Put the Best You Forward

We all want to look and feel our best. For some of us, cosmetic treatments can make all the difference. Several area medi-spas offer unique services that can have a huge impact on a client’s life. Read on to learn more about these some of these options.

Light Your Way to Better Skin

Blu-U® is a high-intensity blue light that treats acne on any area of the body. Acne is genetic and develops when cells do not shed normally and form a plug, blocking oil.  Bacteria known as P. acnes target the oil, converting it to very irritating free fatty acids, causing a red bump. Blu-U® targets P. acnes, causing fewer breakouts, less irritation and less acne.

Treatments last 16 minutes and 40 seconds and are pain-free and soothing. “Some clients fall asleep during a session,” says Dr. Harriet Comite of Advanced Skin Care & Laser Center. She recommends a series of two treatments for six weeks. Some patients come once a week for 12 weeks.

Dr. Comite’s patients are on customized skin care regimens. Blu-U® can be  a substitute for or can be used in conjunction with oral antibiotics. Some clients add peels and/or laser treatments to their regimen.
“There is no topical cure for acne. My goal is to prevent flares for the best control,” explains Dr. Comite. “Blu-U® is a very effective, non-invasive treatment for acne, decreasing red pimples. It does not treat white or black heads.”

The cost is $60 per session. Advanced Skin Care & Laser Center recently introduced a loyalty program for all treatments, which can reduce the cost. To learn more, contact the office.

Go Hair Free

Tired of shaving or waxing? Embarrassed by dark hair on your arms or face? There is a lasting solution – laser hair removal.

“If you are considering this option, it is very important to see an educated laser technician,” explains skin care specialist Julie Stubler, owner of JS MedSpa and a fully certified laser technician and trainer.

She uses the pain-free Harmony XL laser. It provides a mild zap that, depending on a person’s pain tolerance, can feel like a slight pinch. Water chills the tip, cooling the skin before a pulse is executed. A conductor gel is applied to the skin. Light passes through a crystal, seeking the pigment in the hair (melanin) to destroy the cell responsible for hair regrowth. While the light is not harmful, it is bright, so patients wear sunglasses.

“My clients tell me it is life-changing. They never have to shave or be concerned about unwanted hair,” shares Julie. She says laser hair removal works best on dark hair. It is safe for all skin colors and ethnicities and is a solution for conditions like ingrown hairs or embarrassing irritation from shaving.

“Over the period of six sessions, we can successfully reduce hair growth,” says Julie. “It is not a permanent solution because the body wants to grow hair.  But it reduces growth by 99.9 percent.”

Prices vary, depending on the area of the body. The upper lip is $75 per session, underarms are $200, and the bikini area is $250 per session. JS MedSpa offers packages. For a full price list, visit the website.

Fade Away the Years

“Botox is very effective for treating wrinkles,” says Maria Fotis, R.N., of Lords and Ladies Medical Spas. “It is really nice for someone who is looking to rejuvenate the face, make the frown lines go away, soften the crow’s feet and smooth wrinkles in the forehead. Botox is a neurotoxin that works on the muscles that create wrinkles. Another option is Juvaderm, which works like ‘wood putty’ to fill in the lines.”

During a consultation, Maria asks what areas bother the patient; she then determines what area(s) to treat and whether Botox or a filler will work best. The consultation and treatment take about a half-hour.

Both options are done via injections. Botox can feel slightly uncomfortable. Depending on pain tolerance, a numbing medicine can be applied. Botox takes 7 to 12 days to see results, which last 3 to 5 months.

Juvaderm is a little more uncomfortable than Botox, but it does have an anesthetic in the product. Clients receive immediate results that last six months to one year.

“The biggest worry is bruising, depending on where we inject,” explains Maria, who says the treatments must be administered by a trained doctor or nurse.
The cost varies, depending on the needs. Botox ranges from $250 to $700. Fillers start at $560.

These services are available at all six locations of Lords and Ladies Medical Spas, which are owned, operated and supervised by Berks Plastic Surgery.

Make It Permanent

Why would anyone want to permanently alter her look with makeup? There are several reasons, actually.

“Not everyone has naturally great eyebrows. Many people have sparse or light eyebrows. When working out or swimming, some clients wash away their eyebrow makeup, which can be embarrassing,” explains Tina Shenk, owner of Tina’s Salon and Day Spa. “With permanent cosmetics, I can give them the perfect shape. If people have scars, I can fill in the area. Many women say this changes their life.”

Permanent makeup is a form of tattooing. Tina is trained in the procedure. The area of the skin is numbed for about 20 minutes. Then pigment is painted on so the client can see the color and shape. Color is then implanted into the skin with a device. The process, including the consultation, takes about an hour and a half.

Another option is eyeliner. Tina matches the color to the client’s eye and hair colors. She wants the liner to look natural, and she won’t do anything too drastic. “As soon as I apply the pigment, I can tell what works,” she says. “Moms and women on the go like this option as it saves time during the daily routine.” Some women who have a light or faded lip line also select permanent makeup as a solution. “We don’t change the color, but define the line.”

The cost for brow or liner is $395, which includes the consultation and follow-up visit. If you get both areas done, you receive a $100 discount. Lips are $750.