Enhance your Face and Disguise Wrinkles with Juvederm and Shu Cosmetic Surgery in MN

Posted on April 22, 2013 by shucosmetic

Juvederm is the hyaluronic acid (HA) gel filler that used in Minnesota to instantly smooth away wrinkles in various areas of the face. With just one treatment, you’ll get smooth and natural-looking results that last up to a year. Juvederm is a gel based product infused with lidocaine to improve comfort during treatment.

Everyone’s skin ages differently and Juvederm may be used to rejuvenate multiple problem areas. From smile lines (nasolabial folds), vertical lip lines, oral commissures, marionette lines, chin wrinkles, lip augmentation, or even in hallow areas under the eye (tear trough), you can smooth away unwanted wrinkles and restore natural contours. Young, healthy-looking skin contains an abundance of a naturally hydrating substance called hyaluronic acid (HA). But as you age, sunlight and other factors can reduce the amount of HA in your skin. The lack of HA causes your skin to lose structure and volume, creating unwanted facial wrinkles and folds – like those parentheses lines around your nose and mouth. Hyaulorinic Acid is a naturally occurring molecule. Much like a sponge, its primary function is to bind and absorb water, which creates volume in the face. In this way, HA can be thought of as the body’s internal moisturizer. But, as we age, HA diminishes, which contributes to the presence of lines and folds. Juvederm injectable gel works to correct this by restoring hyaluronic acid in your skin, helping to diminish wrinkles and nasolabial folds in MN.

Using a dermal filler like Juvederm in Minneapolis is a safe and effective way to replace the HA your skin has lost, bringing back its volume and smoothing away facial wrinkles and folds. It is safe and effective to use on skin type and color. Studies with Juvederm showed no increased risk of hyperpigmentation or hypertrophic scarring in patients of color. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and you will notice results instantly. After the procedure there may be mild swelling or bruising that could occur and could last 7 days or less. Makeup can be used right after treatment to cover any bruising if it does occur. If you would like to try out Juvederm or have a complimentary consultation with Shu Cosmetic Surgery medspa please contact us at 952-922-9999!

Laser Skin Resurfacing with Microlaser Peel in Minnesota

Posted on April 16, 2013 by shucosmetic

There are various types of cosmetic lasers for various types of skin problems. If mild wrinkles, scars, keratosis, sun damage (brown or age spots), or pigment irregularities are your main problems, a microlaser peel with Shu Cosmetic Surgery might be for you! A microlaser peel removes a thin layer of damaged skin to improve texture and provide a more youthful appearance. It provides superior results because it can be administered with great precision of depth. The procedure is tailored to your specific skin conditions and desired outcomes.

The microlaser peel’s beam is scanned over a treatment area to remove a very thin layer of skin. Removing the top layer eliminates some of the damaged cells that can give skin a tired, aged look. As the skin heals, fresh cells grow and resurface the treated area. The result is healthier-looking skin, often with reduced wrinkles and improved color evenness. Patients in MN often say that it looks like their skin went from looking tired to vibrant. Almost any skin areas can be treated. Popular treatment areas are the face, neck, chest, and hands.

Treatment results will vary from person to person but improved skin texture and tone can be obtained in just one treatment. The number of treatments needed may vary depending on your initial skin condition and your specific needs and expectations. Numbing cream is applied to the treatment area before the procedure to provide comfort. Afterwards, the skin will be cleaned and eyes protected with safety shields. The physician assistant or laser technician will position the laser hand piece above the skin and will hold it in place as the computer-guided scanner moves the laser beam around the treatment area. Depending on the size of the area being treated, the procedure usually lasts 15-30 minutes.

Immediately after a microlaser peel treatment the skin will have a “frosty” appearance. This is the dehydrated skin that will peel away within the next few days following the treatment. There will be some skin redness with a sunburn sensation as well as mild swelling after the treatment for a few days. This usually lasts anywhere from 3-4 days after a treatment. You should notice obvious improvement in tone, texture, and color evenness once the skin heals after a few days. The collagen that regenerates helps firm the skin over the course of 6 months following a microlaser peel treatment. If you are interested in a microlaser peel or for a complimentary consultation contact Shu Cosmetic Surgery in Edina, MN!

Spider Vein and Varicose Vein Treatment at Shu Cosmetic Surgery in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Posted on April 15, 2013 by shucosmetic

Sclerotherapy is the treatment of spider and varicose veins. Spider veins are those tiny purple and red blood vessels found most often on the thighs and lower legs of women. They are hereditary and may be found anywhere on the leg or face. Varicose veins are larger and can appear raised with a bluish color, they may be quiet painful. Though these veins carry blood they are not part of the venous valve system so they are able to be reduced significantly through a simple office procedure with Shu Cosmetic Surgery at our luxurious Edina, Minnesota clinic.

Sclerotherapy has been around since the 1920’s. At our clinic we will use a tiny syringe fitted with a micro-needle to inject a small amount of sclerosing agent into the vein. This solution will displace the blood within the vein. It then causes irritation to the lining of the vein, making it swell shut. The vein will turn white then gradually disappear. Laser treatments may be used for small purple spider veins. The treatment is very tolerable with only mild bruising occurring afterwards.

Most of our patients here at Shu Cosmetic Surgery report little if any discomfort. A few may feel a mild burning sensation when the sclerosing solution is injected, but it stops in a few seconds.

Usually more than one treatment is required. In most cases, about 50 – 70% of the treated vessels will be gone for good. Some new veins may appear during the healing process so appointments are usually 4 – 6 weeks apart. During the healing process you will be asked to wear a special heavy-duty stocking to help keep pressure on the veins. This will reduce bruising, and help keep the treated veins closed. Any bruising will usually be gone after the first week. Your final results will be fully apparent after several months.

If you are ready to eliminate your spider veins or varicose veins call Shu Cosmetic Surgery for a consultation today.

Benefits of Chemical Peels in Minnesota

Posted on April 11, 2013 by shucosmetic

Non-surgical skin resurfacing options for aging skin continues to expand in Minnesota. These skin rejuvenation methods including microdermabrasion, chemical peels, non-invasive laser treatment and skin care products may be used alone or in combination, which provide satisfactory improvement.

A chemical peel is an exfoliation technique used to rejuvenate aging skin. In a chemical peel, a chemical solution is applied to the skin. Over the next few days, depending on how deeply the chemical penetrated the skin, the skin peels off. The new, regenerated skin is healthier and more youthful than the old skin.

Chemical peels are divided according to the depth of penetration into three groups:
• Light peels (superficial): Glycolic, salicylic etc…
• Medium depth: TCA
• Deep peels: Phenol.

Chemical peels are performed on the face, neck, or hands. They can be used to:
• Soften fine lines and wrinkles
• Improve skin texture
• Reduce scarring
• Decrease age spots and sun spots
• Remove pre-cancerous actinic keratoses
• Help skin care products to penetrate
• Build collagen
• Give skin a youthful appearance

People in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas often combine chemical peels with other injection procedures such as wrinkle reduction medication and fillers to create global rejuvenation effect. A chemical peel is also commonly used after facelifts, brow lifts, and eyelid lifts.

Microdermabrasion in Minneapolis

Posted on April 7, 2013 by shucosmetic

Microdermabrasion is one of the easiest non-surgical cosmetic procedures you can get in Minnesota. It is essentially powerful mechanical exfoliation by removing the uppermost layer of dead skin cells from the face and neck with diamond-tips. By using the diamond tip with fine surface, even people with sensitive skin can get a treatment from a skilled esthetician in Minneapolis. It takes about 30 minutes and there’s no down-time after treatment. For the best results, it is generally recommended get a series of 6 treatments about 10 to 14 days apart. You should avoid vigorous exercise and the sun after the microdermabrasion treatment. It is important to use a sunscreen, even in a cloudy day.

Microdermabrasion is an effective anti-aging treatment with multiple benefits.

• Softens fine lines and wrinkles
• Improves skin texture
• Reduces scarring and pore size
• Decreases age spots and sun spots.
• Help skin care products to penetrate
• Build collagen
• Improve local circulation
• Gives skin its youthful appearance

Do not get Microdermabrasion if you have:

• Extremely sensitive skin
• Diabetes
• Rosacea
• Active acne
• Skin infections or trauma
• Keloid scarring
• Skin Sunburn
• Taking blood thinners
• Had face injection within 3 days

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

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.

Microdermabrasion-A Non-Surgical Skin Rejuvenation in Minnesota

Posted on March 16, 2013 by shucosmetic

Many people in Minnesota wonder what a microdermabrasion is and some are even a little apprehensive of the treatment. They fear that it will be painful and leave them with red irritated skin. In reality this treatment is a great way to refresh and rejuvenate the skin without Chemical peels , laser resurfacing or surgery. It is a minimally abrasive treatment that feels like a light scratching. The tip, made from diamond chips, will take off the outer most layers of dead skin cells, the stratum corneum, revealing the fresher skin below. It’s great for someone in the Minneapolis and St. Paul just beginning to take care of their skin.

The tip also has a vacuum attached which helps to take away the dead skin cells and will also stimulate circulation of blood to the cells which gives it a nice healthy glow. It also helps to stimulate the protein called collagen. We need collagen to keep our skin firm. As we age and our collagen decreases, we notice that our skin is losing elasticity and is starting to appear a little loose or saggy. Not only is the face treated but other parts of the body can be treated such as, the neck, décolletage and hands.

Microdermabrasion is great for treating mild skin conditions such as; light scarring, brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles. It is recommended to get a treatment at least every 1-2 weeks when treating mild skin conditions and every month to maintain healthy skin. A pharmaceutical skin care line, which works on the cellular level, is recommended to work with the treatments and to help maintain results in between treatments. There is no downtime with microdermabrasion . There may be some slight redness or pinkness to the skin due to the circulation being stimulated but that usually goes away within 30 to 60 minutes. After the treatment the skin will feel smoother and tighter and have a youthful glow.

Sonya Stelmachuk-Shu Cosmetic Surgery, Edina, MN

Get Ready for Summer with Laser Liposuction at Shu Cosmetic Surgery Center in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Area

Posted on March 12, 2013 by admin

It has been a long and chilly winter, but warm, sunny weather is just around the corner. Soon we will be peeling off the layers of clothes and donning our shorts and t-shirts, only to find that it has been too easy to hide those creeping winter pounds under our sweaters and winter coats.

Are you sick of dreading the impending summer months? Now is the time to act if you want to make it a summer to look forward to with an improved swimsuit body. For liposuction in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, we offer the premier service of laser liposuction. With very little downtime and very concrete fat removal/body contouring results, laser liposuction is the key to making you ready for a summer of fun and feeling good about yourself.

Laser liposuction is a procedure that removes fat and tightens skin by directing laser energy into the fat cells and liquefying it, and then drawing it out through a cannula. It works on many areas of the body including the thighs, buttocks, stomach, waist, back, chest, face, chin, neck, arms, and ankles. An added bonus is that the laser stimulates collagen contraction, resulting in firmer, smoother skin. You will be able to resume most normal activities the following day, and more strenuous activates within a few days.

Laser liposuction is the optimal way particularly to get rid of those unruly areas that don’t respond well to diet and exercise. Laser liposuction is much less harmful and aggressive than traditional liposuction, with minimal bruising and less tissue damage. Also recovery time is shorter because it is much less invasive.

Minneapolis area laser liposuction is a long term solution and only done one time as a rule, as once fat cells are gone, they can’t come back. You will see dramatic results within 1 to 2 weeks after your procedure, but final and conclusive results require 4 to 6 months to fully appear.