Various kinds of wrinkles.

What many people do not know is that there are two types of facial wrinkles and they cannot be treated the same way. Dynamic wrinkles are caused by frequent muscle movements, like wrinkling your nose or frowning, that create lines. The other type of wrinkles are called static wrinkles that form mainly due to aging and loss of facial volume associated with aging. The first thing we will talk about is Dynamic wrinkles and how they are treated with Botox for lasting results. Next post will discuss Static wrinkles and Fillers which are most commonly used to treat them.

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Frown lines (glabella), before and after Botox.

When your mother told you not to make a funny face because it would stick she wasn’t completely fibbing. Continual and frequent use of facial muscles results in the lines those expressions make staying on the skin, becoming a permanent part of muscle memory. These wrinkles are called Dynamic wrinkles. To get the best results we treat Dynamic wrinkles with Botox.

Botox is FDA approved for treatment of Dynamic wrinkles. Botox relaxes the muscles you use to make those expressions. Botox doesn’t fill in the lines, but smoothes them by preventing the muscles from making them. The surrounding facial muscles are unaffected by the Botox treatment. The targeted area remains naturally wrinkle free for up to 6 months.

About the treatment and procedure:

Botox is sold by the unit. A unit is generally $12.60, however every Thursday Exclusively Faces has a special for $12/unit. We often have specials where you can buy one area and get a second half off. When you come into the consultation we will ask your area of concern and Dr. Karen will decide how many units you need to address the issue. Some people require more units of Botox in the injection site than others. The areas that Botox can address are: the crow’s feet, the forehead, the area between the eyes, under the eye brows, and the horizontal line on the bridge of the nose.

After deciding which areas will be treated, icepacks are placed to numb the sites for injection. A small quantity of Botox is then injected into the areas by Dr. Karen. This procedure is performed in the office and lasts about 5 minutes.

Results are not immediate. Botox takes 24-48 hours to relax the chosen muscles, after this time those Dynamic wrinkles will not form. Patients will be notified as to when they should return for another treatment. We have found that after 2 to 3 treatments the muscle memory to create the Dynamic wrinkles is broken and patients do not need to be treated as often and treatments can be scheduled farther apart. Meaning better results for you with regular up-keep! Each patient is different and reacts differently to treatment but our hope is that with regular treatment the muscle memory will be completely broken and those areas will no longer need treatment. Side effects are minimal. Most commonly the patient may experience mild bruising. We strongly suggest that you do not take any aspirin, anti-inflammatory or blood thinners up to a week before the procedure. In rare cases the Botox may affect other muscles in the area and the patient may experience a drooping of the eye lid. This is temporary and only lasts a few weeks.

Botox is a simple way to prevent, possibly long term, Dynamic wrinkles. For long lasting results proper maintenance is the key. Dr. Karen will explain the proper course of action for each patient’s individual needs. If you have any other question regarding Botox or to schedule an appointment please call Exclusively Faces at 540-667-3223. Next week’s blog will discuss the other form of wrinkles, Static wrinkles, and the different types of Fillers that Exclusively Faces uses to treat them.

Exclusively Faces offers a wide variety of facials that we fit to your needs and wants. However we offer one “facial” that isn’t really a facial at all!

The HydraFacial is a new skin care procedure sweeping the nation, offering dramatic skin resurfacing results with no down time. However, the name HydraFacial is a bit of a misnomer as it lacks a few of the key elements of a facial: massage, hot towel or steam extraction, and relaxation. It is easy to lie down and relax during the HydraFacial procedure as there is no discomfort of any kind, but the procedure is fairly quick. The HydraFacial uses a combination of solutions and specialized applicator to extract impurities and deeply moisturize and cleanse the skin, much like a normal facial.

Unlike a normal facial the HydraFacials solution of moisturizers and anti-oxidants are much stronger and the amount of resurfacing you receive from the HydraFacial is much more drastic than a normal facial. In fact, the results from a HydraFacial are equal to the expected results from a microdermabrasion and are immediate. The HydraFacial can be customized to handle specific skin concerns from wrinkles, to acne, to dry skin. If you are looking for a change in the tone, clarity, and texture of your skin a HydraFacial is your best bet. If you are looking to feel pampered and relaxed and to maintain results in skin health that have already been achieved a normal facial is the better choice.

Traditional facials are a combination of chemical or natural ingredient mask with massage, for a relaxing feeling and specific beneficial effect on the skin. Often facials also include hot towel or steam to help with extraction of impurities and penetration of the beneficial properties of the mask into the skin. When you come in for a facial at Exclusively Faces you will sit down with our esthetician Rita and discuss your specific skin concerns to choose the facial that best fits your needs. Once you find the right facial for you make it a regular part of your health care routine. Regular facials will help maintain a beautiful complexion as well as help you relax and melt away stress that can be damaging to health in other ways.

Here is a list of the facials that we offer and a brief description. We often have monthly specials on a specific treatment of package so keep your eyes on our Facebook for what current specials are available!

Basic European: Includes cleansing, exfoliating, toning, nourishing and hydrating of your skin. Feel refreshed with this basic facial. 60 min/$90

Puracne Oxygen: This revolutionary oxygenating acne treatment is designed to clear skin congestion, control acne and revitalize skin. 60 min/$150

Algomask: An enriched thermo-corrective treatment that provides instant radiance while minimizing redness. 60 min/$100

Collagen 90-11: G.M. Collin’s highly renowned intensive anti-aging treatment hydrates, rejuvenates, tightens and reconfigures the skin. 90 min/$160

Lip & Eye Treatments: Extra delicate skin requires extra delicate are with special attention and ingredients. $25

Sea C Spa: Turn back time with this powerful antioxidant treatment incorporation a Vitamin C concentrate. 60 min/$150

Hydrolifting: A four-action treatment formulated to exfoliate, deeply rehydrate and restore life to the skin. 60 min/$120

Back Facial: This is the same relaxing treatment as our basic facial, for your back. Includes light massage and hot towel. 60 min/$120

But you can take steps to limit the effects of aging and other environmental and lifestyle factors on your skin.

This is the final instalment of our aging skin prevention and repair blog. To finish it off we are talking about a very popular and effective product line called the Obagi Nu-Derm System. This is revolutionary skin care line is like nothing you have ever used!

The Obagi Nu-Derm System uses a prescription strength formula to change skins function on the cellular level, improving skins health and regeneration.  The Obagi Nu-Derm System corrects hyper-pigmentation, sun and age spots, fine lines and overall tone and consistency of skin. There are four steps in the Obagi line: Prepare, Correct, Stimulate, and Protect. You prepare your skin to accept active ingredients with a gentle cleanser and toner. Then correct hyper pigmentation and ensure even tone in skinwith hydroquinone, the main active ingredient in the Obagi line. The stimulate phase of the Obagi system uses tretinion to stimulate collagen and elastin growth, removing fine lines, making skin look firmer and act younger. This stage uses other ingredients to prompt skin to resume a healthy cycle of cell turnover and regeneration as well as maintain even pigmentation. Protecting against future sun damage to maintain your Obagi results is the fourth and final step of the daily Obagi system.

Because Obagi is prescription strength it can be harsh. However, that is also what makes Obagi so drastically effective. Some patients may experience redness, dryness, and mild irritation during the first few weeks of treatment. This is partially because Obagi is accelerating new growth of skin cells, causing faster turnover of dead skin which may dry out the outer layer. Once the skin acclimates its self to the products this will subside, revealing gorgeous glowing, more even skin. Obagis results are permanent with correct maintenance. Obagi offers many lines, besides Nu-Derm, that allow you to target problem areas, like acne prone skin, the beginning of wrinkles and sensitive skin, even rosacia. Come in to discuss with Dr. Karen and staff which line best suits your skin type. The results of using Obagi are well worth the added steps to your daily skin care routine and will be enjoyed for a lifetime.

All of the three additional skin care steps described in this session of blog posts (ViPeel, HydraFacial and Obagi) will reward you with radiant, younger looking skin at first use. With multiple treatments you will see dramatic improvements in the way your skin looks and feels. Please contact Exclusively Faces to schedule a free consultation so we may discuss targeted areas you wish to correct and tailor a skin regiment to fit your needs.

This weeks Aging Skin blog focuses on the HydraFacial, a break through procedure sweeping the nation that painlessly improves tone, texture, and clarity of skin. If you want a youthful glow in no time at all the HydraFacial may be just what you are looking for.

The HydraFacial is like nothing you’ve ever seen or felt. It is a new method of skin resurfacing with results comparable to chemical peels or microdermabrasion but with no discomfort or down time. It uses a special vacuum-tip that both scrapes away impurities and dead skin while increasing the time skin has contact with the systems hydrating serums to simultaneously cleanse, exfoliate, extract dirt and dead cells, and hydrate your skin for a smooth feeling and healthy glow. With the HydraFacial you will see immediate results; skin will feel softer and look smoother, fine lines will be diminnished, skin tone will be improved and pore size will be minimized. There is absolutely no down time and you can go about your day directly after the facial.

The HydraFacial uses a hydrating, non-irritating serum to exfoliate and resurface the skin while the vacuum-tip sucks away dead skin cells, oil, dirt and make-up. HydraFacial is appropriate for all skin types, including people with very sensitive skin. Serums hydrate deep down to improve the regeneration of collagen. The system will yield results for all skin types and can target specific conditions like fine-lines, acne-prone or oily skin, hyperpigmentation and sun damage. It is recommended that patients get a HydraFacial once every 28 days to maintain results. However even one treatment will reveal fresher, healthier looking skin and a youthful glow. HydraFacial is a great treatment to get before a special event. The HydraFacial is a rather new procedure, not carried by all spas. Come in to Exclusively Faces and try this new procedure and see what all the buzz is about!

To continue the post from last week we will be discussing the ViPeel. The ViPeel is a wonderful procedure for those wanting an immediate, painless, and drastic change to their skin.

The ViPeel is a chemical peel with less harshness than normal chemical peels or microdermabrasion but with all the benefits. Due to its milder nature it is suitable for all skin types and results in little downtime. The ViPeel improves the tone, texture and clarity of skin by removing the first few layers of old, dead skin cells. One ViPeel will result in a healthy glow and skin repair, minimizing discoloration. Multiple treatments (usually 3 to 4) can reduce or eliminate age spots, freckles and hyper pigmentation, including melasma, large pore size and other skin imperfections. For people with acne problems it can help clear acne prone skin and minimize the appearance of acne scars. The ViPeel also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, important to the skins supporting structure, for firmer skin and a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some patients may feel a mild stinging sensation during the actual procedure but there is generally very little discomfort and patients can return to the normal activities.

Maintaining the results of your ViPeel is essential. While there are no restrictions to daily activities after your peel, you’ll want to avoid heavy sweating and excessive sun exposure for the first four days. We provide you with the Vi Derm system, a kit that will help guarantee that you keep the results of your Vi Peel and will improve the texture, suppleness and clarity of your skin. The first two days after a ViPeel your skin should feel normal, by the third your skin will start to peel and mild peeling will continue until the seventh day after a peel. This is normal and will reveal the beautiful skin underneath. A consultation will be very important to decide the number and frequency of peels you will need to achieve desired results as well as to set up after care regime. It is recommended that patients receive the ViPeel three to four times a year to remove sun damage and other environmental stressors that build up during that time. Join us next week when we will discuss another procedure that is sweeping the nation as the next big thing in spa cosmetics, the HydraFacial.