Dr. James Thacker, owner of Reflections Medspa, offers microdermabrasion to clients in Fort Collins. He explains that “dermabrasion” means to abrade (wearing away through friction) the skin by removing the surface layer. The micro part, Dr. Thacker adds, is using tiny crystals in the process. Dr. Thacker adds that this top layer of skin where the Ft Collins Microdermabrasion treatment is applied is known as the stratum corneum and it is made up of dead skin cells that act as a barrier over the new skin cells underneath. Removing the surface layer has many benefits for the skin like minimizing fine line lines, blemishes, sun damage, and hyper-pigmentation (discoloring) revealing fresher, smoother skin. Microdermabrasion can be applied to the face, neck, arms, and hands.

Another benefit of Ft Collins Microdermabrasion is the procedure increases blood flow to the surface of the skin increasing oxygenation which encourages cell renewal. The massaging action of the treatment creates a flushing cleansing effect leaving a more vibrant and healthier-looking complexion. As the procedure has very few side effects, people can return to normal activity fairly quickly and is appropriate for all six skin types even those with sensitive skin.

Although there are minimal side effects, Dr. Thacker has skin care recommendations for after a microdermabrasion treatment. He advises limiting exposure to the sun for 72 hours and to avoid excessive heat like saunas, hot tubs, and steam rooms, and using a good moisturizer and sun block. In addition, people should wait about three days before and after microdermabrasion treatment before using retonoids and glycolic acid-based creams. The number of Ft Collins Microdermabrasion treatments people need depend on their skins types and what they are looking to achieve. This is all discussed at your initial free consultation.

Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, it is important to learn as much as possible about all aspects of your treatment. By staying informed, people are able to make better decisions about their skin care.

If you are interested in Ft Collins Microdermabrasion, but are still uncertain of whether or not it’s right for you, come in to Reflections Medspa for a free consultation.

So how does one decide which facial is best for their skin type? Spa owner Launa Stone says the best place to start is the medical spa’s website. Her Calabasas facials spa offers full descriptions of each of the facials it offers online. Stone recommends taking a moment to look at what options are available before coming into the spa. If no one single option seems right, then she recommends trying a custom facial.

At Stone’s medical spa in Calabasas, facials always include a free consultation to determine the client’s skin type, along with what her needs are. Based on this analysis, a determination will be made as to what type of facial is going to help the client get the best result in as little time as possible.

Every client’s skin is different, explains Stone. Some people are acne prone, some people are sensitive, some people have sun damage or dry, aged skin, and some have combination skin that includes features from every category mentioned above. Thankfully, unique facials have been developed to address each of these issues.

The most popular facial option at Stone’s facials spa in Calabasas is the signature treatment. The Launa Stone Medical Spa signature facial, which is called the ‘Dripping with Diamonds’ facial, is an excellent option for people with all skin types. It starts out with microdermabrasion to remove all the dead skin cells, then vacuums out the pores to get rid of the makeup, smog, pollution, and dirt that is clogging the skin. After this, clients can expect to immediately see smoother, softer skin.

The next step in the signature facial is the hydrofacial, which is like a steam cleaning for the face. This process flushes out the cells with a special tip that forms a vortex and swirls away any residual dirt that has been left in the bottom part of the pores. At the same time, the hydrofacial deep cleans the face while infusing vitamins and antioxidants into the skin.

Finally, the last step of this special facial involves using liquid nitrogen on the skin, which is very cold and very soothing. This step of the process is meant to close off the pores and seal in those vitamins. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, an anti-microbial, and an anti-bacterial.

For more information on facials and laser hair removal, Stone recommends getting in contact with her spa to learn about all the options that are available.

Atul Bembi, DO, of West Point Medical Center, a center that offers the photo facial in Fontana, CA, explains that treatment with IPL (intense pulsed laser) is non-invasive, highly effective, and requires virtually no downtime, making it an ideal approach for skin conditions ranging from sun damage to acne. Here, Dr. Bembi says, are three great reasons to try a photo facial.

#1: Photo facials can address multiple cosmetic concerns in a single session

The photo facial is anything but a one-trick pony. In fact, it’s one of the most versatile treatment options available at medical spas today. Photo facials can be used to treat discoloration caused by age and sun exposure, some types of inflammation, and even unsightly broken capillaries. According to Dr. Bembi, IPL can be effective against:

• Brown spots caused by age or sun
• Redness from broken capillaries
• Acne
• Rosacea
• Freckles
• Red or ruddy skin

In addition to treating the face, IPL can also be used on the chest, hands and neck – other areas that tend to show some of the first signs of age.

#2: Photo facials require no downtime

Unlike other treatment options for brown spots and redness, photo facials require virtually no downtime. The most common treatment for pigmentation issues, a chemical peel, often requires a lengthy, uncomfortable recovery period. But after your treatment with IPL, you can return to your normal activities right away – even the same day.

After a photo facial, you can expect to experience some redness and to see the dark spots on your skin become darker before they disintegrate and flake off. This usually occurs within a couple of weeks after the treatment. Aside from wearing sunscreen (the procedure makes your skin far more susceptible to additional sun damage), there is very little you need to do to care for your skin after a photo facial.

#3: Photo facials are relatively comfortable

As compared to a chemical peel, IPL is relatively comfortable. This makes it ideal for patients who’ve shied away from chemical peels because of concerns about pain. While chemical peels can be quite effective, they’re notoriously uncomfortable and involve significant stinging afterward. In fact, prescription medications are often required to manage the pain. Although there is some discomfort associated with IPL (it’s often described as similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin), most patients find the procedure quite tolerable, and there is usually no discomfort after the procedure is finished.

Safe, effective and highly versatile, IPL offers a minimally invasive way to reverse some of the first signs of aging and diminish redness. And for patients in the Fontana area, IPL treatment in the capable hands of Dr. Bembi and his team at West Point Medical Center is just a phone call away.

Which type of facial is best for anti-aging? According to Anirudha Miryala of Boca Raton facial spa Anoo’s Herbal Day Spa, Ayurvedic treatment offers outstanding anti-aging results using only all-natural products and techniques perfected over thousands of years.

The facial treatments offered at Anoo’s combine traditional Ayurvedic principles with a personalized approach designed to provide the very best anti-aging benefits for each client. Here, Miryala says, are two of the facials offered at Anoo’s and the anti-aging benefits of each.

The Anoo’s Indian Facial

The traditional Indian facial offered at Anoo’s, Miryala says, has been rated the number one facial (for results and relaxation) in all of India as well as in the United Kingdom. The treatments used during this 90-minute facial, she says, are customized for each client using fresh fruits and vegetables. The benefits of this facial are detoxification, exfoliation, increased blood flow, toned facial muscles, and stress relief. Included are a “mummy” mask (for relaxation), a hand massage, and a foot massage.

Anoo’s Advanced Anti-Aging Facial

Recommended for the elderly or clients with scaly, wrinkle-prone skin, Anoo’s advanced anti-aging/vitamin C facial is used to revitalize and hydrate aging skin. This facial lasts between 45 and 60 minutes and, like all of Anoo’s treatments, can be tailored to the individual client’s needs. The result? Smooth, youthful skin, says Miryala.

The Anoo’s Advantage

Anoo’s is a trusted name in India and around the world. Founded by four sisters, including Miryala herself, Anoo’s is dedicated to providing world-class spa services and all-natural products. Anoo’s Herbal Day Spa in Boca Raton is the first spa of its kind in the U.S.

All of the treatments offered at Anoo’s, Miryala says, have been designed specifically for use at Anoo’s spas in India and, now, in the United States. “We grow our own herbs,” she says, “and prepare everything from scratch.” The herbs are pounded by hand on rocks in the traditional ways so as to provide the most benefit. And each herbal preparation is freshly made for the client before it’s applied to the skin.

Anoo’s believes in creating holistic solutions for the mind and the body, says Miryala. As opposed to modern day, equipment-intensive cosmetic procedures, Anoo’s believes in proven, ancient methods rooted in nature. As an Indian company, Anoo’s bases all of its body and soul therapies on the 5000-year old Hindu tradition of Ayurveda, once used by kings and queens for relaxation and beautification.

“We believe that beauty has gone from skin deep to soul deep,” says Miryala. “More and more people – young and old, men and women, from every walk of life – are realizing the importance of feeling cleansed, inside out. That’s what we offer at Anoo’s.”

The Indian Facial

This unique 90-minute facial begins with very slow massage using a mixture of orange juice, glycerin, honey and vitamin E to cleanse, hydrate and detoxify the skin. Orange juice is a natural cleansing agent and astringent, and also provides valuable vitamin C. Glycerin, also a cleansing agent, helps the skin retain moisture and provides additional vitamin C. Vitamin E has powerful antioxidant properties and also fights the effects of aging. Finally, honey provides detoxification benefits. This process of massage not only cleanses and eliminates toxins; it also releases stress and smooths fine lines and wrinkles.

The initial cleansing process is followed by another massage using cucumber and papaya. Cucumber is an astringent and a cooling agent. Papaya, a natural exfoliant, helps remove dead skin cells.

Next, a mask is applied and reflexology is performed on the hands and feet. “We believe reflexology works the best when the skin is at its most relaxed,” says Miryala. “During the facial, the whole body is relaxed, so the reflexology is much more beneficial.”

Reflexology is a gentle form of massage based on the belief that certain reflex points in the hands and feet correspond to all parts of the body. Applying gentle pressure to specific points on these extremities can positively affect the major organs and systems of the body, promoting overall health and wellness. Ayurvedic reflexology stimulates blood and lymphatic movement, delivers nutrients to tissues, warms and relaxes muscles, regulates energy, and calms the body and mind.

The Anoo’s Difference

Like all of the treatment options at Anoo’s, the Indian facial was developed exclusively for Anoo’s highly successful chain of day spas in India. The Boca Raton branch of Anoo’s Herbal Day Spa is the first of its kind in the United States, and is run by one of the founders of the Anoo’s franchise, Miryala herself.

“We develop our treatments,” she says, “based on our own research. And they represent traditional Ayurvedic treatments that have been perfected over the course of thousands of years.”

All of the treatments, she says, can be customized based on the individual clients needs, and all are 100% natural. No chemicals are used at all, even to cleanse the skin. In addition to the Indian facial, Anoo’s offers a wide range of skincare treatments, including an innovative, highly effective anti-acne facial, an intensive anti-aging facial, and facials designed to rehydrate and lighten the skin.

In conventional microdermabrasion, crystals are used along with a mechanical device to exfoliate the skin. But according to Anirudha Miryala of Anoo’s Herbal Day Spa, an Ayurvedic day spa in Boca Raton, Florida, there’s a better, more natural way. Herbal microdermabrasion, she says, offers the same skin-smoothing benefits as conventional microdermabrasion, but without chemicals, machines or harsh abrasives.

Why Herbal?

Anoo’s Herbal Day Spa, Miryala explains, is rooted in the principles of ancient Indian Ayurvedic science. Each and every treatment is performed using only natural ingredients and according to techniques that have been perfected over the course of thousands of years.

All of the herbs used in the treatments at Anoo’s are hand-pounded to produce a fine powder. When the dried leaves are pounded, they leave behind veins (sticks). These sticks are then ground and used as an exfoliating agent. While the crystals used in conventional microdermabrasion have no beneficial properties, the veins used in herbal microdermabrasion offer benefits of their own.

“Regular microdermabrasion is like using sandpaper on your skin – that’s all,” says Miryala. “But because each plant has its own properties, the material we use in our herbal microdermabrasion can restore and heal the skin.”

Conventional microdermabrasion can also cause bleeding and discomfort, particularly if the client has acne or other types of inflammation. Often, clients are sent home with chemical products to disinfect the skin after their treatment. Because the materials used in herbal microdermabrasion have their own disinfecting properties, skin is disinfected as the procedure is being performed.

How It’s Done

At Anoo’s, microdermabrasion is performed using a muslin cloth pouch. Unlike conventional microderm, which is often performed dry, Anoo’s uses a cream base to reduce discomfort and inflammation. To begin, milk and lemon is curdled together and then used along with the microderm pouch to massage the skin.

“Using the cream base means that the client doesn’t feel the peeling or the dryness they feel with other types of microderm,” Miryala says, “but they get the same results.” There is also no bleeding involved, even if the skin is inflamed.

The Benefits

According to Miryala, herbal microdermabrasion at Anoo’s is a short but highly effective procedure, offering results that rival those achieved with chemical peels. Not only does the herbal pouch peel away the damaged layer of the skin, it also disinfects, is anti-fungal, prevents the formation of acne and rashes, and leaves skin healthy and glowing.  The treatment also activates the glands and is safe even for sensitive skin.

“At Anoo’s, we take special pride in our heritage of quality and customer satisfaction,” says Miryala. “The herbal microdermabrasion pouch is just one of the many all-natural Ayurvedic treatment options we offer for face and body.”

How Does Microdermabrasion Work?

Used to treat uneven skin tone, blotches, blemishes, and fine lines, microdermabrasion involves sloughing away dead and damaged surface skin cells to reveal the smoother, younger-looking skin below. Most microdermabrasion machines circulate salt or alumninum hydroxide crystals across the surface of the skin. Some use diamond-tipped heads.

A completely non-invasive, non-chemical approach to reversing the first signs of aging, microdermabrasion is usually comfortable, quick, and involves zero downtime. “Microdermabrasion is very popular because it’s the perfect ‘lunchtime’ procedure,” says Dr. Kanase. “You can immediately return to your normal activities afterward.”

Risks Associated with Microdermabrasion

According to Dr. Kanase, when performed properly, microdermabrasion is safe and effective for most skin types. However, microdermabrasion machines and operators vary widely in terms of their “aggressiveness.” And in patients with underlying problems like broken capillaries or aggravated rosacea, microdermabrasion can do more harm than good. “In these patients,” Dr. Kanase says, “irritation or broken capillaries can be the unintended results of microdermabrasion.” Although microdermabrasion is widely available in non-medical settings (such as  salons and spas), Dr. Kanase recommends that patients with sensitive skin seek advice from their doctors before undergoing treatment.

The Alternative

If you have very sensitive skin, Dr. Kanase, says, then you may wish to consider an ultrasonic facial rather than classic microdermabrasion. The ultrasonic facial (also called ultrasonic microdermabrasion) uses ultrasound waves instead of abrasive salts or crystals to achieve an exfoliating effect. The ultrasound waves, he explains, activate water droplets (sprayed onto the face before the procedure) into tiny jet streams. A totally non-abrasive approach to skin resurfacing, the ultrasonic facial deep cleans pores, removing the dirt and debris that can cause breakouts. It also gently removes dead and damaged surface cells to improve the appearance and texture of skin.

The ultrasonic facial works so well, Dr. Kanase says, that his clinic has abandoned classic microdermabrasion altogether. “We tried all kinds of microdermabrasion machines,” he says, “but when we began offering the ultrasonic facial, none of our patients were interested in going back to regular microdermabrasion.” The ultrasonic facial, Dr. Kanase says, offers far superior results without the risks associated with abrasive skin resurfacing methods. Best of all, “it can work for everyone.”

The Disadvantages of Chemical Peels

The chemical peel is among the oldest and most common anti-aging procedures available. Traditionally used to treat discoloration, age spots, uneven skin tone, acne scars and fine lines and wrinkles, chemical peels involve the application of an acid solution to remove damaged layers of skin. Chemical peels are available in several strengths. Light chemical peels are generally used to treat very minor skin problems like dryness, minor wrinkles and acne. Medium chemical peels are used for light wrinkling, more serious acne and hyperpigmentation. Deep chemical peels, which offer the most dramatic results, are used for deeper wrinkles and dark sun spots.

According to Dr. Kanase, while chemical peels are effective, they all involve some undesirable side effects, regardless of the type you choose. With light and medium peels, you can expect to experience redness, stinging , flaking and crusting for several days after the procedure. With deeper peels, you can expect to experience these symptoms for even longer. In some cases, redness can persist for up to three or four months after the procedure.

There are also risks involved, particularly with deep chemical peels. Some patients experience infection or scarring after the procedure. It is also possible, says Dr. Kanase, to develop undesirable changes in skin color after a chemical peel. Sometimes this condition is temporary, but sometimes it’s permanent.

The Advantages of the Ultrasonic Facial

The ultrasonic facial, says Dr. Kanase, offers patients an opportunity to safely and gently remove unhealthy surface skin cells, revealing smoother, brighter, younger-looking skin. Similar to microdermabrasion, the ultrasonic facial uses ultrasound waves and water to create a gentle “sanding” effect.  Appropriate even for patients with very sensitive skin, the ultrasonic facial produces excellent results with none of the side effects associated with chemical peels.

To perform an ultrasonic facial, a technician first sprays the face with water, then uses a special ultrasound wand to active the water droplets. The ultrasound waves, Dr. Kanase explains, create tiny jets of water that can remove dirt, grime and debris from pores and slough off dead, dull skin cells. The procedure encourages cell turnover and improves the texture and appearance of the skin.

Because the ultrasonic facial is non-abrasive, non-chemical and very gentle, it’s quick, comfortable and involves absolutely no downtime. The perfect “lunchtime” procedure, an ultrasonic facial offers immediate results that get even better over time.  “Our patients absolutely love it,” says Dr. Kanase. And because results improve with continued treatments, he usually recommends a series of ultrasonic facials to achieve optimal anti-aging effects. “This is a procedure you can repeat often to achieve and maintain beautiful results.”

What Is Dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion, says Dr. Kanase, is a skin resurfacing procedure during which damaged layers of skin are removed using a special surgical instrument. “It’s like using sandpaper to smooth the top of the skin,” says Dr. Kanase.  The procedure, he says, is done under general anesthesia and involves a long, painful recovery period. “Dermabrasion is hardly done anymore because there are so many better ways to achieve similar results with less pain and much shorter recovery time.”

How Is Ultrasonic Microdermabrasion Different?

Microdermabrasion works on the same principle as dermabrasion – remove damaged skin to reveal the healthier, younger skin cells below. Unlike dermabrasion, however, microdermabrasion is completely non-invasive. Rather than scraping away layers of skin, microdermabrasion machines gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead, dull skin cells to reveal brighter, more youthful skin. Microdermabrasion is used to treat sun spots, age spots, uneven skin tone, acne scarring and other minor imperfections.

Many microdermabrasion machines rely on tiny crystals (salt or aluminum hydroxide) to exfoliate the skin, but the ultrasonic version instead uses ultrasound waves in combination with water. While classic microdermabrasion produces good results, Dr. Kanase believes ultrasonic microdermabrasion to be even better.

First, the exfoliating action of the water droplets, which turn into tiny jets when activated by the ultrasound, produces noticeable results right away. The tiny water jets deep clean pores, slough away dead, dry surface cells and stimulate cell turnover. This results in younger-looking skin without pain or long recovery periods. In fact, ultrasonic microdermabrasion involves zero downtime. “You simply walk in, have the treatment, then return immediately to your normal activities,” says Dr. Kanase.

And ultrasonic microdermabrasion is even more gentle to the skin. While microdermabrasion is safe for most people, the abrasive action of the crystals can sometimes cause broken capillaries in patients with particularly sensitive skin. Because ultrasonic is completely non-abrasive, it doesn’t cause similar side effects. Using ultrasound waves also allows your aesthetician to drive potent cosmeceuticals – moisturizers, anti-aging serums, acne treatments, and so forth – more deeply into the skin, depositing them just below the surface, where they can be much more effective and than those medicines left on the skin’s surface.

The bottom line, says Dr. Kanase, is that ultrasonic microdermabrasion is a completely pain-free, non-invasive, gentle approach to skin resurfacing that can help nearly anyone achieve smoother, younger-looking skin. “My patients absolutely love it,” he says. “It’s one of our most popular treatments.”

Better Results than Microdermabrasion

Used primarily to treat age spots, sun spots, acne scars and fine lines, an ultrasonic facial is similar to microdermabrasion, a popular treatment in which crystals are used to remove dead, dull cells to reveal brighter, younger-looking skin. Instead of using crystals to exfoliate the skin, the ultrasonic facial relies on ultrasound waves and water to gently slough away surface cells. The results? According to Dr. Kanase, they can be quite surprising. “The ultrasound waves create tiny jets of water that can clear out pores, smooth fine lines and brighten the skin,” he says. “The results are simply more impressive than with classic microdermabrasion.”

Ultrasonic facials are even fine for those with sensitive skin, for whom classic microdermabrasion may have been a bit too rough. “Because the exfoliation process is gentler with an ultrasonic facial,” Dr. Kanase says, “it doesn’t produce the broken capillaries that can sometimes occur with traditional microdermabrasion in patients with sensitive skin.”

Improved Comfort over Chemical Peels

Many patients with age spots, acne scars or hyperpigmentation assume that a chemical peel is the best route to smooth, even-toned, younger-looking skin. Performed by applying an acid solution to the face to remove damaged skin layers, chemical peels require topical anesthetics to numb the skin and generally require prescription pain medications. An ultrasonic facial, however, is performed using no chemical agents and works by gently sloughing away dead, dry skin cells. Therefore, it is extremely comfortable as compared to even a very light chemical peel.

Furthermore, there is zero downtime associated with the ultrasonic facial. In contrast, many chemical peels require a significant recovery period, during which crusting, flaking and peeling of the skin are expected. After ultrasonic facials, however, patients are free to immediately return to their normal activities with no swelling, little to no redness, and no need for post-treatment pain management. “It’s the perfect lunchtime procedure,” says Dr. Kanase. “Quick and comfortable.”

Improved Medication Delivery

Another advantage to the ultrasonic facial, according to Dr. Kanase, is that it improves the ability of the aesthetician to deliver beneficial medications. “One benefit of an ultrasonic facial over classic microdermabrasion or chemical peels is that the same mechanisms used to exfoliate the surface of the skin can be used to drive medicines deeper into the skin,” he explains. This means that moisturizers, anti-aging serums and other cosmeceuticals can be applied just below the skin’s surface. This allows them to last longer and work more effectively than medicines deposited on the skin’s surface.