Despite its exploding popularity, many people still don’t really understand BOTOX. It’s well-known as one of the best anti-aging options on the market, but it’s also widely feared. Some of us wonder if Botox is dangerous, painful, or can be over-the-top.
The truth is, if you choose an experienced Botox provider, you have nothing to fear! Allow us to debunk some of the top Botox myths that are still out there…
There’s a lot of buzz about Botox and it’s easy to see why:
Best of all, the results are beautiful. With a good Botox treatment, you’ll still look like YOU – just the most stunning version of yourself.
With all that being said, you still might feel nervous about getting Botox. You want to feel safe, and you want to get the best results from your investment. The key to good Botox is a good provider.
It’s unfortunate that after our early twenties (before we even appreciate youthful skin) our skin is already beginning to lose its integrity. Fine lines may have you avoiding the mirror, and dull skin might have you casting dirty looks at your brightening serums.
Not everyone experiences every sign of aging right away, but the top signs of aging (or as we like to call them, the “seven deadly signs” of aging) include…
Of course, you’ve heard of fillers. Maybe you’ve even heard about Radiesse®. But have you heard of the newest trend in skin rejuvenation – Hyperdilute Radiesse?
It’s exactly what it sounds like… Hyperdilute Radiesse is a blended filler — specifically Radiesse filler — that has been combined with a mixture of saline solution and lidocaine. Top cosmetic experts are using this rejuvenating solution to create firmer, younger-looking skin across the face and body.
The nose is quite literally the central point of our face. It can be the first thing people notice when they look at us and while everyones’ is unique and beautiful in its own way — alot of us still feel insecure and not like our best selves.
For many, the mind immediately goes to a rhinoplasty as the solution to this problem. However, what many don’t know is even just a slight tweak to your nose can make the biggest difference — and this can be achieved with a non-surgical rhinoplasty!
If the idea of surgery (or the idea of how much it costs) terrifies you, it’s a huge relief to know there’s another option available. While a 15-minute nonsurgical nose job can’t address all concerns, it can significantly improve the contours and shape of your nose. Below, we’re spilling all the secrets of the non-surgical nose job, including how it works, risks of treatment, and how much it costs.
Dr. Kathleen Griffin, a Certified Menopause Clinician at the G Spa Medical Spa & Laser Center, was the first provider in Santa Barbara County to offer The MonaLisa Touch. The MonaLisa Touch™ laser is a new and exciting medical breakthrough for treating certain symptoms of menopause.
Menopause is a natural transition for women defined as the end of menstruation. When menopause will occur is difficult to predict and varies greatly by individual. Most women experience menopause between the ages of 40 and 60 with the average age being 51. Menopause symptoms may occur during this transition. Some women experience medically, or surgically induced menopause, caused by either a hysterectomy, chemotherapy, radiation or anti-estrogen hormonal therapy which are common treatments for breast cancer.
The symptoms of menopause may be unpleasant and can be life changing. By the time women reach 40 or 50, they experience a decrease in estrogen which can affect tissues that include the vagina, vulva, uterus, breasts, bones, brain, skin, hair, heart, blood vessels, bladder, urethra and mucous membranes.
Vaginal atrophy, or Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, one of the most common conditions of menopause, is also due to a decline in estrogen. Without estrogen mucosal elasticity is lost and the vaginal tissue dries out, becoming fragile and susceptible to injury. Women can also experience urinary incontinence, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), dryness, itchiness, burning, prolapse and laxity or looseness.
Up to now a woman’s only choice was HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy. HRT can relieve the symptoms of vaginal dryness and dyspareunia by boosting the estrogen levels enough to suppress symptoms. Short-term use of HRT carries little risk, however, studies have shown that long-term use (over 5 years) of HRT may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. Some alternatives to HRT include the use of vaginal lubricants, testosterone, herbs, exercise, and acupuncture. Alternatively, the MonaLisa Touch™ laser has proven to be a safe and effective treatment for relieving symptoms. This is a hormone-free alternative for women who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and/or anti-estrogen hormonal therapy for breast cancer. The MonaLisa Touch™ has proven to be more effective than traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy.
MonaLisa Touch™, a fractionated CO2 vaginal laser treatment, is much like your annual exam. The MonaLisa Touch™ is an in office procedure that takes less then 5 minutes, requires no anesthesia, is minimally uncomfortable and is hormone free (No HRT). The MonaLisa Touch™ treats the underlying causes not just the symptoms. The purpose of the vaginal laser is to increase blood flow and stimulate collagen growth, improving the mucosa of the vaginal walls to promote vaginal rehydration and functionality of the treated area. With the gentle action of the MonaLisa Touch™ laser, the healing process begins returning the vagina to its natural healthy youthful state. Patients can return to normal activity soon after a treatment session.
Noticeable results may occur after only 1 session but to be fully effective Dr. Griffin always recommends a series of 3 sessions. Some patients may require 4-5 treatments depending on the severity of their condition. Each treatment session is less than 5 minutes, scheduled 6 weeks apart. Maintenance includes an annual MonaLisa Touch-up. As the aging process continues symptoms can return.
The G Spa offers a package rate for 3 treatments or patients can elect to pay for individual treatments.
In the past menopause symptoms have often been ignored due to the sensitivity of the subject and the lack of non-invasive treatment, however Dr. Griffin and her patients at The G Spa are seeing MonaLisa Touch™ as revolutionary! Please call us today for your complimentary consultation.
The G Spa Medical Spa and Laser Center in Santa Barbara is happy to announce the addition of Juvederm VOLBELLA® XC to their spa service line up. VOLBELLA® XC is a new filler which can give a wide variety of very subtle and natural results in various areas of the face. So, what could it do for you?
Juvederm VOLBELLA® XC is designed to give a soft, natural look. It can do wonders for the natural shape of the lips, help to create a more defined cupid’s bow (the double-curved bow at the top edge of a person’s upper lip) and alleviate the fine lines around the mouth which can make lips look smaller. The effects are designed to be very natural. For a more dramatic effect, Juvederm® ULTRA XC may be a more suitable filler, because it can provide plenty of luscious volume. Ultimately, a consultation is necessary to determine the most suitable filler for your unique features and needs, and to determine the best method for achieving the results you desire.
The soft consistency mentioned above makes it possible for Dr. Griffin at The G Spa to carefully augment the shape of the lips in order to restore lost volume without creating an excessively plumped look. Those who feel that the natural shape of their lips has declined with age are able to restore their youthful pout, and those who have particularly straight or thin lips can achieve a more defined cupid’s bow and delicately plumped appearance that looks very natural. VOLBELLA® XC is also a great filler for gently lifting the corners of the lips, which is ideal for those who have a downward shape to their mouth.
Nasolabial folds, the lines which run from the outside of the nose down to the mouth, are often an unwanted side effect of aging. However, they’re also referred to as our “smile lines” and are a signifier of all the happy moments in our life so far. Rather than completely smoothing them out completely, VOLBELLA® XC can add a touch of extra volume in order to gently soften them. It’s a great way to achieve a more youthful appearance subtly.
Although VOLBELLA® XC is most frequently used as a filler for the lips and mouth area, it’s also a great one for gently smoothing away crow’s feet. Since crow’s feet tend to be very fine lines, the soft consistency of VOLBELLA® XC is perfect for adding just a touch of added volume to plump up the skin and create an incredibly natural finish.
VOLBELLA® XC is FDA approved for lip augmentation and the treatment of perioral rhytids, which are the fine vertical lines which occur around the mouth. These lines are a major telltale sign of aging. Since VOLBELLA® XC has a very soft consistency, it’s a brilliant filler for gently smoothing out these lines while maintaining a very natural shape to the upper lip.
Dr. Griffin and her staff would love to help you achieve full, lovely, kissable lips, call today to learn more!
Mineral Make-up: Magic Pixie Dust!
Food & Home Magazine – Santa Barbara – Fall 2014
By Cynthia Grancourt – Freelance Health & Beauty Writer
You know how fairies and celebrities have that other-worldly glow about them? As if Tinkerbell herself has showered them from the heavens with a star cluster of her magical pixie dust? Well, that’s exactly what mineral make-up is like, fairy dust! It may not make you fly, but your skin will have an ethereal luminescence like the goddess moon herself! The J-Lo glow is largely due to the tiny bits of gleaming minerals that glisten under the starlight and gleam in the sunlight. The secret is in the micronized, light reflective minerals that shine with a radiance all their own.
Mineral make-up is nothing new, but it’s quality has become better and better over the years. What has consistently attracted people to mineral make-up is that the formulas contain no harsh chemicals, no dyes, no talc, no alcohol, no mineral oil and no fragrance. This pure mineral formula is rich with zinc, titanium, peptides, antioxidants and sun protection. The benefits of this type of formula is that it doesn’t clog pores, cause breakouts or allergic reactions nor exacerbate existing skin concerns. As a plus, many brands are totally earth conscious! They’re vegan, paraben-free and cruelty free (no animal testing).
You might think you would have to sacrifice something, like style, for all these amazing benefits, but thankfully that’s not the case. Mineral make-up comes in colorful palettes in all the latest shades and colors, so it’s not function over form. The form is luxurious, healthy and stylish! All of the make-up tools are represented from slick primers and gorgeous foundations to shimmery eye shadows and shiny happy lip colors.
Jill Valestrino, the lead esthetician at The G Spa here in Santa Barbara loves the Colorescience line she uses with her clients and remarks, “We are so excited to now be carrying the Color Science line. It has proven to not only be a leading mineral makeup but a skin care line as well, gentle enough to use post procedure. Our clients love the convenience of the dual brush/sunscreen as a go-to product, easy to keep in your purse and re-apply throughout the day”.
So make your entrance like the glitterati! Scintillate and illuminate the vast expanse with your secret potion, the pixie dust from the woodland sprites themselves!
Dewy Spring Skin!
Food & Home Magazine – Santa Barbara – Spring 2012
By Cynthia Grancourt – Freelance Health and Beauty Writer
Artificial heating systems and the cooler winter temperatures can leave your skin dry and dehydrated, creating the need for moisture, and all good skin care regimens start with basic cleansing. But basic cleansing isn’t so basic anymore; it’s technologically advanced as many things are in our culture nowadays.
The Clarisonic Skin Care System, invented by the same company as the Sonicare Toothbrush, is a state-of-the-art cleansing device utilizing sonic vibrations to deeply clean the pores and skin. The quickly vibrating soft bristles of the brush head rotate back and forth at a speed not visible to the naked eye.
The Clarisonic removes six times more make-up than manual cleansing. The sonic micro-massage loosens and removes dirt, oil and make-up from pores. As part of a daily morning and evening ritual, the Clarisonic is vital to any skin care program and comes in a variety of sizes with different cleansing heads available.
Venus Freeze – State of the Art Body Contouring System
Food & Home Magazine – Santa Barbara – Winter 2011
By Cynthia Grancourt – Freelance Health & Beauty Writer
The Venus Freeze is an all-in-one safe, simple and affordable device that will satisfy patients. Based on the innovative (MP)² Technology, Venus Freeze creates a synergy of magnetic pulses and radio frequency to deliver pleasant treatments and superior results. The revolutionary technology enables medical and aesthetic practitioners, such as The G Spa, to meet their clients’ demands, and offer a wide range of non-invasive skin tightening and body contouring solutions.
Venus Freeze’s dense energy matrix penetrates into multiple layers of the skin, ensuring improved clinical efficacy and noticeably visible results. The unique radio-frequency energy delivery, guarantees quick achievement of therapeutic temperature, easy maintenance of high temperature while eliminating the need of a cooling system, short treatment time due to coverage of a large treated area and a pleasurable homogeneous heating sensation for the patients.
Although it is not a substitute for liposuction, for many this new technology in Venus Freeze will complement post-liposuction patients and offer another less aggressive, non-invasive answers for body shaping and skin tightening.
Experiencing painless and relaxing treatments, Venus Freeze promotes natural skin healing without injuring delicate skin. No other device is capable of offering measurable results with an enjoyable and pleasurable massage-like experience. Patients will look forward to coming to their next visit to experience painless treatments.
Open 9am–5pm, Monday through Friday
33 W Mission St Suite 204, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 682-4772
2900 Nojoqui Ave., Suites G and H , Los Olivos, 93441
(805) 245-9370
Receive exclusive monthly specials to your inbox on our most popular treatments at The G Spa
