All about Chemical Peels!

Who can forget the episode of Sex and the City where Samantha gets a chemical peel? When I first saw that episode I thought I would NEVER do that to my face! Can you believe that episode aired in 2000!? In my twelve years of adult living, I have aged a bit and I am not ashamed to admit, that not only have I gotten a chemical peel, I have actually done a series of them and looked nothing like Samantha.  Not even remotely close and no beehive-type hat to hide in embarrassment!

Can you get a chemical peel and have a similar response as Samantha did? Yes! If you remember at the end of the episode she did love her result. However, you can achieve similar results with a lot less down time! What is important to remember is there are many different levels of chemical peels based on your age, cosmetic goals, skin types, and skin damage.

Glycolic Acid Peels:

For a chemical peel newbie who hopes to improve skin the best peel is a light superficial skin only chemical peel. Such as glycolic acid peel which is sometimes called a lunch time peel. A physician applies a solution dissolves dead skin cells. The treatment helps to achieve brighter, softer skin. If done in a series, the patient may also see his/her brown sun spots fading. I personally recommend this type to all patients as their first experience with a chemical peel! One really wonderful brand is SkinMedica’s Vitalize Peel.  You will have very minimal down time and should have light peeling for a couple of days. These types of peels typically run from $100-$300 per peel. Often times you can get discounts when you do a series!

TCA Peels:

For the patient who takes great care of their skin, loves their skin care regimen and hopes to achieve a more dramatic result, a TCA peel is recommended.  TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid and is a more aggressive peel that should only be administered by a trained physician. A TCA peel affects deeper skin layers and also provides you with a radiant glow, smoother skin, and reduction in pore sizes! Many patients also feel that their skin is tighter after a peel too! Double plus!  One great TCA peel is the OBAGI Blue Peel. These peels do have a couple more days of down time and have longer healing time; however patients often obtain more substantial results with less treatments. These types of peels range from $250-$1500 per peel depending on the strength of peel and the area(s) treated.  

Interested in more aggressive peels? How about laser peels? Check back next week for more information on the wonderful options with laser peels/treatments!

It is very important to remember that these are all just suggestions and based on my experience with chemical peels. Everyone’s skin is different and will have a different reaction and response. Please consult with a physician before deciding on any chemical peels no matter the strength! 

My experience with Botox and Lip Filler!

 I am the Practice Manager & Patient Coordinator for Dr. Gregory D. Lewen.  I am also a skin care enthusiast!  I will provide some insight from the perspective of a Patient Coordinator in a Plastic Surgery practice, as well as a girly patient who will be honest and less technical then Dr. Gregory D. Lewen!  Dr. Lewen will also post on this blog, for more technical and/or clinical answer(s) to those questions involving procedures and surgeries.  I too, will answer any questions from existing patients, potential patients, and just curious minds.  Let me also include my friends that I have convinced to read my blog and ask a question.

Dr. Lewen once described me as being the “most challenging patient to date.”  I accept that title with a smile and honor, especially since Dr. Lewen spent two years during his dual fellowship in OculoPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, one of the largest and the busiest trauma centers in the country.

Why am I such a difficult patient you ask?  Well it is not the pain really…I have to admit that the anticipation is what is the most painful.  I get Botox and Filler (JUVEDERM Ultra Plus) in my lips. Does it hurt?  No.  I cannot with a clear conscience describe either treatment as painful; I would honestly say it is more uncomfortable.  Actually, Botox is not even uncomfortable.  When it comes to placing filler in my lips, Dr. Lewen uses a dental block, which makes my lips completely numb.  After the dental block is completed I cannot feel anything at all.  The dental block is not so much painful as it feels like a stick and some pressure.  It’s really just the same thing as if I were getting a cavity filled at the dentist.  Dr. Lewen also uses products that have Lidocaine (that’s a numbing medicine) mixed in with the product, or sometimes he will mix it in himself.  Once he starts the injections the mixed in numbing medicine takes any edge of that I can still feel at all.  A recent patient just asked me during her procedure why it was so mentally challenging versus physically challenging.  If she were not in the middle of a procedure, I would have hugged her neck at that very moment. (I did before she left!)  As a patient that completely understands this exact feeling, I answered from my perspective by saying that to me, it is more the mental anticipation then the physical pain that causes me anxiety.  After this patient’s procedure and my embrace, she admitted with a smile the exact same thing that I do every single time I have a treatment. “It was not nearly as bad as I thought!”

I have, without a doubt, cried, gasped, and pulled away from the needle all because of my anticipation of the “pain.”  Mere minutes after the procedure is complete, it is all I can do not to wreck my car while driving because I am so excited with my new, fuller lips that I am starting at them incessantly in my review mirror.  Many people ask me about the pain associated with treatments and I always tell them honestly by saying that with any procedure, each person is different, as is our individual pain thresholds.  But, without a doubt, 95% of patients forget about any pain almost immediately after the procedure and smile on their way out, complete with an “ice pack on their face to reduce the swelling!” (Dr. Gregory D. Lewen found his way into my blog somehow—can you tell?)

Thanks for reading…if you have any questions about Botox, Fillers, and what to expect please free to email me at sassysouthernsytle@gmail.com

Clarisonic...must-have or not needed?

Do you have a Clarisonic? If so, should I get one? If not, do you want one? Why or why not! Help!

Need help with your skincare regimen? : )

When I was 13 years old I absolutely loved St. Ives Apricot scrub. I thought it was the best thing and I was “oh, so sophisticated” adding a scrub into my skincare routine.  Sure, it broke me out more and irritated my skin.  Sure, I never fully rinsed it off and had a grit residue on my face for at least 2 hours after using it.  Yet, for some reason, it still made me feel fantastic!  Fast forward to 15 years later and I still get the same thrill when adding a new product to my now “seemingly sophisticated” skincare regimen…I mean, I have a whole different routine for morning and night now.  If that does not exude sophistication, I just don’t know what does!

 

Enough about my skincare regimen, do you have one?  Do you do the unthinkable and use hand soap?  Have you heard about how important antioxidants are for your skin?  What about daily sun protection?  There are several factors that go into building a skincare regimen.  For the largest organ of the body, the skin, everyone should have a skincare regimen, even the most masculine of males!  A proper skincare regimen not only cleanses and protects your skin, keeping it healthy, but also helps you fight the aging process!  Yes, I said it…aging!

First and foremost, what type of skin do you have?  Are you oily or dry?   Or do you have some oil in certain places and some dryness in others?   Are you acne prone?  Is your skin super sensitive?  Do you get real red easily?  A good basic way to determine your particular skin type is to pay attention to your face in the time after you wash. Thank you Dr. Dr. Mehmet Oz from the Dr. Oz show for the super easy way to determine your skin type:

1.     Generally, oily skin looks shiny very shortly (a few hours) after washing it.

2.     Dry skin features pores that are difficult to see in the hours after washing.

3.     Sensitive skin is often tight or itchy and prone to allergic reactions.

4.     Combination skin might be made up of two or more of these types.

5.     Acne-prone skin typically responds with breakouts to changes in the environment.

6.     “Normal” skin typically has a good balance between moisture, durability, and oil.

Now that we have a better idea about your skin type, let’s build that regimen!  Here are a couple of stepwise suggestions for building your regimen.  Please note, I am not a doctor or aesthetician, and my suggestions do not constitute medical advice.  That being said, I have built hundreds of regimens for friends, family members, and clients of mine.  I have also tried at least 1 million skincare products, and yes, I do believe that is an underestimation!

Cleanser:

1.     Oily skin typically needs a cleanser that specifically removes oil.  Gel cleansers are alcohol-based, and having a drying effect, thus typically better for this skin type.

2.     Dry skin typically needs a gentle or moisturizing cleanser that does not strip too much oil from the skin.  Cream-based cleansers are typically better for this skin type.

3.     Sensitive skin needs a very delicate cleanser that will not irritate the skin.  Non-soap cleansers are typically best for this skin type.

Toner:

1.       The main function is to reset the skin’s pH before applying other products.

2.       Not always necessary, depending on the type of cleanser and other products to be used.

3.       Some specific toners can serve to control acne or exfoliate dead skin cells.

Moisturizer:

1.       Oily skin types may not need this at all.  If needed, use a light, non-greasy formula moisturizer.

2.       Dry and sensitive skin types may need thicker products depending on the degree of dryness of the skin.

3.       Although I’m sure they smell lovely, products that are made with a fragrance are not recommended for sensitive skin types.

Sun Protection:

1.       Yes, there is a reason I bolded this section!

2.       Important to use sunscreen EVERY single day!  Yes, even if its raining!  Yes, even if you don’t go outside at all.

3.       No, the SPF in your foundation is not enough.  You need to use a dedicated sunscreen.

4.       There are many types of sunscreens out there that do not all smell like the beach, and are not thick to the point of leaving a white residue all over your face!

If you have interest in learning about adding additional skincare products like antioxidants (anti-aging), eye creams (goodbye dark circles), peptides, (hello new skin cells!) etc., check out my blog next week! 

Manicure Madness!

There is no denying south Florida is full of style, from Bohemian to button downs, and everything in between! There are all types of fashion trends and a person can experience everything from Sawgrass Outlets to Bal Harbor’s designer duds. One thing that remains constant amongst all fashionistas is a fabulous manicure! Manicures today can feature diamonds on your accent nail, and teal colored nails are now accepted in the board room. When I first started getting manicures, I was determined to have long, fake acrylic nails, normally French tips. I loved that classic look! Now, I would rather have plain nails (GASP!) then have acrylic on my nails. It takes months to get your nails back to normal after a set of acrylic tips! However, I am undeniably still searching for the longest wear, no chip manicure.  Manicures and chip-less polishes have come so far in the last couple of decades…and I am pretty sure I have tried every polish, style, and gimmick to have a fresh polished look 24/7. Here are 2 of my favorite options for a great manicure:

1.  Gel Polish, also called Shellac, also called chip-less Manicure. The name all depends on the place you get your nails done, but the concept and often the polish are the same.  This is a busy girl’s answer to having that 24/7 freshly painted manicure for more than the average 3-4 days of no chip polish with a “regular” manicure.  It is a combination of steps; some of the steps are similar to when you are getting acrylic tips, while others are similar to when you are getting a normal manicure. The difference is a special polish that seals to your nails. It lasts up to 2 weeks with little to no chipping. It is true, the polish does not chip, but the down side here is twofold. First, it can hurt your nails! When removing the polish properly, you need to place soaked pads of finger nail polisher remover on your nails and then wrap them in tin foil for 15 minutes… SERIOUSLY! It makes your nails thin and brittle very similar to acrylics. Second, is the price! This manicure might last longer but it is also ranges in price from $25-$45! Worth the price? Sometimes…but it really ruins nails almost as bad as having acrylic tips! Also, sometimes I am tired of the color after only a couple of days. Like I said earlier, if you are a super busy girl who does not have the time or the desire to change her polish to match her outfit (oh the problems of a girly girl) then this is the perfect manicure for you!

2. My favorite long lasting polish does not even promote the gimmick of “no-chip”. It is just that good! No one ever believes me when I tell them what brand and the cost. I assure you this is hands down my FAVORITE polish of all time and I can go an entire week with little to no chipping! Drum roll please…Wet-n-Wild, Mega Last. Boy does it last! Now, here is the true beauty of it, It only costs $1.99!!! No, I am not crazy; this is seriously the BEST polish on the market (in my honest opinion) Now let’s not forget I am no stranger to spending a pretty penny on a beauty product that I love. Yes, I have tried the infamous OPI and Essie…I assure you Wet-n-Wild is better! Honestly, how can you be afraid to try it? You are out less than $2! You can change your nails as much or as little as you want, and not have to worry about the price. The only downside is that you will want to purchase every color of polish that they offer, and beg for more color options! 

Hello Blogging World!

Hi! My first post of many to come! Welcome! I am so ready to start this blog and share with the world who I am! I love to read others blogs and I hope that I can add as much fun and creativity as some of my absolute favorites!

Look out world...she is a comin'!