To participate, you need to register at Dysportusa.com.  According to the website, consumers can download a coupon rebate form within 14 days after their first Dysport treatment to receive a 75 dollar rebate check.  If you love Dysport, you can repeat the process and get another rebate after 3 months.

Read more about Dysport in Mpls/St. Paul

As with the original Juvederm, the product lasts up to 1 year from initial treatment. The addition of 0.3% lidocaine numbs the treatment area within seconds, potentially decreasing the need for additional anesthetic.

“Patients want a smooth and natural-looking result from a dermal filler treatment, but as a physician I am also interested in managing my patient’s discomfort during the injection. Before the introduction of Juvederm XC, it often took up to 30 minutes for an anesthetic block to take effect.” said Charles Boyd, MD, Boyd Cosmetic Surgical Institute and clinical investigator in a company news release. “[W]ith the new formulation, patients can receive the same smooth results as demonstrated with Juvederm but enjoy a more comfortable injection experience.”

FDA approval was based on data from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial in which 72 patients received 1 of the 2 formulations in each nasolabial fold. Results showed that 93% of patients reported less procedural pain when treated with the lidocaine-containing dermal filler compared with the original version.

The safety profile was similar for both products, with temporary injection-site erythema, inflammation, pain/tenderness, firmness, lumps/bumps, and bruising most commonly reported. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in nature and of short duration (≤7 days).

With FDA approval, the lidocaine-containing dermal filler is available by prescription nationwide. As with the original formulation, it should only be administered by a trained medical professional.

In fact, fish is at the top of Perricone’s skin health list of anti-aging foods, pointing out that fatty fish contains skin health nutrients as well as those all-important Omega 3 fatty acids. He lists salmon, albacore tuna, and mackerel as great additions to any skin-healthy diet.

What is the scientific basis for this prescription? How is nutrition related to skin health?

Every day, our bodies naturally exhibit evidence of our lifestyles – diet being one significant aspect. But the process is more complex than the old cliche “you are what you eat.” It goes much deeper, right down to the cell-level, which scientists tell us are much like tiny chemical plants.

Take oxygen for example; it’s in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and in the food we eat. There’s no getting away from it. But oxygen has a natural tendency to combine with other processes in our skin to produce free radicals – the enemy of our skin tissue at the cellular level. It is much like the effects of oxygen on metal, which causes oxidation and eventually — rust. In our bodies this process leads to inflammation. On the skin, inflammation can make your pores look bigger, and your skin look dull, discolored, or aged. Wrinkles, acne, and even eczema are also related to the damaging effects of oxidation-related inflamation.

Now consider the fact that Vitamins A, C, and E are “antioxidant rich” adversaries of the free radicals that hide in our cells and attack our skin. Consider that Selenium is a mineral that experts agree is critical to the production of glutathione, another enemy of free radicals. Consider that Thiamine is a B vitamin that helps skin cells function normally. Consier that Zinc assists epidermal cell growth, that protein is essential for skin repair, and finally, that Vitamin C helps the body naturally manufacture collagen, a protein that keeps the skin supple and tight.

Research shows that vitamins and minerals are essential to skin health because they maintain a system of resistance to the processes commonly associated with aging, and those vitamins and minerals reside in the foods we eat.

What’s affecting the health of your skin? The best person to consult with is a dermatologist.  Read more about Advancements in Dermatology of the Twin Cities.

Read more about skin health and nutrition at Discovery.com

Yes, you can bargain for Botox

The Fraxel system will be used to reduce the appearance of scarring caused by traumatic thermal damage. The Burn Center is a worldwide leader in innovative treatment and care for burn patients and their families.

The Fraxel laser treatment is specifically designed to resurface damaged skin to uncover the healthier, smoother skin beneath. It works by penetrating the outer layers of damaged skin (epidermis) to reach the deeper layers of skin beneath the surface where collagen and elastin are located. This stimulates a natural healing process that not only produces new collagen, but literally replaces the damaged tissue with new, healthy skin cells.

“The goal of restorative burn care is to return the patient to as close to pre-injury status as possible…” said Rebecca Grossman, the Chair of the Grossman Burn Foundation. “We plan to use the cutting-edge Fraxel technology to restore our burn-injured patients and play a key role in providing better and faster patient outcomes.”

Skin resurfacing is a part of a growing trend in the medical aesthetics field as well. In fact, the same Fraxel technology being put to use in the Burn Center has been FDA-cleared to treat a wide-range of skin conditions including: age spots, acne scars, surgical scars, actinic keratoses, sunspots, melasma, and even wrinkles around the eyes. And, as the technology gets better, so do the results.

Today’s lasers are a gentler and safer alternative than those used in the past. As usual, however, there are a number of variables and options to consider when it comes to laser skin resurfacing and the type of treatment that may be right for each patient. Always consult with a surgeon who has performed a wide range of these procedures and is familiar with the many choices that are available.

• Read more about Fraxel laser treatment in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

a) Distract tigers
b) Treat wrinkles and scars
c) Remove unwanted hair
d) Project gigantic image of Britney Spears into the sky
e) All of the above

Listen to this piece from NPR to find out.

First of all, you won’t need to choose if you see a qualified dermatologist or aeshthetician; they will recommend the best treatment. Your physician might ask how much time you have to allow healing after the treatment. If you’re anticipating an important social event like a wedding or vacation, then microdermabrasion is probably the best.

The depth of exfoliation is very precise with microdermabrasion, so you’re less likely to experience side effects like redness or swelling. The typical healing time with microdermabrasion is also very short – usually 3 days at the most.

Chemical peels come in many different formulas, from light to deep. But the healing time for most chemical peels is slightly longer than with microdermabrasion. If you can spare a week to let the skin heal, go for the chemical peel.

Sometimes an aesthetician will recommend doing both. If done carefully, a light chemical peel such as AHA or salicylic acid can work in combination with microdermabrasion. Just make sure you choose an aesthetician or surgeon that has experience combining these treatments.

• Read more about microdermabrasion in Mpls/St. Paul
• Read more about chemical peels at Skin Speaks Spa

But Don’t worry: a few simple steps and skin care products can help.

Products

Find antioxidant moisturizers that contain water-binding and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as these:

- amino acids and fatty acids
- ceramides
- sodium PCA
- Glycerin

Your lips are especially vulnerable to the elements.  Keep them soft and smooth with quality lip balm.  Look for these key ingredients:

- Hemp oil
- Shea butter
- Vitamin E
- Beeswax
- SPF 15

Skin Care Steps

1. Don’t forget the sun protection.
2. When your skin feels tight, apply moisturizer.
3. To allow better penetration of moisturizer, exfoliate scaly areas with glycolic or salicylic acid.
4. Get a humidifier in your home.
5. Stay hydrated!

A: Latisse is a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%, originally developed and used as a glaucoma medication. In using the medication, many patients noticed that their eyelashes grew significantly, to the point that some even felt the need to trim them.  Allergan, who owned the medication, began to market it as Latisse, for topical use in patients with “inadequate eyelashes.”

Q: How long has Latisse been on the market?

A: Though Latisse has only been available for about 6 months, its related safety record as an eye drop solution spans well over 10 years. Any medication that is used in the eye must be very safe.

Q: Why do I need a prescription for Latisse?

A: Latisse can result in eyelash improvement of 105% in thickness and over 25% in length. Latisse is not an over-the-counter medication. The FDA approved Latisse as a prescription medication to treat hypotrichosis, i.e. reduced amount of eyelash growth.

Q: How does Latisse work?

A: Latisse is thought to affect the growth stage of eyelashes by increasing the duration of the growth phase while increasing the number of hairs in the growth phase.  Most people begin to see an increase in their lashes after about 3 or 4 weeks. By 16 weeks the lashes will have reached their full length and thickness. Discontinuation of Latisse will result in a return of the lashes to their previous state.

Q: How do I apply Latisse?

A: Latisse is applied to the base of the upper eyelashes nightly for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, the application can be reduced to every 2-3 days to maintain growth. Latisse is not applied to the lower eyelashes. However, during sleep some of the medication will diffuse across to these lashes increasing them as well.

Q: Is Latisse expensive?

A: It’s not terribly expensive.  From most physicians in the Twin Cities, it will be about 100-120 dollars for a one-month supply.

Q: Are there alternatives to Latisse that work the same way?

A: There are no comparable products on the market right now. Other eyelash enhancement products that claim to increase eyelash thickness and length are usually conditioners, which don’t stimulate eyelash growth.

>>> Learn more about Latisse in Mpls/St. Paul.

Gold parties reached their pinnacle just last year when prices reached about $850 an ounce.  In 2009 the value of gold has been even higher: Thomson Reuters reported earlier this year that the value of gold had “exceeded $1000/oz.”

The purpose is to get cash or credit for what’s lying around in your dresser drawer – things you never wear or use and probably never will.  Some of us have plenty, especially if you were around for the 80’s fashions of gold chains and big earrings.

On Thursday, Dec 17th 2009 from 12 to 7 p.m. Skin Speaks Burnsville is hosting a gold party and offering credit toward cosmetic procedures and products.  Plenty of other amenities will be on hand for you to enjoy.

See our events page or contact Skin Speaks Spa in Burnsville, MN for more information.