Q & A Cellulite

What is Cellulaze?

Cellulaze is the only minimally invasive laser procedure designed to attack the structure of cellulite beneath your skin. It delivers longer-lasting results after only one short treatment.

How does the Cellulaze cellulite laser work?

A very small cannula (or tube about the size of the tip of a pen) is inserted under the skin. Cynosure’s unique SideLaze laser fiber inside the tube delivers energy directly under the skin. This increases the thickness and quality of your skin, while simultaneously releasing the fibrous bands that pull it down—minimizing the orange peel look associated with cellulite. Finally, the cellulite laser is used to diminish the lumpy pockets of fat that protrude though the fibrous bands under your skin.

How do I know if Cellulaze is right for me?

Cellulaze delivers best results for women who are not significantly overweight but have mild to moderate cellulite on their thighs.

How does Cellulaze compare to other treatments?

There are countless treatments that claim to get rid of cellulite. But these other treatments—massage, external energy devises, creams and lotions—can only treat cellulite superficially by working at the skin’s surface. These treatments require either daily or weekly applications and results are often inconsistent. Cellulaze is the first and only cellulite laser treatment that treats the actual problems underneath the skin to deliver a proven longer-lasting result from just one simple treatment.

I’ve tried everything to get rid of cellulite. How do I know Cellulaze really works?

Cellulaze is backed by many years of clinical research. Studies have shown it increases the thickness of your skin by 25% and the elasticity of your skin by 29%—significant claims that haven’t been made by any other treatments. Thicker and more elastic skin can help flatten and smooth the skin surface to improve the appearance of cellulite. In addition, 93% of patients surveyed were satisfied or very satisfied with their results at one year post their procedure, and all would recommend the Cellulaze cellulite laser treatment to a friend.

What does the procedure feel like?

Because the area is numbed with local anesthesia, there is minimal discomfort during the procedure. You may feel a light pressure, but it is a mild sensation. Following a Cellulaze cellulite laser treatment, you may experience some aches, much like after a physical workout.

How long does the Cellulaze procedure take?

On average, this cellulite laser procedure will take one to two hours. This is dependent on the size of the areas to be treated.

Do I have to stay in the hospital?

No. Cellulaze can be performed under local anesthesia.

How many treatments are necessary?

Results are achieved with just one Cellulaze cellulite laser treatment. Your results will continue to improve over the next three to twelve months.

Will there be scarring?

The incision sites will be very small. With proper care, any scars will be barely noticeable. Your physician can evaluate your skin type and provide the best information on scar prevention.

What’s the recovery time?

The Cellulaze cellulite laser treatment is a minimally invasive procedure which usually requires only local anesthesia. Some light bruising can occur, but you’ll be able to return to normal activities within a day or two. Your physician may ask you to wear a compression garment for a short period after treatment.

How much does Cellulaze cost?

The average cost is £2,500-£3,500 depending on the size of the area to be treated.

Q & A Adult Acne

1.     What are the main causes of acne in adults? Hormones

Is it mainly caused by internal or external factors?  Usually internal when sebum is over produced ( this often happens during adolescence) and combines with dead skin cells, it can become stuck in the follicles and bacteria that lives naturally in the skin then grows as the sebum becomes a food for it to grow in. I always advise clients to use Mineral make up though, as bacteria can grow in liquid foundations and obviously this does not help. I have had several clients whose skin has improved purely by changing to our mineral make up!

2.     How large a role do things like stress and diet play in the state of our skin?

A bad diet will cause stress on your body, so the functions of the body are not as good as they could be, but it is hard to say chocolate or fizzy drink are going to cause acne! Stress is awful for the skin as it causes our adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. Cortisol is a steroid and this can make your sebaceous glands overproduce oil, so it makes your skin more oily, and therefore far more likely to have a break out of spots so yes, stress can affect acne and then getting spots makes you more stressed!

3.     Is there a particular age at which adult acne tends to strike?

From late teens onwards, or when any sort of hormonal imbalance arises, this could be due to medication, the menopause or even pregnancy. Why do you think that is? It is due to hormones causing raised levels of sebum to be produced.

4.     Is adult acne more common in men or women?

Is there a particular reason for that? It is more common in women as it is caused by hormones and women are more prone to hormonal imbalance. As women get older their oestrogen levels drop and the balance swings more towards androgenic hormones, thereby increasing the incidence of acne. Ultimately the androgen levels also drop, so acne will settle, but much later in life.

In men, after the peak of hormones during adolescence, their hormone levels decrease with age.

5.     What does the consultation process involve when someone comes to you with adult acne?

We talk about their medical history, their genetics, what treatments and medications they have tried, what skincare they have used. Then I use the Visia analysis system to take in depth photos of their skin. I then talk to them about what they want to achieve. I try to manage expectations and then recommend a treatment programme along with skincare and sometimes medication that suits their lifestyle and finances.

6.     What treatment options do you offer for adult acne?

Can you explain a little bit about the benefits – and any disadvantages – of each one, and what sort of person/acne type might be more suited to each?

We always start with skincare, I talk about thorough cleansing and sometimes advise using a Clarisonic to help too. We offer courses of peels and PDT and laser treatments. I like to stop the outbreaks before we even look at scarring. For most people I find skincare and regular peels work very well. If someone has severe cystic acne we offer medication and skincare. I like to see clients every week to help support them through a difficult time in their lives. We have tremendous success with acne.

7.     Often, adults who have suffered from acne since their teens will have a lot of scarring as well as active acne – can this be treated at the same time, or do you need to wait until the acne is no longer active?

We wait until the active acne is subsiding, otherwise you get new scarring.

How big an improvement could you expect to see? We expect to clear and control active acne. Usually people find they still get the odd spot, but it comes and goes quickly, so whereas they may have had a spot that lasted for weeks, now they will last a day or so.

Is it realistic to expect to ever have a perfectly clear complexion if you have suffered from acne for years? Yes, but you must be realistic, most people get the odd spot occasionally, and controlling acne doesn’t get rid of the scars. The complexion can be considerably improved.

9. Are patients expected to follow a home care regimen alongside any in-clinic treatment?

Always What does this involve? Twice daily routine, AM cleanse, AHA product, sunscreen, PM Cleanse, AHA product, oil free moisturiser, Benzoyl Peroxide, and a product containing vitamin A.

10.  What sort of timescale does it take to clear the acne? In 6 weeks I see a very good improvement, sometimes completely clear, sometimes a few minor pimples are left, but rarely.

11.  Once the acne has been cleared, what is the likelihood that it will come back?

It can come back, it is important to remember maintenance! If you have you hair cut and coloured it doesn’t last forever, it grows, the skin is the same. Once we get it into good shape it has to be maintained. I find most people give their maintenance up. Do you need to continue taking precautions against this for life? Yes, as you would with you weight, hair and health.

 

Q:  I am 46 and tops of my arms are suddenly becoming really flabby, I dont want a general anaesthetic, what can I do? How much will it cost? Will I need time off work?

A: Flabby arms can be a result of weight loss, or just laxity of the skin and deeper tissues due to ageing, genetics or long term sun damage.

Depending on how much loose skin there is and how much fat there is, there are two options:-

1. A surgical Brachioplasty, or arm lift, which involves general anaesthesia and removal of tissues and skin, resulting in a long scar. Cost depends on what needs to be done.

2. Body-Tite arm lift. This is carried out under local anaesthesia and involves minimal scarring. Depending on how much loose skin is there, will determine whether more than one treatment is required. Costs from £3500 for 1 session.

The best way to assess you would be to have a consultation so we can see what needs to be done.

 

Thread Veins

Q: What are thread veins?

A: These are areas of superficial, overgrown and enlarged blood vessels.  They vary in size and colour, ranging from red to purple to blue.

Q: How and why do they appear?

A: These appear through excessive sun exposure, congenital, oral contraceptives or through the natural aging process.

Q: Why do they occur?

A: These are caused by excessive sun exposure or can be genetic.

Q: How does the treatment work?

A: We have a number of lasers and light therapies tailored to target your specific problems. The appropriate treatment will be discussed with you at your consultation.

The KTP Aura treats red thread veins through a series of laser light pulses which are absorbed into the blood causing the vessels to collapse. The treated area over time (2-4 weeks) returns to the natural colour of your skin.

The Lyra ND yag laser targets the blue to purple veins.  It is effective for those unsightly leg veins which are found deeper in the skin.  It is effective for all skin types and works similar to the Aura KTP laser whereby a series of pulses are delivered through the skin and into the vein. This collapses the vessel walls and seals the veins shut. The sealed vein is then broken down and absorbed by the body.

Pigmented blemishes act in the same way whereby absorbing the pulses of light and dispersing the melanin pigment.  These are slowly absorbed into the body and after a number of treatments (4-8) your skin returns to its natural colour. Pigmented lesions are treated with our KTP or our IPL machines.

Q: Does It hurt?

A: It feels like a stinging sensation, but the discomfort varies depending on the size, depth and location of the vein.

Q: Who performs my Treatment?

A: All of our patients are seen by one of our doctors for an initial consultation. The light therapy is performed by one of our qualified therapists who have had specialist training in light and laser therapy.

 

Q: I am 53 and a non-smoker so I have good skin and generally look good for my age, but my eyes let me down as they are hooded and make me look tired all the time. I do not really fancy surgery so is there is a less invasive procedure that can help?

A: Surgery is a good way of reducing the excess skin and tightening the upper and lower eyelids. Sometimes this is the only option if there is excessive skin that drops to the lash-line and starts to obstruct vision. For those who prefer not to go under the knife, other means of skin tightening are available:

·    SmartXide Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing; four sessions two to three weeks apart with approximately two to three days redness, swelling and dryness. At £300 per session, it’s also known in the US as ‘the Madonna lift’.

·    Fraxel Re-pair Deep CO2 laser; one session with a week’s downtime. There may be some bleeding, bruising, crusting and expect a lot of swelling. Works out at £1,200 for the session.

·    SmartLipo upper lid tightening; takes one session, at £2,000, and expect bruising and swelling with a week’s downtime.

·    New for 2011 – EyeTite; a radiofrequency skin tightening technology that will give the closest results to surgery without using the knife. Expect it to cost around the £2,000 mark for one set of lids and £3,500 for upper and lower lids.

Q: I am a 29-year-old male and for many years I have been bothered with the shape of my jaw line. My chin is long and wide which gives me a gaunt appearance. Can this be corrected?

A: Traditionally the only way to correct this was to surgically reduce the chin by bone resection. This may still give the best results. If, however you want to try non surgical options, the following may help to balance your face:

·     Fillers; using hyaluronic acid fillers, we can plump areas out to make the chin appear less prominent and the face look less gaunt. About £250 to £300 per syringe of filler and lasts six to twelve months.

·    Sculptra; a volumiser that stimulates collagen production to do the same thing as fillers. From £450 per session, you may need three to five sessions and it should last about two years.

·    Micrografting of fat; does the same thing as above, but uses your own fat to sculpt the face. It costs about £1,900 and once the fat has grafted it should give permanent results, which age with time.

Q: Is there any way to get rid of pigmentation permanently from the facial area? Would you have to have surgery such as skin grafts?

A: The only permanent way to do this is to destroy the melanocytes (pigment producing cells), giving the Michael Jackson appearance. This is not a good thing, as it can leave your skin exposed to sun damage and increases your skin cancer risk.

Hyperpigmentation can be treated with chemicals that reduce the pigment production by the melanocytes, and clearing the pigment-laden skin by increasing cell turnover, using chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or laser resurfacing. Once the skin appearance has improved, then long-term maintenance is required, with occasional treatments to maintain the results.

Q: How long do treatments take?

A: Each patient is treated individually, so length of time for treatments do vary. You will be advised of the approximate length of treatment as well as the number of treatments required at your initial consultation.

Q: Will it hurt?

A: Most procedures are virtually painless, minimally invasive and very straight forward. You will learn more about what exactly to expect from your specific treatment at your initial consultation.

Q; How much will it cost?

A: As each procedure differs according to the needs of the patient, correspondingly costs do vary. You will be advised about the price of your procedure at your initial consultation.

Q: How can I pay?

A: Payment can be made by cash, cheque and all major credit and debit cards. Financial options may also be available. For further information please ask at your consultation.

Ask the Khans!

Q: I have got really dry, snake – like skin on my shins. What can I do to get rid of it ?

A:: The fronts of the legs have very few oil glands and the skin over the shins is particularly prone to dryness, often developing deep cracks. Shaving your legs can make the problem worse, as the uneven surface of the dry skin will tend to be nicked by the blade. Use Harley Street Skin’s Body Buffer daily, it is very moisturising and has AHA’s that will help to remove dead skin cells, leaving the skin smooth and silky. Can be used all over the body. £15 call 0800 804 8808 to order. If you want to stop shaving, try IPL hair removal, you may need up to six sessions, one session monthly, as the hair grows in stages and all hair cannot be removed in one go.