Skin Tightening

Forma Facial

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Forma Facial?

Forma is a noninvasive radiofrequency (RF) treatment using an applicator that promotes collagen and elastin growth through subdermal heating. It's a collagen-stimulating procedure with no needles or downtime. It decreases skin laxity and fine lines and promotes lifting and tightening.

What can I expect?

The procedure takes only about 45 minutes and feels similar to a hot stone massage. Your skin will be covered with a conductive jelly and then the warm RF wand will be massaged over your face. You might be a bit pink when you leave, but in general, we consider this a no downtime procedure! Lunch facial, anyone?

When will I see results?

Some clients notice some skin tightening and improved skin quality immediately following the treatment! But your most optimal results will be realized after 6-8 sessions, spaced one week apart. Since it feels lovely, consider it your weekly gift to yourself!

How long do the results last?

We're generating collagen with this procedure so depending upon lifestyle and environmental exposures, results can last on the order of years! A periodic maintenance Forma treatment every few months will help maintain your results.

In what body areas can I get it?

Most common areas are face, neck, décolleté and hands, but you can do it anywhere!

Morpheus8

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Morpheus8?

If you’re reading this, chances are you have already heard of Morpheus8 by Inmode. Morpheus8 is a skin-tightening procedure that uses radiofrequency (RF) microneedling. It is very different than traditional microneedling because once the needles are in the skin an RF current is sent from one needle to the next to transform and contour the face via subdermal adipose remodeling. It targets the deeper layers of the skin to generate remarkable collagen production and skin tightening and smoothing. It is safe, FDA-approved and extremely effective.

What can I expect?

You will be numbed up for 45 minutes prior to the procedure. Most clients do well with topical numbing, alone, but we also offer nerve blocks for clients who would be better served by this option. Either way, you will be comfy (the beauty of being trained as an anesthesiologist)! The day of treatment, you will be pink, but the next day you may wear a mineral makeup to cover any residual pinkness. You will need to protect yourself from the sun for at least two weeks (but you should already be doing this!).

When will I see results?

Most clients notice improvement in skin tone and texture within a few days, but the best results will occur approximately three months following the last treatment. It is recommended to have three treatments spaced roughly one month apart.

How long do the results last?

Again, since we are creating collagen, the results are essentially permanent, but you may desire a yearly maintenance treatment to “keep the tank full”.

In what body areas can I get it?

Face, neck, décolleté. It may cause decreased hair growth, so we cannot RF microneedle over areas men desire to maintain facial hair.

Sciton® TRL Resurfacing Laser

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it?

TRL is tunable resurfacing laser. But more important, what is resurfacing? With this laser, we can tune it to your specific needs and do a light laser "peel" or a deep resurfacing where we remove the old skin and force your body to regrow new, youthful skin.

What can I expect?

You will be numbed and receive some medications to help keep you comfy during the procedure. As we are removing a layer of skin, you can expect some downtime for about 10 days.

When will I see results?

You will already notice some improvement within the first few weeks as the skin regrows, but final results will be apparent closer to three to six months.

How long do the results last?

They are permanent! Because we are removing the old skin and replacing it with brand-new skin, for many and most clients this is a once-in-a-lifetime treatment

In what body areas can I get it?

For our deep resurfacing, we usually limit treatment to face (face has the most blood flow and heals up the fastest). A lot of our clients choose to treat only around their mouth to target their (non)smoker's lines. For the lighter laser peels, we can treat just about any body area!

Sciton® ProFrac Fractional Laser

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it?

Sciton® erbium laser (2940nm) is an ablative laser, which means that it vaporizes old skin! With ablative lasers, there are two basic methods of treating the skin--full field and fractionated. Fractionated treatment (Sciton® ProFrac) is like aerating the lawn: it's lots of little holes in the grass. Because we leave a lot of healthy tissue behind with fractional, we can treat deeper and recovery is faster! Fractionated laser is great for scarring, texture, large pores and laxity. (And of course, full field and fractionated treatments can be paired up for one rockstar procedure.)

What can I expect?

You will be numbed with some wonderful topical numbing. As we treat, you will titrate your own comfort with laughing gas in one hand and refrigerated air in the other. Many clients do fine with just the numbing, but it’s nice to have options!

When will I see results?

Usually within a week of fractionated treatment skin already feels amazing and makeup goes on smoother! And within a few months, collagen generation begins (the gift that keeps on giving)!

How long do the results last?

Results are permanent, but as you’re probably aware, you will continue to age.

In what body areas can I get it?

Face and neck are most popular, but it is also amazing to help with scarring anywhere on the body (goodbye, surgical scars!).

PRP Gilded Facelift

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PRP Facelift?

There is a chance you’ve heard of the Vampire Facial or Facelift™. (Please note that the facelift and facial are very different procedures with very different results. In the PRP facelift, we are hand-injecting PRP into the deeper layer of the skin rather than microneedling it into a more superficial layer.) The Vampire Facelift™ is a trademarked name that is quite similar to the Gilded PRP Facelift. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma (aka liquid gold, because this stuff is incredible). Platelets are the little guys who rush to the site of a wound to form a clot. Cleverly, they also carry with them lots of good things (cytokines and growth factors) to help said wound heal. These growth factors repair tissue and create collagen wherever they are injected. Your own blood is used to create PRP and then injected back into the skin of the face.

What can I expect?

You will have a few tablespoons of blood drawn and then spun in a sophisticated PRP centrifuge to concentrate the platelets to nearly 7-8 times higher than they normally occur in your body. We then inject the PRP throughout your entire face. You will be numbed prior to injection, which will make it quite tolerable. You will have a few small bruises and a tiny bit of swelling, but nothing that can’t be covered with a touch of makeup.

When will I see results?

You will notice peak results in 3-4 months. Since you will see yourself in the mirror every day, you will likely realize your results are becoming apparent when someone says you look more rested or glowing or asks if you are doing your makeup differently.

How long do the results last?

Since your body is creating collagen and elastin, the results are permanent. That being said, you will want maintenance treatments in a year or two to keep up with old Father Time.

In what body areas can I get it?

Since this is a facelift, let’s keep it in the face. For now.

PDO Thread Lift

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PDO thread lift?

PDO stands for polydioxanone. Quite literally, a PDO thread is a type of surgical suture, which has been around for over 50 years. When inserted into human tissue, PDO causes collagen and elastin production. PDO threads used for a thread lift are very different from the smooth PDO threads discussed elsewhere. PDO lifting threads are thicker and longer and have small “barbs” on them, to help pull, lift and tighten the skin. If you are going for the facial thread lift, you can expect to have a total of four to ten (4-10) threads used in your face.

What can I expect?

You will be numbed up with some local anesthetic (think: dental office numbing). It feels odd more than anything, with minimal pain. It takes only about 15-20 minutes and there is virtually no downtime. You may notice the threads for a few weeks. You will feel that they are there, and it may feel slightly odd, but not painful. You may be slightly limited in certain facial expressions (for instance, opening your mouth very wide) for a few weeks while your body becomes accustomed to them.

When will I see results?

Results are INSTANTANEOUS. Aside from a small insertion site (think: a drop of blood), you will look amazing and rejuvenated IMMEDIATELY. It is possible to have a small amount of bruising afterward.

How long do the results last?

Again, results vary, but you can expect them to last from six to twelve (6-12) months and often even longer as the thread is absorbed by your body and replaced with collagen and elastin. Please never forget that a PDO thread lift is NOT a surgical facelift; it is a subtle rejuvenation. People will notice that you look more awake and youthful, but they will not know why. It’ll be our little secret. You’re welcome.

In what body areas can I get it?

The most common areas are face and neck, but they are also sometimes used in the body as well (think abdomen and arms). We’re also loving the trendy fox eye, cat eye and brow lift.

PlasmaPen™ (aka skin tightening, fibroblasting)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PlasmaPen™?

PlasmaPen™ is also known as fibroblasting. Fibroblasts are the lovely cells in the body that create collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid (yay!). The PlasmaPen™ ionizes gas in the atmosphere to create an arc of plasma which, when it comes into contact with the skin causes contraction and tightening and also stimulates the fibroblasts to do their thing.

What can I expect?

Your skin will be numbed with a topical numbing agent. The PlasmaPen™ device is brought within one millimeter of the skin, but does not actually touch it. The plasma arc touches the skin and creates a "dot" of microtrauma that stimulates the skin cells. There is usually no bleeding and no open wound. You will have swelling for a couple days and the carbon crust "dots" for a few days longer. Once the carbon crusts fall off, you will need to be extremely vigilant to protect your new, baby skin from sun exposure. The treatment price also includes an AnteAGE stem cell aftercare kit to aid in recovery.

When will I see results?

You may see some tightening immediately, but the primary results will be realized in three months when the new collagen and elastin are created. Often just one treatment will yield the desired results, but occasionally a second treatment will be desired.

How long do the results last?

Since we are stimulating your body's own collagen and elastin, the results are permanent! That being said, you will continue to age and new lines and skin laxity will form over time.

In what body areas can I get it?

Anywhere! Some of the more popular areas are the eyes (aka non-surgical blepharoplasty or eye lift), neck (non-surgical neck lift or neck tightening), jowls/lower face and loose skin on knees and elbows. Just use your imagination!