Category: Skin Care

Are you enjoying your summer sun and fun? I hope so, but keep in mind that too much of both of these can take their toll on the skin. That golden glow from the sun doesn’t come without a price. Some mid summer skin rejuvenation may be in order.

Dehydration

Dehydrated skin is different than dry skin. Dry skin is due to lack of sebum, but dehydrated skin is due to lack of moisture. It appears dull because the lack of moisture prevents cellular turnover. It also can be sensitive and flaky because the topmost layer of skin is not functioning correctly, so irritants can penetrate and more moisture is lost. In addition to drinking lots of water, use skincare that focuses of restoring moisture and not oil. A good example that we sell in our office is SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisturizer. Also, avoid soapy cleansers that can strip the skin even more, and use cream cleansers instead. Restorative serums, such as SkinMedica’s Vitamin C and E complex, which prevents and repairs UV damage are helpful.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Dehydration along with aging, lifestyle and sun damage contributes to wrinkles. Fortunately, along with making healthy changes, there are effective non invasive cosmetic procedures to help smooth things out.

Here are some areas that can really be aged by the sun and dehydration, along with some “quick summer beauty fix” suggestions for your face:

• Crow’s feet creep out from the outer corners of the eyes and extend outward towards the hairline. They are corrected with Botox or Dysport because limiting the muscle movement in the area will relax the wrinkles and prevent them from deepening due to activity.
• Forehead Lines are caused by excessive brow movement and forehead furrowing. Accentuated vertical lines between eyebrows can give an angry or scowling appearance. You can quickly lighten your look with Botox or Dysport.
• Tear Troughs or Hollows swoop below the eye from the bridge of the nose along the lower eyelid and sometimes extending downward toward the cheekbone. Their sunken appearance gives a tired appearance to the eyes, but Restylane and Juvederm are hyaluronic acid gels that safely restore volume to these areas.
• Cheeks and Temples lose fullness and hollow out due to volume loss. Facial fat loss naturally occurs with age, but is sped up by dehydration and sun damage. As fat diminishes, these areas commonly sag and appear shallow. Restylane or Juvederm help plump these shallow areas to restore youthFULness.
• Nasolabial Folds are formed due to volume loss and skin shifting downward. These lines are also called “marionette lines” and reach from the outer corner of the nostrils to the outer corners of the lips. Fillers Restylane and Juvederm help fix this issue.
• Lips lose volume over time, looking thinner and flatter. They also can become framed by smile lines, called “parenthesis lines.” We can help you restore the youthful shape and fullness with the effective lip plumper Juvederm.

 Along with avoiding sun damage, staying hydrated and using effective skincare, these injectables are great “quick summer beauty fixes” for your face. Schedule your summer beauty touch up today at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Absolute evidence exists that our lifestyle, stress, and what we put on and in our bodies will affect the health of our skin. Apart from sun damage, what many people may not realize is that the environment our skin is exposed to affects it, as well.

Inside

The majority of our time is spent inside at work or home. This is why it’s important to consciously craft your inside environment to support your health and skin. Here some tips to do this:

• Heating your home takes out any natural moisture in the air, which affects your skin. You can easily replace this by running a humidifier or essential oil diffuser. You may need one in each room.
• Harmful chemicals mix in the air from cleaning products, plug in fragrance, and many kinds of candles. We not only breathe this in, but they settle onto surfaces and skin. Switch to an essential oil diffuser or candles that use a cotton wick and any other wax than paraffin. Open up windows and turn on fans when using harsh cleaning products or switch to natural ones. Thoroughly wash, rinse and moisturize after using cleaning products.
• Real Plants inside will help pull toxins from the air and reduce stress. An option for those who don’t have a green thumb, is to use an air purifier to clean the air of chemicals and other irritating particles, such as pollen, dander and dust. Home updates including carpets, pressed wood and insulation should air out because they offgass volatile chemicals like formaldehyde.
• Laundry soap can deposit skin irritants into the fabric of your clothes and bed sheets. Many include fillers and chemical fragrance. Try using an unscented “free and clear” laundry detergent. If you want to infuse fragrance into your clothes, use wool dryer balls with a couple drops of essential oils rather than dryer sheets.
• Creating a good environment to rest well is important because sufficient sleep is important for healthy skin. To help your mind get into rest mode, dim the lights in the evening, shut off electronics an hour before bed, and write down any issues or “to do’s” that need to be addressed in the coming days. Nightly using moisturizers and serums for clean face on a clean pillow case, as well as a fresh pillow every few months will also help your skin during the night.

Outside

While exposure to the outside environment may not be in as much quantity as inside, its affects on the skin shouldn’t be disregarded. These factors can have a powerful influence in the health of the skin:

• Sun… everyone knows the damage and aging caused by the sun when we’re not careful. In addition to staying in the shade or indoors during peak UV hours and wearing protective clothing, precautions should include using a makeup foundation or day time moisturizer that has a SPF… even on the snowy mountains or cloudy days.
• Pollution… urban air contamination is a mix of volatile chemicals that causes skin irritation and aging.
• Extreme weather… cold, wind and dry air all steal moisture from skin to crack, irritate and age it.

Taking good care of your skin gives it the best chance to stay healthy and youthful. It also helps your cosmetic procedures to last. Schedule a consultation today at www.davinciplastic.com to discuss how we can partner in your healthy lifestyle routine to look and feel great.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Cold, dry winter weather can really cause irritation, discomfort and can age the skin if proper care isn’t taken. You invest in your skin with cosmetic surgery and non invasive procedures, so it is important to take extra care of your skin, when the weather is extreme, to help those age defying effects last. Here are some tips to help you keep your skin healthy and feeling great.

Conserve Moisture

There are many habits that can strip out the moisture from your skin. This dryness can be painful, itchy and contributes to skin-aging by stripping moisture. So you need to work on replenishing this lost moisture using a few simple steps to do so.

First…some habits to avoid – some to do:

• Taking hot showers or baths removes the natural lubrication and oil on the skin. Although a hot shower always feel good after coming in from the cold, try to keep it short or not too hot.
• Using cleansers and toners, containing harsh ingredients, strips your skin of natural oil. Real sudsy cleansers usually have a surfactant like sodium laurel sulfate and the acetone in many toners can be too harsh along with already dry conditions. Use mild cream or gel cleansers and toner with no alcohol this time of year.
• Sipping hot coffee and tea is so comforting when it’s cold out, but beware the dehydrating effects they can have. – Most people only think to drink lots of water when they’re sweating and hot, but cold, windy air can be just as dehydrating for your skin. So, drink lots of pure water everyday!

Moisture Reinforcement

Not only do you need to be on the defensive when it comes to protecting your skin (during the winter) by not participating in certain drying habits, but you need to be on the offense to add the extra help it needs this time of year. Here are some ways to add moisture reinforcement for your skin:

• Running the heat in a home strips the air of any moisture, so you can counter this by adding a little water vapor back to your home’s air with a humidifier.
• Diligently use moisturizer morning and night. Never miss moisturizing your face and hands since they’re exposed to the elements the most, but don’t neglect the rest of your body.
• Exfoliate gently to remove the dull dead skin that builds up, but don’t forget that you must moisturize that fresh new skin to keep it healthy and glowing.
• Continue using sunscreen. Snow can actually reflect up to 80 percent UV rays. As skiers and snow sports enthusiasts know, you can skill get a sunburn in the winter.
• Eat foods that encourage your skin to retain and build healthy moisture, such as those rich in essential fatty acids like salmon and other “healthy fats” found in avocados and coconut oil.

I hope these tips help you save your skin this winter. We also offer medical grade, physician prescribed skincare SkinMedica®, which effectively addresses many skin issues and is essential for healthy skin maintenance. Contact our office to schedule your consultation. Call us at 202.966.9590, or fill out our online contact form for more information.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Going into summer, I can’t put enough emphasis on the importance of protecting your skin. It is one of the greatest causes of aging skin and skin cancer, which is the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S.
How does the sun age skin?
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light harms the elastin to cause sagging skin later in life. When the elastin fibers break down over time, the skin loses its ability to go back into place after stretching, and will bruise and tear more readily. Collagen is also negatively affected by UV rays to cause a hollow, dehydrated appearance due to volume loss as we age. Skin discoloration called pigmentation comes to the surface of the skin, and this uneven skin tone also contributes to an aged appearance.

What is skin cancer?
It is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells that results in tumors. These are either noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Of the 3 main types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are less serious types and very successfully treated when detected early. Melanoma, consisting of abnormal skin pigment cells, is the most serious form of skin cancer. Of all the deaths from cancer, 75% of them all are from melanoma.

Protect yourself against aging and skin cancer caused by the sun… As you can see, skin cancer can be serious and yet in many cases it is preventable. Even if you’ve damaged your skin from over exposure, which you can’t completely undo, there still is hope. The skin is regenerative, so to some extent ongoing sun protection can help in the healing process and prevent further damage.

Tips to help prevent skin damage from the sun:
• Wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses that have UV shield.
• Stay out of the direct sun during peak UV radiation hours between 10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Protect your children, especially since the majority of sun damage happens before age 18.
• For UVB protection, use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Sunscreen with zinc oxide provides UVA protection, but should be applied 20 minutes before sun exposure. Be sure to reapply every 2 hours or more often if you are sweating or swimming.

Sunscreen Scam… A recent study done by Consumer Reports shows that many of today’s sunscreens falsely advertise levels of SPF. In some cases, certain brands had up to 70 percent less protection than advertised on the package. The test included 34 brands, 11 of which fell short of their protection claims, some of them being:

• Coppertone ClearlySheer for Beach & Pool SPF 50+ (delivered SPF 37)
• Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance SPF 50 (delivered SPF 28)
• Babyganics Mineral-Based SPF 50+ (delivered SPF 25)
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Clear UltraMist with Powerstay Technology SPF 50+ (delivered SPF 24)
• Yes To Cucumbers Natural SPF 30 (delivered SPF 14)

The brands that received good protection ratings were:
• Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 lotion
• Equate (Walmart) Ultra Protection SPF 50 lotion
• Banana Boat SunComfort Continuous Spray SPF 50+
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-in Sunscreen Milk SPF 60 (got a perfect score of 100 in the test)

Please perform skin self-exams regularly to be familiar with existing growths so that you notice changes. Also, if you are unhappy with the effects of elastin and collagen damage already caused by the sun and aging, I offer a variety of effective surgical and non surgical options to help rejuvenate your skin. Visit www.davinciplastic.com for more details.

Enjoy your summer!

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

With summer close, it’s time to think about extra Sun Protection. In previous blogs I’ve told you about the cancers the Suns’ UV rays can cause. First, know that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States (500,000+ per year), and that more than 90% of skin cancer is caused by the sun’s UV rays. Melanoma and Non-Melanoma’s are the most common types, but they are highly curable if treated early. We all are at risk…but some of us more so than others. Read On!

You could be at higher risk for skin cancer if any or all of the following applies to you:
• You have lighter natural skin color
• IF there’s Family and/or Personal history of skin cancer
• You have daily Sun exposure through work and play
• You have a history of early life sunburns
• Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun
• You have Blue or green eyes & Blonde or red hair and/or…
• Certain types & a large number of moles
• Some prescription drugs cause more susceptibility to UV rays

The three common names for skin cancer are: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Malignant Melanoma.

For now, just know that if you develop symptoms such as a small, shiny lump, a spot or mole that is red and firm, or a sore/spot that bleeds and becomes crusty – and won’t heal…. you need to get checked out immediately. (see www.davinciplasticsurgery.com for complete info)

OK – Here’s a review on “Summer Sun Protection” –
HATS – DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT ONE
SUN GLASSES – CRITICAL FOR EYE PROTECTION
SUN PROTECTION GARMENTS/PRODUCTS (like used in water sports)
SUNBLOCKS – they work optimally when used with the rest of these!

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

Lipomas are the most common form of soft tissue tumors and they are formed with adipose (fatty) tissue. Lipomas can form in many shapes, sizes and places on the body and they occur more often during middle age (40 to 60) but they are often diagnosed in children as congenital lipomas. They are soft to the touch, moveable and usually painless. Typically they grow just between the skin and underlying muscle but can also be found in the deeper muscle tissues such as the intermuscular septa, or in organs like the abdominal organs, the oral cavity, the internal auditory canal, the cerebellopontine angle and the thorax. They require treatment by a plastic surgeon for safe, effective removal. Lipomatosis, also called liposis, adiposis or lipomatoza and simply refers to groups of lipomas in one location on the body.

Other names for lipomas (types) include:

1. Adenolipomas are associated with the sweat glands
2. Conventional lipomas are the most common type composed of mature white fat
3. Hibemomas are made up from brown fat
4. Fibrolipomas are fat and fibrous tissue
5. Angiolipomas are mostly blood vessels and fat tissues
6. Myelolipomas are fat and the tissues that make blood vessels
7. Spindle Cell lipomas are rod shaped, seen mostly in elderly men
8. Intradermal spindle cell lipomas is most common in women
9. Pleomorphic lipomas are the various shapes and sizes
10. Atypical lipomas are composed of a large number of “deeper” fat cells
11. Neural lipomas are fibrous, fatty tissues
12. Others include: Proteus Syndrome, Cowden Syndrome caused by PTEN gene mutations, Familial lipodystrophy, Hibernomas and Familial angiolipomatosis.

METHODS OF REMOVAL

Lipoma cases are nearly always referred to a surgeon who is skilled and qualified in their removal.

Typical Treatments:1) endoscope assisted removal: 2) suction assisted removal, 3) minimal incision removal and 4) remote incision lipoma extraction.  These all work and have been used by surgeons for decades to remove lipomas of all types.  But, some of these techniques are tedious and require extra equipment (even though they are advanced treatments) and are not always necessary since a quicker, simpler method is now in use.

I helped pioneer a very simple, safe and effective method that involves a “simple incision and a quick squeeze” to remove lipomas without all the extra instruments used in other methods.

Once surgeons learn the quick squeeze method and start using it, they realize it’s great benefits. It’s safe, quick, simple and effective.

QUICK SQUEEZE LIPOMA REMOVAL

1) The lipoma is identified by palpation and its margins are outlined.  2) The area is then infiltrated with local anesthesia and is prepared and draped in standard fashion.  3) An incision approximately one quarter to one third the diameter of the lipoma is made (carried down to the lipoma capsule).  4) The lipoma is then squeezed out through the incision…without any additional dissection.

LIPOMA STUDY

Involved 140 lipomas removed, in 50 patients, over the life of this study.These lipomas were located on the face, scalp, neck, thorax, back and flanks, hips/pelvis and on both the upper and lower body extremities.  Of the 140 removals, there were only two recurrences, no complications, no revisions.

Simple Incision, Quick Squeeze technique for lipoma removal makes them gone in 30 seconds!

See complete information about this method of lipoma removal at: www.DAVinciplasticsurgery.com.

Dr. Davison

As seasons change so does our skin. Winter is the worst season of the year and can be very hard on the skin.  In this blog I offer a few tips to help you avoid costly mistakes in your daily skin care program, that lead to dry, flaky and red irritated skin. You can keep looking and feeling your best even during harsh winters. 

1. Avoid licking your lips and do use lip balm.  The skin on your lips is very fragile and requires special care just like your facial skin.  Licking your lips frequently can cause them to dry out and become flaky.  Even though licking provides temporary moisture it leaves the lips drier due to evaporation into the dry winter air and heated environments. The digestive enzymes in saliva can break down the skin causing lips corners to crack and the skin to flake. Prevent damaged lips by exfoliating the dead skin away and then use a well formulated, conditioned lip balm throughout the day to keep in natural moisture.

2.  Do Use Sunscreen all year around.  Winter UVA rays are nearly as strong as summer rays.  They are responsible for changing the DNA in the skin and this causes premature lines, wrinkles and sagging. Damaging UV light is the #1 cause of premature aging skin because they interfere with skin barrier function while simultaneously preventing proper moisture levels in the skin.

3.  Use the right formula and amount of moisturizer.  Too much moisturizer is wasteful, can cause skin congestion, bumps and breakouts.  The skin, like a sponge, can only absorb so much.  Find the right formula for your skin needs, apply it daily and prevent future skin problems.

4.  Adjust your skin care regimen to your skin needs. Our bodies constantly change and so does our skin with fluctuating temperatures and conditions.  Make sure you are using the right products during each season.  For example:  you may need to switch from a foaming cleanser and creamy moisturizer, during winter months, to a gentler cleansing lotion and serum moisturizer, to avoid loss of drying the skin.  Find a good aesthetician (Nora handles this at DAVinci) to help you with your best skin care program/products. Visit my website for more info: www.davinciplastic.com.

5. Seal in your moisturizer right after cleansing your skin!  You have a one minute window after cleansing, to moisturize and prevent skin dehydration. Water acts like a magnet and attracts the water deep within your dermal layers and result in evaporation. Apply your moisturizer or serum while your skin is still damp to ensure plump, well hydrated skin.

BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS® Reward Program that allows patients to earn redeemable points/coupons for SkinMedica® products, Botox® and Juvederm®.  My patients love this program. Check it out at: www.brilliantdistinctionsprogram.com.

Glow N” Go Treatments are popular all year long but especially during the winter months. Treatments include:  Botox® Cosmetic, Microdermabrasion, IPL treatments for dark spots and patchy or uneven skin color and Injectables are here to stay. The Seniors and the younger generations are in love with instant Liquid Facelifts when surgery isn’t necessary.  Manly Makeovers are rising in popularity as more men are choosing cosmetic procedures for career advantages and because they just want to look good.

Stay Well and Put Your Best Face Forward!

Steven Davison M.D.

KELOIDS are a type of scar that results from an overgrowth of collagen type tissue at the site of a healed skin injury.  Keloids can be firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules that vary in color….some are pink, others flesh colored or they may be red to dark brown in color.  Keloids are benign (not cancerous), are not contagious but often cause severe itching and changes in skin texture.  Severe keloids can affect movement of the skin.

Keloids are often confused with “hypertropic scars.”  They are not the same. Hypertropic scars are raised and they do NOT grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound.

Since I have specialized training and years of experience in surgery and reconstructive surgeries, I have dealt with so many patients in need of Keloid removal and scar revision…I couldn’t begin to number them.  Just know, that dealing with Keloids is serious business and you should see a surgeon with expertise in this area…in order to get desirable results.

KELOIDS…WHERE THEY OCCUR ON THE BODY...Keloids can develop anyplace where an abrasion (injury) has occurred.  They can even result from pimples, insect bites, scratching ones self, from burns or other skin trauma.  They can develop post surgery.  They most commonly occur:

• On the central chest
• The back & shoulders
• On Ear lobes
• On arms & over the collar bone after body piercings
• From shaving…razor bumps may become keloids
• Bottom of feet
• Can occur at any age…but generally don’t until past age 11
• Keloids…may be linked to hereditary tendencies

COMMON TREATMENTS FOR KELOID REMOVAL

1)  Corticosteroid injected directly into the tissue – typically 3-4 treatments spaced about 1 month apart – will reduce a raised Keloid to a flat scar and reduce redness, itching and burning.

2)  Surgical Removal is used for larger, more extensive formations.  Technique involved may employ a scalpel, electric knife or laser removal.

3) Post-Surgical Complimentary Treatments are often used to minimize Keloid recurrence after surgical removal.  These treatments include:   -silicone sheet dressings applied directly to the skin around the incision; -compression therapy the mechanically flatten the scar formation, – topical imiquimod or advanced injectables such as bleomycin,  -interferon or 5-fluorouracil.  These drugs work at the cellular level to disable the Keloid tissue formation process.

4)  Laser Excision followed by monthly intralesional steroid injections alone or in conjunction with imiquimod.

These are my treatment preferences…even though others may exist.  I stay with the tried and true…those options proven to get desirable results.

OK….last two blogs have covered skin problems….lipomas and keloids.

Next blog I’ll move back into FEMGen options….today they are no longer “taboo.”  Women are lining up to have life changing treatments that restore their confidence, youthfulness, that rev up their love lives…and restore health and well being in many cases.  Don’t suffer any longer in silence.   Women everywhere are stepping up and speaking out….the embarrassment is gone, Designer Vaginas are in and complete health and vitality for the “V Zone” is here to stay! 

More on that next blog!

Stay Well.

Steven Davison M.D.

“DAVinci….where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.”

By now you’re fully aware of all the effects the sun has on our skin.  I’ve written a couple blogs on skin cancer and also summer sun protection. (see previous blogs)  It is possible to have healthy, beautiful skin all the time…and skin cancer can be avoided if correct protective measures are faithfully used.  That said,  today I want to update you on one of the best, healthiest skin care products in the world.

Obagi…nothing works like Obagi because nothing else is Obagi

We offer Obagi products through our med spa because put simply they work, every time, all the time and are the best I’ve found to help patients restore and rejuvenate their skin. And, patients, once using them, claim them for life.  Obagi is for all ages…all skin types and ethnicities and, it maintains beautiful healthy skin for a lifetime.

Obagi was recently voted the premier sunscreen product by SELF magazine after a group of over 2200 users responded overwhelmingly in favor of the results they got.

Full Range of Products…because no two skins are identical

Obagi is a physician directed skincare program that can be started at any age and used for life.  It works at the “cellular” level causing your skin to look and act healthier and younger. In other words, Obagi works from the “inside out” to correct and build healthy skin. Here are some of the ways it works to accomplish that:

• Obagi restores healthy cell function to transform your skin
• It corrects signs of aging and helps prevent future damage
• Obagi is pharmaceutical grade, physician directed to assure safety and success
• Obagi has proven time, and time again…that it works regardless of skin type or age
• We “tailor” a program to suit your individual needs…because no one process works for every face
• Obagi offers several SunScreen formulas…for even the most sensitive skin
• Ask Nora about our Obagi line…and get started right away!

Why Obagi SunScreen Products?

Sun damage is cumulative over the years and results in uneven pigmentation, sagging skin, wrinkles or sometimes skin cancer.  Skin cancer is preventable with the proper precautions used faithfully and the right products. Doing this you can enjoy the sun without the burn.  Consider this:

• Use broad spectrum coverage to reduce exposure to both UVA and UVB rays…Obagi has you covered here.
• Obagi is not just another sunscreen.  It’s non greasy, penetrates quickly, goes on sheer and elegant and keeps you protected.
• With SPF formulas ranging from 30 up to 50…Obagi’s sunscreen is safe and comfortable for the most sensitive skin, those with rosacea, those with oily skin and more.
• The formulas go on easily, absorb beautifully and protect even during the hottest summer heat.  Nu Derm SunShield SPF 50 is like an elegant matte finish.
• Because your skin is unique Obagi has covered all the skin types.

To learn more about this amazing product, call Nora and reserve your supply.  Read more about all Obagi products at https://www.davinciplastic.com

Obagi revitalizes, enhances, maintains beautiful, healthy skin for life!

Enough said about the sun…come on in and let’s design your healthy skin regimen.

Steven Davison, M.D.

At DAVinci…I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.

Summer Sun & Your Skin

Summer Sun and Skin Tips

Let’s review a few basics for protecting your skin during these summer months when BarBQ’s, beach parties, backyard birthday parties, canoeing, kayaking, rafting and many more outside activities…mean more exposure to the sun.

Stay hydrated by drinking lots of pure water. every body requires water.  it is essential to life itself…there is no substitute for pure water.

Summer Sun Protection Review: 

• Use Sun Screen often and apply generously (ask Nora what to use)
• Shade does not guarantee protection from the Sun’s UVA/UVB rays…if you are near the ocean…the water reflects the rays even when you are under umbrellas and trees.
• Wear sunscreen even when in the shade
• Wear a Hat and Sunglasses
• Rinse off Saltwater…if you’re at the beach rinse off saltwater often since it is dehydrating (drying)
• Drink lots of pure water…cooler is better to help reduce body temperature during hot summer days/nights.  Alcohol is dehydrating.
• Sun Burns do occur and if so…try these tips from a renowned Hollywood Celebrity Aesthetician/SkinCare Professional:
• Rinse off with cool water to cool the skin
• Apply Anti-Oxidants to stop free radical damage   (Vit C&E)
• Gently Apply Aloe Gel or cold yogurt to help cool the skin
• Let Your Skin Breathe….avoid too frequent moisturizing with creams, lotions containing heavy oils.
• Don’t Do it again…avoid getting sunburned in the future!

Foods for Healthy Skin…this info comes compliments of the Mayo Clinic and their suggestions for healthier summer skin.  They include:

• Carrots, apricots…e.g. lots of yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
• Spinach, Kale…lots of dark green leafy vegetables and salads
• Tomatoes
• Blueberries (strong antioxidant properties)
• Beans, Peas, Lentils (fiber & protein)
• Salmon, Mackeral and other deep, cold water fish
• Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pecans…avoid processed, salted and oily nuts.
• AVOID refined, processed carbohydrates and fatty fats….sugar, baked goods, bleached & bromated grains etc.

JELLYFISH STINGS…Try to avoid coming into contact with Jellyfish…but if you do get stung here’s what to do:  rinse with salt water immediately, remove tentacles with tweezers or wear protective gloves as soon as possible, rinse with white vinegar and apply vinegar compress.  Use aspirin or tylenol for pain if needed. Seek medical help.

The information I’ve given you today goes for men, women and children!  The sun touches everyone, and the foods recommended are good for the entire population.  So, please enjoy your family times…but do take time to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Enjoy Your Summer.

Steven Davison, M.D.

At DAVinci…I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.

NATURAL FAT INJECTIONS for NATURALLY YOUTHFUL FACES

Not all fat is bad. In fact, loss of facial fat (due to aging) causes loss of facial definition, sunken temples, forehead and brow wrinkles, a down turned mouth and accentuates  “puffy” lower eyelids. Facial fat deteriorates naturally with age, weight loss and hormonal changes, which tends to speed up the process.

Three ways to restore facial volume and achieve smoother, younger looking skin:

1)Fat Transfer is a great non invasive option with long lasting…natural looking results.

2)Injectable Fillers, such as Juvederm and Sculptra offers immediate results and requires maintenance treatments.

3)Implants (if you are considering a Facelift) restore volume and definition to the cheeks…making you always look 5 to 10 years younger.

FAT TRANSFER is a very popular facial, age defying procedure today because it uses your own natural body fat. I use it all the time to redefine and contour aging faces of both men and women…while filling in lines, wrinkles, hollows and creating natural looking definition. Autologous fat transplantation (fat injections) may involve liposuction for fat removal.

FAT TRANSFER is a wonderful age defying procedure, but it is not suitable for everyone…dramatic aging requires surgery, but we try to consider the least invasive first.

I am specially trained and skilled in all Fat Grafting/Transfer techniques and get results that look natural…because they are.

Men are having FaceLifts using their own body fat.

At DAVinci…my mission is to help you get and keep your best face forward…naturally.  I do that by combining… the supreme elements of art & surgical science.

Let’s Talk Soon.

Dr. Steven Davison

I’ve been blogging about facial aging and what to do now, no matter what decade of aging you are experiencing.  Facelifts, Necklifts, Eyelid lift, Blepharoplasty, Cheek Augmentation and more have been offered as safe, effective age defying options.  But, I’m frequently asked: “Dr. Davison, should I use injectables or should I have surgery?”

Injectable fillers and Botox or Dysport have their specific benefits as does surgery.  The key to knowing which to use at a given time is knowing how they work, how effectively they’re working and when to switch from one to the other.  There are some simple guidelines as follows:

WHEN TO USE FILLERS Fillers are excellent to correct initial gauntness in the face, especially cheeks that are starting to lose volume and become hollow.  The right filler restores volume and definition while smoothing out early lines and wrinkles.  Fillers work well as long as there is no loose skin.

WHEN TO CHOOSE SURGERY Fillers can offer long lasting results, but as with all good things, the time comes when skin loses its elasticity, muscles slip and fillers can’t deal with these things.  Surgery then is the correct option to deal with loose, sagging skin and relaxed muscles.

Nothing replaces good genes which dictate how we age, however, the right surgery performed by a qualified, skilled surgeon can dramatically improve how you age.  Times have changed from women arriving at a certain age and undergoing plastic surgery.  Now, the new trend in anti aging is men and women are having facial procedures done sooner…at an earlier age to allow for more graceful, aging…naturally.

I help men and women keep their best face forward.

Let’s talk about your best face.

Dr. Davison