Nothing lasts forever, but we are fortunate to have methods to help maintain how we look and feel. As we live healthier and longer lives, we want to keep our outside appearance a reflection of how we feel inside. Therefore, people often undergo periodic procedures to boost appearance and, by extension, self-esteem. The great news is that these days, it’s not always necessary to go under the knife, as there are a multitude of non-surgical, minimally invasive treatments available. For instance, Dr. Shalini Gupta, owner of The Dermatology Laser & Vein Center, says that two of the most requested procedures these days are EMSCULPT (used for body contouring) and Thread Lifts (used for skin tightening).
EMSCULPT uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to permanently remove fat cells and sculpt the body. The mechanism is quite different from Coolsculpting, Vanquish, or other noninvasive fat disrupting technologies in that EMSCULPT is the only procedure with the additional benefit of building muscle. For the right candidate, this combination gives a far more sculpted appearance with wonderful long-term results. Even body builders benefit from EMSCULPT to give further definition to their abdominal muscles or get rid of stubborn fat that just won’t disappear. Imagine doing 20,000 crunches in just 30 minutes. That’s the power of EMSCULPT.
“It’s a really cool technology because for the first time, we are able to not only permanently kill fat cells for body contouring purposes, but also build muscle mass,” says Gupta, noting that this 30-minute painless and effortless workout will increase your basal metabolic rate and help you further lose weight. “It kills the fat because it’s able to engage all the muscle fibers at once, overwhelm the fat cells, and cause them to undergo apoptosis.”
There’s no pain, discomfort, or sweating involved, plus zero recovery time. Patients can resume normal daily activities after leaving the office. Used to treat stomach, buttocks, arms, and thighs, the most common area for treatment is the abdomen. Gupta recommends four treatments for most patients, plus maintenance treatments either monthly or every six months to maintain the muscle hypertrophy.
“We encourage our patients to continue exercising and maintaining a healthy diet for the obvious health benefits,” says Gupta.
A relatively new treatment, The Dermatology Laser & Vein Center is proud to have been selected as one of the first practices nationally to receive the device and offer the service.
“It’s very popular right now on the east and west coasts where cosmetic procedures are more widely utilized, though it’s definitely starting to catch on more in the Midwest,” says Gupta. “We even have patients who come down from Michigan and up from Florida for treatment.”
The other treatment many clients are asking about are thread lifts, a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment option, popular in Europe for years now, that places dissolvable threads beneath the skin to pull and lift skin from below the surface. Results are immediate and last for up to 18 months. People use it to treat cheeks, eyebrows, jawline, jowls and neck. It can also be used for breast and buttocks lifts and arm tightening. Even delicate areas such as lips and eyelids can be successfully tightened and lifted with these quick, in-office treatments.
“It helps to anchor tissue back into more natural youthful positions, giving you an instant face lift,” says Gupta, noting that the first step for any patient is to come in for a free consultation so that her staff can suggest the treatments that will align best with a patient’s needs.
“Oftentimes patients feel overwhelmed and don’t know which option to choose, but we’re here to guide you,” says Gupta. “What patients don’t often realize is that a combination of procedures is most often required to reach the best outcome to their concerns.”
The Dermatology Laser & Vein Center is the most established cosmetic dermatology practice in the area. Gupta, an 18-year veteran in the field, has the unique qualification of being an expert in her field of cosmetic dermatology.
“I love that we’re able to help so many of our patients and feel privileged that they trust us,” says Gupta. “I’m proud of the fact that we can bring smiles to people’s faces and make them look and, hence, feel, naturally younger.”
She recognizes the fears and concerns potential patients may have initially as they fret – Is this safe? Will I still look normal? Will people notice I had work done? What will it cost?
“All these concerns are critical for me as well and are always on top of my mind as I discuss a treatment plan with patients,” says Gupta. “It’s really important to me that patients have the very best and most natural outcome, as that is essentially my signature."
The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center is located at 10600 Montgomery Rd. #301, Cincinnati, OH 45242. For more information, call 513.985.9885 or visit www.cincinnatiskinandlaser.com