Experience counts!
There is no question that Botox has revolutionized the practice of cosmetic rejuvenation. During the first decade of the 21st century, Botox injections increased more than any other cosmetic medical procedure, with now more than 5 million patients having Botox in the U.S. each year. Seattle based Calidora Skin Clinics has been a part of this success, doing more Botox injections than anyone else in the Northwest and earning the Diamond level distinction. But the popularity of Botox means that many practices are getting on the bandwagon in order to supplement their bottom line, without always taking the time to develop the expertise required to achieve consistent results. As a consequence, controversy has arisen as to who is qualified to do cosmetic injections, leaving consumers confused.

The popularity of Botox is due both to its excellent safety record and the fact that it is a brief and practically painless procedure with predictable results, but it is a powerful medication. I was an early advocate of Botox and have been using it for more than 15 years, and now serve as a national trainer for advanced injection techniques. The question of who should be doing the injections is a thorny issue for some however, since it is common to have a nurse do the procedure under a doctor’s supervision, but that supervision may take various forms. Interestingly, nurses often become the real expert injectors, especially if they work in a practice where they do it every day. At Calidora, medical aesthetics are the main focus, and our nurse injectors have more training than anyone else in the business. Because of this, both their experience and their expertise are second to none. Only a handful of practices around the country do as much Botox as Calidora, and no other in the Northwest.

Doctors who dabble in Botox and other cosmetic injectables sometimes paradoxically claim special qualifications, without the experience to back it up. But it takes more than a slick website or pretty office to be able to individualize treatments and avoid the “cookie cutter” approach that they may have learned in an evening course. There is just no substitute for experience.

Written by Dr. Richard Baxter, Chief Medical Officer for Calidora

Calidora can help you pinpoint the right ingredients for your particular eye concern. Whether your concern is dark circles, puffy eyes or wrinkles Calidora can help you figure out what will work best for you.

Puffy Eyes
To reduce puffiness before a big event make sure to avoid salt in your diet and drink lots of water to help flush toxins. Chill your eye cream in the refrigerator the night before to help stimulate blood flow in the morning.
One key ingredient you should look for in an eye cream is Centella Asiatica. Centella Asiatica is a potent Anti-oxidant that stimulates capillary flow and collagen synthesis. You should also look for Glycosaminoglycans which help you maintain healthy collagen which will increase skin firmness and will resist that under eye bag look.
One of our aesthetician’s favorite products to reduce puffiness around the eyes is IS Clinical Youth Eye Complex. This product packs a punch as it is also a favorite for addressing wrinkles.

Wrinkles
If you have wrinkles around your eyes you want to look for Peptides. Peptides have a small amino acid chain that encourages new formation of collagen and helps with dermal restructuring. Also look for Hyaluronic Acid Micro Spheres which are encapsulated micro spheres that help fill in wrinkles. They work similarly to how a sponge absorbs water, fills in and expands.

Other key ingredients to look for are Vitamin C and E. Both are Anti- Aging Anti-oxidants which work together to help fight free radical damage and improve the look of fine lines. IS Clinical Youth Eye Complex is a great choice for wrinkles.

Dark Circles
If you get lots of sleep and still suffer from dreaded dark circles that is not unusual. Under eye circles are not only caused by fatigue but other factors can be at play such as thinning skin under the eye. This is common as you age and can make the reddish-blue capillaries more obvious. You want to make sure you look for an eye cream that includes
Vitamin K which is key to assist in strengthening the capillaries under the eye. Boron Nitride is also a key ingredient as it acts as an optical diffuser to help lessen the visibility of discoloration. Finally, Chrysin has an anti-inflammatory effect and is also helpful to eliminate the by-products of weakened capillaries underneath the eyes.

We love Skin Medica TNS Eye Repair for diminishing dark circles.

Introducing the New Redness Relief Calmplex from Skin Medica

We are thrilled to announce this breakthrough new product for the treatment of visibly red skin.

The new SkinMedica Redness Relief CalmPlex, formerly the coveted Cutanix, improves the condition and tone of red skin using a powerful punch of ingredients like vitamin B-3, jojoba oil and squalene. The new CalmPlex provides a significant reduction in facial redness caused from the cold, dryness, nerves or allergies. It is a 5 star product for those with chronic redness, i.e. rosacea.

CalmPlex is the first and only ingredient proven to inhibit the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) a key natural vasodilator. When PGE2 is released your blood vessels enlarge which causes visible redness — not anymore with SkinMedica CalmPlex! Studies have shown results in 4 weeks including a 43% reduction in Chronic Redness and a 51% improvement in Skin Tone.

Paired with a package of Laser & Light Therapy Treatments (V-beam) for redness it is a comprehensive solution to help you reduce the red on your face.

To learn more about CalmPlex visit any of our clinics!

I am loving Tretinoin!

I never had acne as a young adult, but now that I am approaching my 4th decade, these nasty little pimples have been popping up all over my chin and checks lately (thank you hormones!). Unfortunately, my zit zapping spot treatment wasn’t doing the trick. I had to try something a little more aggressive and I absolutely say NO to drugs. So Debbie, our extraordinary PA and medical educator, gave me a prescription for Tretinoin. WOW! After 2 weeks of use, I am seeing a visible improvement in my acne (especially on the chin area where most of the hormonal breakouts happen) and much smoother skin texture. Then (as if it couldn’t get any better), I’m noticing a decrease in the appearance of my little fine lines (luckily my Botox still takes care of the big ones!) Tretinoin isn’t for everyone, but could be a great way for you to say bye, bye to those nasty little trouble makers.

What is Tretinoin: Tretinoin is a generic form of Retin-A which is a derivative of Vitamin A. Tretinoin is a perfect choice for treating comedonal acne, whiteheads and blackheads. It increases skin cell turnover and promotes the explusion of the plugged material in the follicle. It also prevents new comedones from forming.

How to use Trentinoin: apply a thin layer at night. Typically you start out using it every other night or every third night depending on how sensitive your skin is. You also want to make sure to use a good moisturizer because it can cause drying and flaking as it speeds up cell turnover.

Also, sunscreen is a must! Trentinoin makes you more susceptible to the sun.

Finally, Tretinoin is the best studied retinoid in the treatment of photo-aging and the only topical medication that has been proven to improve wrinkles. What’s not to love?! Book a medical consult to see if a Trentinoin prescription is right for you.

Colette – CEO Calidora