specifically developed for this procedure are used. After about 30 to 45 minutes, the anesthetics will take effect. There are also dental blocks that can be used to increase comfort during your treatment. Most of our patients find that using topical anesthetics is sufficient for reducing pain.

Around Valentine’s Day and the colder months, we need to show our skin more love than usual, and what better time than Valentine’s Day to treat yourself to a skin care procedure in Louisville. Below are some treatments that can be beneficial to skin during this time of the year:

• Microdermabrasion. This treatment is helpful for removing dead skin cells from the surface, leaving you with smooth, soft skin.
• Chemical peels. With a variety in strength, our peels treat various facial imperfections including acne, as well as fine lines and wrinkles.
• Injectable fillers. Fillers can help to plump the skin by adding volume to the face. They can fill in lines and wrinkles, improving facial skin.
• Facial laser treatments. Lasers can do a variety of things, including removing unwanted hair and improving lines and wrinkles.

At our practice, we also offer other various skin care and makeup treatments to help you look and feel your best. So this Valentine’s Day, show your skin some love!

Cosmetic lasers have changed the way we treat wrinkles, fine lines, and other skin imperfections. They have also been incorporated into body contouring techniques to help break up fat, including some liposuction methods. Particularly at our practice in Louisville, laser hair removal remains one of the most common procedures we perform. Many people are aware of the procedure, but don’t know exactly how it works.

The word “laser” stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A laser light is different than other types of light, like a flashlight. Lasers contain one specific wavelength of light, or one color of light. Laser light is very concentrated and travels in one specific direction, allowing it to target a very focused area. There are many different types of lasers, each using different types of lasing material, with both ablative and non-ablative lasers used for cosmetic procedures.

Ablative lasers are used to treat/remove the surface of the skin and non-ablative lasers address the underlying layers of the skin without damaging the top layer. Further, there are many different types of wavelengths of lasers, allowing professionals to treat a variety of skin conditions including:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Pigmented lesions
• Skin tightening
• Tattoo removal
• Hair removal
• Acne and acne scars

What is your experience with cosmetic lasers? How have they helped improve your skin?