Healthy Aging Blog by Kristie Isaac RN, Anti Aging Nurse
Med Spa Heroes ,Healthy Aging, Inside the wild west of med spas. To help patients, doctors, and nurses avoid industry pitfalls. Blog by Med Spa heroes Dr Dana & Nurse Kristie
Facial Rejuvenation with Botox/Xeomin, Fillers, & PRP/PRF:
- Cheeks
- Under eyes
- Mouth
- Lips
#BeBraveSkinStories#luscious_lips
Turning 51 in July- every couple of years I "redefine & lift my face."
Its very subtle, but I can tell when its time! Its more noticeable in pictures I see of myself.
My under eyes look more hollow, my cheekbones & lips seem to "disappear." My face seems to actually look thinner when I restore my facial structures.
People are often afraid to get fillers thinking they will look un-natural or not like themselves. I Specialize in Natural looking results and creating a facial rejuvenation plan everyone can afford.
Step 1:
In these pics I used Xeomin on my forehead, between my eyes, around/under my eyes, my chin, & around my mouth to weaken, but not paralyze the muscles causing wrinkles.
Step 2:
I filled under eye hollows with a fine HA filler & added PRP/PRF w/ natural growth factors (from my own body) to boost collagen & elastin.
I redefined my cheekbones, under my lips/chin wrinkle
w/ a firmer filler & treated these areas w/ PRP/PRF to boost collagen.
Step 3:
I corrected assyemetry in my lips and then filled w/ a fine filler/PRP/PRF to build collagen.
Non- Surgical Facial Rejuvenation:
As we age we loose our cheekbones/ jawlines and things slowly "drop & sag" over time. This starts in our 30's!!!!!
Circle shaped muscles around our mouth and eyes tighten "like purse strings." The muscle on our chins get stronger and causes it to look more pointy - I call it
"Witchie Chin."
The skin under our eyes gets loose and the hollows get worse. Loosing our cheekbones makes this all look worse.
Combining all of these normal aging face processes can lead to looking "tired" or older than your actual age.
There is hope ! There are many things we can do to prevent wrinkles, correct assyemetry, & rejuvenate the aging face.
Podcast - Blog Introductions; "Healthy Aging" for patients &
"Med Spa Heroes" Blog for healthcare professionals;
Kristie Anti Aging Nurse & Dr. Dana Russo- Med Spa Heroes;
- Why are so many med spas popping up?
- Med Spa Heroes;
Personal Journies
out the hospital & into the "wild west" of medical spas for Healthcare Professionals
-The pitfalls to avoid when opening a medical spa.
-Affordable solutions to start your transition out of hospitals & into med spas.
- Are Healthcare professionals targets & "easy prey" for salesman?"
"A piece of the global wellness pie"
Many healthcare providers are transitioning out of hospital settings & in to the cash pay Industry. Thinking of transitioning out of a hospital setting and in to a med spa? - Don't know where to start? Are you contemplating opening your own med spa? Then this blog is a "must read!" Written for healthcare providers (Doctors, Nurses, & PA's) by Healthcare providers who have survived the monumental task of "navigating the wild west of medical spas."
The wellness & med spa industry outlook is excellent! With managed healthcare, hmo's, & government regulations many healthcare professionals are leaving hospitals & breaking in to the wellness, concierge, & cash pay industries. Many Medical Spas open, but few are business savvy enough to survive the competition, minimize costs, & stay in business.
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Avoid common pitfalls experienced when starting your own medical spa. Tips to save time, ways to save money, & many other helpful tips for the Healthcare provider.
Global Medical Spa Market Expected to Reach $27,566 Million by 2025, Says Allied Market Research
Kristie Isaac RN, Anti Aging Nurse is an expert in using plasma gel in non-surgical facial aesthetic treatments. Plasma gel filling is a form of autologous method for non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Plasma Gel Bio Filler can replace or be used in combination with Hyaluronic acid fillers. It is far more beneficial than treatments such as botox alone.
Plasma gel is an all natural product, which body absorbs easily.What is Plasmagel? Plasmagel, also known as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), is a filler used as a method for wrinkle treatments & facial volume loss associated with aging. It is collected & utilized for wrinkles in a series of 3 sessions 4 weeks apart depending on desired results. The plasma gel for the face is made by processing the patients own blood, and then is injected into the targeted areas to volumize, lift, and rejuvenate the face, neck, or hands. It’s based on harnessing the patients own blood plasma & healing attributes. The platelets (thrombocytes) in our blood are proven to contain many proteins considered to be growth factors. These proteins enhance the healing of damaged skin, including damages caused by oxidation (aging), stress, and exposure to elements of the environment. After the injection, these proteins trigger a natural reaction of thrombocytes to repair and proliferate damaged skin cells, increasing skin volume which becomes firmer, more radiant, & youthful looking. The Treatment: During the treatment Kristie will take a small amount of your blood, approximately 10 – 20 milliliters, centrifuge, filter, and process the blood to create the Platelet-Rich Serum, and then plasma gel (PRP). The product is a 100% natural gel. In order to prepare plasma gel and obtain optimal results, sonication is used as a very effective method to lyse the cell membranes and release the most of platelets growth factors potential. In addition, treatment is bio-stimulative, as growth factor helps the body to naturally produce collagen. Plasmagel is then injected into the treated area where the platelets stimulate cell growth. The therapy can be used on: the face, around eyes, mouth and nose, and the jowls, lips, the back of your hands, the neck,scars, including surgical scars, & stretch marks. The Benefits of using plasma gel fillers are numerous and include: 100% ALL NATURAL Made from pts own serum Minimally invasive procedure Reduced costs and price compared to regular fillers since it uses utilized autologous blood as filler. painless, no sedation is used no known risk related no known side effects Skin is numbed with topical cream prior to injection for patients comfort. After the treatment: the treated area may be a bit swollen, and a mild reddening may occur. The patient can continue with its normal activities immediately after the plasma gel procedure. The Results: The results are visible after the first treatment. For optimal results, a course of 3 sessions in the period of 4 weeks is recommended. After a couple of months, the plasma gel is completely absorbed into the treated area. Results last from 18 to 24 months after the last treatment. Kristie Isaac RN, Anti Aging Nurse is highly skilled and experienced in plasma gel aesthetic treatments. If you want to find out more about plasma gel treatments or schedule an appointment Visit: https://antiagingrn.com/home/ola/services/plasma-gel-bio-filler
5 Steps to non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation; Skincare for the aging face. Republished from June 2019, Generations Skincare by The Anti Aging Nurse
"My approach to natual looking facial rejuvenation is to combine several treatment modalities. I believe end results will be best if you start from the inside (skeletal structures) & work your way out (outer skin layers.)"
"Often times when you see people who have an artificial, overdone, or unnatural appearance it is because an inexperienced provider has treated the effects rather than the underlying cause."
Successful non- surgical facial rejuvenation takes time, patience is KEY. If patients want instant results or have unrealistic expectations of what non- surgical treatments can do- I refer them to my colleague & skilled plastic surgeon Dr Karol Gutowski." He offers virtual consultations!
The Aging Face - unfortunately there is no way around it, everyone's face will show the signs of aging- eventually. Genetics, Environment, diet & lifestyle can all affect how our face ages. I turned 50 this year and started "preventative" treatment's in my late 30's in an "attempt" to slow down the aging process (on my face at least!) I prefer a non- surgical conservative approach and the "natural look." "I dont want to try to look 20 - I just want to look the best I can for my age."
Why is my face changing as I age?
Understanding what happens to our face as we age can help us discover which treatments are best to counteract the inevitable signs of aging - many factors contribute to the aging face. Factors such as bone reabsorption, volume loss, & decreased elasticity can all lead to "saggy" skin & result in a "sad" and/or "tired" look. This can make you look older than your age.
There are many things we can do to help our aging faces.
Facial skeletal structures reabsorb as we age
Did you know that our facial skeletal structure actually changes as we age? The skeletal structure in our face actually shrinks as we age due to a process known as "bone reabsorption" in the aging process.
If your Face were a House;
Fix the foundation first
Think of your face as a house & the skeletal structure as the house's "foundation." This is what I mean when I say, " I start from the inside & work my way out." If the foundation is damaged it doesnt do much good to fix up the inside of the house.
You can go in a house paint, wallpaper, & change accessories to improve the houses appearance, but if the "foundation" is damaged - it's like a bandaid. If the "foundation" of the "house" is not restored you are wasting your time fixing up the inside. The same goes for your face. If your facial bone structure has changed, you can add botox, fillers, facials, skin care products etc., but it wont do much good.
Why is this? & what can we do to restore the foundation (aka facial bone structures? )
As we age a process called "bone reabsorption" begins and actually physically changes our facial skeleton (or the "foundation" of the house.) The eye sockets get smaller, the cheek & jaw bones shrink & lose their definition. The size and shape of the bones around our mouth also change. A good aesthetic/cosmetic practitioner knows that the foundation must first be restored in order to rejuvenate the face. We can restore the facial bone structures non-surgically with firm fillers such as Radiesse/Sculptra and/or PDO threads.
Once the "foundation" has been restored, a more youthful appearance & facial rejuvenation is achievable. Restoring bone structure is only the first step in facial rejuvenation.
What causes skin to sag?
When these skeletal changes start, there are other things that also happen to the aging face. Back to the house analogy l...think of the dermis or middle skin tissue as the inner part of your "house" & the outer skin layer as the exterior of your "house." We lose facial volume, laxity increases & elasticity decreases. Volume loss can be from weight loss/gain, but can be corrected with volumizing fillers and/ or PDO threads, & fractional radio frequency. All of these changes can make our faces appear "saggy" or make you look "sad/tired" & look older than your age. We lose elasticity and hydration & our skin becomes more dry and leads to a dull complexion. When you combine all these factors - you really start to show your age & if you dont do things to repair the damage you can look older than your actual age.
Is there anything we can do to slow down the aging process on our faces?
The good news is there is hope ! There are things we can do to help our aging faces! These are my 5 steps to natural looking non-surgical facial rejuvenation.
#1) Prevention :
Preventative botox/xeomin in our late 30's. It's much easier to prevent wrinkles in our 40's & 50's than to try to undo deeply formed wrinkles.
Stay out of the sun, wear sun block daily & regular facials can also help to prevent problems later. START SUNBLOCK ASAP - don't forget your NECK & DECOLLETAGE', consider them part of your face.
"As a skincare specialist I can tell you it is far easier to PREVENT wrinkles than to try to undo years of sun- damage & deep wrinkles."
2) "Fix the Foundation First" ; Rebuilding the skeletal support system.
"Treat the cause not just the effect." Don't just "put a bandaid," such as botox or fillers to try to hide the underlying issue.
Not everyone will need this step.
It depends on genetics age, but if there are skeletal changes I always address this first. It's much easier to build on a strong foundation.
Fixing the foundation, Fillers
"Foundation" damage or facial skeletal bone reabsorption can be fixed by adding "firmer" fillers to strategic places on the face. Restoring structures such as cheekbobes, jawbones, & temporal areas can make a HUGE difference & I often ask my clients to see pics of themselves when they were younger. This can act as a "scaffold" to lift and support sagging skin & tissues.
This will also ensure a natural refreshed look rather than an overdone/unnatural look, which is usually caused by putting bandaid's (treating the effects) rather than cause. My favorite firm filler is Radiesse by Merz.
Fixing the Foundation, PDO threads & Fractional Radio Frequency
PDO threads can help restore the foundation creating a support and give a "lift" effect on sagging tissues & skin. PDO threads & fractional radio frequency combined can also help stimulate new collagen. Fractional Radio frequency can tighten underlying tissues, which creates a smoother outer appearance.
3) Restoration of the Interior AKA the dermis; restore volume build collagen & tighten elastin
After "fixing the foundation" and rebuilding skeletal damage in the foundation of the aging face the restoration of the interior (middle layer or the dermis) can begin. the next step.
Restoring volume & improving elasticity in the middle layers of your skin is key step to restoring a natural youthful look to a sagging tired face. After the "foundation" is fixed restoring volume is vital to create a more youthful appearance.
Combining many different non-surgical treatments creates a natural refreshed look.
Restoration, adding volume; Fillers
Rejuvenation can be achieved by adding volumizing fillers & also "layering" products such as juvederm voluma or Belotero on top of the firm fillers (newly restored "foundation.") We can replace volume that is lost with the aging process using HA based fillers. This step is VITAL to create a more youthful natural looking appearance. Restoring lip volume definitely helps create a youthful appearance. In my practice I use many different fillers to restore volume, but some of my favorites are belotero by Merz, Restalyne by Galderma.
"Fixing volume issues can often times instantly take years off our faces."
Restoration, collagen & elastin; Micro-needling, PRP, Bio fillers, Fractional RF
Replacing volume loss, building new collagen, & tightening over stretched elastin is essential to a resfreshed youthful appearance. Volume can be restored with fillers and/or other treatments that build new collagen such as microneedling, PRP, Biofillers, & Fractional Radio Frequency.
" Fractional Radio frequency is one of my favorite tools to achieve collagen buildingand tightening."
Fractional Radio frequency stimulates new collagen growth, heats up loose skin, & tightens loose tissues. It works by heating up the tissues with radio frequency energy delivered to the dermis via microneedles. This heating process also destroys the underying SMAS layer (think of this as a tiny network of fibers.) Over time these tiny fibers become overstretched/loose like an over used rubberband. If you can heat the deeper layers of tissue up new collagen will form & the SMAS layer rebuilds tighter. This gives the outer a skin a refreshed look when the inner layers are volumized & tightened.
4) Repairing the outer layers
After the skeletal structure (foundation) damage has been repaired, the (interior) dermal layers have been restored, the final touches can be corrected on the (exterior) outer skin layers. The outer skin layer known as the epidermis can be repaired.
Sun damage is mostly preventable & difficult to reverse
The #1 most important tip I give is SUNBLOCK, SUNBLOCK, SUNBLOCK. Protecting the exterior of your "house" prevents damage. Years of sun damage is extremely difficult to undo. The BEST thing you can do is prevent sun damage in the first place. This can be achieved by wearing sun block, avoiding the sun, good skin care, & regular exfoliation.
"At 50 I am now struggling with trying to undo years of sun damage on my neck & decollatage'." If I could go back to my 20 something self I'd say,
"Your face doesn't stop below your chin! Treat these areas with the same care as your face."
What can I do to improve the outer skin layers & create a youthful glow? Lasers, plasma fibroblasting, peels, microneedling & hydrafacials
Existing damage can be lasered away or another option is plasma fibroblasting with a plasma pen. Currently I do not have a laser for 2 reasons, high cost & trends. Lasers can be up to $200,000.
After 12 years in this industry I have learned that lasers trend in and out very quickly. Every medical spa I have visited or worker at seemed to have a "device graveyard."
Sun damage can also be undone with deep chemical peels. Skin texture can be improved with good skincare & regular hydrafacial treatments.
Regular skin exfoliation is recommended every month & deeper exfoliation every 3 months. This can be accomplished using medical grade skin peels or hydrafacials to remove dead skin cells, add hydration, & restore a youthful glow to the outside layers.
Microneedling and fractional radio frequency can also shrink pores & improve overall skin texture. Treatment options depend mostly on budgets & downtime.
5) Maintenance & Insurance
After spending countless hours on rebuilding, restoring, and rejuvenating maintenance is important. Step 5 is all about Skin Maintenance & protecting your investment. Maintenance & Insurance means "protecting your investments." It starts with you & your aesthetic provider creating a maintenance treatment plan you can afford and will stick with.
Good Maintenance plans include regular treatments every month then every 3 months to maintain results (depending on your budget.) Consider quality skincare products as your insurance policy.
"Quality Skincare doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune on lotions,potions & fancy creams."
"There are many affordable skincare tips & tricks, but that will be another BLOG post- stay tuned!"
Recap the steps: 5 steps to non- surgical Facial Rejuvenation:
5) Maintain & Insure is for all ages (start in early 20's) -good skin care & treatment regimen combined with quality skincare products.
Recap: 5 steps to facial rejuvenation:
1) Preventative treatments starting in late 20's early 30's (sunscreen, avoid sun, neuro- modulators)
2) Rebuild skeletal structures (if needed) or fix the "foundation" such as cheekbones, jawline, & temporal hollows.
3) Replace/Restore lost volume in cheeks, lips, & temporal hollows with volumizing fillers; collagen building such as PDO threads & fractional RF.
4) Repair & Reverse the outer layer of the skin with peels, lasers, hydrafacials & microeeedling.
5) Lastly step 5 protect your investment with affordable skin care & maintenance plan (every 3 months) you will stick with.
In summary, all aging faces go through the same changes - facial bone reabsorption, loss of cheekbones/jawline. This combined with loss of volume/elasticity & a dull complexion can make you appear older than your age.
Preventative treatments are key. Rebuilding facial structure first & then restoring volume loss & improving elasticity can make a huge difference in your appearance.
After fixing these common problems repairing outer layer damage is the final step in creating a youthful natural looking appearance. Think of it as remodeling your "house" from the inside out.
Generations Skin Care Clinic is the first of it's kind to open in mahomet IL. We are accepting appts starting Nov 1st 2019. We are a family owned & operated business offering all the latest treatments mentioned in this blog post to help you achieve a healthy natural looking appearance.
"Look like you, only better- Skin care for all ages." Together we will create a plan to prevent/restore a youthful look to your skin as well as skin care & maintenance treatments you can afford.
This plan will prolong your result & protect your investment. My mission is to provide high quality affordable skin care treatments for women & men of all ages in a relaxed atmosphere.
The Anti Aging Nurse specializes in non-surgical skin rejuvenation with Natural looking results.
“What is the difference between botox & fillers?” By The Anti Aging Nurse at Generations Skincare
Botox is a brand name of a product categorized as a neuro -toxin also known as a neuro-modulator. It works by relaxing the muscles and preventing the muscle contraction. The contraction of facial muscles are what cause wrinkles so by relaxing them -wrinkles can be prevented and/or softened.
Neurotoxin's (Botox)
Botox is manufactured by Allergan. There are 3 main products in the neuro-modulator category. Botox by Allergan, Xeomin by Merz, and Dysport by Galderma. My personal favorite is xeomin as it tends to produce a more natural look vs. the “frozen” appearance. Some people prefer botox or dysport over botox & it really depends on the person & budget.
Dermal Fillers
Fillers are usually used to fill in existing wrinkles or to create support for sagging skin. Think of it as "spackle"...filling in creases and crevices to create a smoother surface. Fillers can also be used to enhance lips. There are different types of fillers with different viscosities. Most fillers are Hyluronic Acid base, which also naturally occurs in our bodies.
Which filler should I choose?
Your trained medical provider will know which filler to choose based on the desired result. For example, cheeks needing volume, a thicker filler is used. Lips need a softer filler - a thinner product is used. The 3 main companies making neuro-modulators also each have fillers such as Juvederm, Restalyne, & Belotero. I hope this helps you to understand the difference between botox and fillers.
I highly recommend you seek treatment from a licensed, trained, certified, & EXPERIENCED provider who can show you REAL pictures. A trained and certified provider can be a Registered Nurse, Physician, or Physician Assistant.
Thanks for reading my blog!
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Disclaimer:
The Anti Aging Nurse specializes in skincare and has had hundreds of hours of training in Aesthetics. Please do not substitute this content for medical advice or try this treatment at home. This device can cause serious injuries if used improperly.
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