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Category: Wrinkle Prevention

The Benefits of Botox for Men

Man receiving Botox injection in forehead.

Are you on the lookout for the best Botox provider in Chattanooga, but feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of choices? Look no further! In this blog post, we will guide you through the essential steps…

SkinPen Precision Gains FDA Approval for Neck Microneedling

I am thrilled to announce that our own SkinPen Precision device was approved by the FDA to treat neck wrinkles a few weeks ago on April 12, 2021. Book Now WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? CONFIDENCE IN YOUR INVESTMENT Although microneedling has been performed on the neck for years, this means there is more clinical data than ever proving its results. This FDA approval signifies the culmination of years of research and thousands of patients who have received microneedling. Ultimately this means the consumer can rest easy knowing that their investment in neck microneedling using the SkinPen Precision is worth it. WHAT DID THE FDA APPROVE? SAFE FOR DEEP DEPTHS OF SKIN. The SkinPen Precision microneedling technology is safe for use with a depth of up to 2.5mm on the neck. This is the deepest setting of the SkinPen Precision which allows licensed clinicians to access the living layer of the skin. WHAT DO THE STUDIES SHOW? MOISTURIZE SKIN. WITHOUT MOISTURIZER. 94% of patients noticed an improvement in how their neck wrinkles looked 1 month post-procedure. This treatment can successfully be used to reduce neck crepiness and “tech neck” lines. Decreased epidermal water loss to the air. Skin was more hydrated and plump. Essentially, skin was more moisturized without using moisturizer.  Facial dermal density increased 101.86% Facial epidermal density increased 19.28% Facial elasticity increased 28.2% after 3 months. Collagen type III and elastin gene expression was higher 3 months after a series of 4 treatments. Blood flow decreased 25.8% in the face and 42.3% in the neck. This demonstrates increased oxygen levels in the tissue.  Total elastin remained unchanged, thus elastin-booting treatments like Neocutis Bio Serum Firm and Vivace are still needed to enhance elastin. (Subjects were 44-65 years old. Treatments were conducted 1 month apart. Biopsies were done before the first treatment, before the 4th treatment, and 3 months after the 4th treatment.) WHY IS MICRONEEDLING BETTER? PRESERVING THE EPIDERMIS IS KEY. Ablative techniques like laser and dermabrasions run a high risk of discoloration because they cause lots of damage to the epidermal layer of skin where the melanin-producing cells reside. Stripping the epidermis = high risk of scarring and irregular pigmentation. Microneedling is a minimally invasive alternative that triggers new skin formation while preserving the valuable epidermis.  LESS DOWNTIME, REDUCED SIDE EFFECTS Removing the epidermis also leads to prolonged healing, downtime, and increased risk of infection.  While ablative techniques have been used over the past 30 years, we now have a better solution with microneedling. SAFER FOR SUMMER MONTHS Skincare lovers know sun and dermatology treatments often don’t mix well. However, since microneedling preserves most of the epidermis, patients can still receive microneedling treatments safely during the hot, sunny summer months because of the mild side effect profile. Of course, SPF and hats will still be required for 30 days after the procedure while outdoors. WHAT SHOULD PATIENTS EXPECT? HIGH PATIENT SATISFACTION Over 90% of patients noticed an improvement in how their neck appearance 1 month post-procedure QUICK RESULTS 88% of patients were pleased with ther treatment 1 month post-procedure.  FAST RECOVERY Ability to recover quickly, even during the summer months. Epidermis is left intact, Pro tip: Add-on Vivace sheet masks, Biopelle Tensage ampoules, and PRP to accelerate recovery further.   TAP HERE TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON MICRONEEDLING AT SLK TODAY. Book Now

Why Botox Alone Is Not Enough To Stop Wrinkles

BOTOX IS A ONE DIMENSIONAL APPROACH Although Botox has a household name and seems to be synonymous with anti-aging, it is a very small component of achieving youthful skin. Botulinum toxin can be found in various injectable forms including: Botox, Dysport, and Jeuveau. Injected botulinum toxin plays a large part in slowing down the aging process by relaxing muscles. Although regular injections with neurotoxins are vitally important for wrinkle prevention, it is only one small part of aging prevention.  BOOK NOW MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH Botox only treats one dimension of our face: the muscles. Our faces also have other organs that age with time such as skin, fat, and bone. To adequately prevent aging, a multidimensional approach is most effective. Addressing all components of the face are essential to a successful anti-aging regimen. HOW CAN I PREVENT SIGNS OF AGING? Our genetics cannot change but skincare, lifestyle choices and preventative measures can be addressed. Small acts of prevention can add up over time to have the overall effect of slowing down the aging process. SKINCARE ROUTINE TO SUPPORT BOTOX RESULTS: One of the first and most budget-friendly steps you can take is changing up your skincare regimen. Opt for professional-grade skincare products instead of off-the-shelf products from department stores or pharmacies: Retinol: Nouvelle Retinol 0.6% Correction Cream by Neocutis helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles by increasing cell turnover as well as the production of collagen. Sunscreen: The Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield protects against UVA & UVB, blue (HEV) light, pollution, and infrared radiation (IR). Antioxidants: Biopelle Antioxidant Defense Serum delivers dramatic results to help repair damaged skin. It also is a strong protectant against environmental stressors, such as pollution and free radicals. The serum features powerful growth factors and anti-aging benefits and is fortified with Vitamin C, Ferulic acid and Edafence (which is an exclusive plant-based ingredient from Antarctica that delivers powerful antioxidant defense).  Stem Cells/Growth Factors: As we age, the cells in our skin break down and skin stem cells are less able to replace them. Biopelle’s Tensage Stem Cell Cream features Cellpro Technology, a unique, natural ingredient extracted from snail eggs to help improve skin’s appearance during the aging process. LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: Stop smoking: Tobacco smoke contains toxins that can lead to premature aging including dull and dry complexion, loss of skin’s firmness, premature lines and wrinkles, and leathery skin.  Protect Your Skin from the Sun: Seek shade and cover up (hats, long sleeves, long skirts and pants).  Eat healthy foods & stay hydrated: A healthy diet promotes healthy skin. Make sure you stay hydrated and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.  Avoid spikes in blood sugar from sugary foods like sweets and pastries, because this can also cause wrinkles over time. Get enough sleep: It’s called beauty rest for a reason. Skin repair occurs predominantly at night time. Sleep gives your body time to refresh and renew itself. IN CLINIC TREATMENTS TO COMPLEMENT BOTOX: The following treatments are considered crucial anti-aging maintenance. Without a couple of these treatments per year, your skin’s quality and collagen production will continue to decline. Microneedling & Vivace (Microneedling with Radiofrequency) stimulates collagen and elastin. Building these skin proteins diminishes fine lines and wrinkles that have become too deep for Botox to correct on it’s own. These treatments are recommended every 6 months for maintenance. Chemical Peels help with resurfacing the skin reducing fine lines and wrinkles. We recommend 2-3 peels per year. Neurotoxin Injections (Botox) every three months to relax facial muscles is still essential to preventing those creases from facial expressions. WHAT DOES SLK CLINIC OFFER TO FIGHT SIGNS OF AGING? In the battle against signs of aging, SLK clinic offers many measures to help prevent and treat signs of aging. Radiofrequency, Botox, microneedling, chemical peels and medical grade skincare products all help with fine lines, skin tone, and texture. Used in combination with scheduled Botox injections, a patient will find wrinkles diminish and an overall slowing of the aging process. BOOK NOW

The Three Types Of Microneedling

Did you know that there are 3 types of microneedling that have almost nothing in common with each other? Before choosing to undergo microneedling (or spending a lot of money on it), do your research and know the differences. Results can vary widely depending on which technique you receive. Book Now 1. MECHANICAL Mechanical microneedling uses a motorized pen with tiny slender needles to create thousands of channels that are up to 2.5 millimeters deep. These channels disrupt photo-aged, wrinkled, or scarred tissue to allow for remodeling of new skin to occur. This type of microneedling creates the most channels per square inch of skin. Because of this, patients do experience a mild amount of bleeding and redness. This is the most popular type of microneedling because it is both relatively economical and it is an excellent maintenance treatment for delaying the aging process. Good candidates: Individuals desiring to correct wrinkles or scarring. Individuals looking to lighten brown pigmentation. People with crows feet, forehead lines, or lip lines, people with body scars or acne scars. Examples: SkinPen Precision, MDpen, Skin Stylus   2. FRACTIONAL RADIOFREQUENCY Fractional radiofrequency microneedling uses thicker needles to transmit heat deep into the skin. The basis of this therapy is thermal coagulation of tissue to stimulate collagen denaturation and renewal. Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling generates many less microchannels than mechanical needling, thus it should be thought of as a heat-based therapy. Unlike microneedling pens, this therapy involves no bleeding and no downtime. The main goal of RF is to lift the skin and thicken the collagen, whereas mechanical microneedling plays a greater role in resurfacing the upper layers of skin. Good candidates: Radiofrequency microneedling is desirable for people who want to tighten, lift or contour their skin. It is effective for scar reduction as well. The heat damages oil glands so RF microneedling is also effective for reducing acne and shrinking oil-producing pores. Examples: There are a handful of RF devices on the market. Endymed Intensif, Secret RF, Vivace, Virtue RF, Morpheus8 3. MESOTHERAPY Mesotherapy is the least invasive of all the needling options. This minimally invasive option only affects the very topmost layer of skin, about 600 micrometers deep which is very superficial. Mesotherapy increases the permeability of the stratum corneum, allowing skincare ingredients to penetrate a little bit deeper. Typical skincare products applied during mesotherapy include hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, or Botox. The results are akin to a facial Good candidates: People who are relatively happy with their skin who are looking for an extra boost or glow for a few days. People preparing their skin for a big event like a wedding or vacation. Examples: Aquagold, stamps, dermarollers Book Now

PRP: Why it is important during microneeding?

A tube of freshly centrifuged PRP. PRP FROM 2010-2020 Although microneedling with PRP (also known as the “vampire facial“) is a relatively new therapy, the utilization of PRP in other fields of medicine such as dentistry, orthopedics, and reconstructive surgery has been increasing dramatically over the past couple of decades. PRP’s regenerative properties are now widely accepted among researchers, doctors, and nurses. Providers can now even use it to produce new hair! So what can this powerful substance do for your skin? Over the past 10 years, dermatology researchers have discovered that PRP is quite promising in regenerating skin that has been damaged through scarring, age, or UV damage. Book Now WHAT IS PRP? For those who aren’t familiar, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) consists of a patient’s own blood plasma that has been enriched by concentrating the number of platelets so it exceeds normal blood levels. Concentrating the plasma is desirable because plasma contains various growth factors that are instrumental in repairing skin. These growth factors include platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TFG), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF). PRP growth factors stimulate tissue remodeling and when they are concentrated, they are associated with enhanced healing, upregulation of collagen synthesis, and promotion of tissue regeneration. The growth factors contained in PRP and their respective roles in the body. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU COMBINE MICRONEEDLING WITH PRP? The increased growth factor activity associated with PRP is believed to multiply the effects of microneedling to promote aesthetically-superior tissue remodeling. In other words, PRP with microneedling makes the skin more young and beautiful than microneedling alone. The synergistic effects of microneedling with PRP offers unique results. Studies show that combining microneedling and PRP in the same appointment produces thicker epidermis and more developed rete ridges, compared to PRP alone or microneedling alone. PRP combined with microneedling also achieves greater patient satisfaction scores compared to microneedling alone. It is well documented that PRP combined with microneedling produces superior benefits for depressed acne scars than microneedling alone.   Rete ridges in the upper layer of the skin. What are rete ridges, you ask? Rete ridges are crucial structures in the skin that promote epidermal proliferation and provide a natural, specialized environment for our skin’s stem cells. Damaged or scarred skin lacks rete ridges. INJECTING PRP WITH MICRONEEDLING INCREASES ELASTICITY We also know from clinical studies that when injected (also known as the “vampire facelift“, PRP can nearly double skin’s elasticity. Why is this important? In photoaged skin, the skin’s network of elastic fibers has become destroyed. Elastin becomes thickened, tangled, crooked, degraded, and dysfunctional, resulting in elastosis, which is characterized by deep wrinkles, laxity, yellowing, and tough skin. To build elasticity, 3 injections of PRP are needed spaced 1 month apart. Above: Signs of photoaging include lip lines, brown sun spots, and crows feet lines next to the eye. If you have these signs of photoaging, you likely are experiencing premature elastosis (loss of elasticity). PRP DECREASES DOWNTIME For those patients concerned with downtime, PRP also accelerates healing following microneedling. In particular, it reduces redness and edema (swelling) a couple days earlier, which is a true testament to the regenerative power of platelet-enriched plasma. Since the application of PRP in dermatology is so new, it is likely we do not know yet all the benefits of applying PRP during microneedling. WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRP AND MICRONEEDLING? Although the concept of PRP sounds simple (people get their blood drawn all the time, right?), how PRP is prepared can determine how much of a result you can see. To learn more about how SLK believes is the best way to prepare and purify PRP, read more here. Book Now

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