Did you know your cells have an energy source and we can help you recharge it?

Remember mitochondria from middle schools science? Our mitochondria provide power as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a form of energy our cells use to grow and divide. ATP can be thought of as molecular currency because it is the only energy molecule the body can utilize.

Over time, beginning in our 20s, oxidative damage adversely affects the mitochondrial membrane where youth-giving ATP is located and produced. By our 60’s our mitochondria’s ability to synthesize ATP is reduced to just half of what it produced in our youth. Since ATP synthesis is essential to our overall health as well as a youthful appearance, it is important to eat well and exercise.

When it comes to aging skin--reduced ATP is near the top of the list of causes and increasing ATP synthesis is one of the hidden keys to “the fountain of youth.”

For the facial area, there are two known and scientifically proven ways to reinvigorate and recharge your cell energy, and we have both of these remarkable innovations available:

1. LED Light Therapy: it works by delivering energy-packed beams of light into the dermis layer of the skin, energizing the cells responsible for collagen and elastin production. In turn, it builds up collagen in the dermis layer, plumping up aging skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Red Light LED stimulates the fibroblasts that produce collagen, which gives skin its youthful, plump look while Infrared Light penetrates deeper and provides a firming effect.
   
   
2. Microcurrent Lifting: this uses tiny electric currents to gently stimulate the muscles of the face while increasing blood circulation, lymphatic flow, collagen, and elastin production. It targets face and neck muscles and tightens and tones the facial contours.

We also offer a highly effective combination of LED therapy and microcurrent lifting, which combines the benefits of both procedures for incredible results.

All LED and microcurrent treatments are painless, relaxing, have no downtime, and are safe for nearly everyone. We recommend using them in a series for optimal results. We believe they are beneficial to just about everyone!

It can be hard to believe that these technologies are so effective since most of the time clients fall asleep during the process! However, if you ask any of our clients (or us) who get these treatments regularly, they are the closest thing we have to an anti-aging miracle.

Questions? Let us know.

Spring = Glossy Skin (right on trend!). 6 Ways to Get the Glow!

Every time we see an image of Katie Jane Hughes @katiejanehughes on our IG feed, it makes us happy. We love seeing a woman who celebrates life, tackles new projects readily, doesn’t take makeup too seriously but takes skin care very seriously allowing her to feed her own, and our, glossy skin devotion. We love the look.

6 ways to amp up your youthful glow:

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water improves your body’s overall health and does great things for your largest organ: your skin. Glow from the inside, out. And, yes, those daily La Croixs count as water.

Know Your Skin

Do you have oily skin, dry skin or combination?

Products like astringents, retinoids, hydroxy acids and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) decrease sebum or oil, and help eliminate shine. Oily skin is caused by hormone changes which cause excessive sebum production and enlarged pores. There’s definitely a difference between oily skin and healthy skin that glows. The right combination of water, foods, treatments, and products help you achieve the look you want.

If your skin feels tight, cracks or peels you may want to adjust your environment. Lower the heat or air conditioning and shower and cleanse skin in water that isn’t super hot. Dry or ashy skin can be due to lack of moisture from overuse of products that dry skin like retinoids, hydroxy acids or BPO, changes in estrogen levels due to menopause or even workplaces with dry environment. The right combination of water, foods, treatments, and products help you achieve the look you want plus an at-desk, in-room, or whole home humidifier definitely makes an impact.

Taste the Rainbow

Green tea and chamomile extracts soothe the skin, while fruits add moisture. Vitamins C, B and E decrease free radicals in skin, which helps eliminate brown spots and dull, flaky skin. Think, strawberries, brussel sprouts, broccoli, papaya, tomatoes, kale, and bell peppers to name a few of the top sources. So, another reason to aim for rainbows of color on every plate.

Try a Topical Retinoid

Retinoids are vitamin A products that increase cellular turnover so younger cells replace old, dull skin cells. Retinoids cause younger, plumper cells to absorb moisture and they decrease pigmentation or brown spots. But these wonder products are not one size fits all. Ask your facialist which might be best for your skin, and follow the directions. With retinol, more is not better!

We all use one at LNAA. Our top selling retinoid is: PCASkin Intensive Age Refining Treatment .5 Retinol

No matter what, wear sunscreen every day and be extra vigilant if you use a retinoid since they increase sensitivity to the sun. There’s a reason I have so many hats now!

Use a Serum Containing Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) helps draw moisture from the environment so skin looks and feels more dewey and plump. In the right form, it can also penetrate quite deeply and maintain hydration for a full 24 hours plus smooth the surface of the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. We don’t recommend scrimping on this ingredient; look for a serum that has various molecular weights of HA for the very best results. We are loving PCA Skin’s newest serum, Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum, which contains a proprietary blend of ingredients that encourage your skin to make its own HA. $115

Enhance Your Natural Glow With Makeup

One of the quickest ways to make your skin glow is by finishing your look with a luminescent highlighter or a hydrating setting spray. Swipe on a powder, cream or liquid highlighter to give your skin an instant glow. Set your makeup with a hydrating setting spray to keep your makeup from melting off, while increasing your skin’s glow. Look for product descriptors like cooling, dewy or luminous. These don’t do much for your skin overall, but they do enhance the look of dewiness. Be sure to let them set for a few minutes before applying more. You can go from dewey to space-glow really fast.

Milk Makeup and Glossier both have great products for simplifying your makeup routine and adding a little luster.

Here’s to Spring, we’re glad you’re here!

Injectables: The Real Real. Part 1 of 3: Dermal Fillers

Because there is a lot of folklore out there about Botox, Juvederm, Kybella, and others, let’s break down injectables by separating them into their respective categories and three sections since we get a lot of great questions about these!

1. Dermal Fillers
2. Neuromodulators
3. Kybella--a category of its own!

1. Dermal Fillers (commonly Restylane or Juvederm)

First, let’s talk about dermal fillers.

To demystify most of the folklore about fillers specifically, the Wikipedia entry of facts:

Dermal filler From Wikipedia
Injectable filler (injectable cosmetic filler, injectable facial filler) is a soft tissue filler injected into the skin to help fill in facial wrinkles, restoring a smoother appearance. Most of these wrinkle fillers are temporary because they are eventually absorbed by the body. Some people may need more than one injection to achieve the wrinkle-smoothing effect. The effect lasts for about six months or longer. Successful results depend on the health of the skin, skill of the health care provider, type of filler used.

In the US, fillers are approved as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the injection is prescribed and performed by a healthcare provider. In Europe and the UK, fillers are non-prescription medical devices that can be injected by anyone licensed to do so by the respective medical authorities. They require a CE mark, which regulates adherence to production standards, but does not require any demonstration of medical efficacy. As a result, there are over 140 injectable fillers in the UK/European market and only six approved for use in the US.

What it is

There are several types of dermal filler that can be injected into the skin, providing a rejuvenating effect. At Advanced Aesthetics, Drs. Cynthia and Julie prefer hyaluronic acid (HA) based fillers because they are the safest to inject, have the fewest side effects, and can be easily reversed. There are many types of HA fillers and each has unique qualities. Some fillers are best used to lift the cheeks, while others are better for subtle and natural enhancement of the lips and correction of under eye hollowness. Fillers can stimulate your own collagen and improve skin texture. Most fillers will last 6-12 months, but some may last as long as 2 years.

Done with an expert hand, your face still moves and shows the courage, laughter, and spontaneity that makes you, you. When we see over-done work, it’s really a shame because it often has the reverse effect.

How it works

Dermal fillers, also known as "injectables" or "soft-tissue fillers," do just what their name suggests: they fill in the area under the skin.

• filling in wrinkles, fine lines, and deep creases
• increasing facial volume in the temples
• improving other imperfections like scars
• plimping earlobes so earrings hang better
• filling out thin or wrinkled lips
• plumping up cheeks
• contouring the jawline and other areas of the face
• changing the contour of the nose

How to Prepare for your procedure

Drs. Cynthia and Julie offer a 30-minute complimentary consultation, during which you can discuss treatment expectations, costs, risks, outline a treatment plan, as well as go over your health history. Although every precaution is taken, there is always a chance of bruising at the injection site. To reduce the risk of bruising, we recommend the following:

• A week before treatment, discontinue aspirin or ibuprofen and take Tylenol for pain relief instead.
• A week before treatment discontinue Fish oils and Omega complexes, vitamin E and St. Johns Wort-they are blood thinners.
• 48 hours before treatment, reduce or discontinue garlic and alcohol consumption.
• Take a dose of Arnica Montana, the homeopathic remedy, 24 hours before treatment.
• Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you take. Medically necessary blood thinners should NOT be stopped. 

Bottom line? They’re safe and highly effective. It’s been proven that injectables have an anti-aging and preventative effect. That’s not to say you should start at age 19 getting treatments. Instead, it’s something to consider when there’s a feature that starts bothering you every day. And you don’t have to look like you’ve “had work done.” It’s the expert hand that matters most, not the juice. Lastly, yes, they’re on the expensive side but provide long-lasting results. There have been plenty of articles written about why bargain-shopping for injectables is a bad idea -- namely, they are often diluted or you are being used as a practice-client while the person builds up their skillset. Be cautious.

The reason LNAA invited Dr Cynthia Ruggero, Medical Director for Medical Aesthetics and Dr Julie Seaman, Medical Aesthetics, to join our Studio is because of their years of successful cosmetic and medical work in addition to their approach. Injectables offer our clients a long-lasting way to complement their focus on smooth, vibrant skin and offset some of the effects of aging in a way that supports their outlook and lifestyle.

If you’ve ever been curious about them or have questions you were afraid to ask, reach out to us.

Injectables: The Real Real. Part 3 of 3, Kybella (commonly “double-chin-melter”)

Kybella is the first non-surgical way to reduce submental fat, or the dreaded double chin, without surgery, providing results similar to liposuction.

In the last five years, the number of body contouring procedures has grown two and a half times. This growth is reflective of consumer concerns. New procedures offer even more minimally invasive treatment options, such as Kybella, popular for fat below the chin, and micro-focused ultrasound used for skin tightening. (https://www.asds.net/_Media.aspx?id=10114&terms=kybella)

“The drug designed to treat my “submental fat” (the fat pocket under the chin) is the new cosmetic injectable Kybella, which promises to dissolve fat cells through a series of injections. There’s very little downtime, it’s noninvasive and nonsurgical, and there’s little risk. The drug is the first (and only) injectable designed to contour away the dreaded double chin...The process can be relatively slow, with results taking weeks or more often, months. This can be discouraging, especially to people who are self-conscious about their chins to begin with. The good news is that once your months-long process is completed, those fat cells are not coming back. There is no upkeep to consider or future costs.”

(source: The Atlantic June 2017 https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/06/kybella-the-injection-that-melts-a-double-chin/529893/)

Why people choose Kybella:

• Non-invasive — does not require surgery.
• 90% of patients experience long-term effects.  
• A contoured jawline can make you feel more confident and appear younger.

How to prepare for the procedure

Before the procedure, a consultation is scheduled. This is the time to ask any questions you have and to discuss the desired outcome with your doctor.

• To reduce the risk of bruising and swelling, avoid taking aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John’s Wort, or high doses of Vitamin E supplements for one week prior to treatment, consult your primary physician before discontinuing any normally prescribed medications. We recommend taking Arnica Montana for a day or two prior to your treatment to reduce the risk of bruising. If you have a medical condition that affects clotting or are on a medication which affects blood clotting, you must get your primary care doctor’s approval before taking arnica.
• For men, the treatment area, the neck and under the chin, should be clean-shaven the morning of the treatment.
• You may take Tylenol after your treatment to minimize discomfort.

What to expect after the procedure

Since everyone’s chin profile is different, the number of treatments varies from patient to patient. We will help determine how many treatment sessions you need based on the amount and distribution of your submental fat and your personal treatment goals. Each Kybella treatment session is given at least 1 month apart, and you should not receive more than 6 treatments. Most patients experience full results with 2-4 treatments. 

Unlike fillers and neurotoxins, which offer semi-permanent results, Kybella is meant to permanently kill the fat cells, dissolve them, and help your skin tighten up a bit and improve contour. The results are not instant, but they are permanent.

After the treatment(s), you will likely have some swelling, bruising, or numbness under your chin which can last for one to four weeks. When we tried the treatments here, we wore a lot of scarves and turtlenecks for the first week!

 If there was one procedure more and more clients are asking about, it’s this one.

Injectables: The Real Real. Part 2 of 3 Neuromodulators (commonly “Botox” “Dysport")

Ok, first, a neuro what what? Neuromodulators = Injectable wrinkle-relaxers to smooth fine lines on the face.

If someone’s ever told you to “beware of that Botox look” then they’ve never had it done well, or they've never seen great work applied with an expert hand. Drs. Cynthia and Julie take their time so that you are given the right injections and amount to fit your personal needs and goals. Here’s the real-real.

Neuromodulators for Aging Skin via The American Society for Dermatologic Society

Neuromodulators – wrinkle-relaxing injections of botulinum toxin commercially known as Botox, Dysport or Xeomin – are used to treat wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet. A minute amount of the neuromodulator is injected directly into the underlying muscle, causing it to relax and gradually smooth out the appearance of the overlying skin. Botox can also be used to treat chronic headaches and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) in addition to relaxing the facial muscles.

Why choose neuromodulators for aging skin

• Non-invasive — does not require surgery
• Can be quickly performed in your doctor’s or medi-spa office by a certified physician
• Virtually no recovery time
• Very preventative

How to prepare for the procedure

Before the procedure, a consultation is scheduled. This is the time for the doctor and patient to discuss expectations, potential risks and outcomes of the procedure, as well as review a full health history. Wrinkle relaxing injections can last 3 to 6 months. Although there is very little risk of bruising with Botox or Dysport injections, we recommend the following steps the before your treatment:

• A week before treatment, discontinue aspirin or ibuprofen and take Tylenol for pain relief instead.
• A week before treatment discontinue Fish oils, Omega complexes, vitamin E, and St. Johns Wort.
• 48 hours before treatment, reduce or discontinue garlic and alcohol consumption.
• Take a dose of Arnica Montana, the homeopathic remedy, 24 hours before treatment.
• Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you take. Medically necessary blood thinners should NOT be stopped. 
  
  

What to expect after the procedure

• Virtually no recovery time is required after neuromodulator injections.
• Patients should take care not to rub treated areas, which could cause it to migrate to another area.
• We like to advise no vigorous workouts for 48 hours, no facials, brow waxing or massages for 7 days post-treatment.
• Remember, it can take 3-5 days for Botox or Dysport to settle in and take full effect. 
• We always recommend a follow up with your doctor to evaluate the results and provide a complimentary touch up if needed.

Source: https://www.asds.net/Neuromodulators-for-Aging-Skin/

My Peel Journey: Buh-Bye Melasma (a true story from one of our clients).

After the birth of my children, my skin changed. Dark melasma splotches would pop up seemingly overnight and no matter what “lightening” products I bought, my skin looked awful. A (probably) well-meaning woman at Sephora looked at me with mercy before showing me heavier foundations to wear in order to mask my uneven skin tone. But I didn’t like wearing so much makeup and I felt like the overall effect made me look much older. In a panic, I Googled someone to fix the melasma problem. After enduring two procedures with her, my skin looked even worse.

Then, we moved to Boulder and I found Leah. She explained that my skin tone was not a good candidate for the procedures that had been done before and prescribed me a series of peels and products to heal and peel my skin plus a maintenance routine. After only 5 peels over the course of 9 months, my skin looked remarkable. Now, I get ~3-4 per year as maintenance followed by microderm/petite facials 3 weeks later, and get compliments on my skin! Of course, I also bathe in Elta sunscreen and have a serious hat collection to create my own shade year-round. Leah’s approach was kind, gentle, and modern while also taking into account what I was and wasn’t willing to do at home. As silly as it may sound, the peels salvaged and restored my self-confidence. She proved out the motto: skin first, makeup second.

About Chemical Peels at Leah Nickie Advanced Aesthetics, a MedSpa

Some people refer to chemical peels as a skin reboot.

Here’s what they can do for you:

1. Improve the texture of your skin
2. Increase the cell turnover rate of your skin
3. Improve your skin’s ability to hold moisture
4. Help your skin produce more collagen
5. Reduce fine lines
6. Decrease hyperpigmentation
7. Unclog pores and help clear up acne
8. Leave your skin smooth
9. Make your skin softer
10. Make your skin look more even-toned
11. Give you a “glow”
12. Make your skin look dewy
13. Improve minor scarring

Who should get peel?

• Anyone over age 25 (younger if you are struggling with acne or pigmentation)
• Someone looking to improve skin tone, texture, signs of aging

Who should not get peels?

• Someone who is pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding
• Someone who is taking Accutane or recently discontinued Accutane
• Someone who is undergoing treatment for cancer

How to prepare for a peel:

• Stop using Accutane & Retinol **No Peels for 6 months after stopping Accutane and 1 week after stopping Retinol**
• Get any brow or facial waxing taken care of a week before your peel. You won’t be able to wax for about 14 days after your peel.
• No hot workouts 48 hours post-peel (no heated yoga or extreme, strenuous sports)
• The best effects are from clients who get a series of 3 peels over 3-6 months. As a package, they can be bought for $355 and the effects can last for up to 6 months.

What if feels like:

• It ranges from tingly, to itchy, to a little warm. At LNAA we have products and tricks to make it as comfortable as possible and we monitor every second of the peel for performance.
• It is not painful.

Can you go back to work afterward?

• With a wash of Vitamin C and sunscreen on your face plus your eye makeup intact, you can go back to work afterward but you will look shiny -- in Boulder, no one seems to notice.

How to care for your skin post-peel:

• We will send you home with a PCA Post Procedure kit that lasts about 5-7 days to nourish and care for your skin with gentle products containing anti-inflammatories and soothing agents for maximum effect and minimal downtime from the peeling that starts 36 to 72 hours after the procedure.
• DO NOT pull or pick at the peeling skin; this will irritate your fresh, new, glowing skin that is emerging and could lead to discoloration or scarring.
• Instead, use a baby washcloth or just your fingers and warm water with the PCA cleanser to gently remove the peeling skin that is ready to come off. These wisps of skin usually start peeling away near the nose and mouth first. 
• Do not use any mechanical or enzymatic facials scrubs, or your Clarisonic  for 10 days
• Use sunscreen 24x7 to protect your new skin (yes, even on cloudy or stormy days or indoors) OK, you don’t actually have to use SPF when you are sleeping ;-)