Cosmetic Surgery, Health and Fitness Information - The Adams Center, Boston, MA

Finally, an Effective Way to Treat Scarring and Deep Wrinkles

An incredible, newly developed laser treatment made by leading laser manufacturer Lumenis, has created the “gold standard” for non-surgical treatment of wrinkles (including deep wrinkles), scarring, and much more.

UltraPulse is the core of what Lumenis’ calls their “Bridge Therapy” product family that also includes ActiveFX™, DeepFX™, and TotalFX™. These ablative (removes tissue layers), CO2 fractional lasers use “bridge therapy.” Named because only portions of the skin’s surface are treated, leaving “bridges” of untouched skin; the bridge therapy system helps the regeneration and healing process.

The beauty of this system is that a single session is often all that’s needed (when before 5 – 6 treatments may have been needed), and treatment generally can be accomplished in 60 minutes or less. Treatments typically have a 2 – 3 day recovery time (as opposed to 10 or more), and maximum recovery time is only 4 – 6 days.

UltraPulse is an incredibly versatile system that allows physicians to tailor the amount of skin left untreated, so the system can be used on the face, neck, hands, and chest. It can be used for a variety of skin issues, including wrinkle reduction, tightening the lower eyelids, scar reduction, correcting brown spots, port wine stains and other pigmentation disorders, crows feet, deep lines around the nose and mouth, frown lines between the brows, jowls, tightening loose skin, marionette lines, naso-labial folds, neck skin laxity, and rough skin texture.

The entire UltraPulse system has different laser wands:

ActiveFX
The ActiveFX laser head is the core of the UltraPulse system. This laser has a broad beam, but a more shallow depth of treatment. The design makes ActiveFX great for treating all but the deepest wrinkles, most pigmentation issues, and is good for treating the areas around the eyes. Redness may last for between 3 – 5 days. Long-term skin tightening will occur for several months following treatment.

DeepFX
DeepFX uses a thin, focused laser beam, allowing it to penetrate more deeply than most other lasers. Along with the depth of penetration, the DeepFX system’s deep heating stimulates immediate collagen contraction, and long-term collagen remodeling creating a one/two punch perfect for deeper scars and wrinkle treatment. Downtime is a remarkable 2 – 3 days.

TotalFX
This is the total package! The TotalFX procedure combines the laser wands used for ActiveFX and DeepFX to completely treat an area, whether that’s the face, chest, neck or hands. The TotalFX program is designed to first treat a broad area with the ActiveFX procedure, and then treat focused areas with the DeepFX module. Downtime is the longest of the UltraPulse procedures, but when compared to other available laser systems, TotalFX’s 4 – 6 days of recovery cuts recovery in half.

An Added Benefit
One of the best parts of this treatment is that although the treatment has immediate effects, the overall effect is ongoing. As collagen regeneration occurs, the skin tightening effect continues to happen in the 6 months following treatment. This means that while you’ll see immediate results, your appearance will continue to further improve with time.

As part of our continuing commitment to our patients to always find the best, most advanced treatments available, The Adams Center is one of the only facilities in the Greater Boston Area to offer this amazing breakthrough in non-surgical anti-aging skin rejuvenation.

Contact me today at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208if you have any questions on the UltraPulse system, or any of the other topics you see in my blog.

LaserLyte Peel Enhances Short Scar Facelift

The last few years have brought about some terrific advances in plastic surgery. Better techniques, more effective procedures, and combinations of procedures have all helped to improve our ability to turn back the clock.

Once we hit our mid to late 40’s, aging begins to become noticeable in the mid-face region. There are several great non-surgical treatments at this point that can reduce wrinkles and delay the clock for most people.

Until recently, women in their 40s and 50s wouldn’t have considered a facelift as an option. Within the past 5 – 7 years, less-invasive methods that are appropriate for younger women, such as the “short-scar facelift” have become unavailable. Now, more patients are having facelifts, or combination lifts performed in their 40’s.

One of the combination lifts that we’ve had great results with is the combination of a LaserLyte Peel with a “short-scar facelift”. A short-scar facelift procedure involves only half as much cutting as a traditional lift, which translates into a shorter recovery, a more easily concealable scar, and a more natural look.

While the facelift is a great procedure for treating wrinkles and repositioning fat, it does little to improve the “quality” of the skin. Age spots, sun damage, pigmentation disorders, and some wrinkles (in places not treated by the facelift) may still be present following a facelift. We’ve found that when we combine a short scar facelift procedure with a LaserLyte Peel we can correct other issues that may be present, providing a much better result for the patient, and minimizing recovery time.

Some may think that our 40’s or early 50’s is too young for a facelift. Beauty is subjective, and this is a very personal choice. Modern image enhancement techniques have advanced at an incredible pace in the past 10 years. We no longer have to resign ourselves to having an old looking face!

Contact me at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208 with questions on this or any other topic you've seen in my blog, or on The Adams Center's website.

Do Non-surgical Treatments Really Get Rid of Wrinkles?

Q: How realistic are non-surgical procedures, for example will I notice a definite improvement in my wrinkles?

A: Good question! Not every treatment works well for every patient. We spend time during the consultation to do a thorough analysis to determine which will work best for your situation. When selected properly, patients will see definite improvement.

Contact me at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208 with questions on this or any other topic you've seen in my blog, or on The Adams Center's website.

Will My Breast Implants Look Natural?

Q: I would like a breast enlargment, but I'm nervous about the procedure and the final physical appearence. I was a D cup when I was younger, a EE cup when I was pregnant and now I am a small B. I would like a full C or D cup, is it possible to look natural, firm, but not stiff?

A: Changes over time in breast size are very common. With a breast augmentation, there are over 100 different options for shape, size, style, materials used, etc. Finding an implant that looks natural for you in either a C or D cup should not be a problem. Anyone can go to a C or D cup but the width of the breast, volume of breast tissue and amount of fat determine the possibility of issues.

Contact me at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208 with questions on this or any other topic you've seen in my blog, or on The Adams Center's website.

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Q: I would like a breast enlargment, but I was doing some research and found that they are not permanent. Meaning that I would have to the breast implants replaced in time. Is this true? How long do they last? Would I lose sensitivity with an implant replacement?

A: Breast implants are not permanent, but they are currently waranteed for 10 years. Typically, a breast implant replacement would be done at some point after that, but that is an individual decision.

Regarding your question on loss of sensitivity - there really isn't a loss of breast sensitivity in my experience.

Can I Breast Feed if I Have Breast Implants?

Q: I have breast implants, and I’m going to be having a baby. I remember something about not being able to breast feed after having breast implants. My Ob/Gyn is telling me it's okay to breast feed. Is this true?

A: It is perfectly fine for you to breast feed-the implants should not have any effect on breast feeding. I wish you much joy and happiness on your new journey.

What Can I do About These Ugly Spider Veins?

By Cynthia Vokey, R.N. at The Adams Center

What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins (or telangiectasias) are small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin that can be red or purplish in color. They can be caused by factors such as age, gender, pregnancy and lifestyle.

How do I Fix Them?
Spider veins are generally treated by either Sclerotherapy (injection of a solution into the vein), or laser treatment. Both treatments target the visibility of the vein, and cause the vein to “close down” or eliminate blood flow.

Laser treatment causes the vein to close by heating the vein wall, decreasing the vein’s visibility. Sclerotherapy causes the vein to close by irritating the vein wall with a solution. Once blood flow is eliminated, the spider vein is absorbed by the body and no longer exists.

When treating spider veins, it is important to remember that is takes more than one treatment to completely eliminate the spider vein. This includes both laser treatment and Sclerotherapy. It is difficult to determine how many treatments will be needed because the results are individual.

How Long Will Treatment Take?
Treatments are spaced out every 4-6 weeks. During treatment, bruising may occur within the first 2 – 3 weeks of treatment, but goes away after 4 – 6 weeks. After being treated, spider veins generally become lighter, and ultimately disappear. Once a vein is treated and eliminated, it will not return. However, new spider veins may develop over time.

Contact me at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208 with questions on this or any other topic you've seen in my blog, or on The Adams Center's website.

How to Correct Sun Damage

“Oxidative Stress,” Free Radicals and Wrinkles
“Oxidative stress,” the term used to describe damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules that attack our cells destroying cell membranes, proteins, and more), contributes to accelerated wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, and some diseases including skin cancer.

Much of the oxidative stress our skin encounters is a direct result of sun damage. So, prevention is the best defense. Be sure to wear sunscreen protection (both UVA and UVB protection), especially between 10am and 3pm.

But, what should you do if the damage has already been done?

How Can We Fix It?
Oxidative stress can be treated with free radical scavenging antioxidants, which stabilize the free radical, rendering it inactive and harmless. Our bodies produce antioxidants that counteract some of this oxidative stress. However, clinical studies have shown that antioxidants applied to the skin and absorbed by the skin can increase the body’s antioxidant production.

Correcting the Damage
We use and recommend several great antioxidant rich formulas at The Adams Center. One of the most innovative and effective lines of antioxidant serums are the products by iS Clinical.

iS Clinical uses only the most potent, botanically derived, pharmaceutical-grade antioxidants. Their products are formulated to help treat fine lines and wrinkles, acne, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea using:

Powerful botanical acids - Natural agents that resurface the skin and enable the penetration of other key ingredients.

Peptides – Peptides prevent collagen breakdown and help create new collagen to decrease wrinkles and restore skin elasticity.

Amino acids - Improve cell function and promote cellular integrity. Growth factors - Encourage and direct cell maturation and development.

Antioxidants in iS Clinical’s Products Include . . .

Vitamin C – From natural sources such as citrus fruits (specifically lemons). Vitamin C acts as a photo-protector, stimulates collagen synthesis, brightens skin, helps to replenish Vitamin E.

Vitamin B5 – From soy and avocado. B5 is an essential element for cellular function, integrity, and efficiency. Additionally, it enables the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.

Niacin (Vitamin B3) - Grain and corn. promotes microcirculation, increases energy within cell to maintain and improve functionality.

Vitamin A - Carrots and egg yolk. potent antioxidant, improves collagen synthesis, promotes wound healing.

Vitamin E – From sunflower and soy bean oil. This potent antioxidant protects against the sun’s rays, and inhibits DNA damage.

Gotu Kola - Stimulates collagen synthesis, improves microcirculation, and promotes wound healing, while reducing scar tissue.

Olive Leaf Extract - Promotes wound healing, and is an anti-inflammatory agent, and antibiotic.

Click here for more information on iS Clinical's products.

Contact me at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208 with questions on this or any other topic you've seen in my blog, or on The Adams Center's website.

Reversing the Aging Process Using Hi-Tech, Low Tech, and the Tried and True

Over the past few years, we’ve seen tremendous advances in high-tech anti-aging procedures. While it sounds cliché, these really have revolutionized the battle against wrinkles.

2006 statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) showed an overall increase in cosmetic procedures. However, while surgical procedures declined, non-surgical procedures increased to account for 83% of the total cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S.

This is good news for those of us in the medical spa business. Cosmetic surgery is not for everyone, and non-surgical treatments can provide great results with less downtime. At my practice, my staff and I routinely evaluate new equipment and ideas in anti-aging science. Some of the most effective treatments I’ve seen are DermaSound, iS Clinical’s Youth Complex, and an old favorite, Botox.

DermaSound
One of the more innovative anti-aging solutions I’ve seen is DermaSound. DermaSound is an advanced ultrasonic skin treatment that combines sound waves with a water process utilizing cavitation (a thin blade vibrates at 28,000 times per second causing water molecules to spin rapidly) to eliminate dead skin cells in the outermost layer of skin that make our skin appear older.

DermaSound not only exfoliates, but can also provide deeper-reaching antioxidant treatments through a process called “sonophoresis” to create pathways into the skin for antioxidants to nourish and heal skin at a cellular level, increasing penetration effectiveness by up to 4,000 times (according to an MIT study) more than applying them by hand.

The final part of the DermaSound process is Micro amp therapy, which can be provided as part of a complete skin-restoring treatment to help enhance the healing process.

DermaSound frequently produces results after just one treatment.

iS Clinical’s Youth Complex
One of the biggest reasons for tired and old looking skin is sun damage. Many of us spend unprotected hours in the sun, which can cause oxidative stress resulting in free radical damage to the skin.

While an ounce of prevention is the best medicine, what do you do when the damage has been done?

One of the only “skin creams” (I hesitate to call iS Clinical’s products “skin creams” because they’re so much more) that I’ve seen to actually produce measurable results are the products by iS Clinical. iS Clinical has one of the most innovative and effective lines of antioxidant rich serums. We use and recommend several of their great formulas at The Adams Center.

iS Clinical combines the some of the latest skin science and breakthroughs in wrinkle filler technology by utilizing Hyaluronic acid (the same product used in Restylane), and copper peptides, with vitamins and things like white willow bark that have been used for centuries in some cultures.

Their Youth Complex utilizes freeze dried Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5, white willow bark, copper peptides, fruit acids and other botanicals with advanced micro-spheres to help rapidly reduce wrinkles, and rebuild skin at the deepest level. The formula is so effective that results may be seen in hours.

Botox
Botulinum Toxin Type A, or as it’s more commonly referred to, Botox® (manufactured by Allergan as a purified, sterile form of the Botulinum Toxin) is one of the most positive developments in the field of cosmetic surgery of the past two decades.

Botox is really the product that started the revolution in non-surgical anti-aging medicine, and showed that it was possible to get results without surgery. According to the ASAPS, Botox® has been the top cosmetic procedure for the past seven years, with approximately 3.18 million procedures performed in 2006.

First approved by the FDA in 1989 to treat uncontrollable blinking, and misaligned eyes, Botox® has since been approved for cosmetic use to diminish wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes, lips, and neck. It has recently been approved to treat excessive underarm sweating.

Botox® works by blocking the release of a chemical called “acetylcholine” which signals the muscle under the “frown lines” to contract. Botox® is injected into the muscle causing a temporary (4 months in most cases) paralysis or weakness in the muscle, which then diminishes and in many cases, removes the wrinkle.

I’ve performed thousands of procedures using Botox®. I still believe that it’s one of the most effective non-surgical tools we have in the fight against wrinkles.

Non-surgical ways to combat aging are the solutions most requested in both my medical spa and my cosmetic surgery practice. DermaSound, advanced skin serums such as those made by iS Clinical, and Botox®, are important tools in our efforts to combat the effects of aging. Even though I’m a board certified plastic surgeon by trade, in my opinion, whenever a non-surgical method is right for the patient, that’s the way to go!

Contact me at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208 with questions on this or any other topic you've seen in my blog, or on The Adams Center's website.

The Truth About Non-Surgical Body Contouring Methods. Do They Work?

I often get questions from patients wanting to know about a non-surgical way to reduce unwanted, localized fat deposits and cellulite. People are sometimes put off by liposuction/body contouring surgery because of cost, downtime, or fear of complications.

Many times, these patients are inquiring about a procedure known as Mesotherapy.

What is Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is touted as a non-surgical method to remove fat and cellulite deposits. The procedure involves the injection of an unstandardized, and proprietary (to the mesotherapist) “cocktail” of vitamins, herbs, drugs (not necessarily FDA approved for this procedure), amino acids, local anesthetics, and more; into the targeted area.

Mesotherapy injections supposedly work by targeting fat cells, rupturing the cell, thus causing the fat cells to die. The theory is that the fat will then get washed out of your system through your body’s normal waste disposal.

Often times, a series of 10 – 15 injections are the recommended course of treatment. At $500 per injection, the cost is significant, especially for a procedure that may not work.

Does Mesotherapy Work?
The short answer is probably not.

Although Mesotherapy has been in use throughout Europe, and South America for approximately 50 years, there have been no true studies proving that it works. Proponents point to a 1995 UCLA study that showed positive results; however, since the Mesotherapy “cocktail” isn’t standardized, it would be hard to draw any conclusions between that study, and the treatment administered by a particular practitioner.

In some cases, not only does Mesotherapy not work, it can be harmful. A drug called phosphatidylcholine (used to treat liver problems and high blood pressure as well as break down fat deposits on artery walls) is sometimes used in Mesotherapy. Studies conducted in Brazil showed such a high incidence of hepatitis and liver failure in patients treated with a Mesotherapy “cocktail” that included phosphatidylcholine that the drug was subsequently made illegal in that country.

Then What Does Work?
There are also several interesting non-surgical methods that either are available now, or should be available soon.

• Liposonix ® and UltraShape ® are both ultrasound based lipoplasty methods currently being reviewed by the FDA (neither has been approved as of yet). If approved, ultrasound-based lipoplasty (which uses an external ultrasound device to target and destroy fat cells) may offer patients a convenient non-surgical alternative to traditional liposuction.
• Triactive - TriActive uses a combination of massage and diode lasers to smooth and tighten cellulite. 10 – 15 treatments may be needed. Results are long-lasting, but temporary.
• Velasmooth – This FDA approved treatment combines massage with infrared energy and radio frequency (RF) energy. The procedure works by heating skin to increase skin tightening and stimulate collagen while breaking up fat cells. Results are long-lasting, but temporary.
• Accent RF - Accent uses a type of RF energy that heats deeper layers of skin to create better skin tightening and increase fat cell drainage. 6 – 8 treatments are necessary, with results seen in 3 to 6 months. The FDA has approved Accent RF as a non-invasive wrinkle treatment, but not specifically for cellulite removal at this time. Results are long-lasting, but temporary.

As of now, Liposuction remains the only approved, permanent fat reducing method available. We know that liposuction works. It’s safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, there are measurable results to back it up, and the the fat reduction is permanent.

Contact me at The Adams Center at 617-262-2208 with questions on this or any other topic you've seen in my blog, or on The Adams Center's website.