Dr. Ric Izquierdo member for 34 weeks 6 days Send a message

There’s so much aesthetic medicine information out there that it’s sometimes difficult to separate the shaft from the grain. A week doesn’t go by that one of the local nightly newscasts doesn’t have a segment on a new wrinkle reducer, fat dissolver treatment, or a “non-surgical” facelift. Most of these methods are available. Most of these methods have some research data to support their claims. Most of these methods also have reasonable effectiveness. The question that begs to be answered is: Will this treatment treat my specific issue with any success?

Many times I see patients who come for consultation expecting to have a certain procedure or treatment, and I tell them that they would be better served by something totally different. In this day and age, it’s important that your physician understand specifically what bothers you so a plan can be formulated for the most efficacious option with the least downtime. Understanding your desires and translating them to a good result requires not only precise deciphering of your concerns, but also what results you expect. Trusting your physician’s opinion is just as important. It’s a two-way street. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or get more than one opinion. Trust your intuition and what makes sense to you. If it sounds too good to be true…….

Advanced skin care, wrinkle fillers and lasers, and Botox are all over the news. Women often have a skin care regimen for maintenance and to minimize the signs of aging. Our practice has a specialized skin care team of medical aestheticians and registered nurses that is truly focused on keeping those creeping signs of “advancing maturity” at bay. A complimentary skin evaluation is performed to determine skin type and problem areas. We start with basic principles of hydration/moisturizing and sun block. Treatment options may include advanced peels with or without a Vibraderm treatment, which uses vibrating paddles to remove the upper dry layer of skin. This has replaced microdermabrasion (and it’s sandy particles) in our practice. A more intensive treatment is Dermaplaning which uses a blade to scrape the top layer off (no pain, no bleeding) and really gets down to a fresh, soft layer of skin. The results, of course, are to leave a fresh, glowing skin reminiscent of earlier years.

Daily maintenance with skin products will keep your skin at it’s best between treatments. Our staff evaluates what you currently use, which may be very appropriate for your skin and condition. At times, we may suggest changes or slight modifications that are targeted for problem areas or conditions. We carry three different product lines which can be used in combination to customize your skin maintenance. Since everyone’s skin reacts differently, the flexibility afforded by these lines can be used for your advantage. Vivité by Allergan (makers of Botox), M.D. Forté, and Prevage have excellent and complimentary products.

Next time we’ll discuss wrinkle fillers and lasers.

Ricardo Izquierdo, M.D., FACS
Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon
ric.izquierdo@faceandbodychicago.com