Blog - Rao Dermatology

Dermal Fillers

Sometimes we look in the mirror and are suddenly alarmed by what we see, as though we suddenly aged overnight! As the years go by, our skin’s appearance becomes more and more impacted by our environments which may result in fine lines, deep creases, hollows under our eyes, more noticeable acne and chicken pox scars, thinner lips, or gauntness in our temples and cheeks.

Our skin loses its elasticity, its fullness, and its suppleness because as we age, our skin gradually loses hyaluronic acid and collagen which is what gives our skin that youthful look.

Many people try to reduce the impacts of aging with skin care products and while a skin care routine with cutting edge products can make a big difference, it has a limited impact on age, facial muscles, gauntness, or sun damage.

While neuromodulators may be an effective option, dermal fillers offer a different approach that may be used instead of, or in combination with, neuromodulators.

What are Dermal Fillers and What Do They Do?

Dermal fillers are a cost-effective, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure for adding volume to the skin by filling in gaunt areas and removing wrinkles and lines. Dermal fillers can contain natural or synthetic materials and are injected to create volume and fullness, perking up your face and restoring its youthfulness. Unlike neuromodulators, which work with the face’s muscles, dermal fillers plump and smooth the skin.

Natural fillers like hyaluronic acid, which our bodies produce, provide immediate results which can last anywhere from three to 18 months (sometimes as long as two years). Like the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid, the fillers eventually break down, so follow-up treatments to maintain the effects are key. Natural fillers may not last as long synthetic fillers, but the risk of allergic reactions is significantly lower.

Synthetic fillers are semi-permanent; if your lines and wrinkles return, it’s due to continued aging or sun damage rather than a dissipation of the filler. Ensuring that the effects are long lasting means wearing sunscreen daily and taking special care of your skin.

Our Dermal Fillers

At Rao Dermatology, we use both natural and synthetic fillers selected by our doctor’s and that produce superior results in combination with our skill, technique, experience, and training. We offer Juvederm®, Restylane®, Revanesse, and RADIESSE®. Our doctor’s will select the dermal filler best suited to your skin and your risk tolerance, but here is an overview of each dermal filler product.

Juvederm®

A natural filler, Juvederm® is an injectable gel dermal filler that uses hyaluronic acid to subtly restore fullness, reduce lines and wrinkles, and plump up lips. The injectable contains some lidocaine to reduce discomfort during treatment. Juvederm® produces subtle, natural results that enhance your look and it lasts between one and two years. One of the most commonly used fillers, Juvederm® has a superior history of producing great results with minimal side effects.

Restylane®

Another natural filler using hyaluronic acid, Restylane® provides two decades of innovative research and development to offer a wide variety of gel types that provide varying degrees of fullness and firmness meaning that we can tailor your dermal filler treatment to suit your facial rejuvenation needs.

Revanesse®

A synthetic filler, the Revanesse line uses Thixofix cross-linking technology which slows down the breakdown of hyaluronic acid, making it more durable, longer-lasting, and that stimulates new collagen production in your skin.

RADIESSE®

Another synthetic filler, RADIESSE® is made of Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres that are suspended in a gel and works by providing immediate volume while also continuing to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production. RADIESSE® lasts a year or more and the CaHA microspheres are metabolized by your body, leaving behind only the natural collagen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of our frequently asked questions about dermal fillers, but if you have concerns that aren’t addressed here, please feel free to contact us.

Do dermal fillers hurt? How long does the procedure take?

We use a very fine needle to inject your dermal filler into your skin, meaning that there will be some minor discomfort. The procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of areas we are treating. Some dermal fillers also include lidocaine to reduce discomfort.

How soon will I see results?

The results from dermal fillers are instantaneous and will last anywhere from three months to two years depending on your skin and the filler used. The results aren’t permanent, so you will eventually need follow-up appointments to maintain the effects.

What happens if I don’t continue treatment?

If you don’t continue treatment, your symptoms lines and wrinkles, thinness or gauntness, hollows and creases will gradually return.

Are dermal fillers expensive?

Exact costs vary depending upon individual treatment plans, the dermal fillers used, and the amount of filler injected. We’ll advise you of the costs for your treatment at your consultation.

Are there any potential side effects from dermal filler injections?

After the injections, you will likely experience some tenderness and temporary bruising or swelling. You may experience redness, swelling, itching, stinging, pain, pressure, or rashes for up to a week after treatment.

Am I a good candidate for dermal fillers?

If you are between the ages of 18 and 65 years old and have great overall health, you are most likely a good candidate for dermal fillers, but the best determinant is a consultation at our Edmonton Dermatology Clinic. Fill in the form below to set up your consultation.

Neuromodulators: Get Facts on the Cosmetic Procedure

Aging has a way of creeping up on us. It starts with faint smile creases, forehead lines, or crinkles at the corners of your eyes. Those wrinkles in your skin are a result of smiling, frowning, laughing, and squinting over the years; though smoking, sun damage, dehydration, and some medications can cause wrinkles as well.

We can help to smooth those lines out, for both men and women, by addressing the root of the problem: your facial muscles. By injecting a neuromodulator (botulinum toxin type A) beneath the surface of your skin, we can reduce the muscle contractions in your face, ultimately smoothing those creases and softening those lines, bringing back your youthful skin.

While this neuromodulator is best known for its use in cosmetic enhancement, it’s also an important therapy for non-cosmetic applications in the treatment of pain disorders like chronic migraine and medical conditions like hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).

Reduce Migraine Frequency

If you suffer from migraines, you know they are far worse than just a headache. An estimated 2.7 million Canadians suffer from migraine, a debilitating condition characterized by intense, pulsating head pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and smells.

While there is no cure for migraine, neuromodulator treatments can prevent up to nine migraine days per month with quarterly injections, vastly improving your quality of life.

Lessen Excessive Sweating

While approximately 950,000 Canadians suffer from excessive sweating, few realize that it’s a treatable medical condition. Hyperhidrosis is an excessive sweating disorder that impacts confidence, social comfort, emotional wellbeing, and even clothing choices. Sufferers can experience intense sweating in more than just their underarms, they can also sweat profusely from their hands and feet as well as their head and face.

When other treatments aren’t working, neuromodulator injections can result in an 82-87% decrease in sweating by blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands.

Frequently Asked Questions

While this neuromodulator is very popular, you might not understand how it works, how it’s used or what to expect. Below are some of our frequently asked questions, but if you have concerns that aren’t addressed here, please feel free to contact us.

What are neuromodulators and how do they work?

This neuromodulator (botulinum toxin type A) is a drug made from a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. Interestingly, this toxin can cause a muscle paralysis called botulism (usually connected to food poisoning). But even though botulism can cause paralysis, scientists have weakened this toxin to cause controlled muscle relaxation. This neuromodulator was approved by the FDA in the 80s when scientists discovered it could stop uncontrolled blinking and lazy eye.

Since then, dermatologists have used it to treat wrinkles, excessive sweating, and chronic migraine. This neuromodulator works by blocking nerve signals from reaching the muscles, preventing them from tightening forcefully, which causes the muscles to relax and the creases in the skin to soften. Don’t worry though, this neuromodulator is safely used the world over, with over 6 million treatments performed annually.

Does This Neuromodulator hurt? How long does it take?

Because this neuromodulator is injected using fine needles, it causes minor discomfort, like a pinch. Some patients will experience tenderness near the injection sites. You know your body best, if you anticipate discomfort, let your dermatologist know; we can recommend a numbing cream or ice to soothe the area. Typically, your face may feel taut and you will have some minor bruising and swelling, but it will disappear after 24 hours.

Overall, the neuromodulator injections are quick, it only takes a few minutes so you can pop in during your lunch break and still have time to eat. A session for migraine treatment takes a bit longer as there are seven injection sites with about 30 injections overall.

How soon will I see results?

The average person, with moderate to severe wrinkles, will see visible results from neuromodulator injections within days. While each person’s skin and results may vary, your wrinkles and lines will continue to fade for about 30 days, though the results can last up to four months, at which point you’ll need another treatment.

For migraine sufferers, neuromodulator treatments tend to be more successful with each new treatment. If you’re getting this neuromodulator for excessive sweating, your symptoms will gradually fade over about a week and gradually return up to six months when you’ll need another treatment.

What happens if I don’t continue treatment?

If you don’t continue treatment, your symptoms (whether lines and wrinkles, migraine, or excessive sweating) will gradually return.

Isn’t this neuromodulator expensive?

This neuromodulator isn’t just for the rich and famous. In fact, it’s relatively affordable and for migraine and excessive sweating patients, most health benefit plans cover part of the cost. Exact costs vary depending upon individual treatment plans. We’ll advise you of the costs for your treatment at your consultation.

Are there any potential side effects from neuromodulator injections?

Temporary side effects may include sensitivity at the injection sites, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, neck pain, vision problems, and dry eyes. Minor symptoms of an allergic reaction may include itchiness, rash, and welts, but if you experience wheezing, dizziness, or faintness, seek medical attention as soon as possible. For more information on possible side effects, consult with your dermatologist.

Am I a good candidate for this neuromodulator?
If you are between the ages of 18 and 65 years old and have great overall health, you are most likely a good candidate for this neuromodulator, but the best determinant is a consultation at our south side Edmonton Dermatology Clinic. Fill in the form below to book your neuromodulator consultation.

How to Fix an Oily Face

Oily skin is a big problem for many people. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also increase your risk of getting pimples. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can reduce the oiliness of your skin. Here are a few of the best ways to get rid of a shiny face.

Moisturize Your Face

If your skin is oily, it may seem like moisturizing it is the opposite of what you’d want to do. Your skin is already moist due to the oil. However, oftentimes, this excess moisture occurs due to the fact that your body is compensating for dry skin. Regularly moisturizing your face with a light moisturizer can help regulate the moisture of your skin so that your body does not produce excess oil. However, you should be sure to avoid using a moisturizer that is too strong as it could contribute to oily skin.

Proper Face Washing

Regularly washing your face can greatly improve oily skin. Avoid using a harsh wash rag as it may irritate your skin and contribute to oil production. Thoroughly clean your hands, then use them to gently wipe your face with water. If you use a face wash, make sure that it does not contain any alcohol. You should also be sure to avoid washing too frequently as it can dry out your skin and increase oil production. Washing your face two to three times a day should suffice.

Stop Touching Your Face

Your hands are one of the dirtiest parts of your body. If you frequently touch your face, you are spreading oil to it from your hands. You are also spreading bacteria to your face, which can lead to acne. Avoid touching your face. You should also wash your hands frequently to make sure that they are clean if you do happen to touch your face.

Take Cooler Showers

A hot shower can be very relaxing, but it can also wreak havoc on your skin. Hot showers tend to make your skin very dry. As was mentioned earlier in the article, dry skin can lead to an oily face. If you find that your skin is dry or itchy after showers, the water that you are using is too hot. At the very least, you should aim to greatly reduce the temperature of the water towards the end of the shower. You should also aim to have a shower that is as short as possible.

Although an oily face can be very unsightly, you don’t have to be stuck with it. The key to fixing a shiny face is to identify the source of your problem. Once you know what habits are causing your skin to be oily, fixing it is very simple.

Fruits that Protect from Sunburn

Have you ever considered shopping for skin care products in the produce aisle of the grocery store? It seems that certain fruits like strawberries, pomegranates, and guavas contain specific ingredients that are beneficial for skin care and, specifically, for sunburn. Did we need another reason to love them?

Strawberries

Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits available. And now researchers are isolating some very beneficial ingredients contained in strawberries. One class of powerful compounds found in strawberries is called anthocyanins. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry reports that when human skin cells were exposed to these strawberry-flavored anthocyanins they experienced less DNA damage from the sun than skin cells that were not exposed.

Pomegranates

Researchers at the Hallym University in the Republic of Korea found that ellagic acid which is found in pomegranates retarded the destruction of collagen and prevented wrinkle-causing skin inflammation. These scientists tested the effects of ellagic acid on hairless mice and on human skin cells. Their studies concluded that ellagic acid successfully blocked the matrix metalloproteinase enzymes which are enzymes that destroy the natural collagen in sun-damaged cells.

Guavas

It’s a well-known fact that antioxidants such as vitamin C help protect your skin before you get in the sun. Vitamin C applied topically also soothes the pain and redness of skin that is already sunburned. Guavas are good for your skin because they contain about five times the antioxidants as an orange. Guavas also contain another skin-protecting ingredient – lycopene.

Tomatoes

You might regard tomatoes as a vegetable, but technically they are a fruit. But however they are classified, they are rich in lycopene which provides your skin with vital protection from harmful UV rays emanating from the sun. The British Society for Investigative Dermatology published a study reporting the astounding benefits of eating tomatoes. Study participants who regularly consumed lycopene from tomato-based products over a three-month period were found to be about 33% more protected from the sun than their control group counterparts.

Everybody knows that including a variety of fruits and vegetables is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. But many people don’t realize that your local produce department is also the first step to protecting your skin from sun damage.

6 Natural Home Remedies for Crow’s Feet

Crow’s feet are the fine lines which appear around your eyes. These fine lines and wrinkles are an unavoidable and natural part of the aging process. However, you can reduce the appearance of crow’s feet with a good skin care regime.

Your skin uses the proteins elastin and collagen to maintain a youthful complexion. Over time, your body will produce less of these valuable proteins, your skin will lose elasticity, and you won’t replace dead skin cells so quickly. As this happens, fine line and wrinkles will start to appear.

Egg White Face Mask

Egg whites contain magnesium which is great for your body as magnesium detoxifies and cleanses the skin. On top of this, the egg white will pull the skin together and make it appear smoother.

To prepare an egg white face mask, you should beat an egg white until it’s frothy. Ensure that your face is relaxed and apply the egg white to your face. Allow the face mask to dry and apply a second coat. Keep the mask on for 15 minutes and then wash it off with soap and water. You should repeat this process a few times a week.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has great antioxidant properties and contains many essential vitamins and minerals. Antioxidant properties of the Aloe Vera plant include a high concentration of vitamins A, C, E, and B12. The plant also contains folic acid and choline which are also good for the skin.

Cut a fresh Aloe Vera leaf and squeeze out the gel from inside the leaf. Apply it to your face and leave it on during the night. In the morning, rinse your face with cold water.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can be used to nourish the skin. It contains a high amount of vitamin E and linoleic acid which can help to reconnect broken skin tissues. This will delay the appearance of wrinkles and crow’s feet.

Rub some extra virgin coconut oil around your eyes each night before going to sleep. Use a few drops and gently rub the oil into the skin.

Lemon Exfoliator

Lemons contain a high amount of citric acid which works as an exfoliant to revitalize your skin. Lemon juice effectively removes dead skin cells and will help you to look younger.

Rub fresh lemon juice onto your crow’s feet, leave it for 10 minutes, and rinse your face with cold water. You can repeat this process a couple of times every day.

Cucumber Eye Patches

Cucumbers are rich in vitamins B5 and B6. They also contain high amounts of niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine. These vitamins and nutrients soothe skin and will help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Lay down and place one thin slice of cucumber over each eye. Leave the cucumber resting on your eyes for around ten minutes. Add this remedy to your daily skin care regime.

Honey and Yogurt Mask

Honey hydrates skin and helps to remove bacteria. It also works as an antioxidant to keep your skin feeling soft. Lactic acid in yogurt exfoliates the skin which will help to keep your skin firm and smooth.

Combine equal amounts of honey and plain yogurt into a bowl. Mix the both together and apply to your face. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and then rinse with cold water.

Fine lines and crow’s feet are inevitable, but you can slow down the aging process with some simple natural home remedies. There’s no need to buy expensive cosmetic products to keep your skin looking young and beautiful, you can get great results by applying natural treatments to your face. Natural ingredients are also better for your skin than harsh chemicals found in some cosmetic products.

What Does Your Acne Mean?

Acne is widely accepted as a normal part of skin care discourse. As a result, when those pesky little spots appear on the surface of the skin, it is easy to dismiss their existence with a simple, “It’s just acne” attitude. The reality is, acne is a lot more than that. Specifically, the location of acne on your body can function as a telltale sign of specific health issues. The following acne guide will help you extract a lot more information about your skin and its health.

Recent research reported on provdr.com by Nastasia Delmedico revealed the following findings:

Lower half of your body

Acne that appears on the lower half of your body, namely your legs, thighs, or around the buttocks, can be a result of an internal or external problem. Internally, the acne may be related to an issue in your diet. It might be difficult to pinpoint exactly what the issue is; therefore, researchers suggest experimentation. For example, try adding more water to your diet or consuming less sugar, both in its natural and processed forms. Externally, acne on the lower half of your body can also suggest a lack of air. In other words, the fabrics you wear may inhibit circulation. Try wearing breathable clothing to avoid trapping heat and moisture that is likely to promote breakouts.

Jawline and neck

While breakouts in this area are a little more common there are two potential causes of acne on the jawline and neck. Specifically, it may be a result of “overactive adrenal glands” related to your hormones or it can be a result of a high-sugar diet. Limit and monitor your sugar consumption to avoid these types of breakouts.

Shoulders

When acne materializes along the shoulders, research suggests it is a sign of stress. The easiest way to combat this type of acne is to take some time to rest, relax, and get away for a little while.

Chest

Perhaps more common among women than men, chest acne may be a sign of poor diet and digestive issues or it may be related to the consumption of excessive spicy foods or cold beverages. The solution here seems quiet apparent; cut back.

Stomach

Less popular is acne on the stomach. According to research, acne on the stomach might be a reflection of dangerous blood sugar levels. If acne is on your stomach, you should see a dermatologist or your family physician immediately.

Back

Finally, nicknamed “bacne”, acne on the back is not only the most common form, but can also be caused by a series of different factors. Some of these may include stress, issues with your digestive system, or challenges with your nervous system, among others. Should acne appear on your back, contact your family doctor immediately to obtain a professional diagnosis.

Turn Back the Clock With the Power of Vitamin C

If you need another reason to enjoy your orange juice at breakfast, consider the amazing powers of vitamin C to help heal and protect your skin. This multi-tasking essential vitamin manages to fight nearly every sign of aging, from fine lines and wrinkles to age spots and dryness. Scientists at the Linus Pauling Institute, at Oregon State University, report numerous dermatological benefits of vitamin C, especially for aging. You’ll see an improvement in skin tone, texture, and brightness within just a few weeks of adding vitamin C to your diet and skincare routine.

The Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient for all human life, necessary for growth and healing throughout the body, including your skin. The first super power of vitamin C is that it stimulates the synthesis of collagen, the structural protein that gives skin its youthful, glowing appearance. Although many products claim to externally provide collagen, vitamin C is actually proven to boost its production through natural means. More collagen production will lead to plumper skin, less visible lines, and slower skin aging.

Vitamin C also has powerful antioxidant properties, which protect skin against the damage done by destructive free radicals. This includes photodamage from ultraviolet radiation, which is the cause of nearly every visible sign of aging. This amazing vitamin has been proven to diminish hyperpigmentaion and actively prevent the formation of wrinkles. Studies also show that vitamin C increases the speed of wound healing, softens skin, and fights the effects of air pollution. Without a doubt, vitamin C is one of the most useful ingredients in an anti-aging skincare regimen.

How To Use Vitamin C

You can get many of the benefits of vitamin the old-fashioned way, by eating foods that contain it. Foods with high levels of vitamin C include oranges, berries, kiwis, bell peppers, and tomatoes. This is a tasty and healthy way to bring the power of vitamin C to your whole body, and many studies show a positive effect of dietary ascorbic acid intake alone on skin tone and healing.

That said, if you’re looking for fast results, a tropical vitamin C serum or cream is a better choice. This way, ingredients are directly applied to the cells they are protecting, giving faster and more intense results. Since vitamin C can lose potency when exposed to light, make sure to use a product that comes in a dark or opaque container. Follow the directions on on the product’s label, but be sure to apply the topical vitamin C directly onto your skin, before putting on any moisturizer, so it can be better absorbed. Keep in mind that vitamin C counteracts photodamage, but it does not block the UV rays, so you should still wear a full-spectrum sunscreen.

What to Expect

Changing your diet to include more vitamin C can have a very quick impact on overall health, including your skin’s appearance. If you’re also using a high-quality vitamin C serum, you should start to see results on skin tone, moisture, and softness within a couple weeks. Age spots will be visibly lighter and wrinkles less evident after six weeks. Since it’s not a spot treatment, you don’t risk the dreaded “halo effect” caused by some skin lighteners. Instead, your skin will naturally exfoliate, while the vitamin C prevents further injury to the skin cells, so that the skin tone evens out. In the future, you will see fewer lines and wrinkles forming, less sun damage, and a smoother, softer skin texture.

While it can’t stop the aging process entirely, vitamin C can definitely slow it down, limiting the harm that life does to your skin every day. Start by eating more fruits and vegetables with a high vitamin content, and consider adding a vitamin C serum or cream to your skincare routine for faster results. Firmer, brighter, and more youthful skin is just a few weeks away, thanks to this all-natural, astonishing ingredient.

Surprising Health Benefits of Sunlight Exposure

Your quickest pick-me-up and health booster may not always come from a bottle. If you live in the part of the world where sunlight is available year round, you are already getting it for free. Aside from enabling people to generate their own vitamin D, here are daytime exposure’s leading health benefits, some of which you may not have heard of yet.

Lowers Blood Pressure Level

Each year, 30 percent of deaths worldwide can be attributed to cardiovascular disease, which is usually linked to high blood pressure. The good news is that blood pressure may be reduced and risk for heart disease may be lowered when skin is exposed to sunlight, according to researchers from the University of Southampton and University of Edinburgh. In a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, it is shown that when nitric oxide (NO) and its byproducts–which are present in human skin and are known to be associated with regulating blood pressure–are exposed to the sun, some of the NO on the skin gets into the circulatory system, thus effectively dilating the blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. And even as the blood pressure is significantly reduced through NO’s impact on the blood vessels, vitamin D levels generated via sun exposure are not changed.

Helps the Immune System

GeorgetownUniversityMedicalCenter researchers found out that sunlight plays an important role in the human immune system. In a paper entitled “Intrinsic Photosensitivity Enhances Motility of T Lymphocytes” and published in a 2016 issue of the journal Scientific Reports, it is demonstrated that sunlight invigorates T cells to fight numerous infections. Sun rays contain low levels of high-frequency blue light, which can penetrate deep into the dermis, the skin’s second layer. This then energizes and speeds up the movement of the body’s T cells, thereby directly impacting how fast the body responds to the intrusion of pathogens and other infectious elements. This is probably why many people become more susceptible to common illnesses like the common colds during inclement weather.

Boosts Mood

People, who have to endure long winters in northern climates, can lift their mood with daily intake of synthetic vitamin D, according to researchers in the Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. Meanwhile, bright-light therapy in the morning remains the treatment of choice for sufferers of seasonal depression (SAD). Some bipolar depression patients even benefit from bright-light therapy to ease their symptoms, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

So, next time you need a fast daytime pick-me-up or stave off a looming panic attack, just walk around the block, where you can breathe in fresh air and savor the energizing sunlight. Just keep in mind that excessive exposure to sunlight is never the ultimate goal because doing so may lead to skin cancer for some susceptible individuals.

Liposuction: The Process

Liposuction is a surgery which is designed to help trim and slim a patient’s figure. It does this by removing excess fat from problematic fatty areas on the patient’s body. This surgery is performed in our state of the art clinic in Edmonton and it is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries of all time.

What to Expect

On the day of a liposuction, the patient will drive to see our liposuction specialist at the Rao Dermatology clinic where the surgery will be performed. Upon arriving, the patient will be prepped by the surgeon and the surgical staff. The surgeon may use a marker to draw lines on the patient’s body. These lines will serve as guidelines during the surgery.

Our specialist may take a moment to review the surgery with the patient. However, all of the important decisions regarding the surgery will have been made long before this moment. Typically, a patient and surgeon will agree on exactly which areas of the patient’s body will be operated on and how much fat will be removed before the surgical date is even scheduled.

Once everything is ready, the patient will be anesthetized. Depending on the preferences of our specialist and the patient, general or local anesthesia may be used, although local anesthesia is more common. If the patient is feeling nervous, some sort of anti-anxiety medication or sedation can also be used. Once the patient has been fully anesthetized, the surgery can begin.

The surgeon will begin by making small incisions around the area or areas where he or she will be operating. Typically, a liposuction will only treat a small number of areas at a time. Treating too many areas at once can make the surgery much more dangerous, and it can decrease a patient’s chances for aesthetically pleasing results.

When the incisions have been made, the doctor will slide a long, thin instrument called a cannula into the incisions. A cannula is essentially a hollow needle which has been hooked up to some sort of suction device. The cannula will be the surgeon’s way of both breaking up and removing the fat from the body. As the surgeon moves the cannula back and forth, it disrupts the fat and suctions it away.

Liposuction surgeons must be careful to take just the right amount of fat. Removing too little will not yield a significantly improved appearance. Removing too much could cause unappealing dimpling. The surgeon must also be careful not to allow the cannula to move out of the fatty tissue and into the rest of the body, as this could cause serious injury to the patient.

Once the surgeon has removed the optimal fat, the liposuction is all but over. Typically, the surgeon will not close the incisions. Leaving the incisions open helps to encourage drainage after the surgery, which will help to speed up the healing process. At this point, the patient is typically moved to an observation area and allowed to recover from the anesthesia. Once the patient is feeling well enough, he or she can be driven home.

The patient should try to rest and relax as much as possible for the first day or two after a liposuction. Pain will most likely peak somewhere around 24 hours after the surgery, and it should gradually decrease from that point on. Most patients are able to return to a sedentary job within just a few days after their surgery.

At Rao Dermatology our skilled surgeons will make sure you are clear on all these points and more before deciding to choose this procedure. If you have any questions please call our expert team and set up your consultation.

Bye, Bye Tattoos! – Q-Switch Laser

Regretting that cute guy or gal’s name on your arm or a simple impulsive decision that resulted in a big symbol that really means nothing to you? It’s far more common than you think. A decision that is often attached by a scare tactic of permanence is actually not so permanent after all. At Rao Dermatology, our Q-Switch laser treatment is an effective mechanism for laser removal.

Q-Switched, also known as the Q-Switched Nd-Yag Laser is primarily used to remove, brown spots, freckles, and tattoos from the skin. The procedure includes the use of a lase beam projected onto the respective part of the skin, at a specific wavelength, which is absorbed by the colour that is intended for removal. The treatment works differently depending on what it is that you are aiming to treat. In the instance of a tattoo removal, the laser energy breaks down the tattoo ink to remove the tattoo. In cases of pigmentation, the laser energy is absorbed by the pigments, which are then broken down into smaller essence and cleared away by the skin’s natural removal capabilities. Still, for other matters of the skin such as rejuvenation, the laser energy is used to remove dead skin cells and dirt, leaving your skin feeling refreshed.

As far as tattoo treatments go, you can expect complete removal with a series of treatment. However, where the ink is a severe colour, in a few instances clearance can range from anywhere between 70 to 90%. The Q-Switch laser treatment is very reliable and is not painful. It might feel a little uncomfortable (like little hot pricks against your skin) but the feeling is bearable for even the most sensitive person.

One of the best features of the Q-Switch laser treatment is the downtime. Treatments take between 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the area and you don’t have to interrupt your day in a huge manner. A simple lunch break will suffice.

While the procedures are safe, we recommend moderation. Each treatment is 15-20 minutes and is completed once every three weeks.

If you think Q-switch laser treatment is for you, book your appointment with our dermatologist, today.