DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS FROM A COMBINATION OF TREATMENTS?

As we age, our skin begins to show the wear and tear of time. Age spots, fine lines and wrinkles seem to appear overnight, the texture of our skin changes and the colour appears more uneven. These changes are all caused by environmental factors such as sun exposure, lack of sleep, smoking and alcohol consumption. Many of us don’t think about caring for or protecting our skin in our youth and thus we don’t know what to do once ageing sets in. There is something you can do and studies have shown that a combination of treatments can achieve better results in your anti-ageing war!

At Assure Medispa, we a full range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments including:

• Beau Visage TM skin imaging
• Wrinkle Relaxers and Dermal Fillers
• Skin Tightening
• Pulsed Light Treatment (IPL) for skin rejuvenation and permanent hair reduction
• Chemical Peel and Medi-facials
• Medical Skin Needling
• Microdermabrasion
• Photonlite Therapy (LED)
• Medical-grade skincare products
• Pharmaceutical grade Glo Minerals TM Makeup

We believe every person is different and has unique needs. Everyone is bothered by one aspect or another of their appearance, and we all have different skin. That is why we approach each client differently and devise a skincare prescription and combination treatment Medi-Plan specific to individual needs.

As a client at Assure Medispa, your initial appointment will be with a trained Medical Aesthetician, your skin will be analysed and photos taken. We will then discuss the different treatments or combination of treatments most likely to achieve the results you want.

What do we mean by combination treatment plan?
Studies have shown that a combination of treatments is more effective than having one treatment alone. Because our treatments are designed to treat specific concerns, with a combination plan, we can not only address your concerns but also work with you towards maintenance and protection from further damage.

For example, mature skin has lines and wrinkles as well as age spots and broken capillaries: we can address all of these concerns. Lines and wrinkles occur due to dehydration, sun damage and the fact that the skin loses collagen and elastin as it ages. Age spots are predominantly caused by sun damage, but may also occur as a result of hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy and menopause. By addressing the symptoms alone with only one form of treatment, you limit the results and the longevity of the results. Instead, we can combine treatments to address both the symptoms and the cause.

What treatments would we suggest?
After analysing your skin, we would suggest a homecare regime using medical grade skincare to prepare the skin for treatments. This will make the skin, healthier, thicker and acclimatise it to the different products to be used in the treatments. This limits the risk of adverse reactions or complications during the treatment and prolongs the treatment results. We would also suggest a physical sunblock to be used daily to protect your skin from any further damage.

To address fine lines and wrinkles, we might suggest a course of chemical peels or Medical Skin Needling specific to your skin type. By exfoliating the epidermis and allowing penetration of active ingredients into the dermis, we can thicken the skin and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. This will improve the health of your skin, increase the production of collagen and elastin, and also improve the texture and overall colour. We could also suggest wrinkle relaxants and dermal fillers. Our Registered Nurses are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding these.

To get rid of age spots, we might suggest a course of IPL Photorejuvenation. The LimeLight Facial is a new, non-invasive approach to IPL skin rejuvenation using Cutera’s LimeLight technology. The procedure offers the advantage of improving skin tone and the surface imperfections associated with aging and photodamage. Generally, you would need about 3 treatments but your age spots and broken capillaries will begin to fade after each treatment until they are a thing of the past!

If you have looseness of skin around the jowls and neck, we might recommend a course of Titan Skin Tightening treatments.

By combining treatments, we can address the cause of your skin concerns and also aid in improving your skin’s overall health so it is protected from further damage. Your Medical Aesthetician will also talk to you about maintaining your new look – all part of creating a Medi-Plan that works for you. This would include products to use at home.
You can win the anti-ageing war and create a new look for yourself which is more youthful and radiant.

Call Assure Medispa on 08 9380 0380 to book your initial free appointment.

DID YOU KNOW... THAT IPL FACIAL REJUVENATION CAN GET RID OF FRECKLES AND AGE SPOTS AS WELL AS UNWANTED FACIAL VEINS AND BROKEN CAPILLIARIES?

Environmental damage is extremely common in aging skin, even more so in Australia where our environment is harsh and we spend a large amount of time outdoors. IPL skin rejuvenation can reduce the amount of damage visible on your skin. Cutera LimeLight Facial can reduce the number of freckles, age spots and facial veins in as little as 3 sessions.

Cutera LimeLight Facial™ is a non-invasive approach to IPL skin rejuvenation using Cutera’s LimeLight technology. The procedure improves skin tone and reduces surface imperfections associated with aging and photodamage.

Where is it used?
Cutera LimeLight Facial™ is ideal for any part of your face, neck and décolletage with skin redness, telangiectasia (tiny veins) or brown spots. Light (low contrast) brown spots, which were previously difficult to treat, respond very well to treatment with little or no down time associated. In fact, it can also be used to treat the back of your hands and your arms or shoulders – anywhere you have brown or red spots.

Your Cutera LimeLight Facial™ will be customized to your skin type so that the brown and/or red pigmented areas on your skin are selectively treated.

What does it feel like?
When the pulse of light is delivered to your skin, you will experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation, similar to being flicked by a rubber band. Gel is applied to cool the skin before vascular treatments. Anaesthesia or other pain medicine is not required. Treatment time depends on the area of the body being treated, however, most treatments take less than an hour.
Generally, a series of three treatments is sufficient to see results. Additional treatments may be recommended, especially for excessively sun-damaged skin.

After treatment…
Immediately following treatment, treated brown spots will start to darken like coffee granules and your skin may appear slightly red. The treated area may also be mildly swollen, similar to sun-burn. This typically lasts a few hours and possibly a day or longer. Mineral make-up such as Glo Minerals™ can be applied to cover the redness.
In one to three weeks, the darkened spots will flake off and fade. Diffuse redness or facial veins and broken capillaries will decrease and your mottled complexion will improve. Rosacea is chronic and cannot be “cured” with any laser or light source, however, its appearance can be improved.

How do I arrange my appointment?
At Assure Medispa, before any IPL Skin Rejuvenation, you will meet with a trained Medical Aesthetician to discuss your concerns. You will also have a complimentary skin analysis using Beau Visage Skin Imaging so that your skin is thoroughly analysed before treatment begins. At this time, appropriate homecare products will be recommended so that the skin is prepared and healthier prior to treatment.

As we age, the dermis or second layer of the skin becomes thinner. An appropriate home care regime prior to your Cutera LimeLight Facial™ will thicken the dermis and hydrate the skin prior to treatment, giving better results and fewer complications.

All clients will also undergo a test patch to the area being treated 48-72 hours prior to treatment so that the appropriate settings can be ascertained. It is crucial that a setting be used that is high enough to achieve the desired results but not high enough to adversely affect the surface of the skin. By doing this, the team at Assure Medispa consistently achieves excellent results and ensures your safety at all times.

Do you hate your brown spots and facial redness? Do you want to improve the appearance of your skin and improve the texture and colour? Call the team at Assure Medispa on 08 9380 0380 to schedule your free appointment during which you can discuss your concerns.

You can make age spots a thing of the past!

DID YOU KNOW... THAT THERE IS LITTLE OR NO DOWNTIME ASSOCIATED WITH CHEMICAL PEELS?

The word “chemical peel” refers to a range of treatments from low level glycolic peels to deep chemical peels, including phenol peels, which cause the top of the skin to be completely removed. The basic principle of a chemical peel is the deeper the peel, the better the result. The deeper the peel is, however, the longer the downtime. Phenol peels, which are only performed by a doctor, take all the pigment from the skin and involve wound care and several weeks of downtime. This reason, together with the potential side effects of infection and scarring, means they are rarely used today.

At Assure Medispa, we offer a variety of chemical peels ranging from superficial to medium depth dermal peels. We believe results similar to those of a deep peel can be achieved through a course of less invasive, safer treatments which have little or no downtime and minimal side effects.

Your personal Medi-Plan

All clients receive a complimentary consultation to discuss their needs and expectations, during which a skin analysis is conducted using a state-of-the-art skin imaging system: Beau Visage™. A customised “Medi-Plan” is then designed, recommending a treatment regime matched precisely to your individual needs. This may include a course of peels, however, it may also include a combination of treatments and homecare products which will provide better results.

We believe that preparation of the skin is crucial to achieving maximum results. This is done by using specific products at home prior to undergoing the treatments. We can then more precisely predict the outcome and limit the possibility of adverse reactions. The skin is healthier, more hydrated and acclimatised to the ingredients we will use, allowing a better result from the treatment.

Chemical peels are extremely popular, non-invasive cosmetic treatments which can have a dramatic effect on your appearance. There are many types of chemical peels, however, they all basically work by applying an acid to your skin to cause the superficial layers to shed and more youthful, radiant skin to grow in its place.

Peels can be also used to bring about change within the skin by infusing active pharmaceutical grade ingredients into the dermis, thereby changing the skin’s structure and improving the appearance. Examples include medium depth Vitamin A peels.

Vitamin A or retinoic acid has been proven to change the DNA of a cell. A cell has a memory and each time it regenerates, the cell remains the same. As we age, our cells are damaged by chronological and environmental factors such as sun exposure, alcohol consumption, smoking etc. All these factors can cause the dermis (the second layer of the skin) to become thinner. Thinner skin sags due to loss of elasticity, has an increased appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and open pores, and gives the more “gaunt” appearance we all hate! Vitamin A can aid in thickening the dermis, making the skin plumper and more rejuvenated, and it can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can also aid in breaking down pigmentation and sunspots, giving your skin a more even tone, leaving it looking fresher and more radiant.

Other types of peels include glycolic acid, salicylic acid, jessner’s peels, lactic acid, Deep Sea peels, trichloracetic acid, and a combination of these ingredients. Depending on your skin condition or concern, the appropriate peel or a combination of peels may be recommended.

Your chemical peel treatment will most likely take between 30 and 45 minutes. The peel will be applied to the skin for between 1 and 15 minutes, depending on the peel and the number of treatments you have already had. If your skin is prepared properly at home prior to the treatment you should feel only a mild tingling during the treatment. No pain relief is required pre- or post-treatment and generally there is little to no redness afterwards. Any redness which may occur will be short-lived and can be covered with mineral based makeup such as Glo Minerals™. Your Medical Aesthetician can apply this for you and no one need know what you have just had done!

Generally, there is a small amount of skin shedding about day 4-5 after the treatment which is a bit like dandruff on the face. It can be removed by using an enzyme mask which will be recommended for you at the time of your treatment. Some peels may require you to use a few different products for a week after the treatment. This is so the skin can heal and become normalised before applying the active ingredients again - commencing the preparation of the skin for the next treatment. All this will be explained to you, and written down as part of your Medi-Plan.

Gone are the days where it took weeks for the skin to heal after a chemical peel. At Assure Medispa, we work with only the most superior products; clinically backed by science. There has never been a better time to improve the appearance of your skin.

Did you know …. there is a sunscreen that you can wear underneath your makeup?

Until recently, there hasn’t been a sunscreen able to provide substantial protection without turning the skin white. Chemical sunscreens purchased from chemists or supermarkets and SPF makeup protect against UVB rays only and, at best, offer only about 50-55% protection. As well as offering no protection at all against UVA, they also can be highly irritating and too greasy to wear underneath makeup. So, how can we help?

SkinCeuticals™ and Results Rx™ have formulated sunscreens which not only protect against both UVA and UVB but are non-greasy, won’t turn your skin white and can be worn alone or underneath your usual makeup. At Assure Medispa, we will comprehensively assess your skin at no charge and advise on which product would be best for you.

Technology improves...

DID YOU KNOW THAT BEAU VISAGE™ CAN SEE 2MM BELOW THE SKIN?

Beau VisageTM is a medically proven skin imaging and consultation system. Beau VisageTM is the only technology which can actually see up to 2mm below the surface of your skin to generate images of the blood supply, melanin (pigmentation) and sun damage to your face. This is called chromophore mapping.

What is chromophore mapping?
A youthful appearance is influenced by the amount and distribution of chromophores in the skin. Everyone’s skin is made up of chromophores, which are light absorbing molecules. Beau Visage™ is unique in that it enables you to look at three of the skin’s chromophores: blood, melanin and collagen. Blood is the chromophore that directly influences redness in your skin. When your skin is irritated it gets red. Weather, the sun and alcohol consumption can also affect blood distribution in your face, and of course the genetic makeup of your skin will have impact on how you look.

The second chromophore to affect the way you look is melanin or pigment. Melanin is produced to help your skin protect itself from photo-damage caused by sunlight. That’s why you tan after a spell in the sun. As you age, and depending on your lifestyle, you may get freckles and age spots resulting from exposure to the sun. Uneven distribution of blood and melanin means you have uneven distribution of chromophores, which in turn makes your skin tone uneven or blotchy.

The third chromophore that affects the way you look is collagen. Collagen is the scaffolding in your skin. It also gives the elasticity — like a rubber band. When you are young, your collagen is strong and dense which also means that light reflects from the surface of your skin giving skin the luminous quality associated with a youthful appearance. As we age, the scaffolding breaks down meaning light is not so well reflected and our skin takes on a dull appearance.

For a long time, the beauty industry has focussed on wrinkles as the indicator of age and, therefore, on procedures to remove them to bring back a youthful appearance. Scientists have shown that facial skin colour distribution, or tone, can affect estimates of a person’s age by as much as 20 years. Tone variances can be caused by several factors including cumulative UV damage (freckles, moles, age spots) natural aging (yellowing, dullness) and skin vascularisation (redness). Not surprisingly, the study hinted at a positive correlation between the amount of accumulated photo-damage and the amount of uneven skin tone. So one way to make yourself look younger is to even out your complexion. Beau Visage™ can help you plan to do that

Beau Visage™ really does let you see more of your skin. 
A Beau Visage™ consultation means you can benefit from an accurate analysis of the true health of your skin, understand why your skin appears the way it does, and allow your Medical Aesthetician to target treatments even more effectively. In addition, Beau VisageTM allows you to compare and monitor your progress over time, giving you confidence that your treatment is working. At Assure Medispa, we design a customized Medi-Plan unique to you which could include a course of treatments or a combination of treatments. It also includes a skincare regime for you to use at home to maintain your results.

Why does the depth matter? 
Beau Visage™ is based on the science of SIAscopy, the only medically proven technology able to see up to 2mm beneath the surface of your skin. At 2mm beneath the surface, you are able to see the important components of the skin that affect skin tone-blood and melanin. By looking at the depth with Beau VisageTM, your Medical Aesthetician can identify underlying problems in your facial skin health that may not be visible to the naked eye. Early treatment may then prevent these from appearing on the skin’s surface resulting in a fresher more youthful skin.

What will actually happen when I have my Beau Visage™ consultation? 
Your Medical Aesthetician will simply take 3 images of your face – left profile, full face, right profile – using a specifically configured camera system linked to the unique Beau Visage™ software. The patented intelligent software analyses the images to produce your blood, melanin and sun damage views.

What can the Medical Aesthetician see? 
Beau Visage is the only system which lets you see separate images of blood and melanin. This means you can confidently and accurately identify any imbalances in either of these. In addition, your Medical Aesthetician will be able to see a view of overall sun damage to your face. Based on these images and any other analysis your Medical Aesthetician does using Beau VisageTM , a customized Medi-Plan can then be recommended.

How does this help? 
When analyzing the blood supply to your face, your Medical Aesthetician can easily target problems like broken veins, rosacea and acne scars. By being able to see the melanin separately from this, they can also identify and treat problem areas such as excessive pigmentation, age spots etc. This means your treatment can be targeted to your specific requirements so that you can achieve the results you want.

Can my Medical Aesthetician show this to me?
Absolutely! You are able to see your own face on the screen, which really helps you to understand the reasons for treatment and skincare product recommendations.

What is my skin age score? 
Once your initial sub-surface images have been captured, your Medical Aesthetician may perform a Skin Age score. The Skin Age score has been developed to show how healthy your skin is compared to your chronological age. It is particularly important in illustrating how areas of your face age due to environmental and lifestyle factors.

Will my Medical Aesthetician show me the changes to my face after the treatments?
Of course. Using the Beau Visage™ Beauty Timeline, your Medical Aesthetician can provide you with objective proof that your treatment is working. By capturing new images at stages during your treatment program, the Beauty Timeline stores these in your personal record and they can then be compared in a “before and after” format on screen.

What if I forget what my Medical Aesthetician recommends?
With such a detailed and customised analysis of your facial skin health, it is difficult to remember everything! At the end of your consultation, your Medical Aesthetician will give you your own report to take home – it will detail everything you have discussed, including your unique Medi-Plan

Is Beau Visage™ safe for everyone to use?
Beau Visage™ is a completely painless and harmless procedure. SIAscopy is not harmful and has been used by skin experts and GPs for a number of years for the detection and analysis of skin cancer, or malignant melanoma. You may have come across SIAscopy before if you have had your moles scanned by a doctor using a SIAscope.

The light used by SIAscopy is normal light produced by the flash of the non-contact camera plus infrared light which is less intense than that of a TV remote control; it is therefore completely safe. No other aesthetic device uses SIAscopy. SIAscopy is the only technology that can measure blood, melanin and collagen “in-situ”, which means NOT taking a biopsy.