DEAR 16 YEAR OLD ME - A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE

With summer just around the corner, I wanted to send you this very important and moving video. Please watch the entire video and forward it to anyone that you truly care about.

SUNSCREEN - the most effective anti-aging ingredient

You’ve all heard me lecture about the importance of using proper sun protection. Nothing is more proven than proper protection from ultraviolet light.

Sunscreen is the most effective anti-aging ingredient on the market today.

An effective sunscreen is the best way to maintain a youthful appearance, prevent immunosuppression, and avoid skin cancer. Though it was once believed that UVB radiation was the only wavelength harmful to the skin, evidence now suggests that the UVA radiation is more significant regarding long-term effects on the skin. For full protection against the sun, it is essential to use a sunscreen that protects against a broad range of both UVA and UVB radiation. Unfortunately, 99.99% of the sunscreens available in drug stores and even department stores, are chemical based, meaning they only protect against a small portion of the sun’s damaging rays. Only titanium oxide and zinc oxide are proven to effectively block ALL of the UVA and UVB rays. The problem is, most of the chemical-free sunscreens are thick and white and gloppy – not the look you’re going for! After much trial and error, we have found a line of “melt into your skin” micronized particle zinc and titanium-based sunblocks. Please click here to see our full line of "cosmetically elegant" UVA and UVB sunscreens.

Sun damage is responsible for up to 90% of the visible signs of premature aging on the human face. In addition to wrinkling, visible blood vessels, skin roughness, pigmentation changes, and skin discoloration, the long-term consequences of photoaging include dramatic loss of skin elasticity and thinning of the skin. This is the result of ultraviolet radiation’s direct effect on the collagen matrix, which is the ‘scaffolding’ that gives firmness and strength to the skin. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation the collagen folds on itself, and as this happens, the skin thins, and wrinkles and furrows appear.

The Facts of Light:

• The skin is the largest organ in the human body.
• Normal, healthy skin acts as a barrier and protects us from injury. It regulates our temperature, receives sensory impulses and synthesizes Vitamin D.
• Not all skin is the same. Different skin types respond differently to sunlight. Know your skin type and determine your vulnerability.
• Sun damage to the skin is cumulative.
• A suntan is a sign of skin damage.
• Any level of tanning indicates photo-damage that can lead to wrinkling, aging and skin cancer.
• Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.
• Skin has a memory of all previous sun damage, resulting in greater susceptibility to skin cancer.
• More than 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers occur in fair skinned people who tend to burn. Dark skinned people, as well as fair skinned people, need to practice sun protection.
• Sun Protection needs to be a lifelong commitment.

SKIN CANCER ON A BED

What is our PROBLEM? Apparently we can’t get it through our heads that tanning isn’t a healthy habit. According to a survey from the American Academy of Dermatology, a significant percentage of young women went out of their way to use tanning beds or tan outdoors in the last year.
 With all the news coverage that’s been hitting us over the head lately, these results are pretty scary. According to a release on the study, “Thirty-two percent of respondents had used a tanning bed in the past year, and of those respondents, 25% used a tanning bed at least weekly, on average. An overwhelming majority (81%) of all respondents reported that they had tanned outdoors either frequently or occasionally in the past year.”

Deemed a known carcinogen by both the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer panel, ultraviolet light from tanning beds can increase risk of melanoma by up to 75 percent. With approximately 75 percent of skin cancer deaths coming from melanoma, this is serious business. So who is ignoring it?

According to the study, indoor tanning was twice as likely among young women ages 18 to 22 (40 percent of respondents) than it was for teens ages 14 to 17 (22 percent of respondents).

The importance of sun protection is one topic that has not been presented silently. The risks and real-life consequences of not using a daily UVA and UVB sunscreen are serious, and even though many doctors shout it from the rooftop, the warnings may still be falling on deaf ears.

A growing number of medical organizations want to make it harder—if not impossible—for teens to take trips to the tanning salon. Until the FDA is willing to ban tanning beds, the American Academy of Dermatology wants them to prohibit access to indoor tanning for minors, educate all indoor tanning customers about cancer risks and require informed consent, implement and enforce labeling recommendations outlined in the Tanning Accountability and Notification Act, and encourage enforcement of state regulations.

They also support the indoor tanning tax, which would be a signal from the federal government to young people that indoor tanning is dangerous and should be avoided. It has the potential to save patients from the many adverse effects of chronic ultraviolet light damage, including most importantly, melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

DON'T SWEAT IT

Think sweating is the pits? With Botox, it doesn't have to be.

It's going to be a long, hot summer. Not good news for those who hate to sweat. It's disastrous news - one could even say the pits - for those who suffer from excessive sweating. Try as we might to stay dry, drippy sweat is coming our way. Does the prospect of being sweat-free for the summer sound appealing?

Many people know the embarrassment of profuse sweating, which can be a significant problem in certain business or social situations. Do you avoid overheated parties or make fashion fabric/style choices according to the ability to mask the not-so-discreet wetness crescents under your arms? Are you one of those who run to the restroom to blot your armpits? If you recognize these scenarios and nothing has helped you tackle the complaint, you have hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is the condition of excessive sweating, and occurs most commonly on the hands and feet, the face or in the underarm area, among other places. But there is a solution to this annoying condition-BOTOX! Believe it or not, Botox is FDA-approved to combat excessive sweating that occurs in the underarm area, specifically known as primary axillary hyperhidrosis. If topical antiperspirants haven't been keeping your underarms high and dry, it's time to visit Dr. Tanne and request Botox. By blocking the communication between the nerves and the sweat glands, it temporarily stops the sweating. The treatment involves multiple injections and takes a few days to kick in, but once it starts working it lasts for at least six months. So raise those hands high up in the air (with no fear of the consequences of doing so), and give a sweat-free cheer for Botox!

Click here to schedule you Botox Underarm treatment or call 973-716-9000.

THE NON-SURGICAL "NOSE JOB"

At COSMETIC LASER MD, we often come across patients who ask about “non surgical nose jobs,” “injectable rhinoplasty,” or “liquid rhinoplasty.” In the last ten years, we have seen explosive growth in minimally invasive and non surgical procedures. There are many reasons that people are opting against “the knife:”


One of Dr. Tanne's recent patients



• Little or no downtime
• Much less expensive
• Little of no discomfort
• No anesthesia
• The ability to refine the area exactly the way you would like it to be

As a result, the various fillers have seen an enormous increase in their utilization. And today, we use these various fillers to achieve younger, more symmetric appearances not just by filling in wrinkles but also by restoring lost volume (the liquid face lift). More recently some of these fillers, which have only been approved by the FDA for use in the nasolabial fold, are increasingly being used for an ever wider array of “off- label” procedures including reshaping the jawline and chin, filling the cheeks, and more recently to reshape the nose, i.e. the “non-surgical” nose job, “liquid rhinoplasty,” and “injectable rhinoplasty.”

The Non Surgical Nose Job is an alternative to surgical rhinoplasty for many individuals who wish to alter the shape of their nose or restore symmetry to their nose. The treatment takes only about fifteen to thirty minutes to perform, unlike traditional rhinoplasty which is done under IV sedation or general anesthesia with several weeks of down time, a relatively painful recovery, and severe bruised for several weeks. The non-surgical nose job only requires the application of local numbing cream for about 20 minutes.

Unlike a rhinoplasty where the patient is unconscious, with this procedure, the patient is an active participant in the procedure. The patient has a mirror in his or her hand and can help guide the procedure.

Radiesse (Dr. Tanne's usual filler of choice for the nose) is injected to fill depressions, smooth out sharp angles, or change the angle of the tip of the nose, restoring symmetry and making your nose appear smaller and more attractive. With Radiesse there is no need for allergy testing. Radiesse stays exactly where you place it. In other words, it does not migrate like some hyaluronic acid based fillers. This is extremely important for injection into the nose. Radiesse lasts about 1 year which is twice as long as most other fillers.


One of Dr. Tanne's recent patients



Botox can also be used as part of a nonsurgical nose job to relax the muscle that pulls the tip downward, creating a more upturned appearance, or to soften the "bunny lines" on the sides near the top of your nose.


Dr. Tanne likes to use Radiesse for simultaneous chin augmentation. This is a complementary procedure to the non-surgical nose job. Radiesse is FDA approved for injecting into laugh lines and restoring volume to the face. Other uses include injection into marionette lines, and augmenting your cheek bone structure to restore a more youthful look. Some refer to this as the non-surgical face lift.


Dr. Tanne has performed literally hundreds of “non-surgical facelifts” and is one of the experts in this growing field. In addition, she has had many patients specifically asking for “non-surgical nose jobs” and is quickly becoming the area leader in this procedure as well. The before and after photos above, are two of Dr. Tanne’s recent patients.



Ideal Candidate for the Non Surgical "Nose Job"

• Patients who wish to diminish the appearance of bumps on their nose.
• Patients who have dents, hollowness or indentations, or have noses which look asymmetric.

• Patients who have a flat nasal bridge, and wish to create a bridge or augment their original bridge. This is a very common request in the Asian and African American population.

• Patients with droopy tips or downward appearing tips who wish to raise the tip of the nose.

• Patients who have had surgical nose jobs in the past and are unhappy with the appearance of their noses.


A commonly asked question is whether this procedure can actually make one’s nose look bigger. By taking away nasal irregularities and creating more symmetry through nasal contouring, the nose actually looks smaller and more proportional to one’s face. The nose serves as a central focal point when we look at a person’s face. When you restore symmetry back to this important structure in the middle of the face it actually looks smaller. If you create a taller nasal bridge, the nose appears much thinner.

If you have always desired to have a smoother profile but have been apprehensive of surgery due to risks, pain and down time, then consider this non-surgical 15 minute nose job as an alternative procedure. As always, consultations are complimentary. Even if you are an existing patient and have some questions about a new procedure, or would like to discuss your short and long term aesthetic goals, Dr. Tanne and her staff would love to see you here so that we can put together a customized plan. Please call us at 973-716-9000 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Tanne, and find out if the non-surgical (15 minute) nose job is right for you. 

HOUSEWIVES' JILL ZARIN LIQUID FACELIFT IN THE NEWS...Very Special Offer...

Before and After "Liquid Face Lift"

A REALITY TV star has revealed the truth after her fresh face and narrower nose at an event sparked speculation that she had undergone plastic surgery.
 

Once again, COSMETIC LASER MD’s signature procedure – the minimal-downtime, minimally-invasive “liquid facelift” – is in the news….

"I have a liquid facelift every six months," said 47-year-old Zarin, who has appeared in all four seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City.

"It really works. No knives!"

A "liquid facelift" is "just using injectables," said Zarin, who started getting the procedure a year ago.

Rather than using a filler to tackle individual smile lines, the dermatologist said that she lifted Zarin's face by injecting Restylane along the jaw line and up along the sides of her face. Dr. Tanne’s artistry in sculpting and lifting with injectable fillers has been recognized by the Liquid Facelift Association. She is considered one of the premier specialists in this procedure, and has performed several hundred of them.

"It’s a little uncomfortable, but definitely not painful at all," says Zarin, 47. "But it's 100 percent worth it. She took ten years off my face." Zarin said she's been getting Botox in her forehead and between her eyes for 10 years - and more recently, in her neck. "I'm scared I'm going to get a turkey neck," she said. "It runs in my family."

As for her new nose, Zarin says it's not needles or knives, but rather the work of her new hair and makeup artist, Jim Crawford. "He put brown contouring makeup on my nose and thinned it out," she says. Crawford explains the makeup magic: "We also made her face look thinner by airbrushing the sides and hairline two shades darker," he says. "Before she was just using TV makeup, which didn't give any dimension."

Getting rid of bangs also changed up Zarin's look.

"With the bangs down, the nose takes up the largest percentage of her face," Crawford said.

Our patients already know what the Housewives know – a little tweak here and there can refresh your look dramatically, and prevent that facelift indefinitely. Dr. Tanne and her staff perform liquid facelifts every day – sometimes on the entire face, and sometimes regionally, depending on the patients’ specific concerns.

As always, COSMETIC LASER MD offers complimentary consultations. Let us help you put together a plan to rejuvenate your look this spring.

Click here to see a Very Special Offer....

Give Yourself the Brush

 Lauren and Nicole, the make-up artists at Cosmetic Laser MD, will tell you that one of the most common questions they hear is "how can I recreate this look at home?" Of course part of the answer lies in their incredible talent, but the truth is that a lot of it also depends on using high quality brushes.

We're frequently surprised when we speak to our clients about what is in their toolbox. Many of them spare no expense with their make-up. They've got La Mer foundation, Chanel lipgloss and seem to have every color Dior and YSL have to offer.  But when we ask them what they use to apply these products, they tell us that they use their fingers, the sponge applicators that come with it or the worst, Q-tips. 

We cannot overstress the importance of high quality brushes!  It may make a small dent in your wallet initially, but will make a world of difference on your face when you apply your makeup the right way.  And with the right care you may have your brushes for well over 10 years.

With a few exceptions, it is best to go with natural hair. Depending on the task they are meant to perform, they may be squirrel, sable, goat or pony. There's no need to worry about your furry friends - most every company now realizes that cruelty-free products are the only way to go. The animals are raised on a farm where they are well cared for and get regular haircuts. For foundation and concealer, synthetic brushes are best. They spread the product evenly and don't hold onto bacteria. Synthetic brushes also work best for brows, where you need a short, firm brush to achieve that perfect arch.

The 8 must-have brushes

1. All Over Eye Shadow

2. Eye Crease

3. Foundation

4. Concealer

5. Brow

6. Eyeliner

7. Blush

8. Powder Brush

COSMETIC LASER MD carries a complete collection of professional quality sable brushes. Click to see our fantastic Mother's Day brush kit offer.

The Liquid Eyelift

Out of the popularity of the “liquid facelift” comes another option to rejuvenate your appearance. This one is being called the “liquid eyelift.” To set the record straight, neither one is a true lift because the results are temporary. However, for those individuals who are looking for a non-surgical rejuvenation, the “liquid eyelift” can be a welcome option.

Using injectable fillers (such as Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse), Botox or Dysport, and eMatrix, Dr. Tanne rejuvenates the entire eye area, giving you a refreshed, more youthful appearance. Filler is used for delicate crinkly skin under the eye to reduce the appearance of hollows and lines, and to gently re-inflate the sunken area in the temple. Crow's feet are erased with Botox/Dysport and a bit of filler. The brow is re-supported to reduce droop with filler and gets a subtle lift from Botox/Dysport to minimize sagging lids.  It is important to note, however, that if there is significant sagging, fillers and Botox won't do the job and you would most likely be a better candidate for surgery. There are pros and cons to each option. Dr. Tanne would be happy to give you an evaluation regarding your specific concerns and answer any questions you may have during a private consultation with her. As always, consultations are complimentary. 

To complete the rejuvenation of the eye area, gentle resurfacing of that delicate skin with eMatrix Fractional Sublative Rejuvenation will give you a firmer, more youthful appearance with minimal to no downtown.

Cosmetic Laser MD also carries a complete line of firming, lightening, hydrating and repairing eye products.  Speaking of VA-VA-VOOM eyes, April 30th is the last day of our amazing LATISSE EYELASH ENHANCER BOGO (buy-one-get-one-free) promotion.  Ask our Front Desk for details.

Do Your Hands Give Away Your Age? Turn Back the Hands of Time

Frequently the focus of cosmetic improvement is the face. Yet, one of the most age–telling body features is our hands. Because the skin on the back of the hands is extremely thin, the loss of fat padding on any level shows quickly. Take away that cushion and all the structures in the hand show up — the tendons, bones and the veins. Sun damage plays a big part in the "aging hand" syndrome too. Given that your hands are nearly always routinely ignored when it comes to sunscreen – and they spend a lot of time in the "driver's seat" wrapped around a steering wheel — it's no wonder they start showing their age earlier than the rest of our body.

 The natural fat cushion that we're born with begins to lessen in our late twenties and early 30's. By the time most of us hit 50, we have hands that tell the truth about our age — and often they can actually make us seem older than we are!

Sun exposure over the decades sets up a prolonged cascade of liver spots and brown patches that can keep popping up long after we've learned to stay out of the sun. Add that to the color changes brought about by the darkness of veins and your hands can sometimes look as if they've been bruised and battered in addition to looking more skeletal.

Combating the aging hand syndrome takes more than hand cream (though that simple step does make a difference). The latest technology has given us a set of procedures that will have similar effects as those we have been able to accomplish for the face.

Radiesse as a Fat Replacement

One of Dr. Tanne's patients

Replacing the volume loss with a dermal filler is not a "new" thing. Fat transfers have been used to treat volume loss for many years. The staying power of fat is debatable, and it requires a source — that means some type of surgical removal from some other part of your body. It's expensive and time consuming.

Radiesse is a dense easy–to–mold filler made of Calcium–based microspheres. This is the same type of product that has been used in orthopedics for quite some time. With an established longevity of 12 to 24 months, Radiesse wears well in the hands and provides an instant cushion replacement. The depressions between the tendons and veins are refilled so both the bony appearance and the vein prominences (and the dark color of the veins) are reduced, giving your hands a softer, fuller appearance that signifies youth.

Radiesse is safe, effective and extremely popular both for its immediate effectiveness and long duration. The malleability and staying power of Radiesse have turned it into something of an injectable implant. It can be injected into the cheek and chin area to provide a nonsurgical implant that's completely natural looking. Radiesse is also considered "the" material when used for reshaping in the instance of asymmetry of the nose and as a nasal bridge builder for those with flat nose bridges.

Radiesse Rejuvenation Injection Procedure for the Hands – Requires 2 Syringes

This is a fast, super simple procedure that literally converts older–looking hands to younger looking hands in minutes. Injections in the back of the hands might be assumed to be painful, but in reality the procedure is virtually painless. It generally takes less than 20 minutes to inject both hands.

The Radiesse is mixed with Lidocaine prior to use so that the nerve endings in the skin are anesthetized. A "bolus" or "ball" of Radiesse is injected and then massaged into the volume–deficient areas. Because the product is thicker than hyaluronic fillers (such as Juvederm and Restylane), it is easily massaged into place, and remains in those areas so the skin is smooth and even. Radiesse maintains a soft, natural feel and takes on the characteristics of the surrounding skin tissue. Once integrated into the skin, the presence of the Radiesse microspheres promotes new elastin and collagen production. Part of the long–lasting effect is your own new collagen.

Radiesse Hand Rejuvenation requires 2 syringes of Radiesse, however our procedure pricing makes this an extremely affordable option and the results can easily last 18 months or longer.

EYES WIDE OPEN

In the quest for younger-looking eyes, nonsurgical rejuvenation options take you from fatigued to fabulous

The eyes. There is nothing more powerful on your face: They cry, they laugh; they show disappointment, dreaminess or deceit; they reveal surprise and shock, happiness and honesty. Beyond expressing how you feel, they can even define who you are. With all the importance we place on the eyes, it seems like a cruel twist of fate that they exhibit signs of aging so soon.

“People form opinions of other people based on their eyes, more than any other area on the face,” notes Dr. Susan Stevens Tanne, Medical Director of Cosmetic Laser MD. “People assume that if your eyes look young, it implies that you have more energy, more spunk, and are more of a go-getter.”

You may feel perky, but if your eyes look droopy, tired and sad, your whole demeanor can appear fatigued, depressed and old—all characteristics that appear on the daily “don’t” list. Unlike other facial imperfections, which can be camouflaged with artful makeup, problem areas around eyes are tougher to hide. Makeup and facial creams can’t cover up wrinkles and creases caused by volume loss under the eyes and in the temples.

No need to fret. At Cosmetic Laser MD we have your non-surgical solutions. A youthful, bright-eyed look can be restored—without going under the knife—with a variety of products and nonsurgical procedures.

About 90% of COSMETIC LASER MD’s anti-aging patients have some concern about the aging skin around their eyes. Thankfully, this is one area that we can easily rejuvenate with our arsenal of treatments and products. Minor cosmetic tweaks can go a long way toward improving this critical area. We have identified three major eye-aging culprits, and offer solutions for each concern. For total rejuvenation, a combination of treatments and products usually works best. Good morning bright eyes!

Lighten Up!

Dark circles definitely aren’t a “do” in the quest to maintain youthful-looking eyes. First, you need to determine the cause. As the skin thins with age, underlying blood vessels may show through, appearing as dark circles. Sometimes the pigment of the skin actually changes color as red blood cells break down. In other cases, those circles are actually dark shadows. As facial skin sags and loses volume, the area above the cheeks (the tear trough) hollows out, causing a shadowed effect. And sometimes dark circles have nothing to do with age—you just have them and probably always did, just like your parents and siblings.

Easy fix: An excellent concealer can do the trick for some.

Medical fix: If the dark circles are caused by shadows, injectable fillers in the under-eye hollows can make them disappear. "I get beautiful results with hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane, as well as with Selphyl enhanced fat from one’s own body,” says Dr. Tanne. "These fillers can fill the hollow areas beneath the eye, restoring that smooth youthful volume."

Also consider: Products that contain Vitamin K and/or caffeine can improve the appearance of dark circles, says Dr. Tanne, who recommends Circles from her Tanne MD Medical Grade Skincare line.

Tighten Up!

Your facial skin and muscles weaken with age—and that includes the skin above and below your eyes. The eyelids stretch, causing the upper lids to droop, while fluid and/or fat begins to fill in the loose space below the eyes, creating bags and puffiness.

Easy fix: Home remedies can be surprisingly effective for under-eye bags. “Sleeping with your head elevated via pillows, icing the areas with cold compresses in the morning, and using a topical cream that contains an ingredient to constrict the underlying blood vessels, such as caffeine - try The Firm from Tanne MD Medical Grade Skincare - decreases the amount of excess fluid in the under-eye tissue,” says Dr.Tanne.

Medical fix: The E-Matrix Laser offers remarkable results to this delicate area. It absolutely turns back the hands of time, and with little or no downtime, and little or no discomfort.

Also consider: Botox and Dysport can erase crow’s feet and raise the eyebrows, offering a mini-brow lift for patients with minor eyelid drooping.

Smooth It Out!

Thinning skin, sun damage and facial expressions all conspire to create lines and wrinkles on our aging faces, which show up first and most prominently, around the eyes. This thin, fragile skin is in constant motion, and produces wrinkling long before it appears on other areas of the face.

Easy fix: Our featured eye product, EYE DEFENSE, has been specially formulated to contain a comprehensive system of all-trans retinol, peptides, chelators, antioxidants and moisturizers targeting puffiness, dark circles, lines and wrinkles, firmness and tightness, enhanced skin texture and smoothness. We recently came across a statistic that 90% of cosmetic dermatologists use some form of retinol around their eye area.

Medical fix: “A series of chemical peels - such as Apeele - does an excellent job in tightening lower eyelid crinkles,” Dr. Tanne says. And Botox or Dysport is the go-to remedy for crows-feet and other superficial lines caused by facial expressions (squinting, raising eyebrows, frowning). "I like to smooth out these irritating lines while allowing you to maintain a normal, expressive appearance—without that paralyzed look.”

Also consider: Need an immediate line eraser for an important date or event? Try Instantly Ageless "Facelift in a Bottle" for an 8 - 10 hour quick fix!

Love your Lashes

If your eyelashes are a little sparse, we've got the remedy.

Sadly, even our eyelashes age. as hair follicles age, lashes can appear thinner and less dense. The cure is Latisse which "jumpstarts" hair follicles to stimulate growth, increases melanin pigment (resulting in darker lashes) and causes lashes to grow longer than they normally would. Use it once per day before bed. Just place a thin layer of solution along your upper eyelash line with a small brush. With the first tw0 months you will start to see darker, thicker, longer lashes.