“Beauty is about feeling good and looking your very best. Beauty is not just physical but an emotional quality in how we perceive ourselves and others. Each individual has their own definition of beauty and how it defines them. Over the years the definition of beauty has been shaped by the evolution of cultures. Now more than ever, taking care of ourselves and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential in the quest for beauty.

Skincare is very important to looking and feeling young. As the skin ages it loses precious collagen and elastin. Depending on sun exposure throughout our lifetime, we also develop photo induced changes such as wrinkles and “age spots” brought on by sun damage.

In a quest to stay looking young and beautiful there are many things we can do to not only treat such changes but also prevent them. Sun protection is key. Preventing damage before it is done is crucial in maintaining healthy skin and keeping skin as youthful as possible. Sun protection with a physical block, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, is preferable as well as the use of antioxidants to further fight free radicals targeting the skin. Individuals, young and old, should also take advantage of daily use of a retinoid to turn over dull skin and stimulate collagen production. These products can be started early to really improve the integrity of the skin and slow down the aging process.

For those that are starting to see the effects of aging, have no fear! There are many things you can do to look and feel better about your appearance. As we get older the facial muscles, particularly in the upper face, begin to show our age as lines form perpendicular to the fibers running throughout the muscle. This is responsible for the infamous “11s” we see between the eyes that give the impression of anger and tiredness. For this, Botox is used to soften the dynamic lines and give us a refreshed, smooth appearance of the skin.

Beauty is also evident in smooth, clear and even-toned skin. As we age we commonly see brown spots form that are induced by the sun as well as hormones. Magazines and advertisements promote skin without any blemishes or spots and many people use cover up and makeup to conceal such areas on their skin. However, there are many treatments that can improve the hyper-pigmentation, or dark spots. One in particular is the Precision MD Spot Peel. This treatment is an in office peel that lightens dark spots and brightens skin. The peel contains lactic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid and antioxidants to renew skin and improve the complexion. With use of the Spot Peel home care kit for four weeks following the peel a remarkable difference is noted in the skin.

Also in our ongoing quest for beauty remains the aesthetics of the body. Beauty encompasses a healthy physique and figure which keeps individuals feeling younger. To meet this demand body contouring has become increasingly popular, particularly non-surgical options. CoolSculpting is an FDA cleared device utilized for non-surgical fat reduction. CoolSculpting was developed at Harvard Medical School by world renowned doctors. It is ideal to treat stubborn fatty bulges non-responsive to traditional diet and exercise.

Popular treatment areas include upper and lower abdomen, love handles, upper back and thighs. The procedure is completely non-invasive and results are evident as soon as 3 weeks after treatment. Over the course of 2-3 months you will see the fat diminish in the treatment region by approximately 20-30%. This technique has no down time and fits into the lifestyle of individuals seeking to look and feel their very best.

As we transform ourselves to look better, we in turn feel better as well. True beauty is not only a physical attribute but a way of life. Aesthetic procedures are a means to improve our appearance as we strive to become better people and improve ourselves. After all, feeling and looking beautiful is a true transformation of the mind and body.”