ABOUT Afterglow

Afterglow is a full-service medi-spa, founded in 2005 by Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, a practising family physician. Dr. Ebrahim's passion for wellness and beauty - the underpinnings of self-confidence - has led to Afterglow's growing reputation as the leading provider of professional skincare services in the Greater Vancouver area. Although the medi-spa is situated in North Vancouver, it attracts clients from all over the province: a testament to the satisfaction of those who have experienced Dr. Ebrahim's professional and friendly manner as well as her technical ability.

 

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

Photo by Mandana Zaidi

The staff of Afterglow Medi-Spa believe strongly in corporate social responsibility. Our special role as health professionals enables us to give back to the communities in which we live, as well as to the world at large.

In 2002, Dr. Ebrahim travelled to Tibet to provide free medical services to the nomads of the eastern regions. In 2006, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for BC Children's Hospital.

In 2010 Dr. Ebrahim is preparing to climb Mount Everest Base Camp with a mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote, underserviced and war stricken areas of Northern Pakistan. She believes that the best hope for a peaceful and prosperous world lies in the education of all the world's children.

In collaboration with the Central Asia Institute, a non-profit organization, Dr. Ebrahim has pledged to donate 2% of the profits from Afterglow, starting January, 2009. Should you decide to undergo a cosmetic rejuvenation procedure with us, Afterglow will donate 2% of your treatment towards this noble cause.

 

Afterglow for Men

Afterglow for Men

Now, the guys have their own treatment facility at Afterglow! Our unique men's skin care program will give you a firmer and smoother face and body and specializes in result-oriented solutions in a confidential and discreet atmosphere.

Dr. Shehla Ebrahim and her highly-trained staff offer the latest medical advancements in cosmetic medicine and skin care for men using state-of-the-art technology.

Take advantage of our men's skin care program today! Eliminate wrinkles, acne, excess body hair and age spots. Improve your looks and enhance your self-image...

 

We're in the news!

We're in the news!

Our reputation is growing. The following article appeared in the March 2009 edition of Fashion Magazine:

Those looking to get that certain covetable glow might want to book a visit with Dr. Shehla Ebrahim at her fully licensed and medically supervised medi-spa in North Vancouver. Asian-influenced decor is the finishing touch on a relaxed, private and no-pressure environment, where informative Power Point presentations about Botox, photofacial and laser hair removal help set realistic expections and put clients at ease. Menopausal women wary of synthetic hormones can look into bioidentical hormone replacement therapy....

To calm any pre-procedure jitters, enjoy complimentary tea and nibble on chocolates as you wait."

June 16, 2010

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

After a long, wet winter and an equally wet spring, West Coasters are about ready for a little sunshine. This year in particular, we are likely to get a nasty sunburn if we don’t cover up properly. Why? Because our skins have not seen the sun in a long time, and will immediately become exposed to the strong overhead rays that June traditionally brings.

So remember to cover up, and try to stay out of the sunshine from the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Love the beach too much to stay away from it? Then be sure to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. (This will be marked on the packaging.) For extra protection, whisk ColoreScience Sunforgettable over your face, neck and decolleté. (Some sun-savvy women use this on the back of  their hands too – every day!) Sunforgettable is available from Afterglow.

Since many sunscreens break down in sunlight, to be safe, you should reapply every two hours or so and always after a swim or dip in the pool.  You will need to apply approximately one shot glass full of sunscreen to your entire body to ensure proper protection.  Sunscreen should be applied half an hour before going out in the sun to allow the protective components to fully penetrate the skin.

Finally, be sure to eat as many sun-protective fruits and veggies as possible! Pomegranate juice, broccoli, carrots, beets and dark chocolate all help to provide an internal sunscreen that will help keep wrinkles at bay.

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Category: Body Skincare
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Posted by: Dr. Shehla Ebrahim

February 11, 2010

Spring Packages for beautiful lips and smooth, hairless skin

Afterglow Medi-Spa Offers two Spring Packages for beautiful lips and smooth, hairless skin

Afterglow Medi-Spa Offers two Spring Packages for beautiful lips and smooth, hairless skinBeautiful Lips Package: It’s kissing time again! With all the new spring lip colours on drugstore shelves, many of us are wondering how we can make our lips look plumper and more youthful.

Women generally seek lip enhancement for one of two reasons: They were born with “thin” lips, and would prefer a fuller, more plump appearance, or they are noticing that their lips are becoming flatter and less “padded” due to aging. Either way, a treatment at Afterglow can restore or create natural-looking fullness in the lips, in a mere half hour or so.

To help your lips look their very best, Afterglow is offering a special lip enhancement package, Teosyal Kiss®, a safe and pain-free filler that has a completely natural feel and will not “drift” inside the lips.

Afterglow Medi-Spa Offers two Spring Packages for beautiful lips and smooth, hairless skinLaser Hair-removal Package: If facial or body hair is getting the better of you and you are tired of reaching for your razor, tweezers, depilatory, or waxing kit, a Laser Hair Removal treatment at Afterglow could well be the answer…

Women frequently have unwanted hair on the upper lip or eyebrow area, in the bikini zone, under the arms and on the legs, while men often wish to rid themselves of excessive hair on the back, chest, between the eyebrows or on other parts of the face.

The Sciton BBL™ (Broadband Light) laser offers a safe, effective and permanent alternative to shaving, tweezing and waxing, that you are sure to love.

Please call Afterglow at 604-980-3993 or email us now for more details.

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Category: Body Skincare, Events / Media, Facial Skincare, Hair Removal
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Posted by: Dr. Shehla Ebrahim

January 12, 2010

Ten tips for youthful-looking skin

Ten tips for youthful-looking skin

Ten tips for youthful-looking skin

With 2010 already in full swing, a lot of our “of a certain age” clients are wondering how to improve their skin this year. So here are ten tips to help your body’s largest organ look and act more youthful:

1. Follow a skincare regime that is appropriate for your “stage” in life. Today’s professional skincare products are filled with active ingredients that, applied regularly, actually produce a beneficial effect, helping the ski’s cells to behave in a more youthful fashion. Talk to Afterglow staff about Afterglow’s own line of professional products to find a regimen that is tailored to you.

2. Need we say it again? Use your sunscreen every day and —just as importantly—make sure it is marked “broad spectrum.” The SPF rating applies only to UVB rays, however, UVA light is far more damaging to the skin in the long run. This is because it is all around us, even on a dull day, and can pass through a glass window pane. Broad spectrum sunscreens contain blocks against UVA light, protecting your skin from cumulative damage.

3. Get enough sleep. Although skin repair is an ongoing process, lack of sleep causes an increase in the stress hormone cortisol and this can slow the production of collagen. Between 7 and 8 hours a night is the appropriate amount of shut-eye for that youthful bloom.

4. Get enough exercise. By increasing blood flow, physical activity will bring blood and nutrients to the surface of your skin, encouraging a healthy glow.

5. Don’t smoke. Smoking damages the skin. Period. Not only will you develop dynamic wrinkles from all that puffing and squinting, but the blood vessels in the surface of your skin will constrict, resulting in a dull pallor.

6. Eat more fruits and veggies. Their antioxidants are good for your whole body. Fruits and veggies are also hydrating.

7. If you are past menopause, the reduced estrogen in your body will gradually cause breakdown of collagen and elastin, resulting in a thin, sagging appearance. Consider Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). Dr. Ebrahim will be able to advise you on BHRT so you may wish to set up an appointment with her.

8. Treatment with the Pro-Fractional laser has been shown to improve the tone and texture of aging skin. You may also wish to discuss this with the staff of Afterglow.

9. Don’t forget to exfoliate. Exfoliating the outer layer of skin (epidermis) encourages cell renewal in the deeper layers of the skin. Afterglow offers a microdermabrasion treatment that will polish and refine your skin in a mere 20 minutes. It’s a great way to refresh your look for the coming year!

10. Last, but not least, hydrate! Drink lots of pure water or—if you can afford the sugar content—juices. Foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, flax oil, flax seed, salmon, mackerel, sardines), also help keep water in the skin. At night, when skin loses moisture, use a humidifier in your bedroom and wake up to a plumper, more youthful-looking skin.

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Category: Body Skincare, Facial Skincare, Sun Damage/Protection
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Posted by: Dr. Shehla Ebrahim

August 12, 2009

GOODBYE TO CHEST WRINKLES

Goodbye To Chest Wrinkles

Goodbye To Chest Wrinkles

One of the more common concerns voiced by women of a certain age is the development of a delta-like pattern of wrinkles on the chest. Combined with the finer all-over wrinkling often seen on the fine skin of the décolletage, this can add significantly to the appearance of aging.

The delta pattern of wrinkling, where the wrinkles start just under the collarbone and “flow” towards the cleavage is not a true sign of aging. Rather, it is caused by the compression of the soft structures of the chest when a woman sleeps on her side or stomach. (Sleeping in these positions is also responsible for wrinkling and creasing of the face.) If you stand in front of a mirror and push your breasts and upper chest area together with your arms, you will notice how marked the delta creases become.

The best way to prevent delta creases, and-if they are relatively shallow-lessen their appearance, is to sleep on your back. You don’t have to lie staring up at the ceiling, but simply make sure that your shoulders are facing upwards. Positioning your hip sideways will feel more comfortable, and placing a pillow under each arm will help retrain you to stop turning on your side.

If the creases are very marked, they can be treated with the profractional laser or a mild peel to markedly reduce their depth. Very deep creases can be filled with Restylane or Juvéderm to restore the appearance of youth. Dr. Ebrahim also uses Botox® to address wrinkling in the cleavage area.

The network of wrinkles that often appears in conjunction with hyperpigmentation (freckles, age spots) is caused by UV light and frequently worsens after menopause, when the skin thins. This fine, crepey appearance can be addressed by the use of an Afterglow retinoic acid formulation, and/or treatments with the profractional laser. Dr. Ebrahim or her staff will also be able to recommend a skin cream that can address the hyperpigmentation, to restore a youthful, even tone.

Finally, to help prevent deepening of chest wrinkles, be sure to wear your sunscreen every day!

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Category: Body Skincare, Sun Damage/Protection
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Posted by: Dr. Shehla Ebrahim

July 7, 2009

PROTECTING YOUR SKIN IN SUMMER

Protecting Your Skin In Summer

Protecting Your Skin In Summer

Of course, you know you must wear a sunhat and broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater to protect your skin… But did you know that, when out in the bright summer sunshine, you need to reapply your sunscreen every 80 minutes? This is because the UVA protection breaks down quickly when in sunlight. Sunscreens containing Mexoryl™ or Helioplex® last longer, and are the protection of choice for bright summer days.

Better still is the protection provided by ColoreScience’s Sunforgettable mineral sunscreens, now available from Afterglow.

Sunforgettable is a weightless powder that is safe for all ages, odour free, clear on the skin and will not burn the eyes if you perspire.

Sunforgettable brush

Sunforgettable brush

Sunforgettable SPF 30 mineral powder comes in an easy to use retractable brush so all you need do is brush it on, pat it in and forget about it. The formula consists of titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide and may be safely used if you have rosacea, eczema or other skin problems. It is especially helpful following skin peels, laser treatments and most surgical procedures, and will not rub off on your clothes.

Sunscreen will protect your skin from the outside, but you can also protect yourself from the inside! Researchers have recently looked into the role certain foods play in protecting the skin from UV rays. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that protect plants from UV rays. When we eat plants containing carotenoids, this protection is passed on to us. Foods rich in carotenoids include carrots, tomatoes, melons, yams, pomegranates, yams, kale and broccoli.

Broccoli and other vegetables of the brassica family (Brussels sprouts, kale and dark leafy cabbage), also contain substances known as sulforaphanes. These reduce the inflammation resulting from over-exposure to the sun.

Chocolate's protective effects on the skin

Chocolate's protective effects on the skin

Flavonoids are other plant-based antioxidants that have been shown to provide a degree of protection against UV light. Cocoa with high flavonoid content (usually marked on the package) and dark chocolate with over 80% cocoa content have been shown to exert protective effects on the skin after a few weeks’ daily use.

However delicious that chocolate may be, please remember that you will still need a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and a sunhat to fully protect your skin from the ravages of the sun.

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Category: Body Skincare, Facial Skincare
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Posted by: Dr. Shehla Ebrahim

January 13, 2009

The ProFractional Laser


The ProFractional Laser

The ProFractional Laser

Do you suffer from any of the following skin conditions?

  • Acne scars
  • Surgical scars
  • Wrinkles and fine lines
  • Melasma (mask of pregnancy)
  • Sunspots/sun damage
  • Crepey skin on face/neck
  • Poor tone and texture
  • Enlarged pores
  • Stretch marks

If so, you may be interested in treatment with our new ProFractional laser—the newest technology for skin resurfacing. Skin resurfacing with the ProFractional laser benefits all skin types and provides long-lasting results. ProFractional uses a laser microbeam to treat thousands of pinpoint areas of your skin. Since only a fraction of the skin is directly treated with the laser, healing time is quick and downtime is short.

How does the ProFractional laser benefit your skin? By deliberately inducing micro-channels of controlled damage, the laser “tells” the skin to repair itself by building new collagen. This new collagen smoothes out wrinkles, tautens crepiness and fills in the pits and scars associated with acne. The treatment also breaks down the pigmentation that gives rise to melasma, sunspots and freckles.
If you are looking for younger looking skin, or to improve scars, wrinkles, or sun damage in a comfortable treatment with a fast recovery, then you may be an ideal candidate for ProFractional treatment.

How many ProFractional treatments will you need?

ProFractional is a fast, comfortable procedure that normally takes 15-30 minutes depending on the condition and the size of the area treated. A numbing cream may be applied in advance to aid in comfort during the procedure. ProFractional is typically done in a series of 1-4 treatments, spaced 3-6 weeks apart, depending on your needs. Afterglow will personalize a treatment plan based on the level of improvement desired and may recommend that you combine ProFractional with a MicroLaser Peel or other effective aesthetic procedures to further enhance your treatment results.

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Category: Body Skincare, Facial Skincare, Hand/Foot Rejuvenation
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Posted by: Dr. Shehla Ebrahim