Microneedling...an alternative to laser resurfacing.

There is an abundance of evidence that shows inducing channels of dermal injury by laser or microneedling stimulates collagen production. Microneedling has seen a huge surge in popularity. That is most likely because the results are remarkable without as much downtime, at a fraction of the cost of laser. Don't get me wrong, laser is very effective for collagen stimulation, but for the reasons mentioned above, many are opting for microneedling. Additionally, microneedling is great for all Fitzpatrick skin types, whereas laser is not safe for dark skinned individuals.

Do not confuse medical microneedling with the commercially sold, roller-type devices available from multiple skin care companies. Medical microneedling doesn't use a roller. It features a motor that very rapidly stamps multiple small needles into the dermis of the skin and goes deeper than can be achieved with a roller. Not to worry, we do numb you with a topical numbing cream prior to the procedure, and we can vary the speed of the motor and depths of the channels. Medical microneedling penetrates deeper than the roller. It penetrates down to the dermis where you make collagen.

Microneedling is considered safer than many other aesthetic procedures because there is less risk of prolonged redness, dermatitis and infection. There are however, a few contraindications to microneedling....active skin infections, open wounds, and severe collagen disorders. I personally will not do microneedling on sunburned skin, a planned prolonged exposure to the sun, nor if you have had recent extensive skin resurfacing procedures. 

With our Rejuvapen microneedler we have seen very impressive improvements in scars and discoloration. It is pretty effective for skin tightening and makes the skin look brighter overall as well. It will also help with pore size reduction and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Recovery time is very quick. I know when I have microneedling done, I can cover almost all of the redness with make up the next day. To make the treatment even more effective we apply peptides and growth factors to the skin as we do the treatment to stimulate even more collagen growth and increase the luminosity of the skin. I personally do microneedling as a maintenance treatment two to three times a year. For those who have problem areas like acne scarring, I'll probably recommend a short series of treatments 6-8 weeks apart, as collagen continues to grow for 6 weeks.

Treatments $350 each. Discounts when purchasing more than one treatment at a time. Give us a call! We're ready to take care of all of your skin care needs!

Anne R Trussell MD

Who needs IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)?

A recent article in Med Esthetics talks about the benefits of IPL (intense pulsed light). According to Dr. Michael Gold of the Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, IPL is still the #1 treatment for skin rejuvenation and photodamage in fair skin because it covers vascular concerns, pigmentation problems and stimulates collagen production. So if you have photodamaged skin  with some wrinkling, some red spots and some brown spots, there is no other device that will treat all those concerns simultaneously. With lasers, all these would have to be treated separately. IPL can not be done on dark skin like African Americans as it can cause permanent hypopigmentation.

Benefits of IPL have been published extensively, including in 2012 by Stanford University in Journal Of Investigative Dermatology and in 2016 in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. Due to the heat that is generated, IPL offers some collagen stimulation, temporary pore size reduction, some overall skin plumping and a reduction in fine lines. However, skin sagging and deep lines need to be treated with something like Ultherapy and fillers.

Thanks to its ability to target redness, IPL is widely used to treat the diffuse redness and broken blood vessels of rosacea.  IPL has become the first line of treatment for both pigmentation and melasma in Asia and is widely used for these in the U.S. as well. There isn't really a cure for melasma, but combining IPL with skin products containing 4% hydroquinone and an occasional medical grade chemical peel, you can successfully treat melasma. IPL can also be used both alone or as a light source for photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat acne. I prefer to use IPL, chemical peels and a few targeted skin products to treat acne before I refer to dermatology for Accutane. We also use our IPL device for hair removal on the face, especially on the upper lip and chin.

One big advantage of IPL is it can be used all over the body and is very popular for the chest, arms, back, shoulders and hands. I have always touted that your hands will tell your age, regardless of the age of your face! In the U.S.,  IPL is very popular for the treatment of Poikiloderma of Civatte, which is actually dilated blood vessels in the dermis and pigment deposition into the dermis. It is most common on the neck and chest. IPL can treat both problems of poikiloderma.

Most people need 4-6 treatments depending on the severity and type of condition we are treating. Treatments may be 1-4 weeks apart depending on whether we are treating rosacea, melasma or for hair reduction. IPL is sold in packages of 4 for $400. Give us a call to schedule your appointment today!  501-228-6237

Anne R Trussell MD
owner/physician
Sei Bella Med Spa

Why SculpSure for Fat Loss?

In contrast to CoolScupting that utilizes a freezing technology on fat, SculpSure treatments are delivered by a laser system that heats up your fat cells. SculpSure directs the laser into your stubborn, fatty areas, heating and emulsifiing the fat cells, essentially melting them. Once the fat cells are melted, they are naturally excreted by your body. In addition, the heat from the SculpSure treatments encourages collagen and elastin production in the treatment areas. This encourages healthy and young tissue growth, leaving the treated area not just thinner, but more firm and youthful as well.

Below are before and after pictures at 6 weeks from patients at Sei Bella.

Abdomen is the most requested area, but we have also treated arms, bra fat, flanks, love handles, inner and outer thighs, front and back of thighs, banana roll, and above the knees.

Use your Secret Santa card to get 20% off a treatment! Many people just need one treatment in an area, but Dr. Trussell can give you a better idea once she sees you. You will lose fat for 12 weeks, but you lose the most fat in the first 6 weeks. SculpSure is fast! SculpSure is permanent! SculpSure is non-invasive! It's cold outside now, but you can start getting your body summer ready! Give us a call! 501-228-6237