Improving One's Skin and Veins: An Overview

What you can do on your own:

• Protect your skin from the sun with a broad-spectrum sunscreen and wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet A and B.
• Don’t smoke.
• Use an appropriate skin care regimen.
• Don’t pick or scratch at pimples.
• Know the ABCD’s of moles and the signs of skin cancer.
• Wear support stockings or socks during pregnancy and long plane flights.

Concerns of one’s 20’s and 30’s:

"Teenage" acne may persist or develop for the first time. Wrinkles from facial expression such as frowning or squinting develop. Smoking ages, dulls and wrinkles the skin. Tanning leads to blotchy discoloration, rough texture and wrinkles. Acne scars and large pores can mar an otherwise youthful complexion. Visible facial blood vessels may develop from heredity, sundamage, or rosacea. Moles may change and even become cancerous. The brown “mask of pregnancy” or birth control pills affects many women. Spider veins on the legs can develop even before pregnancy. Varicose veins more commonly appear during pregnancy and may not resolve after childbirth. The appeal of a trendy tattoo may diminish. Excessive sweating can be embarrassing, ruin clothes and disturb one’s everyday life. Localized areas of excess fat can be nearly impossible to exercise away. Too much hair makes for too much hassle. Melanoma can strike: be aware of the ABCD's of moles: asymmetry, irregular borders and colors, and diameter bigger than a pencil eraser. See a dermatologist if this applies to you, or if growths bleed.

Concerns of one’s 30’s and 40’s:

Wrinkles can get deeper and more numerous. Loss of elasticity leads to sagging, early jowl formation, and a deepening of nasolabial (nose-to-mouth) folds. The problems from earlier sundamage increase, including sallow discoloration, an increase in facial lines, irregular pigmentation, rougher texture, and an increase in the appearance of blood vessels. Rosacea may develop or worsen. The abdomen may sag due to pregnancy and weight loss. Precancerous growths and even skin cancer can develop. Leg veins worsen and some areas may look like a “road map”.

Over 50:

Baby boomers are redefining the decades, and “50 is the new 40.” Maintaining one’s skin & veins may take more work, but at MDLSV Institute we utilize many non-invasive techniques to get results. The signs of advanced aging include significant wrinkling and deep furrowing of the skin, in addition to significant pigmentation and sagging skin. Spots from past sun continue to emerge. Growths from age appear. Annual skin examinations by a dermatologist are strongly recommended because of the increasing risk of skin cancer.

Treatment Options

BOTOX® Cosmetic Injections for wrinkles

Wrinkles start to appear from frequent facial expressions: a frown, furrowed forehead, or crowsfeet from squinting. These start to etch themselves into the skin over time. Nothing works like regular BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments to help slow down this process by relaxing the muscles that cause these lines. The treatment is fast, takes effect within days and has no recovery time. MDLSV Institute is an Authorized National BOTOX® Cosmetic Training Center for physicians. Drs. Weiss and Beasley have been chosen by Allergan, the manufacturer of BOTOX® Cosmetic, to provide instruction to selected physicians on the proper and most effective way to administer BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Botox FAQ and botox information

IPL – Intense Pulsed Light

Redness from rosacea, irregular pigmentation, poor skin texture, and sun damage can be treated with IPL. The multiple wavelengths of IPL are absorbed by brown pigment, red blood vessels & the collagen layers. IPL usually has little downtime. It is designed to combat the effects of early aging and sundamage. MDLSVI has been working with IPL since 1995.

Non Invasive (Fractional) Lasers to Stimulate Collagen/Fractional Resurfacing

MDLSV Institute offers many lasers to stimulate new collagen to improve scarring, skin texture and wrinkles. Lasers target and heat the collagen in the underneath skin layer while protecting the surface. The goal is to increase new collagen formation. Depending on the severity of the problem and one’s ability to have “downtime,” we can choose from multiple lasers such as the Active FX™, Fraxel™, Palomar Starlux™ 1540, and Affirm™ . We have performed many studies on these devices and teach other physicians how to use them.

Injectable fillers

Fillers are injected to give a “quick fix” for wrinkles and folds. They temporarily restore a smoother appearance, adding volume to sagging areas to help fill lines and re-contour facial features. Fullness and definition can be added to lips, cheeks, chin and other areas. At MDLSV Institute, we only offer FDA-approved, authentic fillers, and have more than 20 years of experience in this field. Hyaluronic acids such as Restylane™, Perlane™, JuvedermUltra™, and JuvedermUltraPlus™ are most popular because of their effectiveness, safety and long duration. Cosmoplast™ and Cosmoderm™ are used more often than Zyderm™ or Zyplast™. For some patients with more severe problems, Radiesse™ or Sculptra™ may be appropriate. Fat transfer is an option for others. MDLSV Institute has been a site for Isolagen™ clinical trials, which is still in the process of obtaining FDA approval.

Varicose & Spider Vein Treatments

Varicose and spider veins on the legs can be treated in the office with non-invasive treatments. Sclerotherapy, the injection of a solution that irritates the lining of the vessel causing it to be reabsorbed, is the “gold standard” for treating most veins. Lasers can be used as well. For larger varicose veins, an in-office ultrasound is performed to localize the leaky valve areas so they can be treated. Depending on the extent of the problem, an “endovenous” technique may be necessary to treat underlying vessels. Dr. Robert Weiss helped to develop both the VNUS Closure procedure using radiofrequency, and the CoolTouch endovenous laser procedure. Both treatments are done in the office with local anesthetic. At MDLSVI, we have performed many thousands of treatments over more than two decades. We have published textbooks and many articles.
More on Varicose and Spider Veins

Chemical Peels

Light chemical peels gently exfoliate the skin with glycolic, Alpha-hydroxy or Beta-hydroxy acids. Removing the superficial layers of the skin helps give the skin a fresher appearance and helps clear pores.

Microdermabrasion/SilkPeel Dermalinfusion

A “medical grade” facial, microdermabrasion leaves the skin smoother by application of small crystals to the face, while simultaneously suctioning away crystals and exfoliated skin. At MDLSV Institute, we have chosen to advance to the next level and achieve the same results without the crystals. Similar to microdermabrasion, the SilkPeel™ Dermalinfusion™ System combines non-invasive exfoliation with deep delivery of patient-specific solutions directly to the skin without the use of crystal or other chemical exfoliants. This non-invasive, soothing skin treatment delivers immediate results, won't take hours out of your busy schedule, and will leave you with noticeably better skin in under 30 minutes. SilkPeel™ can improve the skin’s brightness, texture, and color. It works best for patients who have acne, clogged pores, rough skin texture, and/or irregular pigment. SilkPeel™ is a great maintenance procedure, and combines well with chemical peels. This can be combined with Gentlewaves® LED photomodulation for a completely non-invasive no down time regimen to smoother skin with less fine lines.

Vascular/Pulsed Dye Laser

These lasers can treat redness caused by rosacea, unwanted veins, sundamage, and scars. The light is specifically absorbed by the targeted blood vessels which are heated and then reabsorbed by the body during the healing process. Patients may experience redness, swelling, and bruising in the treated area for hours to up to a few days. These lasers are also used for the treatment of birthmarks, hemangiomas, port wine stains, warts, and scars.

“Brown Spot” and Tattoo Lasers: Alexandrite and Ruby

These lasers treat areas of brown pigmentation such as “sun spots” and freckles. Tattoos can often be removed with these.

Botox Therapeutic Injections for excessive sweating

For excessive sweating of the armpits, forehead, upper lip, palms and soles: these periodic treatments are more effective than prescription medicines or devices. This condition is called hyperhidrosis.

Liposuction and Laser Liposuction for Excess Fat Deposits

For out-of-proportion fat deposits like hip “saddlebags” or that after-the-baby stomach bulge, liposuction using the tumescent technique or new laser assisted fat reduction technique is a very safe, in-office procedure that improves body contours. At MDLSV Institute we also use tiny laser fibers with lasers such as the CoolLipo™ and SmartLipo™ to help patients get the best results with skin contraction and fat removal.
Learn more about liposuction procedure

Therapeutic Skin Care Regimen

Today patients can be confused by the thousands of products that claim to help promote skin health. At MDLSV Institute we can guide you to state-of-the-art products that have scientific evidence for their claims. Vitamin A and C derivatives, potent new anti-oxidants, growth factors and exfoliants are available.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal offers a long-term, usually permanent, reduction in hair that greatly relieves the ongoing stress of dealing with excess hair. MDLSV Institute started research in this medical procedure in 1995. Only licensed medical professionals perform this in our office.

New Light Treatments for Acne

MDLSV Institute offers treatments for acne that use light to destroy acne-causing bacteria in the clogged oil glands and help to unclog the oil glands. The Aesthera PPX™ and Aesthera Isolaze™ are almost painless, quick, and effective treatments which clear acne while improving your skin overall. We developed Isolaze™ treatment to combine a gentle vacuum with therapeutic broadband light to help rid your skin of acne causing impurities. The Blue Light is another treatment option that doesn’t use antibiotics while treating acne with light.

Fat transfer

This procedure involves removing your own fat from one area of the body and transferring it to another. Fat transfer is a safe procedure performed to re-contour the face and provide definition to the cheeks and chin. An allergic reaction is not a concern. Fat is removed by liposuction from your abdomen, thighs, or hips . Then, tiny droplets of fat are injected into sunken areas, such as the nasolabial folds, hollows under and around the eyes, cheekbones and jaw lines. The re-injected fat cells will usually last from months to a few years.

Nonsurgical tightening of the face and body

The Thermage™ procedure uses radiofrequency energy to non-invasively tighten sagging areas of the face and body. It safely heats your skin's underlayer and the web of collagen in the inner layer, causing an immediate tightening as well as improved tone and texture. Improvement usually continues and becomes even more noticeable for four to six months following treatment due to new collagen growth. Consultation is important to tell if one is a good candidate for Thermage™, which is usually a one-time procedure. Results may last for up to two years after which the treatment is repeated. MDLSV Institute has used this steadily improved technology since 2002, and has published results on its safety and effectiveness. The Palomar StarLux™ System’s LuxIR Fractional™ infrared technology is an alternative approach that coagulates soft tissue to stimulate collagen remodeling and gradually tighten sagging skin. It is usually a series of treatments.

More Aggressive Fractional Lasers to Stimulate Collagen

MDLSV Institute has developed many lasers to stimulate regeneration of new collagen. Lasers with slightly more downtime cause more redness but will be able to treat more advanced scarring, rough skin texture, wrinkles and even loose skin. The newest is a CO2 fractional laser called Active FX™.

Call 410-666-3960 for your appointment

In consultation, we will recommend treatment to help your problem. With a combination of non-invasive techniques outlined above, most people can improve the appearance and structure of your skin. We can tailor the aggressiveness and “down-time” of the technique to your needs. We look forward to seeing you.