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TIGHTENING THE FACE AND NECK WITHOUT SURGERY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON : Leading Dermatologist Dr. Josh Fox on the Newest Non-Surgical Treatment
Roslyn, NY, December 2010 — The holiday gifts have been wrapped, decorations adorn the house, and now you’re looking for a way to feel special and extra-attractive this holiday season without Botox or a filler. A new in-office, non-invasive face tightening procedure to firm sagging skin and help you feel more youthful may be just the answer to help you welcome the new year, says leading dermatologist Joshua Fox, M.D.
According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the overall number of non-surgical procedures increased by nearly 80 percent between 2008 and 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available. One of the reasons for this huge growth is the availability of new, non-invasive treatments like Ultherapy, which uses ultrasound technology to restore firmness to the skin and its underlying tissue.
“There are several non-surgical procedures designed to counteract the effects of time and gravity by tightening and lifting skin tissue on the face and neck,” says Dr. Fox, medical director of Advanced Dermatology of New York and New Jersey. “With these new treatments, you can improve your holiday mood and your look in about 45 to 60 minutes with minimal pain and no downtime from work.”
Dr. Fox recommends Ultherapy, which uses an ultrasound applicator that allows the doctor to actually see into your skin and the tissue beneath. “As with other sonograms, an image is projected onto a screen that both you and the medical practitioner can see. This same handpiece then delivers low levels of heat energy at just the right depth below the skin to achieve a positive tightening effect, leaving the surface of your skin unharmed. Your skin responds by contracting slightly right away; the growth of new collagen is stimulated over time. A continuation of the gradual tightening occurs, ultimately resulting in a natural, beneficial lift of facial skin tissue with more sharp facial features like the jaw line.
“Ultherapy is an exciting new treatment because there is minimal pain and no downtime, the procedure is quick, and its effects last up to one to two years. It’s a great addition to our arsenal of treatments, including dermal fillers, laser, botox, liposuction or thermage,” Dr. Fox says. He lists five questions to ask your doctor when considering an Ultherapy face-tightening procedure:
1) Who should consider skin tightening?
Procedures like Ultherapy, thermage, laser treatment and even surgery are typically recommended for healthy adults ages 40 and up who see some sagging and wrinkling in the face.
2) Is the procedure approved by the FDA?
Ultherapy received FDA approval in September 2009.
3) Is it effective?
In FDA clinical trials, 90 percent of Ultherapy patients had a noticeable, significant lift of the brow line, resulting in a more open, refreshed appearance overall. Patients reported firmer, tighter, more fit-looking skin in other areas of the face and neck as well. In a study at Northwestern University, physicians noted significant lifting of the brow line. By simply raising the brow, patients reported a more “open” eye, and a more rested, refreshed look overall. They also reported firmer, more toned skin in other areas.
4) How long does the procedure take?
When can I return to normal activities?Ultherapy takes under 30 minutes for the upper face and about 1 hour for the full face. After that, you’ll return to your normal activities right away and you don’t have to do anything special. Your skin may appear a bit flushed or puffy immediately after the treatment, but any redness usually disappears in a matter of hours.
5) How often do I need to repeat this treatment to achieve maximal results?
Dermal fillers last between three and six months and botox should be redone every four months. By comparison, Ultherapy’s effects typically last at least one year. Touch-ups are suggested every year or two for maximal results.
For many people, losing those unsightly bulges without going under the knife (or dressing entirely in spandex) seems like wishful thinking. Everyone—both doctors and patients—has been searching for a way to “spot reduce,” or get rid of extra inches that otherwise won’t budge. Until now, that is.
“There are two procedures that just might be the answer to everybody’s prayers,” says Joshua Fox, M.D., a leading dermatologist and medical director of Advanced Dermatology of New York and New Jersey. “Right now, doctors have access to two new procedures that can smooth away dimples in the skin and actually eliminate fat deposits—something that before now required surgery or liposuction.”
Both procedures are also unique in that they’re the only two non-invasive fat-reduction methods to get clearance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
And while that might seem like a pipe dream, Dr. Fox explains that both methods—each of which uses a futuristic device that looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie—actually rely on fairly simple science to achieve their results.
The Big Chill with Zeltig
The first new procedure, Zeltiq, employs a space-age CoolSculpting device that uses controlled cooling (something called selective cryolipolysis) to essentially freeze fat cells in the area being treated. The cold causes the fat inside the cells to crystallize, which kills the cells and allows them to be reabsorbed into the body. Dr. Fox notes that fat cells, like all the other types of cells in the body, die naturally on their own. “This just speeds the process, creating a deficit of fat cells in the area being treated and thereby reducing the overall mass of fat there.” After about three or four months (the time it takes the cells to die and disappear), you’ll see a slimmer bulge, he says. He notes that there’s significant evidence that cold temperatures induce necrosis (death) in fat cells,
The Zeltiq device is about the size of a fat paperback novel; it’s attached to a small hose that delivers suction. In a treatment, the doctor or cool sculpting technician moves the device over the area to be treated, where it pulls the bulge into place and administers a dose of fat-freezing cold; a treatment lasts about an hour. “Most people say the treatments are uneventful or only mildly uncomfortable,” says Dr. Fox. “You’ll feel a slight tug and your skin getting cold, then going numb as the cells are frozen.” Afterwards, you might see some redness or bruising, but most patients say they don’t see any ill effects. Most areas need just one Zeltiq treatment, but a bigger area might require two.
Lighten Up with Zerona
The second procedure, called Zerona, uses a low-energy laser that creates tiny punctures in the fat-cell membranes, which causes the contents to ooze out and leaves the cells looking like deflated balloons, says Dr. Fox. Unlike the other lasers used in dermatology, which deliver high-energy beams of light in tiny, ultraconcentrated doses, Zerona uses a four-armed device that looks like a giant insect and is strapped to your body, where it emits red light beams that slowly rotate around your hips, thighs and midsection. The energy delivered by the Zerona device is much milder than that of a traditional dermatological laser, he says, so you’ll hardly notice it. You also won’t see any unpleasant after-effects, such as blistering, swelling, or redness.
A Zerona procedure takes about 40 minutes (20 minutes on each side). Most patients repeat the treatments three times a week for two weeks, and will see results about two weeks after the last treatment. People are guaranteed if they follow the protocol, to lose at least 3 inches collectively from the waist, thighs and hips areas.
“Both of these treatments are great for someone who’s at or close to ideal weight and are not designed for weight loss. If it’s your baby fat along the waist, hips and thighs and it’s inches you want removed, rather than a specific bulge, then the Zerona is probably the better choice. After a treatment you may not be able to see a visual difference but your pants or dress may feel loser. The Zeltiq is better for someone who is unhappy about certain areas—the love handles, belly bulges, muffin tops, back fat—that they just can’t eliminate with diet and exercise,” Dr. Fox says. “We’ve all heard of ‘spot-reducing,’ but unfortunately, it’s impossible for most people without medical intervention.” Before now, that intervention was liposuction, which carries significant costs, discomfort, surgery and recovery time. But with these options, most people see real results, without the cost, expense and pain of surgery, he says.
Spider Veins
Reviwed by Joshua L. Fox, MD.
Spider veins (telangiectasias) are broken blood vessels or capillaries that appear on the skin’s surface as fine red lines. They affect about half of the women in the United States, and many men, too. To read entire article “Click Here“
Are You Helping Your Clients Avoid Skin Cancer?
Posted: November 29, 2010
Editor’s note: As a spa professional, you are in a unique position to be able to help clients identify skin cancer. Be sure to make note of any marks that appear odd, according to the information below, and be sure to recommend a visit to the dermatologist if it is in order. Also, it is important to be able to refer clients to a reputable dermatologist if they don’t already have one. One more thing … make sure that clients perform the home skin care checks as advised in this piece.
Skin cancer is a scary subject. “No one wants to think about developing a disfiguring, even deadly, disease, therefore so many Americans live in a state of denial,” says Joshua Fox, MD, a leading dermatologist and medical director of Advanced Dermatology of New York and New Jersey. “Most people know they are supposed to be checking their skin monthly for changes that might be cancer, but they aren’t exactly diligent about it. It’s something that gets put off for later, often indefinitely.”
But skipping the skin scans can be dangerous, says Paige Farkas, MD, a dermatologist specializing in skin cancer screening at Advanced Dermatology. “There have been significant advances in the treatment of skin cancer, including the deadly types, but we know that the front-end things–detection, diagnosis and immediate treatment–are still critical.” In fact, she says, despite the fact that skin cancer is among the simplest types of cancer to identify since it’s visible on the outside of the body, the rates continue to rise. And although nonmelanoma cancers have a relatively good prognosis, melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can quickly become lethal. In fact, new research shows that melanoma cells have a unique ability to override even the healthiest immune system, eventually spreading far beyond the initial site.
The truth is, checking your skin regularly, and making an appointment to have your dermatologist do the same, is the best and only way to catch skin cancer before it spreads. “For the past 25 years, we’ve told people to pay attention to the ABCDs of pigmented skin irregularities,” Fox says. “Asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, and diameter more than 6 mm (about ¼ inch). These are still the key to identifying a problem growth among a bunch of innocuous looking freckles and moles,” he says.
Here are the rules of skin cancer screening. Make sure your clients do these at home.
The Importance of Skin Cancer Checks
Head-to-toe skin exams, at home and in your dermatologist’s office, can save your life
Head-to-toe skin exams, at home and in your dermatologist’s office, can save your life
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Roslyn, NY, November 2010 – Skin cancer is a scary subject. “No one wants to think about developing a disfiguring, even deadly, disease, therefore so many Americans live in a state of denial,” says Joshua Fox, M.D., a leading
dermatologist and medical director of Advanced Dermatology of New York and New Jersey. “Most people know they are supposed to be checking their skin monthly for changes that might be cancer, but they aren’t exactly diligent about it. It’s something that gets put off for later, often indefinitely.”
But skipping the skin scans can be dangerous, says Paige Farkas, M.D., a
dermatologist specializing in skin cancer screening at Advanced Dermatology.
“There have been significant advances in the treatment of skin cancer,
including the deadly types, but we know that the front-end things—detection,
diagnosis and immediate treatment—are still critical.” In fact, she says,
despite the fact that skin cancer is among the simplest types of cancer to
identify since it’s visible on the outside of the body, the rates continue
to rise. And while non-melanoma cancers have a relatively good prognosis,
melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can quickly become lethal. In
fact, new research shows that melanoma cells have a unique ability to
override even the healthiest immune system, eventually spreading far beyond
the initial site.
The truth is, checking your skin regularly, and making an appointment to
have your dermatologist do the same, is the best and only way to catch skin
cancer before it spreads. “For the past twenty-five years, we’ve told people
to pay attention to the ‘ABCDs’ of pigmented skin irregularities,” Dr. Fox
says: “Asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, and diameter more
than 6 mm (about ¼ inch). These are still the key to identifying a problem
growth among a bunch of innocuous looking freckles and moles,” he says.
Here are the rules of skin cancer screening:
Make it a habit to check your skin at home.
Dr. Fox recommends checking yourself, head to toe, once a month. That means
stripping down to your birthday suit and looking over every inch of skin,
even in areas where you’ll need a hand mirror to get a good look. “Many
cases of melanoma and other cancers develop on the scalp,” Dr. Fox says.
“These cancers can be deadly, but unfortunately, most people don’t check the
tops of their heads very often.” Be sure to check the palms of your hands,
your nails, and the soles of your feet, too.
Know what is normal.
In most cases, a normal mole is an even brown, tan, or black color, which
can be either flat or raised, round or oval. Some moles are present at
birth, others develop during childhood or even later in life, especially in
areas that get lots of sun. Once a mole is there, it will most likely stay
the same size, shape and color. Some moles eventually fade and disappear.
“Almost everybody has moles, and almost all of those moles are harmless,”
Dr. Fox says. But people with lots of moles, more than 50, are at a higher
risk for skin cancer.
What’s not normal: Flesh-colored, pearl-like bumps or pinkish or reddish
patches of skin that flake or scale (or even bleed), which can be basal cell
or squamous cell carcinomas.
Pay attention to changes in your skin.
Look for anything new, a new mark, or an old mark that looks different, as
well as any new sensations in or around a freckle or mole. In some cases,
the skin can become crusty or scaly, or start to feel itchy or even sore.
Pay attention to any marks that change in color, size or shape, as well as
marks that just look different from the other marks on your body. “Spots on
the skin come in all shapes and sizes, and not every mark you see will be
cancer,” Dr. Fox says. “But if you see something that really stands out,
what dermatologists call an ‘ugly duckling’, be sure to tell your
dermatologist in a timely manner.”
Find a dermatologist who uses dermatoscopy technology.
Also known as epiluminescence microscopy [ELM], or surface microscopy, this
is a relatively new (and not-too-common) method of screening that’s
extremely effective at identifying cancers, helping the doctor distinguish
malignant lesions from benign ones, says Dr. Farkas, who uses a dermatoscope
in her practice at Advanced Dermatology. “The dermatoscope uses polarized
light and a magnifying lens to let us ‘see’ the skin more clearly,” she
explains. “It significantly increases the accuracy of the exam, meaning we
can detect problems much more reliably than with the naked eye.”
About Dr. Fox: Joshua L. Fox, M.D., F.A.A.D., earned his medical degree
from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He completed an
internship at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, followed by a three-year
dermatology residency at the New York University School of Medicine. A
Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Fox is a leading
authority in the field of dermatology, with an expertise in skin cancer,
cosmetic surgery and laser procedures
(http://www.advanceddermatologypc.com).
About Dr. Farkas: Dr. Paige Farkas is a board certified dermatologist with
experience in all areas of medical, cosmetic and laser dermatology. The
focus of her practice is general and cosmetic dermatology and skin cancer
screening examinations utilizing dermatoscopy technology. Dr. Farkas
received her medical degree at Yeshiva University - Albert Einstein College
of Medicine with distinction in research, and was a member of the Alpha
Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her residency and served as
chief resident in the Department of Dermatology at Albert Einstein. For many
years, she worked as Clinical Instructor at Montefiore Medical Center, and
supervised medical residents in the Dermatology Department. She has been
Staff Dermatologist at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ since 1993, and
provides outpatient dermatology clinics for the underprivileged in the
community.
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