Aesthetic Medicine General Information
Let's
face it, no pun intended! We all, given a perfect world, would
wish to stay young looking and vibrant. Aesthetic medicine was
developed to take care of the way we appear to ourselves and others. It
certainly does not claim to address the inner working of our bodies,
but just the external appearance. Certainly everyone knows by now
that the external is in great part a manifestation of internal organ
health but environmental, nutritional, genetic, and traumatic factors
also play a significant part.
Anti-aging medicine is the other half so to speak of
aesthetic medicine. Its role is to counteract the effects of age
on the endocrine system with hormone replacement therapies and
nutraceutical supplementation.
Aesthetic medicine can be broken down into two distinct
categories; surgical and non-surgical. In the first; surgical, we
have structural repair, liposuction,and implants.
The second; non-surgical has recently come to the
forefront of medicine because of the "no down time" aspect, the recent
scientific and clinical advances, and the relative inexpense compared
with the surgical alternative. Of course it cannot completely
replace surgery but it offers patients both alternatives to and even
additions to surgery. Non-surgical aesthetic medicine includes:
Mesotherapy, Broad band light or Intense pulsed light, Laser, Facial
fillers, Cosmeceuticals, Nerve paralyzers, and Spa type treatments(face
peels, clay packs, face massages, waxing,etc)
Other areas of this site describe in depth each of the
non-surgical asthetic therapies but below is a brief outline of each
with its intended use.
Mesotherapy-
a french technique of micro injections containing various
botanical, vitamin, amino acid, or homeopathic preparations. Its
main uses are for cellulite removal, fat removal, hair
growth, and facelifts.
I find this most useful in my practise with sometimes spectacular reults
Broad band light(IPL)-
or Intense pulsed light is a machine that delivers concentrated light
to a specific area in a certain range of nanometers. Its main
uses are for pigmented lesions(sun spots, age spots, hyprpigmentation);
acne; hair removal; vasular lesions; light to moderate wrinkles, and
facelifts. It can be used with or without levulon. I use
the Aesthera(PPx) photo-pneumonic therapy machine as it the only
completely painless therapy.
Laser-
Light directed to a specific area in a much shorter wavelength then
broad band. Used for much the same reasons as in broad band light but
not for acne and facial peels are added.
Facial fillers-
Natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic substances for injection into the
dermis. Either short lasting 4-6 months or long lasting 1-3 years. Used
for deep wrinkles, sunken scars, building up of facial features such as
cheeks and jaw lines,and lip enhancement. I use Radiesse filler for
long term effects and Restylane for lip enhancement and short term
effects.
Cosmeceuticals-
Natural, semi synthetic and synthetic botanicals, nutraceuticals,
minerals , amino acids, growth factors etc. applied to the face, neck,
chest, and hands on a daily basis. Used for skin rejuvenation,
acne, hyperpigmentation, age spots, sun spots, and face lifts and light
wrinkles. I use Obagi Nu derm and Obagi-C systems in my practise.
Nerve Paralyzers-
Botulinum toxin(Botox) is strictly a nerve paralyzer injected
subdermally . It is used to inhibit all nerve transmission to a
particular muscle or group so that the face appears relaxed and without
wrinkles. I use this in my practise but very sparingly and sometimes
begrudgingly because of the short acting nature and the sometimes
dangerous outcomes.
To be continued..........................
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