Blog Category- Skin Care

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Beauty is a Matter of Maintenance

It is common for people of a certain age to begin thinking about beauty. Before the signs of aging become prominent, the goal may be to enhance beauty and postpone the onset of lines and wrinkles. No matter how hard we try, though, it is inevitable that the skin and the shape of the face will change over time. To manage the signs of aging well, it is ideal to address the cause of cosmetic aging. And because aging is an ongoing process, its cause has to be addressed over and over again.

We perform hundreds of services in our Denver plastic surgery and medical spa facility each month. New clients that we meet often want to know what results they can expect from “their treatment.” Translation: “what will this one treatment do for me?” Honestly, one treatment will do very little in the long-run. From the perspective of aging being a continual process, our patients can understand that their beauty is a matter of maintenance.

What Happens Beneath the Skin Doesn’t Stay There

To maintain healthy, attractive skin, many people rely on skincare products. Some are purchased from reputable department stores, some from doctor’s offices, and some are DIY. In every one of these scenarios, we find the singular shortcoming of limited penetration. Remembering that we must address the cause of cosmetic aging, we have to look to the dermis, where most skincare products do not go.

The dermis is the deeper layer of skin where fibroblasts live. Fibroblasts are the cells that produce collagen and elastin. These are the proteins that keep skin looking younger. Collagen does so by supporting firmness. Elastin does so by providing the skin with some stretch and bounce. During the first three decades of life, fibroblasts work wonderfully. They produce enough collagen to keep the skin firm and tight and also extra to heal cuts and scrapes as needed. Around age 30, though, fibroblasts lose their vitality. They all but go to sleep for good. Just because fibroblasts slow or stop their production of collagen and elastin does not mean the skin stops using these proteins. In fact, 1 to 2% of collagen and elastin stores get depleted each year. Without sufficient replenishment, the skin begins to show signs of this degradation.

This isn’t all bad news. Because we know what fibroblasts do and we know that they go dormant, we know we need to wake them up. Topical skincare products don’t do this, but professional treatments can. Examples include Halo laser treatment, Forever Young BBL treatment, and microneedling. With each treatment, fibroblasts are stimulated to stay awake for 4 to 6 months. As treatments are repeated, the new activity in these cells promotes smoother, softer, younger-looking skin.

Learn more about the services that will promote healthy collagen and elastin production. Call our Denver office at (303) 839-1616.

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Oh, How Your Skin Loves Peptides!

Natural aging has troubled humans for ages. Throughout many centuries, our ancestors sought both simple and sophisticated ways to keep the skin looking young. Now the responsibility for our cosmetic aging is squarely on our shoulders. This is a good thing. Today, we’ve got high-tech treatments like lasers and light therapies to promote more youthful behavior in the skin cells. We also have surgery if we choose to go that route. Whichever one chooses, there is still a need for quality skincare. Fortunately, we’ve grown by leaps and bounds in that area, too.

Peptides: The Powerful Ingredient Your Skin Needs

Peptides aren’t just potent ingredients in skincare products, they are amino acids that are found in the body. We see them in the skin, as well as the joints and muscles, when vital proteins break down. It’s as if collagen and elastin break down and create the fragments of amino acids we now know as peptides. The reason they are beneficial is clear: peptides are the body’s messengers that generate new collagen and elastin as well as regenerating enzymes.

How Peptides Work

Peptides are complex particles of amino acids; there are several types that the body uses. Copper peptides, for instance, are known for supporting damaged collagen fibers as well as new collagen that is produced. Carrier peptides invite various minerals to a damaged area to fortify new protein fibers. Messenger peptides simply tell the body that collagen and elastin have broken down and that tissue needs repair.

The findings of research are exciting because we now know that we can apply peptides to the skin to stimulate a repair response. Having peptides available in skincare products means that we can ask the body for healthy new collagen and elastin every day. This is a necessity because, as we age, the body doesn’t produce the same amount of these vital proteins as it once did. The lack of protein consistency is the very reason we see lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

In our medspa at Fante Eye and Face Center in Denver, we offer medical-grade skincare products that contain peptides in combination with various other ingredients that promote younger-looking skin. Get to know what your skin needs to look its best. Call (303) 839-1616.

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That Time in the Sun Comes at a Cost

Around this time of year, many of us begin craving long days of lounging in the sunshine. The rays of the sun feel as though they can warm us right down to our bones and, after the long winter we’ve had, that sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Before we make sunbathing the theme of the summer, we should talk about the potential consequences of UV exposure.

You may have heard quite often that you need to wear sunscreen whenever you go outdoors. This can come in the form of a full-on sunscreen or a tinted moisturizer. However it looks in practical use, what we also need to discuss is the reason why sunscreen should be worn. We think it goes beyond the fact that “sunscreen prevents sun damage.” What does it actually mean to sustain sun damage? We want to dive a little deeper into this question.

Consequences of UV Exposure

When we use the term “sun damage,” what we’re saying is that the skin’s ability to maintain vital components like vitamin, hyaluronic acid, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants has been degraded by exposure to UV light. UV light is a form of ultraviolet radiation. According to studies, up to 90 percent of the visible signs of aging one incurs over time is attributed not to biological changes but to ultraviolet light.

Most people know that too much time in the sun can increase their risk of skin cancer. In fact, all it takes is one decent sunburn for this risk to rise. Additionally, UVA and UVB rays contribute to the development of spots on the skin, fine lines and wrinkles, dryness and thinning, and cellular buildup on the epidermis that dulls and roughs-up the surface.

Have a Beautifully Healthy Summer

The first step in long-term beauty is to preserve the natural functions of the skin as much as possible. How do we do this? With daily sunscreen use. In our Denver medical spa, highly-qualified estheticians assist our patients in choosing the skin care products that are right for their current needs. In addition to offering an in-house skin care line professionally developed by Dr. Fante, we carry ZO Skin Health products. For beautifully healthy skin all year long, top priority must be given to broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Protect, Preserve, and Correct

There is immense value in professional skincare services. From products to corrective services like the BBL photo facial, our team has the treatments your skin needs to stay resilient and radiant. Learn more. Schedule your consultation at (303) 839-1616.

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Your Skin Needs Your Attention

Your Skin Needs Your Attention | Fante Eye and Face Centre | Denver, CO Aging is something that a lot of people think about. But thinking isn’t enough. Worrying about those worry lines isn’t enough. To manage great skin from one decade to the next requires attentive action. We’ve all seen those guides that tell us what we should be doing during our twenties, thirties, and beyond. Here, we want to point out a few of the nuances that typically get overlooked, so you can have confidence as you give your skin the attention it needs.

Start Fresh

We like to start fresh with each new day. This may include washing the face with a particular cleanser, toning it, and moisturizing it (hopefully with an SPF moisturizer). This seems like a decent habit to keep; much better than merely splashing water on the skin to wake up a little easier. To start fresh, though, it’s necessary to go deeper. What we see when we look in the mirror is a surface. What we see when we observe the skin under a microscope is up to 20 layers of dead cells on that surface. No wonder there is no radiant glow!

There are several ways to start fresh with your skin, and many reasons you want to do this on a regular basis. Layer upon layer of dead skin cells is not the way to maximize any skincare product. It’s a great way to hide smoothness and vitality, though. Getting a fresh start means getting through this layer. This may mean the occasional chemical peel or microdermabrasion. It may mean a yearly laser treatment. One of our experienced staff can help you determine how to make sure your skin stays fresh.

Promote Youthfulness with Products

Anyone that we meet who is concerned about maintaining youthful skin uses skincare products of some sort. There are so many to choose from that it’s easy to step off-track. Here’s the one thing you need to know: If you want results from your daily skin care routine, you want medical-grade products on your skin. What many people don’t realize is that store-bought products have to be usable by any person without the oversight of a doctor or esthetician. To accomplish this, active ingredients are limited. Where ingredients are limited, very little improvement can occur. Fante Eye & Face Centre provides multiple options for patients, as well as personal care to identify skincare needs.

Schedule a Consultation

The more you know about how to care for your skin, the more you know about maintaining your youthful appearance. To learn more about skin care or to schedule a consultation in our Denver office, call (303) 839-1616.

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Sagging Skin got you Down? Try these Tips!

healthy skin denver | Dr. Fante In the movie It’s Complicated, the lead character, played by Meryl Streep, noticeably struggles with the signs of aging. In one scene, she is seen lifting sagging eyelid skin with a finger. As we sit and watch, this quirky “beauty habit” may cause a giggle. At the same time, for those who have started to experience sagging skin, the problem is no laughing matter. Here, we will offer a few tips on how the elasticity of the skin can be pampered to extend its lifespan.

  1. Remember the sunscreen. UV rays do a great deal of harm to our dwindling collagen, and the depletion of this vital protein doesn’t need any help. Anytime you go outdoors, be sure that your skin is protected with broad-spectrum sunscreen. Talk with your esthetician about products that are best suited to our mountain environment; SPF moisturizer may not be enough to slow the breakdown of collagen in the face of UV damage.
  2. Go to the Tube. There are certain skin care products that encourage collagen rebuilding. Retin-A is an example. Even over-the-counter retinoids can do your skin a lot of good as you face collagen loss. Again, your esthetician can help you determine the product-strength that you need during your current stage of life.
  3. Non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Men and women of all ages are learning that they can manage a youthful appearance even as collagen fibers naturally degrade. One way to do this is with injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers. Some products, including Sculptra, are also capable of encouraging new collagen formation.
  4. While there are several technologies today that tout skin-tightening abilities, none quite measure up to the surgical face lift. Dr. Fante performs full face lifts or endoscopic mid-face lift procedures. Depending on the severity of laxity, a facelift may be maximized by including a neck lift, as well.

We lose skin firmness for several reasons, but most boil down to good old collagen. While science has yet to discover a way to keep collagen strong forever, it has developed systems for minimizing the breakdown of this substance and for mitigating its loss.

Would you like to address sagging skin? Call the Denver office of facial cosmetic surgeon Dr. Fante at (303) 839-1616.

Nearing 40? Here are 4 Beauty Treatments You should be doing!

beauty routine denver co | Fante Eye and Face Centre Ah, the process of aging. It is not something from which we can be liberated. We will all start to notice certain concerns, no matter how fortunate we were in the gene lottery. As we have watched closely how the signs of aging occur, and the timing of them, we have learned one thing: we need to take control. The sooner, the better. If you have yet to master a beauty routine, consider these 4 treatments you may want to implement.

  1. Develop a daily skin care regimen. This sounds easy, but it takes some work. The best way to find the products that will work for you is to know what your skin needs. Also, you must realize that what your skin needs today may not be what it needs a year from now. A consultation at ReDerm MD Medical Spa, associated with our Denver facial plastic surgery office, can lead you in the right direction.
  2. You have heard of Botox, and maybe you’ve even thought about getting your frown lines treated, but something has stopped you. Don’t be afraid to branch out into the land of injectables. Botox has been used safely around the world for well over a decade. The strategic use of this drug will ease wrinkles without making you look frozen. Treatment is fast and virtually painless and beautifully refreshes your face. Results last only 3 to 6 months, so you have little risk and a lot to gain.
  3. The other powerhouse treatment that is common in men and women from their twenties on up is dermal fillers. As you reach the age of 40 and beyond, fillers can be used for everything from lip plumping to smooth out lines around the mouth to the treatment of under eye bags. If you fear that you will not like the way you look, ask about hyaluronic acid products. If necessary for any reason, this treatment can be reversed.
  4. Laser treatments are excellent for everything from hair removal to skin resurfacing. BBL or broad-band light treatments have been shown to directly slow the aging process in the skin, and a laser is even used to treat visible veins on the face, legs, or another area.

As we age, there will be signs. This is ok, but you want to know how to manage your appearance when the time comes. To explore your options, call Fante Eye & Face Centre at (303) 839-1616.

Don’t Fall for the Idea that the Fall Season Won’t Harm your Skin

skin care denver co | Fante Eye and Face Centre In our beautiful part of the country, there is no way to ignore the dance of Autumn. Fall is one of those times of year when we are treated to changing colors and scenery; cooler air but not so cold we just want to stay indoors. With all the joys of the season, and the impending hussle and bustle of the Winter holidays, it can be easy to forget how important it is to revamp your skin care routine.

Cool means dry, and you know what that means
A change from the warm summer weather can mean more time outdoors. It can also mean more time in hot showers, the jacuzzi, and more time in the house with a heater running. The air is dryer in the cool-weather months, and piling on the comforting heat can only exacerbate the damage that dryness can do to the skin.

Hands may get chapped (and the lips, too), and the skin on the arms and legs may start to look scaly or bumpy, and may begin to itch. These are all signs that your skin care needs to change. One way to soothe irritated skin is to reach for a thicker moisturizer. Think body butter instead of lotion. While you’re at it, though, remember that scented products may contain alcohol, and alcohol will dry the skin.

Beware that Sunburn!
Research suggests that there is actually a higher risk for sunburn during the Fall months. This makes a lot of sense, too. We naturally equate warm weather with sunburn risk. So, naturally, when the weather cools down, we may feel safe hitting the hills for biking and hiking without the protection of sunscreen. This is where we put ourselves at risk. A kinder climate can be deceiving. Make sure you continue your use of sunscreen anytime you are outside.

Direct Effects of Cool Air
Our skin is very responsive to environmental factors, climate being one of them. Warm weather opens up the pores in the skin and encourages oil production. Cool weather does the opposite; it causes the pores to close up and blood flow to constrict. This reaction to cooler air could mean that cellular turnover slows down, and you lose that beautiful glow.

In addition to using pampering skin care products that are appropriate for the season, you can visit our Denver office or Medspa for refreshing treatments that nourish your skin. Call (303) 839-1616.

Why your skin is Aging, and What you can do about it

Skin Aging | Denver CO When we are young, we do not know enough to treasure the natural asset that is our skin. This brings to mind that old saying “beauty is wasted on the young.” The outermost tissue on the body is protective in nature, and it is also something that, once we are older, we may start to mourn. Youthful skin looks supple and taught, even in tone and texture. Why? Because it is supported by a sea of collagen.

Collagen is a vital chemical in the body, not only for our skin, but also for our teeth, ligaments, bones, and more. There is no way to “put collagen in;” it must be synthesized from within. You may see topical products that market themselves for collagen, but the truth is that collagen particles are simply too large to penetrate the epidermis.

It isn’t only collagen that holds up our skin. Elastin and collagen work hand in hand, one maintaining firmness, and the other supporting elasticity. There are also amino sugars called as Glycosaminoglycans, or GAGs, that keep the space between collagen and elastin fibers plump with moisture.

The Consequence of Aging
With age, we notice unwanted changes in the skin. These changes come from two factors:

  • Intrinsic Aging is something over which we have no control. We may suffer very little from intrinsic aging if we are a winner in the genetic lottery, but most of us are not so lucky. The skin actually begins to age in our 20s, when the production of collagen decreases by 1% each year from here on out. Along with a drop in collagen comes the depletion of elastin and GAGs. This may seem very concerning. Would you be surprised to know, though, that this is not the primary reason we get wrinkles?
  • Extrinsic Aging can be a bit of good news. We can control this process, which means we have substantial control over the development of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and other concerns. As you can guess, extrinsic aging is an external event. It is related to exposure. Exposure to the sun or other UV light, to chemicals, smoke, pollution, and more. When this type of aging breaks down connective tissues, we notice freckles, spots, thickening, rough texture, and more. The more we are exposed, the worse our skin looks.

There are so many ways to pamper the skin as it ages. Obviously, taking good care to avoid sun exposure and other external factors is advantageous. Professional care can also help. Call Fante Eye & Face Centre to see how.

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