Botox is actually a bacterium that can make you very ill, however doctors have found that a substance in botox can be used safely in medical procedures without causing any ill effects.

How does botox work?

Wrinkles are generally caused through tightening of the muscles, when the botox is injected through the skin into the muscles it stops them from tightening up, if the skin doesn’t tighten then the wrinkles don’t show as vivid.

Does this mean that no facial muscles will work properly?

If the practitioner is trained in the use of botox then problems won’t occur as they will inject only very small amounts of botox into the muscles around the area where the wrinkles are most prominent. Therefore, it is only the treated muscles which don’t work as they should and this shouldn’t have any affect on the rest of your face.

How long does the treatment last?

Botox treatment only works for a very limited time then the treatment will have to be repeated as the wrinkles start to show again, the wrinkles begin to show as the muscles start returning to normal and this time will vary from person to person.

Are there any side effects to the treatment?

There are a few side effects that are associated with treatment and these include droopy eyelids, a feeling like having the flu, an upset stomach and headache. There is also the very slight risk of botulism but this is very rare and if the botox is given correctly by a professional then it isn’t a really big concern.

If you are considering having botox then it is very important that you go to a trained medical practitioner to get the treatment, it is very important that you tell them if you are currently taking antibiotics or if you know that you have trouble with nerves or muscles. You should talk the procedure over with the practitioner before commencing treatment to make sure you fully understand the procedure and what the outcome is likely to be.

Dr. Berkley’s Skin and Body offers Botox Happy Hour, offering discounts on Botox injections. Call Dr. Berkley’s to schedule your free consultation and Botox appointment!

Along the lines of some other anti-aging and anti-wrinkle procedures, the Obagi Blue Peel is claimed to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your face to expose the fresh skin cells that lie beneath. Put more simply, this is a type of chemical peel for the face. This means that a skin care professional or Physician must be consulted initially, and then it is decided what level of Obagi Blue Peel treatment is needed. It is stated that this facial peel is used along with the Obagi Nu-Derm System, which may enhance the end result of the procedure.

The procedure is usually performed using a microdermabrasion wand that shoots tiny crystal particles (usually aluminum oxide, sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate) onto skin while simultaneously vacuuming up the dead skin that’s uncovered. Microdermabrasion is painless, though it may feel “prickly” in more intense treatments. The procedure can be done on the face only or may include the neck and chest–especially good for sun damage or discoloration on the decollate.

Now, the pain: The latest laser used in hair removal is the Cutera™ Coolglide® Laser which, as the name implies, cools your skin prior to lasering the area desired, resulting in a virtually painless treatment.  The most that is felt is a slight pinch or stinging sensation that is comparable to a light rubberband snap.  If the patient wishes, the physician may apply a topical anaesthetic to the more sensitive areas to be treated, but majority of the time the patient sees that the pain is so minimal that it is unnecessary.  The Physician is also able to adjust the settings of the laser, so if it is uncomfortable she will be able to lower it to your comfort level. 

And lastly, time:  Time is probably more of an issue for patients than pain when considering an aesthetic treatment of any kind.  Time  important in this busy working world, and we all seem to need just an extra hour in our days.  We at Dr. Berkley’s Skin and Body recognize that your time is valuable.  Laser hair removal a quick treatment, but of course depending on the area size you wish to treat, the time will comply.  The general amount of time for a treatment runs from 10 mins for underarms or upper lip, to 45 mins for the bikini area.  Of course the number of areas is a factor as well.  As the patient you will be given the information you need to easily fit laser hair removal into your schedule.  And remember that any aesthetic treatment that is for the benefit of yourself is worth taking the time for, because when you take the time to better yourself, aesthetically or otherwise, the results will be a better and more confident version of yourself.  Now some questions and answers about laser hair removal you may be asking.  And of course, if your questions are not answered here, please call us or submitt your questions here anytime! We look forward to helping you and potentially making you a less hairy individual!

How does coolglide® Laser Hair Removal work?

Laser hair removal is the use of laser energy to produce long-term hair reduction. This is accomplished by producing heat in the hair, which is transferred to the hair follicle, which in-turn produces inflammation, and this inflammation sends a signal to the hair follicle to go into the resting (telogen) phase.   The Coolglide®  laser is the newest and is an unique laser available today, in that it is able to effectively treat all skin types and tones, from lightest skin to darkest!

How many treatments will I need?

Normally, a series of three to six treatments are administered at four to eight week intervals depending upon the location of the hair.   However, the number of Coolglide laser treatments you may need depend on multiple factors icluding hair thickness, the area treated, and your hair growth cycle.   After a single treatment, the hair in the treated area usually thins drastically. However, it may not be completely gone, until subsequent treatments are given.  Since the hair grows in cycles, you may be necessary to have additional maintenance treatments to disable all the hair follicles in the treated area.  These maintenance treatments may eventually be required at only yearly intervals or even longer. This depends on the area being treated as well as the individual. As with any other traits in an individual, the frequency of maintenance treatments varies considerably from person to person.

 What areas can be treated?

 Any area, except near the eyes, be treated with laser hair removal. The most common areas requested are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, periareolar, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line, and legs.

Are there any side effects?

There are commonly few side effects with laser hair removal, the most common noticed are slight reddening and local swelling of the skin, similar to a sunburn.  In rare instances

If you’ve never had a facial, you might think you can do an “at home” version with just as good results, saving yourself a few bucks. But it is extremely difficult to self-diagnose your own skin (as I’m sure you know, it is very difficult to look at yourself objectively), and if you pick and prod at your face, more often than not it will only exacerbate the problem.  I often thought I had very dry skin and used moisturizer, but I also had acne and so I thought I could scrub them off, but it only became worse.  I got so frustrated I finally gave into a pleading esthetician friend at Dr. Berkley’s Skin and Body, and it opened up a whole new world.  My acne cleared up within a month (I kid you not) and my skin tone evened out.  It was as if that cruel game I refer to as “the cycle” had ended, and I was at peace with my face.  I gurantee that if you allow yourself to be in the hands of a trained aesthetician, you will see a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel right away.

But this is just my story.  Whatever your issue is with your skin–if it’s wrinkles and sagging,  the Epicuren facial will give you a instant lift; if it’s dullness or uneven blotchiness, the microdermabrasion facial is a magic wand (quite literally); and if acne troubles you the acne facial or the double surface (gylcolic acid) peel facial used with Bio Elements products will clear your skin sooner than you ever dreamed.  Partner your facials with an appropriate and customized skin care routine, like the Obagi system,  and you will see your face and your self-esteem in the way it was meant to be.