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

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.

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:

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.