Mini Lift: A Thing of Beauty

Traditionally, sagging facial skin has been corrected with a brow, face and neck lift. Along with that comes a three to six-hour trip to the operating room and a recovery of at least two to three weeks. If you have less drastic signs of facial aging, skin laxity, and jowling, however, you may be able to have a mini facelift.

According to Dr. Few, a mini-lift has a shorter incision area around the ear, and is only invasive enough to pull the muscle and tissue (SMAS) under the skin and achieve a nice result. As for downtime, a long weekend is generally all that’s needed, he says. (Compare that to the 2 to 3 weeks of downtime required by the traditional nip and tuck!)

Wrinkle Wars? Your Secret Weapon...

Almost every skin expert will tell you, if you’re over 40 you should be using a retinol. A retinol is a derivative of vitamin A that speeds up cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and even out the skin.

While your dermatologist can prescribe a power-punched retinoid (such as Retin-A), over-the-counter versions (such as our very own JF Aesthetic) are also available. While prescription-strength retinoids deliver results in as little as 4 weeks, they also tend to be more harsh, often resulting in dry, easily irritated skin. Non-prescriptions retinols, on the other hand, take up to three times longer to get results, but are significantly milder and more appropriate for intolerant skin.

5 Retinol Dos and Don’ts

Whether you go the prescription or non-prescription route, there are several points that will ensure your experience with retinol products is a good one:

1. Do Start Slow

Because retinols can irritate the skin, begin by using them every other night so your skin can adjust. Also, apply only a pea-sized amount. More does not equal better results in this case.

2. Do Use At Night

Because retinols can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, apply at night only.

3. Don't Forget Your Sunblock

Yes, your skin will be more sensitive to the sun, so now more than ever be sure to wear a daily SPF. Increased skin sensitivity also makes waxing a no-no.

4. Do Use a Good Moisturizer

Retinol acts to increase skin cell turnover, so your skin may dry out, flake off or peel. The key to comfort? Keep it moist!

5. Don't Use if You're Pregnant

Or breastfeeding, for that matter. Studies have demonstrated skeletal deformities in the offspring of pregnant rats who were treated with retinoids.

Lasers, Lashes & Lips, Oh, MY!

Looking for a little post-summer pick-me-up? We’ve got 3 quick fixes for freshening up for fall.

Whether it’s wrinkles, sun spots, thinning lashes and lips, or all of the above, each of these emphasize the fact that you’re getting older. But don’t call to make that facelift consult yet (oh, no!). At TFI, we’ve got three ways you can enhance your face without going under the knife:

1. Lasers

Skin rejuvenation with the fractional erbium 2940 laser will improve all those tell-tale signs of summer sun damage—fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots and skin laxity—that can make your face appear older than its years. and. The beauty of this low energy laser is that it limits damage to the skin thereby increasing post-procedure comfort and healing time. In just a few days, you’ll be ready for your close up!

2. Lashes

While innovative non-prescription lash products abound, big price tags and unproven results make Latisse the industry gold standard. Just like the commercial says, Latisse grows longer, thicker, darker lashes in as soon as 8 weeks, with full results in 16 weeks. Of note, you have to continue to use Latisse to maintain your new and improved lashes. If you stop using it, they'll return to their original state. The reason? Eyelashes, like your hair, follow a regular growth cycle: they grow, fallout, then grow again.

3. Lips

Most experts agree: If you want to enhance the lips, the best place to start is with a hyaluronic acid (HA) filler such as Juvéderm. Juvéderm is a smooth, clear gel, which is injected into the lips with an ultra-fine needle and immediately adds volume. Plumper lips are visible immediately following treatment, although your lips will be larger than the desired end result because of post-procedure swelling. But don’t worry: Swelling resolves in 2 to 3 days and your lips will have that full and sculpted look you’re going for. Results generally last from 3 to 8 months.

Q&A: Should you moisturize acne-prone skin?

In a word, yes! Even if you have oily skin, a daily moisturizer can help to improve your skin’s hydration, create a protective barrier and make it soft without leaving it feeling oily or looking shiny. Using a daily moisturizer will also help ease the dryness, peeling and flaking that can be caused by certain acne medications (Retin-A, Accutane, benzoyl peroxide). In fact, research has shown that even if you don’t use an acne medication, simply moisturizing alone can help acne.

4 Tips for picking the right products:

1. Look for water-based, non-comedogenic moisturizers
2. Moisturize after applying acne treatments
3. Use a lotion, not a lipid-containing cream
4. Use a moisturizer with SPF

A Natural Beauty

Twenty years ago, plastic surgery had a reputation for expensive, recovery time-intensive procedures that were likely to make you look as artificial as Joan Rivers. Today, however, the hallmarks of great plastic surgery are natural, often imperceptible changes that aim to make you look just like yourself, only better.

So what’s changed?

Where surgeons once nipped and tucked wrinkled skin, today the goal is to revolumize the cheeks and midface thereby softening lines, not simply pulling them tight. But, cautions Dr. Julius Few, you don’t want to simply add volume where a surgical lift may be necessary. Overfilling the face creates just as an unnatural look as overpulling.

Finding the Sweet Spot

According to Dr. Few, there are three variables of the aging process, which determine the nature and extent of the cosmetic procedures:

1. Skin changes (wrinkles, age spots)
2. Volume loss (flattened cheek area)
3. Facial sagging, or ptosis (skin that literally hangs, eg, jowls)

Dr. Few’s approach to each face centers around his surgical and nonsurgical "blending" concept, which essentially limits surgery or the extent of surgery by addressing variables 1 and 2 with nonsurgical solutions. (Less surgery with better results? Now that's sweet!)

Surgery out of the question?

If you’re opposed to surgery or simply don’t have time for it, and you’re willing to accept limited results, then Dr. Few advises using hyaluronic acid (HA) as a bridge to surgery. Not only will an HA filler provide a roadmap for permanent results if and when you decide surgery is part of the solution, but it’s also reversible if you don’t like your results. (The proverbial cherry on top!)

Eyes Wide Open

Eye Openers: 2 Signs you may be in need of rejuvenation

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul... They indicate if we’re happy or sad; they sparkle with excitement and cry with laughter. But as we age, the eyes can also misrepresent how we feel. Heavy upper lids can make us look angry. Puffy and wrinkled lower lids can make us look tired... and, well, old.

No doubt about it, the eyes are the focal point on the face, and as such, it’s no wonder eye rejuvenation surgery (blepharoplasty) was the third most performed cosmetic surgical procedure last year, according to statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgery. Blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure that can repair these signs of aging, can be performed on healthy individuals under local anesthesia, right in the TFI office-accredited surgery suite. Dr. Few is a worldwide expert on eyelid surgery and has received special, advanced training in this field. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your eyes and would like a natural-looking correction, schedule an appointment with Dr. Few to determine what cosmetic options may be available to you.

5 tips to repair your skin

Wrinkles, sagging and age spots, oh MY!

At the end of every summer, each of us has some (be it a little or a lot of) sun damage to show for it. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun breaks down collagen and elastin fibers, which over time causes the skin to lose its strength and flexibility, leading to deep wrinkles and sagging skin.

While the sun is the primary culprit of premature aging, there is good news. Here's 5 things you can do to repair that sun damaged skin:

1. Topical Treatments JW Aesthetic Kojilac-C Serum treats hyperpigmentation (sun spots) and JF Aesthetic Retinol 50 Serum is used to reduce those fine lines and wrinkles. Alternating these products every night can lead to a noticeably brighter and more youthful-looking face. Products available in the TFI/SkinSuite offices.

2. Laser Resurfacing Intense pulsed light (IPL) noninvasive laser treatment can reduce age spots and sun damage. Used on the face, neck, hands and chest, this high-tech tool will restore and rejuvenate your skin.

3. Chemical Peels These topical treatments will have you waving “bye-bye” to dry, dull skin and “hello” to an even skin tone and brightened complexion. Try our our Glo Therapeutics Salicylic Acid 30% Chemical Peel or our GLO Therapeutics Modified Jessner 14% Chemical Peel.

4. Hydrate Use a hydrating moisturizer daily. The sun can leave your skin feeling and looking dry. Try TFI Aesthetic Moisturiche, www.TFIskinsuite.com

5. Protect Prevention is Key! Once you’ve treated sun damage, be sure to prevent it from returning. Wear sunscreen year round (yes, even in the winter months!). Apply at least a 15 SPF everyday and reapply when necessary.