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It's that time of year to improve yourself
It’s that time of year again when people take stock of their lives and look for areas to improve. Inevitably, a theme or two recurs—eat healthy, hit the gym, visit the dentist, reenter the dating scene. Make 2010 the year to conquer personal to-do lists. We’ve got some helpful tips for getting started.
Getting Healthy
After weeks of holiday indulging, it’s not uncommon to want to call the diet police for help getting back on track. There’s a kinder, healthier approach to be had through Medizone.
During a first visit, patients meet with medical staff for a health and weight assessment. From here, a game plan based on the patient’s needs is devised, focusing on nutrition, behavior modification and exercise. Jump-starting progress is a medically supervised, low-calorie diet of lean protein, low-glycemic carbohydrates and good fats. Not a cookie-cutter solution, more than 30 nutritional plans are available to be tailored to individual needs. The diet turns up the body’s metabolic thermostat as well as squelching hunger along with sugar and carbohydrate cravings. If additional help is needed to balance the body’s requirements, medication and supplements may be paired with the nutrition plan to eliminate fat, control carbohydrate metabolism, aid the immune system and increase energy.
Upping the ante for success is a consultation to help clients determine the best course of exercise for them, weekly check-ins to monitor progress and a maintenance program once weight loss has been achieved. And as far as weight loss goes, clients typically see a 5- to 10-pound drop the first week, followed by up to 20 pounds the next month and continued progress after that. This program is only available at The San Diego Center for Weight Loss + Wellness and La Jolla Spa MD.
Working It Out
When it comes to resolutions, almost everyone’s list is topped by “Go to the gym.” Even writing this directive can elicit groans. There’s no reason to look at the gym as a chore, especially when there are so many options that make exercising anything but rote. A prime example: Frog’s Fitness Centers.
There are five Frog’s Fitness Centers in the San Diego area. The club—the name it calls itself rather than a gym—appeals to all ages, with childcare, youth programming and camps offered at three locations to keep kids busy while adults are getting in their workouts.
As for workouts, the regime offered by Frog’s Fitness and its friendly, supportive staff is definitely not one-size-fits-all. Club members have their choice of working one-on-one with a certified personal trainer, in a group fitness setting or through a self-monitored program. Keeping things interesting are 350 cutting-edge classes that range from Spinning, Kranking and Gravity to Pilates, boxing and beach boot camps. Another option: non-impact workouts in temperature-controlled lap pools (found in several locations). If personal accomplishment isn’t reward enough, spa services like facials and massages are available on site for well-deserved pampering.
Face (and Body) Forward
Whether interviewing for a new job or hitting the dating scene, it’s not uncommon to feel some updating is necessary in the appearance department. Spend hours at the gym and following a healthy diet, and it’s still possible for progress to be hindered by foes like genetics and aging. There are ways to fight back. Dr. Eugene J. Nowak of Nowak Aesthetics offers clients myriad options for improving appearance.
Pregnancy and age can lead to issues like loss of firmness, elasticity and stretch marks. ThermaLipo is a new, minimally invasive procedure combining Thermage and tumescent liposculpture. Thermage is a noninvasive procedure using radio-frequency waves to deliver heat to collagen, causing it to shrink and tighten as well as stimulate it for further production. Tumescent liposculpture is a minimally invasive procedure akin to liposculpture, though it is performed with smaller instruments and under local anesthesia versus general anesthesia. Used together during ThermaLipo, Thermage and tumescent liposculpture have been shown to achieve 30 percent better skin tightening as well as reducing unwanted bulges and enhancing curves. Continued improvement can be seen up to six months after a treatment. Further issues impacted by this one-time procedure are skin elasticity and stretch marks. Recovery time for ThermaLipo is generally three days.
Nowak Aesthetics also uses the new Thermage CPT system in their practice, a noninvasive procedure that brings Comfort Pulse Technology into play, making for a more comfortable experience as the technology goes to work softening lines, wrinkles, and firming the face’s skin. There’s no downtime with Thermage CPT and 90 percent less pain than with traditional Thermage. Additionally, it can be used on other areas of the body.
When sagging jowls, cheeks and chin are an issue, Nowak offers AccuLift, a procedure that can be considered in lieu of a facelift. Minimally invasive, AccuLift contours the face using advanced laser technology to remove and melt excess fat deposits. A bonus: The procedure has been found to enhance the results of fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse and Artefill and decreases the need for repeat injections. The one-hour procedure can also be combined with Thermage for skin tightening. Downtime is minimal.
For Southern Californians who’ve taken advantage of year-round sunshine, Nowak recommends looking into Fractional CO2 Laser. The procedure reduces damage caused by years of sun exposure and pollution by stimulating collagen and, at the same time, tightening skin, improving fine lines, wrinkles, scars and hyperpigmentation. Beyond the face, the neck, chest and hands can be treated. During the hour-long procedure, a laser targets the surface of the skin, heating the collagen to tighten it. Downtime can last up to two days, and patients may want to use oxygen stimulation or color-matched foundation during their recovery.
The natural aging process, genetic influence, sun exposure and other factors cause the skin to wrinkle and sag. As a person ages, facial bones frequently begin to recede, and the facial tissues then lose their support. This, combined with loss of elasticity, causes the skin to begin to sag and fit more loosely. Skin folds become more prominent around the chin, neck and jaw line.
A variety of procedures can be used to bring back a more youthful appearance and boost self-esteem. At FACESplus, patients are given recommendations for the safest, simplest and least expensive procedure that will address their concerns. There are a variety of options for facelifting, but almost all of them can restore your sagging skin, tighten the face and neck and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The results can be dramatic for the older patient and more subtle, but satisfying, for the younger patient. One people are most familiar with is the facelift, which can reverse some of the natural changes in facial appearance that occur with time. Another option available is the mini-facelift.
Not all patients are candidates for mini-facelifts. For those who opt for that route, Dr. Steven R. Cohen of FACESplus uses a procedure developed in Belgium called the Tonnard lift. During a Tonnard lift, small incisions are made just in front of the ear, and the skin is lifted. The underlying tissue that covers the facial muscles is also lifted, with special sutures developed for the procedure or special flaps of tissue. The entire procedure can be done in an hour to 90 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. Sutures are removed on postoperative day five, but most patients look normal the next day.
The procedure can be easily combined with upper and lower eyelid surgery and in some cases a neck lift. Fat can be transferred to the face at the same time as a mini-facelift to fill in contour irregularities and deeper wrinkles.
Recently, it has been recognized that fat has many stem and regenerative cells and the addition of facial volume using fat can be very effective at reducing wrinkling and restoring youthful contour to the face. These techniques can be done under local anesthesia, and downtime is minimal in most patients.
Easing the Pain
Often there are things that hold us back from working toward our full potential. An issue that causes self-consciousness and discomfort for some is varicose veins. The problem is not uncommon, with 30 to 50 percent of women and 20 to 30 percent of men experiencing varicose veins. Though varicose veins can occur anywhere in the body, they primarily show up on legs and feet, along with spider veins, a milder version of varicose veins. In some instances, these enlarged veins cause feelings of pain and discomfort. They can also serve as a red flag for circulatory problems.
Of course, efforts can be taken to alleviate the risk of getting more varicose veins, like losing excess weight, exercising, elevating legs (particularly after standing or sitting for long periods of time) and wearing compression stockings. To deal with the current problem, however, turning to a doctor for medical treatment may be necessary. The good news: There are many options available that can be done on an outpatient basis and that require little or no downtime.
At the San Diego Vein Institute, sclerotherapist Dr. Van Cheng specializes in treating vein problems without surgery. She begins with a diagnostic procedure using a duplex ultrasound exam to find the source of a patient’s problem. Once the source is pinpointed, Cheng determines the best course of treatment. In most cases, sclerotherapy is called for, during which a drug is injected into the vein walls, causing the offending vein to collapse and be absorbed by the body, but occasionally a painless laser is used instead.
A leader in the field of sclerotherapy, Cheng has published numerous articles on the treatment of varicose veins and other vein disorders. In July 2008, her book Foam Sclerotherapy was also published. Cheng’s approach to venous treatments has instilled confidence in patients like Debra Summers. “My treatments with Dr. Cheng were very effective,” says Summers. “The leg heaviness I was experiencing due to my varicose veins has subsided, and the veins themselves are virtually nonexistent.”
First Impressions
With our busy lives, it’s often easy to lose track of time and put personal goals on the back burner. This is the year to change that, particularly when it comes to forging meaningful relationships. Though the idea of dating can be daunting, there’s no need to go it alone. A great resource for reentering the dating scene is Kelleher International. The matchmaking service has been bringing couples together for more than 20 years.
“I call us a go-between,” says Jill Kelleher, cofounder of the company with daughter Amber Kelleher-Andrews. “With Internet dating services, no one really knows what’s going on with two people. We’ve met both parties and know what they’re all about.”
First, a representative from Kelleher International meets with a potential client to see if the company and the client are a good fit. After that, a two-hour session hones in on the characteristics a client is looking for in a mate. Kelleher calls this a wish list of sorts. “We learn what values and interests are important to a client,” she says. “This can range from looking for someone who practices the same religion to preferring someone with a healthy and active lifestyle.”
After the initial interview, Kelleher International goes through their extensive database. Within two to three weeks, a match is made. Then it’s time for the first date. “We don’t set up coffee dates,” Kelleher says.
“These dates have been well thought out.” Her advice to daters: Put your best foot forward. “If you don’t, you won’t appear interested.” And though there’s no report card, feedback on the date is given by both members of the match the next day. If a bit of dating coaching is in order, that’s available, too. Should the first date not be a match, well, as they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Kelleher encourages people to set aside their fears and take the plunge into the dating world. “When the chemistry works, everything falls into place.”
Reasons to Smile
Often, connections begin based on the simplest of things—a smile. A smile can be whimsical, flirtatious, sultry, joyous and shy. Also key: a healthy smile. Making sure pearly whites are at their best begins early. “By 2 years of age, all 10 ‘baby teeth’ have erupted, at which time it’s best to introduce a child to the dentist,” says Julia Marsh, D.D.S., of Sorrento Smile Design. “The initial appointment may not involve cleaning teeth or getting X-rays; it’s more about the child meeting the dentist and getting used to the idea of a stranger putting his or her hands in the child’s mouth.” She adds that patients who have fears surrounding visiting the dentist can also take heart. “With technology such as air abrasion, teeth can be prepared and restored without the use of a drill or shot.”
With dental care, says Marsh, gentle care and comprehensive treatment are essential. A dentist who offers comprehensive care provides a variety of dental care from routine exams to surgical procedures.
“Comprehensive care offers convenience to the patient through fewer appointments and less drive time,” says Marsh. “Most importantly, they’re working with a doctor they know and trust.”
Cosmetic dentistry is available for people looking to improve their appearance or to restore function without sacrificing appearance. Patients striving to improve their smile may go the route of traditional braces or look to metal-free orthodontics like Invisalign, a series of clear trays that can be easily removed for teeth cleaning. Another way to dramatically change one’s ivories: in-office bleaching treatments like ZOOM. “After this one-hour treatment, patients leave the office at least two shades lighter,” says Marsh. “Custom-made trays are then used two to three times a month at home with a bleaching gel.” Sensitivity, a side effect from whitening in the past, can now be avoided by using desensitizing toothpaste one to two weeks prior to the whitening session.
When cosmetic issues with teeth can’t be corrected through bleaching, other options are available, including porcelain veneers. For patients who shy away from veneers due to foreseen use of novocaine, drilling or removal of tooth structure, EmpreThins are an excellent answer.
Dr. David Hornbrook, founder of the Hornbrook Center of Dentistry in San Diego, who lectures internationally to other dentists on restorative and aesthetic dentistry, is a proponent of EmpreThins. This pressed-ceramic technology is considered a conservative restoration and tooth structure is preserved. Because of this, says Hornbrook, “Most patients don’t require any anesthesia or preparation of their teeth, although in some cases minimal prep may be needed for ideal results. The changes we can make to a patient’s smile, and ultimately their self-image, is absolutely incredible. It’s truly life-changing!”
For patients who are candidates for EmpreThins, the process can be completed within two appointments, with results lasting more than 15 years. With EmpreThins, smiles can be brightened, spaces closed, straightened and reshaped to yield the desired beautiful smile. If need be, they can later be removed with no damage to the patient’s teeth since no preparation was done. Another reason to smile: EmpreThins begins at $1,750 per tooth.
Though achieving some goals may seem daunting, there’s something to remember when taking that first step: Help and tools are available. The pay-off for all that hard work? Being your best.
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Reader Comments:
The best thing you can do for your face is facial exercises. Facial exercises are a healthy, natural way to look younger. But you need to look for a proper program, not just making funny faces. A wonderful muscle-resistance facial exercise program can be found at www.HappyFaceYoga.com. They have an easy to learn DVD available.