| When you look better, you feel better, and when you feel better, you are better: on the job, at the gym, parenting, learning, and interacting with others. Looking good and feeling good have been mutually supportive since the beginning of time and taking steps to improve your appearance is as natural as eating. How you feel about yourself dramatically affects how you feel about all aspects of your life.
Generally, we are mindful of our appearance when interviewing for jobs: A new suit, pressed and appropriately cuffed, an ironed shirt, a haircut. Yet the pursuit of the “look employers want” has gone beyond that. According to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, between 1992 and 1998, the number of cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the United States grew by more than 150 percent. As the cost of cosmetic procedures declines, “dressing” takes on a whole new meaning for those who know that improving their appearance gives them an edge in corporate culture and social life.
“Its not that you look different after a cosmetic treatment, its that you look better,” says Dr. Eric Rasmussen, Cosmetic Dermatologist in Silverdale. “Those clients with concerns about their appearance who proceed with corrective treatment begin to feel more positive about themselves and their relationships. They are happier. Friends and associates notice the improvement.”
Dr. Eric Cole of Pacific Eye Care agrees, “People want and need to look their best. How one is perceived, especially a first impression is important.” According to Dr. Cole, before proceeding with any form of cosmetic treatment it is essential to discover a client’s specific complaint, whether its having to wear corrective lens, baggy eyelids, droopy eyes, crow’s feet, acne scars, or prominent forehead lines. “Once we know what bothers our clients most, than we can suggest the appropriate treatment for correction.”
Corrective treatment comes in many forms. For vision correction, a laser procedure called LASIK is getting rave reviews. LASIK corrects all ranges of nearsightedness and astigmatism. This procedure uses a precise motorized instrument called a microkeratome to create a hinged flap of tissue on the center of the cornea. The flap is lifted back and the laser reshapes the underlying tissue. The flap is then replaced and adheres without the need of sutures.
Often the LASIK procedure is performed on both eyes during the same visit. Each eye takes about 10 minutes. Before the process begins, the patient receives a mild tranquilizer if he or she is nervous and some numbing eye drops. If you want to learn more about the LASIK procedure, seminars are held bi-monthly at Pacific Eye Care’s laser center in Poulsbo. Each seminar includes the performance of a LIVE laser procedure. Check for seminar dates at www.pacificeyecare.com.
For corrective skin care, the nature of the treatment depends on the nature of the dissatisfaction. Dr. Rasmussen recommends Botox (a muscle relaxant toxin) injections for those younger patients who wish to alleviate frown lines. “Botox injections immobilize expressive lines in a person’s face, generally forehead wrinkles. Relaxation of the muscle tempers the wrinkle and causes it to disappear. Prominent scowl lines can be softened up and flattened, removing that angry look.”
More and more dermatologists and plastic surgeons are using injections of Botox for cosmetic purposes. One treatment in a single area of the face costs $300 to $500 and stops the muscle from moving for three to four months, at which point another injection is required to maintain the affect. Without a successive Botox injection, the muscle contraction and skin creases will return. The procedure is simple and can be performed during a routine office visit. Because the toxin is injected in such small amounts, the safety profile for this treatment is high and side effects are minimal.
Collagen injections are soft-tissue fillers that fill in lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face. They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. The cost per cc is around $350. “Immediate improvement can be seen in one session,” says Dr. Rasmussen, “however, the results very depending on the client’s genetic makeup and degree of sun damage.”
Microdermabrasion has replaced the light chemical peel. Per Dr. Rasmussen, this popular process uses gentle air driven crystals to restore the natural beauty of the skin. This technique is a safe, gradual treatment that improves the appearance of sun-damaged skin, fine wrinkles, facial pigmentation, age spots, and enlarged pores. Says Dr. Rasmussen, “I recommend repeat microdermabrasions to improve pigment and textural qualities as well as problem acne.”
Dr. Rasmussen has found the FotoFacial treatment to be an ideal cosmetic procedure in today’s fast paced environment. “It is no wonder that this procedure is gaining recognition nationally. It is non-invasive, produces positive results, is relatively inexpensive, and there is no down time!” Dr. Rasmussen notes the FotoFacial procedure requires a series of five treatments. Once every three weeks. “The beauty of this treatment is that it uses intense pulsed light to effectively reduce facial redness and flushing (rosacea) as well as the affects of sun damage and aging (fine wrinkling and irregular pigmentation).
We face it everyday: striving to be accepted and admired in a world that rewards a youthful appearance. Those that have found success recognize the benefits of feeling younger. They feel better and thus are more active. The psychological effects of cosmetic treatment have helped many people get ahead at work and in their social life. A cosmetic surgeon can offer you the full gamut of the most advanced treatments ranging from cosmetic surgery, refinishing techniques, laser therapy, injectables and the use of other fillers. Not long ago, the facelift was the only medical option for a more youthful look. Now the possibility to improve your appearance is more available than ever.
“I have really noticed the positive affect that cosmetic therapy has had on many of my client’s lives,” states Dr. Rasmussen, “One of my patients is a member of the Silverdale Business Woman’s Group and she feels so good about the results of her treatment that she has asked me to speak at their next meeting.”
For more information about Cosmetic Surgery and Vision Correction: contact Dr. Rasmussen at (360) 698-6859 or at www.kitspskincare.com. And Dr. Cole, of Pacific Eye Care in Poulsbo at (360) 779-2020. |
