Laser Tattoo Removal in Minnesota

Posted on March 28, 2013 by shucosmetic

Having second thoughts about your tattoo? If so, you’re not alone. Every day, we see patients having second thoughts about their tattoos. Tattoos can be removed using a medical laser in Minneapolis. Our Sciton ProFractional laser ablates narrow-diameter channels into the tattoo, covering a fraction of the total treatment area. This action initiates the body’s wound healing response, while leaving the surrounding tissue intact for rapid healing. All colors of ink from the tattoo will respond to the laser. ProFractional utilizes an erbium:YAG laser, which was chosen due to its high ablation efficiency.

Before the treatment is done, the medical practitioner at Shu Cosmetic Surgery will numb of the area with an anesthetic injection. During the procedure it may feel like a slight sting, or a snap of a small rubber band against the skin. After the treatment, skin may have white discoloration and the area around the tattoo may be reddish and could have some swelling. It may feel similar to sunburn after the treatment is done for a day or two. Aquaphor or anti-bacterial ointment should be applied to the tattoo to help with the healing process and keeping it moisturized. The skin containing the ink will slough off over the next couple day following the laser treatment; this reaction is normal and will disappear slowly over time.

Tattoo removal will need a series of treatment to achieve the best results, we recommend anywhere from 4-8 treatments. The number of treatments depends on the type of ink used, location, size, color and depth of the tattoo. It is best to wait anywhere from 4-8 weeks in between each treatment. Hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) or hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) may occur and can be permanent following the laser procedure. Usually this is very rare and more of a risk for darker skinned people. In most cases, normal skin tone should return within 6-12 months following the last treatment session. Since the ink used in tattooing is not regulated, some patients may only have a partial clearing even after several laser sessions.

The Elements of Facial Aging in Minnesota

Posted on March 27, 2013 by shucosmetic

The appearance of the face and neck typically changes with age. Loss of tissue volume and skin elasticity gives the face a flabby or drooping appearance. Although everyone in Minnesota gets older, and there’s no stopping it, it doesn’t mean we have to look older, more tired or less attractive. This blog helps you to understand facial aging mechanism and process that make you look older than you’d like and help what can be done to make you more attractive.

Your face and neck age because of changes in the following factors:

Volume changes: people in the Minneapolis and St Paul areas typically lose the fat volume in the forehead, temporal areas, and cheeks. In the meantime, excessive fat accumulation happens in the eyelids, upper side of nasolabial grooves, and jowl and neck (submental) areas.

Skin Changes: The skin changes are noticed much earlier than any other changes. These skin changes happen due to aging, genetics, skin nutrition and sun damage. Skin loses elasticity over the time and becomes dry, thin and wrinkled. In addition, the skin’s normal turnover process gets slower as we age, the ability of self-rejuvenation of the skin cells decreased. Moreover, repeated contraction of facial expression muscles over the years leads to the formation of permanent folds where become inscribed in the skin.

Other tissue changes: Just like skin and fat changes, other facial tissues such as muscle, fascia and ligaments change. These tissues can lose strength and elasticity and cause looseness of facial tissues.

Gravity effect: Over time, gravity, aided by a loss of elasticity in the skin and tissues, can displace the tissues of the face. For example, the brow and eyelids sag, creating a tired or old appearance. Hanging skin and fat in the jowl areas create the square shape instead youthful V shape.

These aging changes combine to transform your face from an attractive and youthful one into a tired and aged appearance. However, our full lines of anti-aging services in Shu Cosmetic Surgery can either improve or reverse these effects by targeting each aging element.

Forever Young with Broad Band Light (BBL) in Minneapolis

Posted on March 27, 2013 by shucosmetic

What if there was a way to stay younger looking without surgery or down time? Now you can. Research has proven that using Broad Band Light (BBL) treatments on a regular basis, not only seems to halt the aging process; it tends to help the skin look up to ten years younger. BBL is visible and infrared light from 400-1400 nm delivered for phototherapy. It is a gentle approach for treating sun damage that gives impressive results. The treatments actually change the histology of skin causing it to become like younger skin.

Over the years, exposure to UV radiation results in photo damage which shows up in the skin as reduced epidermal and dermal thickness, wrinkles, spider veins, rough skin texture, actinic keratosis and malignancies. Photo damage starts showing as early as the 30’s and 40’s.

In a recent study done by Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr and Dr. Jason Pozner, 15 people were evaluated to see if regular treatments done with BBL over a period of years would help them to look younger than their actual age. The age range of the participants was 39-69 years old. Each participant received at least one BBL full face treatment per year. Over a 5-11 year time frame. The result of the study was that the patients who maintained a regular annual or biannual regimen of BBL treatments did have reduced signs of photo damage and aging in a way that looked very natural.

Shu Cosmetic Surgery Medspa offers full lines of BBL treatments to rejuvenate your facial skin in Edina, MN. Please contact us if you have any questions on Forever Young BBL therapy or any other laser treatments.

Chemical peels in Minneapolis

Posted on March 26, 2013 by shucosmetic

Chemical peels, also known as derma-peels, have been around for thousands of years. Cleopatra was known to do the first chemical peels by bathing in milk which contains lactic acid. Women in Minneapolis use chemical peels to soften skin, improve blemishes, brown spots, acne scars, wrinkles and fine lines that appear with age.

African American women or black women in Minnesota are known to age very well due to the amounts of melanin in their skin which gives them natural sun protection. Yet years of sun exposure without sunscreen will cause facial skin to turn many shades darker than the skin on the neck and chest. This is a sign of sun damage which can also lead to skin cancer.

The use of chemical peels can help by lifting away layers of skin. Peels are done as a series of 4-6 treatments and over time, softer, smoother, lighter skin is revealed. During and after the peel treatments, an SPF factor of 30 or more must continually be used to protect the skin and prevent the sun’s UV rays from doing its damage all over again.

There are chemical peels that are good for all skin types and some should not be used on darker skin. Darker skins can either hyper-pigment and turn darker or hypo-pigment which causes it to turn very light in color. Your esthetician or clinician can determine the best chemical peel for you and can do a spot treatment to see how your skin will react.

Sonya Stelmachuk – Esthetician in Shu Cosmetic Surgery, Edina, MN

Gentle Way to Rejuvenate Facial Skin – Microdermabrasion in Minneapolis

Posted on March 24, 2013 by shucosmetic

Although the laser skin rejuvenation has been becoming popular over the past years, non-invasive cosmetic procedure such as microdermabrasion still is among the most common treatments in skin rejuvenation because many people in Minnesota can’t afford to have downtime with some invasive cosmetic procedures or microdermabrasion is added between the laser treatments to keep looking skin young and healthy.

Microdermabrasion is the process of peeling off the outermost surface of the skin with very tiny rough grains of crystals or diamond tips. The tip also has a vacuum attached which helps to take away the dead skin cells. It is a gentle, painless, non-surgical cosmetic technique that aims to remove the topmost layer of the skin called the stratum corneum to create a rejuvenating effect and treat common skin problems such as acne scarring and mild discoloration, sun damage, and wrinkles. Microdermabrasion will stimulate circulation of blood to the cells which keeps skin healthy and gives it a nice glow. It also helps to stimulate the protein called collagen, which keeps our skin firm. Although other parts of the body such as the neck and chest can be treated with microdermabrasion, the face is the most common area to be treated.
The procedure can be administered to adults at any age. It can be done monthly on the regular basis or as frequently as 1-2 weeks depending on the skin’s sensitivity and tolerance.

No needles or anesthetics are needed. A typical microdermabrasion is done by cleaning off all make up and oils on the skin surface. Then an esthetician moves the handheld device across the skin slowly and repeatedly until enough outer skin is exfoliated from the surface.

Microdermabrasion is among the safest skin rejuvenation procedures. It has very minimal side effects including the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and rare light bleeding due to fine broken blood vessels.

Liposonix vs Liposuction in Minnesota

Posted on March 23, 2013 by shucosmetic

Liposonix is an amazing new non-surgical fat reduction device available in Minnesota, and it can reduce fat entirely without invasive surgery and in one easy treatment without down time. By focusing a high-energy beam of ultrasound down to a point in the fat layer below the skin, the Liposonix system is able to non-invasively destroy targeted subcutaneous fat and deliver uniform and predictable results.

Which one should you choose – Liposonix vs liposuction? This is not a “to be or not to be” question for people in the Minneapolis and St Paul areas. If you are significantly overweight and BMI is more than 30, and you can afford to have at least 3 days down time, and you are looking for a better result with one treatment, you may choose liposuction. We have every cutting-edge liposuction technology in our Edina office to help you to achieve your goals.

Liposonix is the better option if you have any of the following conditions:

You have at least one inch of fat thickness in the target areas, but BMI is below 30. Although one inch does not seem like a lot, many people considering liposuction for specific areas do not have even that much.
You don’t want to undergo invasive liposuction surgery.
You don’t want even a day of downtime.
You are not a good surgical candidate due to medical problems, such as diabetes.

One or two effective treatments with Liposonix in the proper candidates, without surgery at all, may equal liposuction results, and then the argument in favor of Liposonix is quite compelling. Although Liposonix is very effective in fat reduction, since only a pre-determined thickness of fat is removed with one treatment, results may not be as marked as with one liposuction treatment which does not have such limits. Therefore, you may consider another treatment after 3-6 months if you are looking for the similar result to liposuction without down time.

The Most Choice For Liposuction In Minneapolis & St. Paul

Posted on March 21, 2013 by admin

If you want to find a doctor who will perform laser liposuction in Minneapolis, you don’t have to look far. But finding the right cosmetic doctor – that can be more of a challenge. When choosing a cosmetic doctor in Minneapolis or St. Paul for liposuction, you want to consider a few things:

Experience

This is not only the number of years the physician has been in practice, but how many liposuction procedures they have performed and how long they have been doing it for. Ask about training and certification to be sure that you are getting the safest treatment possible.

Choice

Many cosmetic doctors offer laser liposuction, but that isn’t the only option and it may not be the best choice for you. Ask about other technologies like Vaser Lipo or Body-Jet Lipo and find the technique that is right for you.

Price

Of course price is important, but the cheapest liposuction in Minneapolis might not be the best liposuction in Minneapolis. Find a cosmetic doctor who offers fair and competitive pricing. Ask about financing or specials. You can sometimes find a liposuction discount if you have multiple treatments done at the same time.

Dr. Steven Shu is the founder of Shu Cosmetic Surgery in Edina, Minnesota. He is a board certified physician and recognized as a pioneer of minimally invasive cosmetic surgeries in the Minneapolis St. Paul area.

We offer not just one type of liposuction, but all three of the latest technique: Laser Liposuction, Vaser Lipo and Body-Jet Lipo, giving you more choice for liposuction than any other cosmetic treatment center in the Minneapolis St. Paul area.

And, you can be sure when you come to Shu Cosmetic Surgery that you are getting the highest level of care, along with the most choice for the best price. Our liposuction prices are very competitive. We have a discount for patients who refer a friend and a VIP program for our loyal patients.

Male Breast Enlargement – Pseudogynecomastia in Minnesota

Posted on March 21, 2013 by shucosmetic

Pseudogynecomastia is probably among the most common types of male breast enlargement in Minnesota adults. However, in this condition, male breasts are mainly composed of fat deposits without the development of breast gland tissue. The breast shape in pseudogynecomastia patients look much like that in the real gynecomastia ones but have no medical reason for being there, as it is simply body fat.

A common male adipose distribution in the chest is a circular pattern around the breasts; this adipose tissue distribution pattern is exaggerated in cases of pseudogynecomastia, which may extend to the underarm areas.

Patients in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas with male breast enlargements due to pseudogynecomastia should seriously consider their diet and exercise as the first step of treatments. Male breast reduction surgery should preferably be done if weight loss through diet and exercise fails to achieve the goal.

Since the areas surrounding the breast in the pseudogynecomastia are mainly fatty tissue, liposuction should be the first choice to correct it; it usually gets immediate results. The liposuction for male breast reduction is performed in the local tumescent anesthesia in the outpatient setting, and it takes only an hour to finish. It might also be necessary to do liposuction along with surgical excision of the glandular tissue to achieve the best results and the flattest chest if the patients in Minnesota have true gynecomastia.

Age, skin elasticity, and the size of the breast are three main factors that will affect the results. If the patients have excess skin in the breasts, the liposuction combined with male mastectomy may not be sufficient to correct the breast deformity due to skin laxity. If the breast skin sagging is mild, Vaser or laser technologies should be used to tighten skin. If the skin sagging is severe, male breast lift (mastopexy) may be necessary.

BroadBand Light (BBL) Laser Treatment For Sun Damage and Brown Spots in Minnesota

Posted on March 20, 2013 by shucosmetic

BBL is an innovative laser technology that sets standards for skin conditions associated with aging, active life-styles, and sun damage. The treatment is tailored to match your skin type and your desired results. The light energy delivered by BBL will gently heat the upper layers of your skin. The heat absorbed by the targeted areas will stimulate your skin cells to regenerate new collagen. This process will restore your skin to its natural beauty, blending its natural colors and making it smoother, vibrant and younger. In addition, the photothermal energy will eliminate unwanted melanin that produces pigmented lesions.

Any area of the body for Minnesotans can be treated. The most common areas are those most exposed to damaging effects of sunlight. The most popular treatments are on the face, neck, back of hands, chest and shoulders for those living in Minneapolis. The number of treatments one will need varies from patient to patient and your laser professional will personalize a treatment plan based on the level of improvement you desire.
The treatment is noninvasive and safe with virtually no downtime. You should be able to return to work, apply makeup if needed, and resume most of your activities immediately. Generally, there is no need for a topical anesthetic because it is very fast and feels similar to a small rubber band hitting the skin. Your eyes will be protected with safety shields and you may briefly feel a warm sensation as the light is absorbed by the targeted areas. The whole procedure may take a few minutes to a half an hour depending on the size of the area that will be treated.

After the treatment, you may experience some redness that should resolve within a few hours. For some pigmented lesions, you will see a darkening of the treated areas following by fading and flaking off at a later stage. Your treated skin will feel smoother, fine lines and pores will be less noticeable, and sunspots or uneven pigmentation will fade. You will be sensitive to ultraviolent light and must avoid direct sun exposure for a few days following the treatment and it is always a good idea to wear sunscreen in MN whenever you go outdoors.

Skin Rejuvenation with Jessners Chemical Peel in Minneapolis

Posted on March 19, 2013 by shucosmetic

Jessners chemical peel is one of the most common chemical peels for skin rejuvenation in Minneapolis. A Jessners chemical peel is very effective in treating many different kinds of skin conditions. It is made up of 14% Salicylic acid and 14% Lactic acid with Resorcinol solvent. It delivers outstanding results and is able to treat acne, acne scars, hyper pigmentation, photo damage and aging skin. It is a good peel to be used on all skin types.

Your esthetician or clinician in the Minneapolis and St Paul areas will apply a solution to the skin with a consistency like water. It goes on very light and takes a few coats to fully cover the skin. It will have a mild stinging or burning sensation. This is temporary and will go away. The skin will start to turn white like frost. After the peel it will have a slight to moderate redness to the skin depending on the individual’s skin type. Shortly after the peel, the skin will start to feel tight. 24 hours later it will start to flake or peel off which can take 5-7 days. After the skin has peeled off, the skin will appear clearer and smoother.

While a Jessners peel gives great results, skin conditions are not corrected with one chemical peel. It is a progressive treatment which takes a series of peels. Usually a series of 6 treatments is required which can be done every 4 weeks. How many you need depends on the condition of your skin. It is suggested to get a Jessners peel every 3 months to maintain healthy and radiant looking skin. Using a medical skin care product line is also helpful to maintain beautiful skin in between treatments.

Sonya Stelmachuk – Esthetician in Shu Cosmetic Surgery, Edina, MN