MemoryShape®: the Most Natural Breast Implants

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MemoryShape® the Most Natural Breast Implants

It is no surprise that breast implant technology has come a long way since they were first introduced almost 60 years ago! In June 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the some new, advanced types of silicone gel-filled breast implants, bringing the total number of approved products to five in the United States. One of these newly approved products was was the natural looking and feeling MemoryShape breast implant.

Seven years later, Detroit area double board certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali still typically prefers MemoryShape® Breast Implants for their natural shape, realistic feel, and excellent variety of sizes and silhouettes.

About Mentor Breast Implants

Mentor Worldwide LLC was founded in 1969, and has since grown into the leading manufacturer of supplies for the breast implant surgery market. Mentor works tirelessly to develop, manufacture, and market top-of-the-line breast implants for patients around the world, including Detroit.

Based out of Irvine California and with manufacturing and research facilities in both the United States and the Netherlands, Mentor guarantees to satisfy the needs of patients in the Detroit area and worldwide who are considering breast implant surgery.

With more that 2 million satisfied customers worldwide, Mentor Breast Implants hold the distinction of being among the most reliable in the industry.

Mentor has been a trailblazer of breast implant devices for over two decades. Used in both breast reconstruction and breast augmentation, Mentor breast implants are held to the strictest possible standards of design and testing, resulting in the highest quality breast implants on the market.

What are MemoryShape®? Breast Implants

MENTOR® MemoryShape® Breast Implants have a unique, tapered appearance. They are thinner at the top and gently slope to a fuller “projection” near the implant’s bottom – just like a natural breast.

Earlier generations of breast implants were very round, giving an artificial “globe” or “melon” appearance.  These are the recognizable breast implants that one thinks of on actresses and exotic dancers from from past decades – many of who had artificial looking, oversized breasts.

Today, most women prefer that they do NOT look like they have had “work done”. That is why MENTOR® MemoryShape® Breast Implants are so popular – because they mimic the silhouette of a natural breast. MemoryShape® Breast Implants soft gel silicone also feel very realistic to the touch!

As an additional advantage, The MemoryShape® technology has built in SILTEX® Microtexture imprinting that is designed to help keep implants in place. So they don’t shift over time like older models of breast implants often did.

Why Doctor Ali Uses MemoryShape® Breast Implants

MemoryShape® Breast Implants imitate the silhouette of a natural breast with a teardrop shape. Filled with a uniquely formulated cohesive gel, MemoryShape® Breast Implants provide a youthful firmness and natural silhouette that always retains shape.

Mentor’s silicone gel breast implants perfectly resemble natural breasts in feel, shape, and weight. The Mentor MemoryShape® Breast Implants are specifically designed to provide more volume towards the bottom of the breast and less towards the top, much as is the case with a natural breast.

There are five different MemoryShape® Breast Implants available to Detroit patients, each varying in shape, width, height, and projection measurements.

Detroit Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ali has undergone the rigorous mandated MENTOR® MemoryShape® Implant Device Training required of all physicians in order to gain access to MENTOR® MemoryShape® Breast Implants, making him the top choice among Detroit patients for all of their breast implant needs.

Another feature we love about MemoryShape® Breast Implants is their Free Lifetime Product Replacement Warranty!

Detroit Area Breast Implant Surgeon

If you have questions about the latest developments in breast implant surgery, please schedule a consultation with award-winning Detroit area plastic surgeon Dr. Ali.

The vast majority of women who choose to get breast implants say that their augmented breast(s) help them feel more self-confident, feel better about their bodies, and/or give them a greater feeling of well-being.

Detroit area board certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali offers a breast implant consultation to help you learn about your options and decide if breast implants are a good option for you.

Detroit Area Breast Implant Consultation: 248-335-7200

How to Decide if You Should Have Breast Implant Surgery

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How to Decide if You Should Have Breast Implant Surgery

If you are one of the millions of women who are dissatisfied with the size, shape, position, symmetry and/or the proportion of their breasts, deciding to get breast implants is an important personal decision.  Detroit area board certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali has helped thousands of women decide if breast implants are right for them, by carefully explain the pros and cons.

In this article we give you some general information to help you make an informed choice.  However, since every women is different, Dr. Ali offers a  breast implant consultation to help you decide if breast implants are a good option for you.

Benefits Associated With Breast Implants

According to recent clinical and psychological studies, the vast majority of women who have undergone breast implant surgery have universally reported very high levels of satisfaction with their body image and the shape, feel, and size of their implants.

In his Detroit plastic surgery practice, Doctor Ali prefers a type of breast implants called MemoryShape™ Breast Implants. This type of implant is not only more natural looking than older breast implants, but also feels more realistic. MemoryShape™ Breast Implants come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and “profiles” so that they can be matched to the patient’s body – giving her the most beautiful ideal proportions.

In a core study conducted by Mentor, the maker of the MemoryShape™ Breast Implants, 97% of the 373 primary breast augmentation patients who answered a patient satisfaction survey indicated they would make the same decision to have the breast implant surgery!

Breast Implant Statistics

Breast augmentation has continued to be the single most popular cosmetic surgeries in the US since 2006. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2019, there were 299,715 breast augmentation procedures performed across the United States alone. This makes it even more popular in the US than liposuction!

Plastic surgeons believe that there are several reasons breast augmentation continues to be the#1 cosmetic surgery:

#1. New technologies in breast implants have made them safer than ever

#2. The cost of breast implant surgery has become more affordable in recent years

#3. Celebrities & social media have removed the stigma from breast implant surgery

#4. Women feel more empowered to take control of their bodies

#5. New surgical techniques have reduced risk and downtime of breast implant surgery

#6. New breast implant designs look more natural

#7. New breast implant materials feel more realistic

Age and Breast Implants

The FDA does not recommend breast implants for patients under 18, and board-certified plastic surgeons won’t perform breast augmentations on women under 22 since breast tissue isn’t considered fully developed until that time.

But women in good health of all ages of 22 and beyond can enjoy the benefits of breast implant surgery. In fact, approximately 7,000 women over the age of 55 get breast implants every year.

Whether breast augmentation is right for you depends on your overall general health, underlying medical conditions, lifestyle, emotional state, body type, breast size/ shape before surgery, as well as your appearance goals after surgery.

Breast Implant Before & After

One of the best ways to decide if breast implants are right for you, is to see the results beforehand! Dr. Ali now offers advanced Vectra 3D computer imaging that can show you what your implants will look like before you get them!

Additionally, you can look at our extensive gallery of breast augmentation Before & After photos, to see what a big difference in appearance breast implants can make!

Top Detroit Breast Implant Surgeon

The vast majority of women who choose to get breast implants say that their augmented breast(s) help them be more self-confident, feel better about their bodies, and give them a greater feeling of well-being.

Detroit area board certified plastic surgeon Doctor Ali offers a breast implant consultation to help you learn about your options and decide if breast implants are a good option for you.

Detroit Area Breast Implant Consultation: 248-335-7200

How to Get Thin by the New Year

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Give Yourself the Gift of Fat Loss For Christmas– 

Thanksgiving has past, Hanukkah is here, and Christmas is only a few weeks away. And, as always, the goal for the upcoming New Year is to “get thin” – or at least lose the extra fat that many of us accumulated during 2020 and 2021.

But, we all know that dieting and exercise is just not an effective or easy way to “get thin quick” or “lose fat fast.” The good news is that Detroit area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali offers three highly effective procedures to remove unwanted fat without restricting calories or working out. He has helped hundreds of women and men in the greater Detroit area get the body they want with  a wide variety of procedures to remove fat and inches from almost every area of the body, including: liposuction, CoolSculpting, tummy tucks and more.

In this article we discuss the time-frames of the most popular body sculpting and fat loss procedures available at AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in the Detroit area.

How Long Do Liposuction Results Take?

Liposuction delivers visible results the “fastest” of the most common body sculpting procedures.

Tumescent liposuction is the newest generation liposuction procedures, which uses a “micro-cannula” (tiny tube) to suck out the fat. Tumescent liposuction only involves one procedure and significantly less swelling and “downtime” than older liposuction techniques.

As the swelling goes down (after the first few days up to about 4 to 6 weeks) the liposuction results become visible. Because the fat has been surgically “sucked out” and does not have to be eliminated by the body, the results are immediate – though only visible post-swelling.

Your recovery period will depend on how extensive the procedure was, how much fat was removed, your age, your general health, etc. But in most cases the swelling will subside, and substantial results will be visible in 4 to 6 weeks.

So, if you are hoping for visible results by New Years, early December is the time to book your liposuction appointment!! Additionally, because liposuction requires a few days to a week or so of downtime, many people find that the Christmas Break is a great time to schedule their liposuction procedure. But hurry, these appointments always go fast!

How Long Do CoolSculpting Results Take?

Like liposuction, CoolSculpting can remove stubborn areas of fat that resist diet and exercise – but it is not a weight loss tool.

CoolSculpting is non-surgical and non-invasive – giving it the advantage of having virtually no “downtime” and no period of recovery. However, CoolSculpting, involves multiple treatments.

Patients typically begin to see results within 4-5 weeks, although it may take 3 to 6 months to deliver complete and final results.

So, while CoolSculpting is less invasive, less uncomfortable, and has less downtime, seeing results takes more treatments – and the results take much longer to be visible.

If you book a CoolSculpting appointment in December, you will likely see some – but not complete – results by New Years day. 

How Long Do Tummy Tuck Results Take?

A tummy tuck (also called abdominoplasty) is a more invasive procedure than liposuction or CoolSculpting. A tummy tuck tightens “flabby” skin and loose muscle, while liposuction or CoolSculpting only remove excess fat.

Immediately following your tummy tuck, loose, sagging skin will be gone – but some swelling will continue. Gradually the swelling decreases over a period of several weeks, revealing the firm, tight skin and muscles.

A tummy tuck typically requires general anesthesia. An incision is made across the lower in order to remove excess abdominal skin and tighten the abdominal muscles. This does result in a longer recovery time and more intense discomfort. So, once again, if your job offers you time off over the holiday, it can be an ideal time to consider a tummy tuck.

Scheduling a tummy tuck in early December will reveal a tighter abdomen by New Years.  But, realistically, because it is a more invasive surgery, it will be late January before complete results of your tummy tuck will be visible. Additionally, if you elect to have a tummy tuck during the holidays – care must be taken not to “overdo it” during your recovery period. Let Santa do the lifting and delivering of packages, while you sit back and sip a hot cocoa!

Best Detroit Area Liposuction Surgeon

Dr. Ali has helped hundreds of women and men across the greater Detroit area get the body they want with liposuction, CoolSculpting, tummy tucks, and other non-invasive, minimally-invasive and surgical procedures. He will be happy to offer you a consultation to help you understand your options and results time-frame, so you can choose the best procedure for your goals.

Give yourself the Christmas gift of fat loss and get the body you have always wanted. And remember, financing options are also available!

Detroit Area Liposuction Consultation: 248-335-7200

Hormone Replacement for Menopause

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Hormone Replacement Helps Treat Symptoms of Menopause – 

Menopause is the end of a woman’s reproductive cycle. The average age for the onset of menopause is 51. But menopause can actually occur as early as the late 30’s – or as late as the early 6os. Leading up to menopause, a woman’s ovaries begin producing fewer and fewer hormones.

Hormones regulate virtually every aspect of our bodies, from metabolism and weigh gain, to skin health, sleep patterns and sex drive. So, the decreased hormones of menopause can cause a wide variety of changes or symptoms in a woman’s body.

Symptoms and side effects of menopausal hormone decline can include: hot flashes, sleep disruption, low libido, vaginal pain and dryness, urinary incontinence, weight gain, mood swings, bone density loss (osteoporosis), and more. In short, menopause can be very unpleasant.

But, the good news is that replacing declining hormones during menopause with bioidentical hormone replacement pellets can offer lasting relief from these difficult and often painful symptoms.

Hormone Replacement Reduces Menopause Symptoms

Hormone replacement therapy is considered the most effective treatment for symptoms of estrogen decline, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and pain or discomfort during intercourse.

Doctors also generally recommend low dose estrogen replacement for women who have had a hysterectomy, or a a bilateral oophorectomy (removal of the uterus and ovaries). Estrogen comes in different forms. The daily pill and patch are the most popular, but the hormone also is available in a vaginal ring, gel, or spray.

The estrogen decline or imbalance of menopause is also associated with osteoporosis, breast cancer, and heart disease. But research indicates that hormone replacement offers improved bone strength, heart and artery protection, and even helps guard against cognitive decline during aging, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Why You Should Use Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement

Remaining healthy well after menopause depends on many factors including lifestyle and heredity. But, just as we supplement the body with vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, it also makes sense to replenish the necessary hormones that are missing from the body.

And, the best, most natural method of replacing deficient hormones is with Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) Pellets.

A single pellet implant in our office steadily and and consistently releases low doses of hormones for 3 to 6 months. And, unlike synthetic hormones that are made in a lab, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) pellets consist of hormones extracted from 100% natural sources.  These bioidentical hormones replicate the exact molecular structure of the human body’s naturally produced hormones.

And, unlike hormone pills that put you on a daily roller coaster of hormone ups and downs, time-released pellets deliver hormones the way your body does – gradually and consistently over time from within the body. Additionally, unlike oral pills, messy creams and unsightly patches, there are no pills to remember daily, and no messy creams or ugly patches to remember to apply.

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe for Menopause?

The North American Menopause Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and The Endocrine Society have all taken the position that most healthy women can use hormone therapy for relief of their menopause symptoms.

Previously there were concerns that taking estrogen alone increased a woman’s risk for uterine cancer. However, taking progesterone hormones combined with estrogen greatly reduces this risk. This is important because, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years old will experience a broken bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. Other estimates put the risk as high as 1 on 2, or 50% of all women over 50.

So, the importance of reversing the risk of an osteoporosis, as well as heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other life-threatening conditions cannot be understated.

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause – Birmingham, MI

Hormone replacement therapy has been proven effective for decades for reducing the symptoms of menopause like painful sex, mood swings and hot flashes. BHRT pellets also protect post- menopausal women from the dangers of fractured bones, heart disease and cognitive decline.

If you and your doctor believe hormone replacement therapy is the right treatment for you, BHRT pellets offer the safest, most consistent, most effective and easiest to use form of hormone replacement.

Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy – Birmingham, MI: 248.335.7200

How to Look Thinner on Zoom (Part 1)

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8 Ways to Look Thinner on Zoom (Part 1) – 

There have been many surprising changes to our lifestyles during the pandemic. One of these is that many of us our finding ourselves “on camera” and being videoed for the first time in our life. And, whether we are participants or presenters in Zoom meetings, we are all becoming acutely aware that the old adage is true: “the camera adds ten pounds.”

And while some Zoom meeting just involve a few close colleagues, others are taped for broadcast, watching and re-watching company-wide. Couple this with the fact that many of us have gained a few (or fifteen) extra pounds from the more sedentary stay-at-home lifestyle of the quarantine – and both women and men are becoming increasingly concerned about looking chubby on camera.

The good news is that there are both “camera tricks” and aesthetic treatments that can make you appear slimmer on camera (and off!). In addition to using lighting, highlighting and camera angles to your advantage, Dr. Ali offers the fastest and safest aesthetic procedures for losing the “quarantine fifteen” so you look more like a celebrity – and less like a couch potato on camera.

Camera Tricks to Look Thinner in Zoom Meetings

Let’s first start with some easy “basics” here, to looking thinner on Zoom and other video platforms.

#1. Camera Placement: Make sure your camera is at eye level to look thinner.

If the camera is below you, and angled up, everyone is getting a birds-eye view of the underside of your chin. And, unless you’re a fit twenty-five year old (or George Clooney), looking up at the flesh beneath the chin is rarely a flattering angle.

#2. Body Placement: Sit at a slight angle to the camera to look thinner on Zoom.

Most people sit facing the camera directly…often leaning back slightly. This will make your face and body look wider and more square. Think “side-saddle” when sitting in your office chair, which places your body at a more slimming 45 degree angle to the camera.

And, leaning back accentuates both the belly and (double) chin. So, don’t forget to sit up straight! In addition to making you look more confident and professional, pressing the shoulders back will help elongate the neck and make the face look slimmer, too!

#3. Head Placement: Tilt the forehead slightly forward to look thinner on Zoom.

This is an old photographers’ “trick” that works equally well on Zoom and in videos, as it does in still photos. Tilting the forehead slightly forward will make the face look longer and less round. It also casts a shadow over the chin, concealing any excess fat below the jaw.

#4. Wear Dark, Fitted Clothing: Avoid vertical stripes, loud prints and baggy clothes to look thinner on Zoom.

In person, your colleagues can tell where your clothes end and you begin. But on a smaller video screen wide or loose clothes simply make your body look wide, too. Additionally, anything that draws the eye from side to side – like horizontal stripes – also makes you look bigger. And busy patterns and bright colors also draw the eye’s focus to the body.

#5. Contour with Make-Up or an Angled Beard: this reduces the chin’s appearance in women or men with “shadowing.”

For hundreds of years men have been hiding their double chins with a well-trimmed beard! The sharper the angles of the beard, the squarer the jaw will appear. Women can achieve a similar illusion of a slimmer face by creating subtle shadows around the jawline, along the sides of the face, and under the cheekbones with well-placed contouring. (see illustrations, below).

look thinner on Zoom
Women Look Thinner on Zoom with Contouring

look thinner on Zoom
Men Look Thinner on Zoom with an Angled Beard

..

Aesthetic Treatments to Look Thinner on Zoom

These “tricks” can certainly help you look thinner when on camera. But the reality is, camera angles can only go so far to disguise unwanted fat on the face and body. Fortunately, there are three fast, affordable and non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures offered at AMAE Med Spa in the Detroit area that can actually permanently get rid of unwanted fat on the face and the body.

CLICK HERE to Read About 3 Fat Loss Treatments to Look Thinner on Zoom

4 Reasons C02RE Laser is the Best Anti Aging Treatment

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4 Reasons New C02RE Laser is the Best Anti Aging Treatment – 

Troy, MI area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali offers the most advanced, state-of-the-art technologies in anti aging, skin resurfacing, and wrinkle and line reduction. The newest technology in our vast array of anti aging treatments is the state-of-the-art is the CO2RE fractional CO2 laser.

This revolutionary anti aging medical procedure offers several advantages over other, older and less sophisticated laser treatments. In this article Dr. Ali explains why the CO2RE laser is the superior choice for reducing the signs of aging and achieving younger looking skin.

#1. C02RE Anti Aging Treatment Stimulates Cellular Repair

New, state-of-the-art Co2re laser technology does not just remove the top layer of skin to reduce signs of aging – it actually delivers deep laser energy into the dermis to regenerate the production new, healthy skin cells.

Collagen and elastin are the protein building blocks that form the “scaffolding” of skin cells that keep the face firm and elastic and stop it from wrinkling and sagging. But as women and men age the body produces less collagen and elastin, so the skin begins to show signs of sun damage and aging.

The CO2RE laser is a state-of-the-art anti aging fractional CO2 laser treatment, now available in the Troy, MI area at AMAE Med Spa, that delivers fractional laser waves far below the surface of the skin. This re-activates the body’s collagen production and cell renewal processes – naturally repairing skin damaging, tightening & plumping skin, and “filling in” lines and wrinkles.

#2. C02RE Laser Anti Aging Treatment is Versatile

The CO2RE provides four different treatment modes, that can be customized for each patient – to effectively treat their unique skin issues and concerns.

The Co2Re Light mode provides superficial fractional ablative treatments – removing the dead skin from the top layer (epidermis) and increasing new cell production. The Mid mode penetrates more deeply for a stronger fractional ablative effect, producing additional new skin tissue below the surface.

The Co2Re Deep mode penetrates far into the dermis (lower layer of skin) for the deepest fractional ablative effect. While the Co2Re Fusion mode delivers a unique laser scan pattern that combines treatment depths in the epidermis and dermis simultaneously.

As a result of this versatile laser technology, the Co2Re anti aging laser can simultaneously treat:

  • Age spots | dark spots | sun spots | hyperpigmentation
  • Fine lines | deep lines | wrinkles … even around the eyes and mouth
  • Hyperpigmentation | freckles | uneven skin tone
  • Leathery skin | rough skin texture
  • Loose, lax or sagging skin

#3. C02RE Laser Anti Aging Treatment is Precise

State-of-the-art CO2RE laser technology gives Dr. Ali strict control over the intensity, pattern, and depth of each treatment.  The CO2RE pinpoints specific places on your skin to treat, while leaving other healthy areas of skin alone.

This means that each treatment only targets the areas of concern, while leaving other areas of skin intact and untreated. This results in both a highly customized procedure without the collateral skin damage caused by other, less precise, lasers.

So it is far gentler and more effective than other laser ablation treatments that leave your skin completely raw and red.

#4. C02RE Laser Anti Aging Treatment is Faster

For most of skin concerns, patients only require one single CO2RE anti aging treatment. This is far more convenient than other laser anti aging treatments which may require 3 or more sessions.

Additionally, the total time it takes for patients to see results is much shorter than with any previous laser ablation technology, because there is less skin damage. Within approximately 5-7 days (lighter treatments) and 10-14 days (deeper treatments) patients begin to see visible anti aging results.

Best Laser Anti Aging Treatments – Troy, MI Area

Troy, MI area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali offers the most advanced, state-of-the-art technologies in anti aging, skin resurfacing, and wrinkle and line reduction – including the new CO2RE laser.

Each CO2RE laser anti aging appointment begins with a skin consultation with Dr. Ali, so that the treatment can be customized to meet the specific aesthetic needs of each patient.

Schedule a CO2RE laser anti aging treatment – and then relax in our Troy, Mi area Med Spa, while we make you look and feel younger with an anti aging treatment that can last 10 years or longer!

Anti Aging Treatments Troy, MI Area – 248-335-7200

Comparing Different Types of Hormone Therapy

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Comparing Different Types of Hormone Therapy – 

In both women and men, hormones affect virtually every aspect of health and overall wellness. Everything from a person’s energy level, to their sex drive, and even weight gain are regulated by hormones. So when hormone production declines or is out of balance – due to age, illness, surgery or environment – a wide variety of health complications can occur.

At AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Oakland County, Dr. Ali naturally and safely corrects these hormone imbalances with BioTe bioidentical hormone replacement pellets. These rice-sized pellets are placed beneath the skin only 2 or 3 times a year to naturally replace missing hormones and restore health, wellness and quality of life.

However, our patients are often curious or confused about the difference between bio-identical hormone replacement pellets and other types of more traditional hormone therapy. So, in this article, Oakland County board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali compares the different types and methods of hormone replacement therapy.

Synthetic vs Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

To begin with, lets look at the difference between synthetic hormones & bioidentical hormones.

Most types of conventional hormone replacement therapy use synthetic hormones – which are made in a laboratory. However, BioTE® bioidentical hormones are not synthetic – they are derived from plants, so that they are 100% natural and identical biologically to human hormones.

Something as complex as a hormone can never identically match the complexity of a natural human hormone if it is made in a lab – so it is not as effective, and can also have dangerous side effects. Read more about synthetic vs. bioidentical hormones HERE.

Next, less explore the differences in the delivery systems used in hormone replacement.

Injectable Hormone Therapy “Shots”

Hormone shots or injections require weekly or bi-weekly shots, making them far less convenient that pellets that only require insertion 2 or 3 times a year.

Not only are weekly shots painful, but this intermittent dosing leads to inconsistent levels – putting the patient on a hormonal roller coaster.

Additionally, some patients may have an allergic reaction to the oil suspension of the injections.

Oral Hormone Therapy Pills

Taking hormone pills requires you to visit the pharmacy every month, and to remember to take your pills every single day – instead of twice a year like pellets. And pills give you a sudden spike in hormones when you take the pill, that wears off over the rest of the day – unlike pellets which offer consistent 24/7 delivery.

Additionally, hormone pills can cause GI issues such as upset stomach and even ulceration in some patients. And, taking hormone pills every day for years can also be hard on the liver.

There is also evidence of increased risk of blood clots, as well as gallbladder effects with daily hormone pills.

Transdermal Patch Hormone Therapy

The disadvantages of transdermal hormone therapy are well known to anyone who has worn a hormone patch. To begin with, the patch is unsightly while pellets are invisible. And, patches are notorious for causing skin irritation.

Patches also can fall off with swimming, physical exertion or even showering. And, the hormone delivery is not consistent, as it is strongest with a new patch – that becomes weaker as the patch is worn.

Even worse, clinical studies show that up to 45% of people do not absorb hormones fully and effectively from patches.

Hormone Therapy Pellets

BioTe hormone pellets are “time-released” – so they continue to constantly and evenly release the bioidentical hormones over several months. This is the only hormone delivery method that consistently balances the hormones without “surges”.

Additionally, hormone pellets are “one and done” – lasting up to six months. this means no pills or shots to refill or remember to take, and no patches that fall off and need to be replaced.

For convenience, consistency, effectiveness and body compatibility hormone pellets are the superior delivery method.

Hormone Therapy – Oakland County

BioTe Hormone Replacement Pellets may be the fast, natural and effective solution to improving your health and energy, improving your sex life and getting your quality of life back!

If you live in the greater Oakland County area, contact Dr. Ali at AMAE today for a complete hormone workup and diagnosis – and see what hormone replacement pellets can do for you!

Hormone Therapy Consultation – Oakland County – 248-335-7200

Preventing Osteoporosis with Hormone Replacement

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Estrogen Replacement Therapy for Osteoporosis –

When a woman approaches menopause, her body will start to display symptoms of the sudden drop in estrogen that occurs, such as hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, sleep disorders, and more. However, an unseen – but even more dangerous – consequence of menopause is the effect it has on a woman’s bones.

Estrogen, while primarily thought of as a “sex hormone,” is also essential to female bone health. Estrogen is responsible for stimulating the activity of the cells that produce bone – called “osteoblasts.” But when a woman’s estrogen level drops during menopause, these osteoblasts no longer effectively produce bone. And as the bones lose calcium, women are at grave danger of bone fractures.

Fortunately, for women nearing or during menopause, as well as women with a high risk for osteoporosis, estrogen replacement therapy may can be an effective osteoporosis preventative or treatment.

Preserving Bone Density with Estrogen Replacement

Estrogen replacement therapy was the very first FDA-approved treatment to prevent osteoporosis. And while there are now many other drugs and medications for osteoporosis, estrogen remains a mainstay of medical professionals to conserve bone mass and prevent osteoporosis-related fractures in post-menopausal women.

Because estrogen therapy is simply aimed at replacing the hormone’s that the body naturally produces, Estrogen replacement therapy is safe and appropriate for most women. There are only a small number of women who should nor use estrogen therapy, including women with breast or uterine cancer, decreased liver function or liver disease, or a recent history of blood clots. Estrogen replacement therapy is also not for pre-menopausal women or for men.

Typically, the best time to begin estrogen replacement therapy to prevent osteoporosis is during early menopause. However, studies show that the bone-preserving benefits of estrogen replacement can still be achieved, even if started more than a decade after the onset menopause.

Is Estrogen Replacement Safe for Treating Osteoporosis?

The North American Menopause Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and The Endocrine Society have all stated that most healthy, menopausal women can safely use hormone replacement therapy.

Previously there were concerns that taking estrogen alone increased a woman’s risk for uterine cancer. However, taking progesterone hormones combined with estrogen greatly reduces this risk. And, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years old will experience a broken bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. So the risk of an osteoporosis related broken bone is significant.

Additionally, if a woman has had a hysterectomy (removal of your uterus) she can even safely take estrogen alone because there is no risk for developing uterine cancer.

Best Estrogen Replacement Method

Hormone Replacement Pellets are by far the best delivery method for replacing depleted estrogen levels. In fact studies have shown that use of estrogen pellets resulted in a four-fold increase in bone density over oral estrogen, and 2.5 times greater results than hormone patches.

Originally, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) consisted of synthetic hormones, that were made entirely in a lab.  However, the bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)pellets used by Dr. Ali in Birmingham, MI a consist of hormones extracted from a 100% natural source like plants.  These bioidentical hormones replicate the exact molecular structure of the human body’s naturally produced hormones.

And, unlike hormone pills that put you on a daily roller coaster of hormone ups and downs, time-released pellets deliver hormones the way your body does – gradually and consistently over time from within the body.

Additionally, unlike oral pills, messy creams and unsightly patches, pellets only have to be administered once every four or five months. There are no pills to remember daily, and no messy creams to apply.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy – Birmingham, MI

Estrogen replacement therapy has been proven effective for decades at protecting post-menopausal women from the bone loss and fractures of osteoporosis. If you and your doctor believe estrogen replacement therapy is the right treatment for you, BHRT pellets offer the safest, most consistent, most effective and easiest to use form of hormone replacement.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy – Birmingham, MI: 248.335.7200

New! Co2RE Laser Acne Scar Removal

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Co2RE Laser for Acne Scar Removal – 

laser acne scar removal laser acne scar removal

The National Center for Biotechnology Information and U.S. National Library of Medicine, reports that 650 million people suffer from acne worldwide, making it the most common skin disease in the world. And, as if acne breakouts weren’t traumatic enough, unsightly acne scars are often left behind when inflamed skin erupts into pimples – leaving more than 40% of people who suffer from acne being left with acne scarring.
The good news is that a revolutionary new laser technology – now available at AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in the Troy, MI area virtually erases acne scars in a single treatment. The new CO2RE fractional laser is specifically designed to resurface skin and eliminate the pitting, discoloration and uneven skin texture of acne scars – faster, more effectively and with les downtime than older treatments.

What Causes Acne Scars

Smaller pimples tend to go away fairly quickly and heal without leaving any scars or marks on the skin. But larger acne pimples can cause breaks in the pores and follicle walls when they erupt. As a result, the body produces new collagen fibers during the healing process, to repair this skin damage. Because the new collagen is produced in irregular fashion to respond to the areas of skin injury, lumps, bumps and craters develop.

While most common on the face, acne scars can occur almost anywhere on the body – with the back being the second most prevalent area for acne scarring. Sadly, acne scars can undermine a person’s self-esteem and self-confidence and impact their social life, relationships and even their confidence in the work place.

New Laser Treatment for Acne Scar Removal

Most people with acne scars have tried endless skincare products, makeup concealers, and ablative procedure like microdermabrasion or chemical peels with limited success. While these treatments can temporarily resurface the top layer of the skin, but none of them fully “erase” deep acne scars.

But the new CO2RE fractional CO2 laser resurfaces the epidermis (top layer) and activates skin repair on a deep cellular level in the dermis (lower layer of skin). If you live in the troy, Mi area Dr. Ali will examine your skin and determine if you are a good candidate for this revolutionary new acne scar reduction procedure.

How CO2RE Laser Gets Rid of Acne Scars

Dr. Ali’s staff will prepare your skin before the treatment with a series of numbing injections. Next the CO2 laser is applied in small sections throughout the face. Because of the anesthetic, most patients do not feel a thing.

Some patients report a little sensation near the outer edges of the face like a snapping rubber band. But most patients only experience mild pressure. After the numbing wears off, patients may feel a sensation of heat on the face but it is not painful.

The Co2re laser technology removes the top layer of skin (epidermis) to reduce visible scarring  – but it also delivers deep laser energy into the dermis to regenerate the production new, healthy skin cells.

These fractional laser waves reach far below the surface of the skin, activating the body’s collagen production and cell renewal processes. As new collagen is produced it “fills” pits and craters – and, tightening & plumping skin, and “filling in” lines and wrinkles.

Advantages of CO2RE Acne Scars Removal

State-of-the-art CO2RE laser technology gives Dr. Ali strict control over the intensity, pattern, and depth of each treatment, allowing him to precisely pinpoint specific places where there are acne scar, while leaving other healthy areas of skin alone.

This means that each treatment only targets the areas of concern, while leaving healthy skin intact and untreated. This results in both a highly customized procedure without the collateral skin damage caused by other, less precise, lasers.

So, the CO2RE it not only is far gentler than other laser ablation treatments for acne scars that leave skin completely raw, it is also more effective.

Recovery & Results from CO2RE Acne Scar Removal

Patients’ skin will be tender and they should strictly stay indoors and out of all sun for a week. Instructions for moisturizes skin while healing will be provided.

During the first week of recovery there may be swelling, occasional mild bleeding and sloughing of the dead skin. As the swelling subsides, red skin becomes gradually more pink and less tender. Pinkness is good! It means that the skin is turning over new cells and recovering properly.

Depending on the depth of the scars, for most patients it’s very possible that one acne scar reduction treatment is all you need to achieve buttery smooth skin. This treatment has targeted those stubborn acne scars like nothing I’ve tried in the past. Patients with acne scars that are very deep may want to undergo CO2RE scar reduction a second time to remove any residual scars.

CO2RE Laser Acne Scar Removal – Troy, MI

Thanks to the new CO2RE Acne Laser Scar Removal treatment, you no longer have to live with the embarrassment of acne scars and discoloration – and you can finally have the clear, silky smooth skin you’ve wished for.

If you live in the Troy, MI area, schedule an appointment at AMAE today – and see if CO2RE Acne Laser Scar Removal is right for you!

Laser Acne Scar Removal Troy, MI Area – 248-335-7200

5 Surprising Facts About Hormone Replacement Therapy

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5 Surprising Facts About Hormone Replacement Therapy – 

Most people associate hormone problems with menopause. And, while a woman’s estrogen production does typically decline during her change of life, hormones issues can affect a woman or man’s health and quality of life at any age!

In this article Oakland County board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali shares 5 facts about hormones that may surprise you – and reveals what you can do about hormone issues at any age.

#1. Estrogen Is Not Just A Female Hormone

Most people know that estrogen maintains the reproductive system, including fertility and ovulation –  and that estrogen governs female characteristics, such as breast development.

But, a specific type of estrogen – called Estradiol – is essential in men for sex drive, erections, and sperm production (fertility).

And, while testosterone levels decrease in men with age, estrogen levels usually increase. And abnormally high estrogen levels in men can put them at risk for conditions like diabetes and certain forms of cancer.

#2. Testosterone Is Not Just A Male Hormone

We all associate testosterone with virility in men. But a woman’s ovaries also produce small but very necessary amounts of testosterone.

A testosterone deficiency in women can cause low sex drive, weight gain, and mood swings. Low testosterone over a long period of time may also cause more serious health problems such as heart disease, memory loss, and low bone density.

And too much testosterone in women can result in facial hair, excess body hair, hair loss/balding, acne, and more.

#3. Hormones Increase Bone Density

While hormone fluctuations are usually associated with sexual issues or mood changes, many people do not realize that hormones are necessary to prevent bone loss.

About 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis, many without knowing it. And another 34 million are at risk for developing this silent killer. In fact, an estimated one out of every two women over age 50 will suffer a broken bone in their lifetime that is osteoporosis related.

Estrogen replacement therapy can help conserve bone mass and prevent osteoporosis-related fractures in post-menopausal women.

#4. Hormone Imbalance Can Cause Weight Gain

The thyroid produces hormones which regulate how the body uses and stores energy – a function known as “metabolism.” So, when thyroid hormone levels are out of balance, the body does not effectively “burn” energy … and unwanted weight gain accumulates.

According to the American Thyroid Association, up to 10 pounds of unwanted body weight gain may be attributable to a thyroid deficiency or “hypothyroidism”. Rebalancing your thyroid hormones can be an excellent first step to shedding stubborn weight gain that isn’t responding to diet or exercise.

#5. Hormone Imbalance Can Cause Hair Loss

Hormones are the most common cause of hair loss for both males and females. In both men and women the specific hormone responsible for hair loss is dihydrotestosterone (“DHT”), which is a hormone that your body makes as a byproduct of testosterone.

DHT causes hair loss by miniaturizing hair follicles, causing the hairs to fall out and not be replaced as they normally would. This type of hormone based hair loss is called androgenic alopecia – sometimes referred to as “male pattern baldness” or “female-pattern hair loss”. This is the most serious form of hair loss because, the hair that you lose is often gone permanently.

Fortunately, a simple blood test examining your hormone levels will help determine if a hormone imbalance could be causing or contributing to your hair loss. And hormone replacement therapy can be an excellent tool in your arsenal to help stop “shedding” and re-grow thicker and healthier hair.

Hormone Replacement Therapy – Oakland County

These Five Fast Facts about hormone imbalance are really just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to how hormones influence men and women’s health and wellbeing! Hormones also affect mood, heart health, skin aging, sex drive, sexual performance, and much, much more.

Hormone Replacement Therapy may be the fast, natural and effective solution to helping you lose weight, stop hair loss, increase energy, improve your sex life and get your overall quality of life back!

If you live in the greater Oakland County area, contact Dr. Ali at AMAE today for a complete hormone workup and diagnosis – and see what hormone replacement pellets can do for you!

Hormone Replacement Therapy – Oakland County – 248-335-7200