The Film Crew from “The Beauty Magazine” was at our office all day yesterday. They conducted an interview with me and videotaped an African American patient being treated with the Clear and brilliant Permea laser. This revolutionary laser is safe and effective in patients with darker skin color. It significantly reduces fine lines, brown spots, and even tones and tightens large pores. Best of all; there is virtually no down time. Most patients will be able to resume their normal activities the next day.

Please look for us in the next print version of the Magazine. I will also post the video interview as it becomes available on their website.

Thank you.

http://www.solta.com/brands/clear-and-brilliant

A. David Rahimi, MD, FAAD, FAACS.

www.foreveryoung.net

We are proud to announce the addition of a Satellite office in Beverly Hills CA.

Dr. David Rahimi will schedule and see private consultations in his new Beverly Hills Location:

435 North Roxbury Avenue #104

Beverly Hills CA 90210

Please call our office and ask about the option of being seen in Beverly Hills for your free Cosmetic Consultation

Thank you

Zonya Villatoro

(Office manager- Forever Young, Inc.)

This laser looks very promissing in the treatment of Melasma.

More to come in the next few weeks-I will try to get some "before and after" phtos for you.

Dr. David Rahimi

Solta Medical, Inc. and SkinCeuticals, Inc. announced an exclusive partnership to deliver the first fractional laser treatment plus in-office and home use antioxidant skincare regimen. The partnership is the culmination of clinical research supported by Solta and SkinCeuticals exploring the beneficial effects of using Solta's Clear + Brilliant Laser System with its new handpiece named Permea and SkinCeuticals widely popular C E Ferulic antioxidant. The clinical research findings, which were presented at the 32 American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) Annual Conference in April 2012, demonstrated that patients experienced improved satisfaction with the overall appearance of their skin. Patients who received the Clear + Brilliant Permea treatment followed by C E Ferulic also perceived a more rapid reduction in post-treatment recovery time, including reduction in redness and swelling. The co-promotion includes an exclusive C E Ferulic in-office professional system and a home care recovery system that will be offered with each series of the new Clear + Brilliant Permea treatments.

One of the principal rules in my practice has always been to stay away from fads and unsafe and unproven practices.

I was intrigued by Gold Facials! They sound great and Ritzy! But are they safe? Effective?

As a dermatologist I have to say that I don’t see any particular benefits in applying edible Gold to the skin for a few minutes.

 I have used injectable Gold for many types of auto-immune diseases such as Lupus and Pemphigus and there are risks involved with this modality.

And then there is the risk of allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis. Altogether, I do not believe that it is safe or effective enough to offer it at Forever Young, Inc.

Here is another article on the safety and efficacy of Gold Facial:

How Safe And Effective Are Gold Facials?

• Aug 27, 2010
• Elaine Moore

Join the Conversation

Gold Leaf - American Museum of Natural History

Exotic and expensive spa treatments aren't necessarily the best. Regarding gold facials, concerns arise. Gold is known trigger allergic and autoimmune react

Spas worldwide are on the lookout for natural therapies to revitalize dull, dry and aging skin. In recent years, gold facials have been the high-ticket item, and gold’s association with Ayurvedic medicine gives it a certain legitimacy that may not be warranted. While gold facials are a regular menu item at spas in Japan, in the United States gold facials are available at a few select luxury spas.

Gold, Arthritis and Alchemy

Fifteenth century alchemists used gold, which has known antibacterial properties, in a number of different preparations intended to treat a wide variety of ailments including smallpox. The World Gold Council reports that gold is still widely used as a tonic in India, using 1-2 mg of gold in herbal suspensions. In the United States, colloidal gold (suspensions of gold in water) or gold salts were first used in 1927 to treat arthritis.

Until the introduction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the 1970s, gold was a popular arthritis remedy. Despite its popularity, not everyone responded well and side effects, which were common, included a slight risk for the development of drug-related lupus. However, by the time drug-related lupus was identified as a distinct illness, colloidal gold’s role in arthritis had become limited. Now used primarily in progressive polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis, gold is known to induce a variety of autoimmune responses and diseases that are well documented in the medical literature (Bigazzi 1999).

Today gold is often used in implants because of its resistance to bacterial colonization. Gold implants are particularly effective for organs such as the ear, where bacterial infection could cause major problems. Gold is also used in dental fillings and crowns. In the nineteenth century, suspensions of colloidal gold were used in the United States to cure alcoholism (then called dipsomania, defined as the uncontrollable craving for alcoholic liquors), and today gold is sometimes used to reduce dependency on alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and carbohydrates.

Allergies and Autoimmunity

Gold is recognized as one of the most common allergens. In some countries, gold is only second to nickel in the etiology of cutaneous (skin related) hypersensitivity reactions. In addition, reports of a rapidly progressive interstitial lung fibrosis in a goldsmith have raised the possibility that occupational exposure to gold may have pathologic consequences. This is especially suspect because there have been previous reports of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in patients receiving gold therapy. Gold has a number of immune system effects that help reduce inflammation. Other immune effects include the production of autoreactive cells that react with nuclear antigens and platelets, causing a variety of autoimmune disorders.

The American Association of Autoimmune and Related Diseases reports that the possible role of exposure to various metals in autoimmune disease has been explored for the last two decades, primarily through laboratory and animal studies. It has long been known that most metals inhibit immune cell proliferation and activation, with notable exceptions. Mercury, gold, and silver, for example, can induce lymphocyte proliferation and subsequent autoimmunity. In experiments, genetically-susceptible mice develop a lupus-like condition when dosed with mercury, silver, or gold.

Gold in Facials

Advertisements for gold facials tend to report that Cleopatra used pure gold as a nightly face mask, which is claimed to be responsible for her beautiful skin. Gold is frequently reported to regenerate new cells. Gold does cause cell regeneration as a result of the skin cells exposed to gold becoming irritated. Gold’s role in the past treatment of arthritis is used to describe its anti-inflammatory effects. Gold is also reported to have antioxidant properties that help prevent premature aging of the skin and reducing melanin production, thereby presumably reducing the appearance of sunspots.

The skincare company Hylunia, which is rooted in Ayurvedic principles, introduced one of the first gold facial creams and now has a variety of gold infused serums and lotions used for facials. In 2007 the Japanese company Umo introduced a gold leaf facial known as the Luxe 24 Karat Gold Facial. Gold facials typically range from $170--$400 for a one-hour session. Because gold doesn’t penetrate the skin the way plant-based antioxidant substances do, a gold-based cream is suspended into solution and applied as nano-particles. The gold facial includes a thorough skin cleansing, an application of gold cream, which is frequently mixed with honey to exfoliate the skin, and the application of a gold gel or mask, which may be combined with aloe vera and turmeric. After the mask has set (10-20 minutes) the skin is treated to a conditioning mask and rinsed. Other ingredients often used include saffron, which helps impart a golden glow, and lavender with its own anti-inflammatory properties.

In a CBS news interview on November 29, 2007, Susan Taylor, MD, questioned whether gold could improve the skin and whether it could penetrate the skin’s layers. Others besides Dr. Taylor are skeptical and see the gold facial as more of an indulgence than an effective spa therapy.

Resources:

American Association of Autoimmune and Related Disorders. 2006. Environmental Factors, What Role In Autoimmune Disease? InFocus Newsletter, September, accessed June 1, 2010.

Bigazzi, Pierluigi, Metals and Kidney Autoimmunity. 1999. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 107, Supplement 5, October.

Read more at Suite101: How Safe And Effective Are Gold Facials? | Suite101.com http://suite101.com/article/how-safe-and-effective-are-gold-facials-a279475#ixzz1yRptxVkP

Who wants to live forever? Scientist sees aging cured

An elderly couple sit on a bench next crocus flowers in a park in Duesseldorf in this March 17, 2010 file photo.

Credit: Reuters/Ina Fassbender

Just like all renovations – one improvement often leads to or warrants another.  Depending on the procedure, there may be two or three additional steps in order to   attain the desired effect.  This is not an up-sell technique but an important part of re-balancing and achieving symmetry...

Recently, I was interviewed by an LA Times reporter about Acne.org. I was asked if I believed that large quantities of Benzoyl peroxide, applied topically can controll/cure acne in almost every one.

My response was that "I am very skeptical" and "It is silly to believe that Acne can be cured with Benzoyl peroxide alone." Acne is a complex condition with many different causes. It can be a normal component of puberty or part of a debilitating condition such as Poly Cystic Ovarian disease or Acne Fulminans.

Basically a 30-minute interview that included explanations about the hormonal aspects of acne, the environmental component, infectious and bacterial component, the more than 200 available medications and classes etc. was reduced to and quoted as " It's silly..."

The Lifestyle Lift has become very popular over the past few years and I have had several patients ask me about it. I love that more and more surgeons are performing facelifts under local anesthesia. Remember, local anesthesia is all that is needed. I have been doing my Tuliplifts under local anesthesia since 2000.

One of the things that sets the Tuliplift apart is that the area under the neck is also addressed. Excess skin and fat is removed and the neck muscle (Platysma) tightened...

Axillary and Palmar Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating) can be very distressing and interfere with daily living and ones career.

Axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis can be socially and professionally embarrassing. Here is how I approach patients with excessive sweating.

Who performs the procedures does make a difference...

Sometimes during the consulation my patients tell me that they had Thermage several years ago with little visible improvement. Upon further questioning it becomes clear that the procedure was not performed by a Board Certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon. These non-surgical lifts can be performed by nurses and nurse practitioners. Generally speaking these non-MDs are more conservative and results are less consistent.

At Forever Young the Thermacool/Thermage procedure is performed by Dr. A. David Rahimi and with the aid of mild sedation.

In fact, we sit our patients up half-way during the procedure and show them the immediate tightening of the skin. The third generation hand pieces and the new upgraded machine are better than ever.

Acne Vulgaris is one of the most common skin disorders in the United States. It is estimated that over 20 million people suffer from this potentially debilitating condition. Acne can affect ones self-image, lead to social isolation and depression, and even cause physical and psychological scarring and disfigurement.

Read this if you ar not ready for a conventional cutting facelift.

Thermage, or Thermacool, is one modality often used to tighten the skin and underlying structures. Five years later and having performed hundreds of procedures I have learned to perfect the technique. I sometimes hear from patients that their friends had a Thermage procedure with no visible results. Upon further examination it becomes evident that the procedure was done not by a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, but by a nurse at a mall. Performing Thermage is an art. There is a delicate balance between visible and long lasting results and diappointment or possible side effects.

As many of you know from my other blogs, I am not a great fan of permanent injectable fillers. The body and face will change over time; whereas a permanent filler cannot. This important difference can lead to serous problems, and as such I tend to discourage the use of permanent injectible fillers whenever possible.

Artecol is a filler of this type, which consists of little solid microsheres (PMMA) suspended in a solution containing bovine collagen. It is widely used in Europe and will eventually become available in the United States. Given its popularity, one might assume Artecol poses less risk than other permanent fillers, however that is not the case. Recently, I came across an article in the Archives of Dermatology which exposes some long-term risks associated with Artecol and I'd like to share its substance with you.

Right across the street from my office on Wilshire Blvd. there is a large sign that reads: "Instant facelift. No downtime, no cutting, no surgery. Mesotherapy works."

Having practiced cosmetic surgery and dermatology for over 10 years, I have yet to see any significant or lasting improvement caused by the injection of Vitamins or herbal extract. A recent study by Dr. George J. Hruza published in the December issue of Dermatological Surgery (Dermatol Surg 2006 Dec;32:1467-72) shared this view. The study concludes that injections of Vitamins and herbal extracts do not result in any clinically relevant benefit. Aside from subcutaneous injections of Phosphatidyl choline and deoxycholate for lipolysis, mesotherapy continues to show a lack of clinical efficacy while still subjecting patients to potential risk.

Without a compelling study to the contrary, I am reluctant to endorse Mesotherapy as an effective and safe form of treatment. Perhaps more studies similar to Dr. Hruza's will be available in the future to shed more light on the efficacy of these and other commonly used rejuvenation techniques.