“We have the materials we need to make our bodies and faces look and feel younger already inside us – in our own fat cells,” states Dr. Bowen. “Your own fat is a great source of stem cells that can be used to help you in a variety of ways.”

In this regenerative medical process, fat is removed from the body using a routine tumescent liposuction procedure.  This fat is then processed to concentrate the Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSC’s). These concentrated stem cells from your fat enhance the formation of new blood vessels (called “angiogenesis”), improving the success of the fat grafting procedure. The fat is more readily accepted in its new placement, filling in wrinkled areas or areas that have otherwise lost volume, to provide a more youthful appearance.

“What this really means,” says Dr. Bowen, “is that you can use stem cells from your own body to regenerate your skin or face, and dramatically improve your appearance. Cosmetic medicine will never be the same.”

Call The Center today to schedule a free initial consultation to find out if this type of treatment may work for you.

Below is an interesting article we found highlighting these potential benefits:

A new study shows liposuction may provide more than just aesthetic benefit to cosmetic plastic surgery patients. It may also reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. The study, which was presented at the 2011 annual conference of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, revealed that liposuction patients experienced a decrease in triglyceride levels and white blood cell counts following surgery.Though triglycerides−a type of fat found in the blood which provides the body with energy− are important for good health, levels that are too high can increase the risk for heart disease.

The study documented the triglyceride and cholesterol levels of 322 patients who underwent liposuction and/or tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty). Those patients who had elevated triglyceride levels (greater than or equal to 150 mg/dl) before surgery experienced a triglyceride level reduction of 43 percent after surgery. This is about twice the effect that is achieved by one of the most commonly prescribed medications that is used to control triglyceride levels. For those who had normal triglyceride levels prior to surgery, levels remained unchanged.

The study also showed an 11 percent decrease in white blood cells following liposuction. An excessively high white blood cell count has been linked to medical conditions that include diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.

These finding led the study author, a Kansas plastic surgeon, to suggest that the fat found located just beneath the skin, known as subcutaneous fat, may have a greater correlation with diabetes and heart disease, than has been previously thought. Medical experts have long considered the deeper visceral fat that surrounds the organs to have the stronger link to these medical conditions.

Source: http://drmentz.com/new-study-liposuction.html

Click Here to learn more about PureLipo™ or visit LiposuctionWV.com.

Call today to schedule your FREE initial consultation.

Also on the faculty of their training was Patrick Bitter, M.D., of California, the physician who invented the “FotoFacial”, known generically as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or Broadband Light (BBL™) laser skin treatment.

Dr. Bitter shared his extensive experience (roughly 15,000 cases) of providing BBL™ treatments, noting that no supplement, drug, or cream has the effect, over time, of even one BBL™ treatment. Dr. Bitter has documented lasting improvement in skin appearance, the reversal of signs of aging and a reduced risk of non-melanoma cancer of the skin in patients treated with BBL™ therapy. In fact, skin biopsies have shown that gene expression from skin treated with BBL™ resembles that of the healthy skin of a 20 year old.

BBL™ is a minimal downtime procedure; the area treated feels warm and looks somewhat red for several hours, and abnormal skill cells flake away over the course of a week. Treatment is done in a series of 2-3 treatments over several months’ time, with treatments spaced several weeks apart. BBL™ effectively treats red and brown discolorations of the skin, which are associated with sun damage, aging, and conditions like rosacea.

People with fair skin tend to be effected by rosacea more than others, and it appears to be hereditary, but the exact cause of rosacea is not known. It is not caused by alcohol abuse, as commonly thought, but symptoms can flare with alcohol use. It also seems to flare when doing anything that causes blood vessels in the face to expand, such as exercise, contact with heat or hot water, eating spicy food, or stress.

Symptoms of Rosacea May Include:

• Redness on the face and pimples on the cheeks, nose, mouth, chin and forehead.
• Spider veins visible on the face.
• Red or swollen eyelids, with dry or irritated eyes.
• Burning or stinging of the skin on the face.
• Sensitive facial skin.

 Treatments for Rosacea may Include:

The Center offers Neocutis®, a powerful line of skin care products. These products heal and nurish the skin, restore skin radiance, clarity and luminosity, hydrate the skin, and can improve skin texture and tone.

The Levulan® Photodynamic Therapy System is a two-part process that utilizes both the Levulan® Kerastick® topical solution and a BBL (broadband pulsed light). This combination of Levulan® and BBL smooths skin texture, reduces acne, and helps to create a more even skin tone.

Sciton BBL™ Photorejuvenation is a cosmetic treatment that treats vascular redness and the appearance of rosacea. The use of the broadband light therapy (an advanced version of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) can improve acne breakouts common with rosacea and repair damaged skin, evening skin tone and texture. BBL is the gold-standard in treating rosacea.

The Center offers jane iredale® skin care makup®, perfect for after a laser treatment or to use as a cover-up. It is non-irritating, allergy and safety tested, and hypoallergenic.

Does it sound like you may be experiencing rosacea? You’re not alone. Rosacea is very common, and treatments are available. Please contact The Center today to learn more about rosacea treatments.

You are not alone. Estimates are that up to 30% of women and 20% of men ages 20 to 60 suffer from acne as adults. The numbers don’t make it any less embarrassing, though.

Causes of Adult Acne

The causes of acne in adults are similar to what causes it in younger people; sebum, an oily substance produced by your sebaceous glands, gathers and clogs pores, attracting bacteria and becoming inflamed. This can be heightened by a hypersensitivity to male hormones or an imbalance in estrogen. This is why women often suffer from acne during pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. Makeup can also add to the development of acne.

Treatments for Adult Acne

There are a number of ways to treat acne in adults:

1. Keep your skin clean:  Just as when you were younger, use a good cleanser and scrub your face. This helps loosen dead skin and remove oils in the skin, keeping acne symptoms from spreading or getting worse.
2. Use over-the-counter creams and lotions:  There are a variety of retinol products that can be purchased at your local pharmacy or grocery to treat adult acne. To treat active acne, use products that include benzoyl peroxide to kill bacteria.
3. Vibradermabrasion:  The Center for Positive Aging offers Vibradermabrasion, a procedure similar to microdermabrasion, to gently remove the top layer of old skin, leaving newer, smoother skin beneath. Vibradermabrasion can help to reverse either excessive dryness or oiliness of the skin, reducing pore size and creating a more uniform look to the skin. It also helps to stimulate collagen. Vibradermabrasion is a quick, easy, inexpensive and non-invasive way to treat adult acne.
4. The use of Leuvlan® Photodynamic Therapy is very effective in treating adult acne. Levulan® Kerastick® topical solution is applied to the skin, and then broadband pulsed light in the blue spectrum (called BBL) is shone on the skin. The Levulan® topical solution makes the skin more sensitive to light. Then the BBL light is used to attack the bacteria. This procedure kills the bacteria in the skin that causes pimples and cripples the sebaceous glands, helping to alleviate acne problems.
5. Cystic acne can be treated with Sciton’s SkinTyte technology. While not originally designed for this use, Dr. Bowen noticed that patients with acne get an improvement in their painful breakouts after treatment with SkinTyte. By safely but deeply heating the dermis, sebaceous glands which are overactive are crippled and acne breakouts decreased.
6. To cover adult acne without exacerbating the blemishes, use jane iredale® Liquid Mineral™ foundation. The lightweight coverage gives the appearance of a clean and clear complexion without clogging pores, and its anti-inflammatory ingredients calms and soothes irritation.
7. Acne scars, whether new or old, can be effectively treated at The Center as well. ProFractional Therapy™, the latest in laser technology, can aggressively treat a whole host of problems and involves less downtime and discomfort than traditional laser treatment. Not only will ProFractional Therapy™ do wonders to improve the skin’s cosmetic appearance (reducing fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots; improving skin clarity; decreasing pore size), this remarkable laser treatment is capable of remodeling and improving even deep acne scars (and other scars as well). SOFT™ is the trademarked name of the process developed by Dr. Bowen to treat burn and acne scars.

Conclusion

Being 40 and still having acne doesn’t make you feel any younger…pimples are not fun at any age. But luckily, there is something you can do about it. If you are interested in learning more about treatments for your adult acne, call The Center today to schedule a consultation.

Not surprisingly, aging itself is a factor that contributes largely to wrinkles. Collagen, a substance that provides support in the upper layer of the skin, decreases about 1% per year after the age of 40.  Furthermore, sun exposure and lifestyle habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol accelerate the aging process by breaking down collagen fibers which results in accelerated wrinkle formation.

Treating the Aging Face

To slow down the process of aging, it is important to address as many of the aforementioned wrinkle-causing factors as possible.  This can be done through both internal and external treatments.

Internal treatments include taking vitamins, antioxidants and supplements; smoking cessation, limiting alcohol consumption, eating a healthy and nutritional diet, a positive lifestyle and stress management.

External treatments include: Dysport®, BOTOX®, Restylane®, JUVEDERM®, Radiesse®, other dermal fillers, chemical peels, MicroLaserPeel™, ProFractional laser treatment, BBL light/laser treatment, medical-grade skin care, and sun protection.

The Center for Positive Aging offers these external treatments and can customize a skin treatment program that will slow down the aging process of your skin.  Take preventative measures today, and call us for a consultation at 304-264-9080.

Fortunately, age spots are treatable with the following procedures:

Vibraderm – Microdermabrasion: Proven to safely and effectively remove layers of old, discolored skin, this treatment can reduce the visibility of sun damage at its early stages.

Sciton MicroLaserPeel™:  Using an Erbium laser, this procedure is a minimum downtime laser peel that is ideal for vaporizing undesired, sun damaged skin and improving the skin’s overall texture and tone.  The MicroLaserPeel™ is ideal for the face, neck, chest, and hands.

Sciton BBL™ Photorejuvenation: Commonly referred to as photofacial, this cosmetic treatment uses BBL therapy – an advanced version of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) – and is designed to reverse the signs of aging and sun damage by treating the pigmented brown spots, skin texture, and collagen structure all at once. Photorejuvenation is an ideal way to treat age spots (as well as other forms of hyper pigmentation) with no downtime, little discomfort and optimal results using a series of treatments.

NEOCUTIS® Skin Care Products: The Center offers this medical-grade skin care line that combines Processed Skin Cell Proteins or PSPs, Human Growth Factors and other ingredients with anti-aging properties that reverse visible signs of aging.

1. Eat the right foods.

Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are the perfect seasonal fruit to get your skin glowing. Packed with antioxidants, these “super foods” will protect your skin from free radicals, prevent wrinkles and produce collagen, giving you more youthful looking skin. Add more berries to your diet by blending them with Greek yogurt and honey for a delicious and satisfying smoothie, or sprinkle them on top of your breakfast cereal or granola for the perfect morning meal.

Carrots are not only a great source of vitamins A and C, they also contain carotene, a pigment that is found to give skin a natural glow and radiance. In fact, studies have found that people who eat more of this sweet veggie have a more attractive complexion compared to tanning in the sun or tanning bed. Incorporate more carrots into your meals by replacing your usual salty snack with baby carrots or adding shredded carrots on top of your salad for a crunchy texture.

Eating healthy fats from nuts, avocados and fish keeps your skin hydrated, reduces the appearance of fine lines and makes you look younger and healthier. Add more Omega-3 in your diet by replacing your chicken entrée with salmon or ordering chips and guacamole as an appetizer with tonight’s Mexican cuisine.

Drink more water and green tea. We often forget to drink water when enjoying ourselves in the warm sunny weather, but staying hydrated is key to maintaining youthful skin. Imagine the difference between plump grapes and dried raisins. Make sure you drink at least the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water. Swap your usual coffee with green tea. Green tea has been proven to reduce sun damage, and it has powerful antioxidants that can slow down the signs of aging.

2. Get active.

Play with your kids. Your kids are home during the summer, so make the most of your time together and plan something that is both fun and requires some physical activity. Exercise increases circulation in the body resulting in healthy skin. So take them to the park or the community pool. Just don’t forget the sunscreen.

Sweat it out. It can be tempting to stay indoors where it’s nicely air-conditioned this time of year, but nothing makes the skin glow quite like breaking a good sweat. Sweating detoxifies your body and removes impurities from the skin. Take a hot yoga class or go for a morning run so you have that rosy complexion all day long.

3. Choose the right products.

Exfoliate your face and body. The heat and humidity can cause product build-up that can lead to clogged pores. Exfoliating removes dead skin, dirt, and excess oil from you skin, leaving behind smoother and younger-looking skin. It also helps sunscreen absorb into the skin and makeup better adhere to the face. Try Neocutis’ NEO-CLEANSE Gentle and Exfoliating Skin Cleanser for fresh skin that glows.

Make sure to always apply sunscreen before leaving the house. You know that regular exposure to the sun will have a damaging effect on your skin, leading to wrinkles and age spots. Be sure to protect your face and body with a physical sunscreen like jane iredale’s® Powder-Me SPF™ daily.

Use self-tanner. We’ve already learned that suntanned skin is damaged skin that can lead to visible signs of aging such as age spots, but if you insist on having that beachy, sun-kissed look, fake it with self-tanner. Try jane iredale’s® Tantasia™ which naturally hydrates and moisturizes the skin. Also, the streak-free formula builds color overtime, so you have complete color control. Apply it on your shoulders, shins, and décolleté for a warm glow.

4. Let The Center help.

Varicose and spider veins tend to become more visible as we age, and their unsightliness will keep your shorts and bathing suits tucked away at the bottom of your drawer. This summer, battle varicose and spider veins with the help of The Center for Positive Aging. The Center offers the Sciton 1064 Nd: Yag laser treatment to zap facial and spider veins so you can confidently wear your summer shorts.

Not surprisingly, the more sun exposure we get the more damaged our skin becomes, resulting in hyperpigmentation, commonly known as age spots or sun spots. These freckle-like spots tend to show up on the face, chest shoulders, and even hands. The Center for Positive Aging offers several treatments depending the severity of the sun damage that will combat these blemishes, including; Sciton MicroLaserPeel™, Sciton BBL Photorejuvenation, and ProFractional Therapy™. Get the smooth, even complexion you’ve always wanted with help from The Center.

Sunscreen, sweat and oil from skin can lead to clogged pores that cause breakouts on the face and body. Get rid of acne or acne scars for good with the help of The Center for Positive Aging. The Center offers the Levulan® Acne Treatment Therapy System that combines Levulan® Kerastick® topical solution and BBL broadband pulsed light to treat acne, sun damaged skin, and oily skin.  And, Dr. Bowen has developed an effective treatment approach (Selective Objectional Fractional Technique or SOFT) using ProFractional Therapy to reduce acne scars (and other scars, such as burn scars.)

Put your best skin forward this summer with these easy tips. All it takes is the right foods, a little bit of exercise, effective skin care products, and maybe a little help from The Center. Call today for your  consultation: 304-264-9080.

Originally from New Oxford, PA, I have been living in Shepherdstown, WV for the past 15 years.  I graduated from Shepherd University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  While creating art, I always have had a fascination with the workings and sculptural beauty of the human anatomy.  This led me to obtain an additional degree as a Registered Medical Assistant in 2010.  I returned to my alma mater to work in the student health center, as I found I was really able to make an impact on the decisions and health awareness of the student body.  Dr. Bowen and the Center for Positive Aging have enabled me to take my passion for art, and blend it with my knowledge and keen interest in the medical field.  Physical beauty of an individual often allows that person to have their true inner beauty be brought to the surface.  I hope to be a well-versed guide and a sense of comfort and professionalism for all of Dr. Bowen’s patients.   It is certainly a big decision to have any procedure performed, and I hope to be a positive and informative factor to help in every step along the way.