As you get older, looking in the mirror can be hard when you see changes. Sometimes the changes are due to extra weight, changes in facial features, or loss of volume in the face as time progresses. No one should feel like they are being vain to want your face and body features to look the way they used to. When people think they look good, it helps them feel better. And the better you feel, the better you look.

The aesthetic technologies available today are nothing like they used to be. Benefits of the newer technologies:

• minimally invasive
• don't cause a lot of down time
• few adverse side effects
• very safe

Aesthetics can make a difference for those in the business world. It can make a difference whether or not you get a sale or not. It can determine if you get hired for a job. It could even result in getting or missing out on a promotion. How we present ourselves in life becomes a prominent part of us. Unfortunately, the world we live in today is driven towards how you look. Like the saying 'you always want to put your best foot forward,' you could even say 'you always want to put your best look forward.'

In addition to looking great, here at the clinic we can also address the way you feel. We can help you across the board with everything you feel are problem areas.

The clinic is completely patient driven, as far as 'what the goals are going to be,' 'what the outcome should be', and 'how we can achieve it.' It's my job to help you achieve your goals, but at the same time let you express what you think your body needs. A few common options available are:

• Botox to relax muscles and fine lines
• Filler to help replace volume
• Resurfacing with a laser to improve color and texture of skin
• New laser technology to mold and shape the body
• A weight loss plan to drop weight and remove inches

We have the ability to address all the facets at our clinic. Anything you walk in with, we have an option for you and can help take care of your issue, whatever that may be.

What does Zerona do?

Zerona is a cold laser that safely removes fat and reduces inches on specific areas of the body with no pain and no surgery. It has been featured on:

• The Dr. Oz Show
• Nightline
• The Doctors
• The Early Show
• Today
• Good Morning America
• Good Day LA Today
• Rachael Ray

A cold laser does not use heat, unlike conventional lasers. Because of that, it doesn't cause the usual heat, discomfort and irritation usually associated with lasers.

Basically, we aim the cold laser at a specific area of the body, and it gets rid of fat tissue during a short forty minute session. At least six sessions are recommended for the most effective results.

What is the evidence for Zerona working?

The Zerona laser has been thoroughly tested. It was put through a double-blind, randomized, multi-site and placebo-controlled clinical study. In that study, on average patients lost 3.5 inches form their waist, hips and thighs.

The placebo group, on the other hand, only lost an average of a half an inch over the same time period.

Reasons to pick Zerona over alternatives

Zerona is the most researched aesthetic laser in the market today. Here are some reasons to pick Zerona over other body shaping alternatives:

• The only FDA approved laser with an original claim for non-invasive body contouring.
• It does not cause swelling and discomfort like other body contouring methods.
• 60,000 plus patients treated with over 97% satisfaction rating.
• Peer reviewed and published in over seven scientific journals.
• Favorably reviewed in numerous print and television media, including Marie Claire, New Beauty and Allure.
• See results in weeks, not months, with an average of 4.1 inches of circumferential fat loss after six treatments.

The Aesthetic Clinic of Edmond will have an open house on January 18th for our new Zerona Laser. The open house will be from 6:00pm to 7:30pm and we are going to give a discount for the first 5 patients who sign up that night.

If you would like to set up an appointment, or just have any questions, and live in the Oklahoma City area, give us a call at (405) 341-7546 (SKIN).

Let's look at some details about Artefill, and then I want to tell you about a special event coming up at our clinic on December 8, 2011. You'll be able to get discounted rates on Artefill if you attend the event.

What is Artefill?

Although wrinkle removers have been on the market for years, Artefill is a relatively new option. Traditional injectable solutions have to be administered every six months to a year, depending on how fast your metabolism absorbs them.

Artefill, on the other hand, generally lasts anywhere from five to ten years. Unlike the temporary fillers, it is made up of unique microspheres that are not quickly absorbed by the body.

Who can benefit from Artefill?

As you age, you lose volume in your face. This happens under your eyes, around your nose and the mouth, on your forehead and at the temples. You'll also develop fine lines and wrinkles throughout your face.

For men, this can start happening around forty. For women, it may be mid to late thirties.

Anyone who has noticed a loss of volume, or even specifically a deepening of their wrinkles and the nasolabial fold (aka "smile lines" or "laugh lines") can benefit from Artefill. And if the folds have lengthened down into marionette lines, Artefill can help with that as well.

Also, Artefill is great for anyone who has been using other wrinkle fillers but is not happy with the frequency of the treatment.

And if you've wanted wrinkle filler but have not been able to afford traditional solutions, Artefill will let you space out your treatments if needed and still gain a cumulative effect, making it easier to afford.

Artefill is great for specific areas of the face, but I will generally recommend using it in combination with other solutions like Botox in order to take care of all the areas of the face as effectively as possible.

How does Artefill work?

The Artefill solution we use is made up of the unique microspheres, bovine collagen, and lidocaine. The lidocaine helps to lessen the discomfort during the initial procedure. And the initial procedure is quick, taking just 15 – 20 minutes.

The bovine collagen is absorbed by your body over four to eight weeks. However, the microspheres make the body react differently than it would with other wrinkle fillers. Instead of simply leaving the skin thin when absorbing the bovine collagen, the microspheres are the perfect size to be building blocks for your own collagen.

When the body absorbs the bovine collagen, there's a period of a couple months where there is a decrease in volume. But then the presence of the microspheres causes the body to react by filling the volume in with your collagen, replacing the bovine collagen.

With most natural and synthetic fillers, the body simply absorbs them and you have to go in for additional treatments to maintain the same level of fullness. With Artefill, you can space out your treatments if needed and gain a cumulative benefit.

As a result, you can space out Artefill treatments, often making it easier to afford.

Should I try this even though it's brand new?

The relative newness of Artefill as a wrinkle filler is a valid concern. It was approved by the U.S. FDA back in October 2006, but has just recently started being widely marketed. However, even before that, very similar products have been in widespread use under different brand names in places like Canada.

So although it's relatively new in the United States, it does have a proven track record. And in the trials in the U.S., it was as safe as the control temporary filler. Since 2007, Artefill has been used to safely treat tens of thousands of patients.

Special event with discounted rates

On December 8, 2011, we are having a special Artefill event at The Aesthetic Clinic of Edmond. Anyone in the Oklahoma City metro area is invited to attend.

There are several reasons to attend the event:

• Artefill representative available in person to answer questions
• Free individual evaluations available
• Discounted rates available $699 per syringe instead of $999
• Refreshments

If you would like to attend, here are the details:

• When: December 8, 2011 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
• Where: The Aesthetic Clinic of Edmond, 740 Signal Ridge Drive, Edmond, OK 73013

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at (405) 341-7546 (SKIN). We look forward to seeing you on December 8!

All this becomes problematic when we try to find a good way to lose weight and keep it off for the long haul. What you have to focus on is coming up with a weight loss plan that will give you the results that you’re looking for in a reasonable time frame.

Naturally, there’s a definite psychological advantage to seeing your progress sooner. A lot of times that will motivate you to keep going and to make those longer term changes. Because you can get frustrated if it takes an extremely long time to lose the kind of weight you want to lose.

On the other hand, totally depriving yourself of calories is not a healthy option. It causes a lot of discomfort, and can actually take quite awhile. Your body is tricked into thinking it’s starving, and so it slows down your metabolism to try to match the calories you’re taking in. In the end, you ultimately need to change your eating habits to really reach a healthy weight.

So we know that early wins in weight loss can result in a psychological advantage, but that long term changes need to take place to maintain a healthy weight. What is the solution?

Well, there’s no one perfect solution for everyone that wants to lose weight. But three options fit the vast majority of people.

Losing Weight With Herbal Supplements

One option for many people is to lose weight with a 1200 calorie diet, combined with all-natural BioLean herbal supplements. This works well for people just wanting to lose 5 – 15 pounds.

Searching online for a 1200 calorie-a-day diet will present you with a lot of options. Some are low fat, some are low carb, so you can look at both and see which matches the closest with the foods you like to eat. After all, it’s easier to stick to a diet when it involves food you actually like.

Herbal supplements can help with the 1200 calorie diet. They are a low cost, over-the-counter solutions that help with appetite, help with energy, and help burn fat. A huge advantage to herbal supplements over many medicinal options is that they can be taken without a prescription, and they don’t require any physician monitoring. And they help with energy levels, which make you feel better while losing weight.

The herbal supplements do contain some natural caffeine. The vast majority of people will not be negatively affected by that caffeine, but a very small percentage of people get jittery when taking them. But those people will also get very jittery when drinking caffeine in almost any form.

Often people like how they feel on the herbal supplements, and elect to stay on them indefinitely.

Losing Weight With Phentermine

For people who need to lose a little more weight, we can combine the herbal supplements with the drug Phentermine. This is a good option if you need to lose 15 – 20 pounds.

That process does involve initial blood work, an EKG, and you have to be supervised by a physician throughout the diet. You visit our office once a month, and we monitor blood pressure and progress.

Essentially, Phentermine is an appetite suppressant. Combining that with BioLean herbal supplements provides much better results than herbal supplements alone.

The FDA recommends that Phentermine not be used for greater than twelve weeks generally. So at the end of twelve weeks, if you are still losing weight, I may continue it further, but will monitor your health and overall progress closely. If you’re not losing any more weight at the end of twelve weeks, then we will cycle you off, but keep you on the herbal supplements.

After eight to twelve weeks off, you can actually start another cycle of Phentermine if necessary. At the longest, we could leave you on it for six to eight months, cycling on and off as needed. The majority of people will be at their target weight by then anyway.

Phentermine is half of the combination of the fen-phen diet from back in the nineties. Because of that, some people may have some apprehension about it. However, it was never the part that there was any concern over. It was available for years before fen-phen, and has still been available ever since then as well. It has a solid track record.

Losing Weight With HCG

If you need to lose quite a bit more weight, you can combine a 500 calorie diet with Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This works well if you need to lose over 20 pounds.

You’re on the therapy for six weeks, giving yourself daily shots. You can use drops instead, but you will generally lose a few more pounds with shots. And then we see you in the office every two weeks. For three weeks after you finish the therapy, you stay on a looser version of the diet. Women, on average, experience 20-25 pounds of weight loss during that time. Men can lose anywhere from 30 – 35 pounds.

The initial diet involves only lean chicken, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and there are some limitations even within those guidelines. You can’t have potatoes, carrots, strawberries or peaches, among others. You don’t eat anything processed at all. It’s basically what I consider a caveman diet. If you can pluck it or pull it from the ground, you can probably eat it.

After the therapy, the diet gets rid of some of those limitations, but it’s still roughly a caveman diet. You can have things like potatoes, carrots and strawberries, though. You move up to about 1200 calories during that time.

But it’s remarkable how well you can tolerate even the 500 calorie diet when you’re on daily shots of HCG. It mobilizes your fat so that your body will actually burn fat instead of muscle. Because at 500 calories a day, your body basically feels like it’s starving. So it’s important that your body burn fat, not muscle.

HCG is produced in a women’s placenta during pregnancy, and in very high levels. Babies are bathed in millions of units of it in utero. Women and men typically have a small amount of it in their system at any given time.

Because of the strictness of this diet, the people who do well are very structured and very motivated. So it’s definitely not a diet for everyone. But after eating a much, much better diet for about nine weeks, the way you eat has really changed. And it’s a long enough period of time to help you start forming good habits, and maybe even lose your sweet tooth.

If you’re trying to lose weight, we’d love to help you. Contact us to schedule an appointment, and we’ll see which of these plans would be the best fit for you.

What is Hormone Replacement?

Hormone replacement can help alleviate a lot of the symptoms involved in this aging process. It’s one of the more satisfying services I offer, because it can often cause a fairly quick, fairly dramatic increase in quality of life for my patients. There’s an overall increase in health by reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and for Alzheimer’s Disease. The improvement in quality of life acts as a positive reinforcement for the therapy, and that’s what my patients tend to be the most thankful for.

So how do you know if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can help you?

Hormone Replacement for Men

As hormones in men start to decline, you notice a few things. There’s some combination of the following symptoms:

• Loss of libido
• Loss of muscle mass
• Mood changes
• Insomnia
• Impotence
• Erectile dysfunction

Really, there’s an overall loss of enjoyment of a lot of things. And it’s gradually progressive, something that somewhat sneaks up on you. It may start in your mid thirties, or possibly in your mid forties. If you’re lucky, it may not start until you’re fifty or so. Regardless, your testosterone level is the highest it’s going to ever be at about twenty. And since testosterone is the main male hormone, that’s a big deal. From that point forward, it’s in a declining phase for the rest of your life.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as your testosterone drops, the incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and being overweight increases. I believe it’s a direct biological result of the loss of testosterone. As you get past forty, all those things really start accelerating, and that’s the same time that you’re seeing a drop in testosterone, as well as a drop in Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

For men, the best therapy is a topical testosterone cream. It’s applied to the inner thighs twice a day, and that best replicates the body’s natural production rate of testosterone. Testosterone is not naturally produced constantly all day. There are generally two surges of production a day. So applying the cream twice a day best mimics that production schedule.

Another option for men is dissolving tablets that are absorbed in the mouth. Those are absorbed more quickly, but the effect wears off quicker as well.

Why not take injections? Testosterone through injection is into muscle and processed through the liver, where the tablets pass through the oral membrane and the cream passes through the skin. Once it passes through the skin, it’s immediately converted to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and is not processed through the liver.

I think the injections of testosterone are better than no testosterone at all, but your level will go all the up the first day that you do the injection, and that will gradually decrease over the course of a week. So really most of the week you are too high or low and only have one day where you’re at the right level. The topical cream will give you the more natural feeling, emulating the body’s production schedule.

The other main hormone replacement that’s usually useful for men is Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It’s a precursor to multiple other hormones in your body. Your adrenal gland produces several different kinds of hormones, and DHEA helps support the adrenal gland and its function.

Hormone Replacement for Women

Naturally, women have some identifiable symptoms as well, and there’s some overlap with men.

• Loss of libido
• Loss of muscle mass
• Mood changes
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Loss of sleep
• Weight increase

Women usually go through menopause in their early fifties. The actual decline their hormone production generally starts in their mid to late forties . The rate of decline over time determines how quickly women will get symptoms, and how severe those symptoms are.

While men just have a couple of hormones that they need to look at, women don’t get off quite as easily. They have progesterone, estradiol, DHEA, testosterone, estrogen, and others. They’re all pieces of the puzzle. And in my experience, putting them back in balance improves both the quality and quantity of life. There’s also protective effects in progesterone in women helping prevent cancer, but the improvement in quality of life acts as an early positive reinforcement to hormone replacement therapy.

For women, it’s a little more complicated than men. There are more blood levels to test, but we can tell if they are menopausal or perimenopausal. While menopause is a year with no menstrual period, they can be decreasing for several years leading up to that. You might have just one or two cycles a year while your body is slowing down. Blood testing can help determine where you are in the process.

How does bioidentical hormone therapy work?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is supplementing your body’s production with non-artificial hormones. Many doctors use artificial hormone replacement, but I believe that using hormones that are identical to the hormones the body produces is the healthiest thing to do. Your body will remain at a higher level of functioning for a longer period of time than if you don’t replace the hormones.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is ultimately a natural solution to a natural process. While a lot of gynecologists don’t look at it that way, they typically cite studies that were done on synthetic hormone replacement therapy. With the synthetic hormones, drug companies are attempting to make a synthetic substitute for the hormones, because it’s something they can patent. The hormone molecules that occur in nature are not patentable, since it’s naturally occurring, so there’s not as much money to be made.

The hormones are not harvested from people, of course. They’re actually generally grown in bio-engineered yams and soy plants. But the big difference is that the resulting hormones are molecularly identical to the naturally occurring hormones. And that’s where we get the term bioidentical.

If you’re interested in increasing your quality and quantity of life and any of these symptoms apply to you, contact us to set up an appointment.