Dr. Krajden Talks About Plastic Surgery on the Steven and Chris Show

Getting older is inevitable, but most people don’t want to look their age. The wrinkles, fine lines and drooping skin are all telltale signs of advanced age. It’s not unusual to hear that people feel really young and energetic inside but their physical appearance just doesn’t reflect that at all. That’s why anti-aging treatments are popular here at SpaMedica.

FotoFacial treatments use intense pulsed light (IPL), infrared (IR) and laser or radiofrequency energy all combined in the same pulse. This treatment improves facial spider veins, fine lines, blemishes, sun spots and acne. The pulses can be applied to both the face and neck. FotoFacials stimulate the production of your collagen, so after receiving five treatments, your fine lines are smoothened out. 

On this episode of the Steven and Chris Show, Dr. Zel Krajden of SpaMedica talks about the different treatments people can do depending on their age. He says a common and good procedure for those who are in their 30s is the FotoFacial that improves irregular pigmentation and enlarged pores. The treatment takes about an hour and large improvements in the skin can be seen after five treatments.

See before and after photos of patients who had FotoFacials.

4 Procedures That Remove Excessive Skin After Dramatic Weight Loss

The waistlines of Canadians have been expanding over the last few decades. Dr. L.K Twells, who published her studies in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, projected that about 21% of Canadian adults will be obese by 2019.  That’s a big number.

With that in mind, losing weight—especially large amounts of it—is impressive. It takes a lot of dedication and willpower to stick to these goals, whether it’s through diet and exercise or weight loss surgery. While a person might have shed fat and weight, they might be left with some extra baggage. I’m talking about loose, excessive skin.

This is often the case for those who have had bariatric surgery. This hanging skin is like an annoying reminder of your former self. Even though someone’s lost an incredible amount of weight, they might still be unhappy with themselves because of all the skin that’s leftover. A lot of people try to avoid it, but plastic surgery is the way to address this issue. 

It’s not the answer immediately after weight loss though. A person should wait until their weight has stabilized after bariatric surgery or dieting—this could be 18 months or more. Once that happens, there are quite a few procedures they can look into to banish that skin for good.

Tummy tuck

After dramatic weight loss, some people are left with loose skin that hangs over the pubic region and hip bones. An extensive tummy tuck can address this issue. An incision (you and your plastic surgeon will discuss where and how it looks like) will be made, and then the skin is removed. Loose tummy muscles are sutured and a new belly button is also created. Here’s an example of an actual SpaMedica patient who lost over 100 pounds. Although she was happy with her weight loss, she was bothered by the loose skin she was left with.

Source: SpaMedica. This patient had a tummy tuck to remove excess skin.

Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, performed a tummy tuck and energy-assisted liposuction techniques to give her a smooth, flat abdomen. The patient was extremely pleased with her final results.

Arm lift

Arm lifts (also known as brachioplasty) remove the hanging skin on arms. Sometimes this loose skin is referred to as “bat wings”. Your plastic surgeon may make incisions on the back of the arms which extends from the underarm to the elbow. After surgery, you’ll wear a compression garment to reduce swelling and to help shrink and tighten the skin.

Body lift

This is an extensive surgical procedure that involves targeting several areas of the body. Instead of doing individual procedures at different times, some patients opt to have a full body lift. Body lifts are ideal for patients who’ve lost a large amount of weight and have excess skin. Full body lifts tighten several areas such as the breasts, abdomen, legs, and butt. A full month of recovery is usually needed for most patients.

Breast lift

Source: SpaMedica. This patient had a breast lift performed by Dr. Krajden of SpaMedica.

For women who’ve lost weight, they may see a loss of fat in their breasts. When this happens, they’re left with saggy or droopy looking breasts--that’s usually not a desired outcome. That’s why breast lifts are popular for women who’ve lost a lot of weight. Your plastic surgeon will reposition and reshape the breast tissue and remove any excess skin.  

It’s not ideal, but scars may be present after the procedures. If possible, your plastic surgeon will try to conceal or minimize the scarring. If you want more information, feel free to get in touch with us by booking your appointment online or leave a comment below.

Why Labiaplasty Is So Controversial

If you could imagine a body part that could be changed in any way, chances are that it can or has been done. You feel like you’re a bit on the shorter side and you want to grow a few inches? Check. You can do that with limb-lengthening surgery. Bothered by your outie belly button? No problem. Get an umbilicoplasty to transform it into an innie belly button.

What about surgery for the areas down below? For women who loathe the appearance of their genitalia or just find it uncomfortable to have enlarged labia, it’s possible to address these concerns. It’s called labiaplasty, and it’s increasingly performed now.  

What is it?

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the outer labia or the inner labia. This procedure alters the shape and size of the labia for a more pleasing appearance or to improve the patient’s comfort. Labiaplasty usually takes about 30 minutes to perform. Some things to consider about this procedure are that patients should be at least 18 years old. That’s because a woman’s body can keep developing until her early 20s, so it’s best to wait until they’re fully developed.

Recovery time is not extensive—usually, 3 days to a full week are needed as time off from work. Patients shouldn’t be having sex for 6 weeks after surgery.

The demand for labiaplasty has exploded in popularity over the last two years. There were 5,070 labiaplasty procedures performed in the U.S in 2013, which is a 44% increase from 2012. 

Source: styledicor.com

Why would a woman get labiaplasty?

- Cosmetic concerns: size, length of the inner and outer labia, discolouration

- Pain and discomfort during sex or physical activities

- A lot of women find larger or asymmetric appearance of their labia looks “abnormal” or undesirable

- They don’t like their inner labia protruding over the outside labia

- Discomfort when walking or exercising

- Discomfort when wearing certain underwear like thongs

- Loss of sexual confidence or pleasure

The controversy 

Not everyone agrees with offering labiaplasty as a procedure. According to this CBC article, obstetricians and gynecologists believe physicians have a responsibility to educate patients on what is “normal”. They say they don’t perform these procedures because there’s no valid medical reason to do so. This Salon article writes that in 2007, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published an opinion stating its opposition to all forms of vaginal rejuvenation. They said:

 “'The appearance of the external genitalia varies significantly from woman to woman,' and the 'safety and effectiveness of these procedures have not been documented' due to lack of 'adequate studies.'”

Meanwhile, plastic surgeons believe patients have the right to make their own personal decisions—with that said, labiaplasty is performed by mostly plastic surgeons. 

Without a doubt, this procedure is a touchy topic amongst physicians and regular folks. Cosmetic surgery is already a controversial issue for some people in general, but perhaps the idea of going below the belt for surgery seems invasive—like an intrusion of privacy. Some people even consider labiaplasty “genital mutilation”.

But like with any other cosmetic procedure, is it wrong for someone to want to change something about their body if it truly bothers them both physically and emotionally? While labiaplasty is not as commonly performed like breast augmentation, the fact that it’s growing says something. Some physicians may say that women don’t need it, but numbers don’t lie. People want it.

3 Skin Peels That Give You Stunning Skin

You can buy all the expensive creams and serums you want, but your skin won’t absorb these products enough if you’re not exfoliating your skin properly. Products like moisturizers and sunscreen won’t penetrate into your skin as well if you’re skipping out on exfoliation.

Exfoliation involves removing dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin (the epidermis). Removing these dead skin cells keeps your skin healthy, smooth and fresh. It doesn’t hurt that exfoliation also helps unclog pores and reduce acne breakouts. When you get rid of these rough, dead skin cells, your face almost instantly becomes a smoother canvas that holds makeup and products even better.

Skin peels are one way to exfoliate and revive your skin. Find out what different treatments are available that best suit your skin type and needs below.

Crystal Peel

A Crystal Peel is a microdermabrasion treatment that uses a stream of micro-crystals and vacuum suction to improve common skin concerns like wrinkles, sun damage, fine lines, brown spots and acne scars. A Crystal Peel is a powerful, yet gentle anti-ageing treatment that effectively exfoliates and renews your skin. Since dead skin cells are suctioned away, this stimulates new skin growth and leaves you with brighter and smoother skin after a few treatments. It’s the most performed skin peel treatment since it’s ideal for all skin types.

You can have a Crystal Peel every two weeks or once a month to get the best skin care results. It’s not only your face that you can treat—Crystal Peels also improve the skin on your neck, back and arms.

Skin peels like the Crystal Peel can help improve brown spots or sun damaged skin

SilkPeel

SilkPeels are one of the most advanced skin treatments available as they feature a brand new form of exfoliation called Dermalinfusion. SilkPeels are painless and easily tailored to your personal skin needs. SilkPeels are different from regular microdermabrasion treatments since they exfoliate the skin and have Dermalinfusion topical delivery technology.

During your treatment, the SilkPeel hand piece moves along the treatment area to exfoliate the skin's outer layers, suction away dead skin cells and penetrate the skin with a treatment solution. The deep layers of the skin are then infused with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. SilkPeels moisturize dry, flaky skin and clarify oily or acne-prone skin. They also brighten and balance discoloured skin.

SonoPeel

SonoPeels use gentle water pressure to deeply exfoliate and remove dead layers of the skin--this skin peel is the best choice for sensitive skin. SonoPeels can help improve common skin concerns like sun-damaged skin, enlarged pores and acne scars. This peel uses ultrasonic vibration that propels a mist of water to treat the layers of skin and debris. After 30 minutes, you'll leave with softer and rejuvenated skin. 

We’re offering SonoPeels and SilkPeels for 50% OFF for a limited time—that’s hundreds of dollars of savings. Book your appointment online now to get beautiful and healthy skin.

Get Longer and Thicker Eyelashes with Latisse

Are you sick of fussing with gluing on fake eyelashes that may or may not stay on the whole day? Or maybe you’re just tired of coating on layers of mascara to thicken your eyelashes. These are just some of the beauty gripes most women deal with regularly.

In some cases, women have little or no eyelashes at all. Hypothrichosis—a condition that causes abnormal hair patterns—results in loss or reduction of hair. Some people have a habit of tugging at their eyelashes so often that they don’t grow back anymore. But it’s possible to get the long, lush eyelashes that you want pretty easily.  That’s where Latisse comes in. You can get longer and thicker eyelashes with Latisse, a prescribed drug. You’ve probably heard about it before as it’s been on the market since it was FDA approved in 2008.  

We answer some common questions many clients have about Latisse. Read on and see if you think it’s what you want to get the eyelashes you’re looking for.

Where do you get Latisse?

Physcians dispense Latisse. Since it’s a formulated medication, that’s why you need to see a doctor. It’s not available over the counter in Shoppers.

A physician will meet you and talk about the benefits and the application technique. You’re then shown how to apply it and you can go and pick up Latisse. You’ll be instructed to put it on once a night for three months.

How do you apply it to your eyelashes?

Latisse comes in a package. You get two applicators and a Latisse bottle. Since it’s a medication, remember to keep it on the eyelashes. It does work well on eyebrows too, though. Try to make sure the product doesn’t trickle down your face. If it does, dab it off because you don’t want to get upper lip hair.

What are the results you’ll see with Latisse?

Your lashes will be about 38% longer. They’ll also darken and thicken by 30-40%.

When do you start seeing the results?

Patients are usually recommended to use Latisse for about three to four months. You should start to see results after about two months. Once you’ve got the length and the thickness you want to achieve, then you should start applying it twice a week indefinitely. The growth and length does stabilize—it doesn’t just keep growing forever.

Are the results permanent?

Latisse doesn’t give you permanent results. After you’ve finished the recommended three to four months, you should continue to use the product or else your lashes will look like they did before treatment. Instead of applying Latisse every day, you should apply it twice a week to maintain your results.

Will Latisse work if you don’t have any eyelashes?

There’s a chance you’ll see growth of eyelashes if your eyelash hair follicles haven’t been fully destroyed. It’s very common for people who had chemotherapy and have lost their lashes to use Latisse to achieve lash growth and length.

Does using Latisse have any side effects?

Some side effects include: redness, itching or darkening of the eyelid. Some medical conditions can be worsened by Latisse, so it’s important to consult your doctor and find out if you should be using this product. You shouldn’t be using Latisse if you’re allergic to any of the ingredients.

Can you wear mascara and Latisse at the same time?

Yes, but you should apply Latisse first and wait until it’s completely dry before applying mascara.

Visit us at SpaMedica if you’re interested in trying Latisse. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and make sure that it’s right for you. Call 877-211-7505 or book your appointment online.

Celebrities Who Are Totally Against Plastic Surgery

When we talk about plastic surgery, there’s always polarizing debates about it. Some people are for it, others are completely against it. People who are for it would generally say if it’s your body, you could do whatever you want with it.

As for those who are against plastic surgery, it’s not unusual to hear accusations that people must be insecure to stoop so low to get surgery. Without a doubt, plastic surgery—even though it’s commonly performed on millions of people in North America—still remains a touchy issue to talk about.

Talking about it in everyday life may not be as easy for most of us, but that’s not the case in Hollywood. The lifestyle and the pressures of looking young and attractive are real in the entertainment world. Naturally, Hollywood stars are often asked questions about plastic surgery.

Certain celebrities are rather open about their approval of plastic surgery, like the late Joan Rivers or Scarlett Johansson. Some stars are strongly opposed to it and have made sure their stance is well-known.

Kristen Stewart recently made headlines for some critical comments she had on plastic surgery and women who choose to have it. She’s not the first celebrity to share her opposition to it, either. She’s probably the bluntest about her opinion though. Find out which other celebrities are also opposed to plastic surgery.

Kristen Stewart

Photo source: blogs.indiewire.com

Kristen Stewart let her strong opinion against plastic surgery be known in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. When asked if she would consider getting work done she said: “No, never. Never. I am so freaked out by the idea of doing anything. And maybe that’s completely arrogant but I don’t want to change anything about myself. I think the women who do are losing their minds. It’s vandalism.”

Julianne Moore

Photo source: nme.com

When asked in an interview with Allure magazine, Julianne said she isn’t a fan of cosmetic surgery.

“I don’t believe it makes people look better. I think it just makes them look like they had something done to their face, and I don’t think we find that instinctually appealing,” she said. Julianne’s been asked about the topic many times over the years. She’s also said that “with few exceptions, people always look like they've had plastic surgery. They don’t look any younger. Age is about lifespan, about the journey we take.”

Jennifer Aniston

Photo source: blogcdn.com

Jennifer Aniston had rhinoplasty in the 90s to correct a deviated septum—she says she hasn't done any other surgical work though. Jennifer says she has to stop herself from begging her friends to quit visiting their plastic surgeons.

'I am grateful to learn from their mistakes, because I am not injecting s— into my face. I see them and my heart breaks. I think, ‘Oh God, if you only know how much older you look.’ They are trying to stop the clock and all you can see is an insecure person who won’t let themselves just age. I also have a fiancé who will put a gun to my head if I touch my face in any way.'

Julia Roberts

Photo source: knote.com

In Elle Magazine, Julia Roberts talked about women’s fears of ageing and looking older. 'It's unfortunate that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society where women don't even give themselves a chance to see what they'll look like as older persons. I want to have some idea of what I'll look like before I start cleaning the slates. I want my kids to know when I'm pissed, when I'm happy and when I'm confounded. Your face tells a story... and it shouldn't be a story about your drive to the doctor's office.'

What’s your take on plastic surgery? How do feel about people who choose to change their looks surgically or non-surgically?

3 Countries People Visit Just to Get Plastic Surgery

Countries in Europe, Asia and South America attract thousands of visitors from around the world to get cosmetic work done. Why is that? One reason is because people are drawn to the competitive prices of the plastic surgery procedures these countries offer. Instead of paying full price for a facelift (that would cost between $6,000-$12,000 in Canada), a facelift would start from $1,900 in Brazil. That’s a big difference in cost and it’s just one of the factors why we’re seeing so many people travel abroad for surgery. Below are some countries that have seen an increase in foreign tourists mainly for plastic surgery.

Brazil

Did you know that Brazil has the most cosmetic surgeons in the world? While getting plastic surgery here in North America is oftentimes met with stigma, that’s not the case in Brazil. Getting a procedure here and there in Brazil is really no big deal.

The Brazillian government has even made cosmetic surgeries deductible from income tax, according to an ABC News article. Discounts are backdated for surgeries that go far back as 2004. Brazil has also flourished economically in the last ten years—salaries and disposable incomes are higher. A lot of people choose to spend that money to enhance their looks.  As for medical tourists, they’re treated well and aren’t met with any judgment. Cosmetic surgery is culturally accepted and is even regarded as a symbol of status.

Colombia

Colombia started to build facilities strictly for medical tourists after they saw their safety and tourism improve. Right now, about 20,000 tourists visit the country each year for plastic surgery procedures. This number is expected to increase. To sweeten the deal for foreigners, there are packages that include an apartment, chef, housekeeper and a combination of three surgeries for $10,000.

Source: allkpop.com. Psy's huge hit "Gangnam Style" went viral in 2012.

South Korea

South Koreans are the most cosmetically enhanced people in the world. Like Brazil, getting plastic surgery is really common. The Gangnam District in Seoul has 500 clinics closely located to each other—it’s like walking in a plastic surgery wonderland. The country sees thousands of visitors from countries like China or the U.S strictly for surgery. South Korea is well-known for its highly skilled and innovative plastic surgeons and clinics.

Out of all foreign patients, Chinese patients accounted for 26.5% of them. They also spent the most money in the Korean medical industry in 2013 (1.02 trillion won). By the end of this year, it’s expected that 400,000 people will visit South Korea just for medical procedures.

Safety and Risks

Safety is a real risk factor to think about when travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery. “Sometimes unqualified surgeons, or people that aren’t even doctors, try to do procedures without the expertise or the credentials which increases the risk for patients,” says Dr. Lina Triana, president of the Colombian Plastic Surgery Society, who was quoted in Colombia Reports. Just about anyone can create a website to advertise skills and services they might not even be capable of.

Another possibility to consider is the possibility of something going wrong after your surgery. If you return home and an infection or medical concern arises, it’s not like you can easily drop by your doctor’s office. They may be thousands of miles away. If you don’t speak the native language, communicating with the medical staff could be difficult. Keep these points in mind and remember that it’s never a bad idea to research extensively before agreeing to go under the knife, even if it’s at a cheaper price.

Cellulite Reduction: A SpaMedica Client's Personal Experience

Lumpy, dimply looking skin—you know what it is when you see it. It’s cellulite. Both men and women can have cellulite, but it’s more commonly seen in women since they’re more likely to have particular types of fat and connective tissue. Women also have thinner epidermis, making them more likely to develop these lumps on their skin. In fact, statistics show that 95% of women of all body types have cellulite on their bodies.

We offer and combine a few technologies to improve the appearance of cellulite at SpaMedica. One of our clients, Aimee, wrote about her experience so far with her cellulite treatment package. See what she has to say about her visit with us at her blog AmourAimee.

Botox: 3 Common Questions Answered

Botox is one of the most performed procedures at SpaMedica. It’s a quick and non-invasive treatment that can dramatically improve the look of your facial lines and wrinkles. Like with any other procedure, patients and prospective patients have lots of questions to ask about Botox. If you’ve been thinking about the treatment yourself, get more insight by reading Dr. Mulholland’s answers to a few questions about Botox below.

Q: Can Botox help to give eyebrows more of an arched shape?

Dr. Mulholland: Your question is excellent. Most patients view Botox merely as a wrinkle-reduction injection. In fact, Botox can be used to shape the contour of the brow, the position of the midface and the acuity of the jaw and neckline. 

The ability to create an arched brow will depend upon the specific and unique constellation of depressors and elevators that you have active in the upper part of your face, brow and eyes. If you have the right combination of depressors and elevators, an arched shape can be achieved from a relatively flat or umbrella-shaped brow.

Seeking the expert consultation of a physician experienced in brow shaping would be important. Botox, to me, has always been a primary facial shaping opportunity and this can be accomplished with Botox, Dysport or Xeomin.

Source: SpaMedica. This patient had Botox to soften the lines between her brows and on her forehead.

Q: I got Botox for the third time and it feels like I get headaches with it. My forehead always feels sore even weeks or months after the procedure. It feels like I am run down and headachy. Can this be related to Botox?

Dr. Mulholland: The symptoms you describe are generally not attributed to the use of Botox or any other neuromodulators. It is not uncommon, in perhaps 5% to 10% of patients, to experience feelings of flu symptomatology – such as muscle aches, pains, fever, nausea – in the first hours to a few days after a Botox injection. To have these symptoms many weeks after a Botox injection is more suggestive of another viral illness. If this persists, you should definitely seek the advice of your family physician to rule out other causes of these vague infective symptoms.

Q: This will be my first time getting Botox. I want to get minimal injections to smooth out my forehead wrinkles. Baby Botox or Botox Lite, definitely under 10 units. I do not want a super frozen look or sagging brows.

Dr. Mulholland: The use of Botox and its relatives, Xeomin and Dysport, to relax facial animation, can be performed in many unique and artistic ways. The “Baby Botox” or “Botox Lite” is the use of minimal Botox to soften expression and animation and minimize the presence of unwanted lines. Baby Botox or Botox light is an excellent way to achieve a degree of judicious modulation in facial activity without looking “frozen”.  

This concept of Baby Botox and Botox Lite has become particularly important in this area of pre-juvenation. Pre-juvenation is the use of medical aesthetics and its products such as Botox, soft tissue fillers and energy-assisted devices at a younger age, often in late 20s or early 30s, to eliminate facial aging and wrinkles that may have a hereditary predisposition prior to their occurring. Pre-juvenation should be done judiciously to ensure that you have a great look rather than a “done” look.

Want to know more about Botox?

If you have any questions about Botox, contact us at 1-877-712-8367 or book an appointment online.