by Katherine Bredice | May 22, 2023 | accent aesthetics, Microneedling, skincare colorado
We LOVE microneedling, also known as Collagen Induction Therapy. In fact, we love it so much that if we HAD to choose just 1 treatment to have for the rest of our lives, THIS would be it! It is an amazing treatment with big results and little downtime.
We use the SkinPen Microneedling device. Over the years, we have tried many and SkinPen is the most effective, most reliable and has the least downtime.
How SkinPen Microneedling Works
Essentially we stamp millions of tiny microchannels through the skin at varying depths creating tiny little wounds. This signals the skins’ wound healing process. Through that process the body stimulates new cells and new collagen and elastin in an attempt to heal the wounds. With all of that new collagen the dermis (lower level of the skin) thickens, smoothing out the top layer of skin. This process is known as dermal remodeling.
SkinPen microneedling is safe for ALL skintypes and helps treat so many skincare concerns such as lines and wrinkles, acne scarring and texure issues such as crepeyness or bumpiness. It helps to lighten hyperpigmentation spots and even out skin-tone. It helps your skin to act and therefore look..younger.
Most people need several SkinPen Microneedling treatments to see results, depending on their concern. We recommend starting with 3 session 4-6 weeks apart.
skinpen microneedling
by Katherine Bredice | May 6, 2022 | Uncategorized
It’s been a little over a year since we launched our skincare membership program and we couldn’t be happier with it! I know our members feel the same way!
Not only does it save our clients $ but the consistancy that they have with the monthly membership is showing pretty remarkable results!
These are some of the benefits of montly, consistant skincare treatments:
- greatly reduced breakouts
- significantly less blackhead congestion
- noticable reduction in pore size
- less scarring and marking from picking blemishes
- reduction in hyperpigmentation/sundamage
- smoother, tighter texture
- better overall skin health
Along with monthly skincare treatments, our members receive discounts on all of our medical grade skincare products, discounts on injectables such as neurotoxin, fillers and PRF, discounts on other skincare treatments outside of their membership tier, and sneak preview into new treatments!
A great example of how the membership works is monthly microdermabrasion or chemical peel or hydrafacial treatments for someone with moderate breakout around the mouth, chin and jawline (classic). When these clients come in monthly we can decide which treatment is best for their skin at that time and extract all of the congestion in a sterile, healthy, non-damaging way. This has made a huge difference in those clients who were not only frustrated with the breakouts but the scarring it was leaving behind. When that client comes in with little to no breakout, we can switch their appointment to a microneedling for example to help reduce the texture and discoloration from the previous breakout, which they then get a discount on!
These consistant treatments along with home care not only create the skin you want but maintain it down the road. It’s a win/win!
by Katherine Bredice | Aug 11, 2020 | Uncategorized
What are the benefits of collagen peptides?
We get this question ALL the time. We as advanced, medical aestheticians deal with the production of collagen on a daily basis. So it only makes sense that clients ask us about ingesting the popular supplement for more youthful skin.
I always tell my clients the truth, and sometimes that means I have to tell them “I don’t know” or in this case “here’s the research that is out there and here’s my opinion.”
So let’s start with the research. If you look at most of the studies out there on ingesting collagen peptides you will find that, simply put, they break down to amino acids in the stomach. The collagen that we want to build up our dermis is type I and III. While most of these supplements ARE hydrolyzed collagen (meaning I and III) this doesn’t mean that the supplement turns into the correct collagen for skin repair OR that it gets exactly where it needs to go for more youthful, plump skin via ingestion.
A few newer studies out there are showing some promise for that happening but if you rely on the studies specifically then they just aren’t concrete enough at this time. Below is a newer study showing some promise.
[Studies have shown that age-dependent reduction in collagen synthesis can be reversed by oral administration of specific bioactive collagen peptides [4,7,8,9,10,11]. These oligopeptides are obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of natural collagen. After ingestion, they are further metabolized to bioactive di- and tri-peptides in the gastrointestinal tract, which are then released into the blood stream and accumulated in the skin to form the collagen biomatrix [4,7,9].
[Typical collagen hydrolysates are composed of peptides of different lengths and, depending on the collagen source, are characterized by a special amino acid composition. The unique (high coverage—[HC]) collagen complex (ELASTEN®) tested here contains short chain oligopeptides composed of 5 to 8, 9 to 15, and 16 to 26 amino acids and have a high coverage with amino acids sequences found in human skin collagen proteins.]
Published online 2019 Oct 17 by the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health
A Medical Aestheticians Opinion
Now for my opinion- We as Medical Aestheticians working along side Dermatologists rely greatly on scientific studies and research. It’s impossible not to. But even though I know the studies are not concrete and that several doctors and providers may disagree with or ignore studies that collagen supplements help to keep the skin plumper and more youthful, I take it every day anyway. My reasoning is: why not? It could be helping stave off aging even a small amount, helping ease the demise of my over used joints and muscles. It’s definitely not hurting anything and if nothing else, it’s a clean, low calorie protein source in my coffee everyday!
We DO know that consistent use of high quality, medical grade products such as Vitamin C and Retinol (Vitamin A) are proven to stimulate collagen and prevent loss of collagen, so those are no brainers! Everyone should be doing those as basic anti-aging skincare.
We also know without a doubt that several treatments stimulate the right type of collagen for lifting, firming and smoothing the skin. Microneedling, Radio Frequency, RF Microneedling, Ultherapy, different wavelenghth laser treatments, chemical peels, etc. Most of these treatments stimulate elastin as well which gives the skin its elasticity or “snap-back”, but that’s for another post…
So in conclusion: rely on tried and true products and treatments for collagen stimulation and prevention. Drink lots of water, stay out of the sun and WEAR SPF DAILY, limit processed foods and sugar specifically and get plenty of sleep! A healthy lifestyle and an excellent skin care regime will be just what the doctor ordered and you can sprinkle some collagen peptide powder on top for good measure!
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by Katherine Bredice | May 8, 2020 | Microneedling
Radio Frequency Microneedling is absolutely, hands down, one of my favorite treatments. Microneedling ALONE is fabulous for almost all skin concerns but add in the heat and energy of radio frequency and you’ve got a treatment that smooths lines and wrinkles, pore size and scars, helps reduce acne, inflammmation and sebum AND lifts and tightens the skin! Here at Accent Aesthetics we use INTRAcel, the Ferarri of RF Microneedling devices.
How Does Radio Frequency Microneedling Work?
Put simply, through microneedling and radio frequency technology (bulk heating), Intracel works to introduce a controlled trauma to the skin, which in turn reduces oil and bacteria at the treatment site, but also, and most importantly, promotes collagen repair and renewal.
It does this by using ultrafine needles, 49 needles to be exact, to puncture the skin creating a wound at an exact depth in the skin. The device’s tiny insulated needles then effectively heat the tissue to the desired temperature within microseconds. This wound triggers the body’s natural wound healing process and the bulk tissue heating triggers the skin to constrict and tighten. As the skin heals from these wounds, your body’s collagen production soars, resulting in taut skin. Surface scarring is eliminated and fine wrinkles are softened, if not erased!
As you can see from the pictures the results are extremely exciting! The treatment is typically used for general firming, skin tightening and wrinkle reduction on the face, neck, jaw, upper lip, around the eyes, mouth and jowls. However, it’s equally effective when applied to other areas of the body such as the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and knees.
Not only is this the treatment we recommend for all signs of aging but also an incredible treatment for anyone dealing with chronic, inflammatory acne and the scarring it leaves behind.
How Many Treatments are Needed?
Much depends on the location and general condition of the area to be treated. Typically, however, patients need between 2 and 5 treatments for best results. The treatments are usually spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, although this is relatively flexible.
Right after the first treatment most patients report their skin starting to feel smoother and tighter, but the results will continue to improve for a period of up to six months. As with many cosmetic procedures, the final results tend to vary from person to person and are at least partially determined by the overall health of each patient’s skin and the degree of damage that needs to be addressed.
As it takes years to decades for the skin to lose its firmness and structure, acne to cause scarring, etc., it will take time to rebuild your skin’s layers, but by combining these 2 technologies, your skin has no choice but to “shape up” and look and act young and healthy!
Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have about this amazing treatment! You can also check out several videos of INTRAcel on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/accentaesthetics1
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by kderry | Jan 9, 2019 | Uncategorized
I recently read an article that really made my blood boil. Here it is: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/skin-care-secret-wealth/579337/
As a long time Aesthetician, this sort of writing is infuriating. Many of us work very hard to make skin-care accessible to most people. Yes, we have very expensive treatments and products, but we also have products that aren’t expensive and treatments that are very reasonable and we work hard to make consistency EASY by providing things such as discounts on packages, weekly specials, holiday specials, birthday product discounts, annual open house specials, etc., etc.
Look, everyone has their priorities. If your skin is one of them, you will find a way to pay for it. Take for example our family dinner/movie night last weekend, which most people I know, who are NOT rich, do once a month or more:
3 of us. 2 adults, 1 child. Imax movie tickets=$54.00. 2 waters, 1 soda, 1 popcorn and 2 candies=$39. Parking=$7. Dinner and drinks beforehand at a mediocre restaurant downtown=$83 with tip. $183!!! For 3 1/2 hours of our weekend! For $183 our clients can get a complete skincare kit with top of the line cleanser, retinol, vitamin C lotion, and tinted or non tinted SPF. Or many other combinations of beautiful, prescription strength, high potency skincare products that will last them 3-6 months! If you break that down per month its less than $50/month for amazing, everyday skincare that will actually change your skin. For $183 or LESS, you could have an amazing Hydrafacial or one of many chemical peels, among several other treatments that will give you great results. Plus you can stay home and rent Netflix and make grilled cheese and soup and all snuggle on the couch for FREE and have just as much fun!
A day on the ski slopes, a football game, a new outfit, the newest techy gadgits such as phones, watches, earbuds. Everything adds up and we all choose how we want to spend our money. We all have a smart phone or a computer or Kindle Fire or whatever, and we’re not all rich. It’s about where our financial priorities lie. If improving your skin is truly a priority for you, you will eat out less, spend less on clothes and makeup, choose $5 drinks instead of $12 drinks when you go out. Use the old Iphone you have another year. The list goes on and on.
The worst thing you can do, and what this article implies, is to say “well, I’m not rich and not a celebrity, so i shouldn’t even try.” NO! Everyday we do consults on people who are saving for a house, sending their kids to college, newly retired and on a fixed income, etc. We work with them, discuss what they need and how to get there within THEIR budget. That’s what we do! We want everyone to feel good about themselves and their skin. The author of the article probably doesn’t understand our industry nearly as well as we do and certainly does not understand what is possible within it.
Hmmm, maybe I’ll send her my card, sounds like she needs a good aesthetician….
