"Would you like Botox with that? How about we make it a super size?"
Sadly, this mentality is permeating the facial rejuvenation community. Botox spas are opening up in local shopping malls and other commercial places. The atmosphere is similar to a nail or hair salon, appointments can be made, but you can also be seen on a walk in basis. This is giving consumers the impression that Botox isn't a medical procedure, and can be done on a whim.
This simply isn't true. Botox is a purified protein form of the Botulism toxin. It has been approved by the FDA, and can only be prescribed by physicians. It works by relaxing the muscles it is injected into, typically in the forehead or around the eyes. Medical training in head and neck anatomy is crucial to correctly administering Botox. Knowing just where to inject is not only a science, but also an art form. Injecting the wrong area could have unwanted results. Does that sound like something that should be ordered off of a drive through menu?
Though many of these clinics and storefronts are "overseen" by licensed physicians, they are not always on site, and often are not the individuals giving injections. When Botox is ordered off the drive through menu, it's hard to know who is actually administering your treatment, and what their actual training and qualifications are.
Another attractive feature of these mall clinics is the low cost. Beware of Botox sold below $10/unit, or at a fixed price for an area. Allergan, the US producer and distributor of Botox Cosmetic, sells their product to only licensed physicians at roughly the same rate. Any purchase below $10/unit is most likely not Botox Cosmetic, expired or, it is not being administered in the proper amounts.
Additionally, when Botox is performed in a medical office with a trained support staff, you can be sure that the environment is appropriately sterile and maintained.
"Your face is your outward representation of who you are. Don't trust it to just anyone." says Dr. Mike Hopkins. "Spend the time, do the homework so you acheive the best results for a beautiful you. If you eat McDonald's three times a day, its going to show up on your body. If you do drive through Botox, the results will be about the same."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Quick and Easy Skin Care Tips That Anyone Can Do!
Did you know that skin is the largest body organ? Here are some quick and easy skin care tips to get you started:
1. Use sunscreen daily! Sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging and skin cancer. Whether or not you intend to be outside, its a good idea to have that protection all the time. Some moisturizers also incorporate it, we recommend TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer +20 spf.
2. Take a multi-vitamin. Vitamins C, E, A and B7 are beneficial not only to your general health, but to your skin as well! They can help minimize free radical damage, help produce new cell growth, promote healing and help with acne.
3. Drink water! Water helps the skin rid itself of impurities. Between 8 and 10 glasses a day should do it. It will also aid your overall body function.
4. Don't touch your face!! Your hands are germy, transferring those germs onto your face promotes oil build up and break outs. Tie your hair back at night to keep product build up off of your skin, and keep make up brushes clean. Throw out any make up that is more than a few months old.
5. Wash your face every evening to remove make up and other environmental build up from the day. This will prevent acne breakouts and infections from developing. Wash carefully after applying hair products as they can cause build up and residue on your skin. Your skin heals best around 10 pm, so try and scrub up way before bed time!
6. Avoid excess sugar. (This one is dear to our dental hearts!) Excess sugar leads to the formation of toxins called AGEs, (advanced glycations end products) which lead to the breakdown of collagen, connective tissue and promote wrinkles. Since this is kind of a toughy, try reducing your sugar a little at a time, like only putting half the amount of sugar in your coffee each day until you're down to none.
7. Exfoliate! Exfoliating several times a week helps slough off dead cells and brightens skin. For men, this can also help with in grown hairs associated with shaving.
8. Use products and services designed for your skin type. If you're not sure what your skin type is, consult an aesthetician, who will not only be able to tell you your skin type, but will recommend which products you should and should not use.
9. Don't pick! Squeezing, picking, popping and all other sorts other mean things you do to your skin can cause scarring and infection! It also works bacteria deeper into the skin.
10. Change your pillow cases often. They will hold onto the oils, residue and bacteria that you leave on them every night.
1. Use sunscreen daily! Sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging and skin cancer. Whether or not you intend to be outside, its a good idea to have that protection all the time. Some moisturizers also incorporate it, we recommend TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer +20 spf.
2. Take a multi-vitamin. Vitamins C, E, A and B7 are beneficial not only to your general health, but to your skin as well! They can help minimize free radical damage, help produce new cell growth, promote healing and help with acne.
3. Drink water! Water helps the skin rid itself of impurities. Between 8 and 10 glasses a day should do it. It will also aid your overall body function.
4. Don't touch your face!! Your hands are germy, transferring those germs onto your face promotes oil build up and break outs. Tie your hair back at night to keep product build up off of your skin, and keep make up brushes clean. Throw out any make up that is more than a few months old.
5. Wash your face every evening to remove make up and other environmental build up from the day. This will prevent acne breakouts and infections from developing. Wash carefully after applying hair products as they can cause build up and residue on your skin. Your skin heals best around 10 pm, so try and scrub up way before bed time!
6. Avoid excess sugar. (This one is dear to our dental hearts!) Excess sugar leads to the formation of toxins called AGEs, (advanced glycations end products) which lead to the breakdown of collagen, connective tissue and promote wrinkles. Since this is kind of a toughy, try reducing your sugar a little at a time, like only putting half the amount of sugar in your coffee each day until you're down to none.
7. Exfoliate! Exfoliating several times a week helps slough off dead cells and brightens skin. For men, this can also help with in grown hairs associated with shaving.
8. Use products and services designed for your skin type. If you're not sure what your skin type is, consult an aesthetician, who will not only be able to tell you your skin type, but will recommend which products you should and should not use.
9. Don't pick! Squeezing, picking, popping and all other sorts other mean things you do to your skin can cause scarring and infection! It also works bacteria deeper into the skin.
10. Change your pillow cases often. They will hold onto the oils, residue and bacteria that you leave on them every night.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Peru Mission 2010
Dr. Hopkins has just recently returned from his mission to Peru, as part of a team of Rotarians. This is his 3rd consecutive mission to Peru. He has previously donated dentistry to citizens of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Bosnia.
Dr. Mike treated 125 patients and performed 254 extractions over a three day clinic time. This year's Rotary Team was able to extend cleft palate correction as this is a common ailment in Peru. There were 21 cleft palate corrections performed, for which Dr. Hopkins assisted the surgeons by performing the pre-surgery extractions.
... and no, this year he didn't enjoy the local delicacy of roasted guinea pig.
Dr. Mike treated 125 patients and performed 254 extractions over a three day clinic time. This year's Rotary Team was able to extend cleft palate correction as this is a common ailment in Peru. There were 21 cleft palate corrections performed, for which Dr. Hopkins assisted the surgeons by performing the pre-surgery extractions.
... and no, this year he didn't enjoy the local delicacy of roasted guinea pig.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Dr. Mike's Thoughts Before Leaving for Peru
Today I am leaving for my dental mission trip to Chincha, Peru. Chincha is about an hour and a half south of Lima on the coastline of Peru. The trip is composed of two teams ...one teams of clef palate surgeons and the second team of four dentists, of which I am one. We will be getting children ready for the surgery by extracting teeth that need to come out prior to the surgery, as well as caring for several hundred other children and adults in the surrounding community that are in dire need of care. Unfortunately, almost all of the treatment is dental extractiions, due to the extreme levels of decay. However, when someone has had a toothache and infection for several months, it is a real service to them to be able to have that tooth taken out! Right now as I get ready to leave, I am doing the mental checklist of everything that I need to take with me....gloves, masks, headlamps, passport, clothes...etc. Going to a site that we have never been to always poses certain challenges, such as working conditions, eqipment, even if there is any, patient shelter, and so on. It is the cause for a few of those butterflies in the stomach....but somehow, miraculously, everything always seems to work out. Looking forward to several very long, hard days ahead, but every minute is worth it. This is why I became a dentist....to give back!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Is Your Breath Stank?
Bad breath, its not just a medical condition, it can be a social issue as well. Consider this a PSA from a dentist who cares. There are many causes of bad breath, some rather mild, some more serious. How do you know what the cause is?
The object of this post is to briefly outline some dental issues that could be at the root of the problem.
You are what you eat! If you're eating onion and garlic, brushing may not be enough afterwards! What you eat is digested, and then absorbed into the bloodstream and then released in the lungs where it is then expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouth wash only camoflauge the stank, they can't remove it!
Mama wasn't kidding when she said brush your teeth! Do you know that particles of food remain in the mouth after you are done eating? If you're not brushing and flossing regularly, these particles are just sitting there rotting. You guessed it, they give off mouth odor. This problem can be corrected by brushing and flossing! This will not only improve mouth odor, but will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Trust us, gum disease is a bad one.
Would you kiss an ash tray? Smoking causes bad breath. Duh.
Cotton Mouth, not just a snake! One of the leading causes of halitosis is dry mouth. Saliva rinses away bacteria and debris, so when there's no saliva, all of those germies stick around. Some reasons for dry mouth include salivary gland issues, use of certain medications and mouth breathing.
Briefly, there are some medical conditions such as diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver and kidney ailments, respitory infections, sinusitis and post nasal drip that can cause bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may need to contact your physician.
Brushing and flossing: definitely the keys to a beautiful smelling mouth. Mouthwash is a temporary fix, and offers no long term benefits. Remember to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth as they are a good place for bacteria to gather. The healthier your mouth, the fresher your breath!
The object of this post is to briefly outline some dental issues that could be at the root of the problem.
You are what you eat! If you're eating onion and garlic, brushing may not be enough afterwards! What you eat is digested, and then absorbed into the bloodstream and then released in the lungs where it is then expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouth wash only camoflauge the stank, they can't remove it!
Mama wasn't kidding when she said brush your teeth! Do you know that particles of food remain in the mouth after you are done eating? If you're not brushing and flossing regularly, these particles are just sitting there rotting. You guessed it, they give off mouth odor. This problem can be corrected by brushing and flossing! This will not only improve mouth odor, but will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Trust us, gum disease is a bad one.
Would you kiss an ash tray? Smoking causes bad breath. Duh.
Cotton Mouth, not just a snake! One of the leading causes of halitosis is dry mouth. Saliva rinses away bacteria and debris, so when there's no saliva, all of those germies stick around. Some reasons for dry mouth include salivary gland issues, use of certain medications and mouth breathing.
Briefly, there are some medical conditions such as diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver and kidney ailments, respitory infections, sinusitis and post nasal drip that can cause bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may need to contact your physician.
Brushing and flossing: definitely the keys to a beautiful smelling mouth. Mouthwash is a temporary fix, and offers no long term benefits. Remember to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth as they are a good place for bacteria to gather. The healthier your mouth, the fresher your breath!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Free Radicals Bounce Off of Us
We drink alot of green tea in our office, its a great source of antioxidants. With all the media exposure to antioxidants and super foods, we feel its the least we can do. We also eat alot of McDonald's, but hey, no one is perfect. There's alot of buzz in the press about antioxidants, and some food and diet companies have composed fairly successful marketing campaigns around them. But what exactly are they, and how do they work?
THE LEAST YOU NEED TO KNOW: We're going back to high school chemistry class for just a second. Remember atomic anatomy? Everything is made of atoms, and atoms are made of protons and electrons. The number of protons and electrons in an atom is supposed to be equal. Free radicals are atoms that have unpaired electrons. Free radicals can cause skin cancer, photo-aging, discolorations in the skin. An easy way to think of this is to picture an apple. Cut it in half, and the inside will quickly begin to turn brown. The same thing is happening to your skin, just on a much less dramatic level.
Antioxidants fight free radicals. The two most common antioxidants are Vitamin C and Vitamin E. You may have them in your One-a-day, but that's not really what we're talking about.
HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: Just like us, you can pretty much limit the amount of free radical damage... make them "bounce off of you", and no, its not the cup of green tea that's doing it. Its topical antioxidants that when applied to the skin, help not only fight free radical damage, but repair previous damage as well. Let's talk about them:
Vitamin C & E: These antioxidants work by donating their electrons to the free radicals, thus neutralizing the problem. Vitamin C is a super-antioxidant, as it also stimulates collagen production and Vitamin E. Our favorite product: SkinMedica's Vitamin C&E complex, its an all in one punch that only needs to be applied once daily.
Vitamin A (Retinol): Vitamin A (in all of its various forms) is a powerful weapon in the fight against dermal damage. Vitamin A assists your body in ridding itself of dead and damaged cells; "chemical exfoliation" (as opposed to the sandpaper method). It also assists in collagen production, and even further, it helps by binding growth factors (the things that make your skin new again) to cells. Now, we all remember the kid with acne in high school that had to go to the dermatologist and got put on Retin-A. He looked like a tomato. There's been som remarkable leaps and bounds in this technology, no tomatoes required. Our favorite product: SkinMedica's Retinol Complex. Applied once in the evening, this time released formula does its strongest work while you sleep, and when you're not exposed to the sun. Its gentle, and as long as its used at night, it generally does not cause irritation.
Moisturizers: Some moisturizers advertise antioxidants, and may in fact contain minimal amounts. Generally, they will include green tea, kinetin, some form of Vitamin C, etc., etc. But, the FDA has decreed than any products of this type that are sold OTC may not contain more than 3% active ingredient. We didn't lose hope, we found a product that works: SkinMedica's Dermal Repair Cream (are you seeing a pattern?). Dermal Repair cream not only moisturizes, but also contains high levels of Vitamins C and E, Vitamin B-5 (used to bind moisture to surface layers of skin), Hyaluronic Acid (which naturally occurs in the body and produces that "plump" look in the skin) and other powerful ingredients.
So, there you have it in a nutshell, our secrets to making free radicals bounce off of us. Simple, right?
THE LEAST YOU NEED TO KNOW: We're going back to high school chemistry class for just a second. Remember atomic anatomy? Everything is made of atoms, and atoms are made of protons and electrons. The number of protons and electrons in an atom is supposed to be equal. Free radicals are atoms that have unpaired electrons. Free radicals can cause skin cancer, photo-aging, discolorations in the skin. An easy way to think of this is to picture an apple. Cut it in half, and the inside will quickly begin to turn brown. The same thing is happening to your skin, just on a much less dramatic level.
Antioxidants fight free radicals. The two most common antioxidants are Vitamin C and Vitamin E. You may have them in your One-a-day, but that's not really what we're talking about.
HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: Just like us, you can pretty much limit the amount of free radical damage... make them "bounce off of you", and no, its not the cup of green tea that's doing it. Its topical antioxidants that when applied to the skin, help not only fight free radical damage, but repair previous damage as well. Let's talk about them:
Vitamin C & E: These antioxidants work by donating their electrons to the free radicals, thus neutralizing the problem. Vitamin C is a super-antioxidant, as it also stimulates collagen production and Vitamin E. Our favorite product: SkinMedica's Vitamin C&E complex, its an all in one punch that only needs to be applied once daily.
Vitamin A (Retinol): Vitamin A (in all of its various forms) is a powerful weapon in the fight against dermal damage. Vitamin A assists your body in ridding itself of dead and damaged cells; "chemical exfoliation" (as opposed to the sandpaper method). It also assists in collagen production, and even further, it helps by binding growth factors (the things that make your skin new again) to cells. Now, we all remember the kid with acne in high school that had to go to the dermatologist and got put on Retin-A. He looked like a tomato. There's been som remarkable leaps and bounds in this technology, no tomatoes required. Our favorite product: SkinMedica's Retinol Complex. Applied once in the evening, this time released formula does its strongest work while you sleep, and when you're not exposed to the sun. Its gentle, and as long as its used at night, it generally does not cause irritation.
Moisturizers: Some moisturizers advertise antioxidants, and may in fact contain minimal amounts. Generally, they will include green tea, kinetin, some form of Vitamin C, etc., etc. But, the FDA has decreed than any products of this type that are sold OTC may not contain more than 3% active ingredient. We didn't lose hope, we found a product that works: SkinMedica's Dermal Repair Cream (are you seeing a pattern?). Dermal Repair cream not only moisturizes, but also contains high levels of Vitamins C and E, Vitamin B-5 (used to bind moisture to surface layers of skin), Hyaluronic Acid (which naturally occurs in the body and produces that "plump" look in the skin) and other powerful ingredients.
So, there you have it in a nutshell, our secrets to making free radicals bounce off of us. Simple, right?
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Benefits of Chemical Peels
One of the most effective and least invasive Facial Rejuvenation treatments is chemical peel. This procedure is also called chemexfoliation and derma-peeling. This procedure uses a chemical solution applied to the skin, which then mimics the effects of a sun burn. After several days the skin will then peel, revealing new rejuvenized skin.
Chemical Peels have several fantastic benefits:
- Reduce fine lines around the mouth and eyes
- Treat wrinkles caused by the sun, aging and hereditary factors
- Improve the appearance of mild scarring
- Treat certain types of acne
- Reduce age spots, freckles and dark patches due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills (melasma)
- Improve the look and fell of skin that is dull in texture and color.
If you're a sun worshipper, you may consider chemical peels, as they may improve areas of sun damage that may contain pre-cancerous keratoses that appear as scaly spots. Following treatment, pre-cancerous lesions are less likely to appear.
Chemical Peels do not treat bulges, sags and more severe wrinkles. There are other facial rejuvenation treatments to target these complaints.
Chemical Peels do not treat bulges, sags and more severe wrinkles. There are other facial rejuvenation treatments to target these complaints.
There are some questions you should ask your physician or aesthetician before choosing a chemical peel.
- Are the desired results I described realistic?
- Where is the peel performed and how long will it take?
- In my case, which technique and peel are appropriate?
- How much do chemical peels cost, and if I need multiples, is there a package rate available?
- What is your level of experience concerning chemical peels?
- What level of discomfort will I generally experience during the procedure?
- What should I expect post-operatively?
You cannot have a chemical peel if you suffer from vitiligo, lupus and other autoimmune disorders, if you have had chemo/radiation in the past year, if you have used accutane in the past year, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Though the benefits of chemical peels are easily described, a picture is worth a thousand words:
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