Cosmetic procedures - A patient's story

Health benefits of sex: Stress relief, immunity boost, heart health, self-esteem

Robin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:34:45 +0000

Valentine’s Day will be here in no time.

Get your love connection this Valentine’s Day… and preferably at least a couple of days every week if you want to not only feel happier but live healthier. Yes, that’s right–not only is sex a mood elevator as anyone who’s experienced the euphoric aftermath of a bout of good sex knows–it’s also a healthy habit to keep up on a frequent basis if you want to give your body’s health a boost too.

I came across an interesting article published by WebMD, “10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex”, that provided evidence from solid scientific studies backing up the very real health boost we get from having frequent sex (1-2 times per week). In summary, the article tells us:

1. Sex relieves stress. A big health benefit of sex is its impact on lowering diastolic blood pressure and overall stress reduction. Studies referenced are published in the medical journal Biological Psychology, which noted intercourse or even better partner hugs lower blood pressure.

2. Sex boosts immunity. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect against colds and other infections. The study referenced was conducted by scientists at Wilkes University in PA. Note: these antibodies did not increase with too much sex.

3. Sex burns calories. According to Patti Britton, PhD, a Los Angeles sexologist, just 30 minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more.

Of course, many of you, although consistently focused on a good practice of fitness and nutrition, still battle those stubborn fat pockets that you’re often genetically cursed with and cannot shed no matter how much exercise you do. If you’re finding yourself in that category, learn more about how liposculpture contouring procedures performed by Dr. Michael Macdonald can help.

4. Sex improves heart health. According to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, having sex twice or more a week reduces the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month. No, sex does not cause stroke in the elderly.

5. Sex boosts self-esteem. Gina Ogden, PhD, a sex therapist and MFT says “Great sex begins with self-esteem, and it raises it. If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises it.”

But sometimes, if we have low self-esteem (not feeling sexy or beautiful) because our skin is looking tired and dull, or we have under eye bags, or other sagging skin, it’s tough to generate the self-esteem to get in the mood for sex. Luckily, Dr. Macdonald has a selection of skin rejuvenation laser and injectable treatments that could help you with your skin.

6. Sex improves intimacy. Multiple University studies have shown that having sex and orgasms increases levels of the “love hormone” oxytocin, which urges us to nurture, bond, and show generosity toward our loved one. So, it seems to me that sex is not just good for our health, but intrinsically for developing a better world focused on generosity, compassion, and connectedness (rather than one that’s disconnected on a human level). Make love, not war!

7. Sex reduces pain. As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. A study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine showed pain thresholds reduced by one half for headaches, arthritis–and even improved PMS symptoms–when given a surge of oxytocin.

8. Sex reduces prostate cancer risk. A study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that frequent ejaculations in 20-something men (21 or more a month) were linked to lower prostate cancer risk when these men were older men, compared with less frequent ejaculations (4-7 monthly).

9. Sex strengthens pelvic floor muscles. For women, doing a few pelvic floor muscle exercises, known as Kegels, during sex can make sex more pleasurable for both you and your partner and it minimizes the risk of incontinence later in life when those pelvic muscles weaken. This is also similar to the practice of muladhara–practiced in yoga.

10. Sex helps you sleep better. Scientific researchers have discovered that the release of oxytocin hormone during orgasm–that both increases feelings of intimacy and reduces sensations of pain–also promotes sleep. Getting enough good quality sleep has been medically shown to be beneficial to maintaining healthy weight, blood pressure, mental alertness/concentration, and positive mood/attitude.

Valentine’s Day Specials through Dr. Macdonald’s office:

If you want to make sure you and your Valentine are feeling sexy during this love fest month of February, then comment on this article and call the Aesthetic Surgery & Skin Rejuvenation Center (415-956-3223) or email (contactus@drmmacdonald.com) for a 20% savings when you schedule a treatment for yourself or purchase a Valentine gift certificate for any non-surgical procedure (facials, peels, MicroLaser Peel, photofacial, laser hair removal, laser skin tightening, Botox/Dysport, Restylane & Juvederm tissue fillers)

If you’re suffering from lack of sleep because either you or your Valentine snores, then check out Dr. Macdonald’s San Francisco Snoring Center for minor in-office procedures that offer snoring solutions that can get your Valentine back sharing the same bed with you all night long and give you the sleep you really need too.

Enhancing your sparse eyebrows with permanent cosmetics

Robin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:07:59 +0000

I ran across this article the other day on sparse eyebrow hair transplants and thought it was interesting to share. Eyebrows frame the eyes–the windows to the soul. Not everyone is blessed with genetically full eyebrows though.

Some solutions for sparse eyebrows include makeup, waxing/shaping, LATISSE® for hair regrowth and eyebrow hair transplants (as discussed in the above article). Another solution which is minimally invasive and offered through Dr. Macdonald’s office by Thao Duong is permanent cosmetics.

Otherwise known as cosmetic tattooing, or permanent makeup, permanent cosmetic artistry for eyebrows would entail making up for the eyebrow deficiency by filling in the spaces with micropigmentation. In my own journey to enhance my eyes, I have discussed myself as an eyebrow tattoo candidate, as a way to open up my eyes and redefine the shape with a simple and easy solution.

Lifestyle Benefits to cosmetic tattooing:

Look vibrant and youthful 24 hours a day. The look remains even while exercising, traveling, attending teary weddings, and first thing in the morning.
Avoid allergic reactions. It’s a great solution for allergy sufferers or those who can’t wear topical makeup.
Save time. Save yourself time in the morning or getting ready to go out for the evening.
Helps those with unsteady hands or visual impairment.

If you’re interested in learning more about cosmetic tattooing, I’d suggest calling Dr. Madonald’s office at 415-956-3223 and scheduling a consultation with Thao. She will start you out with a pre-procedure consultation appointment where she does a full mock-up of your desired effect. She also tattoos other areas such as eyeliner, lips, scar camouflage on face or body, hair loss blend associated with medical conditions, and tattoo removal using a safe and effective technique.

Sciton® laser: Skin tightening with BBL SkinTyte™

Robin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:38:28 +0000

Continuing on with my series of articles about Dr. Macdonald’s Sciton® laser services, available now.

As discussed he will be treating patients soon for:

Hair removal
Skin resurfacing
Skin pigment
Skin tightening
Vein treatment

Sciton^® BBL SkinTyte™ laser treatment is an innovative approach to tightening aging skin that is starting to wrinkle and sag. Of particular concern to many patients is the “turkey gobble” that often develops in the neck region, but common areas successfully treated include:

•   neck
•   lower face/jowls
•   chest
•   hands
•   tummy
•   arms
•   just above the knees

How does SkinTyte™ work?

BBL (Broadband light) treatment utilizes pulsed light technology to deeply heat your skin while simultaneously cooling and protecting the entire treated surface, setting you on your path to more youthful skin.

Delivered in a sequence of rapid, gentle pulses that heat the dermal layer of your skin’s collagen, use of this technology promotes contraction and denaturation—modification of protein’s natural configuration. Rebuilding themselves, the skin cells form a new foundation of collagen, leading to increased skin firmness.

How many treatments are needed?

Although the number of treatments needed will vary based on the level of improvement desired and the starting point of your skin condition, many patients opt for 2-5 treatments to achieve maximum positive benefit.

With no anesthetic needed, this quick and effect “lunch-time” procedure will only last 30 minutes and cause you no disruption to your day. Not only is there no downtime, there is also no skin care regimen necessary. The collagen in your skin will, however, continue to rebuild and strengthen up to 4 months after the procedure.

Stay tuned for more details on vein treatments.

Sciton® laser: Skin pigment reduction with Contour TRL™ or BBL™

Robin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:44:01 +0000

Continuing on with my series of articles about Dr. Macdonald’s Sciton® laser services, coming soon…

As discussed he will be treating patients soon for:

Hair removal
Skin resurfacing
Skin pigment
Skin tightening
Vein treatment

Skin Pigment. Unwanted skin pigment is normally referred to as hyperpigmentation. It is unwanted melanin in the skin that creates a spotty look with brown spots and is a result of too much sun exposure and also aging.

I am a candidate for one of these laser procedures, to reduce the pigment on my chest, hands (and maybe fronts of legs too). After my 5-series PCA chemical peel (physician-strength) with Dr. Macdonald, we were not able to make much progress on my chest area. I experienced a lot of itching and irritable rash on chest but no peeling on peels #4 and #5 when Dr. Macdonald used the PCA with resorcinol.

On my face, I was left with a vibrant glow after the PCA peel treatment by peel #5 though. I had wonderful, soothing results with his new private label skin care products, specifically the Power of Three by Replenix and Fortified by Glycolix.

Note: on my face, now that the brown spots have diminished, I have some rosacea that Dr. Macdonald would also like to treat with the Sciton® laser (vein treatment to be discussed later in this series of articles).

A) Contour TRL™ Laser Peel skin pigment reduction treatment. This procedure is not only a treatment for overall skin resurfacing, but specifically reduces hyperpigmentation.

Sciton^® Laser Peel – Contour TRL™ safely erases skin hyperpigmentation that appears on the skin from sun damage and age. Although there are several different types of lasers on the market used to perform peels, the Contour TRL™ is widely regarded as the most effective laser available. This treatment targets the effects of sun damage and environmental pollutants which create skin tone irregularities, solar spots, and scars.

How does Contour TRL™ work? This laser safely removes a layer of skin, with computer-guided micron precision. The depth of treatment depends on your skin condition, desired outcome and expectation for down time. Treating your hyperpigmented skin with this laser will stimulate the growth of new collagen to improve the skin as healthy new skin cells regrow.

Common body parts treated:  face, neck

B) BBL™ Broadband Light skin pigment reduction treatment.

Sciton^® BBL™ is an innovative light-based technology that sets new standards for skin conditions associated with aging, active lifestyles, and sun damage. It also treats any unwanted melanin and pigment you were born with (i.e., freckles).

How does BBL™ work? This phototherapy treatment utilizes pulses of light energy to gently penetrate into the skin. The light energy will gently heat the upper layers of your skin, stimulating the skin cells to regenerate new collagen. The natural beauty of your youthful skin will be evident as this process blends the natural skin colors restoring your youthful skin’s glow before the pigment irregularities appeared.

Common body parts treated (body parts exposed to the sun): face, hands, neck, chest, shoulders

Stay tuned for more details on skin tightening treatments.

Sciton® laser: Skin resurfacing with Contour TRL™, ProFractional™, MicroLaserPeel® or BBL™

Robin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:34:23 +0000

Continuing on with my series of articles about Dr. Macdonald’s Sciton® laser services, coming soon…

As discussed he will be treating patients soon for:

Hair removal
Skin resurfacing
Skin pigment
Skin tightening
Vein treatment

Skin Resurfacing. In the laser treatment world, what constitutes skin resurfacing? Revamping skin that is damaged from the sun, clearing up acne scars, enhancing skin tone, minimizing or erasing hyperpigmentation in the skin, and reversing the sign of aging. Laser resurfacing of the entire face also may delay the need for a comprehensive facelift.

A) Contour TRL™ Laser Peel.

Sciton^® Laser Peel – Contour TRL™ is a safe and effective deep skin resurfacing laser treatment to promote a younger and rejuvenated appearance. Although there are several different types of lasers on the market used to perform peels, the Contour TRL™ is widely regarded as the most effective laser available. This treatment targets the effects of sun damage and environmental pollutants which create skin tone irregularities and create wrinkles, particularly deep wrinkles around the mouth and eyes.

How does Contour TRL™ work? This laser safely removes a layer of skin, with computer-guided micron precision. Treating your skin with this laser will stimulate the growth of new collagen to improve the skin’s thickness and resilience as it grows new, health skin cells.

Common body parts treated: face, neck

B) ProFractional™ and ProFractional-XC™.

Sciton^® ProFractional™ and ProFractional-XC™ laser skin resurfacing procedures offer dramatic results with minimal down time. Enhancing the overall appearance of your skin, this laser therapy targets wrinkles, acne, skin tone and skin pigments.

How do ProFractional™ and ProFractional-XC™ work? This treatment utilizes a tiny laser to treat thousands of pinpoint areas of your skin, while rapidly healing along side with your body’s existing stem cells, simultaneously. The healing areas create new collagen and elastin to add firmness and resilience to the new skin. Two spot size settings with selectable densities are available to enhance collagen remodeling where desired.

Common body parts treated: face, neck, chest, hands

C) MicroLaserPeel® Superficial Skin Resurfacing.

Sciton^® MicroLaserPeel^®, sometimes known as the “weekend peel”, offers great results with minimal down time. It’s an outer to mid-epidermal peel that precisely removes a thin layer of skin to a selectable depth. In other words, it does not go too deep into skin, yet is effective for glowing skin and treats mild wrinkles, scars, sun damage, and pigment irregularities.

How does MicroLaserPeel^® work? The laser beam eliminates some of the damaged skin cells that create a noticeably tired, aged look. As the skin heals, fresh cells grow and resurface the treated area, resulting in reduced wrinkles and improved skin color evenness–a healthier, more vibrant look.

Common body parts treated: face, neck, chest, hands

D) BBL™ Broadband Light skin resurfacing treatment.

Sciton^® BBL™ is an innovative light-based technology that sets new standards for skin conditions associated with aging, active lifestyles, and sun damage.

How does BBL™ work? Delivering photothermal energy, it utilizes pulses of light energy to gently penetrate into the skin. The light energy will gently heat the upper layers of your skin, stimulating the skin cells to regenerate new collagen. The natural beauty of your youthful skin will be evident as this process blends the natural skin colors while making it smoother, vibrant while restoring a youthful appearance.

Common body parts treated: face, hands, neck, chest, shoulders

Stay tuned for more details on skin pigment treatments.

Sciton® laser: Hair removal with BBL™ Broadband Light

Robin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:02:45 +0000

Continuing on with my series of articles about Dr. Macdonald’s Sciton® laser services, coming soon…

As discussed he will be treating patients soon for:

Hair removal
Skin resurfacing
Skin pigment
Skin tightening
Vein treatment

BBL™ Broadband Light hair removal process.

Sciton^® BBL™ is an innovative light-based technology that utilizes pulses of light energy to gently penetrate into the skin, destroying unwanted hair follicles. Say goodbye to shaving, depilatory creams, or even electrolosis–which can be time-consuming and painful.

How does BBL™ work? Delivering photothermal energy to hair follicles, your treatment can be tailored to your skin type with various selectable wavelengths. While your hair is in its growth stage (anagen), it is most vulnerable to light therapy. BBL™ selectively heats the full length of the imbedded hair follicle cutting off its supply of nutrients, thus disabling its growth. (Note: BBL™ treatments are not appropriate for suntanned skin.)

How many treatments are needed? Because all hair is not always in the growth stage at one time, multiple treatments must be given over time to treat it while it is in the growth stage. Aimed at permanent hair reduction, and varying per person as well as body part, you will most likely be advised to get a series of treatments, spaced out by 4-8 weeks.

What is the procedure and healing time like? Although minimally invasive to destroy many hair follicles at once with photothermal light, you will wear safety shields to protect your eyes, and some patients desire anesthetic cream for sensitive skin areas during the procedure–where you may feel a warm “rubber band snap” sensation as the light is absorbed by the targeted areas. With only slight redness and sun-sensitivity after the treatment, there is virtually no down time.

Common body parts treated: face, neck, underarms, bikini line, legs, arms.

Next article: more details on skin resurfacing.

Q/A with Dr. Macdonald on rhinoplasty, septoplasty December 2011

Robin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:32:40 +0000

Please join me and view this new Questions and Answers page on this blog… All questions are posed by patients and answered here by Dr. Macdonald. Check back any time for more additions

Here are some of his responses from December 2011…

Question: How Many Types of Septoplasty Incision Techniques Are Offered?

Are there any benefits of one type of septoplasty procedure versus another type?

Answer by Dr. Macdonald:

The most common septoplasty incisions are known as the “hemi-transfixion” or “complete transfixion” incisions.

The use of a complete transfixion incision, which goes from one side of the septum all the way through to the other side, will most often result in a reduction of the height of the nasal tip by 1-2 millimeters. If this is desirable, because the projection of the nose away from the face is slightly greater than ideal for your face, then this would likely be the best approach.

Alternatively, a hemi-transfixion incision technique employs an incision on 1 side of the septum only so that there is little change in the nasal tip post-operatively. The incision may also be made in the immediate area of the deformity in the nasal septum; however, I use this approach less commonly since I have less control of its effect on the other side of the septum, in this case. I generally prefer to use a hemi-transfixion incision, unless there is a desire to drop the height of the nasal tip.

Question: Do I Need a Septoplasty?

I’ve been to my ENT twice, he’s advised me to get a septoplasty but I am skeptical. I’ve gotten a cat scan, xrays of my sinuses and could see where my septum was deviated. I’m constantly getting weak sinus infections, and those spread to my ears as I can feel congestion there and get dizzy at times. He checked my ears and said they look healthy. I’ve also had trouble sleeping,and have had problems with nasal drip. Dealt with it for months, most days the symptoms aren’t severe but never feel 100%

Answer by Dr. Macdonald:

When teaching surgical residents about how to manage patients with symptoms like yours, I often tell them that we should “treat the patient” rather than treating the x-ray. What’s more important to me than your x-ray findings is the symptoms that you’re describing and what I would find on physical examination.

I would be looking to determine whether or not your nasal septum is crooked enough to obstruct your nasal airway, and to see if it’s crooked in an important location as it relates to your breathing function (the most important locations related to adequate nasal airway are the “interior” nasal valve area and “posterior” nasal valve area).

In addition to straightening the nasal septum – the structure that is in the midline of the nose, dividing the left nasal airway from the right nasal airway – you may also consider addressing the “nasal turbinates”. The nasal turbinates are located on the outside walls of the airway. These can become swollen enough to obstruct the airway due to nasal allergies or simply as a result of your natural anatomy. They can either be reduced in size – my most common recommendation – or even removed. Often, reduction of the nasal turbinates can be performed at the same time as a nasal septoplasty, if appropriate. There is often little downside in adding this to the septoplasty procedure.

Question: How Are Bulbous Tip and Upturned Nose Corrected?

I am wanting to have a Rhinoplasty to reduce my bulbous tip and to de-rotate my naturally upturned nose. How exactly does the surgeon fix my nose?

Answer by Dr. Macdonald:

Because these two problems are quite distinct, I will try to answer them for you separately. Although I am often happy to perform rhinoplasty surgery through a “closed” or endonasal technique, the two problems that you are concerned about generally are easier to address using an “opened” technique so that the cartilage can be directly and clearly visualized.

A bulbous tip is the more easily corrected of the two problems. This is done by removing some cartilage and either suturing together or weakening the remaining cartilage. The most critical element to correcting a bulbous tip, however, is to not overcorrect the tip. In other words, it is important to not create a single narrow tip; instead, two distinct “tip defining points” should be left intact so that the nose looks as natural as possible. In addition to narrowing the cartilage, there is often excessive soft tissue between the skin and the cartilage. If this can be sculpted and or removed, the tip will appear even less bulbous.

There are two ways to approach correction of a nose that is naturally upturned: the first, to increase the apparent length of the dorsum of the nose, thereby making the tip less unturned; the second, to shorten the base of the nose by shortening the septal cartilage or removing soft tissue at the base of the nose, thereby eliminating the upturned appearance without actually lengthening the nose. The decision about which approach to take would involve a very detailed analysis and individualized plan to address your concerns.

Sciton® laser: Skin resurfacing, skin tightening, skin pigment reduction, hair removal, vein treatment

Robin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:31:19 +0000

The Sciton^® laser sounds amazing. Dr. Macdonald has one now for his office, and is starting the treatment procedures soon to enhance his skin rejuvenation service offerings. [These details will be documented fully on his new website under laser services..coming very soon.]

From treating wrinkles, scars and sun-damaged skin to hair removal, the Sciton^® innovative technology supports procedures which range from light and quick, to deeper and more inclusive… all depending on your skin’s needs.

I’ll be writing a series of articles on this laser, but first to introduce the specific areas it treats:

Hair removal.

BBL™ Broadband Light offers high speed laser hair removal and phototherapy, safe for all skin types and colors, for various body parts. The procedure is virtually pain-free with a little numbing cream. The side-effects (temporary pigment changes, redness, slight swelling) only last for 48 hours.

Skin resurfacing.

MicroLaserPeel^® (the “weekend peel”), Laser Peel – Coutour TRL™, ProFractional™ and BBL™ Broadband Light are all offered for resurfacing the skin and restoring your natural youthful look. Whether it be sun damage, age or acne scars, these procedures will enhance your overall appearance.

Skin pigment.

Hyperpigmentation from sun damage and aging can make you look years older than you actually are. Laser Peel Contour TRL™ and BBL™ Broadband Light can help you clean up any areas that are exposed to the harmful rays of the sun by reducing unwanted melanin. In the process, the collagen in your skin gets regenerated.

Skin tightening.

Make a difference toward sagging, aged skin with SkinTyte™ or BBL™ Broadband Light procedures. As the infrared energy heats dermal collagen, it also cools it to protect the surface. Comfortably and with no downtime, this procedure promotes the tightening of the skin.

Vein treatment.

Veins that pop out of your legs or your face can be diminished with BBL™ Broadband Light phototherapy. Tiny and larger blood vessels are activated by heat on the upper layers of your skin, allowing the heat to absorb the targeted areas as they stimulate the skin and regenerate new collagen. Smoother, more youthful looking skin is your result.

Next article: details behind laser hair removal.

By the way, appointments are booking already for mid-January. I know I’m going to try to get on the list…

Did you know that there are 43 muscles in the face?: Some causes of wrinkles

Robin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:00:02 +0000

Did you know that there are 43 muscles in the face? This results in approximately 7,000 different facial expressions. Each of these when done repetitively contributes to wrinkles.

Of course, it is not advised to never make a facial reaction in order to lower your chance of getting wrinkles though. We should all live our happy lives as they are meant to be lived, which includes moving these 43 muscles!

But, you might want to protect against extra wrinkles where possible.

Here are some of the solutions to help you, if you are interested in minimizing wrinkles in your face. The results last many months.

Wrinkle minimizers:

BOTOX® and Dysport™

Used interchangeably by Dr. Macdonald, they are neurotoxins which relax the muscles that produce wrinkles. They are primarily used on the upper face, but can also be used to recontour the lower face.

Tissue fillers:

Injections of small amounts of tissue filler, such as JUVEDERM®, Restylane® or RADIESSE®, can produce wonderful results in improving the skin’s texture, and in restoring facial contour in areas of tissue volume loss. Depressions in the skin surface (e.g. post-acne scarring) can be raised to the level of the surrounding skin. Lines and scars can be minimized. Textures can be improved to soften the skin’s appearance and give a more even contour.

Most common areas of treatment include:

Lips (for fullness)
Nasolabial folds (creases between nose and corners of the mouth)
Marionette lines (creases at corners of the mouth)
Glabella lines (wrinkles between the eyebrows)
Lower eyelids (for adding volume to sunken, tired eyes)
Midface/cheeck area (for lifting the drooping effect)
Prejowel area (creases along jawline)
Hands (for correcting hallowed, aged hands)
Acne scarring (for filling in scars)
Brow lift
Ear lobes

Restylane®. Tissue filler for depressions, scars and wrinkles.

Perlane™. Like Restylane® but is thicker and lasts longer.

RADIESSE®. Good for volume augmentation in the cheeks. Often called a “liquid facelift”. Also great for backs of the hands. Doesn’t work so well around the lips and mouth area.

JUVEDERM® Ultra is similar to Restylane®

JUVEDERM® Ultra Plus is similar to Perlane™

PREVELLE® Silk is newer and like Restylane® and JUVEDERM® Ultra but thinner. Good for fine lines around the mouth.

Sculptra™ is newer but expensive. Good for larger volumes.

It’s a good idea to go an expert such as Dr. Macdonald for wrinkle minimization and tissue filler injections so that you get the most expertise.

This is why it is so important to get BOTOX® injections from an expert such as Dr. Macdonald who believes in a natural approach to wrinkle reduction. He has an individualized approach to his facial procedural artistry, and is familiar with many products and their unique results. He takes pride in his patients’ glowing appearance, and youthfulness that is natural to the expressions of who you are.

PCA chemical peel for face, neck and chest

Robin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 07:39:21 +0000

Last month I began a physician-strength PCA chemical peel with Dr. Macdonald for my face, neck and chest (a.k.a. decolletage area) to attempt to repair some –if not all–of my sun-damaged skin. Now I am on peel #3 of 5 and seeing a positive effect. Dr. Macdonald, whom I only see every 2 weeks, sees a noticeable difference as well.

On peel #2, the concentration was increased on both the neck and chest to PCA resorcinol which contains hydroquinone to lighten the hyperpigmentation. On peel #3, resorcinol was used on my face too, and yet a stronger dose on chest and neck since I had very little reaction on previous attempts.

The resorcinol peel does produce a hot, burning sensation during the peel, making it soothing to use the fan to cool my skin for 10 minutes.

Rosacea. An issue Dr. Macdonald wanted to bring to my attention is some rosacea on my cheeks and nose (i.e., little red blood vessels on the skin). After lightening my hyperpigmentation, the red vessels will be more visible. His solution would be to treat the rosacea with laser treatment after the peels are completed with VariLite laser at 512 nm strength.

Like clockwork, it seems that after 48 hours, my skin begins to peel and lasts until around day 6 for the face, with a longer delay on the neck.

My neck has been the itchiest. I treated this with hydrocortisone creams. PCA SKIN® Après Peel Soothing Balm (with 0.5% hydrocortisone) was especially supportive. I also fell in love with a new lotion with a soothing effect called “Yes to™ Cucumbers” It is formulated for sensitive skin and gently hydrates with organic cucumbers, aloe vera and green tea.

During one of my peely-ist moments, an acquaintance asked me: Is that good for you? Answer: Here is exactly what happens to the skin–and underneath the skin–during the 2 weeks between peels.

The carefully selected solutions in a chemical peel sink into the skin and cause the skin layers below the surface to react on the cellular level.

The skin cells are repaired
Melanin is reduced (darkness)
Cells produce more collagen and elastin
Dead cells are eaten away

Even though it looks like a sunburn, there is a science behind chemical peels vs. the sun. Melanin protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays or from any skin injury.

Suntan. The skin of a person with enough melanin in their skin to handle the sun’s rays turns a little darker as a result.
Brown spots. However, the skin of a person with less melanin in their skin reacts; it goes into protection-mode and releases melanin (that naturally lays beneath the skin’s surface). This melanin rises to the surface… but not uniformly, resulting in a spotty look.

The tender skin on my neck and chest are starting to react for the first time on peel #3. Of course, I have the itchiness but also some significant skin shedding….

Throughout the peel process, I need to pay extra attention to sunscreen. During the days where I’m wearing lots of lotions to sooth or cover up peeling and itching, it sure is nice to have the powdered sunscreen by Colorscience®. [Dr. Macdonald is now carrying this product in his office.]

5-minute sauna and steamroom steam sessions sure do help to break down and soften harder, thicker, dryer skin on days 4-5, while continually dousing with cool water while in the steam.

I’ve experienced the most advanced stage of peeling today (counting my PCA peel last year, 1st and 2nd PCA peels this past month and Vi PEEL™ this year) on day 5 of peel #3. I’m scared to post this one, but here is a lovely photo of my peeling-look as I woke up this morning. Today is the day I discovered the “Yes to™ Cucumbers Soothing Cooling Body Butter“. In a few days I will be all better…

Dr. Macdonald has a full-fledged skin rejuvenation and skincare treatment center in his office, including laser treatments for full fractional resurfacing, skin tightening, sun damage repair to hair removal, dark spots and rosacea.

Pam DePianto is his new Medical Esthetician in the office as of August. Pam is focusing exclusively on the beauty of your skin… She brings you 15+ years of experience as a small skin spa owner, a Kaiser skin health educator and, most recently, the lead esthetician for an East Bay dermatology & plastic surgery practice. With Pam, you’ll be in good hands!

Pam is offering a special Pumpkin Enzyme Peel Facial now (on special now through next Friday):

This luxurious facial is loaded with antioxidants, beta-carotene and vitamin C to replenish the skin with much needed nutrients. Exfoliating the skin’s surface, this facial will soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as it improves the skin’s texture. Price includes: deep cleansing, steam, pumpkin enzyme exfoliation, extractions, massage, treatment mask, treatment serums, day cream and SPF.