5 Common Menopause Symptoms That Hormone Replacement Therapy Helps
Menopause – the end of a woman’s reproductive years – comes usually around the age of 51. However, the onset of menopause is extremely varied, ranging from the late 30’s to the early 60’s in some women. In the time before menopause, referred known as perimenopause, the ovaries begin releasing less of the so-called “sex hormones” (including estrogen) that regulate reproduction.
However, estrogen and the other hormones are involved in more than simply fertility regulation. Indeed, virtually every bodily function of a woman is affected to some extent by sex hormones. Estrogen has an effect on metabolism (the capacity of the body to burn calories and store fat), weight growth, bone strength, mood and mental state, and libido, among other things.
As a result of the reduction in hormone production during menopause and perimenopause, the majority of women suffer a range of unpleasant side effects. Menopausal hormone decline manifests itself in a variety of ways, including hot flashes, sleep difficulties, decreased sexual desire, dry and itchy vagina, painful intercourse, urine incontinence, weight gain, mood swings, tiredness, and bone loss.
The good news is that, recent advances in hormone replacement treatment may provide long-lasting relief from many of menopause’s unpleasant or painful symptoms. Dr. Ali, a hormone replacement expert in the Troy, MI region, discusses how hormone replacement therapy may help relieve some of the most prevalent symptoms of menopause in this article.
#1. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are perhaps the most prevalent perimenopausal and menopausal symptom. These abrupt increases in body temperature may be both unpleasant and humiliating, since they are often accompanied by flushing and copious perspiration.
As women approach menopause, up to 75% suffer hot flashes, commonly known as hot flashes. Hot flashes are a “vasomotor symptom,” meaning they are caused by an abrupt dilation of blood vessels. Increased blood flow results in excessive body heat and sweat.
Experts at Harvard School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic think that estrogen replacement therapy is the most effective and safest way to treat severe hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause.
In a clinical study including 3,329 participants, administering oral estrogen or estrogen plus progestin significantly decreased hot flashes in menopausal women by 75%.
#2. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Tiredness
Although testosterone is more often associated with males, it plays a critical role in both men and women in terms of energy production. Testosterone is a hormone that performs a variety of tasks in addition to sexual drive and performance. It also aids the body in producing the proteins necessary for muscle upkeep and energy production in both men and women. Thus, decreased testosterone levels associated with menopause may result in severe fatigue in women.
But by managing a woman’s estrogen levels throughout menopause with HRT, vitality and energy can be restored.
#3. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Vaginal Dryness and Painful Intercourse
Estrogen is a female “sex hormone” that helps maintain the thickness and health of the vaginal walls while also producing natural lubrication to keep them moist and supple. Estrogen also plays an important part in a woman’s libido or “sexual desire.”
Following menopause, more than half of women suffer vaginal dryness, as well as pain during intercourse as a result of decreased estrogen levels. When estrogen production declines throughout menopause, the vaginal walls become thinner, lose flexibility, and generate less lubrication. Additionally, a decrease in estrogen levels may result in a woman losing desire in sex.
However, estrogen replacement therapy may assist a woman’s body in rebuilding stronger, more elastic, and lubricated vaginal tissue, enabling her to reclaim sexual intimacy! Additionally, hormone replacement treatment to restore estrogen and other sex hormones may rekindle a woman’s sex drive, rekindling her desire in sex.
#4. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopausal Weight Gain
Weight gain – particularly around the middle or belly – is often a result of menopause’s hormonal decline and imbalance.
To begin, when estrogen levels are low, the metabolism slows, resulting in an increase in body fat storage. Additionally, low estrogen levels impede fat cell breakdown, resulting in fat accumulation, weight gain, and an increased waist circumference (“belly fat”). Additionally, when an excess of androgens (male hormones) exists, the risk of obesity is raised.
Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy may assist perimenopausal and menopausal women in reversing weight gain, increasing muscle mass, and decreasing fat accumulation – especially in the abdominal area.
#5: Hormone Replacement Therapy for Osteoporosis
One of estrogen’s many essential functions is to promote bone-forming cellular activity. As a consequence of the decrease in estrogen levels after menopause, the bones lose calcium.
Numerous recent studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy, rather than bisphosphonate medicines, is the most effective strategy for preventing osteoporosis-related fractures. Along with fracture prevention, estrogen has been shown to maintain spinal discs in a manner that non-hormonal therapies do not.
Most “synthetic” medications that are now available to treat osteoporosis (e.g., Fosamax and Boniva), but have unpleasant – and in some instances, deadly – side effects. As a result, the majority of medical professionals feel that if feasible, it is better to treat the underlying cause of osteoporosis, which is estrogen deficiency, with hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause – Troy, MI
Along with addressing many of menopause’s most visible symptoms – tiredness, painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, weight gain, hot flashes, and osteoporosis — hormone replacement therapy helps prevent a variety of severe illnesses.
Menopausal therapy with hormone replacement has been proven to help prevent severe diseases such as heart disease, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
There is no longer a need to suffer in silence from the painful and unpleasant symptoms of menopause, thanks to recent advances in bioidentical hormone replacement treatment. If you are a woman in the greater Troy, MI area who is experiencing perimenopause or menopause, consult with Dr. Ali to see if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
Treatment for Menopause in the Troy, MI area: 248-335-7200
EltaMD Sunscreens Provide Safe, Natural UV Protection
/in Skin Care /by adminEltaMD Sunscreens Provide Safe, Natural UV Protection
August is the hottest and sunniest time of year in Michigan. So, most of us are anxious to hit the beach and enjoy other outdoor activities – from cycling and hiking to backyard barbeques. Of course, by now everyone knows that sunscreen should be applied daily to protect the skin from dangerous UV rays.
Proper skin protection is the most effective way to ward of lines, wrinkles, age spots and other signs of aging. Sunscreen is also the best way to avoid the development of skin cancer. But, with so many sunscreens on the market, it is hard to know which brand is best for our skin.
At AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Birmingham, MI, we have done the research for you! And, the clear winner is the EltaMD comprehensive line of sunscreens. EltaMD sunscreens are fragrance-free so you don’t smell like a Pina Colada all day. And they are noncomedogenic – which means they do not clog pores.
We love EltaMD sunscreens because they are lightweight and creamy sunscreen, absorb quickly and leaves no white cast. Even EltaMD offers a wide range of sunscreen formulas – with one that is right for virtually every skin care need.
Because we are such big fans of EltaMD’s spectrum of sun protectors for all skin types and concerns, offer these products for purchase at the best prices possible to our patients in our Birmingham Med Spa. Below is a discussion of some of our favorite EltaMD sunscreen products, to help you choose the UV protection that is right for your skin type and your lifestyle.
EltaMD UV Restore Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Sunscreen
This sunscreen is great for pairing with a daily makeup look that is dewy and natural, with just a touch of bronze. This slightly tinted mineral sunscreen conceals flaws – blending out discolorations and toning down redness – while adding just a natural pop of color and glow to the skin.
The iron oxides in this formula help to filter visible light and aid in the prevention of hyperpigmentation. Additionally, ginger root and saccharide isomerate (a sugar like molecule) are active components that assist in reducing dark spots.
Another important component, squalane, promotes all day hydration by naturally locking in moisture without disturbing the skin’s delicate skin barrier – which makes it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
EltaMD UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ Sunscreen
When the weather begins to climb on humid days in Michigan, nothing beats EltaMD UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50. This sunscreen formula prevents 98 percent of UVB rays – yet is breakout-free a result of the product’s noncomedogenic nature, which does not clog pores.
I’s thin, glossy texture means it can be applied liberally without the danger of going overboard since the sunscreen almost melts into the skin upon application, completely absorbing. And since it is also water- and sweat-resistant it won’t come off after a swim or a run. Unlike other brands of high-protection sunscreens it never feels sticky, even in high humidity, and provides sun protection without the white cast.
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 is ideal for patients with acne-prone skin. Two important components in this product are niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, which help soothe and protect the skin from irritation.
In addition to being an excellent option for anybody suffering from acne, it is also ideal for men and women suffering from rosacea or hyperpigmentation. And for patients whose complexion may be very dry, particularly in specific areas around the face, hyaluronic also rehydrates skin, while acting as a sun-protected concealer replacement. There really is nothing that this sunscreen cannot accomplish!
EltaMD UV Replenish Broad-Spectrum SPF 44 Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Replenish Broad-Spectrum SPF 44 is excellent for patients prone to dry, parched skin. Someone with dry can reap the benefits from using this sunblock even if they are not going outside.
Daily use of this sunscreen may result in noticeably plumper, more moisturized skin. This formula includes hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), a humectant with a 1,000-fold capacity to retain water, as well as a moisturizing component called dimethicone, which traps moisture in the skin and helps it retain hydration.
We love EltaMD UV Replenish Broad-Spectrum SPF 44 so much we have put in on sale at 10% off for the Month of August 2021, so all of our patients can experience the amazing skin replenishing benefits that this product offers in addition to excellent sun protection.
EltaMD Sunscreens | Birmingham, MI
No matter what you skin color, type, or skin care concerns, EltaMD Sunscreens has a formula for you.
All EltaMD Sunscreens are natural, safe, fragrance free, non-comedogenic, non-greasy, and absorb quickly without leaving a white residue.
Stop by our Birmingham Med Spa and our experienced skin care experts will help you choose the EltaMD sunscreen product that is right for you.
Buy EltaMD Sunscreens | Birmingham, MI:248-335-7200
What to Know About the Benzene Sunscreen Recall
/in Skin Care /by adminWhat to Know About the Benzene Sunscreen Recall
Recent discoveries of the chemical benzene in certain topical sunscreens have sparked concerns among doctors and patients alike. And while physicians are split on the right degree of alarm about this problem, one thing is clear: Benzene does not belong in sunscreen.
In this article the skin care experts at AMAE Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in the Troy, MI area discuss the most recent data about the sunscreens that were recalled for containing sunscreen – and provide you with the information you need to ensure your sunscreen is benzene free!
The Benzene Sunscreen Recall
Johnson & Johnson announced a voluntary recall this past month for many of its sunscreen sprays manufactured by Neutrogena. These included:
These contaminated products were all in spray format, not lotion or cream.
If you have any of these products you should discontinue their usage and contact the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Care Center 24/7 with inquiries or to seek a refund: 1-800-458-1673
Johnson & Johnson continues to downplay the incident, saying in a statement that “internal testing revealed minor amounts of benzene in certain product samples” and that the recall is being conducted “out of an excess of caution”.
What Is Benzene & Why is it a Dangerous Chemical in Sunscreen?
You are not alone if you are unfamiliar with benzene. According to the CDC, it is a chemical that occurs naturally in volcanoes and forest fires – and is also a component of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
According to the CDC, it is a chemical that the majority of Americans are likely exposed to in small amounts on a daily basis, since it is present in trace amounts in the air we breathe due to cigarette smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions. Additionally, Benzene is used to manufacture compounds used in man-made goods such as plastics, dyes, and detergents, as well as glue and paint.
While small quantities of benzene are not as concerning, levels of benzene more than 2 parts per million ppm are perhaps hazardous. Some research suggests that benzene may be carcinogenic when applied to large areas of skin, particularly because benzene is a very volatile solvent – meaning that it penetrates the cell membrane very quickly and easily, and thus can pass right through the skin into the bloodstream.
Are Other Sunscreens Safe?
Because of the recall many of our Troy, MI area patients have expressed concerns regarding the safety of all sunscreens. But these fears are completely baseless, as long as one purchases sunscreen from a trusted, natural brand.
According to a recent American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) pronouncement on the recent recall benzene is not and has never been a component in any sunscreen formulas. In other words, the recent Johnson & Johnson (Neutrogena) contamination problem was due to a mistake with the manufacturing process, not with the sunscreen formulas themselves.
But, earlier this year, the same laboratory that discovered benzene in many sunscreens also discovered it in numerous hand sanitizers. Excessive amounts of benzene have also been detected in soft drinks and other beverages during the past several decades.
EltaMD: Safe, Natural, Benzene-free Sunscreens | Troy, MI
Proper skin protection is the most effective way to ward of lines, wrinkles, age spots and other signs of aging. Even more importantly, sunscreen with a high SPF is the best way to avoid the development of skin cancer. So, sunscreen should be applied daily – and it is important to not let the recent recalls “scare you off” using sun protection.
At AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in the Troy, MI area, we highly recommend the EltaMD comprehensive line of sunscreens. EltaMD sunscreens are fragrance-free so you don’t smell like a Pina Colada all day. And they are noncomedogenic – which means they do not clog pores.
We also love EltaMD sunscreens because they are lightweight and creamy sunscreen, absorb quickly and leaves no white cast. And they incorporate many nutritive ingredients that can heal, hydrate and restore skin, in addition to offering UV protection.
EltaMD offers a wide range of sunscreen formulas – with one that is right for virtually every skin care need. And because we are such big fans of EltaMD’s spectrum of sun protectors for all skin types and concerns, offer these products for purchase at the best prices possible to our patients in our Birmingham Med Spa.
If you live in the greater Troy, MI area, stop by AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa and our experienced skin care experts will help you choose the EltaMD sunscreen product that is right for you!
EltaMD Safe Benzene-free Sunscreens | Troy, MI: 248-335-7200
5 Menopause Symptoms Hormone Therapy Can Help
/in Hormone Replacement /by admin5 Common Menopause Symptoms That Hormone Replacement Therapy Helps
Menopause – the end of a woman’s reproductive years – comes usually around the age of 51. However, the onset of menopause is extremely varied, ranging from the late 30’s to the early 60’s in some women. In the time before menopause, referred known as perimenopause, the ovaries begin releasing less of the so-called “sex hormones” (including estrogen) that regulate reproduction.
However, estrogen and the other hormones are involved in more than simply fertility regulation. Indeed, virtually every bodily function of a woman is affected to some extent by sex hormones. Estrogen has an effect on metabolism (the capacity of the body to burn calories and store fat), weight growth, bone strength, mood and mental state, and libido, among other things.
As a result of the reduction in hormone production during menopause and perimenopause, the majority of women suffer a range of unpleasant side effects. Menopausal hormone decline manifests itself in a variety of ways, including hot flashes, sleep difficulties, decreased sexual desire, dry and itchy vagina, painful intercourse, urine incontinence, weight gain, mood swings, tiredness, and bone loss.
The good news is that, recent advances in hormone replacement treatment may provide long-lasting relief from many of menopause’s unpleasant or painful symptoms. Dr. Ali, a hormone replacement expert in the Troy, MI region, discusses how hormone replacement therapy may help relieve some of the most prevalent symptoms of menopause in this article.
#1. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are perhaps the most prevalent perimenopausal and menopausal symptom. These abrupt increases in body temperature may be both unpleasant and humiliating, since they are often accompanied by flushing and copious perspiration.
As women approach menopause, up to 75% suffer hot flashes, commonly known as hot flashes. Hot flashes are a “vasomotor symptom,” meaning they are caused by an abrupt dilation of blood vessels. Increased blood flow results in excessive body heat and sweat.
Experts at Harvard School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic think that estrogen replacement therapy is the most effective and safest way to treat severe hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause.
In a clinical study including 3,329 participants, administering oral estrogen or estrogen plus progestin significantly decreased hot flashes in menopausal women by 75%.
#2. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Tiredness
Although testosterone is more often associated with males, it plays a critical role in both men and women in terms of energy production. Testosterone is a hormone that performs a variety of tasks in addition to sexual drive and performance. It also aids the body in producing the proteins necessary for muscle upkeep and energy production in both men and women. Thus, decreased testosterone levels associated with menopause may result in severe fatigue in women.
But by managing a woman’s estrogen levels throughout menopause with HRT, vitality and energy can be restored.
#3. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Vaginal Dryness and Painful Intercourse
Estrogen is a female “sex hormone” that helps maintain the thickness and health of the vaginal walls while also producing natural lubrication to keep them moist and supple. Estrogen also plays an important part in a woman’s libido or “sexual desire.”
Following menopause, more than half of women suffer vaginal dryness, as well as pain during intercourse as a result of decreased estrogen levels. When estrogen production declines throughout menopause, the vaginal walls become thinner, lose flexibility, and generate less lubrication. Additionally, a decrease in estrogen levels may result in a woman losing desire in sex.
However, estrogen replacement therapy may assist a woman’s body in rebuilding stronger, more elastic, and lubricated vaginal tissue, enabling her to reclaim sexual intimacy! Additionally, hormone replacement treatment to restore estrogen and other sex hormones may rekindle a woman’s sex drive, rekindling her desire in sex.
#4. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopausal Weight Gain
Weight gain – particularly around the middle or belly – is often a result of menopause’s hormonal decline and imbalance.
To begin, when estrogen levels are low, the metabolism slows, resulting in an increase in body fat storage. Additionally, low estrogen levels impede fat cell breakdown, resulting in fat accumulation, weight gain, and an increased waist circumference (“belly fat”). Additionally, when an excess of androgens (male hormones) exists, the risk of obesity is raised.
Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy may assist perimenopausal and menopausal women in reversing weight gain, increasing muscle mass, and decreasing fat accumulation – especially in the abdominal area.
#5: Hormone Replacement Therapy for Osteoporosis
One of estrogen’s many essential functions is to promote bone-forming cellular activity. As a consequence of the decrease in estrogen levels after menopause, the bones lose calcium.
Numerous recent studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy, rather than bisphosphonate medicines, is the most effective strategy for preventing osteoporosis-related fractures. Along with fracture prevention, estrogen has been shown to maintain spinal discs in a manner that non-hormonal therapies do not.
Most “synthetic” medications that are now available to treat osteoporosis (e.g., Fosamax and Boniva), but have unpleasant – and in some instances, deadly – side effects. As a result, the majority of medical professionals feel that if feasible, it is better to treat the underlying cause of osteoporosis, which is estrogen deficiency, with hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause – Troy, MI
Along with addressing many of menopause’s most visible symptoms – tiredness, painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, weight gain, hot flashes, and osteoporosis — hormone replacement therapy helps prevent a variety of severe illnesses.
Menopausal therapy with hormone replacement has been proven to help prevent severe diseases such as heart disease, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
There is no longer a need to suffer in silence from the painful and unpleasant symptoms of menopause, thanks to recent advances in bioidentical hormone replacement treatment. If you are a woman in the greater Troy, MI area who is experiencing perimenopause or menopause, consult with Dr. Ali to see if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
Treatment for Menopause in the Troy, MI area: 248-335-7200
How Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Improves Sex
/in Vaginal Rejuvenation, Vaginal Tightening /by adminHow Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatment Improves Sex
Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation uses radio-frequency energy with integrated cooling technology to help restore tightness, elasticity, lubrication and sensation to the tissue in the vagina and pelvic floor. Collagen and elastin are the natural substances in the body that are responsible for skin strength, thickness and elasticity. Viveve® radiofrequency stimulates collagen and elastin production in the vagina – while the cooling technology ensures that the procedure is more comfortable than other types of vaginal rejuvenation treatments.
Radiofrequency has been FDA approved to treat loose and “lax” skin on the face for almost a decade. Now this same safe, non-surgical technology is being used to increase collagen production in the vagina – which improves the vaginal tissue’s texture, lubrication, suppleness, thickness and elasticity.
In multiple clinical studies that were approved by the FDA, Viveve® has been clinically proven to be a safe and effective treatment for vaginal rejuvenation – without reported side effects or complications.
In addition to remedying pain during intercourse, Viveve® also typically improves sexual sensation. This is because the radiofrequency heat used for the treatment stimulates the body’s own collagen and elastin production, for thicker and more responsive vaginal walls. In addition to plumping and strengthening the vaginal tissue with new collagen, Viveve also improves blood flow to the vagina. And, Viveve also stimulates the production of natural vaginal lubrication in the vagina – making the tissue less dry, so intercourse is less painful and more pleasurable.
What to Expect during Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatment
During your Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment a small wand (about a thumb’s width) is gently inserted into the vagina to deliver warm radiofrequency (RF) energy. The patient experiences both a heating and cooling sensation, thanks to Viveve®’s unique, patented cooling technology.
The majority of our patients describe the procedure as comfortable, not painful. Only a single treatment is needed. The Viveve treatment itself typically only lasts approximately 30 minutes, during which time the patient can relax, use their phone, or listen to music .
Benefits of Viveve® Vaginal Rejuvenation
Since Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation is non-surgical and has no negative side effects, patients can return to work or their normal daily activities immediately after the 30-minute treatment. Patients will typically be asked to abstain from sexual intercourse for a couple days, but other than that there are no post-procedure restrictions on activities.
Viveve is also a very affordable treatment – less than a quarter of the cost of surgical vaginoplasty.
Viveve® treatment begins to work immediately. Many women report some immediate initial results, such as improved lubrication, more comfortable sex and reduced itching and dryness.
After just a few weeks most women report even greater effects including an increase in vaginal tightness and sensitivity, less or no pain during intercourse, improved sexual sensation, and a even a reduction in bladder leaks. After approximately six to nine weeks, the collagen should be substantially restored and “rejuvenated” for the maximum improvement in sexual sensation, tightness and lubrication.
Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatment | Birmingham, MI
Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women in the Birmingham, MI area improve sexual intimacy and enjoyment with just a single 30 minute Viveve® vaginal rejuvenation treatment.
It is an affordable, painless, procedure performed in our Birmingham, MI (Detroit area) medical office. There is no downtime, and you will begin to notice dramatic vaginal improvement within just a few weeks.
Call us for a discreet, confidential vaginal rejuvenation consultation and see if Viveve® is right for you!
Vaginal Rejuvenation Consultation | Birmingham, MI: 248-335-7200
Vaginoplasty vs. Viveve for Vaginal Tightening
/in Vaginal Rejuvenation /by adminVaginoplasty vs. Viveve for Vaginal Tightening
Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that “tightens up” a vagina that feels lax or loose as a result of childbirth or aging. Viveve® non-surgical radiofrequency treatment also “tightens up” the vagina. So how do you know which treatment is best for you?
Southfield, MI area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women address vaginal looseness and restore vaginal tightness with both surgical vaginoplasty and Viveve® non-surgical radiofrequency treatment. In this article he discusses the differences between the two procedures, to help you decide what’s right for you.
Vaginoplasty Surgery for Vaginal Tightening
Vaginoplasty is a surgery that requires anesthetic. Incisions are made on the inside of the vagina, and the vaginal wall is stretched and pulled taught at the entry point to the vagina – and stitched into place.
Recovery time is typically around two weeks for vaginoplasty surgery. Although vaginoplasty is a relatively safe and “routine” surgery, as with any surgery it comes with risks.
While vaginoplasty is a very routine, safe and low-risk surgery, as with any surgical procedure rare risks include:
Additionally, because vaginoplasty is a surgery requiring an anesthesiologist and an operating room, vaginoplasty is more expensive than non-invasive treatments like Viveve. Typically vaginoplasty is NOT covered by health insurance as it is generally considered an elective cosmetic procedure.
Viveve® Radiofrequency for Vaginal Tightening
Viveve® radiofrequency treatments also achieve tightening of the vagina – but without surgery. Because it is non-surgical, there are no incisions, no anesthetic and no operating room is needed for Viveve®.
This means there are no known risks or side effects to Viveve® vaginal tightening:
Only a single treatment is needed with Viveve®, which only takes less than an hour. Not only is there NO downtime with Viveve®, and it is about 1/4 of the cost of vaginoplasty surgery.
Vaginal Tightening & Sexual Sensation
There is improved “friction” after vaginoplasty surgery, due to the tightened vaginal tissues, which may improve sexual response and enjoyment for the female patients and for her partner. Some surgeons claim vaginoplasty also improves sexual sensitivity – but this claim is strongly disputed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Viveve® also typically improves sexual sensation. This is because the radiofrequency heat used for the treatment stimulates the body’s own collagen and elastin production, for thicker and more responsive vaginal walls. In addition to plumping and strengthening the vaginal tissue with new collagen, Viveve also improves blood flow to the vagina. And, Viveve also stimulates the production of natural vaginal lubrication in the vagina – making the tissue less dry, so intercourse is less painful and more pleasurable.
Vaginal Tightening Doctor | Southfield Area
Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women in the Southfield area tighten a lax vagina, stop bladder leaks and improve sexual intimacy with just a single Viveve® treatment!
Viveve vaginal tightening is an affordable, painless, procedure performed in our Birmingham, MI (Southfield area) medical office and spa. There is no downtime, and you will begin to notice vaginal improvement within just a few weeks.
Call us for a discreet, confidential vaginal rejuvenation consultation and see if Viveve® or vaginoplasty surgery is right for you!
Vaginal Tightening Consultation | Southfield Area: 248-335-7200
Why Skin Needs Hyaluronic Acid & How to Get More of It
/in Skin Care /by adminWhy Skin Needs Hyaluronic Acid – And the Best Way to Get It
Hyaluronic acid is one of those ingredients in skincare products that every manufacturer is touting. In fact, you can barely turn on the TV or scroll the web without seeing multiple adds for something containing hyaluronic acid or “HA”.
So, what is this miracle product, and is it as important (and effective) as everyone is saying? Is it really an acid? And how (and where) should one apply it?
In this article the skincare experts at AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa discuss everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid (HA) – including how you can naturally increase your body’s own production of this amazing substance!
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural substance that is produced by the body. Its primary job is to hydrate the connective tissue that maintains the skin’s strength and elasticity. 50% of the body’s HA is found in the skin – with the rest being found in the eyes, lips and joints.
What makes hyaluronic acid so amazing is that it can retain over 1,000 times its weight in water, so it is super hydrating. It holds in the moisture that supports a bright, youthful complexion by keeping skin cells plump and strong. There is really no other substance that can help boost moisture levels in the skin like hyaluronic acid does.
Getting Enough Hyaluronic Acid
Many people wonder why they need to get hyaluronic acid from skincare products and treatments if the body already produces HA naturally.
Unfortunately, as we age, the body’s production of natural hyaluronic acid decreases. Babies are born with very high amounts of hyaluronic acid, which is why their skin is so soft, smooth and plump. But by the time we reach the age of 40 the HA levels in our body have already decreased by one-third.
So, people turn to high quality beauty products that contain HA – including moisturizers and night creams –to prevent dry skin and help stave off the effects of aging. Maintaining high levels of hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture and elasticity in the skin, to fight the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging or dull skin.
And, don’t be concerned that HA is an acid. Not all acids strip cells and cause irritation. In fact, hyaluronic acid is actually a type of sugar molecule!
How to Get More Hyaluronic Acid
There are 3 way to improve and increase the amount of HA in the skin – to restore plumpness and elasticity and to fight the signs of aging.
#1. Topical Hyaluronic Skincare Products
When applied directly to the skin, hyaluronic acid will hydrate the skin cells for a plumper appearance that can also minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
HA also has some antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from UV sun exposure and other harsh environmental or chemical exposure.
However, it is important to purchase hyaluronic acid skincare products from a reputable, medical grade brand such as Elastin or ZO. This is because, hyaluronic acid molecules are often too big for skin absorption if they are not formulated properly.
#2. Hyaluronic Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic acid can be injected directly into the skin and facial tissue, using dermal fillers to help fill wrinkles, and plump thinning or sagging areas of the face.
Popular facial fillers Juvéderm and Restylane are made of hyaluronic acid formulas. And because they are made of a naturally occurring sugar molecule, they are extremely safe, as well as natural looking and feeling, when injected into the skin.
Hyaluronic acid facial filler injections can last from a few months up to an amazing two years – depending on which formula is chosen and where it is injected.
#3. Aesthetic Treatments that Stimulate Hyaluronic Production
The most effective and long-lasting way to maintain high hyaluronic acid levels in the skin is through medical grade skin care treatments that actually stimulate the body to start producing more of its own HA.
At AMAE Med Spa we offer several Laser, Radiofrequency and Microneedling treatments that can activate the body’s natural hyaluronic acid production process – for dramatic and long-lasting anti-aging results.
Topical creams can provide excellent temporary improvements in skin over time. And fillers can offer immediate, impressive skin plumping results that typically last from 6 months to a year. But when you restore the body’s own HA production with laser or radiofrequency treatments you are actually causing the skin to rejuvenate itself from the inside out for continuing improvement.
Our CO2RE and IPL laser treatments, as well as our revolutionary new Profound and Morpheus8 radiofrequency procedures, all deliver thermal energy deep into the dermis (lower layer of skin) to renew production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
This rebuilds and repair the skin on a deep cellular level – smoothing wrinkles, tightening sagging skin, and plumping hollow, flat contours. And the tissue then continues to produce hyaluronic acid, so results are continuing and very long-lasting.
Hyaluronic Acid Products & Treatments
Hyaluronic Acid is known to prevent and reverse the signs of aging – often giving it the nickname ‘fountain of youth’. It helps reduce wrinkles and promote tighter, smoother younger-looking skin by hydrating the cells.
HA also works on all skin-types, even those with oily skin. Additionally, it is safe for all skin tones and colors – even darker skin. And it is also gentle enough for those who have sensitive skin.
If you would like to “turn back time”, schedule a consultation at AMAE Med Spa in Birmingham, MI and see whether hyaluronic acid skincare products, HA dermal fillers, or one of our advanced laser or radiofrequency treatments is right for you!
Hyaluronic Acid Products & Treatments | Birmingham, MI: 248.335.7200
Seven Gorgeous Celebrities Who’ve Had Nose Jobs
/in Rhinoplasty /by adminSeven Gorgeous Celebrities Who’ve Had Nose Jobs
A “nose job” – technically called rhinoplasty – is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. A nose job can include reshaping, narrowing, straightening, or smoothing out the nose – or re-sculpting the tip, or changing the appearance of the nostrils.
A skilled, board certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Ali can refine the size, shape and proportions of a nose to complement the rest of the facial features, while also respecting the patient’s ethnic heritage, and ensuring that they still look like “themselves.”
Even small changes to a nose can make a large difference in how the nose and the entire face looks. And MANY celebrities credit their success in movies and on television to the difference made by a good “nose job”.
In this article we list seven of the most beautiful female celebrities who owe their gorgeous looks to rhinoplasty surgery!
#1. Jennifer Aniston Had a Nose Job
Topping the list is perpetually youthful Jennifer Aniston. In a 2007 interview with People Magazine, she admitted to having a nose job and said it was “the best thing I ever did”.
She coyly claimed it was for medical reasons. But if you look at her before and after pictures, there is no that doubt she likely would not have been cast as America’s sweetheart “Rachel” on the TV show Friends for 10 seasons without the dramatic change in her appearance.
#2. Lisa Kudrow Had a Nose Job
Speaking of Friends, Jen’s costar Lisa Kudrow also had a nose job – at the age of 16. In 2013 she told The Saturday Evening Post that her rhinoplasty was “life-altering”.
“I went from, in my mind, hideous to not hideous. I did it the summer before going to a new high school,” the actress known for playing beautiful, bewildered Phoebe stated.
#3. Kaley Cuoco Had a Nose Job
Big Bang Theory bombshell Kelly Cuoco played the heartbreaker across the hall that all the guys swooned over. She spoke candidly in a 2016 Women’s Health article, discussing her nose job and her breast augmentation surgery.
“Years ago, I had my nose done. And my boobs—best thing I ever did.” She went on “As much as you want to love your inner self… you also want to look good. I don’t think you should do it for a man or anyone else, but if it makes you feel confident, that’s amazing,” she told the magazine.
#4. Tyra Banks Had a Nose Job
The name Tyra Banks is synonymous with Super Model. In her 2018 memoir, Perfect Is Boring, she discussed having a nose job early in her supermodel career. She also told People Magazine about the decision to have rhinoplasty: “I admit it! Fake hair, and I did my nose. I feel I have a responsibility to tell the truth,” she said in the interview. “Fix it or flaunt it—I think women should be able to do both.”
#5. Jillian Michaels Had a Nose Job
Fitness Guru Jillian Michaels is another gorgeous celebrity who had a nose job. in a recent interview with People Magazine she said she had it done at age 16, after years of being bullied for having “a nose the size of a softball”. She is quick to acknowledge the rhinoplasty surgery made her feel more confident and changed her life.
#6. JLO Had a Nose Job
Wait! What? One of the most beautiful women in the world had a nose job? That’s right “Jenny from the Block” underwent rhinoplasty!
But, while younger women like Kelly Cuoco tend to be relaxed and upfront about plastic surgery, more mature “Gen X-ers” like 51-year-old Jennifer Lopez still tend to be a bit more coy. JLo says the nose job early in her career was just to correct breathing issues. But the before and after photos don’t lie!
#7. Cameron Diaz Had a Nose Job
Rounding out our list of gorgeous nose-job recipients is the stunning Cameron Diaz. While most people assume the “Charlie’s Angels” actress was born with her good looks, the truth is that she also has admitted to having had a nose job.
And, although she is another Gen X-er who claims the nose job was “purely medical” due to a surfing accident, the before and after photos show a smaller more refined nose post-surgery. Which just goes to show that rhinoplasty surgery can remedy breathing problems and improve the appearance of one’s nose, all at the same time!
Top Nose Job Surgeon – Troy, MI Area
Every person’s nose is unique! The ideal nose for you will be vastly different than someone else’s. Your nose should fit your face, be in proportion to your other features, and reflect your family and ethnic heritage.
When considering nose job surgery, Troy, MI area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali will evaluate your facial features and listen to your appearance goals. Then he will show you in advance – using Vectra 3D imaging – how any changes to your nose could enhance or affect your overall appearance. He will then work with you to customize a rhinoplasty plan that will help you look and feel like the very best version of yourself.
Nose Job Consultation | Troy, MI Area: 248-335-7200
Nose Job Techniques: Open vs. Closed Rhinoplasty
/in Nose Job, Rhinoplasty /by adminThe Difference Between Open & Closed Rhinoplasty – –
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has performed hundreds of rhinoplasty surgeries – giving women and men the beautiful and natural looking noses that they love!
But, as with any surgery, an incision does have to be made during rhinoplasty – in order to access and modify the cartilage that shapes the nose. So, one of the primary concerns that Dr. Ali’s patients have is the degree of scarring they may experience after a nose job.
The type of surgical technique that is used to perform the rhinoplasty will determine where and what type of scarring may be possible. And, every person’s skin heals slightly differently.
However, in the hands of a skilled board certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Ali, the potential for visible, lasting scars is greatly reduced – while ensuring the most attractive and natural nasal contour. Additionally, modern advancements in surgical technology have made surgical procedures much less invasive – reducing the degree of scarring greatly.
In this article we explain the different types of rhinoplasty surgical techniques, the incisions involved, and the potential for any scarring.
Open vs. Closed Rhinoplasty
“Closed” rhinoplasty is a type of rhinoplasty in which all of the surgical incisions are hidden within the inside of the nostril. This technique is great, since it avoids a potentially visible scar. However, it also significantly reduces the surgical access area for the surgeon, which limits their ability to utilize many of today’s most effective rhinoplasty techniques.
“Open” rhinoplasty, uses a small (4mm) trans-columellar incision, to connect the right and left nostril incisions- which allows the nasal skin to be folded upward. This gives the surgeon much greater access to the nasal structure, enabling them to modify and/or strengthen the skeletal framework using more advanced and complex techniques.
Although the open rhinoplasty incision initially leaves a small visible scar, it is very tiny (4 mm) and it often fades completely in the months following surgery. And, in cases where substantial revisions of the nose are needed, the advantages in contouring gained by the open approach are well worth the limited risk of a tiny scar.
Endonasal Rhinoplasty: A Closed Nose Job
A closed rhinoplasty is also called endonasal rhinoplasty. Parallel incisions encircle nearly half of the nostril lining, but no part of the incision is seen externally. But, because the right and left nostril incisions are disconnected, the entire operation must be conducted through narrow surgical openings which limits access visibility.
Also, because access to the nasal framework requires vigorous stretching of the skin, some distortion of the nasal cartilage is possible. In many cases the considerable challenges and technical limitations of endonasal rhinoplasty makes it an inferior choice – even though it avoids visible scaring.
External Rhinoplasty: An Open Nose Job
An open rhinoplasty is also called an external rhinoplasty. The small bridging incision, (trans-columellar incision) offers the surgeon direct visibility of almost the entire nasal framework. There is no stretching, so distortion of the nasal cartilage is minimize. Most skilled plastic surgeons agree that the small visible columellar scar (which fades over time) is worth the improved accuracy and effectiveness of the open rhinoplasty approach.
For these same reasons, open rhinoplasty is also my preferred approach for primary (non-revision) rhinoplasty since it improves diagnostic accuracy and facilitates precision re-engineering of the misshapen nose. However, the technical demands of open rhinoplasty are rigorous, and substantial dedication and commitment to this approach are required to achieve consistently superior results.
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
For patients desiring only minor or subtle changes to their nose, a third non-surgical alternative is now available. Dr. Ali is also skilled in the injection of facial fillers to remedy small cosmetic issues in the nose, including smaller bumps, slight asymmetry, etc.
The advantage of a filler or “liquid” rhinoplasty is that there in no downtime or recovery period – other than some slight swelling that dissipates in a few days. And because there are ni incisions, there are no scars and no pain afterwards. However, unlike a nose job – which is permanent – non-surgical “liquid rhinoplasty” results typically last from a year to two years.
Birmingham’s Top Rhinoplasty Surgeon
In the expert hands of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, the open rhinoplasty approach often offers technical advantages over closed rhinoplasty. And because the scar is so small and “beneath” the nose, it is not visible from most angles when looking at the face.
But for patients only requiring minor revisions or adjustments to the nose’s structure, closed rhinoplasty may be the best option. And for men and women who only desire minor revisions to the appearance of their nose, non-surgical liquid rhinoplasty with fillers can be an excellent alternative.
Birmingham area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women and men love their noses and improve their confidence with rhinoplasty surgery. Schedule a consultation and take the first step toward getting the nose you have always wanted – and look and feel like the best version of “you” that you can be!
Rhinoplasty Consultation | Top Birmingham, MI Plastic Surgeon: 248-335-7200
3D Imaging Helps You Decide if You Should Get Rhinoplasty
/in Rhinoplasty /by adminVectra 3D Imaging Helps You Decide if You Should Get Rhinoplasty
AMAE Plastic Surgery is among the first and only aesthetic practices in the Detroit area to offer state-of-the-art Vectra 3D imaging for rhinoplasty surgery. This revolutionary imaging system provides a three-dimensional computerized image of the patient’s nose from any and every angle – so that Dr. Ali can show you your expected outcomes – before you undergo rhinoplasty surgery.
The Vectra 3D system even enables Dr. Ali to superimpose the expected results of your rhinoplasty surgery over your “pre-op” condition, as well as compare the “before and after” views side-by-side. And, in addition to showing the likely outcome of a single procedure, such as rhinoplasty, Dr. Ali can also display the results of combining multiple treatments!
By visualizing your potential outcomes in live 3D you and Dr. Ali will know in advance what to expect – so that together you can decide on the best possible treatment plan for your aesthetic goals.
What is Vectra 3D Imaging?
VECTRA 3D imaging is a system of digital cameras that takes photos of the patient’s treatment area from different angles to create a 3D picture. It only takes a few seconds to take the photos, and a couple minutes or two to process the pictures into a 3D representation on the computer.
The patient will be able to see a 3D image of their nose from ALL angles – even ones they have never seen before!
Dr. Ali can then manipulate the images to enhance, adjust, reduce, straighten or refine the nose right before your eyes – to show you what you can expect from rhinoplasty surgery.
Vectra 3D Imaging for Rhinoplasty
Dr. Ali is one of only a few doctors who uses the VECTRA 3D system as part of his consultation with you, so you know exactly what to expect from rhinoplasty surgery.
And VECTRA 3D imaging is 100% safe and non-invasive – it is not an Xray or CT scan, and it uses NO radiation. It is simply a state-of-the-art high-tech system of digital cameras with revolutionary software – offering pre-surgery peace of mind and absolutely no risks.
What Does Vectra 3D Imaging “See”?
Dr. Ali is a Detroit area, board certified plastic surgeon who has performed thousands of rhinoplasty surgeries with spectacular results. You can see many of these amazing success stories in his Before and After Gallery HERE.
The Vectra 3D imaging system helps ensure a successful surgery by allowing both the plastic surgeon AND the patient to visual the many nuances of the nose, while providing precise measurement of the adjustments. Any “guesswork” about the results of rhinoplasty surgery is removed with Vetcra 3D imaging!
Rhinoplasty 3D Imaging | Detroit Area
Dr. Ali’s Detroit area patients find Vectra 3D very helpful to understand exactly what he is talking about before surgery – because they can see different outcomes in 3D projected on the screen before they decide to undergo rhinoplasty surgery.
In other words, Vectra 3D provides realistic visualization of the appearance of your nose before surgery – so you never have any regrets after the fact!
If you are considering rhinoplasty, you no longer have to leave your results to chance or guesswork. With Vectra 3D imaging you know what your results will be in advance – with no surprises or misunderstandings!
Schedule a consultation with skilled Detroit area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali, and see what your rhinoplasty surgery results will look like with Vectra 3D today.
Top Detroit Plastic Surgeon Dispels Nose Jobs Myths
/in Nose Job, Rhinoplasty /by adminTop Detroit Plastic Surgeon Dispels Myths About Nose Jobs –
Many of us look in the mirror and wish we could tweak our features. And while you can make your teeth straighter with braces, or your eyelashes longer with mascara, changing the appearance of your nose takes a little bit more work.
The good news is that modern rhinoplasty techniques have replaced the old ideas of a “nose job” that you probably still have – and changing the shape of your nose is much easier and far less painful than most people think.
As one of the the Detroit area’s top rhinoplasty surgeons, Dr. Ali put together a list of 5 common “myths” about today’s more advanced (and much more comfortable!) “nose jobs.”
Nose Job Myth #1. Everyone Will Know You Had Plastic Surgery
FACT: A Good Nose Job is Subtle & Natural
Early nose jobs left people with noses that were unnatural looking and clearly surgically altered. Today’s rhinoplasty techniques are more subtle, refined and artistic – leaving patients with a more attractive version of their existing nose, that is balanced, proportionate to their other facial features, appropriate for their bone structure, and that doesn’t erase their ethnic heritage.
Old rhinoplasty techniques involved removing nasal cartilage. This often lead to an unnatural look, and sometimes structural collapse and even deformities. Modern board certified plastic surgeons, like Dr. Ali, sculpt and reposition the existing cartilage without removing it – ensuring a nose that is both natural looking and structurally sound.
In other words, today’s nose jobs create a more beautiful nose without changing who “you” are. In most cases, people will comment on how great you look – but not even realize that you’ve had your nose done!
Nose Job Myth #2. Most Celebrities Are Born Beautiful
FACT: Many Celebrities Have Had Nose Jobs – Even Though They Deny It!
Models’ and actors’ faces are their bread and butter – but very few of them were born with movie-star facial features. And because these celebrities want us to believe that they were “born beautiful” very few publicly talk about their nose jobs.
But if you look at before and after photos of the world’s biggest stars you will see that many of their noses are straighter, smaller or more refined than when they began their careers. Jennifer Anniston, Tyra Banks, Cameron Diaz, Kaley Cuoco, Jillian Michaels and JLO are all celebrities who ADMIT to having had nose job surgery.
And, if you look at Before & After Photos, Britney Spears, Scarlet Johansen, Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian, Katie Holms, Penelope Cruz, Kylie Jenner, Natalie Portman, and even The Queen Be, Beyoncé appear to have had nose jobs!
The list of celebrity nose jobs is almost endless. But because they are done by skilled plastic surgeons, they simply create a more beautiful version of the nose that looks completely natural – and is not a glaringly “noticeable” nose job.
Nose Job Myth #3. You’ll Look Like You’ve Been in a Prize Fight
FACT: Modern Surgery Techniques Make Recovery Easy
In the early days of rhinoplasty, less sophisticated medical techniques lead to horrifying pictures of nose job patients – immobilized in hospital beds, head wrapped in bandages, eyes swollen shut, and big black eyes. And TV programs and movies still sometimes perpetuate this erroneous stereotype for comedic effect.
The truth is, you will leave our medical facility after your nose job on the same day with only a small nasal cast – usually a lightweight aluminum bridge – to stabilize and protect your nose during the initial recovery phase.
There will be some slight bruising and swelling around the nose – but the majority of our patients do not develop “black eyes” at all. And while everyone heals differently, you will certainly be “presentable” enough to go out in public the very same or next day.
Nose Job Myth #4. Your Nose Will Be Packed Full of Gauze after Rhinoplasty
FACT: Splints Replace Packing in Modern Nose Job Surgery
Some people avoid considering a nose job, because they erroneously fear that their nasal cavities will be pack with miles of gauze, making it uncomfortable to breath. Again, this is a misconception!
In modern rhinoplasty soft silicone splints are typically used to stabilize the internal structures of the nose during the first week of recovery. These splints actually help facilitate open airways and better breathing while you heal.
Nose Job Myth #5. Rhinoplasty Is Very Painful
FACT: Nose Jobs Can be Almost Painless
Recovery from any medical procedure is a very personal experience and can differ greatly from person to person. But a nose job is among the least painful surgeries – because it primarily only involves manipulation of the cartilage and does not impact muscles, bones or deeper tissue. Additionally, advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques mean much smaller incisions and much less discomfort – both during and after rhinoplasty surgery.
Use of long-term anesthetic during your nose job procedure means you will not feel a thing. And medication prescribed afterwards will fully manage any pain or discomfort after the surgery.
Depending upon how extensive the procedure, some patients even report experiencing little or no pain following surgery. And all of our patients unanimously agree that any short term discomfort was well worth having a beautiful nose on their face for the rest of their lives.
Top Nose Job (Rhinoplasty) Surgeon | Detroit Area
If you are hesitant about considering a nose job, your concerns are likely based on myths and misconceptions about rhinoplasty that arose from procedures performed back in the 1950s. Today’s rhinoplasties are very routine, yielding exceptional outcomes with very little downtime or discomfort. And the results last a lifetime.
So there’s no reason to wait to get the nose you’ve always! If you live in the Detroit area, call all top rated, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali for a consultation today.
Top Detroit Nose Job Surgeon: 248-335-2700