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| Beautiful friends Izabella and Christine |
I have a wonderful, long standing relationship with the doctors and practitioners at
The New York Group for Plastic Surgery. Dr. Andrew Salzberg is a personal hero of mine. He compassionately and brilliantly did my breast reconstruction nearly 14 years ago, when I opted to do a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, (think Angie), and yes, I was way ahead of the curve.
When it came time to address my anti-aging concerns, it never occurred to me to go elsewhere. Though I think plenty of women don't fess up to all their tweaks, Botox, Restalyne, Sculptra, peels and lasers are as much a part of beauty maintenance these days as facials, highlights and root touch ups.
Lately, I have noticed a discouraging trend; Botox parties, Dentists doing injectibles, Groupon, Amazon and Living Social offering cut rate deals on anti-aging treatments and a new entry Zendy Beauty, modeled like Priceline, where you name your price and see if any of the doctors in their network will accept it.
I think it's begging for trouble. After all, we wear our faces everyday, this is not an area you want to bargain hunt.
Truly, your very best bet for excellent, natural results is to select your practitioners based on their experience and friends who have had great results.
Accordingly, I gathered a group of 15 friends for an event at the NY Group for Plastic Surgery in Tarrytown, N.Y., where they had the opportunity to meet Dr. Salzberg, Dr. Aydin, Physician's Assistant Tami Healy and Ashlea Hoess. Nicely, there was champagne, munchies and goodie bags for all and their cheerful staff on hand to make sure everyone was comfortable and attended to.
Readers often email me for help and information. I also wanted my friends to have the benefit of hearing about all the latest in anti-aging advances too. As a jumping off point, I put together a list of questions to ask the experts and the Girls chimed in with their own as well.
Here were some of the questions asked and answered by their team of experts:
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| Tami Healy P.A. Expert injector, Ultherapy, Surgical Assistant |
DD: We all know
Botox is routinely used to smooth furrows on the brow, the "coin slots" between the brows and around the eyes. Are you using it anywhere else successfully?
Dr. Salzberg: Botox is a highly purified and diluted form of the muscle paralyzing botulism bacteria. It is very effective in treating problem areas for people who perspire excessively. Cosmetically, we can get a nice result on the platysma muscles, the vertical bands on the neck, and it can be used on the jawline to feminize it".
DD: Tell us about
Restylane how is it most commonly used?
Dr. Aydin: "Restylane is stabilized hyaluronic acid, a filler, used to add volume and diminish wrinkles. Commonly treated areas are the lips, nasolabial folds, (nose to mouth) and crows feet. It can also be used to add volume to facial hollows".
DD: What kind of results are you getting with
Sculptra and who are good candidates for this treatment:
Dr. Salzberg: "Sculptra is used to replace volume in face. It is deeply injected and stimulates the production of collagen. It is generally done in a series, about 3 weeks apart. You can roughly approximate one treatment per each decade of life. Results are cumulative and will look best in a few months, lasting two or more years. Generally, one touch up treatment should be done each year. The areas most commonly treated are the temples, cheeks and jawline. We are having fantastic results with patients reporting firmer lifted skin. This is a great option for women who are looking for a significant improvement without surgery. Because it is done over time, it is also a subtle change. Because it lifts the cheeks, the need to fill the nasolabial folds with Restylane may be diminished".
DD: It's interesting to me that Plastic Surgeons have embraced
Ultherapy, a non-invasive FDA cleared procedure that uses ultrasound waves to tighten skin on the chin, neck and brow. Is this in response to women trying to put off surgery and who are the best candidates?:
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Tami demonstrating Ultherapy, a non-invasive lifting
and tightening treatment for the face and neck |
Tami Healy: "Well, we are treating men with Ultherapy too, so, I would agree that
people do want to retain their youthful good looks as long as possible and they are looking for non surgical alternatives. Ultherapy is particularly appealing because there is downtime and very little bruising. Ultherapy is best used on patients with mild to moderate sagging. The ultrasound waves stimulate the deep structural support layers of the skin, stimulating collagen,without disturbing it's surface. Results are best seen 2-3 mos. after treatment and can last for several years. The happiest patients are the ones who are doing this at the right time...meaning they really don't yet need surgery."
Discomfort is relative. I have used this treatment myself and had no pain in my neck area. Tami performed a sampling of Ultherapy on three of my friends that night. All were pain free.
When the whole face is being treated, I can imagine that during the one plus hour treatment, the discomfort may be cumulative. Tami told us some patients prefer a mild sedative during treatment. If that is your preference, you will need to have someone drive you home.
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Ashlea Hess- Certified in Advanced Asthetics
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Ashlea Hoess recently joined the practice to head up their new
Spa Nouevelle. She is certified in chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser treatments. Ashlea is passionate about helping each patient achieve their goals and is an expert at treating rosacea, melasma, spider veins and melasma.
(I recently underwent a three procedures that required zero downtime and some
immediatebenefits. I will share those with you with pictures, in the next day or two. I couldn't be more thrilled with the results!!!)
It was a fun and informative Girls Night Out and I was happy to be able to share my team with my friends and offer them the
"DivaDebbi" discount, 15% off your first procedure or treatment.The N.Y Group for Plastic Surgery treats patients in four location including NYC. You can click on this link for for more
details.
I like to think of my readers as friends too, so if you are interested in consulting with my A team, please call 914-366-6139. If you do book a procedure, please tell them I referred you and they will honor the same discount for you.
Whether it's the
NYGPS or other highly trained, well recommended practitioners, my point to you is don't take chances. There is an art to this artifice. Be smart
and beautiful.
xox,
DD
