THE JURY IS OUT ON CERTAIN WRINKLE-FIGHTING TECHNIQUES…

The jury is out regarding the value of facial exercises, such as holding and releasing a super-size smile several times in a row, or filling the cheeks with air and letting it escape slowly like a sputtering balloon.  While one skin care professional may tell you such exercises are beneficial because they do in fact increase blood circulation to your face, another will say that an expressive face implements a full range of movement each day simply by virtue of being itself.  Skin professionals across the board, however, agree that exercise generally can produce satisfying results—and so can nutrition.

Vigorous whole-body exercise brings blood to all of your organs, and the skin—the largest organ of your body—is no exception.  More blood means increased circulation and a flood of oxygen and nutrients to skin cells, all of which help to wash toxins away.  At the very least, this means that acne breakouts can be dramatically reduced.  (Not only is enhanced blood circulation good for your complexion, but it is also believed that sweat generated through exercise unclogs pores.)  At best, exercise can fight the signs of aging: How?  Working out on a regular basis makes your skin healthier—and healthy skin is primed to produce more collagen.  And as we all know, collagen brings strength and flexibility to skin.

If you are not exercising already, make up your mind to begin.  It doesn’t matter whether you join a gym or a yoga studio or get outside and start a jogging regimen or strenuous walking program.  Just make sure your routine is regular and dynamic.

Check with your doctor to ensure that your diet is providing you with enough vitamin A, B complex and fatty acids—all of which healthy skin requires.  If your diet is lacking, you can take vitamin supplements.  But keep in mind that supplements work best with a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods to begin with.

Once you have exercise and nutrition requirements covered, you can rest assured that you are nourishing your skin as best you can from the inside out.  Then you may want to start thinking about what efforts can be made to address skin problems from the outside in.  One great non-invasive procedure is exfoliation.  Mechanical or chemical exfoliation removes dead skin cells, which is another way to prepare the skin for collagen production.  Because too much exfoliation can actually dry the skin and result in irritation, you will want to work with a skin professional to find the best method for you.

Changing your diet, starting an exercise program and seeing a skin care professional about exfoliation options may seem challenging and time consuming, but the results can be spectacular.  You’re likely to be so excited about the look of your skin after a few months that you may not even notice (at first) that your slimming down, adding muscle, and feeling more energetic than ever too.  Working for healthy skin is a win-win for the entire body.

PACKING FOR YOUR SKIN: Make It Personal

Imagine being halfway down the north rim of the Grand Canyon when it becomes painfully clear that your new hiking boots are pinching your toes.  Your choices are to endure the pain for the rest of your trip or spend some of your valuable recreation time wandering through local stores for replacement boots.  Either way, your well-deserved vacation will be less than it might have been if you’d brought along those old, slightly shabby but entirely broken in hiking boots sitting at home in the back of the closet.

It is just as important to pack for your skin as it is to pack for your feet or any other part of your body.  Sure, you can pick up sunscreen at the resort gift store and your hotel will undoubtedly provide a little bottle of moisturizer, but if your skin is accustomed to the sunscreen and moisturizer you use at home or is the least bit sensitive, it is possible for the chemicals in the unfamiliar products to cause an allergic reaction.  This is especially true if you are traveling to a foreign country where the products may not be made with the same guidelines that regulate their manufacture here at home.  Moreover, if you have been using exclusive luxury skin care products, you will likely be disappointed with the less-than exceptional (and probably over-priced) products available at your destination.  And honestly, who wants to worry about troubled skin while on vacation?

Don’t kid yourself into thinking that it’s only a short trip and it won’t matter one way or the other.  In fact, the skin products you use while traveling matter even more than if you were to make some changes at home.  This is because you are changing your environment, which always effects the skin, and you will want to nurture yourself as much as possible against harsh transitions.

For instance, if you are going from sea level in San Francisco Bay Area to almost 6500 feet above in San Miguel De Allende, Mexico, you can be sure that you are going to need your moisturizer more than ever—as well as your sunscreen!  High altitudes provide less in the way of moisture, humidity, air pressure and oxygen.  You risk sunburn and even melanoma because the UV rays and free radicals in a thin atmosphere are stronger.  Likewise, if you are traveling from the New Mexican high desert to the Amazon basin for some jungle canoeing, you will want to have the very best non-toxic insect spray available.  And an exfoliating body wash will feel like heaven at the end of the day.

If you plan to set foot on a plane, even if it’s only a short flight, it is essential to keep your skin hydrated with products it’s used to.  You’ve probably noticed that your skin and eyes feel dry whenever your fly.  This is because in-flight humidity is usually below 15% or even 10%, resulting in rapid dehydration.  Drinking water will help to keep your body hydrated.  And as soon as you complete a long flight, treat your skin to a good exfoliation to get rid of grime.  Eye masks and medically-tested pressure-reducing ear plugs may help the fight against jet lag if you are flying through time zones.

Of course you can buy travel kits that contain all the basic products you might need for your trip, but your best bet is to create your own travel kit with the products you already know work for you.  If you stick to the tried and true skin care system you use at home, you avoid the potential problems you might experience with unknown skin care products.

Your custom travel kit should contain the following skin care items:

• facial cleanser
• rejuvenative toner
• daily moisturizer (dermatologists recommend at least SPF 30 for faces)
• sunscreen
• shampoo and conditioner
• lip balm

Ladies, you might want to include oil absorbing cleansing sheets and oil free makeup removing wipes too.  And don’t forget sunhats and visors.

Once you’ve assembled your personal travel kit, you can forget about breakouts, sunburns, and itchy, irritated skin during your next vacation and enjoy the good times!

What price are you willing to pay for a tan?

Coco Chanel has long been attributed with initiating our addiction to tanning when, in 1920, she declared that the tan was “in.”  Bronzed skin became a symbol of affluence undoubtedly because of its association with leisure time spent in exotic, sunny locations exclusive to the wealthy.

Since then, a plethora of research has revealed the frightening associations between tanning and a variety of skin cancers.  In fact, the case against tanning continues to build as more and more of the sun’s detrimental effects are brought to light, so to speak.  Especially with the advent of our diminishing ozone layer which is the only thing protecting the Earth — and us — from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The result: our exposure to harmful radiation has actually increased and with it, our chances of getting skin cancer.  The mounting evidence of the sun’s effects is reflected in the increasing levels of protection that newer skin care products are boasting, for example Neutrogena just release their SPF 100 sunblock.

Last year in the U.S. alone, there were nearly 70,000 new cases of Melanoma, a skin cancer commonly associated with prolonged or repeated exposure to UV radiation and known to cause more deaths than any other form of skin cancer.

Plus, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.

So with all the knowledge, information and repeated warning from authoritative resources, why do so many of us continue to bask with abandon and worse, supplement with artificial means?

Back in the 1980′s tanning beds became all the rage.  The companies that built small empires on our sun-worshipping addiction convinced us — and some dermatologists — that the UVA lights they used were ‘safer than the sun’.  Tanning salons became nearly as omnipresent as Starbucks and equally addicting for many.

The fact is that the UVA light used in tanning booths is 2 to 3 times more potent than the sun, increasing our risk of skin cancer exponentially.  Really, is it worth the risk?

Fortunately, there are now much safer and beautifully natural looking self-tanning lotions as well a spray-on tans that can give you the healthy, bronzy glow you desire just as quickly, far more economically than visits to a tanning salon and without the risk.  Some of the products even provide added benefits like moisturizers and other skin enhancers.

One of our favorites (available at our online store) is Colorescience Wild to Mild Skin Bronzer which gives the skin an even, golden glow as well providing SPF 20 protection. 

 So now your skin can look healthy and have a much better chance of staying healthy.

Note: It’s important to remember that while your skin may look tan as a result of using these products, it is still vulnerable to sun exposure.  So you’ll always want to apply sunscreen throughout the day depending on the length of time you’re in the sun.

Swimming and Its Affects on Our ‘Birthday Suits’

Summer can be rough on our skin.  As we throw caution — and layers of clothing — to the wind, we end up exposing it to all sorts of abuse: from the burning rays of the sun, to biting insects and irritating plants.  Even the water we swim in can take a serious toll on that precious organ we lovingly refer to as our ‘birthday suits.’

Many of us are drawn to water, especially on a hot summer day.  After all, about 70% of an adult’s body is made up of water — most of it stored in our cells.  In fact, it’s water that is responsible for delivering essential nutrients to the skin cells, helping to keep them plump, healthy and our skin looking youthful.  The outer layers of our skin contain proteins and oils that help keep essential moisture in.  

Ironically, bathing and swimming in water for long periods of time can actually cause this moisture to be depleted from our skin by temporarily removing its natural protective oils and causing dryness.  Prolonged exposure to water containing chemicals like chlorine — the type found in most swimming pools — exaggerates this effect and can eventually cause damage on a cellular level.

Chlorine was originally added to our water supply over 100 years ago in order to kill disease-causing bacteria like cholera and typhoid.  It also became the most popular and inexpensive way to prevent the spread of disease and bacteria from forming in swimming pools.  Though it may be an effective germ killer, it can be highly damaging to our skin.  We’ve seen the devastating effects chlorine can have on our hair.  Likewise, chlorine can severely damage the protective layer of our skin.

Our skin and hair contain a type of protein called keratin that helps to create an intact barrier.  Chlorine chemically bonds with these proteins and damages this protective layer, causing skin and hair to become dry and brittle.  Over time, the stress from chlorine exposure can actually accelerate the aging process and lead to premature wrinkles.

It’s no coincidence that celebs and models have been using chlorine-free water for years, which may well be one of the best kept beauty secrets in the industry. 

So if you love the water and can’t avoid chlorinated pools, here are a few simple precautions you can take to protect your ‘birthday suit’:

• always wear a swim cap to protect your hair
• rinse immediately after your swim and use a gentle, all natural body wash
• apply high quality, moisture replenishing lotions to both your face and body
• be sure to re-apply a high SPF sunscreen after swimming
• drink purified water at regular intervals throughout the day and eat plenty of water-rich organic fruits and vegetables

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall

Now that we’re sporting our skin-bearing summer wardrobes, some of us are having second looks in the mirror and noticing a little extra flab here, a sag there and a few new wrinkles we didn’t have last season.

Wishing them away certainly won’t work and there are some things that diet and exercise just can’t fix.  However, a skilled plastic surgeon can offer some alternatives that can help boost our body contours as well as our self-confidence.

Body contouring surgery encompasses a number of different techniques used by plastic surgeons to reshape almost any area of the body.  Whether it’s augmentation, enhancement or eliminating excess fat and skin, there is a procedure to help nearly anyone achieve their aesthetic preference.

After all, it’s not just about attaining some ideal.  It’s a matter of personal confidence and enhancing your own personal image.

The first and most important step is to find a board certified, cosmetic surgeon experienced in all areas of plastic surgery who can help guide you toward realizing a more beautiful you.

Some of the more popular procedures include:

Breast Augmentation and Enhancement

This has become one of the most frequently performed procedures available, in part because of the focus on development of new materials and techniques that have made it safer and more effective.  Surgeons now have many options available for customizing a result to suit a woman’s specific preference and body type.

Liposuction 

Liposuction involves removing excess or unwanted fat from specific areas of the body.  It’s often used in combination with other procedures and is a very effective way to “spot reduce,” meaning it is not intended for overall weight reduction.  It requires only a tiny incision between the skin and muscle for the insertion of the instrument used to remove fat and shape target areas on the body.  In some cases, where there is a large amount of cellulite or excess skin, your doctor may recommend skin tightening at the same time.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) 

Tummy tucks are a popular choice following pregnancy and childbirth.  The procedure is designed to improve the contours around the mid-torso by removing excess skin and fat and, when necessary, actually tightening the muscular girdle around the stomach and abdomen.

In addition, there are procedures for achieving an overall ‘Body Lift’ which can focus on several areas of the body at once, for example the thighs, stomach and buttocks.

The possibilities are exciting and can be positively life changing. However, it’s important to be sure you consult your cosmetic surgeon to fully understand all your options and determine which procedure or combination of procedures are best suited for your expectations and body type.

Call 877-430-0523 today to schedule your free consultation.

QuickLift. It could be the procedure you’ve been waiting for

For those wanting to turn back the clock without extensive surgery or lengthy and often painful recovery times, there is a better way. The alternative is called QuickLift™ and, as the name suggests, it’s a minimally invasive procedure that can take years off your appearance.

The QuickLift™ technique was developed specifically for those between the ages of 40 and 65 who want to stay ahead of the aging curve. It was designed to smooth the lower to mid face areas and can also dramatically improve the neckline — one of the first areas to show signs of aging. Read more »

Happy Holidays!

The docs and staff at pss wish all our patients a Happy Holiday Season! Without you there would be no us and we say Thank you… Thank you… and can’t wait to see you next year. We are closed from 12/24 until Jan4. Lucky us!

PSS Christmas Discount

Plastic Surgery Specialists is offering a special $1000 discount to all patients scheduling surgery during the month of December. Many patients are signing up to take advantage of this fantastic offer.

Drs. Poulos & Hvistendahl Discussing Mommy Makeover Surgery

In the spring of 2009 Dr. Stanley Poulos and Dr. Yngvar Hvistendahl appeared on The Wellness Hour television show to discuss their specialty, Mommy Makeover Surgery in San Francisco. Plastic Surgery Specialists are leaders in mommy makeovers, and in this show they discuss the details of the surgery and how women can benefit from a Mommy Makeover. Mommy Makeover is commonly a post-pregnancy procedure made up of a combination of any 2 or 3 surgeries including tummy tuck, breast implants and liposuction. Read more »