Dissolve away FAT cells!

Wondering about Kybella®?

Do you have stubborn unwanted fat under your chin? At your bra line or maybe heavy jowls? Kybella® may be part of your solution.

Kybella®is the brand name, deoxycholic acid the generic chemical tag. It works much like your own bile salts in breaking down fat by destroying the cell membrane that gives it life. Once that barrier is crystalized and destroyed, your lymphatic system has the opportunity to purge it. Bye-Bye Fat Cells! This destruction is felt to be permanent. Well, at least for those cells destroyed. It certainly does not take away the need for a healthy diet and exercise, but some of those genetically predisposed regions of fat (like the dreaded double chin) are simply hard to reduce with lifestyle changes alone—this is where chemical (Kybella®) or physical (liposuction) gets involved.

The upside is that the cell destruction is forever. The downside, it typically takes a series of treatments and can cause “socially significant” swelling for 2-20 days post injection. Fortunately, in the era of mask wearing, much of this can be disguised. I have also found that lymphatic drainage massage can speed the process of healing (less bullfrog days) for most of my patients. The injections are a bit uncomfortable, and I’ve been told it’s “achy” after, but totally manageable. Bruising and swelling are the most common side effects; but transient numbness and unusual nerve sensations can also occur though far less common.

Now I would be remiss to not let you know the only on-label (FDA approved) use is for the submentum (double chin). In the aesthetics industry it has also been used for jowls, bra line fat, that of the knee and lower buttock to reduce chubs off-label. So many clever scientifically driven providers out there! If you’d like to learn more, head over to kybella.com or mykybella.com for Allergan’s intel.

Now don’t you feel wiser?!

Vitamin C--antioxidant & more!

I am often asked for recommendations regarding skin care so I thought I'd share a favorite ingredient with you! I am a big fan of Vitamin C serum. There is great scientific evidence that VitaminC can help neutralize free radicals in the skin by way of oxidizing them (and trust me, free radicals are not our friends!) They are formed from lots of things such as exposure to UV rays, pollution, stress and smoking -- to name just a few. And anything that damages the DNA of the cell can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. I mean really, who wouldn't want to fight that?!? Vitamin C has also been shown to act as a brightening agent, and is darned important in collagen production.

But here's the tricky part. Vitamin C is fragile--and it's a challenge to keep it stable and bioavailable AND able to penetrate to get to where it needs to be. So picking a reputable brand is important--cause who wants to spend money on something that's already lost it's mo-jo? C comes in many forms with L-ascorbic Acid showing up in many brands, though some scientific minds feel tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate might be even better (an ester form of Vitamin C). You'll probably see serums that also include Vitamin E and other brightening agents in hopes of even kick up its gain even more!

So in considering a Vitamin C serum I'd suggest you find one in a glass bottle, with a tinted/or opaque wrap--and I prefer a pump dispenser all of which reduce the risk of oxidation and keep your serum fresh! Remember that good skin care is not inexpensive-- but , since our skin is part of our identity, protects us from the world, and acts as part of our immune system; don't you think it's worth a little TL(& Vitamin) C? 😉

Tell me more about GENIUS! Microneedling "on steroids!"

For many years I have touted the merit of microneedling for collagen induction—I mean really, who wouldn’t love smoother skin with more bounce?! After scouring the marketplace in search of the most efficient device, that is both cost effective as well as delivering on visible benefits with minimal down time, I have once again turned to Lutronic for their engineering prowess and portable platform that can meet the needs of my audience. I would love to welcome you to experience this incredible platform!

I personally have enjoyed the benefits of microneedling pens as well as Infini (the predecessor to Genius) and can tell you this device is truly incredible. The target group includes those hoping for skin tightening and acne scar reduction.

The Technology

So what makes RF microneedling so different? Well, microneedling is a process of creating controlled trauma using tiny needles to penetrate the dermal layer of skin where collagen formation is imperative. This small trauma is nearly invisible to the eye, but encourages cells within the skin to create a repair sequence “filling in” the tissues. Genius RF microneedling also creates microtrauma, but this time with a burst of thermal energy that truly “forces” (rather than simply encouraging) the fibroblasts to get to the work of repairing damage. So truly, you can consider this a more robust microneedling experience. Lutronic engineers have added smart technology that measures impedance of the skin and how much energy is being absorbed with each pulse, allowing us to adjust the energy being delivered as we treat, letting me know that I’m giving enough, but not too much! After all, you want amazing results, but not unnecessary discomfort.

The needle tips are some of the finest in the industry—Lutronic invested in a mill to create precision tips specifically for this device. The motor is also specialized with graceful and accurate insertion depth. The duration of RF pulse also enjoys precision. Ultimately all these individual factors meld, resulting in less pain and a more accurate treatment.

The Experience

How would I describe the treatment experience? Initially the face is cleansed and topical anesthesia is applied for about an hour. During this time you can enjoy flipping through a magazine, reading a book or getting caught up on social media. Old technology required heavy medication and the need for you to have a driver to pick you up after treatment, but with the Genius, truly you need a bit of acetaminophen, and can transport yourself! There is almost no bleeding with Genius, and recovery time is decreased. My personal course post Genius (with or without LaseMD) is initial pinkness and a bit blotchy day one, day two I can return to my usual tinted sunscreen the next day, and by the third I am back to normal. Those who are prone to acne may still have a rise in congestion several days after, but many do not. Rarely will someone report bruising.

The Results

Lutronic Genius should be considered for anyone hoping for skin tightening and lift or who suffer from acne scarring. Its target is the dermal layer of the skin, where the bounce lives. Paring this with Lutronic LaseMD also adds a brightening component by helping the epidermal shedding and neutralization of pigment irregularities such as sun damage and age spots. The result is a brilliant brightening and tightening that won’t leave your social calendar on hold!