Category Archives: ANTI-AGING + PROCEDURES + MEDICAL AESTHETICS

Dr. Babak Dadvand, Plastic Surgeon

July 12, 2017

Dr. Babak Dadvand,Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, in practice for over two decades is a world famous for transgender surgery. 

I met with him recently and was awed by his wealth of knowledge on the subject M2F/F2M surgeries for transsexuals. I had been wanting to find the go-to plastic surgeon in LA for this and I hit the jack pot. But it’s not only this surgery that defines this pioneer. His is also on the cutting edge of all things breast for both male and females, from gynecomastia (man boobs) to breast augmentation, breast/body lifts, and of course liposuction.

 

Dr. Dadvand works with some of the newest cosmetic procedures available to date; such as the Kybella (injectable eliminates double chin),  Voluma (creates instant structure in the face), as well as all the tried and true fillers such as Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and more.

So as we discussed his surgery techniques, I asked him to please address my lips with some filler. Ya see, my lips are challenging. They are wide and not very full. There is too much space between my nose and top lip. My top lip is much thinner than my bottom.

And oh – I loathe a filler-look. I never want my lips to look unnatural. Full yes, but not ‘filler’ full.

I was floored by what happened over the next…I dunno, 45 mins? HE TOOK HIS TIME. And addressed my lips like it was a serious operation. Slowly, meticulously and deeply studying he worked filler into my lips, paused, studied, and continued. The approach was totally personal, with extreme attention to detail and laser focus.

And the result was nothing short of amazing. My lips look incredibly natural and simply more even and full. Nothing crazy. No Bev Hills housewife duck lips.

Please forgive my Mac photo-booth photos that I am taking while sitting here sweating my brains out. Don’t mind my weird face rash either. Paging the best dermatologist please!

Dr. Dadvand’s destination recovery VIP treatment for out-of-town patients is well-known and regarded as one of the best. Patients that come from afar are offered luxury accommodations, medical assistance, room service and more.     

(310) 278-4200
8500 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 615 | Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Organic Pharmacy – Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills

June 24, 2017

The ORGANIC PHARMACY has always been a huge fave of mine. Their products are simply top notch.

Stepping into this clean, minimal space brings me great joy. However, it’s smelling and feeling every single on of their products that sends me into bliss.

To put it simply – everything is a pure as it gets. And all I can say is you have to experience it all for yourself.

I recently popped over for their classic Rose Quartz Lymphatic Facial. 

I hadn’t had a treatment there in years and could not wait for a re-fresher. I left glowing and radiant and smelling like the cleanest and purest essential oils. I was reeling!

This is the Rose Quartz Facial: (sounds great, huh?)

Our Ultimate Signature Experience A luxurious treatment to re-energise and renew your skin. Awa

Your treatment begins with Lavender-infused deep breathing exercises, followed by deep cleansing, exfoliation, steaming and extraction. Three luxurious masks of Rosehip, Seaweed, Honey & Jasmine and Collagen are applied, with intensive hands, arms, feet, face, décolleté and scalp massage* (using our nourishing Hair Serum).

This indulgent treatment leaves you in a completely renewed state, ready to face the world.

Each treatment is as individual as you are.

Treatments and facials  are all customizable

Address: 453 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Hours: 

Phone: (310) 272-7275

What’s all the rage about #Kbeauty?! SMD Cosmetics has the answer

May 9, 2017

We got wind of an amazing skin care line and had to look into this #Kbeauty trend ASAP!  What’s all the hype about? Why is it such a topic of conversation?

The trend is referred to as K-beauty, and it’s all about the ingredients. Celebrity make up artists are using it more and more too. We got to speak with 2 notable celebrity MUAs that shared with me their favorite #Kbeauty product and also gave us some tips on trends to watch for this summer!

Here is Elizabeth Hoel-Chang Celebrity Make Up Artist for the hit TV show This Is Us, on her summer skin care tips and tricks:

“I spritz a spray of rose water on my clean face before I put on my favorite natural Korean skin care products from SMD Cosmetics. I use Khiel’s SPF 50 facial sunscreen everyday under my makeup. I’ve been using SMD Cosmetics religiously since November, and now I’ve completely stopped wearing any foundation, because I don’t need it. The SMD Cleansing Oil is the perfect cleanser because it doesn’t strip my face of all the oil and disrupt my PH balance. It has been a life-saver for breakouts. Usually I’d have 4X the hormonal or summer breakouts using a stripping cleanser. I then apply a dusting of mineral powder on my face, concentrating mainly on my cheek area to correct my rocesa. Simple eyeliner and mascara, and fill in my brows. I apply a bit of bronzer or light pink blush on my cheeks and am on my way. I will sometimes blot my face with a light blotting powder, otherwise just let my face be as it is. Even if my mineral powder wears off over a long day at work, it doesn’t bother me now because my skin has repaired, plumped and become so hydrated from the help of SMD Saromae Snail Serum I also make sure I drink plenty of water and implicate more organic avocadoes in my diet since they are in season and are SO GOOD for your skin!! Along with strawberries, grapes and kale.”

So we did a little bit of digging and found out, SMD Cosmetics produces one of the most popular prestigious skin care lines in South Korea, formulated on over 2,000 years of herbal medicine wisdom! It’s a natural (which I LOVE) premium herbal medicinal-based line that is fairly new to the US.

We heard that SMD products are being used by top celebrity make-up artists, and are also now being sold at Nigel’s Beauty Emporium in Hollywood.

We also interviewed celebrity make-up artist and photographer, Troy Jensen, to give us this summers hottest skin care and make-up tips and this is what he had to say:

“I like my “muses” to come to me with radiant glowing clear skin…I love SMD Cosmetics, a K-beauty brand new to the US…some of my clients and I use the Saromae Snail Serum on the skin under make-up for radiance. I ease my clients (Jordan Sparks, Giuliana Rancic, and Mariah Carey to mention a few) into summer make up by first warming up their complexion. I choose a sheer foundation that will give them a warm wash of color. At the moment I’m obsessed with Dior Skin Nude Air Serum foundation. It’s so sheer, it literally looks invisible on the skin. Next I will add a peachy glow to the skin with Two Faced Cosmetics “sweet peach glow” pallet… it has a bronzer, a highlighter and a beautiful peach blush, to give you that instant beach babe look! I even dust a little highlighter and bronzer on the eyes and top of with this seasons IT beauty trend: tinted mascara (I love Benefit Cosmetics “there real mascara” in Beyond Blue. On the lips this summer, shimmer is a big trend and rose gold is really hot. Jouer Cosmetics has created a beautiful rose gold collection for the lips: I love “the long wear lip cream liquid lipstick in rose gold” and I go over it with Jouer’s lip topper in rose gold, focusing on the center of the lip and upper bow of the lip.”

After speaking to Elizabeth and Troy Groomed LA wants in!

I can’t wait to get my INHYUNJIN anti-aging set for myself! #Kbeauty !!! WOOT!!

PROFOUND: The Most Cutting Edge Treatment to Hit the Industry

April 17, 2017

I am in the tender place at my age (over 45!) where I am in no way ready to go under the knife (physically, emotionally, technically, financially) for my face but HOLY SHIT IF GRAVITY ISN’T BULLYING THE CRAP OUT OF ME RIGHT NOW!

I’ve waited months to post about PROFOUND. I wanted to give it the close to 6 months that it takes to fully take effect so I could honestly evaluate it.

When I first caught wind of this procedure, I immediately perked up. It sounded like the perfect pre-face-lift type of procedure for me. But I needed to find the right doctor.

Enter:  Dr. Ben Talei, Board Certified. Dual Fellowship Trained. Facial Plastic Surgeon.

In other words, The Man. Dr. Talei is taking this town by storm and it’s clear why – he’s a prodigy. His accomplishments at such a young age, will make you feel like a major loser. Then there’s his skill. If there is such a thing as an It Facelift Doctor, he’s the one.

Back toProfound, by Syneron-Candela, The latest skin tightening technology.

We all know I am not a fan of Ulthera and there is only so much that lasers and peels can do. I needed to address the deep DEEP layers and it’s either surgery or….this.

Ok, below is lot of tech stuff I pulled from the interwebs – but let me fill you in on my experience.

The shit is no joke. There is no pain but there is a recovery to deal with. Many doctors will downplay the bruising and recovery – but let me tell you, there’s some downtime. For me it was a good two weeks of major bruising. If you are mentally prepared for this – then great. But doctor’s will often shuck this off very casually.  Dr. Talei was cool – and said you’re going to bruise. Still, I was not prepared. Suffice to say, you’ll look like you went sky diving and your shoot did not open.  Your face will swell, then go down, then puff up like a blow fish. In my case, you might have little round bumps on your face, like an ostrich, for a few months (rare – but it happened to me). And still – it was worth it.

Yup. My face was a wreck for a good while. But five months out – the overall results are in. I am tighter, lifted and glowing. And I thrilled I held off on this write up until now – because I really gave it the time to do its magic. Ok, take a read of this jargon below.

It’s in the thousands – but way less than surgery, that’s for sure.

You will LOVE – as in fall in love so watch out – the adorable and divine Dr. Talei. And his new office is apparently insanely stunning.

WHAT: Profound uses RF Microneedling to deliver RF energy at regulated temperatures to precise points under the skin:

  • 1st device to create all 3 skin fundamentals: Elastin. Collagen. Hyaluronic Acid.
  • Yields 100% response* for total patient satisfaction
  • Heats the adipose tissue and remodels the septae
  • Both Dermal & Adipose Tissues
  • Profound Contour
  • Profound Lift
  • Profound Smooth
  • Wrinkles
  • Single treatment procedure with a 100% response* rate
  • Treats jawline, jowls, wrinkles and other textural considerations
  • A comprehensive treatment for Dermal & SubQ layers
  • Yields predictable results with complete control over depth, temperature and time of treatment

The Science of Profound

Unlike other RF devices, Profound  is unique is it’s ability to control the exact temperature of the skin as the RF energy is being applied.

WHY HEAT? In simplest terms, controlled damage to the under layers of the skin promotes the growth of collagen. Profound uses heat to do this. When the under layers of the skin are heated to 65°C (149°F), neocollagenisis begins which is when collagen comes in contact with the heat and begins to denature or constrict.

When this happens we have less sagging skin and our wrinkles begin to smooth out. Keep in mind that the miracle of collagen growth takes time and you won’t see the initial change for 4 to 10 weeks and the ultimate results for anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

Studies have found that the sweet spot to partially denature collagen is by heating the area to 67°C (152.6°F) and to maintain that heat for 4 seconds at a time between 2 to 4mm under the skin – with no variation.

the sweet spot for skin tightening

Seems easy enough but there was nothing out there that could pinpoint the heat and control the temperature in order to produce the ideal conditions for partially denaturing collagen. Instead, they heat a general area of the skin with wavering temperatures in order to protect the outer layers of skin.

But regardless, most don’t even reach the optimal 67°C (152.6°F). The temperature varies up and down and that’s not the ideal for partially denaturing collagen. Until Profound.

Profound is the only unit that uses RF Energy to heat the area, microneedles to pinpoint the exact depth, protecting the outer layer of skin, and a patented Real Time Temperature Control algorithm to meet the ideal temperature.

Recent studies have found that a single treatment produced a profound increase in elastin and collagen 4 to 10 weeks after the treatment with a 95% response rate for laxity at 6 months after treatment:

Before and After Profound Skin Tightening Treatment

Before and 3 Months After Profound Skin Tightening Treatment

profound before and after 2-compressed

Before and 6 months after One Profound Skin Tightening Treatment

profound rf microneedle

Profound for skin tightening treatment takes 45 minutes or less. Your doctor will slather on a local anesthetic and once your numb she will use a handheld unit to apply teeny little pore sized needles into your skin, pulsing heat 4 seconds at a time.

Profound is delivered in a single treatment, typically lasting 45 minutes duration for one treatment area. The patient is given local anesthesia to ensure comfort during the procedure. Once the anesthesia is effective and the skin is numb, the Profound treatment begins. Twelve (six pairs) high-tech silicone-coated needles are inserted into the skin. Each pair of needles has an uncoated tip, sending radiofrequency current between the tips of the needles.

The radiofrequency current travels between the needles, creating heat over the targeted dermal tissues. The heat tightens lax skin by stimulating production of collagen and elastin fibers. The silicone coating over the remainder of the needle protects the overlying skin from any damage, so only the targeted area is treated.

Because the procedure is done under local anesthesia, there is no pain. The needles are so small that there is no bleeding. The computer controlled needles heat the dermis layer of skin to the exact right temperature and time duration to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This production leads to the lifting and tightening of the skin. Each are of laxity is treated as a zone, with 30-40 minutes necessary for each region. For a full facial rejuvenation, many patients opt to have the procedure performed over the skin of the neck, cheeks and around the eyes and eyebrows.

Beverly Hills Center for Plastic & Laser Surgery –
465 N Roxbury Dr, #750
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (310) 288-0641

DR. BEN TALEI

Academic Path

A native of California, Dr. Benjamin (Ben) Talei graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in Physiological Sciences receiving both College and Departmental Honors. While studying at the University of Menedez Pelayo in Spain, Dr. Talei worked for the Sisterhood of Blood Donors and the Red Cross promoting blood donations in Andalucia, Spain.

He then received his Medical Degree at one of the nation’s top medical schools –University of California, San Diego School of Medicine (UCSD). Dr. Talei was nominated to the Gold Humanism Honor Society after having donated immense amounts of time and energy to the free clinic in San Diego along with other charitable foundations.

Dr. Talei then completed his residency training in Head & Neck Surgery at Columbia University and Cornell University Medical Centers, New York Presbyterian Hospital. There he worked with the Greats of Facial Plastic Surgery included his primary mentor Dr. Steven Pearlman. He then served as Chief in his residency at Columbia and Cornell and served as a fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center also in New York City.

Following his residency training, Dr. Talei became one of the only surgeons in the country to complete two separate fellowships in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. First he completed one of the most revered and prestigious fellowships in the country at the New York Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery. Simultaneously he offered his skills and training while serving as voluntary staff and teacher for the Resident Head & Neck Surgeons of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Dr. Talei then furthered his training with Dr. Milton Waner at the Vascular Birthmark Institute of New York, a part of Lenox Hill and Manhattan Ear, Eyes and Throat Hospitals. There he treated the most rare and devastating Vascular Birthmarks & Congenital Anomalies while refining his techniques in Pediatric Facial Plastic Surgery.

Integrated fully into the Beverly Hills community, Dr. Talei is a member of the Beverly Hills Health & Wellness Committee.  He is also on staff at UCLA Ronald Regan Medical Center, Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.  Outside of the hospital, Dr. Talei is the Advisory Chair for the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA).

Dr. Talei is also an avid author and speaker. He has been invited to speak at national meetings and has contributed significantly to medical literature with his research and publications in medical journals and textbooks. His publications on Advanced Face and Neck Lifting Techniques and Revision Rhinoplasty are used to teach doctors nationwide.  As a sub-specialist in Deep Plane Facial Rejuvenation & Facelifting and Minimally Invasive Rhinoplasty, Dr. Talei frequently accommodates visiting surgeons in order to teach them more advanced surgical techniques. The Modified Upper Lip Lift is also a procedure pioneered and perfected by Dr. Talei as he performs more than any surgeon in the world.  He is most well known for his rapid healing times, very natural, long-lasting results and impeccable facial aesthetic. Dr. Talei has a dedicated expertise to the Face and has been featured on E! News, Fox, NBC, and Inside Edition amongst a host of other editorials.