Laser Skin Resurfacing With Fractionated CO2 (Total FX)
February 23, 2012 | 
Author Fractionated CO2 technology has revolutionized our ability to treat moderate to severe skin aging and scarring with minimal downtime. In the past, the best laser treatment as far as effectiveness was standard (unfractionated) C02. Unfortunately, while producing dramatic skin tightening and smoothening of wrinkles, the standard deep CO2 laser peel often causes permanent skin lightening.
Fractionated CO2 harnesses the power of CO2 but decrease the chances of skin lightening by fractionating the laser beam (treating a fraction of the skin surface at a time).
By treating only a fraction of the skin surface, the healthy untreated skin aids in the healing process and decreases chances of hypopigmentation (permanent skin lightening), scarring, or prolonged redness. By controlling the density of the treatment (what percentage of the skin surface is actually hit by the laser) as well as the depth or power of the laser, a skilled surgeon can tailor a fractionated CO2 skin resurfacing treatment to achieve dramatic results in most skin types.
In our practice, the Ultrapulse CO2 laser from Lumenis is used for this treatment. This was the first device to introduce fractionated CO2 resurfacing and has made a lot of progress as far as treatment options and parameters. The Active FX is the name given by the company to their fractionated treatment done with a standard spot size of 1.25mm. At this spot size the treatment depth is relatively superficial but by increasing the density and or frequency of the pulses one can achieve fairly dramatic skin tightening and texture improvement. Deep FX is the name given to the treatment when performed with a decreased spot size of 0.12 mm. The smaller spot size means greater power which means the laser goes deeper into the tissue. However, it is still fractionated, making it a relatively safe treatment. Total FX means a combination of Active FX and Deep Fx spot sizes. Generally, the Deep FX is used on deeper lines or scars (around the lips or corners of the eyes in most patients). Active FX is then feathered over these areas and the rest of the face. This combination is currently believed to provide the best total rejuvenation with the quickest recovery and minimal risks, according to the company.
In our practice our patients have been very satisfied with Active FX, and when the deeper lines around the lips are softened further with the Deep FX this has been icing on the cake for them.
The cost of fractionated CO2 laser skin resurfacing varies. Some clinics have nurses performing Active FX and occasionally deep FX. The problem with this is that outcome is highly dependent on the level of comfort and experience of the practitioner. Density of the treatment can vary from 1 to 5, at which point only a doctor should be handling the laser. Another factor is the brand of laser being used. The Ultrapulse from Lumenis has been around longest and therefore has the best track record with established parameters. This is also the most expensive laser at around $150,000 to purchase. It should generally be expected that a combo treatment or “total FX” combining different spot sizes will be more expensive. This requires more time and planning on the part of the surgeon, and also more expensive equipment.
A final consideration that can affect cost of treatment is “after care.” The treating facility should have an experienced esthetician who has been trained to deal with post-laser skin. The esthetician should provide quality skin care products and guidance, without making patients feel they are paying a “second procedure fee” or exorbitant cost for products.
Advanced Hair Studio’s Strand-By-Strand Explained
Most people when trying to research about hair loss will inevitably come across Advanced Hair Studio. A giant in the industry. They boast a worldwide clientele of 300,000 people with genuine celebrity sponsors. A fantastic image to work with and a complete catalogue of hair loss treatments.
So, are they as good as they made out to be?
Unfortunately this isn’t a straight forward answer. If you search for reviews you’ll undoubtably get people who curse Advanced Hair Studio up and down the pitch and I’m sure these people have reasson to. I’ll give you an example.
Strand-by-Strand is a trademark with Advanced Hair Studio. They developed the procedure and I have to admit, it’s a very good one. The before and after pictures are amazing to look at.
The problem comes when people think that you’re actually growing your own hair. This isn’t the case. I’m sure you’ve heard of skin grafts? Well it’s something similar. What Advanced Hair Studio don’t want you doing is walking into their clinic with no hair and walking out an hour or two hours later with a full head of hair. They know you’re desperate to have a full head of hair but if you’ve had no hair for a long time and suddenly have a full head of hair, you’d be surprised how much you might want to hide in case people see you. What they want is to do the procedure “strand-by-strand.” It gives the appearance of your hair growing back gradually over time.
You can opt if you want to go in bald and come out with a full head of hair. They won’t stop you if it’s what you really want. They’re only concern is that it might be too much of a surprise and believe me it has been for some people.
Most potential clients think they are misled into thinking they’re going to re-grow their own hair. That simply isn’t the case. The strand-by-strand procedure is the application of a hair system and nothing more. If you sign up you go in and have yourself fitten and a sample of hair taken. It will then be sent away to make a match and a couple of months later the hair system it sent back to the clinic you visited. You’ll then be called and an appointment made for you. You’ll sit in a chair where an Advanced hair Studio Stylist will, using a glue or adhesive, will fit the hair system to your scalp.
With the proper care and attention that particular hair system will last you for years but the price Advanced Hair Studio quote you will often include a second hair system so you’re covered for some time.
The treatment is one of the best on the market for those that can’t rely on the likes of propecia and rogaine as a male hair loss treatment.
Now, can mistakes happen? Yes they can. Of course they can. And when it comes to fitting a hair system a mistake could mean you not getting it fitted so potentially it can be a disaster If they can, they will do all they can to rectify the problem.
As I advise people on my site and anyone who emails me, don’t be afraid to ask questions in a clinic. They’re asking you to pay a lot of money for a treatment so you are within your rights to ask as many questions as you like.
Posted in Laser Hair Clinic Articles | 
Tags: Advanced, Comparison, Explained, StrandByStrand, Studios, Tablet | 
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Female Chin Hair Removal – 7 Options
An economical and easy method for female chin hair removal is desperately sought after by many women considering how self-conscious they feel about facial hair and especially unwanted hair on or under the chin.
This article provides an overview of the main options available for female chin hair removal covering permanent, prescription, non-prescription, and home methods.
Option 1
Electrolysis is the only hair removal method that has a full consensus verifying that it is a truly permanent method – if of course it is performed properly by a professional practitioner.
Electrolysis can be expensive although the costs will of course be greatly reduced for female chin hair removal in view of the small area and smaller number of hair follicles that need to be treated. Each hair follicle needs individual attention and depending on the amount of growth, the procedure can take between 2 and 12 hours, with costs ranging from $25 to $100 per hour.
Option 2
Laser hair removal is very popular and much cheaper than electrolysis. It is important to have a thorough consultation with a qualified practitioner and even have a test area done on a part of the body not so visible. Every individual is different when it comes to skin type, hair texture, color, etc. and all these variables can have an effect on how successful the procedure will be.
Nevertheless, laser female chin hair removal can be economical and long lasting. As many hair follicles are treated at once the chin area can be finished in just 2 to 3 minutes. Repeated sessions are necessary to catch all the hairs as hair is in different stages of growth at any given time. Prices can vary widely so you need to consult with your local clinic.
Chin hair can be rather coarse, especially as women get older. There are some female chin hair removal methods that can be done at home although caution is needed so as not to irritate the hair follicles on this very visible part of the face.
Option 3
Depilatories are strong chemicals that dissolve the hair. If you decide on this option test a small area on another part of the body that is not so visible and see how your skin reacts. Observe the timing very carefully so as not to leave the preparation on the skin longer than absolutely necessary to avoid skin damage.
Option 4
For the few stray hairs on the chin, tweezing is a good option. Invest in a quality pair of tweezers, perform the procedure in good light, preferably with a magnifying mirror, and pull the hair out straight in the direction of growth.
Option 5
Waxing is perhaps the most popular method of female chin hair removal. It is inexpensive and these days, many waxing preparations have additional ingredients to soothe the skin. After all, the hair follicle is bound to protest even a little, when a hair is wrenched out given the nerve endings that are affected.
Pressing the area with the fingers right after pulling the waxing strip will minimize the discomfort, and if you follow up by rubbing an ice cube over the area, recovery is much faster.
Two other options are available if you use waxing or tweezing to remove stray chin hair.
Option 6
Vaniqa is a prescription cream which reduces hair growth in women. Just apply it twice a day and many women see a significant reduction in hair growth after about 2 months. It makes waxing and tweezing much easier as the amount of hair is reduced and often the hair that does regrow is finer.
You will need to see your doctor to get the prescription. Side effects are minimal, mainly skin irritation which passes.
Note: Vaniqa is only for women and girls over the age of 12.
Option 7
Kalo is a non-prescription hair growth retardant which was on the market about 3 years before Vaniqa came out in the year 2000. It comes in a lotion which is ideal for the facial areas. Just rub it into the skin after a hair removal session, about 3 times, at 15 minute intervals, and that’s it until the next time you have to perform female chin hair removal.
About a 10-15% reduction in hair growth will be seen after each session until much of the hair fails to grow back.
Note: Kalo can safely be used by men and women and even children.
With both Vaniqa and Kalo results vary. In the case of Vaniqa, just over half the women who used it in clinical trials noticed a reduction in hair growth. With Kalo, the company which makes it, Nisim International, offers a no questions asked money refund for any women who are not satisfied with the results.
So in conclusion, when it comes to female chin hair removal, there are a number of options. Will you choose a permanent or semi-permanent solution such as electrolysis or laser hair removal?
Of would you prefer to carry out the procedure yourself at home every few weeks? Depending on your skin type, hair texture and color, you can experiment with the options above and arrive at the most convenient solution.
Free Trial Contact Lenses – How To Get Free Colored Contact Lenses
Free trial contact lenses can be extremely beneficial to consumers. Whether you are preparing to get contact lenses for the first time, or simply considering changing contact lens brands, it can be difficult to know which brand and style are right for you. Taking advantage of your ability to get a free sample of contact lenses will make it easier for you to find the perfect lens for you.
A pair of free trial of contact lenses is available for many different lens types and brands. The free trial consists of one free pair of a specific brand or type, which can be worn long enough to decide if the lens is right for you. In general, obtaining a free trial requires calling a promotional phone number or visiting the manufacturer’s website.
You will be required to fill out a simple form, and a certificate will be mailed to you. Some manufacturers will also email the free trial certificate if you choose that option. The certificate will entitle you to one free pair of the contact lenses.
Of course, using your free trial certificate is not as simple as redeeming a coupon at the grocery store. Because the contact lenses are generally prescription lenses, you will need to have a contact lens prescription to get the free pair, which means scheduling an eye exam. Some certificates even specify that the free pair can only be used in conjunction with an eye exam, while some optometrists will only honor the certificates with new prescriptions. It is important to make sure the doctor you choose accepts the certificates prior to trying to use one.
It is even possible to get free colored contact lenses using the free trial certificates. While most manufacturers of colored contact lenses do not currently offer free trials, Acuvue 2 Colors and Fresh-Look color lenses both have available free trial offers. Free trials of colored contact lenses are an incredible opportunity for anyone who has ever wanted to try colored lenses but hesitated because of the cost involved or fear of how they would look.
Finally, no two pairs of eyes are alike. In fact, one person can have two completely different lens needs, such as one spherical and one toric. In cases where different types, or even different brands, of contact lenses are needed, experimenting with the lenses can become expensive. Free contact lenses make it possible to try different lenses without breaking the bank.
While some people are content to simply rely on their eye doctor’s choice of contact lens, most prefer to find the lens that is best suited to their unique needs. Free trial contact lenses make it possible to experiment with brands, styles and colors in order to find the perfect contact lenses without the need to spend a fortune.
A Sty in Your Eye – What to Do?
A sty usually begins with irritation in the eye. You find yourself rubbing your eye and after a day or two you notice a tiny lump or pimple on the lid (upper or lower). The annoying pimple becomes larger and painful until within a few days it bursts and the pain and irritations ends. The first thing NOT to do to a sty is to rub or squeeze it.
A sty is in fact an infection in the eyelash follicle or the oil gland. If you’re frequently exposed to small particles of any kind, you are more likely to develop sties as tiny particles clog the gland or follicle on the eyelid.
If you do sanding, plastering, or dusty gardening, wear plastic protective goggles and your sties will most likely disappear.
Sometimes you can get sties over a period of weeks or you get a few at the same time. This is because the bacteria that are causing the infection have traveled to another site on the eyelid and infected it.
If you get sties from any old makeup, throw the makeup out.
The best way to cope with a sty is to use frequent warm compresses. Take a clean washcloth and wet it with hot water so that the cloth is comfortable to the touch. Press it gently to the affected eye and hold it in place for at least ten minutes. The moist warmth helps the sty come to a head and burst, which relieves the pain. If you can see that a white head has formed on the sty after a few days, with clean hands you can pull out the eyelash. This should relieve the pain by allowing the pus to drain.
Again, never squeeze the sty or try to pull out the lash or force it to drain before a head has formed.
The sty should disappear in about a week. If it does not, or you have frequent problems with sties, consult your health care provider who may prescribe antibiotics.
Keep in mind:
* Never rub, squeeze, or irritate a sty.
* Use a warm compress three to four times a day.
* You can put a wet washcloth in the microwave for a few seconds, long enough that it is comfortable hot. Use this over the eye for about ten minutes.
* Once the sty comes to a head with an obvious white or yellow center, you can gently pull the eyelash out. You may not see an eyelash there anymore as it might fall out by itself. The release of pus should relieve pain.
If the sty does not clear up in about a week, see your doctor or eye doctor.
Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector – New Hype?
People today seem to be doing everything that they can in order to look and feel younger. When you are suffering from dark spots, or even bad age spots, you can easily turn to the Dark Spot Corrector. This new product does a number of beneficial things to the skin that anyone can enjoy. Look now and see for yourself!
One of the best aspects about this is the fact that you do not need to see a doctor in order to get a bottle. In fact, this is just as strong only it is found over the counter. Now, you can easily get what you need and find the treatment without seeing a specialist and spending too much money in the long run.
The Clinique Dark Spot Corrector is most known for fighting off dark spots. These spots appear as you start to grow older. When this happens, you might start feeling a little down or gloomy. Turn that gloom into excitement with this great cream. Within weeks, you should be able to see the dark spots slowly fading away.
Age spots will also be reduced with this cream. Age spots also happen when you get older and you do need to make sure that you do what you can in order to get your face out of the sun and prevent any more age spots. Age spots can turn into something else, so make sure to keep and eye on things and make sure you apply this product.
If you suffered from acne when you were a child, you might have some scarring to get rid of. Luckily for you, this product will take care of that as well. This of course is all done without the need for an prescription. Again, this can be applied directly to the skin in order to show you the best results possible.
Within a time period of 4 weeks, people are seeing the best results. This is what studies have reported and this is what you can expect. If you think this is too long for you, think again. The fact of the matter is, you need to give the cream and the ingredients time ti attack the dark spots as well as the age spots and acne scars.
Do not worry too much about the overall price of this cream. Most have reported not paying more than $20 for this cream. $49.50 might seem like a significant amount of money, but think about what you are getting in return! Take a look online and see if you can find a fresh bottle with your name on it.
The Clinique Dark Spot Corrector is an effective product that will work on your skin. Evaluate the type of skin that you have and determine the amount of age spots you want to take care of. Give this product a try and find out what it can do for you and your skin!
Can Daily Hair Washing Remove Scalp DHT?
I get a lot of questions about how to reduce DHT and it’s effects on the scalp and hair. This makes sense because statistics tell us that well over 90% of hair loss is caused by androgens, sensitivity, and genetics. I get a lot of questions asking if daily shampooing helps or if there are any shampoos that are really able to work on DHT. I’ll tell you my take on this on the following article.
Daily Shampooing Or Washing Is Important If You Are Experiencing Hair Loss: I’m a firm believer that, no matter how counter intuitive it may feel at the time, daily washing is vital – especially if you are having hair or scalp issues. When I say that it may feel counter intuitive, I mean that it’s hard to force yourself to do this when you know that it is going to result in more hair loss. It’s difficult to see all the hair in the drain and know that you aren’t doing more harm than good.
But, here’s what many people don’t understand. Those hairs in the drain were going to come out anyway. They have been in the resting phase on your head for many weeks or months. They were essentially “dead hair” that are not properly embedded in the scalp and not receiving any nourishment anyway. And, it’s highly likely that it’s possibly that DHT, androgens, or inflammation has already done it’s damage to those strands anyway.
So it’s best to clear your scalp of them and move on. And, if you skip washing, you’ll likely allow more damage to build on your scalp. While your daily shed may well seem to be less on the days you don’t wash, it’s highly likely that you will only lose more on wash days. In fact, I’ve experimented with this many times and almost always (at least before I recovered), my average remained the same or even started to creep up the more I put off washing. The bottom line is that I firmly don’t believe that you gain anything by washing less. In fact, I think that this practice does damage in the long run.
There Are Shampoos Meant To Lessen DHT, But They Can Only Do So Much: There are many popular shampoos on the market which claim that they have ingredients proven to diminish androgens. Examples are Hair Genosis, Revivogen, Thymuskin, Nioxin, and Nism. I’ve tried all of these. And while some did improve the appearance of my hair, I really do not believe, from my experience and my research, that a shampoo alone can clean up what is constantly being excreted on your scalp. You’re only washing once per day and yet your scalp is secreting androgens all day long.
The truth is, people who have genetic hair loss typically will have a sensitivity to these androgens. They are genetically prone to not be able to tolerate them. People who have androgenic alopecia (AGA) don’t have more androgens and DHT on their scalp than folks with healthy scalps and full heads of hair. They are just more sensitive to what they have. And, unfortunately, there is no way to eliminate all of it so that it will remain gone until your next shampoo.
There are however topicals that you can apply throughout the day as well as scalp stimulation techniques that can help with this sensitivity and inflammation. The laser wand or comb reduces DHT too, but you can’t over use it. Reducing androgens and your sensitivity to them is truly an ongoing process that you must address regularly through a variety of methods. Shampooing can be an effective piece of the puzzle but in my opinion it alone is not a complete answer for most.
Beauty Salon Floor Plans
A beauty salon has become an almost iconic image in Western culture. It is a place where people go for beauty treatments and to purchase beauty products. Women frequent beauty salons to get their hair trimmed and nails polished.
A beauty salon is also a center for community news and confessions. No two beauty salons have the same environment. Each salon tries to have its own distinct identity and ambience. Some cater to a particular section of the society, while others meet the demands of certain ethnic communities.
There are hundreds of attractive possibilities for designing your salon with creative and well-organized working floor plans. To begin with, make a rough sketch of the salon with proper dimensions. The floor layout is drawn using a grid paper or an architectural scale. For a good beauty saloon, the normal space required per stylist is around 125 to 150 square feet. The salon should also contain rooms for facials, massages, skin care, or electrolysis, as well as a men’s hairstyling space with small waiting area, and a tint room.
Many beauty salons are now remodeled in order to make the interior as well as the floors more attractive. Even though one can undertake the remodeling planning and designing by oneself, it is better to consult an architect or interior designer for professional assistance. An architect’s advice will help a lot in the structural redesigning of a beauty salon. Take special care in designing the reception area as it creates the first impression regarding the salon.
Various versions of floor plan software are available for free on the Internet. These can be easily downloaded to create great looking floors for the salon.
Tattoo Hair Simulation – A Guide to the Basics
What is tattoo hair simulation? Tattoo hair simulation is a permanent cosmetic procedure which masks the appearance of thinning or balding spots by using ink to mimic the appearance of hair follicles. The treatment is sometimes referred to under the names “hair follicle replication,” “cosmetic transdermal hair replication” and “micro hair tattooing” (including derivatives of those). Companies offering the technique use specific pigments, specialized techniques, and different needles than traditional tattoos, but the process is basically the same. A tattoo artist uses a needle to insert a dye permanently into the skin. The success of the procedure depends on the tattoo artist’s ability to place the images in a pattern and density which mimic the recipient’s natural hair.
Who could benefit from this treatment? Men who prefer their head very closely shaved can use this treatment to fill in bald patches or replace a receding hairline. The scalp tattoo will blend in with the surrounding hair follicles, giving the appearance of a full head of (shaven) hair. A scalp tattoo can also be used to create the illusion of a crisp hairline-the hairline can be illustrated in whatever shape or style a man prefers.
How long does it take? The treatment is usually completed in one session lasting between 2 to 8 hours; one follow-up session is required.
What are the downsides? Tattooed hair is not actual hair; it is a representation of a “full” hair follicle. This treatment will not add any fullness or body to the appearance of the scalp. It can only work with extremely close-shaven haircuts. Once the treatment is performed, it is irreversible. Should you change your mind and tire of shaving your hair close, the hair tattoo would need to be covered in order to conceal the “plug-like” images. Overall, this is most likely not a procedure that would work for everyone.
Elderly Skin Care – What You Need To Know
Elderly people and their caregivers should know about elderly skin care. It is important to realize some of the common traits, problems and solutions. Elderly people will have some specific issues that need to be recognized and treated effectively. This page will help you care best for elderly skin.
Elderly Skin Traits
The most common factor among elderly skin is the fact that it is usually always dry. This is because as we age, our skin begins to thin. As it thins, it is less able to retain moisture, thus leading to dry skin.
Dry skin can lead to problems in a younger person, but can cause even more problems for the elderly. The thin skin is easier torn, and that lets bacteria get in. The elderly have a harder time fighting bacteria off, so you don’t want anything to increase their chances of infection.
Treating Elderly Skin
Elderly skin care will always include caring for dry skin. Treating dry skin is not hard; it just requires astute attention and getting in the habit of taking care of it.Here’s how you do it.
Keep It Clean: Always keep the skin clean. This applies especially to the feet, groin, underareas and armpits. Individuals who sweat should wear loose, absorbent clothing that will wick the wetness away. If skin stays wet too long, it can become prone to fungal infection, rashes and even become extremely dry.
However, avoid hot baths or too frequent showering/bathing. This will dry skin out further. Warm water is the most
effective, and bathing every other day is probably the most frequent to get.
Cream based cleansers for face and body are perfect. Often, only localized areas need to be soaped; the rest of the body can be flushed with warm water. Avoid very bubbly products, as they usually contain harsh detergents that dry out skin.
Keep It Hydrated: Keeping dry skin hydrated is the best way to avoid potential problems like cracking, pain and itchiness (which we’ll discuss below). After showering or bathing, lather all over with a thick hydrating cream. This will help seal in the body’s natural moisture, and help skin be more comfortable.
For the day, invest in a heavy-duty moisturizer with sunscreen. At night, use a hydrating night cream before going to bed.
Keep It From Itching: Elderly skin care is all about dry skin. But what makes skin dry? Well, as we age, our bodies decrease their production of oily secretions, which help keep skin soft, supple and hydrated. This decrease leads to drier skin, which can become itchy and uncomfortable. And when our skin itches, we scratch it.
This can be harmful for an older person, as their skin is more thin, and more susceptible to tearing. Which just leads to a bigger problem. So, to reduce itchiness, try using a bathing oil after bathing. Be very careful to avoid applying to hands and feet so the risk of slipping is minimized. Apply talc to areas that sweat to minimize any fungal growth which can lead to itching. And keeping humidifiers in popular rooms will help relieve itching.
Keep An Eye On It: Elderly skin care should also always include routine examinations of the skin for skin cancer and other skin disorders. Look for moles that are changing shape (asymmetrical), color, or are just looking different. Look for areas that are peeling, red, irritated, chapped, cracked or have severe itching. Keep an eye out for new growths, sores that do not heal, the appearance of new sores and pain. Knowing elderly skin care will help you recognize these potential problems. If you notice any of these conditions, please see a doctor.
Don’t Forget The Feet!
As we focus on elderly skin care, let’s not forget one of the most important (yet often overlooked) area of the body. The feet. The older a person gets, the more prone the feet become to problems. Corns, calluses, warts, dry skin, fungal infections, ingrown toenails, blisters and other foot
deformities are common. Proper care of your feet, including
regular checkups by a doctor, can alleviate most of these problems. The feet are also a great way to tell if a person
is at risk for diabetes.
The Routine: Clean feet thoroughly with warm water, and dry them completely. Remember to get between the toes! Thoroughly massage lotion or moisturizer into the feet, avoided the spaces between toes. Trim the nails straight across, and not right next to the nailbed. Round sharp edges with a file.
If the person is immobile, do daily foot exercises to get blood circulating.
Always wear comfortable shoes, even around the house. This is to protect the feet from outside injury, as well as discomfort caused by inappropriate footwear.
The Inspection: Each day, inspect feet for a change in color, dryness, swelling or tenderness. Check for any of the ailments listed above, from corns to blisters. Be aware of any different sensations, like tingling, numbness or pain. Seek treatment if any of these signs are apparent.
Now you know all you need to about elderly skin care. Go forth, be healthy, and enjoy these years.