Pregnancy Safe Skincare - Dr Bryan Mendelson

With pregnancy comes a whole new world of required knowledge. What can and can’t you eat or drink? What bras should you be wearing? What exercise are you ‘allowed’ to do? What preparatory classes should you be attending? How do you even look after a baby?? Literally, the list of questions goes on and on…

It’s a confusing old time, and can be quite frustrating trying to find the correct answers to many of your questions. At 28 weeks pregnant, I’ve had a lot of time to do a shed load of research/question asking, so over the next few months I will start sharing all of my knowledge with you, so you can use The Page as a ‘go-to’ for preggo related questions – and hopefully save you the hours of internet surfing that I’ve had to endure.

As a bit of a beauty obsessive, the whole issue of safety when it comes to certain skincare ingredients during pregnancy was one of the first things I wanted to find out about. Could I still get a bit of botox every now and then (the answer is no) and what lotions and potions could I use on my face and body?

First up, ditch the injectables – this is because not enough research has been done surrounding the effects of botox and fillers on unborn babies. It’s really not worth the risk, and actually it’s quite liberating to let it all go… try to focus on your inner health instead (eating right, drinking lots of water and exercising daily) and you’ll find you’ll radiate a new kind of beauty – the pregnancy glow. Plus you’ll save a shed load of money and the wrinkles that re-appear post the disappearing effects of botox are never as bad as you imagined they were to begin with. I’m actually undecided as to whether I’ll bother again after the baby is here (note while you’re breastfeeding the same skincare rules apply).

Admittedly for me, the healthy eating and exercise didn’t happen until I got past the morning sickness. Veggies and exercise were a no-go area until I was about 15 weeks, but that’s okay – just ride the wave, eat what you can stomach (orange juice, marmite on toast and skittles were all i could face) and know that you’ll get back on track just as soon as you feel a little better.

When it comes to skincare products, the main ingredients that seem to cause most concern during pregnancy are retinol (Vitamin A, which has quite amazing effects on the skin in terms of plumping and de-lining and helping with pigmentation) and salicylic acid (a brilliant beta hydroxy acid that helps tackle acne in a big, big way). Salicylic has been shown to cause growth problems and birth defects if taken in high dosages orally, and the same for Vitamin A.

That said, some experts and professionals say that these ingredients are perfectly safe at the (topically applied) levels you would see in shop-bought, non-prescription products. My own opinion? It’s not worth the risk. I’ve avoided both during my pregnancy, mainly because I think for the sake of 9 months, what are few extra fine lines or wrinkles between friends? Remember my mantra ‘let.it.goooo’.

I’m also a bit of anxious soul, and really can’t deal with any added stress, so worrying myself  over the strength of an ingredient in a product is the last thing I need to be thinking about. That said, I have been lucky enough to experience blemish-free skin during my pregnancy but some women are, however, prone to acne and melasma as a result of hormonal changes. In this instance it’s best to seek advice and skincare guidance from the likes of Clearskincare Clinics Australia (nationwide), The Clinic in Sydney (see previous post on pregnancy friendly Blueberry peel as a pick-me up) or the Skin & Injecting Clinic on behalf of Dr Bryan C Mendelson in Melbourne.

Regular facials may be required to help keep skin as clear as possible and ingredient recommendations (from the research I have done) suggest using niacinamide or Vitamin B3 (5%) and azelaic acid (15 or 20%) for breakout prone skin or Vitamin C’s and Alpha hydroxy acids for pigmentation-prone skin – all safe for pregnancy.

As a final note, quit with the aerosols as these contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and artificial fragrances, which aren’t good for you or your baby especially when used indoors as they can cause VOCs to build up. AND if you change nothing else about your routine during pregnancy, add a daily sunscreen into the mix – it’s SO, SO important. As many as 40% of women develop melasma or the mask of pregnancy and something as simple as using a physical sunscreen containing zinc oxide properly on a daily basis can prevent it. Skin is much more sensitive to the sun during pregnancy, so staying out of it or covering up is key.

Another skin related problem to bear in mind are stretchmarks. Stretchmarks affect as many as 90% of women during pregnancy. As someone who already has a few from my early years I was expecting to get these, although I haven’t seen any yet. Apparently, however they are most likely to form during the last few months when you do the most belly growing so in preparation I’m being very generous with oils and creams, all of which I’ve listed below.

My go brand during pregnancy has been Dermalogica for my face and Sukin for my body – I have resolute trust in both brands and their products.

I also loved the fact I was able to book in for face mapping skin analysis and thorough 60 minute treatment with Dermalogica to get an idea of my problem areas and what was needed and why – head here to find your nearest store and consultant.

#Article Source:
http://www.the-page.com.au/beauty/pregnancy-safe-skincare/
http://plasticsurgerymelbourne.weebly.com/home/pregnancy-safe-skincare-dr-bryan-mendelson

The Newest Intensive Spring Skin Treatment - The Mendelson Medi-Facial

Skin & Injecting Clinic Melbourne

If you’re looking for the ideal skin preparation to kick off the new season and all the social events that come with it, the new Mendelson Medi-Facial is everything you’re after and more.

Created in-house by Dermal Clinician, Natasha Laouta from the Skin & Injecting Clinic on behalf of Dr Bryan C Mendelson, the medi-facial is a six-step, intensive treatment that incorporates the following:

A gentle, antioxidant rich cleanser

1. Superfruit enzyme exfoliator to make skin smoother, softer and calmer in minutes
2. Deep thermal, self-warming cleanser that exfoliates and lifts embedded debris
3. Self-heating, professional grade oxygenating mask which treats and sterilises the skin’s surface
4. LED light therapy to stimulate tissue, renew skin and help restore suppleness
5. Peptide infusion gel mask which leaves skin smooth and moisturised and promotes elasticity

I’d heard that peptide infusion makes the skin perfect for make-up application and, following the experience, I will definitely be going back on the regular; it was an unforgettable treatment.

The entire 90 minutes in Natasha’s chair was sublimely luxurious and, most notably, effective but there were a few moments for me that made it particularly impressive.

The oxygenating mask
After smoothing the mask on my face, Natasha carefully poured a catalyst solution on my chin, cheeks and forehead to activate the stabilised oxygen molecules (never fear, they do not cause free radicals), before softly blending in circles to create a chemical reaction, which resulted in a rich foam forming on the skin’s surface; it felt like I had a fluffy cloud on my face.

LED light therapy
Helping to renew the skin and restore its suppleness, for 12 glorious minutes I relaxed under the warm glow of my first LED light therapy experience. I could have stayed there forever. It was quite the treat.

Peptide infusion gel mask
With my face still warm from the LED light therapy, a cool peptide infusion gel mask was applied to my face in two sections.

The mask incorporates an innovative technology called Transdermal Cosmetic Delivery (TCD), which ensures key ingredients are activated by skin temperature.
By rapidly minimising dehydrated skin and improving the skin’s self-moisturising properties, the mask leaves the skin smooth and moisturised and promotes elasticity.
As I enjoyed the peptide infusion Natasha treated me to a pressure-point scalp massage, which was so relaxing it had me fighting off the urge to take a little nap.

Results
Looking in the mirror after getting up from Natasha’s chair, the results were immediately visible – my skin was luminescent, polished and soft.

As I had hoped, my makeup application the following day was flawless – it was like my skin suddenly had its own in-built primer, making the treatment PERFECT for occasions like Spring Racing, weddings, Christmas parties and New Year’s celebrations.

The Mendelson Medi-Facial is a prescriptive facial and not currently featured on the Skin and Injecting Clinic’s website. To experience the facial, simply contact the clinic and book in an appointment with Natasha today.

*Disclosure – My Mendelson Medi-Facial treatment was kindly offered complimentary for review as an existing customer but this did not in any way influence my opinion on the results or experience.

#Article Source:
http://www.the-page.com.au/beauty/the-mendelson-medi-facial-the-newest-intensive-spring-skin-treatment/
http://plasticsurgerymelbourne.weebly.com/home/the-newest-intensive-spring-skin-treatment-the-mendelson-medi-facial

Dr Bryan Mendelson and Factor4

For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, Factor4 is fast becoming one of the most talked about treatments of 2016. Some of Australia’s best practitioners and surgeons have also embraced Factor4 – one of the more well-known and respected being Dr Bryan Mendelson and his Skin & Injecting Clinic in Toorak, Victoria. We contacted Dr Mendelson, and his Dermal Clinician Natasha Laouta who has over 20 years of industry experience and is trained to the highest level to administer and assist in non-surgical skin rejuvenation, including medical, aesthetic, cosmetic skin care treatments, as well as the operation of laser and electrical based equipment; to get the lowdown on why everyone is loving the Factor4 treatment and why their unique method of micro-needling combined with the Factor4 treatment is producing superior results.

PSH: Does the process hurt, and how long does it take?

Each treatment takes approximately an hour and a half. This includes time for the numbing cream to take effect, followed by the skin needling procedure with the Factor4 serum and 13 minute LED therapy which assists with healing.

Due to the numbing cream, patients feel little more than light scratching on their skin. We also gauge the intensity on the client’s comfort levels as some areas of the face are more sensitive than others.

PSH: The results are said to improve over time. What is the recommended number of treatments (we hear 4 – 6 treatments will be needed with 2 or so weeks in between each treatment)? How long do the results last and how often do you need “top ups”?

A minimum of 4 treatments is generally required to achieve the optimum rejuvenation of the area. Recent research has resulted in a recommendation that skin needling treatments should be performed at weekly to fortnightly intervals to achieve the best possible results.

The true result of the treatment will be apparent approximately 3-6 months post treatment as your skin regenerates and continues to produce more collagen and elastin. Top ups are recommended every 6 months or annually depending on the condition and quality of the skin. A maintenance program can also be considered ie. an additional 4 treatments 6 weeks apart.

Dr Bryan Mendelson’s Skin & Injecting Clinic in Toorak

PSH: Are there any risks associated with the procedure and is it suitable for everyone?

Being an autologous serum it contains no cellular matter, limiting the risk of infection as well as no risk of bacteria or cancerous cell transfer.

Following the treatment a mild inflammatory reaction occurs, resulting in a warm, flushed feeling similar to a moderate sunburn. Skin redness can persist for up to 24 – 48 hours. It is normal for the skin to feel tender and in some instances mild bruising and swelling around the eyes and lips can be noticed.

This treatment is suitable for everyone particularly those with fine lines, dull skin, enlarged pores, acne scars, chicken pox scars and surgical scars, nasolabial fold lines, smoker’s lines and those seeking rejuvenation of hands, neck and decolletage, lax skin on the body – arms, legs and stomach. It is NOT suitable over skin cancer and active acne or during pregnancy.

PSH: It is said the most popular place to have the treatment is on the face, but it is possible to have the treatment almost anywhere on the body. Where do you find you are performing the treatment most and where are you getting the best results for the treatment?

We perform most of our treatment on the face, neck and decolletage and back of hands. The best results we have seen have been the neck, under the eyes, and nasolabial fold. In addition to visible appearance there is a softness of fine lines and pores.

Before & After
Factor4 treatment on periorbital region

Before & After
Factor4 treatment on neck

PSH: Talk us through how the actual procedure works and what is happening to our skin in order for the treatment to work as well as it does.

The treatment involves the use of an electrical device called MDerma which uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries to the skin. These micro injuries induce a natural wound healing response which includes the release of growth factors and the deposition of new collagen and elastin to heal the skin. Applying the Factor4 serum over the skin whilst needling means results are enhanced as there is four times the growth factors helping your skin heal, and rejuvenate.

PSH: How can people contact you if they want more information or would like to arrange a consult or treatment?

For further information on Factor4 at the Skin & Injecting Clinic visit https://bmendelson.com.au/skin-injecting/ or call +61 3 9826 0977.

Article Source: https://www.plasticsurgeryhub.com.au/dr-bryan-mendelson-and-factor4/