Meet Lisa Topham Director of Split Rock Aesthetic Institute



Lisa Topham R.N., BSN
Director of Split Rock Aesthetic Institute
Wilton Ct./Greenwich Ct.
203-831-8029

The Split Rock Aesthetic Institute in Wilton, Ct. first came on my radar when I went there to interview the famed Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Neil Gordon.  The blog I wrote, still stands as one of the more comprehensive articles written about Dr. Gordon, who works under the radar as he deftly resets the clock, on the faces of media elite, film stars and his well heeled patients. (I'm sure if he wanted, Dr. Gordon could star in his own "Botched" reality show. He is also known for 'fixing" the faces of distraught patients of other surgeons.)

The Retreat at Split Rock is where Dr. Gordon operates, in his fully accredited surgical center. Patients can recuperate, in a luxuriously appointed spa and Inn, with round-the-clock medical care and nourished by their acclaimed full time chef.  It is also, harmoniously, where Lisa Topham and her staff work with patienys at the Split Rock Aesthetic Institute.

If it seems counter-intuitive for a surgeon and a premier non-surgical practitioner to share one roof, you are looking at anti-aging beauty as a competition between practices.  It's not.  It's all about you. Your face, your needs, your budget and how far you are willing to go to stay ahead of natural aging.

Going under the knife is not for everyone and lucky for us, Lisa Topham and her staff are utilizing all of the best injectibles, lasers and therapies out there, to work with you on your goals. With 30 years of experience in the field, and the passion and training to know exactly where a long term filler should be placed, does it really make sense to trust your face to a practitioner promoting with a  Group-On offer???

Not to me...

    Logo from Lisa's webpage

    www.Lisatopham.com

Lisa Topham came back on my radar in the last year.  Some of my friends and clients, who share my confidence, were looking fresh, youthful and lifted in a subtle but appealing way.  Long term fillers like Voluma XC, more gradual ones like Sculptra, or quicker fixes like Perlane could be the answer, but was I missing the 411 on something more?  And if so, by whom?

Enter again, Lisa Topham, who in addition to working at the Aesthetic Institute in Wilton, was now seeing patients in Greenwich Ct. at Dr. Gordon's satellite office at 116 Mason St.

It was Lisa who was responsible for the smoother jawlines, wider temples and more open eyes, my own eagle eye was scouting. The 5 year filler Lisa is using with such great success is called Bellafill and it is beloved in Europe.

Lisa, who has always been on the "cutting edge" of the non-cutting edge, was an early convert, training 3 years ago and using it on patients who trust her aesthetic expertise, experience and dedication to helping patients look refreshed and natural.

Since Bellafill lasts up to 5 years, would you risk going to someone, even your most trusted injector, who is newly adding this to their anti-aging arsenal???

I wouldn't...

I attended a seminar at their Mason Street office on November 29th, and was able to see some examples of Lisa's work with Bellafill, Botox and other injectibles with before and after slides. Lisa's team, is also expert in administering Ulthera Treatments (Ultrasound for lifting and tightening), Exilis (Radio frequency which removes fat and tightens skin non-surgically) and the very effective Sciton Laser.

It was interesting to be seated among women of all ages, copiously taking notes.  I get it. It's a lot to process. No matter what your age, whether in your late 30's and looking towards prevention or your late 60's and determined not to have a facelift, Lisa will help you navigate and create a long term plan for your best self.

Having a complimentary consultation with Lisa, is the first step towards getting educated about your face and what can and can't be achieved non-surgically.

I defy you to meet her and not instantly feel comfortable with her warm, engaging manner. Lisa will give you a direct, but kind, assessment of the current state of where your age is showing and how she can best correct it. She understands there are a lot of options to consider and encourages you to think about them before getting started on your next appointment. 

For your complimentary consultation with Lisa Topham in either location, contact her at 203-831-8029. Please tell Lisa you  were referred by DivaDebbi. I would be honored to hear back from you, as I have from people who have worked with Dr. Gordon after reading my blog @ DivaDebbi@gmail.com.

Your face is the one thing you wear everyday...It's not the place to cut corners, like scoring a great Prada knockoff at Zara.  Any physician or dentist can now take courses for a few short hours and start injecting. Be smart.  Be safe...

xox,
DD

Dermaplaning: I finally went under the knife

Julie Pipilo's Dermaplaning Scalpel
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

Julie Pipilo owner of Skin NY
914 -213-5724

I don't know what took me so long to finally meet the fabulous Julie Pipilo, a skilled aesthetician, with over 30 years of experience.  Half the women in my book club are devotees of Julie's and have entrusted her to care for their skin for years.

Elegant and cozy, Skin NY is located in Rye at 269 Purchase Street. More than just a place for facials, Julie has created a comprehensive Beauty and Age Management Center. Every client is treated to her warm, knowing expertise, where customized treatments and long term skincare are discussed to help you reach your skincare goals. As part of Julie's total approach to health and beauty, she also has a team in place, that includes a nutritionist, acupuncturist, a dentist who does teeth whitening, a laser specialist and a Plastic Surgeon who does Botox and fillers.
You can read more about Skin NY here, as well as see a menu of services.

So what did Julie perform on me?  A dermaplaning session. What exactly is dermaplaning?  Dermaplaning is a safe and simple procedure that exfoliates the top layer of skin and "vellus" hair or peach fuzz.

Dermaplaning is not to be confused with dermabrasion, and outdated, aggressive medical procedure that often led to infections and scarring.  Dermaplaning is simply shaving the epidermis with a scalpel, abrading the skin with light, feathering strokes.

There is zero downtime and no adverse effects. It is frequently done in conjunction with facials and peels. Julie can help you determine what is best for you.  Every treatment ends with a firming cocktail of vitamins and collagen. When I got up and looked in the the mirror, I literally squealed with delight!

I swear, Julie removed 5 lbs of skin and 5 years in a half hour.  This is the best $105 you will ever spend. If you are worried about developing a 5:00 shadow, it is for naught. The only hair that will grow back is what was there before, neither thicker or darker.  Julie recommends having this treatment approximately every 5 weeks. It is perfect for people with dry skin, hyperpigmentation or fine lines and wrinkles.

In short, WoWza!

I was so impressed with Julie's boundless knowledge and skilled hands.  We bonded immediately.  I can tell she is as passionate and devoted to her clients as I am to mine, with ouronly agenda being how you can be your best self.

For those of you in NYC, Westchester or Ct. I highly recommend you consult with Julie. She is special and will help you look and feel that way too. If you are interested in dermaplaning, please make sure you find an experienced aesthetician, preferably through the referral of someone you know whose skin looks beautiful.

Here's to a younger looking you and the women like Julie who help us feel good about ourselves...

xox,
DD

Vichy Liftactiv Serum: Luscious Lashes Can Be Yours

$47

I used to have a really great memory for details of all kinds.  Nowadays something really has to resonate with me, like what I ate for breakfast for example, things just seem to fly out of my head.  A few months ago I remembered reading a tweet by my friend Jane Daly who writes the beauty blog The Daly Beauty.

Jane has a particular love of fragrance, old and new, but also covers her fair share of beauty products.  What stood out for me, was her tweet that after using Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10 for Eyes & Lashes her lashes were so lush she had stopped wearing mascara.
Come again??? Yes. That's right.  I tucked this choice tidbit away and never forgot it.

I happened to be in CVS last week, with a 20% off coupon already locked and loaded on to my Beauty Rewards card.  Vichy and La Roche Posay are two of the premium brands that CVS carries. Vichy was running a special as well; $10 off a $30 purchase.

The perfect storm.  I hadn't paid attention to the price, which for CVS and a tiny bottle, packs a fairly hefty price, but I did remember Jane and her lashes, so into my red basket it went.

After just one week of using Liftactive Serum twice a day, I could see my own lashes looking extra long and lush too

Monday I was in Sephora, and Carlos, one of their charming associates, stopped me to inquire about my lash routine.  I told him I have had some great results with Grande Lash MD over the last few months, but the icing was the results I was getting with Vichy Liftactive Serum.

Lashes without mascara using Vichy for one week

Lashes with mascara

Peak results are supposed to kick in after a month, but if  I can see a difference in just a week, I can't wait to see what another three will bring. This of course is not just a product for lashes,  It is also meant to brighten the eye area, reduce wrinkles and firm the skin around the eye. I'll take that on the plus side.

The key ingredient is, "Rhamnose", (though I have not clue one what that is), Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides and Illuminators. It is a highly concentrated product, so just one drop cover both eyes. It is both suitable for sensitive skin and Opthamologist tested.

Since I was one of the 1% minority who had red irritated eyes a good deal of the time when I useGrande Lash MD, I'm hoping to ween to just once or twice a week and fortify my lashes with  Liftactive Serum instead.

Anyway, here's to Jane and remembering all the important things, lush lashes being chief among them...

xox,
DD

Fashion Flash Monday

I am very honored to have been asked to join Fashion Flash, an invitation only consortium of  award winning lifestyle bloggers that write about fashion, beauty, health and fitness, for women over forty.  Collectively, they receive more than 700,000 views a month.   Members include  Best of Everything After Fifty, Fab Over 40, Prime Beauty, Aging Backwards, Menopause Makeover and No-Nonsense beauty Blog.  These bloggers are  all experts in their fields and  bring years of experience and training  to their  always up to date  posts. Fashion Flash bloggers  have written more than 20  books and videos.

Every Monday, one of us hosts a round up of some of our favorite posts.  This week Barbara Hannah Grufferman who writes the fantastic  The Best of Everything after Fifty hosts our posts.

Please click on this link to see what we have been up to.  Topics include:

• a really good product for diffusing tired, puffy eyes
• which super food you should be eating regularly
• sporty chic; how to wear this major trend
• modern manners for modern beauties
• the best primers for your eyes lips and face
• the one exercise you should try to do each and every day 
• a fabulous, affordable facial cleanser                                     

My thanks to the warm welcome from my new friends at Fashion Flash. It's a wonderful opportunity for DivaDebbi to be seen by many more readers and for all of us to learn a new trick or three.

Happy Daylight Saving time everybody!

xox

DD

Review: Beauty Keeper Back Sleeper Pillow

$79.99

"Over time, the "sleep wrinkles" caused by crushing you face, won't disappear once your awake".
Dr. Julia Tzu Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, NYU School of Medicine. Marie Claire, March 2014

My own sleep creases yesterday, without the Beauty Keeper Back Sleeper

I believe you.  That is why when I heard from the creator of the the Beauty Keeper Back Sleeper offering to send me one of their back sleeping pillow to write about, I gratefully accepted.

I'm a burrower, particularly on cold nights and a side sleeper and with all I do during waking hours to keep wrinkles at bay, it seems silly to undo it all while I sleep.

Here's the challenge; old habits die hard. I'm a week or two into my trial and I have only made it through the night once.  On the plus side, my back and neck felt great and my chest and face were indeed creaseless.

I want to keep at it...I need to keep at it.

Here are some more details about the Beauty Keeper Back Sleeper:

The Beautiful Benefits of Sleeping on Your Back:

• Balances out your body weight, keeping your internal organs aligned, preventing neck & back pain.
• Helps prevent cleavage wrinkles on the chest and sleep-lines on the face while relieving pressure on existing wrinkles.
• Beauty products have a chance to penetrate the skin and deliver maximum results without rubbing off on the pillow.
• Prevents oils and dirt from your hair and scalp from coming in contact with your facial skin, clogging pores and causing acne.
• Keeps breast skin from stretching and causing sagging.
• Provides support for healing after surgeries that require back sleep during recovery.
• Helps keep the sinuses clear by preventing compression.

Makes sense, don't you think?  With all we spend on lotions and potions with the hopes of minimizing wrinkles, $79.99 may be more of a sound beauty investment than the priciest of night creams.

I have read reviews from satisfied customers who have managed to break free of their old side and stomach sleeping patterns.  It takes a little time and a lot of tenacity.

I've got both...what about you?

xox,
DD

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to my lovely friend Lisa, who is a partner in Elizabeth Daniel NY, a company that manufactures fantastic cotton stretch blouses that fit  and layer like a dream.  (They also pack pack perfectly.  I never travel without one or two.) On trend for Spring 2014, collared shirts are having a moment, so do check out their fab collection.

Lisa has won my giveaway of Trophy Skin Rejuvaderm MD at home microdermabrasion system! Winners were selected randomly from comments left on both my blogs DivaDebbi and Forever Forty Four, (sorry Sis. Six years in and your still empty handed.  I was rooting for you though.)

It's such a fantastic product.  Originally, I was sent their first system, which is larger, not portable and more expensive. I have used it weekly for nearly a year from head to toe, with fabulous results.

Their new product, Rejuvaderm MD, which Lisa has won, thanks to my generous friends at Trophy Skin is even better, with a diamond tip head for the body and a smaller one for areas like the eye and mouth.  Nicely, it's also priced brilliantly at $199.

I recommend this to absolutely everyone, and at this more affordable price, I urge you to treat yourself to the number one tool in my anti-aging arsenal.

Congrats again Lisa, and thank you to all who participated.  Maybe next time it will be you Sis...

xox,
DD

Mea Culpa: My mistake is your gain

Whoops!!! I forgot to put an end date on my Trophy Skin Rejuvaderm Home Microdermabrasion System giveaway!!!

(http://divadebbi.blogspot.com/2014/02/rejuvaderm-home-microdermabrasion.html

My bad!

To make up for it, I will run the contest for one more day with the contest closing on Friday 21st at 10:00 PM EST.

It's a $199 value and I swear by it, for diminishing fine lines and age spots from head to toe.

Hop to it!

xo
DD