Tuesday 29 September 2015

The Reasons Why You Should See a Dermatologist


Why would you see a dermatologist?


Dermatalogists are skin experts. With concerns related to the skin, hair and nails, a dermatologist is the best person to see for insight and treatments. Some very common reasons why people see dermatologists include screening for skin cancer, acne treatments, scar treatments and eczema. Not only do they treat your skin-related concerns, dermatologists can provide you with a ton of information and advice on how to take care of your skin. They’ll inform you on your skin type and recommend which products to use so that your skin looks and stays healthy.

What will a dermatologist do for acne?


Treating and examining acne is one of the common duties of a dermatologist. A person would normally look up and see a dermatologist when they find that their acne is resistant to over-the-counter acne treatment products. Dermatologists will take an in-depth look at your skin. This allows them to pinpoint what could be causing your acne—whether it’s from taking certain medications or if you have a hormonal imbalance. Having acne scars you want treated is another reason to visit a dermatologist.

Do dermatologists treat spider veins?


Spider veins (or varicose veins) are the bulgy, thick veins that are often seen on the calves and legs. These veins are red, blue or flesh-coloured. They’re not life-threatening or dangerous to have, but they can cause discomfort such as cramping and aching. Even if spider veins aren’t causing any pain, they could easily make someone self-conscious when their legs are bare.

Before and after leg vein treatments at SpaMedica Toronto
Source: SpaMedica. This patient had laser leg vein treatments at SpaMedica in Toronto.

Why do people get spider veins in the first place?


One of the main causes of spider veins is due to pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, there’s more blood in her body which causes veins to enlarge. Other reasons include:

- Lack of movement or exercise
- Standing for long periods of time
- Hormonal influences: puberty, pregnancy and menopause

How does a dermatologist treat spider veins?


A dermatologist can reduce and remove the appearance of spider veins through laser leg vein treatments. They’ll use lasers with multiple wavelengths, IPL and radiofrequency energy. One treatment lasts anywhere from 15-30 minutes, depending on how many leg veins are present.

Do I need a referral to see a dermatologist in Ontario?


OHIP requires patients to be referred by their family physician for medical dermatological conditions. If you don’t have a family doctor, you can get a referral at a walk-in clinic or local emergency room. However, for cosmetic dermatology treatments, referrals aren’t required.

Dermatologists can treat just about anything related to the skin. If you have a persisting concern that involves your hair, nails and skin, don’t hesitate to see a dermatologist. It’s better to tackle the problem early on than to let it linger for too long.

References

Tuesday 22 September 2015

3 Ways Eyelid Surgery Seriously Boosts Your Looks



Blepharoplasty (aka eyelid surgery) is one of the top most performed procedures in the world. This procedure that often takes an hour to perform can make a major difference in the appearance of patients. Someone might be interested in blepharoplasty for a couple of reasons: the surgery can remove heavy eyebags, improve droopy lids or provide a visible crease in the lids.

Blepharoplasty Removes Eye Bags


Nobody likes to look tired. Having heavy, protruding eye bags would certainly be the way to look exhausted every day. How does a person get eye bags in the first place? Permanent eye bags could be related to getting older or genetics. Other factors that lead to eye bags include:

  •        Stress
  •      Not enough sleep
  •      Dehydration
  •      A diet that contains high sodium intake

When your face loses fat volume, the eye bags stand out more because they’re not adjusting as your face shrinks. That’s because eye bags are actually pockets of fat that don’t shrink or enlarge when your face goes through changes related to aging.

Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery Before and After at SpaMedica Toronto
Source: SpaMedica. This patient had blepharoplasty at SpaMedica to improve the appearance of her upper eyelids.

Upper Eyelid Surgery Improves Heavy Eyelids


It’s not just underneath the eyes that could make someone look sleepy or tired. Having heavy lids does the same thing too as it makes the eyes look more closed. Upper eyelid surgery can do a number of things like deepening the eyelid crease. Or, excessive skin tissue can be removed. This improves your overall appearance and benefits vision as well if that’s an issue. This procedure can correct upper eyelid droopiness (also known as ptosis).

When having blepharoplasty performed on your upper lids, your plastic surgeon will make an incision where a natural crease would appear and remove any excess fat and skin.   

Double Eyelid Surgery Provides Definition to Lids


Double eyelid surgery helps to define the upper eyelid. This procedure is often performed on Asians—that’s not to say that non-Asian people don’t have it done too—but it’s a popular procedure in Korea and Japan. Double eyelid surgery helps to create definition that suits the rest of a person’s facial features.  It can help make eyes look wider and bigger.  

Tyra Banks Discussed Asian Eyelid Surgery on Her Show
Source: YouTube screenshots. Tyra Banks said this Asian woman had double eyelid surgery to look more Caucasian. 
People often say that the surgery is simply a way of achieving a westernized look, but that isn’t the case. After all, plenty of Asian people have natural double eyelids. Back in 2008 on her talk show, Tyra Banks had a Korean-American woman named Liz on her show to talk about her double eyelid surgery. Even though Liz said she wanted the surgery to correct her droopy and tired eyes, Tyra insisted that she must have done the surgery to “look more Caucasian.” No doubt, this segment of the episode caused a lot of uproar and controversy because of Tyra’s assumptions and her interjectory opinions.

How Long do Eyelid Surgery Results Last?


Eyelid surgery results can last for several years—anywhere from 10-15 years. For some patients, having a second blepharoplasty isn’t ideal. That’s because if too much skin is removed, they won’t be able to close their eyes. Instead, a brow lift should be performed when the patient ages and sees that their brow is dropping (which causes the appearance of excess skin on the upper eyelid again).

Get More Information on the Procedure


Take a look at before and after photos of past blepharoplasty patients at SpaMedica. Find out more information on the procedure on our blepharoplasty page. We’re here to answer any questions you might have, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment or call us!

Thursday 17 September 2015

How Do Your Looks Affect Your Career?

How Do Your Looks Affect Your Career?

We’ve talked about careers, looks and plastic surgery in the past. After doing some research, several studies showed that being perceived as attractive does matter when it comes to applying to jobs and getting raises and promotions. How you look and present yourself also affects the way colleagues view you.

RealSelf recently shared some results from a survey they conducted. In this survey, they asked 400 men and women to rate how trustworthy, creative, competitive, friendly and motivated a person appeared to be based on photos. RealSelf used before and after photos of individuals who had procedures such as rhinoplasty, chin implants, Botox and dermal fillers.

The Takeaways From This Survey Showed That:
  • Women who had a chin implant, rhinoplasty and Voluma injectable filler scored higher in their after photos.
  • Survey respondents rated these women in their after photos as more creative, motivated and trustworthy.
  • Women with nose jobs were rated as more competitive, motivated and creative
  •  Women with Voluma injections saw the highest increases in ratings in these categories

We found these results interesting because they provided images of the same people before and after their procedures—they were the same people, but they looked slightly different post-op. Each time, their “after” photo was rated higher than their “before” photos. It gets us thinking about how a person’s looks and facial structure can impact how other professionals view them personally and professionally. While skills and experience obviously matter in jobs, first impressions and perception is also critical.

People of All Ages Seek Plastic Surgery

As several media reports have shown lately, the age of plastic surgery patients has gotten younger. It’s not just professionals in their 40s and up who are seeking plastic surgery.  Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, says that the average age of Botox patients is now in their early 30s. Before, it was in the mid 40s.

Lawyers, bankers and actors have sought plastic surgery at SpaMedica in Toronto
Lawyers, bankers and actors have sought plastic surgery at SpaMedica in Toronto
Are There Particular Careers Where Professionals Seek Plastic Surgery?

Some careers force people to be in front of cameras and people on a daily basis. Take for example lawyers. They have to interact with clients and be in front of people all the time. Plastic surgeons will often see clients in these fields because presenting themselves well to the public and their colleagues is important in their jobs. Dr. Mulholland says he has treated numerous actors, bankers and lawyers in his practice. Some people simply feel compelled to look their best and stay competitive in the field.

In this Forbes article, Dr. Nahai talked about the different patients he’d normally see in his practice. “A very large number of my patients come in and say, ‘I sell homes, and I can’t compete with a woman in her 30s. I need to look young enough.’ I’ve had a lot of salesmen who say they’ve been told they look angry or tired, so they get a brow lift.”

This isn’t to say getting plastic surgery is necessary to secure jobs or promotions. Afterall, being good at what you do is what makes you a valued employee. But some people want to present themselves as the full package; they want to have the brains, skills and looks. 

Tuesday 15 September 2015

$200 Off MedSpa Treatments at SpaMedica

SpaMedica Gift Voucher - Get $200 Off Your Treatment
Book your appointment now. Get $200 off your treatment at SpaMedica Infinite Vitality Clinic
We really appreciate our readers and clients so we wanted to offer a special promotion. Now that we’re moving into a new season, it’s all about transitioning into a wardrobe and applying makeup that’s suited for the fall. An important step of revamping yourself is to maintain clear and healthy skin. At SpaMedica, we know that having gorgeous skin is vital to feeling confident.

We want to help you look and feel beautiful and we do that through several treatments offered at our medspa.  Go ahead and spoil yourself with this $200 gift voucher.

Maybe you’re back in school or your kids are starting a new school year. Life is bound to get busy, so squeeze in some time and treat yourself.

This $200 gift voucher can be used on several treatments in our medspa. You might be wondering what exactly that refers to. Here are the treatments available to you:

  • Non-surgical fat reduction treatments: BodyFx, UltraShape, Venus Freeze
  • Laser hair removal
  • Laser tattoo removal
  • Acne treatments
  • Facials and microdermabrasion treatments: OxyGeneo Facials, SonoPeels, FotoFacials,      SilkPeels, Chemical Peels
The minimum spend is $500. If you decide to purchase a package of specific treatments like laser hair removal or acne treatments, this voucher can save you a lot of money. Our highly experienced aestheticians and nurses will help you look the best you can be, all at an affordable cost.

Interested yet? Book your appointment today with our consult coordinator Marsha. Call her at 416-922-2869 ext. 239 or e-mail her at marsha@spamedica.com. We’re excited to see you.



Thursday 10 September 2015

5 Wrong Assumptions About Plastic Surgery


Like almost everything else in life, plastic surgery just happens to be one of the topics where people make assumptions. These assumptions tend to stem from word-of-mouth or just a lack of information. If you haven’t noticed, we’re all about talking about and debunking common plastic surgery myths here at SpaMedica. Below are a few widespread assumptions and comments that we hear about various procedures, so we wanted to share some insight and answers to them.

Assumption #1: Botox gives a frozen face

Botox has long had the reputation of giving people that frozen, startled look. A lot of people will think of celebrities who had not so great results after Botox injections like Nicole Kidman. That stems from overdoing the treatment which results in an unnatural appearance. Botox treatments shouldn’t erase all movement in your face—ideally, it’s meant to soften lines or wrinkles.

With your plastic surgeon, you’ll decide where you want to see improvements on your face. By injecting just enough units of Botox in your areas of concern, your end results should look natural and not frozen. And if your treatments are done well, no one should even know that you had anything done.

Assumption #2: I can use my friend or family member’s fat to transfer to my own body

Procedures that involve fat transfer like Brazilian butt lifts or fat grafting to the breasts require taking fat from one area and then transferring it to the butt or breasts. You can’t use someone else’s fat in these procedures. Your immune system simply can’t recognize another person’s fat and would reject their fat if this was attempted. Even if you have an identical twin, there’s still a possibility that the fat would be rejected. Another risk of using someone else’s fat is disease transmission.

Men don't get plastic surgery, according to popular assumptions.

Assumption #3: Men don’t get plastic surgery

Women are the ones who are always pegged as the ones who are most concerned with their appearance. With this mindset, the assumption is that women are the people who undergo plastic surgery. According to recent statistics from a RealSelf survey, men have been increasingly seeking plastic surgery procedures. 73% of doctors say their male patients have increased in the last year. 

These men are most interested in:
  1. Botox and fillers
  2. Eyelid surgery
  3. Body contouring procedures
  4. Male breast reduction
Men are now more open about wanting to maintain their appearance and will undergo treatments if they feel compelled to.

Assumption #4: Liposuction will help me achieve my target weight

Liposuction is often seen as a method to lose a lot of weight. That’s easy to assume, but it’s simply not the case. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that removes fat from specific areas on the body for a slimmer looking physique. The procedure is ideal for patients who are at their ideal weight but still have some problem areas like love handles.

Before and after rhinoplasty in Toronto
Source: SpaMedica. Before and after rhinoplasty at SpaMedica.
Assumption #5: I’ll see my final results right after my plastic surgery procedure

For many plastic surgery procedures, your final results won’t be seen immediately. That’s because there’s a recovery period where there’s swelling or bruising. Take for example rhinoplasty. This is a procedure where patients are required to take at least a week off from work to recover. Rhinoplasty patients should be aware that there’ll be ongoing improvements with their nose that can take up to 1 year to settle. The nose changes greatly over the course of 2-12 months, especially in the nasal tip area. After that, patients can see their final results.

What are some other assumptions you’ve heard about plastic surgery? Let us know and maybe we can address it!

Thursday 3 September 2015

Celebrity Plastic Surgery: 8 Stars Open Up About Their Transformations


Hollywood has always been dubbed as the place where “everyone gets plastic surgery” but nobody wants to talk about it. A lot of celebrities shy away from admitting they had plastic surgery done. Whether it’s Botox and fillers (ahem Kylie Kenner) or a major surgical procedure, celebrities tend to deny rumors or stay quiet about the topic. This could be out of embarrassment or fear of backlash.

But then there are the really open people who are candid about their decisions on getting some work done. These 8 celebrities below talked about their plastic surgery experiences in interviews with the media. See what they have to say below.

Ariel Winter Talks About Plastic Surgery
Source: zimbio.com. Ariel Winter had a breast reduction surgery this year.
1. “The feeling of not having so much there was such a relief! Once the surgery was completed, I can’t even explain the feeling. [A week later], I was buying clothes and crying as I put them on, I was so happy. You just feel so relieved and excited. You feel like a new person. You feel like this is how I was supposed to be.”- Ariel Winter on having breast reduction surgery

2. “I definitely believe in plastic surgery. I don't want to be an old hag. There's no fun in that.”
- Scarlett Johansson

3. “Why not? I mean, not yet, but maybe my under-eye bags in my 50s. We’ll see what I need, but I’m not saying no!” - Sofia Vergara

4. "It's one of the best things I've ever done. I love them. I'm super happy. I would do it again in a heart beat." - Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting on having breast implants

Iggy Azalea talks about plastic surgery
Source: idolator.com. Iggy Azalea opens up about the plastic surgery procedures she's gotten.
5. “I love them so much I had to talk about them…I’d feel better not to have some secret. It’s much freer to say it and then you don’t have to worry someone will dig it up.” - Iggy azalea on having breast implants

6. “I had my nose done when I was 16 years old. And I’ll be honest, it did change my life.” – Jillian Michaels

7. “I did it the summer before going to a new school. That was a good, good, good change.” – Lisa Kudrow on having rhinoplasty

Kelly Rowland talks about plastic surgery and breast augmentation
Source: hotnewhiphop.com. Kelly Rowland opens up about her breast augmentation.
8. “I wanted to get breast implants when I was 18, but my mom and Beyonce’s mom told me to really think about it first. I took their advice and waited 10 years.” - Kelly Rowland on her decision to get breast implants

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Get a Free SonoPeel Facial at SpaMedica!

Book your appointment now

All sorts of things in life can take a toll on your skin and looks—maybe it’s all that time you spent in the sun, stress or simply getting older. You don’t have to just deal with it. You can do something about it. Revamping your looks doesn’t have to require surgery either. With a couple of Botox injections and fillers, you’ll instantly look more refreshed.

Until September 15, you’ll receive 1 FREE SonoPeel when you book your appointment for 40 units of Botox and 1 syringe filler for $999. 

Get this offer now at SpaMedica

What’s the difference between fillers and Botox?


Botox


Botox, which temporarily banishes wrinkles, is one of the most popular procedures at SpaMedica. It’s a quick and non-invasive treatment that can dramatically improve the look of your facial lines and wrinkles. Botox injections can be applied to selected facial and neck muscles to improve moderate or severe lines. At SpaMedica, Botox treatments take 15-30 minutes to perform and results last from three to six months.

Dermal Fillers


Dermal fillers and Botox may sound like they’re the same thing, but they’re not. Dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane add volume to the face and hands. Botox, on the other hand, reduces the appearance of wrinkles by weakening the muscles that control frowning.

You can enhance and improve your looks in a few ways with dermal fillers. Are you bothered by sunken cheeks? Fillers can restore volume for a fuller and softer look. Do you have gaunt hands that look like they need to be plumped up? Again, fillers can solve the problem. The results will last anywhere from 1-2 years.