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Genesis Combines Levulan and IPL for Striking Results and Minimal Downtime

Medical photo rejuvenation, a non-surgical, medically based skin rejuvenation procedure, has been called the most exciting advancement in skin rejuvenation since BOTOX® Cosmetic. Performed here in our office, this treatment combines intense pulsed light (IPL) with Levulan^TM, a naturally occuring photosensitizing compound, to treat rosacea, wrinkles, large pores, acne, red and brown pigmentation, large skin oil glands, and precancerous skin conditions. Even after one treatment patients notice smoother skin and a striking reduction in red and brown pigmentation. Considered a new alternative to Accutane^TM, this treatment also has dramatic effects on severe acne. By combining Levulan with IPL, patients experience superior results with fewer treatments and minimal downtime.

Taking the Mystery Out of Today's Facial Rejuvenation Options

As the demand for facial rejuvenation increases, advances in medically based, non-surgical treatments provide more options than ever before. Skin creams, Botox™, lasers, IPL, microdermabrasion, soft tissue fillers, peels, and safer cosmetic surgery are now available for everyone at every age.

And for most consumers, the variety is welcome -- but confusing.

In 1996, a "Wrinkle Scale" was developed by Dr. R.G. Glogau that describes and classifies the extent of aged skin. The Glogau Wrinkle Scale is a valuable tool for comparing different skin rejuvenation treatments and determining which one may be most effective for you.

The following is a table that summarizes Dr. Glogau's wrinkle scale and identifies which treatments are most appropriate for each skin type. Because different treatments affect particular features of aged skin, combination therapy is sometimes recommended to help patients achieve the greatest benefit.

This is the first of several articles on facial rejuvenation that will appear in the Genesis newsletter. Future articles will discuss these treatment options in more detail.

If you have questions about anything you read here or a specific treatment, please feel free to call Suzie at 314-432-1772 or e-mail info@genesiscosmeticsurgery.net.

Nutrition Storm Warning

Sound Advice for Navigating the Muddy Waters of Diet Fads and Hype

By Cynthia Berner, M.S., R.D.

We are living in the height of nutrition storm season. We are battered daily with the latest dos and don'ts of what to eat. We react to these recommendations with gusto. In the 80s, oat bran was the craze with products hitting the market from oat bran potato chips to oat bran beer. Low fat came crashing in with the 90s with low-fat and fat-free chips, cookies and dairy products. Today, we are just as confused but eager to comply with the latest high-protein/low-carb hype.

There are sprinkles of commonality in all of these messages, but given the pace of our lives, there is little time to sort through it all for a clear answer to what we should be eating. Dr. Atkins brought to light the importance of limiting simple carbohydrates such as white breads and snack foods. The South Beach Diet recognizes the importance of including whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables along with lean protein sources. Dr. Dean Ornish emphasizes a lifestyle approach that includes meatless meals.

We all need time to make a few simple changes in the way we eat that will benefit our health over the long run. It's important to have a plan - a rudder to keep us in the right direction. Consistently replacing white breads with 100 percent whole grains, and including plentiful servings of fruits and vegetables and enjoying lean protein sources will produce tremendous health benefits.

How to fit these overall goals into our lives is the real challenge. Short-term goals that are specific and concrete give us a focal point to keep us going. When the storm clears, the reality of what we should be eating is a moderate approach that is customized to our unique tastes and lifestyles.

Genesis offers a nutritional counseling program that begins by assessing your current eating habits, making recommendations and helping you make effective short-term goals.

In the upcoming newsletters, we will look at each of the major nutrients and provide some practical tips for smooth sailing towards healthy eating.

Cynthia Berner is one of the founders of Simply Cooking Solutions (www.simplycooking.net), a small private company dedicated to helping people meal plan, grocery shop, and prepare recipes for healthful home cooking. She also heads the Genesis Nutritional Counseling Program.

Stop the Aging Process — Lift Weights!

By Stevyn Guinnip, MSEd ~ ACSM, Health/Fitness Instructor

Did you know that muscle fibers shrink as you age? Inactive people can lose up to 10 percent of their lean muscle mass every 10 years after age 30. Strength training, however, can help you preserve muscle and essentially reverse the aging process.

By improving your muscle mass, you raise your metabolism. One pound of muscle burns about 75 calories a day at rest, which creates a higher metabolism. One pound of fat, on the other hand, burns about two calories a day at rest. This lower metabolism causes fat gain over time. Therefore, the old saying is true: "Use it or lose it."

We all naturally lose half a pound of muscle and gain 4 pounds of fat per year. In 10 years, we have lost 5 pounds of muscle, gained 40 pounds of fat, and increased our overall weight by 35 pounds. By weight training, we can gain 1 pound of muscle, which increases metabolism, and this alone can cause us to lose 8 pounds of fat in one year.

Body composition is the percentage of fat verses lean tissue you have in your body. Men should have around 15 percent body fat, but actually have an average of 26 percent. Women should have approximately 22 percent, but in reality they average 31 percent. At age 20, most people are at their healthiest body composition, but by age 40, many have had a major body composition change. They have lost 15 percent of their original muscle and gained 55 percent more fat! Therefore, we need to lift weight to gain weight (muscle) and lift weight to lose weight (fat).

But don't let weight training intimidate you. All it takes is doing one exercise per muscle group for about 20 minutes two to three times a week to maintain, and even improve, your muscle tone. Why weight? Train!

Stevyn Guinnip, MSEd ~ ACSM, is founder of Healthy Image Strategies, a fitness and nutrition consulting firm. You can reach her at 314-749-9579 or stevyn@healthyimagestrategies.com, or visit www.healthyimagestrategies.com.