nataliebirch

The Future of BOTOX® in Beverly Hills and Beyond

December 5, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

As the year winds to a close, people across the world finish taking stock of the past 12 months and start looking forward to what a fresh start may bring. Without the benefit of an actual crystal ball, we feel confident in making at least one prediction: The cosmetic treatment of choice for Americans of all demographics will continue to be BOTOX^®. Beverly Hills residents are no strangers to the wrinkle-smoothing injectable, but at this point, it’s difficult to find someone who hasn’t at least heard of it.

If it seems like we talk about BOTOX^® a lot at our Beverly Hills practice, it’s because we do—and not just because of Dr. Derek Jones’ role as an investigator in the trials that led to its FDA approval for treating crow’s feet. As of last count in 2014, the injectable was the global best-selling cosmetic of its kind. Since 2002, almost 11 million vials have been sold throughout the United States.

Soon, industry trackers will begin crunching numbers for 2015 in an effort to compile a new set of statistics and spot developing trends in the cosmetic industry, and there’s no reason to think that BOTOX^® won’t once again top the charts, just like it did in 2014. In fact, since the year 2000, BOTOX^® and other cosmetics in that family of neurotoxins have increased in popularity by 748 percent according to some surveys. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery has already reported that wrinkle-relaxers, led by BOTOX®, had the top satisfaction ratings in a consumer survey for 2015.

Discover what the popular BOTOX^® could do for you at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills’ dermatology services by scheduling a consultation online or calling 310-246-0495.

Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills’ Dermatology Tips for Winter Health

December 1, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Aesthetics and health are both important to the team at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Dermatology experts at the practice, led by dermatologist Derek H. Jones, MD, offer cosmetic and general dermatology services to Los Angeles-area patients seeking a solution to everything from fine lines to melanoma.

Winter, with its extreme temperatures and weather conditions, can be a season that contributes to such skin problems. With that in mind, here are some tips from our dermatology-focused team that can keep you looking and feeling healthy, youthful, and vibrant.

• Keep wearing sunscreen. Just because it’s cold or even cloudy outside doesn’t mean ultraviolet light can’t reach and damage your skin. Apply an even layer to your exposed skin if you’re going to be outdoors—and especially if you’re going to be participating in snow sports, where sunlight can bounce off of the expanses of white and cause a burn.

• Stay hydrated. Rain falling on your face isn’t the same as you nourishing your skin by drinking plenty of water. Moist, pliant skin is less likely to develop wrinkles from repetitive muscle movements.

• Get plenty of sleep. As darkness fall earlier, give your body plenty of time to rest and heal from the stresses of the day. Fatigue can take a toll on your skin and overall health.

• Bring your dermatology questions and problems to an expert. This is good advice no matter the season. From curiosity about treatments available for uneven pigmentation to concerns about a spot on the back of your hand, a trained and certified professional is your best option for optimal care.

Learn more about Dr. Derek Jones and Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills’ dermatology services by scheduling a consultation online or calling 310-246-0495.

El Niño Storms and CoolSculpting®: Los Angeles Looks Forward to Next Summer

November 21, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Meteorologists are predicting that this winter will be packed with rain, forecasting a season of everyone staying indoors as much as possible. On the surface, the El Niño weather might not seem to have much to do with CoolSculpting^®, but Los Angeles and Beverly Hills patients preparing for a soaking over the next several months may want to set their sights even further forward to include next summer.

Southern California is known for its sun, and—cyclical storm systems aside—the beaches and beautiful days inspire people of all sorts to show off their bodies. Many locals begin getting their bellies and backs into the shape they want in the months before summer starts, but even with juice cleanses and sit-ups, some stubborn fat may remain. That’s what CoolSculpting^® is for. The FDA-approved device pulls heat energy from fat cells, killing them while leaving everything around them happy and healthy.

The CoolSculpting^® process is safe and effective, yielding about a 20 percent reduction in fat with each treatment. The fat released from the destroyed cells can take up to several months to be eliminated from the body, and more than one treatment spaced one or two months apart may be necessary to get desired results.

Considering that timeline, the start of a stretch of cold, wet, and wintry weather may be the perfect time to start CoolSculpting^®. Depending on your current body and ultimate goals, you could be achieving your ideal results by June, if not sooner.

Learn more about CoolSculpting^® from Los Angeles-area dermatologist Dr. Derek Jones at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Schedule a consultation online or call 310-246-0495.

Caffeinated Peanut Butter vs. a Dermatologist: Los Angeles

October 10, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

People seeking a caffeine fix beyond their regular coffee can now get it on a sandwich. A new product promises an energy boost in every bite of caffeinated peanut butter, encouraging people with productivity slumps to spread it on a lunchtime meal or spoon it up for a mid-afternoon snack to be more alert.

While caffeine can certainly help in the energy department, looking awake is a different matter. Even if you’ve received a good night’s sleep and are bursting with productivity, the position of your eyebrows or wrinkles under your eyes can give you a worn-down look. However, with help from someone like Dr. Derek Jones, an experienced dermatologist, Los Angeles-area patients looking to perk up their appearance can make their tired-looking outsides match their energized insides.

Any dermatologist will tell you that plenty of sleep and hydration are keys to maintaining healthy skin. Still, the effects of the sun and natural aging can make a face look drowsy. If you find that people are asking you how late you were up the night before, even if you went to bed at 8, you may want to consider the following dermatologist-recommended options:

• fractional laser, which can treat deep lines under and around the eyes to generate a refreshed appearance

• BOTOX^® for eyebrow shaping, helping them to sit in a not-too-high, not-to-low position

• Ultherapy^® to tighten away sagging that can make eyes look droopy and semi-closed

Be sure to consult with a certified and experienced dermatologist for any of these treatments to learn what they can and can’t do for you, as well as to discover whether there are other available procedures that may help you achieve your specific aesthetic goals.

If you need more energy, tuck yourself in at a reasonable hour, or have some caffeinated toast with you coffee if you’d like. But if you need to get your uncooperative face in line by getting it to look as energized as you feel, talk to a dermatologist. Los Angeles-area skin expert Dr. Derek Jones and his team at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills are available at 310-246-0495.

Preventative BOTOX ® in Los Angeles: Stop Wrinkles Before They Start

October 2, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Have you heard about the current debate over the “proper” age to begin receiving BOTOX^® injections? A reality TV star, 27-year-old Ashley Iaconetti, recently mentioned that she’d had a BOTOX^® treatment, prompting critics to complain that the 20s are too soon for this cosmetic. Explaining her own decision, she revealed that she had noticed how her forehead formed creases whenever she raised her eyebrows, so she wanted to take a temporary break from the furrows to keep them from etching the lines deep into her skin.

When it comes to BOTOX^®, Los Angeles area dermatologist Dr. Derek Jones considers a patient’s skin, health, and goals over age, especially since it is FDA approved for cosmetic use in adults up to and including age 65. While men and women in their 20s and 30s may not be experiencing the pronounced crow’s feet and glabellar lines that appear on someone decades older, they can take an interest in their skin’s health and beauty now. Care given to skin in youth frequently pays off as time goes by.

Since repetitive motion is the culprit behind many of the wrinkles BOTOX^® treats, minimizing that motion also minimizes the wrinkles. When used judiciously at the hands of a skilled, expert dermatologist, such as Dr. Derek Jones, BOTOX^® can be a powerful tool in the quest to reduce the signs of aging and keep a face looking young, healthy, and radiant from your 20s to your 60s—and maybe even beyond.

Learn more about BOTOX^® and its uses for skin at any age. Call Dr. Derek Jones at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills at 310-246-0495 or request a consultation.

Making Memories with Juvéderm® in Los Angeles

September 8, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Trend watchers and magazine writers have recently been noticing a shift in priorities among younger generations. While the American ideal has long been represented by buying a nice house with a yard (picket fence optional) and a fancy car, professionals these days seem to be moving more toward building memories over stockpiling things. As money is spent less on possessions and more on experiences, some observers are also noting a possibly related increase in aesthetic treatments, such as Juvéderm^®. Los Angeles-area dermatologist Dr. Derek Jones offers that dermal filler among others at his Beverly Hills practice, and notes that while the connection between spending patterns and cosmetic treatments may not be scientifically proven, it’s certainly a logical one to make.

Juvéderm^® smooths out wrinkles and adds volume to the face, reducing the appearance of sun damage and the effects of aging. In a culture that now has 24/7 access to camera phones and is always wirelessly connected to multiple photo sharing sites, documenting everyday and extraordinary experiences alike via selfies and group photos—and looking your best while doing so—has become so common, it’s expected. A culture that values building memories and then displaying those memories to anyone and everyone publicly online will also tend to prize the sorts of features everyone loves to see on their own faces in photographs: clear skin, a healthy glow, and an overall youthful appearance.

If not the main driving force, this emphasis on visual evidence of life beyond the norm could certainly be contributing to the rise in popularity of Juvéderm^® and other dermal fillers. As a whole, this type of minimally invasive cosmetic enjoyed a small bump in the total number of procedures performed between 2013 and 2014, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Since Juvéderm^® is administered by a series of quick injections and offers benefits that last for months, if not years—depending on the type selected and where it’s used—it’s an ideal treatment for people looking to refresh their appearance before a relaxing vacation, adventure-filled trek, or life-celebrating day, such as a wedding, birthday, or reunion. Juvéderm^® requires virtually no recovery time, so it can also be used as part of a regular beauty routine that includes touch-up visits to maintain a rejuvenated look from day to day.

Learn more about Juvéderm^® by calling Dr. Derek Jones’ Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills at 310-246-0495 or request a consultation.

Too Much Time in the Sun? Consider Fraxel®, Los Angeles’ Answer for Sun Spots and More

September 2, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Many people look to the warm and sunny days of summer as the time for baring more skin, but without the adequate protection that comes from strong sunscreen, and failing to keep sun time to a minimum, these people may find that overexposure to UV radiation has harmed their skin. Over time, this damage can appear in a variety of forms, from wrinkles and lines to spots and discolorations. Fortunately, there’s Fraxel®. Los Angeles-area dermatologist Dr. Derek Jones’ often uses this laser treatment to even out aesthetic imperfections in the skin due to sun damage, since it can reduce the appearance of sun spots in the span of three to five sessions, restoring clear skin.

In contrast to the solar rays that beat down—sometimes mercilessly—throughout June, July, August, and beyond, Fraxel® uses light energy to resurface the outermost layer of skin, diminishing brown spots and pigment problems. Fraxel® also stimulates collagen deeper in the skin, which can fill in unwanted lines and wrinkles via natural rejuvenation.

Another light-based option for dealing with uneven pigmentation problems is UltraPulse™, which can also treat deep wrinkles and scars. Many patients feel that their aesthetic results from UltraPulse™ make them appear dramatically rejuvenated. Intense Pulsed Light, also known as IPL, is another option for evening out sun-damaged skin tone.

Derek Jones, MD, and his team will assess each patient individually to determine whether Fraxel® or another treatment is the best option for dealing with the sun-damaged skin.

Learn more about what Fraxel® can do, and about UltraPulse™ and other options for improving the appearance of your skin after sun damage, by contacting Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills at 310-246-0495 or request a consultation.

Dermatologist Derek Jones in Los Angeles Notes Immediate Interest in Double-Chin-Busting Kybella®

August 6, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Since the FDA’s April approval of Kybella® for use in reducing submental fullness—also known as double chin—in adults, Dr. Derek Jones, a dermatologist offering Los Angeles-area patients opportunities to care for and improve their skin’s health and appearance, has seen the prescription cosmetic leap forward in the public’s eye.

It’s no wonder. As the dermatologist who served as the lead investigator for an earlier study into the injectable’s suitability to reduce the appearance of double chins, and who ultimately presented it for approval to the FDA, Dr. Jones is extremely familiar with what Kybella® can do—and how quickly it can do it. Wave after wave of media reports note what makes the product so attractive: It’s minimally invasive, accomplishing effects similar to liposuction but without the drawbacks (including the risks, recovery time, and cost) of surgery. A single treatment session can run as briefly as 15 minutes. The fat it eliminates is physically removed from the body, not merely shrunk to a smaller size that can balloon up again over time.

Recent news stories written and broadcast around the country reveal dermatologists eager to stake a claim in Kybella® territory, proving that it has captured the Unites States’ attention.

Dermatologist Derek Jones, MD is a Kybella® expert who learned about its benefits and results as he studied the cosmetic and its effects since 2012 for the FDA trials. This means he’s been associated with Kybella® for years and is truly one of the most well-versed dermatologists in the world when it comes to its application. He was among the first dermatologists in the Los Angeles area—as well as the state and country—to offer it for his patients. Learn more by contacting Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills at 310-246-0495 or request a consultation.

Coming Back for Botox®: Los Angeles Patients Explore the Benefits of Repeated Treatments

June 6, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Derek Jones, MD, was an investigator in the study that successfully led to the FDA’s approval for Botox® as a treatment for crow’s feet, so he has a particular interest in the cosmetic. The injectable continues to grow in popularity, especially as people learn more about it and how it works. Botox®, Los Angeles-area patients already know, smooths out the forehead and the area stretching from the outside corner of the eye by preventing line-forming muscles from contracting, but they may be surprised to discover that its effects also appear to get better with repeated use.

A recent study—the third one in Phase 3 of an ongoing program—revealed that participating patients reported their facial wrinkles improving significantly after receiving multiple Botox® injections in the course of a year. In fact, patients who initially received the largest doses of 44 units (24 units for crow’s feet and 20 units for glabellar lines) and received that dose again for the second round had the most positive response, with many saying they looked younger than their current age. Even the group that initially received only 24 units enjoyed results that far surpassed the group given a placebo.

The study authors also note that despite repeated doses of Botox® being administered, the results didn’t raise any new safety concerns.

Botox® is a Beverly Hills standard and top choice for patients in the United States and around the world who are seeking a younger-looking face without having to invest the time, money, and effort into a more invasive approach, such as an eyelid or face lift.

Talk to Dr. Derek Jones and his team about Botox®. Los Angeles-area patients can visit Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills, call 310-246-0495, or request a consultation.

Considering CoolSculpting® for a Los Angeles Summer Season?

June 4, 2015 by nataliebirch Leave a Comment

Though the winter weather in Southern California never exactly gets into bulky sweater territory—or if it does, it doesn’t stay there long—locals and visitors alike look forward to shedding what layers they do have on to celebrate the summer with swimwear and other skimpier ensembles. Showing off more skin typically goes hand in hand with fat-reduction efforts, including diets, exercise, liposuction, and now, CoolSculpting®. Los Angeles-area residents are increasingly turning to CoolSculpting® at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills as a non-invasive way to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat on the abdomen and flanks.

Dermatologist Dr. Derek Jones has long been at the forefront of nonsurgical facial rejuvenation, but he also applies his expert aesthetic and scientific attention to elsewhere on the body. He was the lead investigator on the clinical trials that led to the recent FDA approval of Kybella®, a fat-dissolving injectable that reduces the double chin, and he offers the “fat freezing” procedure CoolSculpting® as an alternative to the surgical removal of fat on the abdomen, love handles, thighs, and other areas of the body.

CoolSculpting® works by intensely cooling the targeted area to a temperature that damages unwanted fat cells but leaves surrounding tissues unaffected. The destroyed fat is then safely eliminated through the course of natural body functions over a period of months.

That means an early June session with Dr. Derek Jones and his team could start showing results before the end of the month, with the most dramatic results visible by the time summer is in full swing in early August. Based on the fact that fat cells continue to flush out for four to six months, a 20 percent reduction in the fat’s thickness is possible by Labor Day. While there may be some mild tenderness in the treated area shortly after the session, a lack of recuperation time—no incisions or stitches to care for in the following weeks—means you can enjoy your summer activities as usual, getting back to your daily life and routine within hours of receiving CoolSculpting®.

Learn more about CoolSculpting® for the Los Angeles area at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Call 310-246-0495, or request a consultation via skincareandlaser.com.