Lifted Spirits:  Face/Body Lifts Without the Downs of Surgery, Part 3

Many people are intimidated by the prospect of aesthetic surgery.  Will it be painful?  How long will it take to heal?  Will there be a difference?  Then, there’s the additional pressure of embarrassment when a patient goes out in public following a surgery—what to say when friends ask about the bandages, or how to handle appraising looks from strangers.  With new medical technology, however, non-invasive procedures offer patients a viable alternative. ReFirme ReFirmeTM (by Syneron E-Max) is a revolutionary treatment to lift, tone and contour the face, and is highly successful at treating the areas most affected by aging like the neck, eye area, brow line, nasolabial folds and the upper/ lower mandible. It utilizes the latest advances in aesthetic restoration technology to tighten the skin while restoring volume and contour through the production of new collagen. Powered by Syneron’s elōs Technology, ReFirme is the only skin tightening treatment that combines the use of both infrared light and radiofrequency technology to significantly improve the skin’s tone and elasticity. When applied to the skin, the infrared light heats the tissue of the skin. The heat acts as a conductor to allow the radiofrequency (RF) to penetrate the dermal layers more deeply and easily.  As the radio frequency energy permeates the tissues it causes the skin to contract and tighten while stimulating collagen production for a period of at least 90 days, a process called “collagen remodeling”.  Contact cooling protects the epidermis and directs the RF energy precisely and effectively deep into the dermis treatment zone. Over time, as the collagen continues to reproduce, significant improvements in the tone and contour of the skin become apparent as it becomes tighter and firmer. ReFirme is a safe, non-invasive therapy approved by the FDA. There is little or no risk of serious complications from ReFirme treatment. In very rare cases, some may experience swelling around the treated area. The most common side effects experienced by clients are redness and mild tenderness in treated areas. All of these side effects are temporary and should disappear within a few days. Generally, ReFirme treatment is painless.  No sedation is required, only an application of topical anesthetic cream to keep clients completely comfortable during the treatment. The length of treatment time depends on the area treated, but is approximately 45 minutes. Following the treatment no recovery time is necessary and one can therefore, easily schedule ReFirme treatments during a lunch break  or in between appointments. While many clients experience an immediate improvement, an initial series of three treatments is recommended for clients to receive the optimal benefits of ReFirme. Advanced skin laxity may require five treatments.  Ideally, treatments will be administered once every 30 days for three months. This treatment plan has been proven to achieve more dramatic and longer lasting results. Following ReFirme treatment, we recommend that our clients practice optimal skin care to maintain results. This includes avoiding excessive sun and UV exposure, using gentle cleansers, effective hydrating moisturizers and applying a daily SPF 30 sunscreen. Conscientious skin care extends the effects of collagen remodeling and clients can enjoy the results of ReFirme treatment for up to 18-24 months before maintenance treatments are needed. For those who are looking to make improvements—whether minor or major—the decision does not have to loom heavily over their heads:  surgery is not the only option.  Thermage, Accent, ReFirme — each exemplifies the accessible side of aesthetic procedures.  The road to self-confidence does not have to be rocky, riddled with feats and doubts; technology has opened to the public a smoother path.  Let the doctors at Beverly Hills 6750 show you the way.