Tag Archives: laser

Derma Pen Recommendations

dermapen with logo

For our Modesto Plastic Surgery Practice, I’ve come up with these guidelines.

Derma Pen is a modality for improving:

  • Rosacea
  • Scars
  • Lax Skin
  • UV Damage
  • Stretch marks

Is the DermaPen a New Invention?

before-after-1Yes and No.  The makers of Derma Pen thinks it’s a new invention.  However, I’m an acupuncturist who does cosmetic acupuncture.  This idea of wounding the skin with a needle to cause more collagen growth is not new.  From what I know, this needling concept has been used thousands of years ago in acupuncture.  Most acupuncturists today don’t know the art of cosmetic acupuncture.  It requires additional training.  However, I (Dr. Calvin Lee) was very interested in cosmetic acupuncture because it complements our Modesto Plastic Surgery practice.

But I must say the concept of attaching 11 cosmetic acupuncture needles to the end of a machine is a new concept.  What this can do, I cannot do by hand.  I am simply not patient enough to cover as much ground as this machine can.  Finally after 5000 years, there is an improvement to acupuncture!

The Boston Channel website regarding Cosmetic Acupunture – interviews Dr. Calvin Lee (me)

Derma Pen Rivals Lasers?

Article on Automated Microneedling Rivals Energy-Based Tx

Cost of Derma Pen Procedure:

  • MD model (deeper) of the Derma Pen, not the Aesthetician Model (less deep)
  • Done by a Surgeon who is trained in aesthetic injections for the face, who is also an Acupuncturist who is also trained in Cosmetic Acupuncture (um, that’s me).
  • Includes addition of Kerotinocyte Growth Factors with no additional cost – right where the skin is most absorbent.  Yes, growth factors is another craze in the skin care industry.

$400-$500 per session.  Prices change, please call us for more info.

PRIOR TO DERMA PEN PROCEDURE:

1) Stop Tretinoin/Retin-A x 2 days before procedure
2) Avoid prologned / direct sun exposure or sun burns to the treatment area for 2 days
3) Skin should be clean and makeup free before coming for the procedure
4) We will place numbing cream containing Lidocaine 15 minutes before the procedure.

How often can the Derma Pen be done?

ANSWER: You should see an improvement in your skin after the first visit. You can have them as close as once per month. At this time we are recommending, once per month for the first 5 months, the after that possibly every third month to continue to show improvements.

How long does Derma Pen results last?

I’m going to answer this based on what I’ve seen with my Cosmetic Acupuncture practice. With Cosmetic Acupuncture, after about 10 sessions, we have seen patients keep their changes for about 2 years. I think we’ll get to that result after 4 treatments with derma pen. But the reason people keep getting treatments after 4 sessions is that improvements continue on and I think folks would be excited to see the clock turn backwards even more.

Post operative care after DERMA PEN:

1) Stay away from sun exposure x 7 days
2) Wear hat x 7 days (wear as much as you can)
3) Do not wear sun screen x 12 hours (we don’t want this to absorb into your skin)
4) Do not wear make-up x 12 hours
5) Cold sore patients may want to take medication
6) Use your serums: Phyto, B5 Gel, Vitamin C gel right away and daily afterwards to take advantage of the greater penetration after Derma Pen
7) Your skin will be dry and a bit red for the next 2-3 days after the procedure. Moisturize with Phyto, B5 Gel, and/or any other favorite moisture product of yours.

darkerskin-dermapen

Can DermaPen be used for darker skin?

Yes, Derma Pen can be used on skin of all colors.

womanlipsdermapen

 

www.SurgeryToday.com (209) 551-1888

www.SurgeryToday.com
(209) 551-1888

What do we do at Surgical Artistry?

 

5 year patients choice     surgical artistry full page ad never boring

I get this question a good deal.  I think it’s probably somewhat confusing as to what we do and we offer a lot of procedures and products.  Basically we are a two surgeon medical group offering services in Veins, Acupuncture, Plastic Surgery, and General Surgery.  That can be quite a lot.  But even with that said, it’s somewhat confusing as to what each of these items involves.  So I thought I’d make a list which doesn’t include everything, but covers most of what we do:

DR. TAMMY WU PROCEDURES:

DR. CALVIN LEE COSMETIC and BOTOX PROCEDURES:

  • Botox for cosmetic
  • Botox for headaches
  • Botox for hand and axillary sweating
  • Botox for TMJ (jaw pain)
  • Fillers (ie. Juvederm)
  • Lip Augmentation with Juvederm or other injectable fillers
  • Vein Laser
  • Vein Injections (ie. with Asclera)
  • Face Vein treatment
  • Acne Consultation
  • Skin Care Consultation
  • Cosmetic Mole Removal
  • Microdermabrasion
  • Chemical peels (ie. Obagi Blue Peel Radiance and Obagi Blue Peel)

DR. CALVIN LEE ACUPUNCTURE PROCEDURES:

  • Acupuncture trigger point deactivation for muscle pain
  • Acupuncture for back pain / neck pain
  • Acupuncture for buttock pain (ie. pyriformis syndrome)
  • Acupuncture for IT band pain (side of thighs wrapping to below knee)
  • Acupuncture for fertility
  • Acupuncture for TMJ (jaw pain)
  • Acupuncture for stress / anxiety
  • Acupuncture for allergies
  • Acupuncture for fibromyalgia
  • Acupuncture for depression
  • Acupuncture for hormones (hot flashes, acne, menstrual cycle)
  • Acupuncture for facial rejuvenation (cosmetic)
  • Acupuncture to boost the immune system
  • General wellness Acupuncture
  • Anti-nausea acupuncture for those undergoing chemotherapy or pregnancy

  SKIN CARE PRODUCTS:

  • Obagi Line
  • NIA 24 Line
  • Various Skinceuticals

 GRADUATED COMPRESSION SOCKS:

To recover faster from workouts, prevent varicose veins, and prevent injuries

  • Calf sleeves from Sigvaris and CEP brands
  • Full calf sleeves from Sigvaris and CEP brands
  • Dress socks from Sigvaris
  • Thigh high and Pantyhose compression from Sigvaris.

 Contact Us:

Surgical Artistry - Calvin Lee, MD / Tammy Wu, MD

 

Metronidazole Topical for Rosacea?

This is a note-taking blog for purposes of education – not for specific directed medical advice.

Metronidazole is a treatment available for Rosacea

  • Topical application of Metronidazole (meanning applied to the skin surface)
  • Metronidazole also comes as a pill form but this isn’t usually needed or indicated for Rosacea
  • Metronidazole is an antibiotic
  • Flagyl is the name a brand of metronidazole in pill form
  • As an antibiotic, Metronidazole is effective against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa.  It is a drug used for treating clostridium difficile infection (c. diff).
  • Topically, it comes as cream or gel
  • Metrogel is a brand (Metrogel 1%) as is Rozex.  And there are generics available for metronidazole gel or cream.
  • Many patients use metronidazole topical twice a day
  • Many patients of ours at Surgical Artistry, Modesto, report some dryness with the product and use it with a moisturizer.

Other uses of Metronidazole

  • Orally it has been used in Crohn’s disease
  • And orally, it has been used as part of the treatment for peptic ulcer disease

Obagi Rosaclear

  • a system designed by Obagi Medical for treatment of Rosacea
  • Metronidazole topical is part of the kit,
  • available as part of the rosaclear kit is a cleanser, toner, and a special tinted sunblock

What is Rosacea?

  • Some forms of it seems to be a skin infection which is related to blood vessel dilation and redness
  • Central facial redness, burning and stinging
  • visible red veins
  • bumps or blemishes
  • tight or itchy facial skin which may swell
  • Cause is unknown

What can our office in Modesto, do for Rosacea?

There are many treatments available for Roscea

  • We have Rosaclear available from Obagi
  • We have many Rosclear Sunscreen – tinted specially to hide and blend in the redness.
  • We have a vascular laser (Dornier 940, Germany) which is good for targeting the red vessels.
  • For some patients we can also prescribe clindamycin topical for rosacea