Frequently Asked Questions

Spa Etiquette

Because we would like each client to be completely satisfied after their visit, we ask that you observe the following rules:

• Punctuality - To receive the most out of your scheduled treatment, we recommend that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your reserved time to allow you to relax and prepare for your treatment. If you are running late, we may be forced to shorten your appointment time or reschedule your treatment.


• Cancellations - If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, give us as much advance notice as possible. We require 24-hour notice to cancel a single service, and 48 hours or more is required for a package of services. A cancellation charge will apply for appointments not cancelled within the mentioned timeframe. We appreciate your cooperation.


• Children - We do love kids!!! But to ensure that you and all other A Beautiful You™ clients are able to fully enjoy the peaceful, serene, and relaxing nature of our facility, we ask that you please arrange to visit the spa without children (even if you are accompanied by another adult).


• Cell Phone Devices - Out of respect and consideration for our other MedSpa clients and to ensure your relaxation and serenity, we ask that you kindly turn off all cell phone devices during your visit.


• Socializing- When in the Tranquility Room and elsewhere in our MedSpa, be mindful of others. Please keep conversations at a low volume.


• Personal Property - Please keep valuables with you at all times. A Beautiful You™ Luxury Medical Spa is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.

What is CPT™?

At A Beautiful You™, we administer treatments based on sound medical decision making and proven medical research. When a client comes in for a consultation to address a request, whether it is to reverse the signs of aging or correct a pregnancy related concern, we employ the problem solving skills that fit the individual situation using “Customized Prescription Therapy, or CPT™! What works for one person may not work the same way for another - everyone is treated in a customized fashion according to their request, their individual situation, and their skin and body requirements.

Facial Treatments

Who is a Candidate?

Almost everyone is a candidate because our facials are customized to fit your individual needs depending on your skin type. If you have any known skin allergies, let us know before your treatment as we use many creams, cleansers, serums, etc. Overall, a facial is an excellent option if you'd like to keep your skin looking and feeling clean, healthy, and rejuvenated.

What happens during a facial treatment?

Facial Treatment at A Beautiful You™ consists of a double cleansing to remove makeup and impurities while steam is used to soften the skin. A thorough skin examination is performed to evaluate strength and depth of proper exfoliation. Your esthetician will perform manual extractions if needed. Finally, a relaxing massage to face, shoulders, arms and hands will be done followed by a mask appropriate for your skin type.

Is any recovery time needed after my facial?

No. You will not feel any pain after your treatment although, it is not advised that you get a facial within a couple days of an event in which you'd like to look your best. Your skin may be slightly pink or irritated, especially if many extractions were needed.

How often should I have a facial?

Once every one to three months is most beneficial depending on your skin type. Your esthetician will evaluate your skin and provide you with a recommended treatment plan that will work best for you.

Wrinkle Treatments

How long does Botox® or Dysport® last?

Maximal effects last several months. Repeat treatments will need to be administered as the effect wears off after about three to four months.

Are there any side effects to this treatment?

Although rare, the most common side effects are headache, respiratory infection, flu-like symptoms, temporary eyelid droop, and nausea. Our medical staff will carefully take you through the steps of the procedure to ensure the least amount of discomfort.

Who is a candidate for Botox® or Dysport®?

Men and women aged 18 to 65 years commonly use Botox® or Dysport® for cosmetic purposes. Certain neurological disorders, pregnancy and a small list of other conditions may exclude you from use. We are also experts at administering medical grade neurotoxin for treatment of hyperhidrosis (excess sweating) of the hands, feet, and armpits. As medical professionals, we treat many individuals of any age for uncontrollable facial twitching and facial dyskinesis, including blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm.

Where will Botox® or Dysport® be injected?

The most common treatment areas are the frown lines between the eyes, forehead wrinkles, and ‘crows feet' around the eyes. Botulinum toxin can also be used for migraine headaches and sweat gland suppression.

Is Botox® or Dysport® painful?

Any discomfort felt is usually mild and brief. At A Beautiful You™, we use very thin, custom selected small needles to administer all medications. A topical anesthetic or ice can be used on the area prior to and after the injection.

Will my facial expressions still look natural?

Your facial expressions will not radically change. Although results are visible you will still be able to make facial expressions, just without the previous wrinkles or creases.

How long does Collagen last?

Collagen is a natural protein and therefore the body is able to break it down fairly quickly. In most cases, facial collagen injections will last for two to four months.

Is Restylane® safe?

Yes. Restylane® has been used by dermatologists and plastic surgeons worldwide since 1996. Restylane has a highly favorable safety profile.

How long does Restylane® last?

Restylane® is proven to deliver long-lasting results. Studies have shown that Restylane® effects generally last for about six months or more in many circumstances.

How is Restylane® different from Botox®?

Restylane® is a natural cosmetic filler. In contrast, Botox® is a drug that blocks nerve transmission and relaxes the underlying muscles. Many patients have been very pleased after receiving treatment with both products.

Acne Treatments

What causes Acne?

The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several related factors. One important factor is an increase in hormones called androgens. These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Sebaceous glands are in the skin and produce an oily substance called sebum. These glands are the sites of acne lesions. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy and starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne. Another factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents.

How does Acne develop?

Doctors describe acne as a disease of the pilosebaceous units (PSU's). Found over most of the body, PSU's consist of a sebaceous gland connected to a canal, called a follicle, which contains a fine hair. Normally the hair, sebum, and dead skin that fill the narrow follicle produce a plug, which is an early sign of Acne. The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin. The mixture of oils and cells allows bacteria Propionibacterium Acnes (P. Acnes) that normally live on the skin, to grow in the plugged follicles. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells which cause inflammation.

Does chocolate really make you breakout with acne? What about oily foods?

Prevailing wisdom in the dermatology community is that diet and acne are not related. Of course science is never a 100% reliable enterprise. But at this time, there is no evidence that chocolate, sugar, oil, milk, seafood, or any other food causes acne. Regarding chocolate specifically, several studies have been performed, and the answer to "does chocolate cause pimples?" is a resounding "No".

Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

Who is a candidate for Blepharoplasty?

The most ideal candidate for blepharoplasty is a healthy individual who has realistic expectations about the outcome of their surgery. They should not have a medical condition which may impair the healing process. If you have any kind of eye disease, thyroid disorder, cardiovascular disease, or if you smoke, be sure to tell your doctor during your consultation.

What happens during surgery?

On the day of your surgery, general anesthesia will be administered. Your surgeon will make an incision which is designed to be concealed following the procedure. Depending on your current condition, the doctor may reposition fat deposits, tighten facial muscles and/or tissue, and may remove excess skin. Following the procedure, swelling and bruising will likely occur. This will gradually disappear as a more defined eye area is revealed, leaving you looking alert and rejuvenated.

What can I expect after my surgery?

Following your treatment, you may be given an ointment to be applied to the affected area. You may need to have your eyes temporarily loosely wrapped in gauze. Your doctor will discuss ways in which you can ensure that you are not slowing the healing process; this may include frequently applying ointment or taking oral medication.

Are there risks of complications?

Yes, as there are with any surgery. Complications are rare but may include temporary blurred vision, bleeding, infection, difficulty closing your eyes, risks with anesthesia, and numbness or other skin sensation changes. These risks can be discussed with your doctor during the initial consultation.

Are results permanent?

Final results will take several weeks to appear and will be permanent, although you will still continue to age naturally. It could take up to a year for the incision lines to become unnoticeable. You should continue to protect your face from the sun in order to maintain ideal results.

Photo Dynamic Treatments

What is a Photo Dynamic Treatment?

Photo Dynamic Treatment is the process of using light to treat facial redness, flushing and discoloration caused by aging and sun damage. Treatments result in consistent, visible improvement of the skin with no downtime, little discomfort, and minimal risk.

What is the treatment like?

A treatment generally lasts 15 to 30 minutes. Immediately following a treatment, the skin may appear red and flushed and tiny capillaries may appear more visible. Brown spots may appear darker, but these disappear gradually in a matter of hours.

What areas can be treated?

Treatments can be applied on any part of the skin, but are especially effective in improving the appearance of the face, neck, and chest.

How soon will I see results?

After your first treatment, your skin will feel smoother and will have a more even tone. Best results are achieved after four or five treatments, depending on the condition of your skin.

What are the advantages of Photo Dynamic Treatments over Chemical Peels?

Chemical peels will not reduce redness, flushing, or dilated capillaries. Before light-based technology came along, there was no effective treatment for facial or neck redness, or flushing.

Who should get a Photo Dynamic Treatment?

People who suffer from Rosacea and experience flushing and redness of their skin. In addition, patients with early signs of aging, acne, and sun damage who want to recover the youthful glow of their skin will find a Photo Dynamic Treatment to be very beneficial. Also, individuals who do not want to take time off to heal from laser resurfacing or chemical peels may find this to be a great option.

Medical Microdermabrasion and WonderPeel®

Are there any side effects?

Temporary redness and slight discomfort may be experienced which usually subsides within a short time. It is recommended that you minimize your sun exposure and apply sun block following treatment as your skin's sensitivity may be heightened.

What does a Medical Microdermabrasion treatment feel like?

At A Beautiful You™ we use our own trademarked and exclusive WonderPeel® process to mechanically exfoliate and smoothen skin, resulting in a remarkable glow. Most patients state they feel a tingling sensation on their face as the natural diamond touches the skin. After the treatment, special moisturizers will be applied to the skin.

How long does a Medical Microdermabrasion session last?

Typically 30-45 minutes for the face. The hands, feet, legs, and back can also be treated. The procedure time for those areas varies depending on your skins condition.

How soon can I see these results?

Results will be evident immediately after the treatment. Depending on the condition of your skin, recommended frequency of treatments may vary from four to twelve times per year to achieve the best results.

Is Medical Microdermabrasion for everyone?

Almost everyone can benefit from medical microdermabrasion, but patients taking certain medications or who have an active inflammatory skin condition may need to postpone treatment. We recommend you have an initial consultation with our medical staff before treatment.

Freckle & Brown Spots Treatments

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How do freckles develop?

The sun and sun-tanning lights emit ultraviolet (UV) rays. In response to sunlight exposure, the outer layer of the skin thickens and the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) in the skin produce the pigment melanin at an increased rate. A freckle is nothing more than an unusually heavy deposit of melanin at one spot in the skin.

What are Liver Spots and how do they occur?

Liver spots are also known as age spots or brown spots. These brownish, yellowish spots are often first noticed on the arms and hands, then the face. They also occasionally appear on the chest and back, and less frequently, on the legs and torso. They are a result of your skin trying to acclimatize and protect itself from sun exposure by producing an overabundance of melanin. Melanin deposition is the pigment component of your skin responsible for splotchy or uneven tanning. Such brown or sun spots may also be the telltale sign of accumulated wastes or some bodily dysfunction.

How do I maintain the results?

With any treatment of pigmentation problems, sun exposure must be avoided. Age spots and brown patches on the skin have been directly linked to sun exposure. To maintain results from a treatment and to prevent any further pigmentation damage from occurring, use of a sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher is mandatory. Also, maintenance treatments of the various therapies may be necessary. These home treatments may include use of prescription strength hydroquinone, Retin-A, and other combinations as custom prescribed.

Chemical Peels

How soon can I see the results?

Your skin immediately looks and feels smoother and tighter. Your face may temporarily appear rosy, but that should dissipate within the hour. In a day or two, your face may begin peeling. The degree of peeling can vary from invisible, to mild, to noticeable peeling and flaking. This will depend on your skin and other factors. There can be little to no downtime with most of these peels, however deeper peels are also offered and are prescribed for certain skin conditions as determined during your consultation.

How is the Chemical Peel Treatment performed?

The chemical peel solution is applied to your cleansed facial skin during a process that usually takes no more than 10-15 minutes. No "after-peel" ointment or covering is required. Depending on the strength of the peel, periodic treatments may be necessary until the desired effects are achieved.

Will I feel any pain?

During the procedure, most people feel a brief burning sensation followed by a feeling of numbness or stinging. The sensation will vary depending on the type of peel.

Permanent Make-up

Why should I consider permanent makeup?

Permanent makeup is a great procedure for people with loss of skin pigmentation, thinning eyebrows, thinning lips, and for those who have conventional makeup allergies. Permanent makeup allows you to avoid the daily application required with traditional makeup. Unlike traditional makeup, permanent makeup will not smear, smudge, or run during your daily activities.

• Eyebrows – Permanent makeup applied in the brow region mimics the natural hair of the brow. This can provide an appearance of fullness for anyone who has had a reduction in eyebrow hair. Unlike an eyebrow pencil, you are able to go about your normal daily activities without worrying if you will accidentally smear or smudge your brow. Individual brush strokes can mimic the appearance of individual hairs using permanent make-up methods.


• Eyeliner / Lash Enhancement – The application of permanent makeup to the lash line can give the appearance of a definite line or a more subtle shadow in the lashes. This permanent makeup procedure can be liberating for those with an allergy to traditional eyeliner, or for those with contact lenses that become irritated with over-the-counter makeup products.


• Lip Liner/Lip Color Enhancement – Permanent makeup cannot only improve the color of the lips but also the lip shape, giving you the appearance of fuller, sensual lips. This technique can also camouflage those fine lines that begin to appear around the mouth with age and eliminate the appearance of lipstick bleeding onto bordering skin.

Is the permanent makeup procedure painful?

Because needles are piercing the skin, permanent makeup can cause some discomfort. There are many ways to control the pain including but not limited to, topical and local anesthetics. Talk with us about the method or methods we use to minimize the potential for pain during this process.

How permanent is permanent makeup?

Although permanent makeup employs a tattoo method of administration, we use medical grade pigments that are different than those used for decorative body art. The color will fade and change over time due to exfoliation (skin flaking), exposure to sunlight, after-care application, and also your personal body chemistry. However, it does not generally fade entirely. Permanent makeup procedures can be performed again if fading occurs. You should expect to require a certain level of re-application or at least examination after about a year.

Laser Hair Removal

What is the Laser Hair removal process?

Laser Hair removal uses the advanced technology of laser energy to remove unwanted hair faster and more effectively than any other procedure, including electrolysis. Laser Hair removal can treat large areas like the back, shoulders, arms, legs and is gentle enough for sensitive areas like the face.

What is a laser hair removal treatment like?

It is a gentle, two-step process. The treatment area is cleansed, and then exposed to laser energy. The laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. In a fraction of a second, all of the active hair in the treated area is disabled. Ideally the hair is shaved a couple of days prior to treatment in order to minimize the energy absorption outside versus inside the hair follicle.

How many treatments would I need?

Laser hair removal treats hair during its growth cycle. Since hair grows in different cycles, a series of treatments is necessary to achieve permanent hair reduction.

What are the benefits of Laser Hair removal?

Comfort, convenience, and long-term cost savings! Permanent hair reduction is possible in a relatively short number of treatment sessions. A large area can be treated relatively quickly with limited discomfort. Laser hair removal can be performed effectively on almost all areas of the body. The long term cost savings vs. other forms of temporary hair removal (shaving, waving, and electrolysis) are significant. Most important of course, is the convenience of not having to shave, pluck or wax those stubborn hairs! Did you know that waxing and plucking actually stimulates hair re-growth compared to shaving or laser hair removal?

Varicose & Spider Vein Treatments

Will I feel any pain?

You may feel a slight burning or stinging sensation as the laser penetrates your skin however, pain is minimal and no anesthesia is required. Many patients compare the feeling to a rubber band snapping on the skin.

What is the recovery period like?

Recovery times depend on the extent of the treatment and the individual's capacity to heal. Some redness or purple discoloration may persist for several weeks, or longer. The redness will gradually lighten to a pink tone, and then to a lighter, more natural color.

Are there any risks involved in this procedure?

Semi-permanent or permanent skin lightening may occur in the treated areas. The skin may also become hyper pigmented (darker) immediately following the treatment. Darkened skin can often be successfully treated with a bleaching cream. On occasion the “ghost” of the previous blood vessel may remain but it consists only of a faint remnant of the previous robust spider vein.

Massages

What are the benefits of a massage?

Massage and related bodywork techniques can release painful muscle tension, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, and reduce mental and physical fatigue. In addition, massage is among the most effective means to combat stress.

What is the first appointment like?

You will begin by filling out a health questionnaire. This will aid the licensed massage therapist in deciding the best form of treatment and whether or not massage is appropriate. Depending upon the type of massage and the areas being treated, you may or may not need to undress. For a full body massage, most people undress completely, though you will be encouraged to disrobe to whatever level you are comfortable with. Your massage therapist will give you privacy to undress, and you are covered during the treatment except for the area being worked on.

What should I do during my massage?

Make yourself comfortable. If your therapist wants you to adjust your position, she or he will either move you or will tell you what is needed. Otherwise, change your position anytime to make yourself more comfortable. Many people just close their eyes and relax completely during a session; others prefer to talk. It's your massage, and whatever feels natural to you is the best way to relax. Do not hesitate to ask questions at any time.

Your comfort is our utmost concern here at A Beautiful You™. Communicate your needs to your massage therapist at any point of the treatment. Whether it is temperature, pressure, music, or anything else, we want to know so that we can give you the best possible experience.

Products

How quickly will I see results when using the Obagi Nu-Derm System?

The prescribed protocol and frequency is determined by your individual skin condition. If you carefully follow your Skin Care Specialist customized protocol, you can expect visible improvements in four to six weeks. This accounts for the normal cellular turn-over that occurs in your skin.

Why is Vitamin C important?

Vitamin C belongs to an important group of antioxidants which fight the free radicals responsible for aging the skin. Studies have shown topical vitamin C, in the most effective form (L-ascorbic acid), can even improve sun protection, repair sun damaged skin, reduce fine lines, stimulate collagen building and reduce discoloration of the skin.

Which products are right for my skin condition?

Your skin care therapist can prescribe exactly which products will be ideal for your individual skin condition.

What kind of ingredients go into Dermalogica formulas?

Key ingredients include natural essential oils and extracts, naturally purifying and calming agents such as Green Clays, Balm Mint, and exfoliating Rice Bran, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and fruit enzymes. We use only the finest ingredients available. All products are non-comedogenic and do not contain any occlusive mineral oil or lanolin, irritating artificial colors or fragrance, or drying S.D. alcohol.

Is mineral makeup safe for all skin types?

It's important to know that anyone can be allergic or sensitive to anything. Our mineral makeup does not contain known sensitizers and also has natural sun blocking agents. Fragrance, FD&C dyes, synthetic preservatives are the top three sensitizers. Individuals with extreme chemical sensitivities can successfully wear mineral makeup.

How soon can the makeup be applied after microdermabrasion or chemical peels?

The minerals can be applied immediately after a microdermabrasion or a light peel. They will not only mask the redness, but the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are known anti-inflammatories which will assist in calming the erythema. It is important to know that the stratum corneum has been removed after these kinds of procedures. The stratum corneum is the body's first defense against the sun; therefore the skin needs some kind of topical protection to prevent injury.