Celebrity Plastic Surgery, News, Gossip

By Lois W. Stern, Editor-at-Large, Makemeheal.com

Two simple words hold the keys to understanding the concept of skin renewal: wound and heal. The skill of the practitioner – be s/he dermatologist, esthetician or plastic surgeon – makes all the difference in whether that wound ultimately stimulates the production of healthier, younger looking skin, has little impact or, worst scenario, scars the patient.

That youthful glow you see in a child’s face is the result of constant skin renewal, the shedding of old skin cells continually being replenished with new cells. A baby’s skin is in a constant state of renewal, shedding old cells while growing new ones. Alas, as we enter our teen years and beyond, skin renewal already begins to slow.

Research has shown that by the time we reach our forties and fifties, skin sheds approximately once every fifty-three days. As old, unshed cells build up on the skin’s surface, they become dual culprits to our skin’s dull, aging appearance. This is where the skill and experience of a knowledgeable practitioner who understands both theory and technique behind the wound-heal concept can come to the rescue, helping us kick the skin out of its old habits and coaxing it along into some new ones. Today one popular method for accomplishing this goal is found in a variety of laser treatments. A second, lesser known method for achieving similar goals is through dermal roller treatments.

Let’s begin with a basic understanding or the anatomy of our skin.

Stratum Corneum (the outermost surface of the Epidermis)

The outer layer of our skin is called the epidermis, with the stratum corneum its outermost surface. Beneath the epidermis lies the dermis. When we talk about resurfacing the skin, we are targeting treatment within the epidermis. When we speak of remodeling for wrinkle treatments, we are targeting treatment within the mid-dermis.

The basic concept behind both laser and dermal roller technologies is the same: wound and heal. One must wound the skin to remove old surface tissue, which in turn stimulates the growth of new collagen.

Let’s first take a look at the newer breed of lasers, known as nonablative fractional lasers, claiming to produce the results of older ablative “field” lasers, but with minimal downtime. Fraxel is one fine example of these newer lasers.

To best understand how fractional lasers work, you need to think of your skin as a digital photograph in need of restoration or touch up. Just as you can alter a photographic image pixel by pixel, fractional lasers treat your skin with thousands of tiny microscopic laser spots. During treatment, these thousands of columns penetrate deeply into the dermis. What distinguishes fractional lasers is their ability to leave untouched specific skin areas while treating others. By creating microscopic treatment zones, the laser affects only a fraction of your skin at a time.

During treatment, the fractional laser penetrates the non-living protective barrier of the skin, the stratum corneum, as if it were a window, leaving it completely intact. It then creates microscopic “wounds” within the targeted areas well beneath the outermost epidermal layer of skin. Both epidermal and dermal tissue are removed. In so doing, it triggers the body’s natural healing process to accelerate the production of collagen and new, healthier skin cells.

Below you can see some befre/after photos of one patient treated with a Fraxel laser.

Now let’s take a look at the dermal roller technology, of which the Microneedle Roller is one fine example

The Microneedle Roller uses its 200 extremely fine needles to penetrate the skin. During treatment the Roller leaves the epidermal barrier fully intact, while creating micro-channel wounds with its 200 fine needles. An effective optional compliment to this treatment is the simultaneously infusion of therapeutic serums, which penetrate more deeply while the skin is in its wounded state. These channel wounds fully close within just a few hours after initial application, providing enough time for new collagen structures to form within the skin’s lower layers, but short enough recovery time to ensure the patient nearly immediate resumption of normal schedules.

Photos First Printed in Chapter 3 of Tick Tock, Stop the Clock

During treatment

Immediately following treatment and saline rinse

Clinically-conducted studies in South Korea, Europe, and U.S. have shown that the Roller can increase serum absorption by as much as 1,000 percent. Moreover, the Microneedle Roller is “skin friendly,” in that it leaves the epidermal barrier fully intact, and the micro-channels created by the 200 fine needles fully close within just a few hours after initial application. This provides just enough time for new collagen structures to form within the skin’s lower layers, while ensuring the patient of rapid recovery with the ability to almost immediately resume one’s normal schedule.

For every microscopic zone the Fractional laser or Roller targets and treats intensively, it leaves the surrounding tissue unaffected and intact, allowing the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area were treated at once. Both treatments wound the skin and then use the body’s natural healing process to create new, healthier, tighter tissue to replace the imperfections of the older skin.

Both the Microneedle Skin Roller and the non-ablative Fraxel laser are two viable non-surgical treatments for stimulating elastin and collagen production, thereby thickening the skin, smoothing away fine lines and wrinkles and ridding the skin of hyperpigmentations. Because these treatments spare healthy tissue, they are effective even on delicate skin areas such as the neck, chest and hands. But for more dramatic results, with the downside of more visible wounds and longer downtime, the ablative laser might be a better option for you.

Lois W. Stern, Editor-At-Large at Makemeheal.com, is the published author of two books: Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery www.sexliesandcosmeticsurgery.com and Tick Tock, Stop the Clock www.ticktockstoptheclock.com/ as well as a number of magazine articles. Her Professional Edition DVD is a popular aid to office staff while interacting with their patients. She and Patty Kovacs are the co-founders of http://coast2coastbeauty.com/CURRENT_NEWS.html. Check it out!

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By Patty Kovacs, Editor-at-Large, Makemeheal.com

Since the beginning of time, a woman’s lashes have been an integral part of the feminine mystique. This past December 16, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) approved multi-specialty health company Allergan’s eyelash-growth drug, Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution), 0.03% as a novel treatment for hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, a condition that means a person does not have enough eyelashes. Early in 2009, Latisse became available for purchase through physician prescription, and demand for the product is staggering.

Sales are booming and lashes are looking lush. Allergan, which also makes the blockbuster BOTOX Cosmetic, estimates global peak sales could top $500 million a year. The cost of a tube of Latisse Eyelash? A mere $125 for a 30-day supply. Users say it’s worth every pretty penny.

According to reports released, Latisse is a safe, once-daily prescription treatment. A dab from the mascara-like tube is applied to the base of the upper eyelashes with a sterile, single-use-per-eye, paint brush-like, disposable applicator. The results? Longer, thicker, darker eyelashes in just 16 weeks. Patients must continue treatment. If treatment is stopped, eyelashes gradually return to the length and condition they were prior to treatment.

The effects of Latisse were discovered inadvertently. Doctors and patients taking Allergan drug Lumigan found a side effect to be eyelash growth, prompting Allergan to study it for aesthetic use. Turned out to be a winning decision.

The active ingredient in Latisse is bimatroprost, the same ingredient in Allergan’s 7-yr glaucoma treatment Lumigan. Bimatoprost is a structural prostaglandin analog, a lipid compound derived from fatty acids designed to bind to prostaglandin (PG) receptors. PG receptors are present in hair, particularly in the dermal papilla and outer root sheath. Although the precise mechanism of action is unknown, PG receptors are thought to be involved in the development and regrowth of the hair follicle, by increasing the percent of hairs in, and the duration of, the anagen or growth phase.

“Latisse fulfills a significant and previously unmet need in the medical aesthetic marketplace with a product approved by the FDA that increases the growth of eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker,” said Scott Whitcup, M.D., Allergan’s Executive Vice President of R&D. “As the global leader in medical aesthetics, Latisse exemplifies our continuing commitment to developing innovative treatments that are studied in well-controlled clinical trials, manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, appropriately labeled for use, and available to consumers as a prescription product.”

Safety warnings also apply. Latisse is intended for use on the skin of the upper eyelid margins at the base of the eyelashes. It is NOT to be applied to the lower eyelid. If you are using Lumigan or other products in the same class for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), or if you have a history of abnormal IOP, you should only use Latisse under the close supervision of a doctor.

Allergan studies show the most common side effects after using Latisse solution are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness. This was reported in approximately 4% of patients. Latisse solution may cause other less common side effects which typically occur on the skin close to where Latisse is applied, or in the eyes. These include skin darkening, eye irritation, dryness of the eyes, and redness of the eyelids.

According to Allergan, Latisse use may cause darkening of the eyelid skin which may be reversible. Although not reported in clinical studies, Latisse use may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye (iris) which is likely to be permanent.

It is possible for hair growth to occur in other areas of your skin that Latisse frequently touches. Any excess solution outside the upper eyelid margin should be blotted with a tissue or other absorbent material to reduce the chance of this from happening. It is also possible for a difference in eyelash length, thickness, fullness, pigmentation, number of eyelash hairs, and/or direction of eyelash growth to occur between eyes. These differences, should they occur, will usually go away if you stop using Latisse .

If you develop a new ocular condition (e.g., trauma or infection), experience a sudden decrease in visual acuity, have ocular surgery, or develop any ocular reactions, particularly conjunctivitis and eyelid reactions, you should immediately seek your doctor.

If you develop or experience any eye problems or have eye surgery, consult your doctor immediately about continued use of Latisse .

That said, when I asked dermatologist Dr.Richard Glogau (www.sfderm.com) about Latisse, he replied, “To say that my patients are excited about their results from using Latisse is putting it mildly. It’s been incredible.” Glogau is a Latisse clinical study investigator and a University of California – San Francisco Professor of Dermatology.

With further clinical studies, Latisse might just be the answer for chemotherapy patients whose lashes have been sacrificed. It’s all looking very good.

Allergan recently collaborated with Make-A-Wish Foundation and is offering help and hope to children with catastrophic illness. In March of this year, Allergan hosted a star-studded event in Hollywood to launch Latisse Wishes, a charitable public awareness campaign designed to help make wishes come true supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

The campaign launched with an initial donation of $500,000 from Allergan to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Consumers are encouraged to help double this amount to $1 million by registering their support at www.latisse.com to help grant the wishes of children in their local communities. Between now and December 31, 2009, Allergan will donate $5 for each new visitor who registers online, up to an additional $500,000. And that is a beautiful thing.

How to Order Latisse?

A prescription and purchase of Latisse are available through your doctor or you can get Latisse here at www.makemeheal.com.

Patty Kovacs, Editor-At-Large at Makemeheal.com, is a published author and beauty expert. Patty is the Executive Producer/Host of The Health and Beauty Revolution Show on wsRadio. Her 800+ interviews include over 450 New York Times best-selling authors.

See Patty’s Websites: www.pattykovacevich.com

Patty Kovacs and Lois W. Stern are the co-founders of Coast to Coast - Eye on Beauty Newsletter. Check it out!

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February 6, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA

Make Me Heal (www.makemeheal.com), the world’s largest website for all things plastic surgery, cosmetic treatments, and anti-aging, has announced that over fifty top plastic surgeons have joined Makemeheal.com to answer questions live that are posted by consumers on the website’s Ask-An-Expert area. Launched in November of 2008, Ask-an-Expert is a free service that allows consumers to ask a question and get key answers from top doctors and experts about any procedure or topic within the fields of plastic surgery, dermatology, and skin care. Moreover, regular people from the Makemeheal.com community can also post responses to questions.

“Ask-an-Expert is rapidly becoming one of Makemeheal.com’s most popular areas of our portal, as it allows consumers to ask important questions and get answers from different leading doctors and experts at a click of a button — and for free,” says Ariel Perets, Founder & CEO of Makemeheal.com.

Aside from asking questions, users can simply use this incredible resource to do research numerous types of procedures, treatments, and products using sophisticated search functions on Ask-an-Expert.

Among the physicians answering questions on the Makemeheal.com site include Dr. Marcel Daniels, Dr. Brent Moelleken, Dr. Shervin Naderi, Dr. Alexander Rivkin, and other top plastic surgeons.

Check out Ask-An-Expert.

About Make Me Heal

Make Me Heal (www.makemeheal.com) is the world’s largest website for all things plastic surgery, beauty enhancement, and anti-aging.  With 1 million members and over 300,000 unique visitors per month, Make Me Heal is a one-stop portal for all the products, services, and information resources needed by the consumer.

Discover The Make Me Heal World…

• Find a great plastic surgeon on Makemeheal.com’s Plastic Surgeons Directory, check credentials, and read patient reviews of doctors.

• Chat, ask questions, and get advice from people on our Message Boards & Blogs.

• View or upload Before & After Plastic Surgery Pictures in the world’s largest photo library of women and men who’ve had plastic surgery.

• Ask top plastic surgeons questions & get answers live on Make Me Heal’s Ask-An-Expert area.
• Shop for Plastic Surgery Recovery & Preparation Products and Beauty & Skin Care Products.
  
• Read Plastic Surgery News & Gossip.

Visit the website: Make Me Heal

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‘Tis the season for holiday shopping and as our wish lists grow ever longer, we can’t help but wonder what our favorite celebs hope to find underneath their Christmas trees. Britney Spears has had one heck of a year, she’s gone from cocktail party punch line to slimmed-down super diva; this was definitely the year of the comeback for Brit-Brit.

So as Britney rolls out her new album Circus, what holiday goodies is our favorite songstress treating herself to this winter? Some beauty insiders have been buzzing about a few hot items that Britney is rumored to be getting for herself and her famous friends.

Well, with numerous performance dates booked and barely-there costumes to wriggle into, Britney Spears needs all the help she can get to keep her killer gams looking fabulous. As being silky smooth is every girl’s daily dilemma, insiders say Britney Spears is sure to love her new Silk’n purchase. The just-launched hot celebrity gadget is the first home laser hair removal device that lets any gal keep her legs, underarms, arms, and bikini area stubble-free and all without ever having to leave home — perfect for when the paparazzi have your place staked out with camera zooms at every angle, right Brit? The FDA-approved Silk’n home device provides professional-level results after 4-6 hair removal sessions and has shown 50% hair reduction in 3 months. Not only convenient, safe, and cheaper than spa laser hair treatments, Silk’n keeps you smooth 24-7. Britney Spears‘ comeback is in full swing, but she’s not exactly back on top yet, which is why even she appreciates Silk’n as both a money- and time-saver. Look for Silk’n to be one of the hottest stocking stuffers for many celebrities this holiday season. Click to learn more about Silk’n.

It’s true Britney’s never had any problem getting rid of unwanted hair (we all remember her famous head-shaving freak-out), but getting rid of unwanted flab is a different story. Britney Spears looks slim and trim in recent weeks, but her lackluster performance and chubby backside at the 2007 VMAs is a not-too-distant memory. The perfect holiday gift for the girl who has everything except perfectly-toned thighs? A Wellbox Anti-Cellulite/Wrinkle Machine. Since cellulite is exactly what no one wants to find in their stocking, the Wellbox LPG Machine revitalizes deep tissue action and stimulates the skin to repair itself. Not only does this little miracle-worker zap cellulite, it helps the user achieve smoother, softer skin with more elasticity.

After Britney Spears‘ tough year (and the hard-partying years before this), her face may also begin to show signs of age. Once done with the Wellbox on your body, try it on your face to soften and reduce lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin to create a glowing, radiant complexion. The best part about the Wellbox: try before you buy! The system is available to rent or own and even a diva like Britney appreciates the chance to take beauty products for a test-drive. The Wellbox has long been a fave with plastic surgeons and famous users include Britney’s party pal Paris Hilton, Katherine Heigl, and Paula Abdul, to name a few. Click to learn more about Wellbox.

Once Britney has her skin glowing from head to toe, she only needs to fret about all those pesky camera close-ups. Too often, our Miss Spears has been photographed with washed-out, puffy-looking eyes. Her perfect eye repair treatment this time of year? Revitalash, an eyelash conditioner, is guaranteed to both lengthen and thicken eyelashes to the point where friends will accuse you of wearing falsies. All Britney, or any would-be glamour girl, has to do is apply Revitalash like liquid eyeliner before bed and wait for the dramatic results. Famous fans include Jessica Simpson, Ivanka Trump, and Paula Abdul. Click to learn more about Revitalash.

As Britney crosses herself (and maybe even a few famous friends) off her holiday gift list, she’s sure to continue her comeback streak into 2009. Silk’n has Britney’s legs ready for a close-up, Wellbox keeps her bod in killer condition, and Revitalash gives Brit that little extra something to keep her face looking refreshed, relaxed, and outrageously glamorous. So treat yourself to a few beauty bonuses this holiday season, we don’t all have a new album to promote or sexy videos to shoot, but anyone can steal these must-haves right out from under Britney Spears‘ tree.

Where to find the products?

Buy Silk’n

Buy Wellbox

Buy Revitalash

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Does anyone know a woman who wouldn’t want to trade shaving and waxing regularly for a few painless treatments that will leave her hairless with silky skin? Because the answer for most women is a resounding no, the hottest present for this holiday season may just be a home laser hair removal device that keeps you hairless in unwanted areas for the long-term. Until now, laser hair removal has been a luxury treatment offered by doctors, aestheticians, and spas for anywhere from $400 to $900 per treatment area and on average for $3000 per year if you were treating legs, bikini line, and underarms. Now, the same laser technology is finally available to use at home safely and the FDA has approved two home-use laser devices that deliver professional-level hair removal results in the privacy of your own home with minimal discomfort.

The two FDA-cleared devices have just been launched and are Silk’n Hair Removal Device ($800) and the TRIA ($995). Besides the convenience of being able to forego the endless waxing and shaving routine and the cost savings relative to standard hair removal methods (see comparison table below), these devices have actually been proven to deliver excellent results in clinical studies.

(Left: Before Silk’n treatments, Right: 3.5 months after Silk’n treatments)

With Silk’n, women who participated in clinical trials achieved an average hair reduction of 50% following three months of bi-monthly treatment sessions. Using these devices is a relatively painless ritual, with most people reporting a slight sensation of heat, itch, or minor sting that goes away immediately after treatment. That may just be a small price to pay compared to painful waxing, continuous shaving routines, side effects like razor bumps and ingrown hairs, and expensive in-office treatments. The FDA cleared these devices for home-use, which means that when used as directed Silk’n or TRIA have been tested to have no side effects or risks. However, just like with professional spa hair removal devices, these home-devices should not be used on deep brown and black skin tones and they are not effective on blond, red, gray, or white body hair. The user satisfaction rate speaks for itself, as nearly 90% of women said they would recommend Silk’n to a friend or family member, and close to 90% described Silk’n as convenient, easy, useful and innovative.

For optimal results, the manufacturers of the devices recommend spacing treatments every two weeks during the first few months and then gradually reducing the number of treatments and using the devices again only when hair re-appears. The results are not immediate due to the nature of hair growing in cycles. During any cycle, some hair follicles will be dormant and will not be visible and then grow and become visible during the growth phase. Laser hair removal is only effective when the hair is in the growth cycle, which is why the treatments need to be repeated for some time.

The technology underlying Silk’n and TRIA is the very same technology behind professional machines found in spas and aesthetician offices. Light-based hair removal is based on the theory of selective photothermolysis in which optical energy is used to disable hair growth. To achieve this effect, the hair shaft needs to selectively absorb light energy and transform it into heat. This selectivity is achieved when high optical energy that is delivered to the tissue is mostly absorbed by hair shaft pigment, while the epidermis and the surrounding tissue is actively cooled (by a cooling mechanism). Melanin is the pigment in the hair shaft that is responsible for the absorption of the light, which generates the heat that eventually disables hair growth. When hair growth is disabled, long-term hair removal is achieved.

(Left: Before treatment, Middle: During laser hair removal; Right: After treatment)

Both Silk’n and TRIA have safety features to make the user experience as safe as possible. Silk’n comes equipped with an applicator tip that has been designed so that a light pulse can only be emitted when the applicator is in contact with the skin. This eliminates the possibility of an accidental flash of light directly towards a user’s eyes. Silk’n also uses a very low but effective level of energy, up to 5 joules per square centimeter. The TRIA includes a neat, proprietary skin sensor that enables the user to test their skin prior to each treatment to ensure that the user’s skin tone is compatible with TRIA.

With a price tag of less than $1,000, Silk’n and TRIA can save you more than just the hassle and pain of shaving and waxing — but money as well. The average cost of alternative hair removal over a period of 10 years is estimated to run anywhere from $3,400 to over $7,000, whereas Silk’n and TRIA can be used again and again, reducing the overall cost* of lasting hair removal.

*cost included time spent at $20 per hour

So which device works better?

In November this year, Good Morning America’s Becky Worley put the two devices to the test and used Silk’n on one leg and TRIA on the other for two and a half months. The results showed that Silk’n worked remarkably better than TRIA, which takes longer to deliver results.

“If I had to qualify the differences in hair growth for me, I’d say that after two weeks of not shaving either leg I have 70 percent less hair on the Silk’n leg and about 30 percent less hair on the Tria leg,” said Worley. “I haven’t counted the hairs, but I have twice as much hair on the Tria side as I do on the Silk’n side.”

Featuring a patented Home Pulsed Light (”HPL”) technology, Silk’n has a spot treatment size of 2cm by 6 cm, compared to the smaller spot size of 1 cm diameter of the TRIA, a diode laser. This means that Silk’n covers more area with less time than the TRIA. On average, the underarms can be treated in as little as 5 minutes by Silk’n and two lower legs can be treated in less than 30 minutes.

Dr. R. Stephen Mullholland, a cosmetic plastic surgeon in practice in Los Angeles, California and Toronto, Canada believes that compared to TRIA, Silk’n is “not as painful and the effective treatment size [with Silk’n] is probably about 300% larger, so it is much faster.” Dr. Mullholland, who has tested the two systems, also points to the advantage of Silk’n running on regular household current with unlimited power, unlike the battery-operated Tria which provides power “for only a limited number of pulses, so you cannot treat an entire lower leg on one charge.”

While the devices are both being marketed to women, that is not to say that men have not rushed to try the devices either. With men accounting for 13% of the laser hair removal market, it is not surprising to find men buying Silk’n and TRIA.

So if you’re still undecided what to get your significant other, friend, relative, or for yourself, you may just want to consider Silk’n or TRIA, which is certainly heating up to be one of the most sought after gifts during this holiday season.

Where can I find Silk’n & TRIA?

• Shop for Silk’n here
  
• TRIA is sold exclusively through physicians’ offices

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A geological phenomenon located in Israel, the Dead Sea’s waters are known for being a Fountain of Youth. At 400 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is not only the world’s lowest natural body, but is one of the saltiest.  Being 8.6 times saltier than the ocean, the Dead Sea contains the highest levels of silica, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium of any body of water in the world. These high concentrations of nutrients and minerals are increasingly being tapped by skin care companies to deliver products that can enhance the health and condition of the skin.

The combination of highly concentrated minerals makes the Dead Sea Salts excellent at detoxifying and exfoliating the skin, along with deeply cleansing the pores. These salts also strengthen and firm skin tissue, while stimulating blood circulation. Dead Sea Salts essentially peel off dead skin cells to stimulate collagen renewal. In addition, they provide balance to your skin, and sustain balanced water and moisture levels.

Today, several dead sea salts skin care brands have channeled the healing powers of the Dead Sea into skin care products. Examples of such brands include Nio Dead Sea Skin Care, whose Nio Salt & Oil Body Scrub has become a Make Me Heal staff favorite. The Nio scrub combines the Dead Sea’s healing abilities with common nourishing oils, such as jojoba oil, wheat germ oil, olive oil, sesame oil, and avocado oil. These oils interact well with the Dead Sea Salts, as they provide additional wrinkle-reducing, pH-balancing anti-aging properties.

Another well known brand is Ahava Skin Care,  which means Love in Hebrew. One of our favorite products from the comprehensive line is the Ahava Dead Sea Mineral Mud, which is a rich formulation of black mineral mud straight from the Dead Sea which cleans and purifies the body’s skin in a way that a regular cleanser just can’t do. If you’ve ever had a mud treatment in a spa, the feeling is similar as Ahava’s Mud leaves your skin feeling incredibly smooth and moisturized.

With more skin care brands now channeling the powers of the Dead Sea, you can now enjoy its skin healing and restorative benefits from the comfort of your home.

Check out the full lines of Nio and Ahava here:

Nio Dead Sea Skin Care

Ahava Dead Sea Skin Care

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Nothing beats being a mother, as the glow of a pregnant woman is probably one of the most beautiful sights to behold. But pregnancy and motherhood can also mean the onslaught of undesirable physical changes such as deflating and sagging breasts. While some women are able to get back their original breast size and shape, others cannot achieve their old perkiness and breast volume without a breast augmentation and/or breast lift. But if you’re leery of going under the knife, there is a new breed of products that promise to perk up your breast without the surgery.

Mama Mio Boob Tube is one such product that claims to be a push up bra in a cream that helps firm and lift the breasts of mothers at all phases of their lives, including pregnant, nursing, or regular moms of all ages. Light yet nourishing, Mama Mio Boob Tube has a few active ingredients including CoQ10 which is important for skin strength and elasticity, Shea Butter and Dandelion Root for restoring skin tone, Evening Primrose Oil, Avocado oil, and a rich blend of omega 3, 6, and 9 for packing a perky punch to your breasts. Mama Mio is a brand with many products for pregnant women and mothers and it is used by a slew of celebrities, including Victoria Beckham, Rachel Weisz, Kirsten Dunst, Christina Aguilera, Stella McCartney, Christy Turlington, Milla Jovovich, Emma Bunton, Jennifer Beals, and Lindsay Davenport to name a few.

Rodial Boob Job is another product that claims to increase your breast size by 8.4% (how accurate). It works by trapping fat cells in the bust and décolleté areas for an instant lifting and firming effect. Rodial Boob Job is made from phytosterol, derived from an Asian root, and does not have hormonal activity. Gradual cup size increases can be seen within 56 days.

Check out the full line of Mama Mio Skin Care

Check out the full line of Rodial Skin Care

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The market for face & body rejuvenation home devices is breaching at the seams, as it seems that everyday there is a new Light Emitting Diodes (LED) or light therapy device that aims to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, diminish hyperpigmentation and age spots, and fend of acne.

To separate the true winners from the losers, Make Me Heal polled customers, message board posters, and online reviews to make sense of which are the best home devices for face and body rejuvenation.

Among the interesting crop of home devices is the Tanda Skincare System, a FDA-cleared home device that uses strong LEDs along with a microprocessor control and proprietary optics to deliver clinical levels of light through a portable device. The Tanda is versatile and comes with two different heads, a blue light head (414 nm) for zapping away acne and a red light head (660 nm) for diminishing lines and wrinkles. The 414nm blue LED treatment is scientifically proven to kill the Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) bacteria that causes mild to moderate acne and scientifically proven to reduce P.acnes colonies up to 86% after 6 minutes of exposure. The 600nm red light source has been shown to accelerate the skin’s natural healing processes as well as stimulates the production of collagen for skin rejuvenation. Check out the Tanda Skincare System.

Another promising device is the Baby Quasar light therapy device, which is more powerful and uses four different wavelengths, between 600 and 1200 nm to combat acne, blemishes, age Spots, Skin redness, rosacea, Fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, and skin laxity. If you are up for a professional-level version of the Quasar and are able to plunk down $1150, there are also the Quasar Pro Blue for acne and the Quasar Pro Red with 24 ultra bright LEDs for facial rejuvenation. Check out the Baby Quasar suite of products.

Similar to the Tanda is the Ageless Beauty Marvel Mini, which also has different models for wrinkle reduction (Marvel Mini Red), acne (Marvel Mini Blue), and hyperpigmentation (Marvel Mini Green).

Venturing lower down the body, there are now some exciting new devices targeting aging hands and feet. In this market, the main player is Revitalight Handspa for the hands and the Revitalight Footspa for the feet.

The Revitalight products are professional-level devices that have been used for years by top dermatologists and spas, and are now newly available for consumers who wish to make their hands and feet look young again. Check out Revitalight. There are many other devices that are coming out, but the key to knowing which may be more effective is determining if the manufacturer is producing a quality light therapy device, the strength of the device, and whether the company has a history in the LED device market.

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There’s an exciting new skin care line that’s all about love and it’s called Exuberance. Founded by a lady who grew up on a boat, Exuberance is a cutting-edge line of semi-organic skincare for the face and body. Devoted to the empowerment of women, every product provides safe, effective solutions to pamper and love your skin, with inspiring and authentic messages written on the packaging to uplift your soul. The mission of Exuberance is love- inside and out.

What I love most about this line are the luxurious blends of natural ingredients in each product that are cleverly balanced together. I’ve already created myself an exuberant regimen that embraces my entire day, where the morning starts with the Exuberance Radiance Daily Green Tea Facial Cleanser, which leaves your skin squeaky clean thanks to the combination of Vitamin A, B, C, E and Green tea. Next, follow up with the Exuberance Believe Sweet Tangerine Balancing Facial Toner, which blasts your face with a full dose of Vitamin C, Sugar Maple, and Sweet Tangerine in an alcohol-free formula that leaves the face feeling healthy and smelling amazing. When it comes to the moisturizers, I recommend the Exuberance She’s So Lovely Balancing Rose Daily Moisturizer. For the eyes, the Exuberance Optimism Periwinkle & Aloe Uplifting Eye Gel works a lil’ magic on little fine lines and makes the overall under-eye area look tighter and firmer. While unwinding at home, you can ask your significant other to rub you down with the Exuberance Love Dark Chocolate & Mint Hand & Body Lotion or the equally delicious Exuberance “Your Skin” Blue Chamomile Bath, Body, & Massage Cream.

I leave you with a little love note that is on the back of the She’s So Lovely moisturizer:

Open Love Letter #21

We’ll agree- we don’t know what you look like, about the cut of your hair or the turn of your cheek, but we without-a-doubt know that there is something about you that is heartbreakingly pure and elegant in its truth. And this, my dear, makes you absolutely, well, lovely. (shine on, glamour girl, shine on).

Check out the full line of Exuberance Skin Care.

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We’ve all heard how most of the skincare products that we apply on the skin never actually penetrate through to the deep layers of the skin, which results in very little delivery of the product’s active ingredients to dermis. Now, there is a hot new at-home device that solves this problem called the skin roller. The skin roller uses extremely fine needles which penetrate the skin just enough to stimulate elastin and collagen repair. Most skin products are applied only to the surface of the skin and 99% of these products are removed by the environment or wiped off during the day and night. Research has shown that using a skin roller such as the one from MTS Microneedle Skin Roller, Leaf & Rusher Tx Roller, or Dermaroller can increase absorption of serums by as much as 1,000 times and improve the effectiveness of active ingredients like vitamin A and C.

The skin roller treatment creates thousands of tiny punctures in the skin that open micro-channels that close within just a few hours after the application. This provides just enough time for new collagen structures to form within the skin’s lower layers, but short enough to ensure that you can resume your normal schedule. The result is the build-up of collagen over a period of four to eight weeks, which improves the skin’s appearance.

A typical skin roller can come with different needle depths, ranging from 0.2 and 0.5 millimeters to more professional-level depths such as 1.0-2.0 mm. When using a needle up to 1.0mm, there is no pain and no need for a numbing cream, although deeper needle rollers may require a numbing cream. The needle treatment may cause redness and swelling for a day, but most people have not reported any real discomfort.

A good deal of people on Make Me Heal have been raving about the skin rollers and have reported positive results. Check out the reviews on the rollers on the Make Me Heal Forums.

Click here to find Skin Dermal Rollers.

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