High school reunions are a great time to reminisce and catch up with old friends, however no matter how many years it’s been since graduation we all want our peers to see us aging gracefully. The weeks leading up to the event you might be thinking that there’s nothing you can do to in a short period of time to slim down or look suddenly more youthful, but you’re wrong! Reflections offers several face and body treatments that can show a great deal of improvement with little to no downtime. Dr. Ellern shares with us the treatments she recommends for anyone looking to turn heads at their next reunion.
Turn Back Time with Facial Rejuvenation
If volume loss, skin laxity or firmness is a concern for you, one of Reflections’ minimally invasive facial rejuvenation techniques can have you looking more youthful and well-rested in plenty of time before the event.
Liquid Facelift
What products are used in a Liquid Facelift?
Dermal fillers and Botox can be used in any combination depending on your unique skin concerns. Typically, we like to use at least two kinds of dermal filler; one to lift the skin and one 
to refine and smooth wrinkles and fine lines.
What concerns can a Liquid Facelift address?
The liquid facelift is great for addressing mild to moderate wrinkles and lines, while also improving hollowness caused by volume loss over time that creates a “tired” look.
What kind of downtime should I expect from a liquid facelift if I’m going to an event?
We recommend giving yourself as much time as possible before an event to have a liquid facelift done. While the downtime is minor, you’ll want to make sure every product that’s been used has time to go into effect. Dr. Ellern states “Even with the most meticulous techniques and precautions, bruising is always a possibility after filler, that’s why I always recommend one week before an event.” It is important to remember that although the effects of fillers are immediate, the effect of Botox typically takes about 7-14 days to see.
Threadlift
What is a Threadlift?
A threadlift such as Silhouette InstaLift, PDO Threads and Mint Threads are non-surgical procedures that uses injectable threads to lift and hold the skin in place at a higher and firmer position without the need for incisions or sutures. Over time the threads help to stimulate collagen production for continued results. The threads themselves dissolve over time on their own without the need for removal.
How much improvement can a Threadlift provide?
A threadlift provides additional lifting that may not be able to be achieved by filler; however, patients should not expect anything near the result of a facelift or even a mini facelift. The results are subtle and natural looking, which before any big event may be preferred. This is because while you’ll be looking more youthful and refreshed, your former classmates won’t be thinking that you’ve had work done.
How long before my event should I have my Threadlift?
If you have a few months before your big event, Dr. Wix-Harris recommends leaving one to three months prior for having a threadlift. This time frame allows swelling to go down while also having the added benefit of increased collagen production to occur before the big day.
MicroRejuve
What is MicroRejuve?
MicroRejuve is a new type of Microneedling technology that allows us to deposit serums and products directly into the top-most layers of the skin. Unlike other types of Microneedling, the aim here isn’t really to stimulate collagen growth or resurface the skin, because we’re not going that deep. Instead, think of this Microneedling as really more of a delivery device, rather than a Microneedling treatment. But as a delivery device, it’s unlike anything else we’ve ever had. It uses microneedles that have these tiny channels spiraling down the length of the 24k gold needles. This deposits the tiniest little droplets of product directly into the skin, and because the needles are so tiny, the holes they penetrate through are tiny and close very quickly, sealing the products within the skin.
There are 2 key things Dr. Ellern likes patients to understand about this treatment:
- These products NEED to be sterile because otherwise there’s a very real risk of a bad infection – and unfortunately, we have seen some practitioners doing this with skincare-grade products, which are not made for injection into the skin
This is why we stick to dermal fillers (hyaluronic acid), Botox, Microfat, and sterile serums, all of which are safe for injection
- These products are going to stay within the skin and have about the same duration as they do if injected, so you want to see a doctor who understands proper dosing in that regard to this procedure.
Why do we want to layer Hyaluronic Acid and Botox in the most superficial layers of the skin?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is our body’s own natural moisturizing agent within the skin. It holds onto water and gives skin a healthy glow. We do naturally lose some of this as we age, so adding some HA back into your skin is a great way to ensure a long-lasting glow to your skin.
What kinds of results does this produce that other treatments can’t?
It helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles create a smoother skin texture, and the Botox we mix in helps to reduce pore size (and that in turn will reduce the number of blackheads you see).
Feel Confident in Your Favorite LBD with Liposuction
How much time should I leave for lipo before an event?
Many of our patients are out and about showing off their result just a few days after liposuction. To be safe, we do recommend at least 2 weeks prior to a big event, so that you’re not wearing your compression garment 24 hours a day when it comes time to attend your big event (and you can wear whatever you want to show off your new body). While people can have some swelling for up to 4-6 weeks and final results take 3-6 months, most patients feel excited by what they see by the two-week mark.
How can we decrease the downtime associated with lipo?
According to Dr. Wix-Harris, “Local anesthesia offers several advantages in terms of quick recovery.” The local anesthetics we use help to restrict blood flow to the area being treated. With less blood flowing to the area, there’s less swelling and far less bruising. This means less time waiting for swelling and bruising to go down, but also less soreness during the recovery.
General anesthetics cross the blood-brain barrier, and that means your body has to work a lot harder to detox your brain after general anesthesia than it does to naturally metabolize local anesthetics. This explains why your body spends so much of its energy on clearing general anesthesia after most surgeries, and why you feel so sick during that detox process. When you can bypass that first 24-48 hours of detoxing from the anesthesia, your body can focus on recovering from the surgery, and your recovery is that much faster, and a whole lot easier.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have a high school reunion or any other big event that you want to look your best for, Reflections is your go-to aesthetics center for innovative technology and techniques with minimal recovery time. Our practitioners take time to create customized treatment plans for each patient during their consultation in order to provide impactful yet natural results. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call our Martinsville or Livingston location today!
