For 2010 Americans dream of cosmetic makeovers that tighten abs and leave a brighter smile, rather than those that erase worry lines and lift sagging facial features.

A poll of 2,227 U.S. adults by Harris Interactive on behalf of RealSelf.com found that more than half of all adults (54%) would choose cosmetic work if money wasn’t a concern, and of those who would have work done, the majority (52%) would choose teeth whitening, followed by tummy tuck surgery and liposuction. Not surprisingly, a majority of women (67%), as well as 40% of men said they would also have cosmetic work done.

Few cite Botox as wanted.

In spite of being the most popular cosmetic procedure in the World, just 6% of the survey respondents who would choose cosmetic treatments indicated a desire to get Botox to treat face wrinkles. However the number rises to 15% among women aged 45-54.

Cosmetic Makeover Wishlist Shows Teeth Whitening Most Wanted

If money were not an issue, consumer interest by gender include:

 

Procedure	% of total	% of women	% of men
Teeth whitening	52	51	55
Tummy tuck	29	39	13
Liposuction	29	34	19
Hair removal	25	31	16
Face lift	14	18	6
Laser skin treatment	13	16	7
Cellulite treatment	12	18	1
Hair replacement	11	5	20
Breast implants	10	15	1
Botox	6	3	8

The survey found the average teeth whiteing cost to be $417.

Looks like Shine Teeth Whitening is hitting the market at exactly the right time.

Teeth Whitening Comes In At #1 Most Requested Cosmetic Treatment is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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Recently, today.msnbc.com published their list of the 8 craziest beauty treatments of the decade.  While their list certainly includes some treatments that give us pause, some of these aren’t only not crazy, some are even FDA approved.

1 – ‘Different’ facials: Facials come in all shapes, sizes and colors and may use many different materials. There are oatmeal facials, clay facials, and now – fecal facials. Some of the more extreme facial treatments to come out recently include substances many people wouldn’t want to touch, much less put on their faces, including snail secretion, human placenta, and spermine – a substance found in human sperm.

2 – Snake Massage: In Tel Aviv, Israel, you can pay $70 to have six non-venomous snakes placed on your body and enjoy what the spa calls a relaxing massage via serpent. We wonder what Indiana Jones would say.

3 – Fishy Pedicure: Customers have been paying big bucks to feed the fish. Using tiny fish imported from Asia, customers can dip their feet in the fish tank and relax while the fish feed off the dead skin, resulting in smoother feet. 14 states have banned this procedure, deeming it unsanitary as the fish are reused on multiple customers.

4 – Delicious Scents: If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, why not entice him with a food-inspired aroma? From flame broiled meat scented cologne to cheesy flavored lip balm, our choices in scent have grown, for better or worse.

5 – Bootylicious: Buttock Implants have grown in popularity over the past decade thanks in large part to the growth in celebrity backsides. Famously curvaceous women like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez have inspired many women to seek out a more plumped behind and some are turning to cosmetic surgery to get it.

6 – Designer Vaginas: Vaginal rejuvenation procedures have definitely seen a rise in popularity in the past few years. Some plastic surgeons are even including this in a group of procedures referred to as the mommy makeover which often includes tummy tuck, breast lift, and liposuction as well. For many, the procedure is about getting back the pre-baby look and sensation, and is much more than vanity run amok.

7 – Bottled Baths: If water just isn’t doing it for you, how about some sake? In south-central Japan, there’s a medspa where you can bathe in your choice of different spirits including red wine or green tea. While it does sound a little different at first glance, people have bathed with salts and flower petals without so much as the bat of an eyelash. It it really so strange to think of red wine as a bath companion?

8 – Botox: One common misconception about Botox is that it is unsafe or that it’s vanity gone mad as people inject themselves with toxins. Botox has actually been around for years treating people for cervical dystonia, a painful condition which involves spasms of the neck muscles. Botox was used to relax the muscles. It is known to be highly dependable and predictable when dosed and injected properly. It is being used off label to treat migraines and TMJ. We don’t find that crazy at all.

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Active FX laser skin resurfacing is gaining popularity at medical spas, laser centers and skin clinics. It’s main competitors are Thermage, Fraxel, and other skin tightening or laser skin resurfacing treatments.

Here’s an overview of Active FX and some links to more information.

The goal of laser skin resurfacing is simple: replace damaged skin with new, fresh skin. Techniques for skin resurfacing have made enormous advances, allowing nearly everyone to achieve close to flawless complexions. Many systems allow for light, moderate or deep laser resurfacing. The primary targets of laser skin resurfacing include:

• Fine lines and wrinkles of the face, especially around the upper lip, cheeks and forehead
• Loose eyelid skin
• Crow’s feet around the eyes
• Pucker marks (smoker’s lines) and frown lines
• Brown spots and splotchy, uneven skin tone
• Scars, especially acne scars
• Loose skin around the neck and jowls

How it Works

One of the standard laser resurfacing systems, the UltraPulse® CO2 laser delivers thousands of tiny laser pulses in a pattern over the skin. Each pulse heats a column of tissue eliminating pigment discolorations at the surface and creating a zone of heating deep in the tissue. Unique to the UltraPulse Encore, these zones of heating shrink collagen and tighten the skin immediately*. The CO2 laser also offers the benefits of heating deeper layers of skin tissue, thereby stimulating collagen remodeling, tightening* the skin further. Patients can select from a range of treatments depending on the needs of your skin and lifestyle.

What is ActiveFX “fractional” laser resurfacing?

ActiveFX is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. During the procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light is used to smooth out lines, wrinkles and scars, remove brown spots and other irregularities, and tighten the skin. It also stimulates formation of new underlying collagen to continue improvement over time. With fractional laser treatment, only a fraction of the skin’s surface is treated by the laser, leaving small “bridges” of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner.

Is ActiveFX right for you?

Treated areas should be washed twice a day with cool water and a mild soap. Use our lotion twice daily to treated areas for 3 to 5 days or until healing is complete. Treated areas should be protected from direct exposure to sunlight. Sunscreen with SPF greater than 15 should be used at all times on the treated areas.

ActiveFX is ideal for you if you:

• Have a busy lifestyle or cannot be away from work for a long time
• Want noticeable results with minimal downtime
• Want to treat dyschromia, fine lines, wrinkles and skin laxity

What you can expect from ActiveFX

Most physicians perform the procedure in the office with a topical anesthetic cream that is applied 30-40 minutes before the ActiveFX procedure begins. There is little to no pain associated with the procedure – most patients say they feel warmth similar to sunburn. You can drive yourself home after the procedure. With a gentle washing and moisturizing regimen, your photodamaged skin will begin to flake off within 2 days. After about 3-5 days, your doctor will probably let you wear make-up. Pinkness should be gone in about a week.

ActiveFX benefits

ActiveFX treatment produces a dramatic effect on the skin:

• Causes immediate skin tightening
• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and softens deeper frown lines
• Noticeably improves skin tone and texture
• Stimulates new collagen formation and plumps the skin

The results of ActiveFX laser treatment are long-term and, with proper sun protection, can persist for many years. Most effects of treatment become visible right away, whereas others – such as new collagen formation, which leads to continued inner tightening – build up gradually and become more evident over time. Therefore, most people look even better 3-5 months after the procedure.

Additional Information on ActiveFX

http://www.aesthetic.lumenis.com/wt/page/activefx

http://www.lumenis.com/wt/page/pr_1170434066

Redness after IPL & Laser Treatments: DeepFX & ActiveFX

Reliant UltraPulse Fractional CO2 Laser

For Physicians using Active FX: Medical Spa MDs Physician user groups.

Active FX: Physician User Group ~ Medical Spa MD

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In this article, I will give you several tips and tools to evaluate your laser centers culture and operations, so you can successfully navigate any economic downturn… And live to sell another day when the inevitable upturn comes around.

What is the Passion and Purpose of Your Medical Spa?

You reap what you sew. When you engage proactively and passionately in your business you will undoubtedly be successful and see your practice expand. It helps to articulate your passion for your medical spa.

At Assara Laser, our passion is to “help clients look and feel great, not fake.”

Why the Recession Drastically Affects Your Laser Clinics Bottom Line

You’ve probably noticed that generating revenue is not as easy as it once was. There are myriad reasons for this; from the decline in disposable income, to unemployment hitting record highs and tanking real estate valuations. As if these facts were not bleak enough, credit markets are virtually frozen so business owners are finding it nearly impossible to obtain small business loans and lines of credit. Refinancing current loans has become difficult for small businesses.

In short, we’re operating in the perfect storm.

Accepting Reality and Responsibility Today

The easy way out is to close up shop and blame the recession. This will not help you going forward, it will not pay your devoted employees their wages, and most of all, it will not help your clients “look and feel great, not fake.” So, accept responsibility.

The hardships of the recession create a fact-pattern, problem to be solved; not a reason for failure. To paraphrase Michael Jackson, start, first, with the man in the mirror. Think about the following questions. And pay attention – there will be homework at the end of this article!

Finding Your Medspas Winning Competitive Difference?

Let’s be honest. The quality of your laser clinc’s treatments are probably not drastically better than that of your competitors. The proprietary equipment and IPL or laser systems (Thermage, Fraxel, Titan) that you use are, for the most part, available to the competitive skin clinic market at large.

You may believe (and tell clients) that your microdermabrasion treatments are better because you use a diamond-tipped wand or aluminum oxide crystals. You may think that your IPLs or laser hair removal treatments are better because you use cryo-cooling or because you use chilled air cooling, or because you use a diode laser or because you use alexandrite lasers . . .

BUT . . .

Step in to your clients’ shoes. To them, the bells and whistles of your Thermage or Fraxel device don’t matter. Your clients already expect expert advice and cutting edge cosmetic lasers, IPLs and skin tighening equipment, so merely meeting this fundamental requirement is not a winning competitive difference.

What does matter to your clients are presentation, client interaction, customer service, reliability and consistency. Consider this carefully.

What is each of your medspas clients worth?

At Assara Laser, one of the most popular packages is our $449 per month Unlimited Laser Hair Removal Program. On average, a client that signs up for this program will remain a member of the Program for 7 months, depending on the results they wish to achieve. How much is a single unlimited client worth to us?  A client in the program for 7 months, making a monthly payment of $449 is worth $3,143. For many laser clinic owners, a single laser hair removal client is worth more than a home mortgage payment!

Do you treat every single potential laser treatment client that contacts your laser clinic as if they’re worth $3,000?

What is your time and effort worth?

Before my partners and I built Assara Laser, I was an attorney. I still practice corporate law as a labor of love, when a friend or business contact has an exciting deal. I normally discount my rate to about $400 per hour, as law isn’t my primary source of income.

Assume an hour of your time is worth $400.  Assume further that, every time your customers complain, you are willing to give a discount, or a free treatment and that, collectively, free and discounted treatments account for a 20% loss in your revenue. To make up for this lost revenue, how much more work do you have to do?

Well, let’s add 20% to your 10 hour day, which now makes it a 12 hour day. If your annual sales are say $1,000,000 per year, you’ve lost $200,000. This translates into 500 hours more of work you must do to bring your revenue back to status quo!

Is there a big difference between a day that starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. versus ending at 9:00 p.m.  You betcha there is!  Is there a big difference between a loss of $200,000 and a loss of zero. You betcha there is!  And these differences drastically affect your quality of life.

Running your medical spa or laser center is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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In principle, there's no difference in clinical outcomes bet the Thermage TC and the Thermage NXT. However practically speaking there is because of the shorter lapse time between pulses on the Thermage NXT machine that one can get better results from it than from the Thermage TC.

The effective clinical targets are to heat collagen containing dermal layer to 56-60 degree celsius AND to maintain such temp range for 1-2 mins (though my goal is 2-3 mins long). Therefore the more rapid pulse firing of the NXT device would make it easier for the treater to "get there and stay there" more efficiently. Personally, I don't have such problem using the TC device (by the way, I have both devices). When using the TC device, you want to make smaller sections on the face or abdomen or wherever then start and finish one section at a time. Make sure that within each section that any treated 3cm square per pulse is "re-pulsed" within 30-60seconds, this will ensure that any heated square will be effectively brought to the correct temp range and maintained there for those 2 mins.

One more thing you asked was about the Alma Accent, it is of the "same" monopolar RF platform technically speaking combined with bipolar RF. The difference which I see is with Thermage tips you know for sure they deliver the RF at consistent depth (2.4 mm or 4.3mm depending on the tips STC or DC). With the Alma Accent, I don't think the company has been able to provide the exact information on this thu I heard the depth was about 2.4 also but not any deeper.

More discussions about Thermage and Fraxel at Medical Spa MD.

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Medical Spa MD is now publishing training manuals and books for laser clinics, plastic surgery centers and dermatology clinics.

These medical spa training eBooks are designed specifically for medical estheticians, cosmetic laser and IPL technicians and front desk staff, to provide a consistent environment for new hires and keep the staff informed the latest cosmetic treatments.

It's part of an evolving plan to be able to monetize the huge community of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, laser clinics and medical spas that are part of the community at Medical Spa MD. There are more than 4,000 physician members running laser clinics, medical spas, and skin clinics, and around a million and a half targeted page views, most of which are from physicians (although non-physician numbers are growing).

Medical Spa MD is a community that was started a few years ago and I think it demonstrates how effective you can be if you have information that is not generally available, and know how to build and motivate an online community. Medical Spa MD will never make me rich, but it's an asset that accrues increasing value over time and more than pays for itself with new opportunities.

Medical Spa RX is the sister site to Medical Spa MD and allows these same dermatologists, plastic surgeons and laser clinics to buy wholesale Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and Dysport from Canada and distribute it world wide.

But perhaps the greatest value of Medical Spa MD is simply the trust and goodwill we've grown among physicians. Medical Spa MD's influence and reach is very long, as attested to the numerous leagal threats, phone calls from lawyers, and cease and desist letters we've received.

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Skin laser clinics are medical businesses that provide non-surgical cosmetic treatments and include laser clinics, medical spas and other medical centers that are operated with some form of physician oversight and differ from day spas in that offer medical treatments.

Skin & laser clinics usually offer very high end skin care.

The use of nonsurgical technology also differentiates medspas and laser clinics from traditional plastic surgery. Laser hair removal, IPL and laser treatments, Fraxel, Thermage, Botox, Restylane and other popular cosmetic treatments are usually offered.

With the addition of nonsurgical technology solutions that don’t require surgery, cosmetic medicine is now being offered in a growing number of general medical practices.

Medspas, skin clinics and laser centers usually have blogs as part of their web sites and use it as a means of communication with existing patients and patient marketing.

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Skin Clinic MD: Radiesse Filler Injections

A common skin clinic and med spa treatment, Radiesse filler injections are composed of very small and smooth calcium hydroxylapitite microspheres which are suspended in a water-based gel carrier. Calcium Hydroxylapitite is a biocompatible, biodegradable material identical in composition to the mineral portion of teeth and bone. Radiesse is used to fill moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds such as nasolabial folds. Radiesse is generally not used to enhance the lips or lip line.

As Radiesse is injected, the gel and microspheres form a “scaffold” that stimulates natural collagen production and encourages tissue growth in and around the injection area. The body absorbs the gel carrier as collagen has begun to infiltrate the area thus replacing the gel with natural tissue. The microspheres continue to provide support while the body completes this process. Eventually, the microspheres are safely absorbed by the body. This entire reconstruction process can take anywhere up to 3 years providing additional injections are administered to maintain even results.

The injection is similar to that of other Hyaluronic Acid fillers.

After the injection the medical provider will provide the patient with specific Radiess post-care instructions generally for the next 24 hours which may include:

• Avoiding rubbing, movement or massaging of the area that could cause the Radiesse to migrate.
• Don’t apply makeup for the next 24 hours.
• Avoid sun and heat exposure.
• Radiesse injections can typically last from 6 to 18 months (11 months for nasolabial folds.)

Do Radiesse injections hurt? Physicians use a variety of pain management techniques during treatment to ensure patient comfort. Please talk to your physician about which techniques are right for you.

Radiesse Side effects? Few side effects reported in clinical trials and actual usage. You may experience some common injection-related reactions, such as mild irritation, edema, swelling, itching, discoloration, or tenderness at the injection site. These conditions typically resolve themselves within one to two days.

Radiesse Filler Injections & Your Skin Clinic is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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