Jan 4, 2019

Non-invasive Techniques for a V-line Face Shape

A V-line face with smooth yet distinct jaw lines and a chiseled chin is considered a gold standard for beauty across Asia. But not many people are willing to undergo an invasive surgery to attain a V-line look because of the prolonged recovery time, the high cost and potential pain and risks that associated with any surgery.

Many other non-invasive techniques, therefore, have become more popular recently to help people achieve that V-line face without going under the knife. Let’s take a look at these innovative techniques.


#1: V-line Lifting Laser (Facial Liposuction)

A two-wavelength laser beam (980 nm, 1470 nm) using a laser liposuction machine can help treat the sagging facial skin and fat by applying heat beneath the skin, into the fat layer to perform a power V contour. V-line laser treatment not only melts the fat in the face (jaw, chin or cheeks) but also tightens the skin tissues resulting in a slimmer face with a sharp and narrow chin with almost immediate effect. The laser waves also stimulate the dermis for acceleration of collagen and elastin production, giving a younger look to the overall face. This non incision V-line lifting treatment comes with limited downtime, allowing the patient to return to daily life in a short period of time.


#2: V-line HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound)

HIFU is a revolutionary treatment which allows patients to acquire a V-line face shape without surgery. It is a safe, non-invasive ultrasound treatment that uses the body’s own regenerative response to gently and gradually lift skin. HIFU energy penetrates and works deep below the skin surface without harming the outer layer of skin, stimulating the body’s natural renewal of existing collagen and creation of new collagen. As a result, a gradual tightening of the skin and tissue will occur, ultimately resulting in a natural V-line face shape with youthful-looking skin. Most individuals only need one treatment. However, some may benefit from more than one treatment (depending on the degree of skin laxity they have). The final result will be seen 2-3 months after the treatment.


#3: V-line Injection

This technique has grown drastically in popularity because of its safe, simple procedure with proven effectiveness. The patient can go back to normal life right after the injection because it doesn’t require a recovery period.

Once injected into targeted areas in the face (cheeks or chin), the solution stimulates lymph circulation which breaks down the fat cells in the face and gradually dissolve excess fat, naturally contouring the face into a smooth V-line shape. This treatment is considered the best option for people who have a double chin, lumpy skin that lacks elasticity or people who have a lot of excess fat in their faces. It is recommended that the V-line injection treatment be repeated at least two times for the desired effect. The results will appear within a week or two after the injection.


#4: Botox

Botox (Botulinum Toxin) acts as a relaxant for jaw muscles. The injected Botox will block the nerve impulses of the muscles in the selected area, ensuring the cheekbones sculpted and the face is lifted and tightened. Botox is specifically targeted towards certain areas, so it doesn’t impair functionality of other facial muscles. This technique doesn’t take long to complete and is virtually painless. Due to Botox being injected into the dermis, the patient may feel a slight tingling sensation. A numbing cream is generally applied beforehand to reduce any discomfort. The result is generally visible after 3 to 5 days when the facial skin appears smoother and the new V-shape begins to form.


#5: Ultra V-line Thread Lift

There are many types of threads used in Ultra V-line Thread lift, but they are all made out of polydioxanone (PDO) – a dissolvable suture material commonly used in surgical treatments. This material is very safe and hardly causes any side effects. After being inserted into the skin tissue, the threads will create a tightening effect and stimulate the skin to produce more collagen. The PDO threads are naturally absorbed by the body over time and as they dissolve, they create tissue fibroblasts (a type of cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen) in the skin, resulting in tightening, which enhances the overall V-line face shape.

* Note that all these non-invasive techniques have temporary results, which will last 4-6 months. The V-line thread lift technique has longer-lasting results ranging from one to two years. For maintaining the desired look, a repeat treatment in 6 to 12 months is recommended for all these techniques.


Who are the ideal candidates for those non-invasive V-line techniques?

  • People who are afraid of surgical procedures. 
  • People who don’t have too much time for surgery because of the post-surgical downtime. 
  • People whose health status doesn’t allow them to undergo severe surgery (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.). 
  • People who do not want dramatic or permanent changes to their face and just want to experiment with a new look before committing to it.

Jul 26, 2018

EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT LASER TATTOO REMOVAL


Tattoos are getting popular as time moves on. Some people are even replacing a traditional wedding ring with a tattoo ring. To say that this industry is growing is not too farfetched but so is the laser tattoo removal industry. The Harris Poll that came out in 2008 showed that 17 percent of people regretted tattooing themselves. Most of the people who regretted their tattoo blamed their immaturity, but there were others who did not like their tattoo because it faded. Of course, there was a small group of individuals who admitted they just did not like it any more.

The tattoo removal industry is a necessity, especially in Wisconsin and nearby cities. It is a pretty diverse industry since there are several solutions available. One popular option is the tattoo removal cream, but the problem with this solution is that it usually does not work too well. People who use the cream usually end up with a faded tattoo, which can look worse than the original art piece. Some turn to surgical removal, but this is a pretty scary option considering how invasive it is though it is an effective method for those who aren’t afraid of a simple surgery.

Still, it seems that the gold standard removing method is the laser tattoo removal option. This is the most popular option, and it has pretty much dominated the industry since its introduction. It does not require an invasive procedure, and it is an effective solution.

SO WHAT DOES LASER TATTOO REMOVAL ENTAIL?

Laser tattoo removal uses laser energy to get rid of this troubling tattoo. The laser energy is shot on the tattooed area of a person’s skin at a specific wavelength to ensure safety and to get rid of the ink. The tattoo’s ink penetrates the skin over time, which is part of the reason it is so hard to remove. The energy shot into the area is meant to break ink particles apart so that the person’s body can absorb the ink and get rid of it through the body’s regular removal process. The removal process takes about six to eight weeks, which is around the time that an individual is due back to the laser tattoo removal specialist to undergo another session.

Yes, removing a tattoo is going to take some time, but this delicate process works with the body’s natural processes. Removing a tattoo is going to take around 15 laser tattoo removing sessions or until the tattoo is completely gone.

It is important to note that all lasers are not the same. Some come with changing wavelengths while others come with varying colors or pulsating features. These differences play a role in each laser’s ability to remove a tattoo. A colorful tattoo requires a laser that can control the wavelength and pulse duration. Those who want the best results with the safest laser will need to look for lasers with a short pulsating rate.

Keep in mind that the effectiveness of this procedure also depends on other things like the skin’s ability to absorb the ink once broken down, which means that the immune system needs to be working optimally. This process also depends on the person’s skin tone as well as the pigments that were used to create the tattoo.

HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST?

The cost of getting a tattoo removed varies. A lot needs to be taken into consideration like the size of the tattoo. Still, the best way to figure out how much this process is going to cost is to determine how many laser sessions are going to be needed. The number of sessions needed depends on the colors used or the pigments used to make this tattoo, not to mention the specialist’s own experience.
The prices vary.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS INVOLVED?

There are some risks to discuss; for one, some inks could be so stubborn that they get darker instead of going away. Do not fret, this issue can be reversed but it will take a little longer.
Individuals with darker skin might see their skin lighten a bit during this process, but this should not last. Scarring is also possible, but the risk has gone down significantly as lasers continue to improve. Those who want to learn more should talk to a specialist to figure out what the next step should be.



Reference source: https://appletontattooremoval.com/2018/06/everything-there-is-to-know-about-laser-tattoo-removal/

Jul 15, 2018

HOW TO GET RID OF HYPERPIGMENTATION


Why do you get hyperpigmentation and skin discolouration?
‘This phenomenon is usually the result of your skin’s efforts to protect itself from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light’, says London aesthetics doctor, Dr David Jack.
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes in the deeper layers of your skin produce cells that contain a skin-darkening pigment called melanin. If certain areas of your skin overproduce melanin, you end up with darker patches of skin known as hyperpigmentation.
And it's not just the sun's rays that cause these patchy dark spots - recent studies have also shown High Energy Visible light (HEV), which is omitted from your smartphone, is also a culprit. Bad news for selfie addicts. 
Is there a difference between sunspots and hyperpigmentation? 
Hyperpigmentation is defined as any spot on your skin that’s dark enough to effectively stand out against the surrounding area. Sunspots are a type of hyperpigmentation.
‘The different types of hyperpigmentation are sun spots (sun damage), melasma (hormonally triggered), scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation’, says LA dermatologist, Dr Gary Goldfaden.

Is there a part of the body or face that’s more prone to pigmentation?
Your face, neck and chest are extremely prone to hyperpigmentation — particularly melasma. 
‘Melasma is initially caused by hormones, birth control pills, pregnancy, peri-menopause and menopause’, Dr Goldfaden explains. Exposure to sunlight increases the intensity of melasma making it trickier to more difficult to get rid of.
Can you use a hyperpigmentation home remedy to get rid of skin discoloration?
‘Looking at the properties that reduce pigmentation in skincare products is one way to go about home remedies’, says Dr Jack.  ‘For example, the enzyme, curcumin, and high antioxidant content of turmeric, plus the high concentration of citric acid in lemon juice can reduce pigmentation’, he continues.
The combination of vitamin C, higher levels of vitamin B6 and the enzyme catecholase in white potatoes can also regulate pigmentation.
Why does pigmentation occur more after your 30s?
Over the course of our lives, there is cumulative damage to the DNA of our skin cells as a result of damage from UV exposure and other environmental aggressors, like pollution. Initially, when we’re younger, our cells have much more robust repair mechanisms to repair the changes to our DNA repair, however, this ability to repair these changes declines gradually over time, resulting in more abnormalities.
‘Our ability to recover from sun exposure and remove excessive reactive pigmentation decreases over time, plus the response to sun exposure becomes heightened’, says Dr Jack.
This results in a stronger protective response by our melanocytes to overproduce melanin.

Source from: http://www.womenshealthmag.co.uk/beauty-style/skin/6916/how-to-get-rid-of-hyperpigmentation/#