Category: Nonsurgical

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Can acne and other scars be removed?
February 4, 2018

Nobody likes scars, especially when they are in a particularly visible area such as the face. I often see patients in the Emergency Rooms of various Plano, Frisco and Allen hospitals with facial injuries. To a man, the first question they ask me is, "Will there be a scar?" Other patients come into the office asking about treatments for old injury scars or...(more)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) - hype or reality?
January 28, 2018

It's often hard to separate hype from reality when evaluating medical news. Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, was first used in the late 90s. Initially it was proposed to help heal sports injuries, and treat arthritis or tendonitis. But recently, it has been used as a means of performing nonsurgical facelifts, with celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Angelina Jolie jumping on the bandwagon....(more)

Nonsurgical fat reduction: Kybella and Coolsculpting
January 21, 2018

The holidays are over and the new year is here. If you're like me, you've had a bit too much turkey, stuffing, and pie in the last few weeks. Fortunately, this is the golden age of minimally invasive plastic surgery and nonsurgical treatments. There are two newly available nonsurgical options for reducing fat: Kybella® and CoolSculpting®. They both have a lot of hype...(more)

Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero - what's the difference?
January 14, 2018

Every time you turn around, someone has launched a new injectable filler. In the last three years the FDA has approved a new filler every six months! It can be hard to know whether each new filler is just a marketing gimmick, or a true improvement. Look no further. In this post, I explain the differences between the many fillers on the market,...(more)

Skincare Science: Lightening creams
December 17, 2017

Introduction In the last post, we discussed the importance of regularly using sunscreen. What if you already have uneven skin pigmentation? Sunscreen won't reverse existing problems, so what are your over-the-counter options? Cosmeceutical companies often sell lightening creams or brightening creams that promise to improve skin pigmentation. Of course, there is no clear industry definition of what a lightening or brightening cream is....(more)

Skincare Science: Sunscreen
December 10, 2017

If I had to pick just one skin treatment to recommend, it would be sunscreen, hands-down. It may feel nice to have the warm sun on your face and the breeze in your hair while you sip a mimosa, but you should do it while wearing sunscreen. As detailed in the skin aging post, UV rays in sunlight damage collagen and elastin, giving...(more)

15 skin lesions you need to know
December 3, 2017

Not all skin lesions are the same Some skin changes are dangerous, while others just look bad. Unfortunately, the appearance may not correlate with the danger. For example, the appearance of seborrheic keratosis may bother you a lot, but they aren't particularly dangerous. On the other hand, a melanoma is very dangerous, but most people are likely to not even notice it. This...(more)

The five types of ingredients in all skincare products
November 12, 2017

In previous posts, I've discussed skin anatomy, skin aging, and a few common skin conditions. This week's post is about over-the-counter skincare products. What makes them work? What are the active ingredients you should look for? Skincare products: Gels, creams, lotions... What's the difference? The first line of defense you are likely to use is some kind of cream. You’ve probably noticed that...(more)

Skincare science: Skin damage
November 5, 2017

Aging and sun exposure results in skin damage and characteristic changes in skin structure. Usually, the damage is not uniform, and some areas of your skin will start behaving differently than the surrounding areas. This week I wanted to write about the most common changes seen in damaged skin. It’s worth understanding these changes — it will allow you to more critically evaluate...(more)

Skincare science: Skin aging
September 24, 2017

Last week we talked about the anatomy of skin, and how its structures protect you from the slings and arrows of daily life. Of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Skin aging is an inevitable result of that protection. This week let's look more closely at each of the structural and molecular changes in aging skin. There are several changes...(more)

Human anatomy
Skincare science: Skin anatomy
September 18, 2017

This is the age of cosmeceuticals. Cosmetic companies advertise new breakthroughs that promise to magically reverse aging. Skincare packaging speaks in vague science-y words like "DNA repair," "rebuilding collagen," or "cell regeneration". Definitely sounds impressive. But I’m a skeptic. So I usually walk away wondering about the science of it all. How does that new product work? Talk to me about active ingredients...(more)

How to avoid unnecessary medical treatment
September 8, 2017

The New York Times reported yesterday on a new study in PLOS ONE, which found that over-treatment or unnecessary medical treatment is common. The study surveyed 2100 physicians, asking them what percentage of the care in their specialty was unnecessary. They reported that 20% of medical care in their specialties was unnecessary. This included 22% of medications, 25% of tests, and 11% of...(more)

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