Fall Greetings! 

Welcome to our News, Thoughts, and Inspirations! This is your opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the beauty business, my thoughts and ideas on those trends, and some ideas on how to look your best at every age. The topic of our first newsletter is "Rejuvenating the Face - Keys to Smoother Skin." Here, we discuss the latest thoughts on laser and other non-surgical methods of skin rejuvenation. Our sincere hope is that you find this information useful and educational. Any questions, or if you would like to come for a consultation, please give us a call.

Rejuvenating the Face - without Surgery

Alternatives to facial plastic surgery are growing in popularity.  They include Botox and hyaluronic acid (Restylane) injections, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, microdermabrasion, and medical grade skin care products. 

Dr. Jones believes the fillers and other non-surgical facial procedures have an important role in facial rejuvenation; however, they cannot always replace what a facelift can accomplish and thus may not be the recommended solution for everyone.  "There is a limit to how much one can fill a sagging skin, or how much one can alter certain dimensions with just fillers," he says. "On the other hand," Dr. Jones continues, "a patients may think she needs a facelift when she really does not. Rather, a combination of non-surgical techniques accomplishes what she wants, but without the surgery."  Dr. Jones also reminds us that facial rejuvenation need not be a "one or the other" proposition.  In fact, cosmetic surgery results can be enhanced by both pre and post-operative non-surgical procedures.  These may or may not include strategically positioned fillers and a hydroquinone/tretinoin based skin care regimen.

Based on his years of experience and seeing product lines come and go, Dr. Jones and his aesthetician, Bella Molokandova, have chosen to carry what they believe are the most effective products in the market.  They include Revision Skincare, Jan Marini, and IS Clinical.  Depending on the patient's skin, these lines offer safe and effective skin care systems to optimize any surgery or a non-surgical procedure results, and to make sure the delicate facial skin is cared for gently.  Dr. Jones also offers Obagi, a leading hydroquinone/tretinoin skin care regimen, which has worked miracles with his patients.  The main purpose of Obagi is to clear blemishes, minor sunspots, and acne scars, but the attractive side effect is that it also appears to even out wrinkles.

In the end, Dr. Jones believes that to get optimal results, your best bet is to carefully consider the alternatives and your objectives, sit down with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, and decide on the action plan together.  Each case is different. 

To see the full article, please go to our News & Updates.

Is Laser Superior to less Invasive Methods to Refresh the Skin?

After all the discussion of the pros and the cons, the ASAPS panel of leading experts concluded that there is no clear answer to whether laser is superior to the more traditional techniques of dermabrasion and chemical peels.  True, recovery time from fractional laser, the latest development in laser technology, tends to be less than from dermabrasion and chemical peels, but a lot of questions such as the ideal depth and strength of the laser beam and the long term impact of laser on the skin, remain unanswered.  On the pro side, laser is easier to control for specific spots, whereas a peel or a dermabrasion works a general surface area of the skin. 

Dr. Jones has followed the discussion of these techniques closely over the years, and tends to side with what is the safest for the patient and with the least risk of any adverse effects.  "Safety has always been the primary concern of my practice, and the long term consequences from burning the dermis of the skin, which laser effectively does, are difficult to predict," Dr. Jones exclaims.  "The impact of any kind of burn is likely to vary from person to person, depending on their skin type and condition," he continues.

The ASAPS panel also concluded that the fractional laser may not be ideal for every skin condition. Deep wrinkles, for example, may require so much density from the machine that severity of the treatment compare to the ablative laser in the dermis, thereby defeating the purpose of fractionation entirely. Conversely, fractional technology that penetrates deep into the dermis could be an overkill for someone with only surface blemishes. For best results, it is important for the plastic surgeon to identify the goals of the treatment and establish clear expectations with the patient.  Only then can the surgeon recommend the most effective resurfacing technique to accomplish the desired results, whether with laser, dermabrasion, or chemical peel. The most popular option is not always the most appropriate option.

Please see our News & Updates for the full article.