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What Can I Do At Home To Reduce The Signs Of Aging?

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

More than ever, skincare has become a booming. progressive industry!  Finally, we have entered a culture  or state of mind that says it’s okay to value ourselves,  to invest in ourselves.   I’m not talking about entitlement,  That’s a whole other kind of topic. I’m talking about self-care and self-respect.  On one hand, that’s great.  We are living longer but we don’t necessarily want to look like it, am I right? This boom has created a push to develop and (hopefully) improve the very products you need to keep your skin looking good for as long as possible.  Now, on the other hand, wow – the sheer number of options out there is over-whelming, and it can be a disappointment and costly lesson to try to figure out which products work and which products are just marketing hype.  How many of you have drawers full of  product disappointment?

An at-home skincare regimen can mean so many different things to different people.  During each new skincare evaluation, I ask my patient to tell me what they are currently doing for their skin.  The answers range from an over-the-top laundry list of products to absolutely nothing.  I have always believed that delivering age-reversing results for our patients is best accomplished through dedication to communication, teamwork and most of all, consistency. You can start small with a smart, simple, medical-grade, proven-effective skincare product regimen at-home and move forward if needed, as you become more comfortable.

So, what can you do at home to reduce the signs of aging, sun damage and improve your skin’s texture and tone?  I will review a few of my favorite at-home product categories that will help you do just that!

Before I dive into discussing each basic product category, the first thing I want to talk about is the principal reason our skin ages.  Can you guess it? I’ll give you a hint… is NOT our age itself… but rather recurring sun exposure from birth onward. Studies indicate that approximately 80% of our lifetime sun exposure comes from “incidental” sun exposure, not a day at the beach.  Incidental sun exposure refers the UV rays you catch while walking your dog or in my case…walking my cat, walking to your car, sitting in front of a window in your home or while driving etc.  That being said, if you are not applying and re-applying quality, broad-spectrum UVA/UBA sunscreen on a daily basis, then the rest is for not because unprotected sun exposure will speed up your aging process and lines, wrinkles, rough texture, dull skin are certainly on the horizon.

Any basic anti-aging skincare regimen should include four application categories, although in some cases we may be able to streamline it even further.  Now of course, depending on the severity of your skin damage and your goals, we would customize a regimen specifically for you and skin concerns, but this will give you some good general knowledge.

 

The categories in review are:

  1. Cleansers
  2. Transformation products
  3. Anti-aging moisturizers
  4. Protection:

 

 

Okay, so the first product category I typically recommend to fight the signs of aging and achieve glowing skin is a good cleanser.

 

  1. CLEANSE:

In general, I prefer facial cleansers that contain exfoliating enzymes, AHA’s, BHA’s, and certain botanical ingredients. These ingredients will help to break down the build-up of dead skin cells, bacteria, grime, and sebum.  They can also stimulate circulation and improve cellular turn-over; all good things when you are looking for that natural glow.  Now do keep in mind, if your skin is really dry then you are better off using a gentle cleanser without AHA’s or other exfoliant properties until your skin’s protective barrier has been restored.

In the Castillo MD Skin Science Skincare line, I recommend one of the following cleaners depending on your skin type:

Advanced Enzyme Cleanser:

This cleanser can be used for dry, normal, oily, combo, acne sensitive skin types.  It is formulated to deliver a brighter, clearer complexion and encourages the healthy production of new skin cells. Papaya Enzymes and salicylic acid exfoliate dead cells, kill bacteria in pores and removes impurities and make-up without stripping the protective skin barrier.

 

Gentle Cleanser:

Gentle cleanser is for dry, normal, post-procedure, rosacea, sensitive skin types. It is formulated with botanical ingredients such as Clary Sage, Aloe, Cucumber Fruit, and Ginger Root. This cleanser will clean, condition and invigorate the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and visibly younger looking without causing irritations. It is also a good choice for mature skin that is dry as aggressive cleansers can compromise the protective skin barrier even further.

 

  1. TRANSFORM:

This category refers to products that have a specific anti-aging job to do.  Transformation products might be used to reduce brown pigmentation, fight free-radicals, repair damaged DNA cells, brighten your complexion,  improve texture, reduce lines, wrinkles and large pores.  Depending on the skin concerns you may have, one of the following products might be recommended in your anti-aging at-home treatment plan.

 

Clear Skin Pads

These pre-soaked pads are a quick and simple way to deliver an at-home, anti-aging micro-peel to exfoliate and improve dull skin, rough texture and lines or clean out pores, correct acne and prevent future breakouts.  Clear Skin Pads soften and sooth acne-prone, inflamed skin while reducing irritations and redness with a botanically infused formula.  Contains Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Yeast, Horse Chestnut, Ivy, Burdock, Olive, and Clary Sage Extracts.

 

Tretinol PM Serum

Beyond sunscreen, topical Vitamin A products (retinoids) such as Tretinol PM Serum are the most beneficial, proven-effective anti-aging topicals available.  Tretinol PM Serum stimulates cellular regeneration which improves tone, texture and hyperpigmentation. It reduces lines and wrinkles (who doesn’t love that)!  It is naturally derived, sulfate and paraben-free and contains antioxidants.  This is an after dark product only.  You should not apply this product during the daytime as it can make you more sun sensitive and could increase your chances of developing unwanted pigmentation.  If you are going to use this product you should always wear a UVA/UVB broad-spectrum sunscreen during the day.  Vitamin A products generally have a reputation for being harsh at first.  However, Tretinol PM Serum by Castillo MD Skin Science is impressively gentle due to the product’s silky emollient delivery system.

 

Antioxidant Serum:

This is a powerful combination of medical-grade Vitamin C (15% L-ascorbic acid), Vitamin E, Ferulic Acid and a peptide complex. It enhances collagen syntheses, which means you can expect firmer more supple skin.  Vitamin C is the ultimate skin brightener. Not only will it brighten dull, lifeless skin, but this antioxidant serum inhibits melanin production which helps reduce unwanted pigmentation and melasma,  leaving your skin clearer and luminous.  Antioxidant Serum neutralizes free radicals to protect the skin from cellular damage, resulting in healthier, more radiant skin inside and out! It even increases the SPF in sunscreen as it helps to fight UVA/UVB sun damage.  Vitamin C reduces sunburns, redness and irritation. It is a wonderful anti-inflammatory and increases your skin’s ability to produce collagen. This product can be used twice daily. It is formulated for dry, normal, oily, combo, acne sensitive skin types.  Note:  Vitamin C products are known to very unstable and in those cases it’s not likely to deliver much benefit.  It is important to choose a Vitamin C product formulated with  both Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid.  These two ingredients help keep the Vitamin C stable so you can enjoy the benefits.

Pigment Reducer:

This is a recent addition to Dr. Castillo’s skincare line.  This is another “after dark” only product.  It is an advanced, multi-active formula designed for rapid and significant improvement in the appearance of unwanted pigmentation. Pigment Reducer features an innovating lightening complex combined with alpha-hydroxy acids and botanical extracts to maximize penetration and stimulate cell turn-over.  This technology interrupts the melanogenesis pathway at multiple points, resulting in visible reduction in brown spots and other pigmentation.

 

Microdermabrasion Scrub:

Microdermabrasion is a wonderful, inexpensive addition to almost any skincare regimen in need of exfoliation or resurfacing to improve rough texture and allow your smooth, natural glow to show through!  It gives your skin an instant little boost of radiance.  It smooths dull, dry skin by exfoliating away dead cells and debris from your skin’ surface. It allows your skincare products to penetrate more effectively and will improve the look of your make-up.  While I am focused on faces to today, this product is also wonderful on your neck, chest, legs, feet, hands, lips, everywhere really! You will love how smooth your skin feels after using Castillo MD Skin Science Microdermabrasion Scrub.  This product is also beneficial in helping maintain the result of an in-office microdermabrasion in between treatments.

 

  1. MOISTURIZERS:

For many patients, winter means even drier skin. Not only does the outside air become drier (less humid) but when you turn on the heat, our homes and vehicles become drier too and our skin suffers.  Without proper hydration and moisturization, skin can become dull, dry, flaky and irritated. Lines and wrinkles will become more apparent and cosmetics will not perform as well if your skin becomes dry.  You can avoid losing that supple, youthful appearance by using a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type.

 

Lush Replenishing Cream:

Lush Replenishing Cream is a patient favorite for sure! It is an elegant moisturizer that combines 5% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) with barrier enhancing lipids. It is intended for dry, normal, sensitive skin types and those with occasional minor acne breakouts.  It is formulated to decrease the appearance of sun damage, texture, hyperpigmentation and lines. Because of its anti-bacterial properties and oil reducing factors, those with mild-acne breakouts may also benefits from this moisturizer.

 

Calmative Cream:

Calmative Cream is intended for dry, normal, combo, oily and sensitive skin types. It is fortified with Vitamin K, Sunflower Oil, and Sweat Almond Oil. It is a concentrated, restorative treatment moisturizer that helps reduce dark under-eye circles and puffiness. It reduces the appearance of bruising, spider veins and broken capillaries. Calmative Cream is an excellent choice for those with conditions such as Rosacea who wish to reduce facial redness. Soothing, hydrating properties help skin retain its natural moisture. Calmative Cream combats symptoms of aging with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and calming emollients relieve redness and irritation associated with rosacea. It can be used for pre and post-treatment of fragile skin.

 

Revive Recovery Complex:

Revive Recovery Complex contains four different ceramides to restore the skin’s barrier function which helps the skin maintain its structure. Maintaining structure decreases water loss and increases factors which hydrate and protect the skin and aid in the skin’s recovery after exposure to stress. It is specially formulated with cactus and yeast extracts to significantly reduce irritation and redness caused by AHA’s, or  retinoids.  Appropriate for Dry, normal, combo, sensitive, and irritated, acne skin types.

 

  1. PROTECT:

The last step in this basic skincare routine as I mentioned earlier is the most important if your goal is to fend off the appearance of wrinkles and sun damage for as long as possible.

Sun Defense SPF 45

Sun Defense is designed to protect the skin from UVA / UBV and infrared radiation. It is a thin, lightweight, medical-grade, broad-spectrum sunscreen that is recommended for acne, oily, combo and sensitive skin types.  It absorbs quickly and contains high levels of Niacinamide along with Vitamin E, knotweed extract and hyaluronic acid to increase firmness and elasticity and reduce redness and blotchiness.

 

Physical Defense SPF 49

Physical Defense  is a very versatile, medical-grade, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. It is both gentle and light-weight.  It absorbs and dries quickly.  It offers our patients a more natural approach to sun protection by utilizing only chemical-free active ingredients.  Zinc Oxide & Titantium Dioxide sit on top of the skin to deflect UV radiation. Physical Defense SPF 49 creates a moisture barrier to stop the skin’s water from evaporating to help maintain hydration.  This sunscreen is beneficial for all skin types, especially those who are sensitive to over-the-counter chemical sunscreens. Barrier reef safe.

 

Prime Defense SPF 40:

If you love the feel of a good BB cream, you will love Prime Defense.  I always feel a little extra pampered when I am applying this product. It just feels so amazing!  Not only does it provide you with the necessary sun protection, but the pigments in this luxurious tinted sunscreen help to even out your skin tone.  Prime Defense contains protective anti-oxidants like Vitamin C & E, and Ferulic Acid Ester along with barrier protective lipids.  Prime Defense is a chemical-free sunscreen.  It even contains silicone polymers that provide a make-up primer base which leads to an even, smooth make-up application.

If you would like more information on building a custom skincare regimen that is right for you, contact Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center in Champaign at 217-359-7508.

 

 

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY http://www.cosmeticplasticsurgery.com

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

 

 

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Want To Know What To Expect During Your Liposculpture Recovery? Your Complete Guide

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019

Get ready to stand in awe of your new body!  This is an exciting time!  Liposculpture can be such a rewarding procedure! Congratulations on taking the steps to get the body you want!

I think it’s important to realize that recovering from Liposculpture can take several weeks for all of the swelling to go away and for your skin to re-conform itself. The end result does not happen over-night. However, most often the majority of your recovery will happen in the first two weeks.

Pain / discomfort:

For the most part, you will feel sore and bruised in the areas where fat was removed. It is nothing that should keep you from concentrating on or completing daily tasks. Most of our patients control post-surgical discomfort with Tylenol, but of course you will also have access to a prescription pain medication in case you should need it during the first few days of recovery.  There are two things you can do to help yourself:

  1. Follow the directions given to you by our office (not the ones on the internet).
  2. Move your muscles!

Exercise:

If you are a gym rat, we do not want you to lose momentum at the gym and want to get you back to your work out as soon as your body is ready.  If you are not a gym rat, you might find that your new body becomes the incentive you needed to put self-care, a healthy diet and exercise on your priority list. Liposculpture is often very motivating in that way!

You can typically expect to ease back into your work outs with a schedule that looks something like this:

  • 1st week: You will be asked to restrict exercise to light activity such as walking and routine motion movement.

2nd week: You are likely to be released to go back to the gym – but start slowly. You can resume walking on an incline and weight lifting at no more than 50% of your normal level. Refrain from running, jogging, and impact aerobics.

  • 3rd week: You can generally expect all exercise restrictions to be lifted at this point (pending your visit with Dr. Castillo). When you resume running, jogging, or high impact aerobics, I recommend wearing body spandex for a few weeks just to help you feel more secure with movement.

 

Recovery:  Days 0-5 Post-Surgery:

  • You will want to take it easy for the first 48 hours which is the perfect time to catch up on a good book or your movie list.
  • Recovering from liposculpture is NOT something that is done from your bed. You will be up and walking as tolerated the day of your surgery. As long as you feel up to it, we ask that you start walking a mile each day beginning the day after your surgery. Keeping your muscles warm by moving them will help to speed up your recovery.
  • Clothing: Remember that for the first 24-36 hours you may experience some tumescent fluid drainage so avoid wearing for favorite outfits as it can be a little messy.
  • Increase your fluid intake for the first few days after surgery.
  • Avoid salty diets as they can increase water retention.
  • You will be able to shower 48 hours after surgery. You can launder your compression body garment at this time if needed. You will need to wait to take a bath until 24 hours after your sutures are removed (one week post-surgery).
  • For the first week, you will remain in the compression body garment you were sent home in.
  • If we performed liposculpture on the back side of your body, sitting on hard furnishing may not feel good for the first few days. I recommend placing a small hand towel on each side of the toilet seat before you use the restroom or change your toilet seat for a cushioned one.
  • You can expect to be somewhat sore and bruised. You are likely to notice an increase in swelling and bruising days 4-7, then those symptoms will begin to dissipate over the next few weeks. Remember that gravity pulls fluids down so don’t be surprised to see bruising or yellowing travel to areas lower than the regions we worked on. It will resolve as well.

Recovery: One Week Post-Surgery:

  • You will return to our office for your first check-up on day 6 or 7. We will remove your tiny sutures and review your 1-week post-op instructions. While you will already be able to see some improvements in your body proportions, you will still be quite swollen so you will have to wait a little longer to see your results.
  • If you have not already returned to work, you will be able to do so at this time.
  • After your one-week post-op visit, you will no longer need to wear the compression garment provided by our office. Instead you can begin wearing a Spanx garment during the day and you can go without a garment while sleeping at night.
  • Dr. Castillo may ask you to begin soaking in a warm bath at this point to help increase circulation, and decrease swelling and soreness. Try placing a thick bath towel in the bottom of your tub to sit on to ease any discomfort of sitting on a hard surface.

 

 

 

Recovery: 2 Weeks Post-Surgery:

  • The toughest part is behind you and you will begin to see the rewards of your procedure!
  • You will likely be released to go back to the gym at 50% of your normal effort.
  • Hold out a little longer to start buying new clothes, your body is still changing, and you may still have some swelling in certain areas (nothing others will notice).
  • The majority of your bruising and swelling should be resolving.

 Recovery – 3 weeks Post-Surgery And Beyond:

  • 2nd Post-Op Visit: You will return to see Dr. Castillo for a 3-week post-op visit. We will take your weight and measurements to see how you are progressing and discuss your target weight. You can expect to be released from any prior exercise restrictions at your 3-week visit.
  • Expect to still have some minor recovery symptoms such as small areas that may feel a little firmer that others known as woody edema. This will eventually resolve on its own but Dr. Castillo may ask you to massage those areas (if they occur) for a few minutes each day to improve the woody edema more quickly.
  • You will notice your body shape is beginning to improve and your clothing will fit better; more proportionate. It will only get better from here!
  • You will no longer need to wear a body garment after your 3-week check-up! Yay!!

 

  • 3-month post-op visit – By this point, patients are enjoying their new body and are so happy with their results and recovery that they often feel they don’t need to come back for their 3- month check-up after surgery. Even though you look and feel fabulous, I encourage you to keep this appointment. Think of this visit as your “Reveal.”  Dr. will talk to you about your progression and what to expect from here on out. We will take final measurements and weight. We will take your after photos and will mail a copy of them to you.  These photos are an important part of your medical record so be sure to date them and keep them in a safe place.

 One Last Thought:

The decision to tell family, friends, co-workers etc. that you had liposculpture is entirely up to you.  Patients often feel compelled to tell people about their choice to have liposculpture because they think others will notice anyway.  The truth is, people won’t look at you notice how amazingly proportionate you are now. They are more like to ask about which changes you have made to your diet or what new exercise program you are on.  So, the choice to share your journey to looking and feeling better is up to you.  You are not obligated to share that information unless you are comfortable doing so. While friends and family will notice that you look totally awesome and probably be a little envious, it is unlikely that they will look at you and think you had liposculpture.

Of course, we do love it when you brag about your experience with us.

 

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

 

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The Dysport Challenge – Save $150.00!

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

THE DYSPORT CHALLENGE
Now extended through September 30, 2010!!!

If you have enjoyed the benefits of Botox® in the past then you will love this new DYSPORT Challenge! Or maybe you’ve always wondered about the Botox® (botulinum toxin type A) or Dysport (botulinum toxin type A) but haven’t tried it yet. Well now is your chance…
We are excited to partner with the manufacturer of Dysport for this very special offer. Save $75.00 on a DYSPORT injection and an ADDITIONAL $75.00 OFF on your next DYSPORT injection. Wow! Talk about a savings! That is a total of $150.00!

What is Dysport?
Dysport is a new botulinum toxin A product just as Botox® is. Like Botox®, Dysport relaxes muscles to smooth out unwanted facial lines to give a more youthful, refreshed appearance.
Call our Savoy (Champaign-Urbana) office 217-359-7508 or schedule your Dysport treatment today. This offer is only available through September 30, 2010.

Roxanne, Skincare & Laser Specialist

Roxanne Grace

Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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Posted in BOTOX® Cosmetic & Dermal Fillers | 5 Comments »

Fat Transplantation : Could It Be Right For You?

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Fat Transplantation has become a very popular and intriguing topic over the past few months. More and more patients enter our office with questions about whether or not fat transplantation may be a solution for their volume loss and signs of aging.  Media coverage has also exploded onto this topic, touting it as a “new” and successful procedure.

The media is correct. In the hands of an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon, we are indeed seeing a nice, long lasting result for those who have lost volume in areas such as the face, and breast.  However, this procedure is hardly new to those physicians on the leading edge in a cosmetic surgery practice.  In fact, fat transplantation has been in high use for decades as it parallels the beginning of liposuction.  I have been utilizing fat transplantation in my practice since the 1980’s.

So, why has the media suddenly taken interest in this procedure? The interest and notoriety of procedures is a little bit like that of celebrities-it comes and goes, has peaks and valleys and is likely related to news media events that are highly popular.  Such is the current interest in fat transplantation. The primary reason for the resurgence of interest in fat transplantation has to do with changes in technique.  With a slightly better understanding of stem cell research and years of technique evolution, this procedure continues to be refined.

In the beginning, fat transplantation was done by placing moderate to large amounts of fat into different areas of the body.  The results were okay, that is, there was some fat that survived this rudimentary method of transplantation; however, the results were not consistent enough to be able to accomplish wide acceptance by both physicians and patients.

In the late 90’s, popularization of fat transplantation in the medical literature in general and cosmetic surgery in particular revolved around the idea that for fat transplantation to be successful the fat needed to be placed in very small amounts in multiple areas.  That meant that fat needed to be injected with instruments that created very little bleeding. Therefore, we used blunt cannulas for the injections.  The fat needed to be placed in very minute amounts into many areas, and so there was the development of a technique whereby multiple passes were created in one area, depositing very small amounts of fat in each one of those passes.  This resulted in a more successful and consistent outcomes for all experienced practitioners.

Today, some questions still remain, like “Does the fat need to be prepared prior to the injection or not?”  This question is still to be resolved in the future.  Most practitioners today will harvest fat from a common area, mainly stomach and/or thighs, will  prepare it by centrifuge at low speed, that is, it will be placed in rotation separating the serum from the fat.  Once this is accomplished, the serum is discarded.  The fat is placed into very small syringes and then injected as soon as possible.  While the fat can be under deep freeze and injected in the future, it is much more effective; that is the rate of “take” is much higher, when the fat is injected immediately.

One needs to place a lot of fat in the area to be remodeled because approximately 70% of the fat will be reabsorbed by the body and only 30% of the fat will take and be part of the graft.  Fat is primarily used to fill out areas of the body and face by taking fat from an area that has excess, preparing it and utilizing it to fill out areas that need volume or rejuvenation. Fat transplantation is most commonly used to create a more shapely body region such as the buttocks or breasts.  Fat is extremely useful in filling the contours of the face that deflate with age.  Such facial areas may be deflated, sagging cheeks, corners of the mouth, lips, or smile lines. It’s most successful in removing divots, depressions and over a period of time, successful in remodeling wrinkling.

More recently, studies are showing that there seems to be an effect from fat transplantation, which is beyond filling depressed areas. Fat contains stem cells, which are primary cells that are able to regenerate tissue.  These studies indicate that when fat is placed underneath the skin, it can remodel the skin, reversing signs of aging and creating a more uniform result.

Because the fat is grafted using the patient’s own fat, the risk of allergic reaction is eliminated. Fat transplantation is done both under local anesthesia and under sedation or general anesthesia.  Patients can expect bruising and swelling for 7-10 days, and patients can expect to return back to work in  7-10 days.  While to some people this may be a new procedure, it has been part of the arsenal of procedures that the plastic and cosmetic surgeon has had at his or her disposal for over 25 years.  We are very encouraged by advances made with this procedure over the years, as it is a reliable and cost effective option for our patients.

G.D. Castillo M.D., Fat Transplantation Expert

G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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Posted in Facelift, Facial Surgery, Liposuction | 3 Comments »