Ultherapy on the TODAY Show

For her birthday, Kathie Lee turns to Dr. Patricia Wexler to learn about treatments to slow down the signs of aging, including Ultherapy to lift skin on the neck and under the chin.



The non-invasive Ultherapy® procedure is U.S. FDA-cleared to lift skin on the neck, on the eyebrow and under the chin as well as to improve lines and wrinkles on the décolletage. To learn more about Ultherapy or to schedule a Complementary Med Spa consultation online, please visit us at http://www.chicesthetiq.com/#!online-scheduling/c1n9d.

Chic Estetiq Med Spa in Pearland is owned by Dr. Robert Kratschmer, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.  Chic Esthetiq specializes in Botox, Ultherapy, Laser Tattoo Removal, Laser Hair Removal, and Medical Facials.

Is Picosure REALLY The Latest and Greatest in Laser Tattoo Removal?

There’s been a lot of hype lately with regards to the newest FDA approved tattoo removal laser, Picosure. Its’ been seen on news publications across the country; states are happy to announce its arrival to one of their cities; and a quick Google search for “laser tattoo removal” will likely result in numerous listings devoted to the Picosure laser. So what’s all the fuss? Is it in fact the biggest breakthrough in laser tattoo removal in decades? Perhaps in some regards, but not to the extent the media hype would lead you to believe.

The biggest difference between the Picosure laser and the more widely used Q-switched lasers like our Revlite SI is the pulse-width (the amount of time the laser’s energy is applied with each pulse). A Q-switched laser has a pulse-width of 1 nanosecond. As its name would suggest, the Picosure has a pulse-width of 1 picosecond, one thousand times smaller than a nanosecond.

What does a shortened pulse-width mean for laser tattoo removal? In theory, a shorter pulse-width would mean less pain during treatment and less temporary tissue damage therefore a shorter healing time. After performing a Google search for “Picosure reviews” we found www.realself.com/picosure.

There are some very detailed accounts including pictures chronicling patients’ journey through picosure treatments. Most of the pictures and descriptions of the healing process as well as many testimonials of the discomfort felt during treatment seem very closely related to what can be expected with treatment from our Revlite SI Laser.

Picosure’s creators’ accounts of how effective their laser is at removing tattoos, leads many to believe that it can remove a tattoo in as few as one treatment and if not just one, certainly far less than a Q-switched laser. Further review of patients’ accounts of their treatments showed that multiple treatments were needed in many cases and unless the tattoo is full of blue, green, or purple inks, the Picosure is not the only laser used to treat the tattoo. Reds and yellows are especially resistant to the Picosure. This is because the Picosure laser only has one wavelength, 755nm (Alexandrite). Sadly not all colors will respond to the same wavelength. Black responds to most wavelengths so the Picosure does a pretty good job of fading black inks, but it is most effective against blues, greens, and purples.

If a patient has reds, yellows, and oranges in their tattoo the Picosure is not the right laser for them though. Another laser will need to be used to effectively fade those colors, and what will the proponents of the Picosure use instead? Yep, you guessed it, they’ll be forced to go right back to a Q-switched laser like the Revlite SI we use here at Chic Esthetiq Med Spa & Laser because for reds, yellows, and oranges you need a 532nm wavelength.

Here's the clincher: with the cost of Picosure laser treatments nearly double the price of Q-switched laser treatments, is it really worth it to go with the Picosure? That is totally up to the consumer, however if given a choice, I'd lean towards going somewhere that could use one laser to deal with ALL the colors that need to come out. That just makes more sense. Upon looking at the long track record of efficacy and documented safety and results from the Q-switched Revlite SI laser, well...why re-invent the wheel? Go with what has been proven to work.


Source: http://www.vanishdfw.com/dfw-laser-tattoo-removal-and-skin-aesthetics-blog.html

Who Knew? 9 Things You Didn't Know About Getting Botox

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Botox Reviews: Real Women Share Botox Experiences

It’s not just Real Housewives and Hollywood stars who want to stay youthful. While some turn to Botox injections to fight migraines or excessive sweating, the majority simply want to look younger. Here, women reveal the good, the bad and the ugly truth they learned from getting Botox.

It Can Cure Your 'Anger' Problem
“The deep crease between my eyebrows always made me look angry even when I was in great spirits. Without that line, I look so much more relaxed and youthful—happy even!” —Tina, age 48

Your Face Might Spasm
“When my Botox started to wear off, it felt like my forehead was having muscle spasms and contracting my eyebrows up toward my scalp. Thankfully, these spasms weren’t noticeable to others, but the sensation (which lasted for days) was very strange.” —Sarah, age 44

You’ll Start Seeing Wrinkles Everywhere
“Since starting Botox, I’m very aware of how wrinkly other people’s foreheads are. But I would never tell my friends that.” —Ashlie, age 21

This Is Not the Time to Bargain Hunt
“I once experienced significant swelling after going to an inexperienced clinician. Ask your friends who they recommend and make sure the technician is well trained.” —Marisa, age 51

You Need to Be Realistic
“Botox isn’t a facelift-in-a-bottle. As a registered nurse who has both given and received injections, I find that most women’s expectations are too high. Botox is great at diminishing mild to moderate facial lines and wrinkles, but it won’t help saggy skin or deeply-etched lines. A good clinician should outline the changes you can realistically expect.” —Beth, age 52

It Really Can Prevent Migraines
“Getting Botox for migraines is like being stung repeatedly in the head. Still the pain is nothing compared to an actual migraine. My migraines have gone from about 15 a month to half that. It’s a win-win: Less pain and fewer wrinkles!” —Kari, age 44

It'll Stop Drippy Armpits
“My underarms used to drip before I started getting Botox for excessive sweating. The twice-yearly injections—about 20 per armpit — are not fun, but the payoff is sweet smelling.” —Robin, age 51

You Could Get Hooked
“At first I didn’t think I needed Botox. Now I’m scared to stop because I love what it has done for me. I feel younger, prettier and more confident” —Melissa, age 35

It's Not Just for Women With Wrinkles
“When deep creases started lining my forehead at age 27, I knew they’d only become deeper and more noticeable with age. I use Botox not necessarily to look younger, but to ensure that I won’t look older.” —Michelle, age 30

A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage

Ultherapy on E! Secret Societies of Hollywood

The behind-the-scenes E! series, Secret Societies of Hollywood, looks at the cosmetic procedures celebrities get in "Pursuit of Perfection." Real Housewife of Miami, Adriana De Moura, and other stars opt for Ultherapy as a more moderate yet effective approach. See Adriana's Ultherapy Before & After photos in the segment!




The non-invasive Ultherapy® procedure is U.S. FDA-cleared to lift skin on the neck, on the eyebrow and under the chin as well as to improve lines and wrinkles on the décolletage.

Source: Ultherapy.com

4 Products to Look Your Best for the Holidays

Think it's too soon to start preparing for the holidays? Think again. If you want to look your best in time for those holiday parties, check out the timeline below:

SMARTLIPO TRIPLEX: Ideal for body contouring to remove unwanted fat from areas like the stomach, arms, thighs, and hips.

When? 3-4 months in advance

What our patients are saying: "Dr. Kratschmer performed Smart Lipo on my abdomen and flanks and I am very pleased with the results. The staff is friendly and helpful. It took about 3-4 months to see full results of the procedure. I was worried for the first 1-2 months because of the swelling, however my abdomen is now much flatter than it was before the procedure.

Why? It takes time for swelling to resolve.  For unwanted fat removal on the abdomen, allow yourself a few months for swelling to resolve if you want a noticeable improvement in your waistline."

LASER FACIALS: Improve complexion by removing hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and age spots.  Remove excess redness caused by rosacea and broken capillaries.  Remove fine lines and improve the appearance of wrinkles.

When? 1-3 months in advance

What our patients are saying: "Had a very pleasant experience while having IPL (Intense Pulse Laser) done on my face to smooth out sun/age spots and pigment discoloration. My goal was to balance my skin tone and the IPL treatment did just that after only (1) treatment. I will return to have the 2nd IPL treatment in (4) weeks and am looking forward to it."

Why? Depending on the type of laser facial used, results may require a series of 3-6 treatments spaced 2-4 weeks apart.  A laser facial for hyperpigmentation, for example, may not require the same number of treatments as a laser facial for wrinkles.

SKIN CARE: Improve your skin and complexion by following a medical-grade skincare routine.  Medical skincare products have higher strengths of ingredients than what is found at a drug store or department store.  A skincare routine that uses high quality products can treat acne, reduce inflammation, and improve the overall tone and texture of your skin.

When? 3-6 weeks in advance

What our patients are saying: "I came to Dr. Kratschmer's office looking for some options for some issues with my skin. I was pleasantly surprised with not only the products on hand, but the staffs knowledge of the products and that they took the time to recommend and explain things to me. I bought a few products and could see a difference within just a few days and my skin is getting better with each use. I will DEFINATELY be back and would recommend him to ANYONE!!"

Why? With ongoing use of effective skin care products for problems such as acne, oily, or dry skin, you should see an improvement fairly quickly.  Problematic skin can take a couple weeks to clear up.  Give yourself time if you want radiant skin for your holiday party!

BOTOX & DERMAL FILLERS Botox can treat fine lines on the upper face by temporarily "freezing" the muscle.  Dermal fillers are used on deeper lines or areas of the face that need volume.

When? 2-3 weeks in advance

Why? Botox for wrinkles in the forehead takes about a week to see the result.  Dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Voluma, Restylane, and Perlane can produce an immediate result; however it is better to allow a couple of weeks just in case you have swelling or bruising.

To schedule a free consultation with our medical spa in Pearland for Botox or laser facials, please call 713-909-3088 or visit ChicEsthetiq.com.  To schedule a consultation for plastic surgery in Pearland, please call 281-317-8179 or schedule online at MySurgeonForBeauty.com.