Ultherapy: Say Good Bye to Sagging Skin!
By Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, MD

Few things are as inevitable as gravity’s toll on your skin. One day, all of a sudden, reality stares you square in the face. You might initially think it’s because you did not sleep well the previous night, but eventually you admit that an afternoon nap is not going to solve this issue. It’s a bona fide eyebrow droop!

Non-surgical methods to treat laxity of the face and neck are among the most sought-after solutions in aesthetic medicine. Many technologies to tighten the skin have been introduced in the past, and a variety claim to achieve skin tightening. Yet none have been shown to be consistent and reproducible, and many patients leave dissatisfied. Enter Ultherapy: a novel technology and a quantum leap from other non-surgical, energy-based devices used to tighten and lift the skin. This technology combines ultrasound imaging with acoustic energy to visualize tissue under the skin followed by the precise delivery of energy to the desired depth.

Ultherapy: A Non-surgical Breakthrough

As we get older, our faces sag and wrinkles appear due to gravity and sun. Until recently, the main approach to the improvement of skin laxity was a facelift – an effective but invasive procedure associated with downtime plus a risk of scarring and side effects. Ultherapy using ultrasound is a novel device that delivers energy that tightens the skin without cutting. No scalpels, no needles, no cutting. Ultherapy, however, is a not a facelift and does not give the same results as a facelift. A facelift stops the clock. Ultherapy slow down the aging process by creating new structural collagen. As a standalone treatment, Ultherapy may be optimal for surgical candidates who are unwilling or unable to undergo surgery or for those candidates who wish to postpone surgery.

The beauty of Ultherapy is that there is no downtime. There is no swelling, bruising or crusting and patients can return to work the same day. It’s aptly called the ‘Lunchtime lift’. Ultherapy uses ultrasound heat to set collagen production into overdrive deep below the skin’s surface. As it kicks in, the brow firms, the jaw line becomes well defined and the neck lifts. It’s a lunchtime lift without any surgery. Even more alluring is the Ultherapy provides an immediate smoothing effect. And since the collagen continues to grow, results actually improve over the course of a few months. More than 90 percent of patients notice improvement in tone, texture and some tightening within a few weeks, and are even more excited with the results after three to six months, when the deep wrinkles become fine lines and eyes appear more open.

The duration of response after a single treatment is estimated to last about 1.5 years. The ideal candidate is someone between 35 and 60 with early signs of laxity. These patients see results within three to six months with a single treatment. Patients over the age of 60 may require a second treatment in six months. Many patients are looking to stay competitive in the workforce, which they believe is tied to their appearance. Whether improving their appearance to look more vibrant or for the associated confidence boost, people perceive this to be important and they come into my office looking for help.

Stand Firm in the Face of Gravity

Ultherapy has been extensively publicized in the media as a safe and effective procedure for lifting and tightening of the skin. You may have seen Ultherapy through Dr. Oz, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar or other fashion magazines. Once it was featured on the larger talk shows, the flood-gates opened and our phones were ringing off the hook. Be aware that every procedure has risks and side effects if not done properly. With Ultherapy, the heat from the procedure could make you wince, and transient numbness along the jaw line is possible, though temporary. It is therefore, important to locate an experienced physician to perform the procedure.

Ultherapy offers a distinct advantage over other non-surgical alternatives. Most non-surgical, energy-based devices currently on the market treat only the skin’s surface.

Ultherapy goes deeper, providing a different dimension to rejuvenation; depositing energy at very precise depths because it sees and treats at the same time. Treatments can also be individualized according to each patient’s concern. Because the effects occur below the surface, treating specific facial areas individually is certainly possible with Ultherapy. However, most patients select full-face treatments as the best option for a more uniform result.

The principal behind this therapy is simple:  when applied to the skin, under a local or topical anaesthetic, channels are created deep into the dermis of the skin.

These channels cause keratinocytes and fibroblasts to produce numerous growth factors which induce the growth of collagen – with no damage to the epidermis!

Dermal Rolling is used to soften fine lines, tighten skin, restore elasticity plus reduce the appearance of scarring, pigmentation marks and stretch marks.

The procedure is safe, entirely natural with a short healing period of approximately 5 days.  No sun sensitivity is induced and it can be used on laser resurfaced skin.  Another advantage to this treatment is the areas it can be used on:  face, neck and body!

So get Rolling and call Afterglow for your complimentary consultation.

I thought you might be interested to know I am now offering a new groundbreaking cosmetic treatment for the face and neck that has recently received national media attention. Our practice is the only one on the North Shore to offer the new Ultherapy® procedure.

The treatment Ultherapy®, uses ultrasound energy to reach the damaged skin layers that cause skin to ‘sag’ (including the deep support layers addressed in surgery) without disrupting the surface of the skin for a non-invasive ‘lift’.

After just one Ultherapy® treatment and no downtime, one will initially see signs of improvement with some lifting and tightening. However, the building of new collagen occurs gradually over the two to three months following treatment, helping the skin maintain it’s youthfulness.

Look who’s talking about Ultherapy®: Dr. Oz, Rachel Ray, The Doctors, Vogue Magazine, Self Magazine and many more.

Ultherapy® is a wonderful option for someone looking for a non-surgical way to counter the effects of time and gravity. I welcome the opportunity to answer any of your questions. Please contact us for a complimentary consult at either Afterglow in North Vancouver or my new second location opening July 4, 2011 in West Vancouver: Ambleside Dermedics and Health Centre. We look forward to hearing from you.

Restore your skin's youthful glow...

Laser Genesis Skin Therapy has recently arrived at Afterglow. This non-invasive treatment safely and effectively treats fine wrinkles, large pores, uneven skin texture, scars and diffuse redness in both men and women. While you will see a subtle improvement after each individual treatment, the cumulative effect of multiple treatments can be quite dramatic. There are no unpleasant side effects such as bruising or excessive skin irritation.

Laser Genesis Skin Therapy treatments are performed in a relaxed and comfortable manner without the need for topical anaesthetics or gel. Clients who have received the treatment report excellent results over the entire face and  neck. (The treatment can also be applied to scarring on other parts of the body.)

Prior to treatment, you will be asked to remove all makeup. You will feel a gentle warming of the skin’s surface as the laser handpiece is moved  half an inch above the surface of your skin. As the upper dermis is gently heated, collagen renewal is encouraged*, pores are reduced in size, and redness is diminished. Over the course of four or five treatments, Laser Genesis Skin Therapy can help restore the skin’s youthful glow and appearance by smoothing out uneven texture caused by aging or sun damage. The complexion will appear more creamy as minor imperfections disappear.

Now you can have a more youthful appearance by treating the conditions typically associated with premature aging and sun damage. For more information or to set up a consultation/appointment, please call Afterglow today at 604.980.3993, or email us at info@afterglowskincare.ca

* Laser Genesis Skin Therapy has been scientifically proven to stimulate collagen growth.

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.

Beautiful 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.

Laser 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.

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.

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!

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 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

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.

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.