Month: April 2022

Many companies in the business of “Big Beauty” have capitalized on the notion of a customized skincare plan based on your particular skin type. I think we have all taken the quiz, received the result, and went straight to the cash register confident that this custom regimen would be the answer to our skin woes. Cut to three months later, and we are back at a different register, listening to different set of promises … and lather, rinse, repeat.

It really doesn’t matter what “skin type” you have. The four basic daily needs for skin health and anti-aging do not change.
 

1. Cleansing

2. Protection

3. Exfoliation/cell turnover

4. Collagen stimulation restoration

Skin Function – The Epidermis

Everyone’s skin functions in the same way.  Skin cells in the outer layer of skin, or epidermis, form in the deepest layer of the epidermis and as they mature, they die and move to the most superficial layer.  The dead skin cells on the surface are then naturally exfoliated off.  In your youth, this cycle allows for the epidermis to create a protective barrier that not only prevents invaders like bacteria, chemicals and viruses from entering, but it also prevents moisture from escaping.  Your epidermis is responsible for moisture production and retention.  A healthy epidermis looks radiant and supple.  As we age, this natural exfoliation cycle slows tremendously from about 14 days in children to 100 days in your 60s. What we see with that slowing is dry, flaky skin and less natural moisture production.

 
The Dermis

The deeper layer of skin, the dermis, functions to keep your skin strong, firm and smooth.  In your youth, the dermis is thick and robust with collagen and elastin.  Somewhere in your mid 30s, natural collagen and elastin production cease revealing fine lines, larger pores, deeper wrinkles and sagging skin.

The Hypodermis

The deepest layer of skin, the hypodermis is your padding to keep you warm and protect your internal tissues and organs.  In children, this looks like round, plump cheeks.  In our early 20s, we lose this “baby fat” and gain our more mature adult face… which is the beginning of aging.  This process continues as we age and we lose more fat which is especially noticeable in the face with circles under the eyes, hollowing of the cheeks and sunken temples.  These changes make us look more tired. Unfortunately, at this time, there are no topical skin care products that can help maintain the fatty layer of skin.  However, the epidermis and dermis can easily be cared for with the right topical ingredients in your skincare routine.

 
Pro Tips

As you can see, everyone’s skin is the same.  Yes, some people naturally produce more oils or have thinner skin but caring for the basic needs first is how you are going to get your best skin. It does not matter if your skin is oily, acneic, aging, combo, dry, happy, sad, or anywhere in between. Knowing this makes skincare very simple. Use the best products that you can in these areas, and your skin will look great from the inside out. Once you cover these basics, you can add on more products and ingredients based on your needs.

First of all, cleanse your skin twice a day with a cleanser that does not over-dry the skin.  Try our Mikel Kristi Purifying or Refreshing Wash to gently cleanse without disturbing the skin’s natural hydration. Secondly, make sure you protect your skin every morning from the damaging rays of the sun and pollution.  Use an SPF with zinc oxide, to prevent the sun rays from causing collagen breakdown and unsightly discolorations.  Use the topical antioxidant Vitamin C, as in our Vital C serum or C Radiance Moisturizer for additional sun and pollution protection. Lastly, tend to your skin’s natural exfoliation and collagen layer with the topical Vitamin A retinaldehyde as in our Vital A Serum.  This is the most exciting product to help hydrate, brighten, tighten and smooth your skin.  Our Mikel Kristi Core Collection of products gives your skin everything it needs to not only cover your basic skin needs but also to enhance anti-aging.  More of a good thing is best here.

Follow these basic steps and watch your skin transform.  Call Skin Appeal today for your complimentary skin consultation. 520.261.SKIN (7546)

By now you’ve most likely heard about lip filler, and if you haven’t, let me warn you that you’re about to put down your lip liner and discover a whole world of cosmetic procedures that allow people to look and feel their best. You may be considering getting your lips done, or it’s even possible that you’re not new to the procedure and you’re interested in knowing more on the topic. Regardless of what brought you here, this procedure has become so popular and so mastered by providers such as Christy Hall, PA-C, that you can even leave work for your lunch break and return with new lips. Yes, we can make it that easy.

So what is lip filler? Are you worried that you’ll be unhappy with it or that it will hurt? What should you expect if you decide to do it? These are fair and common questions that we hear at Skin Appeal, where we specialize in skin rejuvenation and making you feel more confident. Filler is a combination of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine. Hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate that occurs naturally throughout our bodies. Think about it like moisturizer for your cells, because it loves water and can in fact hold 1,000 times its weight in water. In other words, your lips already have hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump them. Dermal fillers, such as Juvederm and Restylane Kysse, will assist in plumping your lips further to achieve your desired look. It doesn’t stop at the lips though, filler can make you look younger, more refreshed, and enhance features all over your face. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that will numb your lips for a few hours after your treatment to reduce discomfort.

Now that I’ve mentioned discomfort, you want to know if it’s going to hurt. Truthfully, we will tell you that everyone’s pain tolerance is different but we will make it as comfortable for you as possible. We see patients that look like they didn’t feel a thing, and we see patients that need to curse at us the whole time (yes, you’re allowed to, and no, we won’t take it personally,) but most patients fall somewhere in between. Again, our goal is to make it easy and comfortable for you so we offer topical numbing cream and dental nerve blocks to reduce pain. If you’re afraid of needles we will guide you into seeing them as your friends in this journey of giving you the lips you’ve always wanted, and you don’t even have to look at the needles.

Another common fear isn’t about the pain but the “what will I look like?” Lip filler is not permanent. We have an enzyme that can be injected to dissolve the filler if needed. Otherwise, it lasts anywhere from about 6 months to a year because our lips are a muscle we use so much. It does vary per person. Having said that, you’re in good hands because Christy is an artist. Skin Appeal is different from other practices because we want to see results. Often there are certain looks that people are afraid of getting but we will ask what it is you’re looking for and will follow up with you until we can get you there. It then becomes a matter of maintenance.

Now how much filler should you do? Can we start with half a syringe? To put it into perspective, one syringe of product is equal to a fifth of a teaspoon. When patients come in and get a half syringe to start, 99% of the time they will come in for the other half. One syringe is a great starting point. For example, my natural lips were a nice size to begin with but I wanted pretty volume and more pout. I love the result after one syringe and I’d still be happy adding more. Ultimately, the amount is your decision but we are happy to guide you towards deciding what you are comfortable with.

Risks of lip injections include bruising, swelling, infections (although very uncommon,) and compliments (common.) Usually your lips will continue to feel numb for a few hours following the procedure and they will be swollen for a few days. Swelling and bruising are common but we are equipped to help you through that as well and we are available for questions and concerns as long as you may need us.

We treat lips for adults of all age ranges starting with younger patients looking for big luscious lips like they see on the media, to older patients that are looking to restore volume in their lips that has been lost due to the process of aging. Wherever you fall, we would love to see if you’re a good candidate so that we can treat you. Come meet Christy, and our wonderful team that have all experienced lip enhancements and is happy to share their experiences and answer additional questions.

Call (520) 261-7546 for your complimentary consultation or to book your lip filler.

Hope to see you soon,

Andi, Patient Care Coordinator

COMMON INTERVENTION FEARS

There is a lot of inaccurate information out there about aesthetic medicine and skincare. And I have to say, I am surprised by some of the things people believe. Here are some of the most common fears that I hear when doing consultations in my office.

Fear #1: Someone will know I had “work done.”

Why is getting this kind of work done any different than getting your hair done? It’s time to change this thinking. And seriously, no one memorizes your face. We look at each other to read expressions and moods, but rarely do people commit to memory every curve and contour. What people will notice is that you look refreshed, rested, and radiant… and not know why.

Fear #2: I will look different.

Don’t you want to look like a different, better, a more refreshed version of yourself? A truly skilled practitioner should be able to deliver a result that gives you the change you’re looking for without making you look like a stranger in the mirror. Remember that to make you look like a different human altogether would take significant intervention.

Fear #3: I will look weird and unnatural.

This is why it’s important to choose the right practitioner. Don’t just go to the cheapest place. This is where the art of dermal fillers and aesthetics become important. 

Fear #4: I don’t want to live with results I don’t like!

Not to worry … Botox only lasts three months, and Hyaluronic acid Fillers like Restylane, Juvederm and Voluma are reversible! Don’t choose treatments that are not reversible, if this is your fear.

Fear #5: Botox is a neurotoxin. This means it is dangerous.

Botulinum toxin has been used medically for over 40 years. It was first used in children for strabismus (wandering eyes). The medical field relies on its therapeutic use, and this makes up a majority of the Botox industry.

Fear #6: If I stop, I will look worse.

First of all, you won’t want to stop because you will love the way you look and feel! But even if you do a procedure only once, you have just slowed aging during the duration of the effects of your treatment. Products like dermal fillers build collagen, and give long-term anti-aging improvements.

Fear #7: My spouse (or family and friends) love me the way I am.

If your spouse (or well-meaning family and friends) encourage you not to have anything “done” because they love you the way you are, the truth could be that they are just afraid you will look different. This leads to many secret office visits with the close-minded family members being none the wiser and who simply believe their loved one looks great naturally!

The irony with aesthetics is THE BEST RESULTS ARE THE LEAST NOTICEABLE!

Call today for your complimentary consultation!  Look more refreshed, more rested, youthful, or vibrant, quickly and easily. 

Here’s to your best skin ever!

Christy

For skin rejuvenation there is a wide variety of options, from nonablative skin tightening, to fully ablative skin resurfacing. So, how do you know what to choose? As you know, you must treat your skin daily with the right skincare ingredients to stimulate collagen production, increase natural exfoliation and protection. For your best skin, having a deeper skin rejuvenation treatment 2-4 times a year will help to keep your skin healthier and prevent aging.
There are a wide variety of options for skin rejuvenation and anti-aging. Many of these options can treat multiple concerns at once. Choose based on your goals, downtime or healing time tolerability, and budget. Do you need deep wrinkle improvement with a fully ablative resurfacing, or do you only need skin brightening with a light laser or chemical peel? Or are you somewhere in the middle?

Some considerations may be as follows:

• Do you need deep wrinkle improvement, or just overall skin brightening? Make sure you choose a treatment that will treat the depth you need.
• Do you need treatment of discolorations (redness or brown spots)? Make sure the treatment you choose can actually treat the problem you have.
• Do you want one treatment with significant downtime, or would you prefer a series of treatments with no downtime?
• What is your budget?
• Does your skin tone need an overhaul, or do you need lifting with volume replacement?
• Did you consider that the result you want may not be achievable with a skin rejuvenation treatment? Many times, people’s goals are more in line with what can be achieved with dermal fillers or injectables. And it is important to know the difference!

To understand what the different treatment options are, I am going to refer to them based on the depth of penetration into the skin.

• Superficial treatments will encourage mild collagen stimulation and improve pores, radiance and brightening of your skin. These will also help minimize brown discoloration but not with redness. These treatments include chemical peels (ViPeel), Micropen Microneedling and Nano laser peel. All of these will have peeling skin for 4-7 days after treatment.
• Medium depth treatments will encourage deeper collagen stimulation and improvement of red and brown discolorations. BBL Photofacial and Aerolase are great treatments with no downtime for pore reduction, anti-aging and erasing red and brown discolorations. Halo Laser is one of my favorite treatments for wrinkle reduction, skin tightening, melasma and treatment of photodamage. At Skin Appeal, we always include BBL complimentary with Halo Laser to enhance the results.
• Deep treatments will encourage the most collagen and elastin stimulation for more dramatic skin tightening and wrinkle reduction. These treatments include RF and US with our Exilis Ultra and Vivace RF Microneedle combination Lift Treatment to tighten and lift the skin. The lift treatment involves having 3 treatments, 1 per month with no downtime. Another deep treatment is Neogen Nitrogen Plasma Resurfacing. This has replaced the old-fashioned CO2 or deep laser resurfacing treatments due to less pain and downtime. Neogen deeply remodels the collagen and elastin layer for skin tightening and wrinkle reduction, but expect 7 days of peeling skin post treatment. BBL is included with Neogen as a complimentary enhancement.
• Combination Treatments have been shown to give you 5-fold results over just 1 treatment. Some combinations that I love are Micropen + PRP, Aerolase + Vipeel, BBL + Micropen, BBl + Halo or Neogen, or for the Ultimate skin rejuvenation choose the Lift treatment + BBL + Halo or Neogen.

The largest contraindication for skin rejuvenation treatments is noncompliance to an everyday skincare routine. END OF STORY.

Don’t waste your money on any of these procedures, if you are not committed to doing your daily skincare for maintenance. Otherwise, your skin will revert back to the same problems that you are trying to get rid of within a couple months. At Skin Appeal, we make this easy with our 90-day Challenge Packages. These packages offer you a 20% discount to ensure you get everything you need to watch your skin transform in 90 days. In our 90-day Challenge you receive:

• Treatment or treatments of your choice. Remember combination treatments often give 5 times more result.
• Mikel Kristi Skincare Collection: Core, Melasma or Acne
• SPF: Colorescience or Elta MD
• Mikel Kristi Signature Facial for skin maintenance

Are you ready for healthier, more radiant skin? Call Skin Appeal today to schedule your treatment or complimentary consultation. 520-261-SKIN (7546).