Hey Sharon, What’s The Latest & Greatest Anti-Aging Advances?

We all know about the miracle of Botox, the injectable that smoothes wrinkles in nothing flat. So what’s on the horizon? Here are some of the goodies that dermatologists are talking about.

 Tighten & Lift

Lasers can help your skin produce more collagen. We have the DOT Therapy System. Nothing is as beautiful as soft, smooth, healthy skin. Unfortunately, our skin is subject to numerous experiences that leave it less than perfect. Time, heredity and gravity all do their part to create fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the mouth and eyes. Continued exposure to the sun and smoking are known to significantly accelerate the development of these natural signs of aging. For a noticeable improvement, we offer skin resurfacing services using the DEKA Smartxide DOT LASER.

What are the benefits?

• Minimal downtime
• Rapid healing
• Quick procedure
• Low risk
• Accurate results
• Customized treatment
• Minimally invasive
• Renewed skin
• Treatment of multiple issues at once
• Little or no anesthesia

SMARTXIDE DOT THERAPY CO2 FRACTIONATED LASER RESURFACING

Some skin resurfacing devices, such as CO2 lasers, use the ablative method: removing the epidermis and some of the dermis. While a good result is eventually seen, the drawbacks include red, raw, and unsightly skin, and a risk of infection for several weeks after treatment. Other devices use the non-ablative method: sending light pulses into the dermis, while leaving the epidermis intact. This allows quick recovery, but when the light pulses don't penetrate far into the dermis, the change in skin tone and texture is negligible.

Injectable Fillers made of hyaluronic acid, a natural component of skin can temporarily smooth out wrinkles. They are most typically used on the cheeks, temples and around the mouth to reduce puppet lines or parenthesis. Results are immediate and can last up to 9 months, though you can see swelling, redness and possible bruising for 48 hours, so don’t schedule your injections on the evening of the grand event!  Sharon rarely has any bruising, but be sure to stop any aspirin therapy and take Arnica a week before your arrival to ensure that you don’t change colors!

What Products Should I Use?

We love Epionce for our customers that live in the mountains.

Here’s a little background on the company:

Episciences, Inc, was founded in 2002 and is based in Boise, Idaho. The breakthrough Epionce  product line has been proven effective by over 15 independent clinical studies to help reverse and prevent the effects of visible skin aging and certain common skin diseases.

Epionce is a comprehensive and innovative skin wellness line designed to optimize the appearance and health of the skin by working at the core of the skin’s own protective and reparative systems. Combining a unique delivery system and elegant botanical formulations, Epionce is a new paradigm in skin wellness delivering:

Powerful Therapy

Epionce strengthens your skin’s own mechanisms, helping to improve function, restore the barrier and reverse destructive skin inflammation — delivering you beautiful, healthy skin.

Proven Results

The effectiveness of Epionce has been proven in double-blind clinical trials conducted by independent, nationally recognized research organizations.

Based on a solid scientific approach, the Epionce product line is retailed through dermatologists, plastic surgeons and other skin care professionals interested in improving the overall health of the skin and quality of life of their patients.

What About Stem Cells?

You’ve probably see those anti-aging creams pounding their chests about stem-cell technology. The idea that these remarkable plant cells have the potential to repair or replace damaged tissue, possibly plumping up your wrinkles without needles, lasers or harsh ingredients, Sounds incredible, huh? Well, according to our partner, Dr. Andrew Wolfe, plastic surgeon extraordinaire in Denver, “unless you’re a tree, there’s no science yet saying that they’ll work for you…at least for now”.  He went on to tell us, that scientists are indeed growing body parts in Europe. So stem cells are going to be a part of our beauty regimen, but just not right now. So right now, pretty much a buzzword. Don’t bother investing in stem cell products.

If you are on a budget, here’s an idea to slow that aging process.

You can slow the clock with RoC Retinol Correction Sensitive night cream for $23 at your local drugstore, Target or Walmart.

And of course, stop by and get one of our incredible sunscreen products by Elta.

I believe in trying all products on myself first and such is the case of PRP. Some people call this new skincare strategy "Vampire Facelift" others call it "Blood Simple." It's the rage and has already appeared in Vogue Magazine and New Beauty. My belief is that by submitting myself to the products or services first, I can prepare you for the possibilities and realities of the product. So, about 4 weeks ago, I was trained in and had the procedure performed on me. Here's what happened:

Giving up a little skin in the service of your own pales in comparison to giving blood, but that's what some marketers are calling the "Dracula Facial" an injectable derived from your own plasma. Formally known as platelet-rich-plasma therapy (PRP), this technology is borrowed from the world of orthopedics, where it's used in about 500 hospitals for the treatment of tendonitis, particularly tennis elbow. Because tendons get very little blood, the idea is to speed healing by flooding the injured site with your own concentrated platelets, the tiny colorless bodies that release growth factors to repair tissue. In fact, Tiger Woods credits PRP with healing his knee last year. It didn't do too much for his game; but I digress.

Savvy dermatologists and plastic surgeons decided to try PRP on wrinkles, since the growth factors it releases are the same ones that spur fibroblasts (the cells that make collagen) into action. While PRP has been FDA approved for orthopedic injuries, practitioners may legally administer it, off label, for cosmetic use. That's when Sharon Palm steps up! (Yes, I am brave for all the right reasons, ladies and gentlemen). You'll need to submit to a blood draw similar to donating blood. The blood is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the red and white blood cells, and a few minutes later, the platelet-enriched "broth" is ready. The PRP is then injected around your crow's feet, into the cheeks, into vertical lines around your mouth; even into wrinkles in the neck or décolleté!. The results take about 6 weeks to manifest and have been found to last about a year. It's still hard to predict because the aesthetic use of PRP is still in it's infancy and published research is lean.

The difference between PRP and prepackaged fillers with the exception of Sculptra is that you get an immediate change. With PRP you have to be willing to wait for the change, My feeling is why not do it all, since all these treatments work synergistically with one another? The jury is still out, but I'll keep you adventurous beauty seekers in touch with all the latest advances. Just be sure to stop by the blog on a regular basis. I'll have before and after photos for you to be the judge.

I don't know about you, but the thought of having an actual facelift kinda scares me. What if something goes wrong and I end up looking gruesome? Admit it, you've gone to the celebrity internet sites and stared at plastic surgery gone wrong. What were they thinking? After all, some of our favorite stars, in pure desperation to remain young in a brutal business, have made some pretty disastrous choices. We even have terms, like "trout pout" to describe overdone, overfilled lips. One episode of The Housewives of Beverly Hills and you'll know what that looks like. Every one of the women on that show have said, "filler up".

The plain and simple fact is that as we age, the face begins to lose collagen and elastin which contribute to sagging facial features, skinny lips, angry looking brows and bevy of other dreaded age foibles. You are probably like me. You just want to look rested and alive, the way you feel inside. With the advances in medicine and our health oriented lifestyles, we are actually living longer and feeling better than any of our ancestors ever did. Wrinkles, folds, lines, heavy lids, vertical lines around our mouths; the list goes on and on. But lucky us, we have some remarkable tools to fight the battle of aging gracefully. These injectibles or fillers are amazing and are essentially non-surgical options. Introducing the Liquid Lift.

As we have been using these injectibles and fillers, we've noticed that there is a lifting effect. And with properly placed injections, we have been able to actually create the look of an actual facelift.

Some of these physicians refined techniques to focus on lifting and contouring, with an ancillary benefit of wrinkle reduction (rather than the other way around). This has spawned a somewhat revolutionary new approach in treating sagging facial features, which is called a Liquid Face Lift or non-invasive Facial Rejuvenation.

In broad terms, a non-surgical Liquid Face Lift can be undertaken to accomplish any of the following:

Gentle lift of individual (or overall) facial features

Reduced wrinkles, creases, line or folds

Restoration of natural, curved facial contours

A more rested, energetic look

A friendlier smile

In some patients, the goal of a non surgical Liquid Lift is to lift the entire face. In others the goal is to lift or contour certain areas.

For example, under eye bags and dark circles can be masked by using Liquid Facelift techniques; eyes can be opened up and lids lifted; jowls can be lifted and diminished; natural shape can be restored to flattened cheeks or temple areas; corners of the mouth can be lifted; bumps on the nose can be hidden; as well as several other facial feature benefits. Many of these conditions and contouring procedures will be discussed with you during your FREE facial analysis, as well as treatment procedures for a variety of wrinkles, folds and lines.

A Liquid Face Lift involves the use of advanced dermal fillers, usually in combination with BOTOX® or Dysport®. The dermal fillers used are among a group of 2nd generation injectables that provide more enduring results than earlier products. The new group of 2nd generation, advanced dermal fillers includes JUVEDERM® Ultra, JUVEDERM® Ultra Plus, Radiesse®, Restylane®, Perlane® and several others.

Each of these dermal fillers has unique attributes that work in their own special way to rejuvenate specific areas of the face. In general, dermal fillers replace lost volume in the face or help the body regenerate its own collagen. Precisely placed, the dermal fillers can be used to lift or contour any number of facial features.

It is common knowledge that BOTOX® and Dysport®procedures act to temporarily paralyze the muscles, thus minimizing or eliminating unwanted lines and However, BOTOX® is also used in conjunction with the dermal fillers to provide added lift and to help the endurance of the dermal fillers. In the face, there is a constant tug of war among muscles that pull up (levators) and muscles that pull down (depressors). BOTOX® is placed in the depressor muscles to relax the downward pull and to let the upward-pulling muscles win, providing a lift to various facial features. It is now believed that muscles may lose some of their memory for frowning with repeated treatments, and less frequent visits may be required.

All of the products discussed on this site are FDA-approved for treatment of at least one area of the face. The manufacturers rarely seek FDA approval for multiple cosmetic uses. However, once approved, physicians may use any of these products for other cosmetic uses, known as off label usage. Most plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other physicians who regularly use dermal fillers and BOTOX® in cosmetic medical procedures perform both on-label and off-label procedures for non-surgical treatments for facial rejuvenation.

Not only is product choice important, but it is fundamental that the physician take into account a patient's unique facial characteristics and goals when performing a Liquid Face Lift procedure. Each person has unique facial features and individual skin types, as well as varying degrees of skin damage, collagen depletion and skin laxity. Goals and desires also vary from patient to patient. Experienced physicians should take into account all of these variables when utilizing Liquid Face Lift products and procedures in order to help optimize patient outcomes.

Liquid Face Lift techniques are experiencing continual refinement among a few leading dermatologists, plastic surgeons and other physicians in the U.S. Results from Liquid Lift procedures are usually gradual and can range from subtle to astonishing. It is common for patients who have had Liquid Face Lift procedures to say that they receive compliments on their appearance without others knowing that they have done anything. In some instances, the results can be so uplifting that they change an individual's life. As with any cosmetic medical procedure, results vary from patient to patient. So call us today and make your appointment to see if you are a candidate for the liquid lift!

Note: Before undergoing any procedure discussed on this web site, make sure that your physician has extensive experience with the specific procedure. We have even heard of dentist's injecting people's faces for a little added revenue. Think about it. Come to A Wrinkle In Time and let us take care of your beautiful face and leave looking refreshed, renewed and vibrant. Why take chances with someone who doesn't actually inject for a living.

Easy Ways to Reduce Lip Lines.

The thinner and more wrinkled the lips become with age, weather, sun, smoking, the deeper the creases around your mouth get. Pollution also contributes to those fine lines where your lipstick seems to migrate. As the natural Collagen and Elastin, which give your lips a pouty shape, break down over time, the lines seem to just settle in. Once the lines become etched into your skin, there's less definition and is a dead giveaway about your age. This news blog is a guide as to the many options you have to change your diminishing lips a youthful chance!

Lip Filling and Plumpling up the Volume

The fastest way to get those luscious lips back to your teenage years is by using Juvederm (there are many fillers). We like Juvederm because, as you can imagine, the lips are part of the most sensitive areas on your body. Juvederm has included a numbing agent in the tube so you'll barely feel the first injection and the rest is fairly comfortable.  Found naturally within the body, hyaluronic acid binds 1,000 times it's weight in moisture to the skin giving the appearance of fullness. Juvederm is hyaluronic acid and through these injections you'll be able to restore your lips to their pouty best. We can also fill those troublesome vertical lines around the mouth and the naso-labial folds (the parenthesis beside your nostrils). Within an hour, you'll be able to proceed with the rest of your day with very little inflammation or discomfort.