Toni Sloman talks about why she does the work she does...

Toni Sloman owner of Skin Savvy talks about why she does the work she does...

Skin Deep Beauty

I think the concept of a healthy balance of body and mind is the most important and difficult challenge we face as women.  A favorite quote:

My body holds my spirit,

The two are intertwined.

If one becomes neglected,

the other falls behind. 

-          Lou Sparks Smith

It is so easy to leave caring for our outside appearance behind.  After all, work, family and the many obligations that are a part of every woman’s life can be all-consuming.

I find it easier to pour a glass of wine, relax and know that my actions are not contributing to the family debt. The problem is, eventually I find don’t feel good about myself. When I drag myself to workouts or yoga, I begrudgingly admit I feel better afterward. I then think about how easy it is to make choices that make my life seem “easy.”  What feels easy in the present is almost never the best long-term choice. My generation is in it for the long term.

Medical aesthetics enhance your appearance - and last longer than the other rituals women undergo for beauty and health.  Unlike makeup application, hair coloring or workout sessions, there is no daily application, root touch-ups or ritualistic sweat session involved.

Why do we stay away from something so beneficial?  Yes, the cost may seem high.  But keep in mind the benefits versus investment ratio.  My theory is that people are victims of the fear factor.  If I didn’t do what I do for a living, I would be the very one who would say… ‘I would never pay someone money to inject a foreign substance in my face.’    I would say this… no doubt, because I have seen so many people whose appearance is …..startlingly unnatural. 

Correctly injected, Botox should create a natural look that doesn’t leave us without expression. Muscles that enhance our appearance should be highlighted, and those muscles that make us look tired and worn out should be diminished.  It’s like a puppet that has strings that are manipulated by the puppeteer.  They can elicit the facial emotional responses that allow true feelings to be expressed.   If you are truly excited and happy, the last impression you want to leave is that of someone who is angry, disappointed or disinterested.  

Dermal Fillers

To keep filler results natural, it is important to avoid creation of too much volume where there was little or none before.   Injecting filler into a space that never existed creates an unnatural, stretched and distorted appearance.  If your mouth and lip area is small, they are probably in balance with a smaller nose and other facial features.  You can enhance smaller lips with some volume, but there is a limit to what the genetic makeup of your body is going to accept without looking unnatural. 

Because any filler replaces lost volume and enhances existing space, the key is to not replace 100 percent of what was there when you were younger. Since the rest of your face has also lost volume and what is replaced should be in balance with what you have lost overall. Going subtle is better with lips -- and remember;  you can always add more but you can’t take it out.

We have unique anatomical bone structure which must be evaluated before any injection. Smile lines that extend from the corner of the nose to the lips are a great place to start.  Injections soften the lines and can produce a dramatic improvement.  As I have emphasized before, the choice of who you go to for injections  is key. Do the research, and choose someone experienced, who takes time to talk to you and can show pictures of their work.  Ask for before and after photos that are not simply passed on from filler companies – but are examples of the injector’s work.

Botox and filler treatments should not result in identity theft.  Afterward, you should look like you… only better, with a softer and less stressed look.   We are living longer, working longer and staying healthier than ever before.  Let’s take advantage of all that is new to help us look better longer too!

XEOMIN® (NEW) FACIAL CONTOURING & LIFTING

XEOMIN® (NEW) FACIAL CONTOURING & LIFTING 
 

Botulinum toxins have surged in popularity in the last ten years. First, there was Botox and then Dysport. Both of these products were manufactured about twenty five years ago and great care was taken to secure the maximum results, with the most minimal risk to the patient. This involved wrapping the botulinum toxin with a protein as a layer of protection in the event the protein migrated from its intended target. 

In the past twenty five years, we have learned that there is no evidence to support that the added layer of intended protection provides any benefit. In fact, there are cases where a tolerance is developed by the patient making the toxin less effective, so it has been determined that the protein is what the body is actually making antibodies against, not the toxin itself. As a result, if one develops a tolerance, it is not to the toxin but rather to the protein intended to protect the patient. 

This brings us to the long awaited introduction of Xeomin! Xeomin is what we refer to as a second generation botulinum toxin. We are excited about this new product for several reasons which benefits the patient financially and therapeutically. First... It is the only "naked botox" currently on the market, which means the nuerotoxin does not have the complex protein load linked to it. While resistance to Botox is relatively uncommon, it does exist and the chances of future cases developing is only increasing, particularly since patients have used Botulinum toxins for several years now. Since the resistance is linked to the protein rather than the toxin itself, the concern about developing resistance is less of a concern.

Second. Finally!! there is competition in the market and no one company now holds the lock on the product which keeps the price artificially high and out of the reach of many who would benefit. The average price of Xeomin® should be a couple of dollars cheaper per unit. The client will still have to face the same concerns about hyper dilution of the product. However, this is true with Botox and Dysport, so the same degree of caution about choosing a competent and ethical provide must be employed.

With every new botulinum toxin that is approved and the safety profiles for the product remain consistently good, there is more possibility that the FDA will allow more choices for the consumer in the future.