SELPHYL®

Q & A with Dr. Holmes

Q. What is Selphyl?

A. It's a new, patented procedure that uses a small amount of your own blood to create a collagen-stimulating serum that is then injected into areas of your skin that you want to firm or create fullness in. Soulstis is the only med spa in the area that offers the procedure.

I have been using Selphyl to treat facial aging and have been very impressed with the results, especially under the eye, an area where I try to avoid using fillers at all costs for a variety of reasons. Selphyl has also shown itself to be very good at softening lines are the mouth, another area where traditional fillers can look too obvious when injected in larger amounts.

Q. Is is safe?

A. More than 45,000 procedures have been performed worldwide and it has been shown to be both safe and effective. It is a simple procedure that takes less than ten minutes.

Q. Are there any side-effects?

A. There have been no known side effects reported. However, you may experience some common reactions at the injection site including mild irritation, swelling, bruising, edema, itching, and discloration or tenderness. These temporary condition typically resolve themselves within two days.

Q. How long before I see results?

A. It can take up to 3 weeks to see sustained volume gain. The maximum effect is usually seen about 4 months following the procedure. Although not permanent, the effects last up to 18 months.

*Photos courtesy of Walter W. Tom MD, FACS, Santa Rosa and Napa, CA.

MicroLaser Peel™ and ProFractionals™

Q & A with Dr. Holmes

Q. What is a MicroLaser Peel?

A. MicroLaser Peel precisely removes the outermost layers of the skin, which the body then replaces with new, collagen-rich skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars, age spots, and pigmentation issues.

Q. Who should consider a MicroLaser Peel?

A. Those interested in a deep skin resurfacing to address more significant issues or obtain more dramatic results..

Q. How often does MicroLaser Peel need to be done?

A. The effects from just one procedure can last anywhere from 6 to 12 months. A series of 3 to 4 treatments will create even more dramatic effects that will last much longer..

Q. What can I expect?

A. You will notice a significant change in your skin's texture, color, and appearance. Those effects will become even more noticeable in the weeks following your procedure as your body continues to produce new collagen..

Q. How long is the healing process?

A. The healing process varies from person to person but most people need anywhere from 2 to 7 days depending on the depth of the peel. Immediately following the procedure you will feel as if you have a bad sunburn. You will have minor peeling and itchiness the following day. By day two, the redness will begin to fade and by day three, many people find that they can cover the redness with make-up.

Q. What is a ProFractional?

A. A ProFractional involves the use of a laser to create thousands of micrscopic channels in the skin. This prompts the body to produce new collagen to heal and close those channels. The closing of these small channels with new collagen naturally plumps and firms the area surrounding it, smoothing out wrinkles, lines, scars, and other irregularities.

Q. Who should consider a ProFractional?

A. Profractionals are perfect for those who want to minimize the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and scars, or address other conditions like sun damage without the downtime involved with other resurfacing procedures..

Q. How often does a ProFractional need to be done?

A. The number of ProFractional treatments needed to obtain the maximum effect can vary anywhere from 1 to 4 depending on the person and the condition being treated. A ProFractional can be combined with a MicroLaserPeel to increase the effects of the treatments.

Q. What can I expect?

A. ProFractional is a fast, tolerable procedure. It normally takes 15 to 30 mintues depending on the condition and the size of the area treated.

Q. How long is the healing process?

A. Immediately following the procedure you may experience a mild redness resembling a light sunburn sensation. Healing takes only 1 to 3 days.

SKINTYTE™

Q & A with Dr. Holmes

Q. What is SKINTYTE?

A. SkinTyte is a series of infrared light energy treatments performed using our SCITON Profile laser. The treatments break down old collagen and allow for new collagen growth, firming the skin and giving it a more youthful appearance.

Q. Where on the body can it be used?

A. SkinTyte can be performed on any area of the body where you want to see increased firmness. Popular areas include the face, neck, abdomen and arms. SkinTyte can also be used to treat sun damage, irregular skin texture and age spots. It can also help improve fine lines and mild acne scars.

Q. Are there any side-effects?

A. Most side effects are mild and of short duration. The most common is redness in the areas treated, which typically last less than 24 hours. Most people find they can put make-up or sunscreen on right after treatment and resume their normal activities.

Q. How many treatments are needed?

A. The majority of people feel that their skin is tighter after just one treatment, but most require three or four treatments for best results. Maximum effects are usually visible after three to six months..

Before

After

SUN DAMAGE

Common, But Treatable!

by Dr. Holmes, Soulstis Med Spa

When I was growing up there was little concern about sun exposure. In fact, many of us made a science out of tanning. We lathered ourselves with baby oil, sprayed our hair with lemon juice, and made sure we were on our beach towels during those peak sun hours.

Now we know how damaging years of sun exposure can be.  Even with that knowledge, clients are still surprised to learn that many of the issues or concerns they have with regard to their skin are due to time spent in the sun.

By the time we’re forty, most of us have some visible signs of sun damage—from uneven skin tone and roughness, to fine lines and wrinkles. The good news is that there are ways to reverse or significantly minimize the negative effects of sun exposure, and
prevent further damage from occurring.

At Soulstis, we have treatment options and specialized equipment that allow us to effectively address a variety of skin conditions related to the sun. Our SCITON® Profile™ laser is a nationally acclaimed technology that treats redness, wrinkles, and brown spots with improved results, fewer treatments and a shorter recovery time.

With this technology we can precisely remove old, damaged skin one layer at a time so that the body can replace that skin with new, healthy skin. Treatments can range from shallow (which might be appropriate for eliminating fine lines, sun spots and tired-looking skin) to deep (which is often used to improve skin tone/texture and eliminate deep wrinkles), including uneven skin tone, roughness, fine lines and wrinkles.

These treatments not only restore your skin’s healthy appearance, they can improve the sun’s worst effects including seborrheic keratoses and precancerous skin growths called actinic, or solar keratoses.