November 2018

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Hormone Shifts and Weight Gain

One of the common complaints that we hear from patients is that they have encountered more difficulty maintaining a healthy weight as they have aged. Studies have confirmed that women may gain weight more easily during the years leading up to menopause. After menopause, this may not change much. What one study has shown is that declining estrogen levels first cause fat to distribute unevenly to the subcutaneous tissue in the buttocks, legs, and arms. Interestingly, in men, the reverse may happen. With age, a man’s testosterone levels dip and, as a result, his estrogen levels increase, leading to fat in areas it doesn’t belong.

Hormones are Just the First Step to Weight Gain

When we are young, our resting metabolic rate tends to be higher; we burn more fat without doing a thing. When we reach mid-life and those hormones start to wobble, so will the scale. This is because the body needs to put in more effort to burn calories. You may be eating the same way you always have, but your body will naturally hold more fat due to decreased resting metabolic rate.

Other contributing factors to weight gain that are also associated with hormones include the increase in cortisol levels that coincide with the stress of daily life, the lack of sleep that seems to be the new norm, and the lack of motivation to exercise that stems from sleep deprivation.

Fat is Not Uncommon, and it’s Also Not Healthy

The issue with the fat that might pile on during mid-life is not only that it can make you feel self-conscious and frustrated, but that it can also increase your risk of several health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

At the heart of these health risks is belly fat known as visceral fat. This is the fatty tissue that accumulates beneath the subcutaneous fat that makes a muffin top. Visceral fat surrounds organs and is associated with systemic inflammation, and it needs to go.

Gaining Control of Your Health May Begin with a Simple Cosmetic Treatment

We are pleased to offer CoolSculpting treatment to our Denver patients in a comfortable, friendly environment. CoolSculpting continues to receive praise for its efficiency and optimal outcomes. While this fat-freezing body-contouring treatment is not designed to reduce visceral fat, it does eliminate the overlying subcutaneous fat that diminishes your appearance. As a result of non-surgical body sculpting, many people find their motivation to exercise and eat well to maintain their results; and this can lead to the all-important reduction in visceral fat.

Look better, feel better, live better. Contact us at (303) 839-1616 to schedule your CoolSculpting treatment.

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If You’re Over 40, You Need to Know About Microneedling

When we consult with patients over 40, we hear a number of different concerns. For some, it is age spots or old scarring. For others, it is the looseness of their skin that bothers them most. Across the board, what our patients are seeking is younger looking skin. There are several ways to achieve this, and many do not involve facial plastic surgery. When we’re dealing with aging skin, the name of the game is collagen induction. To promote healthy new collagen, we may recommend microneedling.

What is Microneedling?

You may have heard the term microneedling since this technique has been around for a few years now. Essentially, microneedling is a procedure through which hundreds of tiny channels are created in the skin. We call these micro-wounds. As soon as these subtle injuries are made in the skin, the body begins the repair process. This involves dissolving tissue now perceived as damaged and replacing it with healthy new collagen and extracellular matrix.

Dermal rolling is a form of microneedling. This technique can be performed at home several times a week. This method, however, may be more uncomfortable and less efficient. Dermal rolling is done by rolling a needle-clad drum over the skin. No numbing medication, just good old-fashioned gumption to tolerate the pain. Dermal rollers also have only one needle depth, which diminishes the overall effect of the treatment.

Professional microneedling conducted in the med spa in our Denver practice involves numbing cream, which is applied to the skin about 30 minutes before treatment begins. The micro-channels that are created with our SkinPen ® are not only automated to penetrate in a vertical fashion but also adjustable. Needle depth can vary from 0.5 to 3.0 mm beneath the skin, maximizing both comfort and outcome.

What Microneedling does for Your Skin

Because the direct effect of microneedling is an influx of collagen and elastin, this one method of skin care can do an awful lot. Results of microneedling include:

  • Scars fade away over time
  • Stretch marks become less visible
  • Skin feels softer and looks smoother
  • A radiant glow stems from increased circulation to the skin
  • Collagen remodeling reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Skin regains firmness and resilience

Microneedling is not a one-time treatment. Patients who want to obtain the most dramatic results from microneedling begin with a series of 3 to 5 treatments scheduled weeks apart. After this time, touch-ups can be repeated once or twice a year to maintain healthy collagen.

Do you want to glow this holiday season? Schedule your microneedling treatment in our Denver office now. Contact us at (303) 839-1616.

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