EYELASH LOVE

When it comes to getting the long luscious lashes that all women want, there are many different options to chose from. It can be a bit overwhelming with all of the products out there boasting guaranteed increase in length and volume of lashes. There are many over the counter products including lengthening mascaras, eyelash conditioners with lengthening, eyelash extensions & false eyelashes. Lengthening mascaras can improve the look of your lashes, but we all know there is no magic in them. Obviously, the mascara you chose does play a part in achieving that perfect lash look though. We recommend making sure you use a lash conditioner or "base" prior to putting on the black stuff. This gives yours lashes one more coat which will make them appear fuller and longer! We love Jane Iredale's PureLash Extender Conditioner. Check out this video to learn how to properly use a conditioner prior to your mascara.

As for false eyelashes and eyelash extensions, while they do create a beautiful look, they can be very expensive and a lot of work to keep up! So, even though there are many options at your local drug store and Sephora there doesn't seem to be one that has it all. This is when it's time to visit your plastic surgeon! You may have heard of a prescription medication called Latisse. Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% is a topical medication applied to your upper lash line daily to promote growth of lashes, including length, thickness and darkness.

Results after using Latisse for 16 weeks

The medication in Latisse was originally used intraocularly (into the eye) to treat glaucoma. It was then observed that patients who were you using this medication started growing fuller thicker lashes, so Allergan decided to formulate it into a cosmetic application to help treat hypotrichosis (inadequate or not enough eyelashes).

Like any medication, there are risks and contraindications associated with use of Latisse. Patients who have Glaucoma and are on medication to decrease intraocular pressure (IOP) should only use Latisse with close monitoring for changes in their IOP as concurrent administration of Latisse and IOP-lowering prostaglandin analogs may decrease the IOP-lowering effect.

 Latisse may cause hyperpigmentation (darkening) of the eyelid or the iris (the colored part of the eye). If hyperpigmentation of the iris occurs this is likely permanent. Eyelid hyperpigmentation usually resolves once Latisse is discontinued. This risk is something that we find patients to be particularly worried about prior to explanation. The hyperpigmentation of the eyelid is something that most women will barely notice. If  you have light skin you may notice a slight red hue to the skin just above your lashes and if you have darker skin you may notice a slight purple hue. For most women this does not turn out to be a problem as once you have your eyeliner and eyeshadow on you can no longer see this hyperpigmentation. As far as pigment in the iris, this is a very rare occurrence and has in fact only happened with the use of bismatoprost intraocularly. Patients with completely blue eyes are not at risk at all as blue eyes lack any pigment and therefore no pigment can be put down in them. Brown eyes, while at risk for more pigment to occur, would be unlikely to show any noticeable difference in pigment, as they are already dark. Patients most at risk are those with hazel eyes, green eyes, or blue eyes with flecks of gold or brown in them. Other risks include red itchy eyes, dry eyes, and swelling around the eyes.

Latisse should not be used in women who are pregnant or breast feeding. Latisse should not be used while contacts are worn. Contacts must be removed first and the patient should wait at least 15 min after application of Latisse to reinsert contacts.

 

Now that we have gone over all of the risk and contraindictions, let's talk about how you actually use Latisse. Latisse comes as a 30 day supply with 60 applicators and an eyedropper bottle of medication. It is only nessecary to use 1 drop of latisse to treat both upper lashes. Take the top of the eyedropper bottle and flip it over and then squeeze 1 drop of the liquid into the top. You can then take the applicator and dip it into the top and then glide it across the lash line just above your upper lash. You do not need to treat your lower lash. The instructions say to use a seperate applicator for each eye, but we find that it is okay to use the same applicator for both eyes. The applicator should be thrown away after 1 use though.  Watch this video from Allergan, the creator of Latisse to see exactly how to apply the product.

You will start to notice a difference after using Latisse for about 4 weeks. As you continue to use it your lashes will continue to become longer and fuller! If you stop using Latisse your lashes will slowly return to the length and thickness they were prior. They will not become shorter or thinner than before use of Latisse. If you are interesting in getting started with Latisse please call our office to make an appointment for a consult and to get your first prescription! Please comment with any questions regarding Latisse. Thicker, fuller lashes are in your future!!

JANE IREDALE: FEELING ALIVE SPRING COLLECTION

Before: No makeup

During: Trying out the new Jane Iredale spring products!

After!

I was lucky enough to be able to try out the new hues of Jane Iredale's spring collection: "Feeling Alive" first hand with the help of our lovely aesthetician, Lynne. My before picture shows how dull and drab my skin has been looking as we come to the end of the cold/dry weather of a New England winter. It's tempting to go out and sit under the harmful rays of the sun to get that perfect sun kissed look. I'm here to tell you there is another way! All you need is a little Jane Quad Bronzer and you can achieve this look without worrying about the added wrinkles and risk of skin cancer that go along with sun worshiping.

Lynne started my makeup application by color matching for foundation. This can be the most difficult part of a makeup application. It is important to first determine whether your complexion is cool or warm. Folks with cool complexions have blue undertones in their skin, while warm complexions are usually more yellow. Now, you are probably thinking, my skin doesn't look blue or yellow! You can tell which you are by looking at the veins on the inside of your forearm. These veins will either look blue or green. If they are blue you have a cool complexion and if they are green you have a warm complexion. If you still have trouble, think about what color jewelry you usually look best in. People with cool complexions tend to look best in silver jewelry while warm complexions are complimented by gold jewelry. Determining if you are cool or warm will help with color matching your foundation as well as determining your overall makeup theme. You may love the look of orange and corals but if you have cool skin chances are it won't look as good on you as your friend who has a warm complexion!

After Lynne found the perfect shade of Purepressed Mineral Foundation (which by the way has SPF 20 in it!), we moved on to bronzer. If you are pale like me, bronzer is a must, and Jane has one of the best around! Jane's Quad Bronzer comes in 3 shades, the newest shade, Rose Dawn is what Lynne used on me and is a beautiful array of pinky bronzers! Perfect for my cool skin!

Moving on to the eyes. I am in love Jane's Eye Gloss. It is soft and silky and doesn't cause any smudging or creasing! It also lasts all day long, which is absolutely necessary for the long summer days! Lynne used the new shade, Pink Silk on me for a natural ethereal day look. She used Basic Black Eye Pencil to line my lids and Purelash Extender and Conditioner for my lashes followed by Black Onyx Mascara. While we are on the subject of lashes, a quick shout out to Latisse, the medication responsible for my long and thick lashes! We will have another post specifically on this, but I would be remiss not to mention it when talking of lashes.

Last, but not least, lips! Lynne used In the Pink PureGloss to give my lips a hydrated feel and glossy look. She also put just a small amount of the Pink Silk in the middle of my bottom lip to create some dimension in color. If you want a little more than just a gloss Jane also has lipsticks and plumpers available. Jane's Just Kissed Lip Plumper make lips fuller and more kissable while giving them the moisture and color you crave!

My overall look is a perfect collection of pink that would work well on any summer day. It is soft and light and does not look too made up. Perfect for a picnic or barbecue. If you are interested in learning more about Jane Iredale makeup check out their website www.janeiredale.com or come in to our spa for your very own makeup application or makeup tutorial!

~Julia Boucher PA-C

TO PEEL OR NOT TO PEEL

It's pretty hard to live in our world these days and not know what a chemical peel is. Most people have either had one in the past or at least have known someone who has had one. What can be more difficult to determine is whether you are the right candidate for a peel, what type of peel you should get and what the result will be. This post will hopefully answer some of these questions!

Let's start with, are you the right candidate? The answer to this question for the majority of people is YES! There are very few contraindications for having a chemical peel. The most common contraindications include sunburned skin, open wounds, medications that cause sensitivity such as Vitamin A derivatives (Retin-A, Retinol, Adapalene, Accutane), cystic acne, heightened allergies and skin infections. Patient who are on topical keratolytics such as Retin-A will be asked to discontinue them for a period of time prior to the peel.

Another big question that must be answered in deciding if a chemical peel is right for you, is what are your expectations? If you are someone who is looking to correct deep wrinkling in between the eyes, around the eyes or in the forehead, deepened nasolabial folds (smile lines) or jowls, a peel will not be enough for you. You could still benefit from a peel but you may be more pleased with something a bit more invasive such as Botox or Dysport, fillers such as Juvederm, or even facial cosmetic surgery (don't worry there will be posts about all of these in the future!). However, if you are looking to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, create an even skin texture and tone, brighten and refresh skin, or help lighten pigmentation then congratulations, you are the perfect candidate for a peel!

Now that we have determined a peel is right for you, the next question is what type of peel should you get? There are many many different peels out there that vary in intensity and purpose. There are very strong peels that must be performed by a medical professional such as an MD or PA and require a large amount of downtime. These peels result in a burned-skin look, think Samantha from Sex and the City after her chemical peel. There are also peels that require next to no downtime and are performed by aestheticians.

At our Spa we offer peels that require little downtime (no burned-skin look), but actually achieve excellent results. Our least invasive peel is our  BrookskinMD RosaLuxe Sensitive Skin Peel. This peel is for redness-prone and sensitive skin. It may safely be used in patients with Rosacea. Most patients experience approximately 3-4 days of peeling with this peel. It contains Salicylic acid, Mandelic acid and Azelaic acid. Our most popular peel is our BrookskinMD Glow Retexturing Peel. This peel helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, makes the skin look more radiant and helps even tone. The Glow peel is formulated with TCA, Salicylic acid and Azelaic acid. It is a perfect peel to do in preparation for summer to peel off the dry harsh winter! Most patients peel for about 5-7 days after this peel. If you are looking for help with pigmentation, our BrookskinMD Corrective Pigment Peel will be perfect for you. This peels helps lighten pigmentation, rejuvenate the skin from sun damage, help with fine lines and wrinkles and even skin texture. This peel is formulated with Lactic acid, Azelaic acid and Rhytic acid. This peel has the most downtime and patients can expect to have some peeling for 7-10 days. For those patients who don't want any downtime we have our BrookskinMD Quick Peel. This peel can actually be performed on the day of your big event! All of our peels come with after-care instructions and products to use for the next few weeks while your skin is healing!



This is a patient of ours five days after having our BrookskinMD Corrective Pigment Peel. This type of light peeling is what you can expect with any of our peels.





If you are still wondering if a peel is right for you or have more questions, the best thing you can do is come in for a consultation with one of our aestheticians. They will be able to tell you exactly what benefits you will get from a peel and what peel will be right for you! Happy peeling!!!

PALE IS THE NEW TAN

In honor of May being Melanoma Awareness month we will be selling our "Pale is the New Tan" shirts again this year! With Melanoma on the rise it is more important than ever to raise awareness. Please help us do so by purchasing a tee-shirt and wearing it around your town! All of the proceeds from the sale will go to The Melanoma Research Foundation.

We will be selling the shirts at the office and spa located at 776 Longmeadow St. Longmeadow, MA. We will have a limited supply of shirts available for same day purchase. If you would like to order more shirts or if we don't have your size, we can special order them for you! Tee-shirts are $20 each

Awareness and prevention of Melanoma starts with knowledge! Here are a few easy ways to remember the risks for Melanoma and the signs of Melanoma. Visit www.melanoma.org for more information about Melanoma and other Skin Cancer.

MMRISK:

If you have 1 or more of the following you are at a higher risk for developing melanoma.
M: Moles (Atypical >5)
M: Moles (Common >50)
R: Red hair and freckling
I: Inability to tan
S: Sunburn: severe sunburn before age 14
K: Kindred: family history of melanoma

ABCDE's of Melanoma

A for Asymmetry

One half is different than the other half

B for Border Irregularity

The edges are notched, uneven, or blurred

C for Color

Color is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, black, gray, red,  and white can be seen

D for Diameter

Diameter is greater than the tip of a pencil eraser (>6mm)

E for Evolution

The evolution of your mole(s) has become the most important factor to consider when it comes to melanoma. Knowing what is normal for you could save your life. If a mole has gone through recent changes in color and or size, get it checked out immediately! 

All shirts printed by our friends at Print Indie, LLC.

www.printindie.com

Pale is the New Tan is a registered trademake of The Scarlet Lawrence Akins Foundation

NEW TO THE PARTY: SIENTRA

For the past 20+ years women in the U.S. interested in a breast augmentation had two options for FDA approved breast implants. Mentor, a company owned by Johnson & Johnson has manufactured breast implants since 1984. In 2006, their silicone gel-filled implants trademarked, MemoryGel^® were FDA approved for   breast augmentation in women over the age of 22 and for breast reconstruction. Mentor also offers saline implants. Allergan, the multi-specialty health care company home to Botox Cosmetic, also has a line of FDA approved breast implants, trademarked  Natrelle^®. They offer silicone gel filled and saline     breast implants. As of March 9, 2012 a new choice is available for FDA approved silicone gel implants. Sientra is an aesthetics company out of Santa Barbara, CA which was founded in 2007. Sientra will offer Silimed® brand portfolio of products. This portfolio includes silicone implants in a variety of shapes and sizes. In a press release regarding the new FDA approval Hani Zeini, founder and cheif executive officers of Sientra was quoted saying, "We are elated to receive FDA approval of our flagship portfolio of silicone breast implants.This represents two significant milestones. Namely, for the first time in 20 years, Sientra has successfully broken the existing duopoly in the U.S. by offering surgeons and patients a new choice. And today, Sientra becomes the first and only company in the U.S. to provide a full portfolio of commercially-available breast implants, including shaped implants in addition to standard round implants."

Disclosure:  This post is not sponsored by any company and is meant only to give our followers the latest news in implants.

WE HAVE ARRIVED

Hello Blog World! Welcome and thank you for stopping by our blog. This blog will fill you in on everything you never knew you wanted to know about plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery, skin care, breast cancer, skin cancer, overall health and more!

Meet Dr. Brooks:

Dr. Glen Brooks is a board certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery for the face and body as well as reconstructive breast surgery. His office is located in Longmeadow, MA. Leah Kenney, PA-C and Julia Boucher, PA-C work alongside Dr. Brooks in his office and in the operating room to ensure that all of our patients receive the highest level of care. Leah and Julia also provide non-invasive facial rejuvenation in the office with products such as  BOTOX® Cosmetic , Dysport®, Restylane®, JUVÉDERM® Injectable Gel, and  Sculptra®.

Spa on the Green:

Spa on the Green is a medical spa located above Dr. Brooks' private practice. Spa on the Green is owned and operated by Dr. Brooks and focuses on medical grade skin care treatments. Our aestheticians are trained to help you find your perfect Prescription for Beauty using Dr. Brooks' skin care line, BrookskinMD, designed by Dr. Brooks himself with the help of a very talented chemist.

Our entire office and spa staff last year at our big skin care event "The Difference"