MDNews - Minnesota

Before After Before Correction of bad cosmetic treatment from outside clinic Before After LipoDissolve Ultra After Vitiligo developed because the constant cold had dissolved the fat. I read the article, found it interesting, and kept on going. But somebody else read that article and was inspired to develop a machine to chill fat in the body to melt it away." During the first few minutes of a CoolSculpting treatment, patients report a tingly sensation that dissipates after six or seven minutes; the rest of the hour-long treatment is painless. After the procedure, the body gradually eliminates the treated fat over two to three months. CoolSculpting works for 80% to 90% of patients, and 75% of successfully treated patients need only one treatment. Currently, CoolSculpting units have been designed to treat love handles, the upper and lower abdomen, and fat rolls on the back, but components are under development to treat the area under the chin, the backs of the arms and thighs. A nonsurgical liquid facelift is a new cosmetic treatment available to patients, thanks to the emergence of advanced dermal filler products like BOTOX, Dysport, JUVEDERM and Restylane. The latest of these products, Selphyl, was adapted from the use of platelet-rich plasma in sports medicine to rebuild col- lagen in joints by centrifuging patients' blood to concentrate growth factors and platelets. This concentrated plasma is injected into joints to repair them. An FDA study successfully confirmed that the same treatment could repair damage in the skin by stimulating collagen production. "The plasma injections stimulate the patient's own cell growth and collagen production to fill in the skin," explains Dr. Crutchfield. "The effect is gradual. We begin to see results around week two after the injections, and response continues to build, peaking at about three months. There's no possibility of an allergic reaction because we are using the patient's own growth factors. Not only does Selphyl fill in lines and wrinkles, but it also makes skin look fresher and younger. We've found it particularly effective to treat fine wrinkles under the eyes and acne scars." The disadvantage of Selphyl, compared to other filling agents, is that it can take a few months to work; the other agents correct immediately. With Selphyl, however, the response is very durable and can last several years. Dr. Crutchfield cautions that patient response to Selphyl varies. "A third of the time," he explains, "we have a tremendous response. Another third of the time, it's a very good response. Another third of the time, the response is so-so. The difference in response is not age-related; I suspect it may be a matter of individual genetics." Dr. Crutchfield often combines several nonsurgical cosmetic techniques to give patients a customized liquid facelift. New procedures and treatments may grab media attention, but Dr. Crutchfield points out that skin care basics are also advancing, albeit more quietly. "I've used the NeoStrata customizable skin care program for my patients since 1994," he says. "They've just introduced a new formulation that has been in develop- ment for five years. The new topical treatment contains alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, stem- cell extracts, sunscreen and retinols. It works unlike any other skin care

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