When a patient comes to you for help with their skin, what are some of the first questions you ask them about their concerns?
My first question is always open-ended “What bothers you about your skin?” I use this form of questioning to listen to the clients concerns and priorities before I give my advice and suggestions. Often clients will complain of one area of their face, most commonly for women it’s the area around the mouth. They my say they don’t like their wrinkles, however I see that there’s also skin laxity and more than one issue to be treated in that area. Having the client point out what they don’t like allows me to further explain how we can achieve the result they desire.
My next question is always about their level of sun exposure. UV rays are very well known for advancing the aging process. In addition, understanding a clients lifestyle allows me to determine what products and procedures I can or cannot use. I ask about what medications they’re taking and any medical history they have that may be affecting their skin, causing dryness, acne or dark spots. Their current skincare regimen is also important to assess how their skin is responding to the protocol, if any. A history of skin cancer is critical aspect of treatment and restricts the use of many procedures and products. I also like to know their history of previous treatments and outcomes and how they felt about said options.
Lastly, I ask about diet. Most significantly to me is the level of dehydration they may have, which is very common here in South Florida.
How did Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) become one of your primary services? Tell us about some successful outcomes using this procedure.
I initially learned about PRP while working in Orthopedics and witnessed its amazing healing benefits with our arthritic and injured patients. That led me to explore the topic further. After researching the methods and watching them be applied in aesthetic forums, I became intrigued by the quick and significant results. PRP was supplying an astonishing result that was previously only achieved with lasers. Since then, its been my focus because I know I can guarantee my clients a reliable and desirable outcome using PRP.
All of my patients have had a positive outcome with PRP. There are two patients that standout the most. The patient who was told he needed knee surgery and now prances around my office like a gazelle and the woman who was balding and wrinkled and had just re-entered the dating scene. Just a few months into treatment she cried when she saw her before and after photos because she was so happy with the results and the new found confidence.
Do you see a lot of patients who feel that aging has affected their careers?
Often I hear both men and women complain that they’re being passed over for jobs because employers are hiring younger people. They feel that their age diminishes their value in the job market as well as the dating scene. Men are most often concerned about hair loss. While women focus on wrinkles and lack of facial volume.
Share some of your favorite beauty secrets with us!
I maintain a very simple formula that I share with all my clients. SPF 30 with Helioplex every morning, healthy food, lots of water, exercise, stress reduction and 8 hours of sleep every night. Sleeping on your back is preferred to prevent wrinkles and deflation of soft tissues in the face especially the cheeks.
In addition, I discuss wrinkle prevention with all my younger clients. You should start using Botox in your late 20’s to early 30’s. You can prevent the skin from developing creases. Like a pair of pants, once those lines are deep, you cannot get rid of them.
Want to learn more about anti-aging and how diet affects skin? See my responses here: Interview with Registered Dietitian Holli Lapes, RD, LD/N of MyWellness RD – DelRaydiance
MyWellness RD 