Being in the facial rejuvenation business, we love finding new ways to look younger—especially when they’re free. So when we learned that researchers had actually done a scientific study on face yoga and that the results showed that a consistent routine of face exercises can take up to 3 years off one’s appearance, we were all ears…and cheeks, lips, and forehead!

The researchers recruited a group of 27 women between the ages of 45 and 60 and taught them a series of 32 facial exercises designed to strengthen muscles around the cheeks, eyes, and mouth. After the 20-week study, researchers noted a significant improvement in upper and lower cheek fullness, which turned back the clock about 3 years on average for each woman.

The subjects in the “face yoga” study performed a specific regimen of facial exercises for 30 minutes every single day for 8 weeks, and then every other day for 12 weeks.

If you’re not inclined to chew through the report in JAMA Dermatology, you might prefer this summary and commentary on Oprah.com.

How do face exercises work?

What the researchers believe happened makes sense: the face exercises strengthened the facial muscles, particularly those in the cheeks, causing them to increase slightly in size. As a result, the subjects’ faces regained a little volume and they looked a few years younger.

The participants were happy too, noting “significant improvement in 18 of 20 facial features.”

We’re not swapping our fillers for face yoga quite yet

But here’s the rub—the subjects in the study had to perform a specific regimen of facial exercises for 30 minutes every single day for 8 weeks, and then every other day for 12 weeks. Talk about commitment—in fact, the study notes that there were “numerous dropouts” and that only 16 participants completed the entire regimen.

Re-volumizing effects of face yoga were limited to the cheeks—and excessive muscle contractions may actually cause wrinkles in other areas.

While the benefits of “face yoga” are noteworthy—it’s free, it’s practically zero-risk, and evidently, it works—it has some very real limitations. First, muscles can only grow so much, and as the study states, the re-volumizing effects were limited to the cheeks. Second, there’s the fact that excessive muscle contraction can actually cause wrinkles in other areas, such as the brow and between the eyes—that’s why we have Botox. Then there’s the fact that it can take months to see any results with facial exercises, and you must keep up the routine to maintain the effects.

In contrast, cosmetic injectables provide near-immediate improvements and can be used to target a full range of concerns, from fine lip lines to thinning cheeks, with results that last for up to a year without any daily upkeep. When performed by an experienced, qualified provider, Botox and fillers look as natural as any face that has only done yoga, too. Of course, they are not free, but injectables can be a very rewarding investment—just ask any of our Fairfax Botox and filler fans at Hess Plastic Surgery.

Do you do face yoga? If so, have you noticed any benefits, appearance-wise or otherwise? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Can Exercising Your Face Make You Look Younger? appeared first on Dr. Hess.

Allergan, the maker of Latisse, says that the full results won’t be realized until 16 weeks. But you can realistically expect your eyelashes to start filling out within 2-4 weeks.

Many patients find that they don’t need to use it every day because their eyelashes are growing so fast. And at some point, they will be so long that you might need to even trim them!

They also say that your lashes will return to their original state if you stop using Latisse, but this doesn’t happen overnight. It can take months for your eyelashes to return to their original appearance.

If you love Latisse and it’s part of your everyday routine, please tell us how you like it!

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Fortunately, with a few modifications to your routine, you can minimize the harsh effects of winter weather and keep your skin as healthy as it can be.

1. Protect Your Skin’s Natural Oils

Winter air already contains less moisture than other seasons, so it’s important to protect your skin’s natural oils. Avoid hot showers and body soaps that contain detergents. Hot water can further dehydrate your skin, and body soaps that contain detergents can diminish protective skin oils.

2. Hydrate Properly

Hydration is important to the health of your skin year round, but it’s also essential that you moisturize the outer layer of your skin so that you can retain moisture underneath the skin’s outer layer.

People shouldn’t assume that drinking excess fluids will help dry skin, according to Dr. Alicia Zalka, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale. If your skin is already very dry, these extra liquids may just evaporate instead of retaining moisture within the skin.

To properly hydrate, remember to moderate your consumption of alcohol or caffeinated beverages. Alcoholic drinks as well as caffeinated beverages can affect your skin and body more during harsh, dry winter months.

3. Reassess Your Skin Care Regimen

Not all skin care products are designed to be used year round. Cleansers and exfoliators for example, should be milder in the winter than in the summer, while moisturizer should be a richer to protect your skin during winter weather. Also, don’t forget that daily sunblock application is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer.

The post 3 Tips to Rejuvenate Your Dry, Flaky Skin This Winter appeared first on Dr. Hess.

The study, published in the July issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal analyzed results of patients who combined their BOTOX treatment with Obagi, versus a control group who used Botox combined with a placebo/standard skincare program.

A recent press release specifically reports that Obagi’s Condition and Enhance line “provides greater improvement in overall facial appearance, as well as increased patient satisfaction vs. Botox treatments with a placebo.” The Condition and Enhance line of Obagi products, also marketed as Obagi Nu-Derm, uses a combination of 4 percent hydroquinone and tretinoin.

About the Study

The 120 day study was a multi-center, randomized, investigator-masked, parallel-group study with 61 Botox patients. Patients were randomly prescribed either a hydroquinone system (cleanser, toner, 4% hydroquinone, exfoliant, and sunscreen) combined with 0.05% tretinoin cream, or a “standard skin care regimen” with cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Results Found With Obagi

Patients in the Obagi group reported a significant improvement in fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Lead investigator Joel Schlessinger MD said: “This data clearly highlights the fact that by adding Condition & Enhance to injectable patients’ treatment regimen, patients are addressing multiple aspects of aging skin for optimal results.”

Investigators and patients alike were asked to evaluate the results. They found “significantly milder fine lines/wrinkles and hyperpigmentation at days 30, 90, and 120” in the combination group and patient surveys showed “superior overall ratings.”

Here’s a breakdown of the Obagi results and standard group’s results:

• 89 percent of the combined group was satisfied or extremely satisfied with their results.
• 93 percent of the Obagi group was satisfied or extremely satisfied with the treatment regimen.
• 100 percent of the Obagi Condition and Enhance group wished to continue treatment after the study.
• 12 percent of the “standard skincare group” was satisfied or extremely satisfied with their results and their treatment regimen.

According to ASAPS, “Patients using the hydroquinone system plus tretinoin believed that their study treatment had further enhanced the improvements attained with botulinum toxin type A compared to those using the standard skin care regimen (86% vs. 8%).”

Sources:

• Obagi Corporate Press Release
• ASAPS: Winning Combination for Botox Patients
• Watch Videos of Obagi Results

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You can participate in the LATISSE® Wishes Challenge too. Just donate a minimum of $20 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation through the campaign’s website, www.LatisseWishesChallenge.com. Through November 30, 2011, Latisse® will double all donations up to $250,000.

Get Latisse Discounts Through Your Donation

If you’re one of the first 10,000 people making the minimum donation to the Latisse Wishes Challenge, you will receive a free trial certificate for Latisse®. Bring it to your cosmetic surgeon and he or she will determine if Latisse® is right for you.

Also, if you invite two friends to join you in the campaign, they too will receive a $20 rebate off their next purchase of Latisse®.

Ms. Hendricks, along with Claire Daines and Brooke Shields, is the latest spokesperson and user of Latisse. During the Latisse Wishes Challenge, she will be sharing her eyelash-growing experience.

About the campaign Hendricks says:

“Latisse® is also a brand that contributes to children, and I couldn’t think of a better cause to support than the Make-A-Wish Foundation. When I was seven years old, I saw firsthand the difference a wish can make in the life of a child when a girl in my class got her wish to meet Erik Estrada.”

• Read about Latisse lashperks rebate offer at Hess Plastic Surgery

The post Allergan Offers Latisse Discount Through Make-A-Wish Campaign appeared first on Dr. Hess.

Since Latisse was FDA approved in December 2008, we’ve heard more and more discussion about the drug’s possible application as a hair loss medication.

For now, most people are only considering the drug for its eyelash-enhancing benefits. As you may know, daily application of Latisse can help you grow longer, thicker, darker eyelashes.

The post Unconventional Uses for Latisse – on Good Morning America appeared first on Dr. Hess.

Today the peeling has, for the most part, stopped.  Except for a small area around the chin.  With the peeling stopping she is able to return to her normal skin care regimen of Obagi skin care with Retin-A  0.1%.   I’m really quite amazed at the change in her skin.  The skin is tighter with less wrinkling. Pore size is smaller.  The skin color is very even across the entire face.  Overall the skin, if this was even possible, looks healthier and younger.

Before starting the Vi peel I was of the mindset that it would probably help but didn’t know how much.  After 5 days I’m very convinced that the Vi Peel is an excellent product and lives up to it’s reputation.

If you’d like to have a Vi Peel or take about any facial rejuvenation with Dr. Christopher Hess click here or call our office at 703.752.6608 for a complementary consultation.

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I’m excited about how well the Vi Peel is working; so is she.  Several more days to go.

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When applying the peel my wife said it did sting but that the stinging resolved quickly.  Overall, not “painless” as billed but not intolerable.  I believe that any facial rejuvenation product that doesn’t cause a little pain probably doesn’t do anything.  The company also state that the redness that occurs immediately resolves by the time the patient leaves the office.  This too isn’t true as she continues to be red on day 2.  That night, when using the Retin-A wipes, she did experience some minor stinging again which quickly resolved.

On day 1 she began to peel.  Although the literature states this doesn’t usually occur until day 3.  She used moisturizer all day which kept the peeling at a minimum during the day.

On day 2 she woke up peeling significantly.  The peeling is different than a sunburn.  This peeling tissue is thicker and in larger sheets.  This is an excellent sign that the peel is really working to remove the unhealthy tissue and stimulate collagen production.

It’s always interesting to see how products work compared to the companies marketing.  With that said I’m very happy with the Vi peel because I think it incorporates many different acids and as a next generation peel is a better product than past peels.  Click here or call our office at 703.752.6608 for a complementary consultation with Dr. Christopher Hess to discuss the Vi Peel or any facial rejuvenation.

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Now, our bodies are pretty smart, so many of these cells are lost as we shed skin and our immune system takes care of most of the rest.  But unfortunately some of these damaged cell survive and lead to:  variable skin thickness, collections of degraded collagen and elastic fibers, less mature collagen, enlarged skin vessel, precancerous and cancerous cells and other findings .

But reversal of these changes is possible through the use of tretinoin (Retin-A®).  Tretinoin, a derivative of Vitamin A, when used topically has been found to: increases mature good collagen, increase elastin, increase skin thickness, make the skin layers more cohesive and reverse atypical cells.  In short it helps to reverse the signs of aging and photodamage.

The side effects of tretinoin are temporary facial redness and flaking.  Although many patients are put off by this it is the sign that the tretinoin is rejuvenating the face.  With daily use these side effects typically last 2-6 weeks.  After which your skin will begin to look younger and healthier.

So if you’re looking to improve the health of your skin click here or call us at 703.752.6608 for a complementary consultation with Dr. Christopher Hess on skin rejuvenation.

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