Frequently Asked Questions

VelaShape™ uses collective energies known as elõs™ to accurately target and heat up fatty tissues within the treatment area. In addition, the vacuum suction and manipulation of the tissues evens out the skin to expose a smoother, tighter figure. Most people find VelaShape™ treatments comfortable - like a warm deep tissue massage. This treatment is intended to accommodate your comfort level and sensitivity. It is common to experience a warm sensation for a few hours after your treatment. Your skin may also seem redder than normal for several hours.

With VelaShape™, you can be treated on your thighs, abdomen and buttocks. The two applicators on the VelaShape™ are designed for small and large areas of the body; therefore, each treatment is safe and effective.

Continual improvement of the area can be seen following the first treatment - with the skins surface of the treated area seeming smoother, tighter and firmer. Results in Circumference and Cellulite Reduction will be the most noticeable 6-8 weeks after your final treatment session.

Following your complete treatment course, it is suggested to receive maintenance treatments occasionally. Like all non-surgical or surgical methods, your results will last longer if you follow a well balanced diet and exercise regimen.

FDA approved the device as safe and effective for all skin types and colors. Shorter term effects can include redness or mild bruising.

VelaShape™ is the only non-surgical medical device cleared by the FDA for circumferential reduction and can guarantee clinically proven results.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is made of a purified protein formed by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is a nonsurgical treatment administered by a Registered Nurse or physician that temporarily reduces moderate to severe frown lines between your brows. This treatment is recommended for those who are 18 to 65 years of age. During the treatment, a very low dose of BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered through a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that produce those stubborn lines. The treatment usually takes about 10 minutes, and there is no recovery time needed.

The moderate to severe frown lines between your brows will appear over time as the result of the muscle activity. It works by blocking the communication of nerve impulses to the injected area; this decreases the activity of the muscles that causes the unrelenting form of lines.

Within days, you should see an apparent improvement. The lines continue to fade for up to 10 days, and your results can last up to 4 months. If you do not maintain your treatment, the frown lines between your brows will increasingly look like they did prior to the treatment.

Discomfort is typically minimal and short-lived. Preceding the injection, your provider may choose to numb the area with an ice pack or topical anesthetic cream.

The most familiar side effects after the injection include nausea and temporary eyelid droop. Localized pain, inflammation, tenderness, redness, infection and/or bleeding/bruising may be related to the injection. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects. Even though your results are visible, a BOTOX® treatment will not drastically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you are frozen. The muscle activity that causes the frown lines between your brows is modestly reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases in between your brows.

When considering your facial aesthetic options, BOTOX® is quite affordable, especially when you compare it to cosmetic surgery. As stated by an American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery survey, BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the lower entry cost facial aesthetic procedures in the country. Like other appearance-related investments, such as hair coloring and cuts, teeth whitening, and skin rejuvenation treatments, your results are not permanent after one visit and will need to be maintained. Consult your Skin Essentials practitioner for further information.

The main reason that skin lesions are excised is to totally remove skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma. If the cancer is removed it could spread to surrounding skin and to other parts of the body. The removal of a skin lesion could also be for cosmetic appearance purposes.

It is impossible to incise the skin without major scarring, so you will always have some sort of a scar. Your physician will try to excise the lesion so that your scarring is minimal. Some people have an irregular reaction to skin healing and these people may acquire larger scars than usual. Examples include keloid or hypertrophic scarring.

Your physician will explain to you why the skin lesion needs to be excised and the details of the procedure. You will have to sign a consent form to indicate that you agree to the surgical procedure. Please let us know if you are currently taking any medications (particularly aspirin or warfarin, which could cause extra bleeding), or if you have any allergies or medical conditions. Also remember to inform your doctor about any herbal remedies as well.

Your wound may be sensitive for about 1-2 hours after the excision once the local anesthetic wears off. Leave the dressing in place for 24 hours or as advised by your physician. Avoid physical exertion and stretching of the wound area until the stitches are removed and for some time afterwards.

If there is any bleeding, press firmly on the wound with a thick towel for 20 minutes. If it is still bleeding after this time, contact your physician.

Keep the area dry for 48 hours. You can then gently wash and dry the wound. If the surrounding area becomes red or painful, consult your provider - it could be infected.

The scar will initially be red and raised but should reduce in size and color over several months.

A Dermal Filler is a substance that is injected just below the skins surface to fill in wrinkles, lines and scars. Unlike a face lift that stretches the skin, injectable dermal fillers add volume for a more natural and youthful appearance. Fillers can also enhance the fullness of the lips and reduce the downward slant that can be seen at the corner of lips. The most common areas that are treated are the smile lines around the nose and mouth, frown lines between the eyes, fine lines above the mouth, and scars typically caused by acne.

Semi-permanent and temporary. There are a variety of temporary fillers on the market. We at Skin Essentials have done our research and are proud to offer our filler selection to you. We carry hylauronic acid based Juvéderm® Ultra, Juvéderm® Ultra Plus, Restylane, and Perlane that are all said to last from 6 months to 1 year. Our newest addition is Radiesse which is a calcium based filler that is approved to last up to 2 years.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that can be found in mammals and is necessary for hydration as well as adding volume to the skin. In addition to its aesthetic use, hyaluronic acid injections have also been used for more than 20 years for aid in arthritic joint movement as well as for eye surgeries and wound repair.

Dermal Fillers restore your skin's volume for a smoother more natural look and feel. BOTOX® is used to relax muscle activity and to reduce moderate to severe lines caused by the dominant frown muscles between the eyebrows. This allows the two vertical lines between the brows to temporarily fade resulting in a softer appearance.

Your Skin Essentials @ bod:evolve provider will ease the filler of choice into the skin using a fine needle to fill in and augment the treatment area. You will receive a slight massage to help even out the product until it is in its desired spot. Injections might cause some discomfort during and immediately after the injection. The thinner needle and consistency of the substance allows your provider to administer it easily and smoothly. Unless requested otherwise your treatment area will be numbed with a topical anesthetic to minimize any pain.

The actual injection process only takes about 15 minutes. Unless you have had filler several times before you will want to allow a little extra time with your Skin Essentials provider for questions.

No, the correction is temporary; therefore, touch-ups and repeat injections are recommended to maintain optimal correction results.

The amount of filler will be determined by your nurse or physician and can be quoted at the consultation and/or treatment visit.

Most of the side effects are moderate and usually last from 1–7 days. The most common side effects can include, but are not limited to, temporary injections site reactions such as redness, bruising, pain/tenderness, swelling, firmness, itching, lumps/bumps, and discoloration. As with all skin injection procedures there is a risk of infection.

We ask that patients who are scheduled for laser hair removal to avoid plucking, waxing, or electrolysis for six weeks prior to their treatment. If you have a history of herpes simplex virus and are scheduled for facial hair removal treatment, prophylactic antiviral therapy can be prescribed. Also, any hair within the to be treated area should be totally removed by shaving 24 hours prior to your treatment, and your skin needs to be completely clean and dry, removing all makeup, oils, creams, topical anesthetics and/or tanning products before your laser treatment. The planned treatment area should not be exposed to a tanning booth or natural sunlight for 2 weeks prior to the treatment.

The number of sessions will depend upon the area you are treating and the condition of your skin. For hair removal, several treatments will be required, since the process is most successful when the hair follicle is in the active growth phase.

The irritation on the treated area should subside within a few minutes of the finished treatment. Any redness or swelling should settle within a couple of hours.

After your laser treatment, avoid sun exposure by applying a sunblock of SPF 30 or above. In the first few days after the treatment, do not scrub or rinse the treated areas with any abrasive cleansers or exfoliaters. Talk with your Skin Essentials provider for any additional precautions.

Some patients describe the feeling as being similar to the snapping of a rubber band and may feel slight discomfort with the individual laser pulse. Any discomfort should resolve in several seconds and is minimized by a cooling sensation.

The risks are minimal. Side effects may include swelling, redness, purpura (a laser bruise), hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and blistering, within the area that has been treated—these generally will not last more than a few days. More permanent side effects are rare. For any additional information on side effects please see your Skin Essentials provider.

The BBL Broad Band Light energy gently heats up the top layers of the skin that helps stimulate your skin cells to generate new collagen. This will assist in smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, removing age spots and sun spots, as well as eliminating redness and smaller facial veins. In addition, the photothermal energy will target and eliminate many of the fine vessels that cause redness and the unwanted melanin responsible for pigmented lesions.

From 2-5 treatments, at 2-4 week intervals, will produce the desired results. You may require following touch up treatments depending on your lifestyle.

This is a non-invasive and gentle procedure with virtually no downtime. You should be able to return to work, apply make-up, and resume most activities right away.

You may experience some redness for a few hours following your treatment. Within the next several days you may notice age spots darker than before; these will soon slough off. Your pores will appear smaller and you will notice a much softer and smoother overall tone to your skin.

Depending on how large of an area you are targeting, your treatment can last from a few minutes to a half an hour. You may feel slight sensations that have been described as like a rubber band snap. If you have more sensitive areas you may want to talk to your provider about a topical anesthetic.

These instructions will be directed by your provider depending on the intensity of the laser used and the area treated.

It is a controlled ablative skin resurfacing procedure that removes the outer most layers of the epidermis. This procedure is used to treat wrinkles, pigment problems, scars, and acne scars.

Typically, the procedure is repeated 2-4 times, spaced 6-8 weeks apart. You may require further treatments to achieve your desired results.

You will notice an immediate and significant change in your skins texture and tightness. Your provider will apply a topical anesthetic prior to the treatment to minimize any discomfort. This is a medium between microdermabrasion and full surgical skin resurfacing so you will notice some redness and dryness.

You will want 3-4 days to recover from this laser treatment. You should be able to return to your everyday activities by the fourth day and all redness and most peeling should be complete by then as well. Your Skin Essentials practitioner will provide you with full detailed instructions.

The ProFractional is a quick and comfortable laser with little to no downtime when used alone. We often times combine it with the MicroLaser Peel for maximum results. The ProFractional creates pinpoint holes in the treated area to help recover your skin from the inside out. Your collagen is stimulated which helps to plump the skin and smooth wrinkles and scars.

Usually done in a series of 4, spaced 3-6 weeks apart, this will be determined by your provider depending on how deep you treat and if you use it in a combination with other laser treatments.

You may experience mild redness, similar to a light sunburn. The complete healing should be done within a few days. You should avoid direct sun exposure and always use some sort of SPF protection. Your provider will supply you with full detailed instructions after your treatment.

A broadband of light is used to promote energy into the skin to heat dermal collagen. The collagen will contract and the heat initiates the body’s natural healing process which together increase the skins firmness.

A series of 2-3 treatments spaced a month apart is typical for most patients. Your provider will personalize your treatment plan based on your expectations and the amount of present loose skin.

This process is safe for all skin types and can be used on any area of the body that could improve on skin firmness. More common areas are the face, neck, arms, and abdomen.

Sclerotherapy is a simple and popular in-office procedure that eliminates spider and varicose veins. A sclerosing solution is injected into the noticeable veins causing them to collapse and fade from the naked eye. This procedure will help rid you of those spider and varicose veins that may be aching, burning, or giving you leg cramps.

Heredity, or genetic predisposition to weaken vein walls and valves, is the main reason why varicose veins develop. There are also contributing factors that can accelerate the progression of the disease, including pregnancy, birth control, lack of exercise, prolonged sitting or standing, and obesity. The aging process increases the likelihood of varicose and spider veins.

You main feel a slight burning sensation shortly after the injection. A cold pack can be used if necessary to ease the discomfort. The needle sticks are not usually felt due to their smaller size.

This varies based on the severity of the veins being treated. Some individuals see results within a few weeks, but we caution most people not to expect their best cosmetic results for two or three months. In rare instances, it has taken up to six months before the ultimate results were achieved.

The number of treatments will vary depending on the type and severity of the venous disease. Larger varicosities can generally be treated in one or two sessions. Since spider veins run within the skin and not beneath it, they need to be treated more delicately to avoid injury to the surrounding skin. Generally, it takes at least two to three sessions to achieve optimal clearing of the spider veins.

Depending on the size of the veins treated, you may be asked to keep your legs elevated for up to 3 hours. You may also be asked to wear an ACE bandage for up to 24-48 hours following the procedure.

In general, light exercise can initiate 72 hours following the injection and regular activity after one week.

Once a varicosity or spider vein has been adequately treated, that vein is gone forever and will not
re-appear. You can however develop new varicosities and/or spider veins in other areas.

Our teeth whitening system provides dramatic results for anyone who wants a whiter smile. This includes people with teeth that are stained by smoking or darker beverages such as coffee or tea. It also whitens teeth stained by tetracycline, speckled by fluoride, or hereditary discoloration. Pregnant women or anyone under the age of 16 should not receive this treatment.

After undergoing the whitening process, the shade of the teeth can brighten between five to 14 shades, with an average improvement of eight shades on the shade guide. Although individual results will depend on how discolored the teeth were originally, the end result will be white, shiny teeth.

This varies from person to person and also depends on your diet and lifestyle, but the results usually last for about two years. Periodic touch-ups are recommended for coffee drinkers or those who consume other staining foods and drinks as well as individuals who use tobacco products.

Yes, scientific research has shown that the active ingredients in the whitening gel are effective and safe for cosmetic tooth whitening. The ingredients have been used by the dental community for many years. The BEYOND whitening gel does not change or damage the structure of the teeth; it simply causes them to be white and shiny.

In a little over an hour, the discoloration that has been building up for years will disappear. The treatment session consists of three 20 minute cycles.

Most patients experience no pain or sensitivity during or after the treatment. A very small group of people may feel some minor tooth sensitivity, particularly if they consume hot or cold foods or drinks within a few hours after the treatment. It is recommended that patients avoid extremely hot or cold food or beverages for the first 24 hours following their treatment.

The BEYOND™ WhiteSpa Select System uses identical technology that is used in dental offices for power whitening, and the results are equivalent. This procedure has been simplified so that trained aesthetic providers can safely perform the whitening procedure. Designed with the comfort and safety of our patient in mind, this 60 minute treatment is safer, gentler, and has been known to produces similar if not better results than other teeth whitening options.