What is the truth about collagen oral supplements and topical collagen and my skin, hair and nail health?

Protein makes us healthy, but it doesn’t have to be “collagen protein supplements.” Short answer- collagen supplements are not worth the money. Here’s why. All proteins are made of 20 amino acid building blocks. Each protein contains a varying amount of the 20 amino acid types. Our cells are like a 3D printer, and the amino acids are the ink letters. An analogy that works is that we ingest bibles (protein), they are broken down by our digestion and liver metabolism into the individual letters in the book, and are not delivered to our cells as chapters or words. We make proteins from the individual amino acids that we derive from food. All protein sources have amino acids within them, arranged the way they are based upon being from animal, dairy, or plant sources. When we eat them as food, each of the proteins in the food are broken down into their component amino acids and then absorbed into our cells. The amino acids are then re-formed into our own three dimensional protein that we need to function and be healthy.

Collagen that is rubbed onto our skin never makes it into the cell of the skin where it actually makes a difference! Collagen cremes have very moisturizing attributes, but they do not get the collagen from the crème into your skin architecture. The actual collagen that makes you look great is found around the skin cell, in the architecture of your skin. The collagen content of your skin is what makes you look youthful, bright, wrinkle free, and young.  Similarly, collagen that is ingested from our diet, no matter how fancy the claim, never makes it into our cell in its original form. The collagen source is broken down nearly completely and the amino acids are re-tasked to make your own collagen all over again. The topical and oral supplements termed “hydrolized collagen” are broken down in the factory and sold to you. Your digestive system is already the perfect ‘breakdown factory.’ You need no intermediaries. Any dietary source of protein in the right proportion is going to do the job. The billion dollar supplement industry points only to “possible benefits”, not science, the FDA, or our understanding of human physiology.

There are well known methods of increasing collagen in your skin that makes you look and feel healthy. Topical cremes that have signal capability have been the mainstay of modern skin care and wound healing. These bio-active agents truly increase your own cell capablility of making collagen by their use. Many of them are available in my office. Laser technology, Radio frequency energies and some injectable agents are very well known to increase your body’s ability to produce collagen in the right place. That is the basis for why skin that is treated with Sciton lasers, Vivace radiofrequency micro-needling, or injections like Sculptra are so spectacular for facial aging. As long as you have healthy protein nutrition, your body will respond to these state of the art modalities and they will work for you.

1927 isn’t just a year, it’s a laser wavelength measured in nanometers called MOXI. You will be very happy to know that it is now exclusively available in my practice. Scientific research has produced better wavelengths to safely and efficiently brighten the skin and treat brown spots and sun damage.  MOXI uses a random fractionated pattern at a specific strength to distribute microscopic depots of laser energy on the skin surface. This results in no actual open wound. But it creates a MEND that is a microscopic epidermal tissue response that really brightens the skin.

When you have your consultation we will talk about your skin and measure it with a computer scanning tool, called VISIA. This measurement is a state of the art method of analyzing your skin, and from there we can help you decide your best treatment options. We later use VISIA analysis to measure the performance of your treatments and compare it to where we started. With MOXI, a series of gentle, no-down-time laser treatments are planned about a month apart. The skin reacts with a bit of sun-burn like response that day.

The microscopic MEND sites are pink and slough off in about 5 days, depending upon the intensity of the treatment. During that time you can socialize and bathe normally and be back to ZOOM world without problems. During the 5 day skin response we have you apply crème to your face that is provided at the time of your skin treatment. During the 5 day remodeling phase after the laser, your skin will feel like light sandpaper, indicating response to the laser. Then the baby smooth phase begins!

For those of us who are exposed to blue light, sun light, or the baby oil and betadine sun goddesses- MOXI laser has a role in rejuvenating your skin to return it to a healthy glow. If you have melasma- the irregular pigmentation found often after pregnancy- this treatment series is shown to reliably improve it.

It substantially improves aging skin and allows you to return to a busy lifestyle. You will notice that your skin is smoother and has a luster you may not have seen in years. It is also an innovation that this laser can be used on all skin types, so it holds promise to improve the texture of dark complexions without the risk of hyperpigmentation.

We are announcing an introductory special for MOXI treatment on March 18th for 300$ on that day only! Call 440-205-5750 to schedule your laser appointment today.

Since March of last year the impact upon health screening has been noted due to the fear of being exposed to coronavirus during the encounter. Women who should undergo annual mammography have put off the screening test, risking early cancer detection with an easy, available test. It has been recently noted that women who have been vaccinated have more call backs or rescreening requests, due to the mammogram detecting enlarged lymph nodes in the axilla (armpit) on the side of the vaccination. The nodes seen are found in 11% of women after the first vaccine shot, and 16% of those after the second shot. As a result, it is recommended that women obtain their mammograms prior to their inoculation if possible, or wait a month or so after the second to allow the lymph node reaction to quiet down and trigger fewer reassessments.   

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that nowhere you go is 100% safe. But all of society has to return to normal interaction with appropriate precautions. Delaying a mammogram for a month or two shouldn’t be a problem, but pushing it off for six months or waiting until next year allows a cancer that could have been caught early to progress. 

When it comes to choosing whether or not you want to postpone a mammogram, the answer is in weighing your risks, there are some things to consider: What is your personal risk for breast cancer, how common is COVID-19 in your area, and what is your risk for complications if you were infected with COVID-19? 

These questions should help you answer whether you should get screened ASAP or if it’s okay to delay a bit longer. If you’re at higher risk for breast cancer—say, if you know you have a mutation on a BRCA gene or you know you have a family history of breast cancer—or if you’ve felt a lump in one of your breasts, the chance of catching breast cancer at an early stage likely outweighs the risk of catching COVID-19 while you’re at the screening. If you’re at average risk for breast cancer, without anything in your or your family’s medical history to suggest greater risk, but at high risk for complications from COVID-19, it’s probably okay to delay a mammogram appointment until it feels safer to go out, as long as you clear that with your doctor. 

The abiding caution and sanitizing procedures adhered to by medical offices, hospital facilities, nursing and physician staff should certainly reassure all patients that the time to resume health screenings is now. The excess deaths seen from lockdowns triggering restricted health screening and psychiatric access is manifest in greater than 75,000 deaths from drug overdoses, increases in suicidal ideation from 7-11% per year to 25%, death rates for elderly with dementia increased by 123%, cardiovascular deaths increased by 94,000. It is past due time that patients return to their doctors for screening and assessments for medical treatment.

Learn the differences between the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as described by Dr. Paul Vanak. Both vaccines are given as intramuscular injections in your shoulder. They each work best if they are given two times, a few weeks apart. Their mechanism of action is quite different.

Technology has come a long way since the 1950s when Jonas Salk used the killed virus to make the polio vaccine. Modern-day Pfizer vaccine production is a technique using the monoclonal expansion of the COVID virus coat protein in a bacterial broth that is then extracted and purified. The section of the coronavirus gene that encodes the coat protein is spliced into the genome of lab-cultured bacteria. Grown in culture, the coat protein is then made in large quantities and is able to be harvested in its pure state- with no chance of infecting anyone. This purified coat protein is then reconstituted and injected into your arm. Actually quite exactly how Botox is harvested. No viral mRNA or bacterial DNA is involved when the protein coat product is injected into the patient. The recipient of the Pfizer vaccine gets just the coat protein injected. The coat protein that causes the couple to the human cell is then seen by your immune system.

The mRNA (messenger RNA) viral gene-splicing technology that Moderna utilizes has been around since 1991. The Moderna mRNA vaccine injection turns on your cell function to produce and export the coat protein of the coronavirus into your bloodstream. The vaccine contains a strand of mRNA which enters your cell. Once incorporated into your cell the mRNA molecule has a very short lifespan. It turns on the normal protein production of your cell to make the coat protein. The mRNA is rather quickly broken down in the cell and is never incorporated into your DNA. You do not experience any sort of gene changes in your own DNA. What is then produced by your cell is the coat protein which is exported into your bloodstream.  Your cellular immune system makes antibodies to the three-dimensional coat protein. At that point, things are just like the mechanism of action of the Pfizer vaccine!  This is where your immune system takes over and starts mounting a cellular immune and memory response. Doctors and scientists call it “making antibodies” to the virus.

The actual purified coat protein of the Coronavirus is the Pfizer vaccine. Your immune system then creates a memory and immune response for when you’re actually exposed to coronavirus. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work very well.

It is not known how long after immunization the immune protection lasts. Nor is it known how long after recovering from coronavirus will the person lose their native immunity and are subject to re-infection. 

I personally encourage my patients to get two doses of either the (Moderna) mRNA or (Pfizer) protein coat vaccine once it is available. It is life-saving and will more quickly allow our whole society to open up through herd immunity. 

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An exciting way to improve the contours of the abdomen using helium plasma technology, called Renuvion is now available. This in-office, minimally invasive technique is performed in the office through a 4mm incision in the belly button. You walk in, have your abdomen prepped with sterile soap, and then have a shot of local anesthetic in your incision site. Pro-Nox is administered through a mouthpiece that you puff on to help with anxiety that some people feel during minor procedures.

Thereafter, you will have liquid local instilled under your skin that makes you comfortable for hours after the treatment. Vaser ultrasound is used to dissolve your fat, and then a 3 mm flexible Renuvion wand is placed under your skin to assist in tightening your tissues three dimensionally! You may shower the day after the procedure.

You will notice that your tummy is flatter the next day. It takes about 7 minutes of Renuvion energy per side to substantially improve your contour of your abs, that will last for years. You may experience some bruising. You should refrain from heavy activity for about 3 weeks, but can return to work in a day or so.

I combine this treatment with tummy tuck or other body contouring or facial rejuvenation, but that usually requires anesthesia for longer or more complex procedures. Single areas of treatment include the neck, back, flanks, abdomen, arms, thighs, and side breast excess. Should you wish to treat these areas at one time we talk over your goals in our consultation process.

You can see photos of results that you’ll love on MentorPlasticSurgery.com Don’t miss our filler special- buy one and get a 2nd syringe at 50% off into February. We welcome your inquiry!

I get variations of this question every year, and I always answer it the same way.  Plastic surgery, like any surgery, should be well-researched and well-considered before decisions are made.  There are two key aspects that you need to consider:

1. Decide what is right for yourself, right now.  Do not make decision to have or not have plastic surgery based on the calendar or pleasing anyone else. The New Year might be a great time for the New You. But decide what you want for your body and your personal well-being.  
2. Consult with a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon. The internet and friends may have information, but you need to base your decision on specific details that pertain precisely to you – your body, health, desired results, etc.  And don’t ‘cut corners’ by getting advice from other than a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only they have the education, training and experience to provide insight critical to your decision.

As for cosmetic surgery’s popularity, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2019 than ever before. These are the Top 6 with over 100,000 procedures performed: Breast Augmentation (about 300,000 women annually); Liposuction (not including various non-surgical variations); Blepharoplasty (eyelid reshaping); Rhinoplasty (Nose reshaping); Rhytidectomy (facelift) and Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck).

I invite you to call and schedule a consultation. Despite the pandemic, I was close to my record-setting 2019 year in the number of procedures performed.  This experience allows me to more effectively help you and all my future patients.

Mother Teresa said, “It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.”

Never have those words been more true than for this holiday season.  The pandemic has devastated our lifestyles, our traditions, and our freedoms.  It has reversed one of the strongest economies our country has ever known, leaving millions out of work, and causing entrepreneurs to question their ability to overcome.  It has shattered families in so many ways, through illness and death, through financial harm, through depression, anxiety and stress.  It has accentuated hopeless over hopefulness, and replaced optimism with fear and worry.

In his music from the Broadway show “Mame,” Jerry Herman wrote: “I’ve grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older, and I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder, I need a little Christmas now.”  

Yes, we all truly do. But that’s where Mother Teresa’s words really matter… because now that Christmas 2020 is technically behind us, it can still be Christmas every time we let God love others through us… through our positivity, our enthusiasm, our kindness and caring, our random acts of kindness, our generosity, our willingness to forgive, our gratefulness, our unconditional love.

As challenging as this year has been, the overwhelming majority of us have made it through this, and we know the dawn is near.  Let’s keep celebrating Christmas every day in 2021 and “Let God Love Others Through Us.”  Blessings for you all. 

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Due to the explosive demand for injectable agents into the face, dentists, family doctors and others have ventured into cosmetic treatments.  Some companies even offer weekend training programs to entice non-plastic surgeons to sell their products.  When it comes to facial rejuvenation and body contouring, American Board of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) certification is the gold standard.  All other boards that include the word “cosmetic” are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.  

Plastic Surgery training is at least 7 years after medical school because there is so much to learn including properly assessing and treating patients, and evaluating techniques.  When contemplating facial injections, you should consider possible negative effects. Also have conversations about how and where you want injections with your highly trained, experienced Plastic Surgeon.  Treatments typically last many months, but won’t last if done improperly. Or worse, you will be forced to tolerate unflattering results for the duration of action of the product. Products like BOTOX or Juviderm could be your best option, but you should understand options. Other options include harvesting your own fat and re-injecting it into other areas (Autologous Fat Transfer).  

As for the cost difference, if you consider all factors, including the expert care you receive and the peace of mind knowing you will be pleased with your results, there is no doubt that a plastic surgeon provides your best value.  We have a few appointments available before the holidays, if you call our office.  And remember that you can easily print last minute gift certificates on our website. Happy Holidays![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

There is a big difference.  It is clear that doctors who advertise themselves as certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) do not meet the criteria that is required for board-certified plastic surgeons.  Ear doctors, dermatologists, family practice, and Emergency room physicians are the most common physicians who call themselves cosmetic surgeons, but do not have the training to do what Board Certified Plastic surgeons do. Unfortunately, misleading marketing and overtly false advertising are fairly widespread.  If you compare the required training, a board-certified plastic surgeon must have at least six years of surgical training, and complete an accredited plastic surgery training program. They must perform thousands of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures of different types, pass rigorous written and oral examinations and commit to continuing education and assessment. In comparison, ABCS-certified physicians complete only one year of surgical training, and one written and oral examination completed during a single weekend, with no continuing medical education requirements.

According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 1.8 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed last year.  This high demand underscores the need for regulation and education to help patients make informed decisions.  In a study recently published in the ASPS official medical journal, information was reviewed to assess residency training history and advertised scope of practice for 342 ABCS-certified physicians.  The study revealed 62.6% of ABCS Surgeons advertised surgical operations beyond the scope of their residency training. 

I cannot emphasize strongly enough the critical importance of patients having surgical procedures performed by a plastic surgeon credentialed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Is labiaplasty common? While many procedures have become more openly discussed, labiaplasty is an important but not widely known medical procedure. Vague terms like “vaginal rejuvenation” and “designer vagina” can undermine the seriousness of an elongated labia, particularly for patients with one. This condition is often attributed to congenital causes, supplemented hormones, chronic irritation, childbirth, aging, and external physical causes. Women at nearly every age may have symptoms such as tugging, twisting, urinary tract infections, personal hygiene issues, painful intercourse, pain during exercise, exposure in clothing and deviation of the urine stream.

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that alleviates the symptoms and significantly improves the quality of life. My practice has seen a large increase in the number of labiaplasty procedures performed, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports over 11,000 were performed in 2019. The surgical goal is to reduce the size of a woman’s labia minora, the inner lips of the vaginal lips, and make them more symmetrical so they don’t protrude or hang beyond the labia majora.

It is usually done on an outpatient basis in less than one hour. The procedure causes minimal discomfort, and the sutures dissolve on their own. Following surgery, patients should avoid significant physical exertion and exercise for approximately one month, as well as sexual encounters. If performed properly, the condition rarely recurs. My experience and recent scientific studies indicate that labiaplasty has a high degree of patient satisfaction and success.
If you would like to know more, please contact my office to help determine if it is right for you.

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