We’ve all heard the saying before, every time summer is approaching “I gotta get in shape for bathing suit season!” Easier said than done right? Have no fear Brittany is here to help you get on track to reach your health and fitness goals! First things first… Give yourself a goal… Goal setting plays a major part in achieving your fitness goals. I have always been a firm believer in buying a journal to log your workouts and what you’re eating. This will help tremendously with keeping you on track. Water, water, water! I cannot stress enough on how important it is to stay hydrated! (Especially during the summer when it’s hot!) What fun is getting into shape without healthy easy recipes?! I always find it exciting getting a new recipe to try every week! The warmer months are rapidly approaching, so why not get rid of the unhealthy food in your house and enjoy a brighter, thinner future? Here are a few helpful tips to get you started on a healthier path to summer!
Exercise
If you’re still carrying some post-Christmas weight, why not hit the gym and shed those pounds? Join your local fitness centre with a friend or make the most of the great outdoors. All you have to do is eat less and move more, so do any activity that makes you happy – as exercise shouldn’t be a chore. Climb a mountain, go on a hike, ride a horse or ask a personal trainer to spur you into action before the warmer weather arrives.
Eat well
Losing weight should be fun, so find foods you like to eat and prepare well-balanced meals on a regular basis. Fill your plate with plenty of fruit and veggies and swap white pasta, rice and bread for brown alternatives (as these are better for you). Avoid calorie-laden snacks and make sure you’re not hungry – otherwise you’re more likely to graze. Try to eat small portions and stop yourself from nibbling late into the night, as the calories are more likely to turn to fat.
Put up photographs
If you want to fit back into your favorite skinny jeans or bikini, put a photograph of your wearing them on the fridge. This should keep you focused and will give your something to aim for. It’s easy to fall off the wagon, but having a clear goal in mind will certainly help. If you’re heading abroad over the summer, put a photograph of where you’re going in the kitchen for inspiration. Imagine walking along the beach in a brand new swim suit and think about feeling less tired when the weather’s hot.
Buy two new items of clothing
Head to the shops and buy two items of clothing that are slightly too small for you – and aim to fit into them by summer. This may seem like a waste of money, but it will give you something to work towards. It’s easy to pull on a pair of stretchy leggings, but it’s not so easy to squish into little black dress. Choose something you really want to wear and stick to your healthy eating regime – it’ll all be worth it in the end.
With the longer days, warmer weather, and clear skies of summer beckoning, thoughts turn to the outdoors, poolside, beaches and good times on vacation. We'll probably be wearing a little less and exposing a little more. Hopefully, that will be a good thing. But don't we all have a few concerns?
How many days at the gym have we logged, or time have we spent, discussing or thinking about food choices, only to have a bulge, roll, or soft spot that simply won't go away?
Exercise is great - the health benefits are manifold, and it is so easy to do. I really like the approach outlined by Gretchen Reynolds in her new book. This is very doable - and well worth it. We all have work to do, and competing priorities, but incorporating exercise into everyday life is possible.
Eating well is important - less processed food, no fast food, little or no sugar, more homemade meals, no sweetened beverages. All basic stuff, and again something that can be made routine.
Let's not forget genetics - that is, the body type and makeup you essentially inherited from your parents.
We'll address each of these topics in greater detail in later posts, but let's say you've nailed them all and still have those problem areas? Smartlipo liposuction may be a great option for you.
We've been using this technique at GLOW for five years now, and we've literally treated hundreds of patients and thousands of areas. The Smartlipo treatment is done under local anesthesia, and includes the use of a powerful laser to loosen fat deposits and heat stimulate the skin layers. Once the Smartlipo laser has been applied, a narrow suction tube is carefully used to sculpt the areas while removing excess fat.
Happily, this can be done in just a few hours, after which you are on your way home to rest. Most folks are back to work in 3-4 days, and exercising within a week. We do like you to wear a compression garment for up to 3 weeks, and we'll have you back for several Tri-Active massage treatments to enhance your final recovery and results.
The Smartlipo technique can be used for many problem areas. At GLOW, we commonly treat the abdomen (stomach), flanks (love handles), inner and outer thighs, arms, and portions of the back and chest. It also may be a great option for portions of the neck and chin.
Pictures are worth a thousand words:
Before: Flanks After: Smartlipo of Flanks
We've gained a wealth of experience with the Smartlipo technique at GLOW over the past five years, and we look forward to using it to provide outstanding results for patients in future.
If you're ready to learn more about Smartlipo, and how we can use our experience to help you, give us a call today.
In honor of May as skin cancer awareness month, here is a list of important things to know about sun protection. Take a look at what you are using daily as well as what you use for a beach or park outing and compare it to the list below. How does your sun protection measure up?
1. Know the difference between sun blocks and sunscreens.
Sunscreens are classified in two types: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that act as filters and reduce UV radiation penetration to the skin. Physical sunscreens, or sun blocks, are products containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide which physically block UV radiation by creating a barrier that reflect UV light AWAY from the skin.
2. Make sure you are using broad-spectrum sun protection.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen means protection from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are those that cause photo-aging and cancer. UVB rays are the rays that cause the skin to burn. The SPF number only refers to the UVB protection. To avoid the harmful long-term effects of UVA rays, look for broad spectrum.
3. REALLY know what SPF means.
S.P.F. stands for Sun Protection Factor. It refers to a product’s ability to protect your skin from burning. If your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, for example, wearing an SPF 30 sunscreen like IMAGE Daily Defense Universal Moisturizer would theoretically allow you to stay in the sun for 300 minutes (10x30) without burning. Yes, that means you should be re-applying about every 2 hours to prevent a burn.
4. Higher SPF does not mean more protection.
Based on the above formula, a 100 SPF would mean you could be in the sun for 1000 minutes without burning, right? WRONG. First of all, sunscreen users generally apply far less than the recommended amount of product for full protection. Secondly, the SPF number also has a UVB absorption rate that is often misunderstood. For example, an SPF 15 absorbs 93.3% of UVB rays while an SPF 30 absorbs 96.7% of UVB rays. So, just because the SPF number doubled, does not mean that the amount of protection doubled.
5. The key to great sun protection is in the application.
To get the best out of your sun protection, apply 15-30 minutes before going outside to give it a chance to start working. Be sure to apply your sun protection generously and reapply every 2 hours or more often if sweating or swimming. Read the bottle for the recommended amount, but it usually calls for 1 ounce for your entire body. The amount is very important. A recent study found that applying half of the recommended amount of SPF 50 sunscreen only provided an SPF 7 protection! Be sure to cover all exposed skin including the ears, nose, and neck and do not rub it in. Appropriate application calls for you to let it soak in for best results.
If you are in the market for a new form of sun protection, come into GLOW Skin Revived. We have several different broad-spectrum sun blocks by IMAGE Skincare for all skin types or click here to see a few of the products.
We get a lot of calls, emails, and visits related to breast augmentation, and spend a good deal of time educating folks on this topic. At GLOW, we love helping our clients sort through options, and there is a lot to think about when it comes to breast augmentation.
Because of this, I thought it would be nice to put together a series of posts entitled Breast Augmentation Basics. This occasional series (final number yet to be determined!) will cover the process from beginning to end. We'll talk about what you might think about when just getting started, the consultation process, types of implants, sizing, the procedure itself, the recovery period, and things to think about after breast augmentation.
Let's get started with the very beginning, when you are just thinking about it. This may be the most important part of the whole process, and it's a great time to begin gathering information and educating yourself. There will be time to consider the size, type, and location of the implants, where to consult, and which surgeon to choose. Right now, the focus is on why.
What got you thinking about breast augmentation? Is it something you've been considering 'forever?' Are you a little self-conscious about your appearance and size, and just want to feel more confident and comfortable? Did you have a friend get breast augmentation, and now you want to do it for yourself? Maybe there is a difference in size and shape from one side to the other, or perhaps you want to look better in clothes. Maybe you feel pressure to get implants from someone close to you?
Understanding how and why you got to the point of seriously considering breast augmentation is important. This is a personal matter, and it will affect the way you look, and how you feel about your body. It should not be an impulsive decision, and there is no harm in thinking about it, and then thinking some more. The old adage to 'sleep on it' certainly applies here.
Try writing down the reasons you want breast augmentation - this will help you sort through your thoughts and motivations. Remember that there are no absolutely right or wrong answers here. One key point, though: You have to want to do it for yourself. Doing it for someone else is probably not a good idea.
This process may be brief, or it may take a while. Don't skip it, though. Understanding your reasons will help you along the way. In fact, you may decide that you really don't want breast implants, or that now is not the right time. That's an okay outcome - we'll still be here at GLOW should you change your mind!
You are what you eat. We have all heard this, but what does it really mean? Surely if we eat healthy foods, our health and body will show for it. Have you thought about what your choice of foods does for your skin? Skin is the largest organ in the body and greatly affects our appearance and only 20% of the skin (aka the epidermis) can be treated by topical skincare products. Healthy, beautiful skin is associated with smooth texture, plumpness, and a glow. We can all get our skin healthier by treating it from the inside-out with a diet full of antioxidants, healthy fats, and water that all play a huge role in the synthesis of collagen and elastin.
Here are some great foods to get you started.
1. Antioxidants help with the production of collagen, fight free radicals, and speed up wound healing. Some great foods that contain antioxidants are:
-Bluberries. Along with Vitamin C, blueberries have other potent antioxidants that help fight free radicals that come from sun-exposure, pollution, etc.
-Green Tea is also loaded with antioxidants that help increase cell turnover. It also helps protect the skin from the effects of UV damage by offering some photo-protection against the sun. Bonus…Green tea may help boost your metabolism, too!
-Almonds have large amounts of Vitamin E that will give your skin the healthy glow by repairing skin tissue and maintaining skin moisture.
-Milk (preferably low fat or nonfat), dark leafy green veggies, and carrots contain Vitamin A, which helps maintain and repair skin tissue while speeding up cell turnover. A diet low of Vitamin A will look dry, flaky and dull.
-Kiwis, oranges, red and green peppers, grapefruit, broccoli, mangos, and more! Antioxidants are in so many great foods and provide such great benefits, so eat up.
2. Healthy Fats that contain omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in your body by keeping out toxins. They also maintain a natural oil barrier that makes your skin look younger and clearer. Here are some foods that contain healthy fats:
-Salmon preserves good skin elasticity. Other great fish loaded with essential fatty acids are sardines and mackerel.
-Not a seafood person? Don’t worry. Foods containing flaxseed (like cereal) will contain a great daily dose. Or, you can buy raw flaxseed and throw it in yogurt.
-Walnuts, canola oil, olive oil, and avocados too.
3. Water, Water, Water! Water is important to your health for many reasons. For your skin, it helps with moisture, elasticity, flexibility, and tone. Drink 6-8 glasses a day for best results.
Your skin is a reflection of overall wellness. Eat healthy and your skin will show its appreciation with a healthy, radiant complexion. Be sure to pair your good eating habits with a healthy skincare diet for the best results. Come see me at GLOW and I can help personalize a skincare regimen for you with IMAGE skincare or you can start by visiting our skincare page by clicking here.
We frequently get asked about lines and wrinkles around the eyes and on the upper and lower eyelids. These areas are so visible, and really encompass the focal point when we look at one another. As with any other area, time and the environment gradually chip away at the firmness of youth. The result? An aged appearance, lines, wrinkles, perhaps some puffiness, and excess skin.
Botox Cosmetic and Xeomin may be the answer - a great choice for smoothing lines and wrinkles between the brows (frown lines), on the forehead, and crow's feet (smile lines next to the eyes). Botox works by calming the tiny muscles in the face that pull on the skin. Less pull, smoother skin.
But what about the upper and lower eye lids, and the areas below the eyes? We don't have much use for Botox in the lids themselves, and it won't do anything for bulging or wrinkled skin directly beneath the eyes.
What is one to do? We're delighted to now offer the blepharoplasty procedure, also known as an eyelift (two syllables, not five - rolls off the tongue better). This procedure can be done under local anesthesia, and can involve the upper lids alone, or the upper and lower lids together.
The upper eyelift is a great way to reduce the folded, excessive skin of the upper eye lid. The procedure involves very carefully marking, and removing, a strip of upper lid skin and muscle, followed by a small amount of fat. A few small stitches are placed, and that's that.
Check out the before (left) and after (right, 2 weeks after) photos of a recent upper lid eyelift.
In some cases, lower lid wrinkling can be treated with a simple skin pinch technique, in which a small sliver of skin is carefully removed just beneath the lower eyelashes. This has the effect of pulling the skin edges together more tightly, leading to a smoother appearance beneath the eye.
We've all seen puffy areas, or bags, beneath the eyes. This unattractive contour can be softened with fat removal using a techniqe that does not require any stitches.
So, blepharoplasty can refer to several techniques, can include different areas, and is done under local anesthesia. What's the catch? Glad you asked. First of all, the eye itself is left alone. We're really talking about the surrounding skin, muscle, and fat. Bruising and swelling do occur, and may last a week or slightly longer. Luckily, it is confined to the eye area, and can be disguised with glasses if need be. Any stitches are removed within 5 days.
With an uneventful recovery, you could be back to work within a week, with a smoother, less wrinkled, and more youthful appearance.
Want to learn more? Are you wondering whether an eyelift procedure might be right for you? Contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation.
We recently attended the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (www.cosmeticsurgery.org) annual meeting in Las Vegas. This meeting brings together leading cosmetic surgeons from around the US, and the world, for 4 days of presentations, discussion, and education.
While spending several days in Vegas sounds like a boondoggle at best, our days began at 7 am and lasted past 6 pm, with rarely a dull moment. There were often several equally interesting presentations going on at the same time, making it tough to decide which one to attend.
One of the highlights was Dr. Jean Carruthers’ keynote address on the evolution of botulinum toxin from a treatment for blepharospasm to its continued development as BOTOX Cosmetic, one of the leading cosmetic treatments worldwide. Rarely do you get the background scoop on such a groundbreaking technique!
The sessions on body sculpting (liposuction, tummy tuck, fat transfer), breast surgery (augmentation and breastlifts), and facial surgery (blepharoplasty, browlift, and facelift) were informative and abundantly stocked with great photos, technique pearls, and stimulating discussion. It was also nice to stop by the exhibit hall and see the latest tools of the trade, and get an early look at future developments.
One of the key benefits of this meeting is simply interacting with and learning from colleagues. You just cannot attend these sessions without learning things that will make you a better cosmetic surgeon.
At GLOW, we are committed to continual learning, education, and refinement. This commitment if a key tenet of our desire to provide the best care we can for our valued patients. Last year, we spent over three weeks devoted to continuing medical education – a number we hope to exceed in 2012!
While Smartlipo liposuction, breast augmentation, and tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) remain popular as standalone procedures, we’ve seen an increased interest in combining some of these into one sitting. As such, a few lines on the fabled ‘mommy makeover.’
The term ‘mommy makeover’ usually refers to some combination of procedures meant to restore a woman’s body to the shape and dimensions enjoyed before pregnancy and breastfeeding. Natural and predictable changes on the road to motherhood may include stretch marks, sagging or lax skin, pesky, intractable fat deposits, and volume loss and sagging of the breasts.
Of course, some bodies revert to baseline in an enviable, almost magical way. We are not talking about those bodies. What if you, or someone you know, have some of these changes? You have options.
Changes in your breasts may be addressed with augmentation with implants, a lift (mastopexy), a reduction, or some combination of these options. If sagging and volume loss is present, one reasonable option may be breast augmentation along with a lift. Sometimes a straightforward augmentation with implants will suffice.
What about that fat, or sagging skin, particularly around the belly and love handles? Skin, while resilient, is sometimes stretched beyond its ability to snap back. If redundant, hanging skin is in abundance, removal during a tummy tuck may be necessary. Depending on the technique used, additional fat can be removed through liposuction, and the stomach wall can be tightened. If the skin is in good shape, Smartlipo liposuction may be all that is required.
The good news is that reshaping the stomach, love handles and breasts (ie. your torso!) can often be done at the same time. This means you can set aside the recovery and procedure time only once. Imagine that: one longish procedure and a significant transformation of your body.
At GLOW, we are excited to offer combination mommy makeovers to help our patients realize their goals. Do you want to learn more about how we can help you? Contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation.
It’s about time we addressed a very pressing matter. What are we going to do about all of those sagging breasts out there?
We know this doesn’t concern readers of this blog, but let’s face it: sagging breasts do exist, and they are here to stay.
We’re talking about breasts that have lost volume or shrunken in size, with a general downward tendency of the nipple. The skin seems less tight, the breast seems to just lie there on the lower chest (or upper stomach!), and you just can’t appreciate them when looking down like you used to.
Sound familiar? Not uncommon after a few years have passed, with an episode (or several) of breast feeding thrown in for good measure.
This can happen over time regardless of pregnancy or breast feeding, and sagging breasts with low riding nipples may be present right from the get go.
You don’t have to do anything about sagging breasts, but if you are of a mind to change how your breasts look, you have options.
Mastopexy, or breast lift surgery, is an out-patient procedure that involves tightening portions of the breast while elevating the nipple to achieve a natural, less droopy overall appearance. On occasion, breast implants may be required to get the volume and shape just right.
The result? More youthful appearing, full, and aesthetically pleasing breasts. If that upper breast volume (ie. cleavage) has been missing in action…..welcome back.
Another nice outcome: the way the whole torso (stomach and chest area) can simply look better as a unit, with more definition and exposure of the upper stomach area. Now it can’t hide behind those sagging breasts!
If this seems like a topic worth exploring further, drop by or call to learn more about how GLOW may be able to help (www.glowkskinrevived.com).
Before After
What is a tummy tuck, anyway? Sounds a little scary.
For the jargon inclined, the term ‘abdominoplasty’ will do just fine. A tummy tuck involves removing fat and skin from the lower part of the belly in order to improve the overall shape and contour.
Smartlipo liposuction of the belly and love handles is often a great choice if you want to slim down the problem areas that resist your best efforts in the diet and exercise department. If you have a lot of loose lower skin, with stretch marks, maybe a scar or two, and a pouchy overhang, you may want to consider a tummy tuck.
While Smartlipo liposuction works great for reducing fat, it has little effect on stretch marks, scars, and excessive overhanging skin. Sometimes, there is no substitution for taking those areas out.
What’s the best way to do that? There are a number of ways to do a tummy tuck, and there is no one size fits all answer. In general, the procedure involves removing skin and fat from the lower part of the belly and pulling the upper skin down to join the lower edge. The belly button stays put, but is usually brought out through a small hole in the upper skin. Occasionally, the stomach muscles may need to be tightened a bit.
In the end, you have a flatter belly (picture a bedsheet pulled nice and tight), a sharper waist, and a horizontal incision low down on your stomach. This heals like any other incision and becomes less noticeable over time.
What’s the downtime? Most of our patients are back to work in less than a week. You do need to wear a special garment and avoid heavy lifting or stretching, but we’re always pleasantly surprised at how quickly our tummy tuck patients bounce back.
At GLOW, we love providing the shape and contour you’re looking for. Feel free to contact us to learn more about the tummy tuck procedure, and whether it’s right for you.
Before After
