FILLERS

Injectable fillers are basically divided into two broad categories:

- Temporary fillers: Perlane, Restylane, Juvederm, Evolence, Radiesse, and fat injections

- Fat Injections

The temporary fillers are used to fill depressed wrinkles and make them even with the skin surface, thereby rendering wrinkles less visible. This material can be injected within minutes and the results are instantaneous. Common areas treated include the globella (frown line between the eyebrows), naso-labial folds (lines between nose and mouth) and lips (for patients desiring lip enhancement). They may also be used for depressed scars.

Depending on the temporary filler used, results can last from six months to two years. There is absolutely no downtime. Patients can return to normal activities almost instantly. Certain patients will experience some swelling, which usually disappears within 24 hours.

BOTOX

Botox injections have now become the most frequently performed plastic surgery procedure in North America - and with good reason. A procedure which requires no surgery, no scars and takes all of five minutes has completely revolutionized the way we treat wrinkles of the face.

Botox is a substance purified from bacteria under strictly controlled conditions. It has been used in medicine for many years but only recently has it made its way into the field of plastic surgery in a very exciting fashion. Essentially, it works as a muscle relaxant and when used in very minute quantities, it removes the ability of a muscle to contract. Therefore, when used in areas such as the glabella, forehead or squint lines where the muscles are frequently contracting and causing wrinkles, it attenuates these wrinkles by its muscle relaxation properties.

Eventually, Botox is eliminated from the body. The muscle will then begin to contract again, usually four to five months later.

The effect of the Botox is not immediate and may take up to two weeks to be fully evident. Discomfort is practically non-existent. Localized bruising and swelling may occur but are extremely rare.

NON SURGICAL SOLUTIONS – SKIN CARE

Medispa Westmount

Recognizing the fact that people are leading extremely busy lives, recent treatment techniques have allowed us to achieve "maximum gain with minimal pain". These are the ancillary enhancements which can be done in a private office setting, with minimal patient discomfort, little, if any, bruising and/or swelling, thus allowing the patient to return to his/her normal routine, sometimes even the same day.

Medispa Westmount is essentially a clinic within a clinic. It is a medical spa located on our premises which offers the patient a wide choice of personal enhancement therapies with little down time. These include:

- Microdermabrasion

- IPL photorejuvenation

- Thermage™

- Blu U / ALA

- Laser hair removal

MICRODERMABRASION TREATMENTS

Microdermabrasion is a very superficial form of sanding of the skin. Again, this requires no downtime. Quite frequently, these treatments are interspersed with IPL treatments in order to obtain the ideal result. Fine crystals are sprayed onto the skin and then vacuumed up using a delicate handpiece. The effect is a thorough exfoliation of the skin, deeper than what a facial would achieve at an esthetician’s clinic. The overall result is a softer, smoother and younger-looking skin and like IPL, one would require a series of these treatments in order to give a smooth texture to the skin.

The treatments are painless and relaxing, taking about 40-60 minutes to complete. There could be a slight pinkish glow associated with the treatments, which usually disappears within an hour or so. After about 4-6 sessions, there is noticeable improvement in the appearance of age spots, fine lines and superficial acne scars and active acne.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photorejuvenation

This revolutionary technology was introduced several years ago and now allows us to address numerous skin problems without the need for surgery and with no downtime. Essentially, it is a computerized delivery of light energy to the skin. This light then travels to the mid portion of the skin and is changed to heat energy which is then able to realign the collagen fibers in the skin. By doing so, a number of skin blemishes and problems can be improved. This includes broken capillaries, spider veins, skin discoloration from sun aging or pregnancy, freckles and rosacea. It also tightens wide, dilated pores and tightens the skin and improves the skin texture.

Treatments typically take between 20-40 minutes. Nothing more than a topical anesthetic is required. The patient leaves with at most a slight redness of the skin and can return to his/her normal activities. In order to obtain the desired result, a series of such treatments is recommended, usually 6-8 treatments, spaced three weeks apart.

Thermage™

Thermage™ is one of the latest innovative procedures for maintaining a youthful appearance. This one hour non-invasive treatment is performed in our office on an outpatient basis, to gently smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Based on radiofrequency (RF) waves, it is both safe and non-ablative. Thermage’s™ advanced system incorporates a cooling spray to protect the skin’s outer surface while the RF energy heats and modifies the soft tissues beneath the skin. Medical studies have confirmed that heated collagen contracts and tightens without any bleeding or bruising. Each treatment is customized through the system’s computer to control the depth and degree of the heating process.

As no incisions are involved, there is no downtime, and return to normal activities is immediate. For most patients, the results are gradual over a six month period as the skin tightens and more new collagen is formed. A second treatment is occasionally required for maximal tightening.

Facial and neck skin can be treated providing a mild, non-surgical browlift or facelift effect. More recently, our clinic has pioneered research with Thermage™ for tightening of eyelid skin, as well as arms, thighs, knees and the abdomen.

Treatment results typically last from 1 to 3 years. Your skin will continue to age as it has in the past and eventually you may wish to have another anti-aging procedure.

ALA / BLU-U

This treatment consists of an application of a lotion (aminolevulonic acid) which is then left on the skin for approximately 30-60 minutes.

This lotion penetrates the outer layer of skin and attacks any fast dividing cells, including the bacteria that causes acne, basal and squamous cell carcinomas, solar keratoses and sebaceous glands. After a 30-60 minute incubation time, the patient is then put under a blue light which will activate the ingredients of the lotion.

You may require 3-5 sessions, done once every two weeks. Patients undergoing this treatment need to avoid light for 24 hours and could require a downtime of approximately 3-4 days. During this time, you could experience redness, peeling, and dry skin.

Laser hair removal

Our clinic can offer you the most advanced laser hair removal system in existence - the Sharplan EpiTouch system. We have treated thousands of patients since we acquired this equipment and have been tremendously impressed with the results.

Essentially, what is involved is that a tiny ray of specialized light is emitted from the machine and, upon contact with the skin, homes in directly to the hair follicle and disables it. Remarkably, all this takes place with little or no effect to the skin itself!

Common methods of hair removal include waxing, depilatory creams, shaving and electrolysis. These methods all basically require a lifetime of treatments except for electrolysis which may achieve permanent hair removal in certain cases. Furthermore, most of these methods have some discomfort and are time-consuming and expensive over the long term.

In contrast, laser hair removal is simple and relatively quick to perform with little or no discomfort to the patient. A typical session lasts anywhere from 10-30 minutes depending on the part of the body being treated. Most patients feel no discomfort or, at most, a slight stinging sensation. Due to the fact that not all hair follicles are activeted at the same time, one may require from 6-8 treatments in order to achieve permanent hair reduction.

Both women and men can benefit from this laser. Typical areas for a woman include facial hair, underarms, chest, arms, abdomen, buttocks, bikini and legs. For men, the most common areas are the back, shoulders and chest.

Currently, this is the most advanced, state-of-the-art laser of its kind. An advanced computer scanner makes the treatment of large areas fast, safe and efficient. As a result, fees with this laser are much less than with other models.