The Kardashian Effect on Plastic Surgery

The Kardashians aren’t shy when it comes to media attention. Whether you like them or not, the family has certainly influenced some women’s choices for plastic surgery. They are open about their interest and dabbling in plastic surgery, and their looks are what many women are asking for in their consultations with doctors. Their candidness about what they’ve had done has also helped normalize plastic surgery, especially among young adults.

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3 Surprising Ways Botox Changes Your Looks

When wrinkles are wreaking havoc on your face and the anti-aging creams and serums are barely making a difference, Botox can be your secret weapon to fighting off wrinkles. This substance is used to weaken and paralyze muscle movement to soften the appearance of wrinkles. It’s so widely performed that a lot of people wouldn’t even bat an eye if you mention you’ve had it done (note: 4,267,038 Botox procedures were performed last year in North America).

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The 4 Ways Botox Refreshes Your Face

It seems like more regular people and celebrities are open about their love of Botox today. No longer are they covering up the fact that they’ve got a little bit of Botox here and there—they’re quite open about it online and in the media. So let’s get to the bottom of it—why do people love Botox so much? 

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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

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. 

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

Get a Free SonoPeel Facial at SpaMedica!

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. 

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.

10 Ways to Cut Your Chances of Getting Wrinkles

Though we can’t stop wrinkles from ever forming for good, there are plenty of ways to slow down the process of getting wrinkles. As we get older, our skin loses elasticity and tautness since our levels of collagen reduce. Once a woman is in her late 20s, she breaks down collagen faster than she makes it. This happens even faster once she reaches her 30s.

Sometimes wrinkles creep up on people without them even expecting it. To temporarily banish these lines, some people get Botox injections to soften their appearance. To avoid getting them in the first place, others prefer to limit (or ban) unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking excessively. Here are a few more simple ways you can stall the signs of wrinkles:

1. Don’t stretch your skin when applying makeup. This habit can lead to wrinkles, so avoid pulling your eyes when you apply eyeliner.
   
   
2. Don’t soak up the sun too much: overexposure to the sun accelerates the aging process. When the skin has signs of wrinkles, blotches, roughness, and loss of skin tone, it’s mostly from severe sun damage. UV rays are known to dry out skin and damage its underlying structure (elastin and collagen) which causes premature sagging, bags and wrinkles.
   
   
3. Use sunscreen year-round. This is key to prevent your skin from additional damage. Apply it on all exposed areas, even behind your ears and neck.
   

   

   Drinking too much alcohol can speed up the ageing process.

4. Don’t drink too much alcohol. Consuming too much of it negatively impacts vitamin A levels, an important antioxidant for the skin. Vitamin A is also important in the production of collagen, so when there are lower levels of collagen, the skin loses elasticity. Limit your drinking to avoid speeding up the ageing process.
   
   
5. Get enough sleep. When you deprive your body from sleep, it starts to produce excess cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that breaks down skin cells. When you squeeze in enough sleep, you’ll produce more human growth hormone (HGH) which helps cell growth and regeneration.
   
   
6. Always remove make-up before bed. The dirt, pollutants and makeup builds up throughout the day and seep into pores, which breaks down collagen and elastin. Skipping out on cleansing your face before bed leads to wrinkles.
   
   
7. Eat more fish. Not only does it taste good, fish helps out your skin in big ways. Salmon is high in protein and fatty acids such as omega-3. These fatty acids help your skin stay plump and nourished.
   
   
8. Wear sunglasses. They’ll protect the skin around your eyes from UV radiation. The skin around the eyes is very thin, sensitive and prone to wrinkle formation (also known as crows’ feet).
   
   
9. Sleep on your back. Sleeping on your side and pressing your face against your pillow can cause sleep lines. Overtime, you can develop wrinkles by sleeping this way. Try to make it a habit to sleep on your back.
   
   
10. Get facials. Squeezing in some relaxing facials once a month or bi-monthly can help keep your skin healthy and supple. Facials stimulate and increase the circulation in your face.

Keeping these tips (or at least some of them) in mind will pay off as the years go by. Your skin will definitely appreciate it.

Minor Plastic Surgery Procedures That Make a Big Impact on Your Looks

You don’t have to do a drastic plastic surgery procedure to improve your looks. In fact, sometimes quick and minor plastic surgery procedures can make a big difference in how you look. If your goal is to look younger or refreshed, it’s all possible with these procedures below. And the beauty is that 4 out of 5 of them are non-surgical treatments, a total plus for those who are hesitant about going under the knife.

5 minute nose job

Ever wanted to do something about your nose but got scared off from the thought of surgery? Well, you’re in luck. You can reshape and change your nose’s appearance, all with the use of dermal fillers within minutes. It’s called the 5 minute nose job. The results aren’t permanent—they last for about 1 to 2 years—but you’ll get a good sense of how your nose looks like if you ever decided to undergo surgical rhinoplasty.

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 temporarily weakening the muscles that control facial animation.

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.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had lip augmentation.

Lip augmentation

Sometimes a minor tweak is all it takes to really change your looks. (Example: Kyle Jenner’s enhanced lips that sparked a huge trend on emulating her full lips). So how do you get it yourself? Lip augmentation is usually performed through the use of dermal fillers and sometimes the use of a patient’s own fat. A lip augmentation is a fairly quick procedure—it’s over in a couple of minutes.  

Fat grafting

Fat grafting allows you to have fat from one area of your body which can be transferred to a preferred site for more volume and shape. The fat can be transplanted to several areas like the breasts, butt or face. The major advantage of this procedure is that it allows you to remove unwanted fat from one area and have it in an area where you want volume.

VolumaLift

The Volumalift can give you results similar to that of a facelift, but without the need of surgery. This procedure involves the use of various soft tissue fillers which are injected to different areas of the face. The Volumalift helps restore volume for patients who see loss of volume in their face due to age, weight loss and other factors. This non-surgical procedure can be completed in 30 minutes.

Promotion: Get a Volumalift with up to 4 syringes of filler and up to 60 units of Botox for $1,999. The actual value is $3,500. Book your appointment online or call us at 1-877-695-2835. 

A Quick Guide on Beating Signs of Ageing

Most people tend to freak out about getting older and developing signs of ageing. They don’t want to wake up one day and look in the mirror…and bam. They see a face that looks completely different from how they picture themselves. Instead of waiting until they’re in their older years, plenty of men and women are seeking non-surgical and surgical treatments in their 30s, 40s and 50s to put a halt to signs of ageing.

Dr. Zel Krajden, a Toronto cosmetic plastic surgeon, talks about what treatments women can do as they approach different age milestones in their lives. Of course, not everyone ages at the same rate or the same way. But this is a general guide on what types of treatments are available to treat the most common ageing signs women see in various stages of their lives.

Treatments to consider in your 30s

Normally, signs of facial ageing like pigment changes and fine lines start when women enter their 30s. Dr. Krajden says this usually happens due to sun damage or weight fluctuations. Make sure to wear sunscreen regularly, avoid smoking and eat a healthy diet if you’re keen on preventing these signs from appearing.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had a FotoFacial.

What if you already have fine lines or sun damage? Then Dr. Krajden recommends getting a FotoFacial. “A FotoFacial is a light-based treatment that improves things like irregular pigmentation,” he says. FotoFacials help reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and large pores on the face. These treatments can be performed within one hour. For the best results, five treatments are recommended.

Treatments to consider in your 40s

Once people hit their 40s, more dramatic signs of ageing occur in their looks. Dr. Krajden says the most common changes are descent, deflation and skin deterioration of the face. That’s because when we age, we lose fat on our faces which tends to keep us looking youthful.

To correct these issues, Botox injections would be the best bet. “You can treat several problems with just Botox alone,” says Dr. Krajden. Dermal fillers are another option to restore volume and structure in the face. Juvederm Voluma injections can reshape the cheekbones and jawline area. The results from Botox last up to 6 months. Dermal filler results, on the other hand, can last anywhere from 1 to 2 years.

Treatments to consider in your 50s

Source: SpaMedica. This patient had a non-surgical facelift.

Once people are in their 50s, the skin on the face descends even more. Non-surgical and surgical options are available to address any concerns with the face or skin. One non-surgical option to tighten the skin on the face is called FaceTite. This heat-based technique tightens the skin around the lower eyelids and the marionette lines. Dermal fillers are another option to restore facial volume. Non-surgical facelifts—a combination of laser and energy devices—can shave years off the face without going under the knife.

They won’t provide you with the same results as a surgical facelift, but you’ll still see dramatic skin tightening and rejuvenation.

Book your appointment

Are you ready to come in for a treatment? Book your appointment online now or call us at 1-877-712-8367 so we can help you get started on looking how you want to.

Treat These Summertime Problems: Sweat, Cellulite and Brown Spots

Now that summer has rolled in, there’s a whole bunch of (totally) normal weather-related things to factor in your daily routines. You’ve got to be more consistent with shaving, moisturizing and keeping frizzy hair tamed. That’s just a couple of things on the list. Below are some typical concerns people have when the warmer weather is here. But fear not, we’ve listed a few solutions and treatments on how to deal with them.

Sweating

Sweating is inevitable when it’s sweltering hot. You could take refuge in the shade or shed off a few layers of clothing to stop sweating. But if you find that you sweat excessively—even when it’s not summer—you might have to consider other options to stop it.

How to stop sweating

You can try miraDry or Botox to disable your sweat glands in certain areas of your body. To permanently stop underarm sweating, miraDry is your solution. It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses controlled energy to eliminate underarm sweat glands. Once they’re removed, they won’t grow back. Results are permanent. And as an added bonus, miraDry treatments also remove underarm hair permanently.

Botox injections, on the other hand, provide temporary results. If you find that you tend to sweat a lot on your armpits, hands or feet, Botox injections helps this problem. Once an injection is made to the problem areas, the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands get blocked. Within 10 minutes, you won’t have to worry about sweating for up to 6 months.

Cellulite

Souce: SpaMedica. From left to right: mild cellulite, moderate cellulite and severe cellulite.

Does your cellulite make you hesitant to wear certain clothing or swimwear? You’re definitely not alone. In fact, cellulite is seen in up to 95% of women of all shapes and sizes. Cellulite is influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors. Diet does matter when it comes to cellulite. Consider bulking up on food that’s rich in vitamin C as they’re known to boost collagen levels in the skin.

How to get rid of cellulite

Sometimes you want to see more immediate results. Look into cellulite removal treatments like Venus Freeze. Your technician moves the radiofrequency applicator back on forth over your problem area. Once the electrical current heats the skin and soft tissue, this helps stimulate collagen production. It also reduces fat cell content. Each treatment takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. Without the need for recovery time, you can get back to work or regular activities after Venus Freeze treatments.  

Brown spots

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had laser brown spot removal on her hands.

Make it a habit to wear sunscreen or limit time in the sun if you don’t want to increase your chances of developing brown spots. Sun exposure and ultraviolet light exposure are some factors that may cause brown spots (also known as age spots). Areas that are more likely to develop brown spots are the ones that are most exposed to the sun such as: the face, back of hands, forearms and shoulders. While brown spots aren’t harmful, some people simply dislike the appearance of them and decide to remove them.

How to treat brown spots on skin

There are several laser brown spot removal and intense pulsed light treatments available to fade your brown spots within minutes. If you decide to get IPL treatments, the brown spot darkens first and the lesion then fades over the course of 3-6 weeks. With laser treatments, the area where your brown spot used to be becomes crusted. This area is covered with ointment and bandage until it falls off after 7-10 days.  

Interested in any of these treatments? Book your appointment online with us today.

The 5 Most Asked Questions About Botox

You’re bound to have endless questions about Botox if you’ve been thinking about getting it. Just know that you’re not the only curious inquirer about the treatment. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions people and patients tend to ask us.

What are some common areas to get Botox?

If there’s anywhere on the face that has wrinkles or lines that you don’t want, it can be treated with Botox injections. Botox is most commonly injected in these areas: forehead, between the eyebrows, the corners of the eyes and corners of the lips.

How much does Botox cost?

The cost of Botox injections varies from clinic to clinic and who’s injecting it. The prices that nurses and doctors charge vary—at SpaMedica, registered nurses charge $12 per unit. The doctor’s rate starts at $18 per unit for the first 60 units. After that, the price drops significantly.

If you haven’t visited us for Botox yet, we have a promotion for first-time clients. It’s just $8 per unit. Get this promotion now.

Source: healthline.com. You don't always have to rely on medication for your migraines. Botox injections also treat migraines.

Can Botox be used to treat other concerns aside from wrinkles?

Botox is well-known for treating lines and wrinkles, but it also has other uses. Botox injections also treat issues like migraines, excessive sweating and overactive bladders. Botox was approved by the FDA in 2010 as a treatment option for chronic migraines. When injected in specific points like the temples, forehead and nose bridge, Botox can provide relief for migraine sufferers.

If you tend to sweat a lot, Botox injections temporarily stop the sweat from happening. Injections can be made to the armpits, hands, feet and forehead. You’ll be sweat-free for up to 6 months.

How old do you have to be to get Botox?

The demographics of patients who are visiting clinics for Botox are changing. Patients who want Botox are getting younger—they’re generally in their 20s and early 30s. In 2013, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that people between ages 20-29 accounted for 556,558 non-invasive procedures in 2013. Botox was the second most performed treatment after laser hair removal. Part of the reason is that young adults are taking preventative measures. Instead of getting treatments done when wrinkles appear, patients are now preventing them from happening in the first place with Botox.

Does Botox have any side effects? Is it dangerous?

Botox injections are safe when performed by an experienced nurse or doctor. Some common side effects like swelling or bruising can occur. You might experience symptoms similar to when you have a headache or flu.

Another important point to consider is where you’re getting these treatments done. Low prices for Botox injections may look tempting, but you have to think about how much experience your provider has and if they know how to deal with problems or concerns should they arise. Avoid any “fake” or black market Botox products—you want to use only FDA-approved Botox. Not only is the quality of these black market products unknown and unregulated, you’re also putting yourself at risk for complications.  

Learn more about Botox

Find out more about Botox on our website. You can also browse through our before and after photo gallery. Ask us questions by leaving a comment below or booking an appointment online on the sidebar or our website.

Skin Concerns That Are Caused By Everyday Habits

Kim Kardashian once said that she doesn’t smile much in photos because it causes wrinkles. You might think that sounds ridiculous, but she actually is right. Below we talk about common skin concerns like wrinkles, acne and sun damage and break down what habits could be influencing or accelerating these concerns to happen.

Frowning frequently can cause wrinkles and lines

It’s natural to see lines and wrinkles as you age, but you can see them earlier than expected due to facial animation. That means frequent frowning and smiling can very well influence the formation of wrinkles and lines. The glabella lines (also known as the 11’s) are the frown lines between your eyebrows. If your skin has already been sun damaged, there’s a higher chance of you developing glabella lines. Sun damage breaks down the skin’s collagen and elastin and thins out the skin.

Solution: Botox injections temporarily treat and relax these muscles so you won’t look tired, aged or angry.

Using your cellphone causes acne

Cell phones are carried around and left on different surfaces throughout the day. You may leave them on dinner tables, beds, bathroom surfaces, or just stuffed in your purse with several other items. With this constant contact with various surfaces, bacteria easily fester on your cell phone. Now imagine constantly pressing your face against your cellphone. These bacteria can aggravate your skin. Not only that, your pores can get blocked from perspiring on your phone after long conversations.

Solution: Use a headset so your phone won’t have to be against your cheek all the time.

You can get still sun damage during the winter and on cloudy days

It’s a given that you are susceptible to sun damage during the summer. It’s the same case even during the winter and on cloudy days. If you do winter sports, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation still puts you at risk of sun damage. Here’s bad news for skiers and snowboarders—the sun reflects off the snow and higher altitudes can put you at risk for overexposure to the sun’s UV. The Skin Cancer Foundation says higher altitude can contribute to sun-induced skin damage. “UV radiation exposure increases 4 to5 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level,” says the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Solution: Strong wind and snow can wear away sunscreen, so apply SPF 30 sunscreen or higher. Don’t forget the more obscure places like behind your ears and around your lips. If you know you’ll be outside for a long time, reapply sunscreen every two hours.

3 Quick Non-Surgical Treatments To Do Before Your Wedding

Your wedding day is probably one of the biggest and most important days of your life. That’s more added pressure to look next to flawless on the day when you tie the knot in front of your friends and family (and your partner of course!)

Starting that new diet or working out even harder is a given once that ring is on your finger. But what if you want to treat other concerns that can’t be solved through just food and exercise? Thankfully, you have plenty of non-surgical treatments that are available to you. The beauty of these procedures is that you won’t be spending your time resting and recovering—these treatments require no downtime so you can go back to planning your wedding. Read on to see what you can do about common concerns you might have and what you can do about them before your big day.

Concern #1: Wrinkles

Got some wrinkles around your eyes or lips that you’d rather not flaunt in your wedding photos? Then consider Botox injections. Botox injections paralyze and relax these lines you typically see between your brows, on your forehead and around your lips. These treatments take a few minutes to perform and will give you results that last up to 6 months. It takes up to a week for the final results of these injections to settle in. Consider getting Botox at least 1 month before your wedding date.

Concern #2: Uneven skin complexion

You want to look like a glowing and blushing bride, not a blotchy one. Unfortunately, not everyone has even and clear skin. One solution to an uneven skin complexion is intense pulsed light treatments like a FotoFacial. A FotoFacial uses radiofrequency, intense pulsed light and infrared energy to target skin concerns like brown spots, spider veins and blemishes. These treatments target the deep layer of your skin, which all leads to production of new collagen. Since you’ll see the best results after 5 treatments (each treatment should be performed 3 weeks apart), start your FotoFacials at least 4 months before your wedding.

Concern #3: Stubborn fat

Maybe all that working out and dieting isn’t giving you the results you want. Or you feel pressed for time to make noticeable changes in your body before the big day. By combining non-surgical fat reduction treatments with a healthy diet and workout regime, you’ll be sure to fit into your dress the way you want. Here are just a couple of treatments you can look into:

BodyFx

BodyFx treatments use radiofrequency energy for permanent fat reduction and cellulite improvement. The RF energy tightens the skin and high-tech voltage electrical pulses results in permanent death of unwanted fat cells. After combined treatments, patients can expect 2-6 centimetres of permanent fat reduction in the abdomen area and 3-5 centimetres of fat reduced from the inner and outer thighs. You should complete 6 treatments—each one is performed once a week. Start BodyFx treatments 2 months before your wedding. 

CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting treatments use cold temperatures to freeze and disable your fat cells. You can see 2-3 cm of fat reduction after just one treatment. You can get 2-3 CoolSculpting treatments, but keep in mind that each treatment should be performed every 6-12 weeks. A CoolSculpting treatment takes 1 hour to complete. Your final results are permanent, as long as you maintain your weight. Start CoolSculpting treatments 5 months before your wedding.

At SpaMedica, we want you to look your best whether it’s for your wedding or just because. That’s why we’re offering a Botox promotion for first-time clients. Each Botox unit is $8, a significant savings from regular pricing. Book your appointment now or call 1-877-712-8367 to look and feel beautiful on your wedding day.  

Watch Dr. Mulholland Perform Live Cosmetic Procedures on Periscope

Don't kick yourself for missing another Dr. Mulholland workshop.

Follow us on Twitter and catch us live on Periscope.  See Dr. Mulholland perform live cosmetic procedures at the Trump International Hotel in Miami on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. 

The live demos will begin on:

Saturday, June 13 at approximately 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, June 14 at approximately 11 a.m. ET

Login and watch, join the interactive program and ask Dr. Mulholland questions as he runs through Cynosure technology.  Watch him as he performs a SmartLipo procedure along with an IPL, The Elite and a Picosure facial.

The Periscope App 

Periscope allows you to view live broadcasts from your phone, desktop or tablet. You can watch Dr. Mulholland’s workshops in real time from around the world.   

If you ever had pressing questions about certain treatments like Botox or SmartLipo, then you have your chance to ask Dr. Mulholland whatever it is you’ve been wondering about.

Simply follow @SpaMedicaCanada on Twitter and then download the Periscope app from your iPhone, tablet or Android device and search for SpaMedicaCanada to tune in. If you're watching from your laptop, follow our tweets and click on the periscope links to view the broadcast.

If you are unable to join us in Miami, be sure to watch us live this weekend on June 13-14 from The Trump International Hotel.