With the help of a physician, we can help you choose which treatment will benefit you the most. Schedule a consultation and see amazing results!

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If you’re interested in dermal fillers, contact us today.

The post Choosing the Right Dermal Filler appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

• Uses the dermal filler Juvéderm^® Voluma
• Smooths nasolabial folds and lifts the jawline.
• Corrects the effects of aging and gravity.
• Requires no downtime or discomfort.
• Produces results that last up to 2 years.

Not ready for surgery any time soon? Schedule a consultation and see what the Stitchless Lift can do for you.

The post A Non-Surgical Facelift: Stitchless Lift appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

Cosmetic Dermatology vs Medical Dermatology?

What are the key differences between cosmetic dermatology and medical dermatology? For one thing, cosmetic dermatology can help patients look younger or help patients attain more alluring, flawless skin. On the other hand, medical dermatology is a field dedicated to helping patients treat health issues related to the skin.

In real life, there isn’t so much of a clear-cut distinction; many experts in medical dermatology use their vast knowledge and training to deliver aesthetics with great skill. And while some practices focus on one or the other, there are practices who are passionate enough about providing comprehensive care that they offer both—like the Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

What’s Cosmetic Dermatology?

Cosmetic dermatology consists of nonsurgical aesthetic treatments performed by dermatologists—and it’s a field that’s growing quickly. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery collected data over the years and found that over 11,674,754 nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were performed in 2016—and the number is only going up. Today, more and more cosmetic treatments are being developed, allowing patients to choose from countless of different procedures for all sorts of skin conditions and signs of aging. From laser treatments to powerful skin care products, cosmetic dermatologists have the experience and knowledge of the skin to help patients achieve real results.

Skin Care Products

Cosmetic dermatologists can offer medical grade skin care to help patients achieve flawless, younger looking skin. Over-the-counter products do have active ingredients, but in order to make them safe for the general public, the active ingredients are very much diluted. Because medical grade skin care is given by a medical professional, they have the proper concentrations of active ingredients to create real results.

Injectables

Injectables are specially formulated solutions that are injected into the skin. They can be divided into dermal fillers, which are a kind of smooth gel that lifts the skin or smooths out deep wrinkles, and neuromodulators like Botox^®, which reduces the appearance of certain wrinkles.

Laser Treatments

Laser treatments use either laser or light energy to remove unsightly blemishes from the skin or rebuild the skin into a younger, smoother form. Laser energy can also be used for long-lasting hair reduction and for removing unsightly redness and veins from the face and legs.

Vein Removal

Cosmetic dermatologists can soften the appearance of large, unsightly veins using sclerotherapy, a treatment that injects a solution into the vasculature to collapse overly-dilated veins.

What’s Medical Dermatology?

Medical dermatology is usually what we think of when we think of dermatology. Dermatologists analyze, diagnose, and treat patients for various medical disorders of the skin. These conditions can range from the harmless, like eczema, to the life threatening, like skin cancer. Dermatologists need years of training and experience to treat such a wide range of conditions: for instance, dermatologists need to complete four years of medical school, one year of internship, and three years of training in a specialized field.

Just a few of the conditions that medical dermatology can treat include:

Skin Cancer

Medical dermatologists can analyze suspected skin cancer, perform a biopsy, and plan a treatment for removing the skin cancer. Dermatologists are also trained to remove skin cancer in a way that doesn’t result in deformities.

Chronic Acne

Chronic adult acne can cause years of frustration and embarrassment, and it’s often impervious to over-the-counter treatments or changes in lifestyle. Dermatologists can recommend a number of treatments from topical medications, oral medications, to steroid injections to help patients achieve smooth skin once and for all.

Eczema

Eczema is a type of skin condition that causes itchy, dry, red patches to appear on the skin. It’s caused by certain overactive skin cells creating too many skin cells at a time. Eczema is seen as unsightly by some patients, but it can also lead to painful blistering. Dermatologists can treat eczema with powerful steroidal creams, antibacterial medication, and certain lotions. Dermatologists can also treat eczema with phototherapy, a nonsurgical treatment that uses light energy to suppress the overactive skin cells responsible for eczema.

Rosacea

This chronic skin condition causes patients to have perpetually red, flushed faces. It’s triggered by certain situations, but as of today there is no known cure. Dermatologists, however, can prescribe powerful treatments to help patients manage and mitigate rosacea.

In the end, patients shouldn’t have to choose between the aesthetic and the medical; it’s why at the Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena, patients can have a medical treatment that results in clearer, healthier skin and have powerful aesthetic treatments that actually work. If you want to learn more about our treatments, contact us now for a consultation.

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FotoFacial rejuvenation removes discoloration of the skin using intense pulsed light and radiofrequency.

• 90% Worth It according to RealSelf.com
• FotoFacial rejuvenation can also treat rosacea, age spots, sun damage, fine lines, enlarged pores and more.
• 50-75% improvement in appearance.
• 15-18 week program of several treatments.

Schedule a consultation here for the fresh, rejuvenated skin you deserve.

The post How to Treat Acne Scars with Fotofacial Rejuvenation appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

Contact our office to book your appointment today!

1. There is no downtime associated with Botox^® injections. You can return to work or regular activities immediately following the treatment.

2. Make sure your face is clean and makeup-free before you arrive for your appointment. Your injector will prep and cleanse your face with alcohol wipes, so you may want to avoid looking streaky post-procedure.

3. When you get home, use an ice pack for a few hours to further reduce the chance of bruising.

You can buy the Relief Pak here.

4. You will start to see the effects of your treatment in about three to four days.

5. Avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area for at least 24 hours.

The post 5 Things to Know Before Getting Botox^® appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

Nasolabial folds (also called static wrinkles) which add years to our faces, are one of the top reasons people seek treatment with injectable fillers. But until now the available treatments didn’t satisfactorily address moderate to severe parentheses lines, or didn’t provide long-lasting results.

With JUVEDERM Vollure, Allergan has addressed both of these treatment gaps. Like the recently released Voluma for cheek contouring and Volbella for lip enhancement, Vollure makes use of Allergan‘s patented Vycross technology. This creates a filler that combines the softness of hyaluronic acid with the ability to employ various molecular weights of the HA into one filler, extending the duration of treatment effect. In tests required for FDA approval, patients experienced at least a 12-month duration from the first or touchup treatment, with many patients seeing improvement that lasted up to 18 months.

Besides parentheses lines, JUVEDERM Vollure offers great results in facial contouring and addressing volume loss, which can make us look older and more tired than we are.

Also on the horizon from Allergan, with approval expected sometime later this year, is JUVEDERM Volite — one of the first injectables designed to increase skin’s hydration and elasticity from within. Also using the Vycross technology, Volite can be used to improve skin quality characteristics in the face, neck, hands, and decollete. Effects last up to 6 months.

At Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena, you don’t have to wait to ditch those parentheses lines — we have JUVEDERM Vollure treatment available now! Contact us today for your complimentary cosmetic consultation or to schedule treatment. And watch this space for more on when JUVEDERM Volite — along with all new cosmetic treatments and products — becomes available!

The post Vollure: Because Parentheses Belong in Sentences, Not on Your Face appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

As we get older, the skin around our eyes — already some of the thinnest skin we have — gets even thinner and dryer, losing its natural elasticity. At the same time, gravity is at work on the fat pads that give youthful contours to the face; they slip south, pulling down the stretched undereye skin with them. Thin skin wrinkles more easily, too, adding to the aging appearance of undereye bags.

Lack of sleep — something that’s epidemic these overscheduled days — also leaves undereye skin less time to recuperate. The fluid from swelling that might normally be reabsorbed when we’re horizontal just continues to puff up, the longer we’re up and around.

According to a Medical News Today article by Jennifer Berry, other conditions that can contribute to bags under your eyes include injury, weakened facial muscles, irritation from smoking, allergies and colds, and even genetic factors (more family baggage!). If the undereye bags show up suddenly or are accompanied by unexplained redness, itching, or discharge from the eyes, you should check with your health care provider.

Here are some precautions you can take to keep undereye bags from developing and to minimize their appearance if they do show up.

1. Up your dosage of Vitamin Zzzzzz. Good-quality sleep is good for your whole body, mind, and spirit. Sleep allows the skin to carry out its normal turnover process, instead of being clogged by dry, dead cells. Skin care products that promote rejuvenation — including eye creams to prevent wrinkling and edema — also work best while you’re sleeping. Sleeping on your back or with your head slightly elevated, if these positions are comfortable for you, are best for reducing swelling and smoothing wrinkles.
2. Cut back on caffeine and alcohol consumption. These beverages are dehydrating to the skin and can interfere with quality sleep. One exception: Skin care products containing caffeine can be applied topically to reduce the swelling of undereye bags.
3. Don’t smoke. Bags under your eyes are the least of your worries when it comes to the harmful effects smoking can have on your looks and your life. Get help quitting, or better still don’t start.
4. Get treatment for seasonal allergies that cause eye irritation.
5. Moisturize and repair. The fragile skin around your eyes needs to be well hydrated even if the rest of your face tends to be oily. Choose quality products like SkinMedica’s TNS Eye Repair and Uplifting Eye Serum.
6. Don’t put concealer on with a spatula. We sometimes have a tendency to slather on foundation or concealer or even highlighter to “cover up,” but all that does is draw more attention. A touch of concealer or a roll-on product that reduces puffiness are the best options.
7. Keep cool. Undereye bags caused by lack or sleep, irritation, or stress can be soothed using cold compresses. Some people swear by sliced cucumbers, others by cold tea bags (the caffeine effect), but a cool washcloth or chilled eye mask will do just as well. So will the rest your eyes get while you lie back to keep the compresses in place.

More extensive cosmetic procedures for reducing bags under the eyes include these treatments and more offered by Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena:

• Dermal fillers, which temporarily plump wrinkles and restore volume or fullness to areas of the face.
• Chemical peels, which remove the damaged outer layers of the skin and promote the growth of new, healthy, smoother tissue.
• Laser lifts, like our Madonna Eye Lift, that provide the results of cosmetic surgery without the added expense, risk, and longer recovery time.

If you would like to explore further treatment for undereye bags, contact us today and request your complimentary consultation with our cosmetics consultant, Mary Lou Brimecombe. She’ll help you decide what products and treatments are best for you.

The post Undereye Bags? Here’s How to Unpack Them appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

Today’s permanent makeup is safe, understated, and hugely popular with women of all ages and lifestyles who want to look their best, effortlessly, 24/7. Here are the facts:

Permanent makeup is not really makeup. Instead of a topical product applied every day to the brows, lids, and lips, permanent makeup — technically known as micropigmentation — is a permanent application of color to the top layer of the skin where you might normally use a brow pencil, eyeliner, or lip liner. The color is chosen especially to suit your complexion and style, in the form of cosmetic ink. And the application process is a gentle form of tattooing.

Permanent makeup is safe and painless — as long as you have the process done by a licensed, experienced aesthetician or doctor. Your practitioner will evaluate you for suitability; permanent makeup is not recommended for those with allergies to the ink ingredients or to the numbing solution used to reduce discomfort during tattooing. If your skin has a tendency to form keloids or your immune system is compromised, you will also be cautioned against the procedure. Otherwise, discomfort is minimal and side effects or complications rare. Never get permanent makeup done by an amateur or under unsafe conditions — that’s asking for trouble.

Permanent makeup looks like you, if you had an extra hour to get ready every morning or your own in-home makeup artist. The coloration is natural and understated, but gives you that “put together” look. You can go out as is after your normal daily routine of cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen, or build on the base by adding base, eye shadow, and lipstick to whatever degree you wish.

One satisfied user described it this way in an article in Shape magazine:

Anne Klein of Aspen, CO, says she highly recommends the procedure. Not very skilled with cosmetics, Klein spent years attempting to apply eyeliner while she was working as a model. On her own, she says she’d wind up with a “circus clown” look. “Now, I love it,” she says. “I can shower and be out the door in the morning, or have the option to add more if I want.”

Permanent makeup is for you, if you’ve ever found yourself . . . racing to get ready for a big day after oversleeping . . . kicking yourself for not putting on makeup when photos from that family party or girlfriends’ lunch are shared online . . . redrawing and smudging and redrawing over and over to get your eyeliner even (darn that left eye!) . . . wishing you looked a little more romantic in the middle of the night (or while swimming, or after a long run) . . . tired of carting around a bag of makeup products bigger than your purse . . . well, you get the idea.

You don’t have to be a rock star to rock your look (and save your time) with permanent makeup. For more information, or to set up your consultation for permanent makeup by our licensed aesthetician Sandra, put down that eyeliner wand and contact us today

The post Permanent Makeup: Not Just for (Literal) Rock Stars appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

But cosmetic dermatologists have been a little surprised at how quickly KYBELLA treatments have taken off with men. Interest in cosmetic treatments and products has grown sharply among men in recent years, though male patients still make up only about 10% of cosmetic dermatology patients. Some providers, however, have noted that the percentage is much higher — up to 40% — when it comes to KYBELLA treatments.

Stealth cosmetics

There are a couple of important reasons for KYBELLA’s popularity among men. For one thing, men generally prefer nonsurgical cosmetic treatments to cosmetic surgery, with its long recovery time and higher risk and expense. Today’s nonsurgical rejuvenation — BOTOX, injectable fillers, spa treatments, and fat reduction treatments like CoolSculpting — can generally offer natural, noticeable results with little or no downtime, allowing men to schedule treatment during lunch breaks and attract little attention. KYBELLA, which uses a series of injections to destroy the fat cells under the chin, fits this profile perfectly.

The chiseled chin

One motivation for men who undertake KYBELLA treatment might be largely unconscious, but powerful. From superheroes to super spies, from rom-com heroes to military leaders, our society’s definition of male power and attractiveness involves classically chiseled features, including a strong, sculpted jaw. Studies have shown that, unfair as it is, men who fit this stereotype tend to achieve more highly, whether in the armed services or in business. Consciously or not, men with less than chiseled chins — which is most men — might want to seek the extra edge KYBELLA treatment can give, if only in personal confidence.

Tight collars

Another reason men choose KYBELLA, doctors are finding, is a factor of the male business style. Men with fullness under the chin suffer disproportionately from the standard business wardrobe of buttoned collars and ties. Because the double chin bears no relation to a man’s overall weight or fitness level, men with double chins end up having to order their shirts with collar sizes too large to accommodate their fuller necks, or they wear shirts that fit and end up tugging at their tight collars and ties all day long. If you are always loosening your tie and running your fingers under your collar to keep it from chafing, even though the rest of your shirt fits fine, you are probably a candidate for KYBELLA!

Comprehensive Dermatology of Pasadena offers KYBELLA treatment for men and women. Contact us today if you are a man who can’t wait to loosen his tie!

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