LATISSE 5 mL KIT NOW ONLY $149

2 LATISSE 5 mL KITS NOW ONLY $279

Bella Luce Medispa is pleased to announce new pricing for the larger 5 mL Latisse kit. Since Dr. Michael Lawton is an Allergan Black Diamond Physician now for the second year in a row, his high volume of Latisse sales has allowed us to pass the savings on to you! This new pricing on the 5 mL kit means you can save up to 30% on the cost of Latisse per mL from the individual 3 mL kit. And the larger size of the 5 mL kit means that purchasing 2 kits at once will not only give you the best savings but will give you enough product to reach your full lash length and fullness before having to purchase any more product.

Since its FDA approval in December of 2008, over 2.5 million kits of Latisse have been sold. With clinical studies showing that Latisse more than doubles lash fullness after 16 weeks of treatment, it’s no surprise how popular it is. But while you might imagine that the average user of Latisse is a young woman who wants spectacularly long and full lashes, it’s become clear that Latisse can also help with age-related eyelash loss. As one ages,  hair all over the body loses fullness, strength and color. This natural process happens to your eyelashes exactly the same way it happens to the hair on your head. Since Latisse achieves its results by lengthening the growth phase of lashes, it can help diminish this natural age-related lash loss.

For more detailed information about Latisse, click on the following link: LATISSE . You can also call us at Bella Luce Medispa at 714-846-5950 and we’d be happy to answer your questions about Latisse.

]]> http://www.bellalucespa.com/latisse/latisse-5-ml-kit-now-only-149-or-2-for-279/feed/ 0 http://www.bellalucespa.com/brilliant-distinctions-2/brilliant-distinctions-mall/ http://www.bellalucespa.com/brilliant-distinctions-2/brilliant-distinctions-mall/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:30:28 +0000 Michael http://www.bellalucespa.com/?p=2144

INTRODUCING THE NEW BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS MALL!

Allergan and the Brilliant Distinctions Rewards Program have launched the brand new Brilliant Distinctions Online Shopping Mall. To take advantage of this fantastic new way to earn Brilliant Distinctions points, login to your Brilliant Distinctions account by clicking on the following link: BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS LOGIN. Once you are logged into your account, look for the “Earn Points” sections and there you’ll find another link to the “Brilliant Distinctions Mall”. Once there, you can select from literally hundreds of retailers from whom you can purchase products online. Each retailer will tell you how many Brilliant Distinctions points you can earn based upon how much you spend with them. The graphic below shows just a small sample of the hundreds of top retailers that are involved in the program. Now, shopping online for everything you need, from clothing to home improvement to travel and leisure can literally earn you FREE money towards your next purchase of any Allergan product, including Botox, Juvederm, Latisse, and Vivite Skin Care. The more you shop the more you earn!

ARE YOU NEW TO BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS?

Brilliant Distinctions is a rewards program through Allergan, the makers or Botox Cosmetic, Juvederm injectable gel, Latisse eyelash growth serum and Vivite Skin Care products. It is free to join, takes only a few minutes online to register, and every time you purchase any of these Allergan products you earn points which can be redeemed for money off  your next treatment. As little as one treatment with Botox can earn you 200 points, which is worth $25 off your very next Botox treatment.

B.D. VIP PROGRAM AT BELLA LUCE MEDISPA

Here at Bella Luce Medispa, we invite you to join our Brilliant Distinctions VIP Program.  If you join before April 30, 2013, you will get a an automatic $50 rebate on your next 3 Botox treatments. If you elect to add Juvederm to your 2nd and 3rd treatments in the cycle, you get an additional $25 rebate. A $150 deposit is required to join, and this is refunded to you in $50 increments at your 3 treatments. Call us at Bella Luce Medispa at 714-846-5950 for more information and terms and restrictions. Dr Michael Lawton is the sole injector at Bella Luce Medispa, and he is an Allergan Black Diamond injector with over 9 years experience injecting Botox Cosmetic and Dermal Fillers.

 FDA APPROVAL FOR BOTOX FOR CROW’S FEET

Botox Cosmetic is the most widely performed non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the United States. To date, over 11 million men and women have enjoyed the real, noticeable results of treatment with Botox Cosmetic, with no surgery and no recovery time. When Botox was FDA approved in 2002, the indication was only for glabellar (frown) lines. Yet coming in 2013, Botox will soon gain FDA approval for a crow’s feet indication, giving it the added stamp of approval for the treatment of lines around the eyes as well as the frown.

 FDA APPROVAL FOR JUVEDERM XC FOR LIP AUGMENTATION

Juvederm injectable gel was FDA approved in 2006 for the correction of moderate to deep nasolabial folds (the smile lines or the lines from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth). Juvederm XC, which is Juvederm blended with Lidocaine anesthetic, was FDA approved in 2010 for a more comfortable injecting experience. It’s now looking like 2013 will bring an FDA seal of approval for the use of Juvederm gel for lip augmentation. Women can now feel even safer knowing that Juvederm injectable gel is the right choice for natural-looking, fuller, plumper lips.

 FDA APPROVAL FOR JUVEDERM VOLUMA

After extensive clinical trials, it’s looking like Juvederm Voluma will be FDA approved in 2013. The Juvederm family of products currently includes Juvederm Ultra, designed for filling finer lines and wrinkles, and Juvederm Ultra Plus, a thicker, more robust gel that is designed for deeper lines and wrinkles and for select facial volumization. Juvederm Voluma is an entirely new product that is even more robust than Juvederm Ultra Plus, yet still retains its smooth consistency and ease of injection based on Allergan’s proprietary Hylacross technology. It will be likely be most useful for volumizing large areas and for cheek and chin augmentation. In the schematic below, you can see how smooth the Juvederm Voluma gel on the left is when compared with Restylane Sub-Q gel, a similarly robust product designed for large volumization that has very inconsistent particle size and areas of hyaluronic acid that are not cross-linked and thus less likely to persist in the skin once injected.

LATISSE FOR “THINNING HAIR” ON THE HORIZON?

In previous blog posts we’ve discussed how Latisse may one day be used to treat thinning scalp hair. Latisse was FDA approved in 2008 to treat “hypotrichosis” or inadequate lashes. It has since been used my millions of women, and it has consistently shown marked improvements in lash length, fullness and darkness. Since our lashes are hairs, though not completely similar to the hair on our heads, it seems logical that the stimulant effect of Latisse might be used to restore thinning hair. The scientists at Allergan had determined that indeed Latisse does work to increase scalp hair, but more works needs to be done to increase the penetration and the potency of the effect before it is ready for widespread use. Keep your fingers crossed that 2013 might be the year for Latisse for thinning hair!

DR. LAWTON AND BELLA LUCE MEDISPA

Dr. Michael Lawton is an Allergan Black Diamond certified injector, putting him the top 1% of injectors nationwide. He has 9 years of experience injecting Botox and Dermal Fillers, and he offers complimentary consultations. Call us today for an appointment at 714-846-5950.

DOUBLE COUPON DAYS

Spend $400 on Botox – we’ll double your Brilliant Distinctions coupons up to $50. ($50 in coupons = $100 savings).

Spend $650 on Botox & Juvederm – we’ll double your Brilliant Distinctions coupons up to $75.($75 in coupons = $150 savings). 

Spend $800 on Botox & Juvederm – we’ll double your Brilliant Distinctions coupons up to $75
PLUS you’ll receive a 3mL Latisse kit absolutely FREE!

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*Offer ends 12.25.12 and applies only to spa services.

One of the myriad uses of Botox you may not be aware of is to treat Bruxism, or excessive tooth grinding and clenching.  If you wake up with jaw pain, headaches, neck pain, or are wearing down or cracking teeth, or maybe even having your bed partner complain about the noise…..you may have bruxism. Bruxism is a medical term, and it is characterized by the grinding of the teeth and typically includes the clenching of the jaw. This is something that occurs in most humans at some time in their lives, but it is mild enough not to be a health problem.However, in some people, especially while sleeping, it can be especially severe and lead to chronic pain, dental decay, tooth fracture, TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), and chronic headaches.

The cause of Bruxism is not entirely clear, however teeth grinding at night can often be tied to excessive anxiety, stress, tension or depression. One of the simplest ways to treat Bruxism, especially when it is causing damage to the dentition, is to wear a fitted night guard to protect the teeth while sleeping.

However, in recent years the use of Botox to help reduce the effects of Bruxism has become more common. The muscle in the jaw that causes the clenching of the teeth is the masseter muscle. Its basic function is to allow us to open and close the mouth and chew food. It is a large rectangular muscle the basically hinges the jawbone to the skull. It is a very strong muscle and the force measured in pounds per square inch is enormous, which explains the severity of the symptoms in people with Bruxism. Injecting Botox into the masseter muscle will decrease the strength of its contraction, much as it does when injected into the muscles of the face for cosmetic purposes. See below for a schematic of the masseter muscle.

Since some of the earliest uses of Botox were to treat diseases of muscle spasticity such as blepharospasm (eyelid spasm), it would stand to reason that it could have a role in treating Bruxism, which can also be regarded as a disorder of repetitive, unconscious contraction of the masseter muscle. In the treatment of Bruxism, Botox weakens the muscle enough to reduce the effects of grinding and clenching, but not so much as to prevent people from chewing or performing other normal functions of the masseter muscle.

The actual injection typically involves four to six injection points in each masseter muscle. The patient is asked to clench the jaw together so that the shape and dimension of the muscle can be visualized by the injecting physician. Depending upon the person and the size and shape of the masseter, somewhere between 10 and 20 units of Botox per side are injected. The whole treatment takes only a few minutes with minimal discomfort. The effects of the Botox can take several days to become apparent, just as they do for Botox injections for cosmetic purposes. The results typically last for the same duration as cosmetic injections as well, anywhere from 3-6 months depending upon the individual.

Dr. Lawton at Bella Luce Medispa is a Allergan Black Diamond Botox injector with one of the busiest solo practices in Orange County. If you think Botox for teeth grinding might be right for you, call us for a free consultation with Dr. Lawton at 714-846-5950.

FULL, SUMPTUOUS LIPS

Full, sumptuous lips with a well-defined shape and cupid’s bow have always been seen as desirable signs of beauty, youth and inherent sexuality. In our media-saturated age, we constantly see images in movies and magazines of women with full, luscious lips, like Angelina Jolie or Kim Kardashian. But for the ordinary woman, lips like that were not achievable until the age of dermal fillers, beginning with collagen in the 1980’s and now with hyaluronic fillers, silicone and surgical implants.

Full lips are not just for young women either. Lips age just like the rest of our bodies, and as women get older their lips lose volume, and elasticity, and the muscle surrounding the mouth tends to create lines in the skin (so-called “lipstick lines” or “smoker’s lines”) and pull the lips inward and down. The result is thin lips with ill-defined shape and borders which detracts from the youthfulness of the face.

Fortunately, lip enhancement with dermal fillers like Juvederm is safe, easy to perform, and can be nearly painless. I prefer to use Juvederm as opposed to Restylane because it is smoother and flows easier upon injection, and it also lasts longer than Restylane. Radiesse is a filler that I do not inject into the lips, as it is associated with nodule formation in about 10% of patients and is not worth the risk.

LIP ENHANCEMENT WITH JUVEDERM XC

When enhancing your lips with Juvederm, the first decision to make is whether to use Juvederm Ultra or Juvederm Ultra Plus. Ultra is a thinner gel that is probably better suited to clients with very thin lips to begin with or clients who want only a very subtle enhancement, maybe even one that other people don’t notice but that makes them feel better about themselves. Ultra Plus is a thicker gel that will provide more volumization, and it is better suited to clients who want more robust enhancement or clients whose lips are already relatively full but who want them to be fuller. Below is an actual before/after of one of my clients who opted for a subtle enhancement; notice not just the fuller, more defined shape of the lips but also how the lip corners no longer are down-turned.

 Since the launch of Latisse, women using the product have also noticed its ability to grow their eyebrows as well. For women who have thinning brows from age or “over-plucking”, Latisse has been a godsend. So the next logical step forward would be to wonder if Latisse can help men who have lost the hair on the head to what’s commonly known as “male pattern baldness”.

 First, a little science behind prostaglandin analogues like Latisse and hair growth. Latisse works because the prostaglandin analogue in it causes the lash follicle to lengthen its growth phase and increase its melanin production. This leads to a longer, thicker and darker lash. We’re just beginning to discover the effects that prostaglandins have on hair follicles and hair growth cycles. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently conducted a study where they biopsied the skin of men with male pattern baldness and compared it to the skin where hair grew. They found the bald spots had large levels of a prostaglandin called D2, which actually inhibited hair growth instead of promoting it.

 So it’s becoming clear that prostaglandins play a key role in the regulation of hair follicles and hair growth, so the prospect that Latisse could help bald men is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Allergan has recently completed phase II trials of Latisse for male pattern baldness in August of 2012, and the results are eagerly awaited.  They tested various strengths of the drug, as it appears that higher strengths and larger doses of bimatoprost will likely be needed to address large scale hair loss such as in balding men. Phase III trials will be needed after that, so it’s not likely that the baldness application of Latisse will be available for some time yet.

 If you’re a woman who has small or thinning lashes or brows and would like to try Latisse, Dr. Lawton is currently offering the new, larger 5mL size of Latisse at the special rate of $149 for Brilliant Distinctions members. Give us a call at 714-846-5950 and find out if Latisse is right for you.

Michael A. Lawton, MD
Bella Luce Medispa
714-846-5950

VIVITE GLOW FACIAL ONLY $75

PLUS FREE $30 CORE SKIN CARE KIT INCLUDED

(A $155 value at 52% off.)

Reverse the signs of aging with Vivite’s patented GLX glycolic technology.

The Glow Facial features the entire core line of Vivite Skin Care.
It features a double cleanse beginning with the Daily Facial Cleanser
followed by the Exfoliating Facial Cleanser.
Then we apply Vivite’s 70% timed-release glycolic peel.
After the peel, the Anti-oxidant serum and Revitalizing Eye cream are applied,
followed by Vivite’s Facial Moisturizer/SPF 30.

FREE Vivite travel-sized home care kit included to maintain your results.
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Vivite is the world’s only Glycolic-based skin care line with GLX technology.
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exfoliates the skin both immediately and also slowly over time.
This “partial neutralization” makes for a safe and thorough exfoliation.
The vitamins and antioxidants protect your skin as they renew it.

Call for an appointment today.

714-846-5950

4911 WARNER AVENUE #103

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92649

BELLALUCESPA.COM

714-846-5950

Offer expires 10/31/12

by Michael A. Lawton, MD

Botox Cosmetic has for years retained the title as the most commonly performed “non-surgical” cosmetic procedure in the United States, based on its ease of use and consistently good cosmetic results. The most common cosmetic use for Botox is the treatment of the frown lines between the eyebrows. The reason Botox can make your frown lines disappear is that when you inject the frown muscle with an adequate dose of Botox Cosmetic, it stops moving. The frown lines disappear because the frown muscle can no longer contract and thus can no longer wrinkle up the overlying skin.

THE BASICS OF NERVE/MUSCLE INTERACTION

But how does Botox do this? In order to understand the science behind the cosmetic results, we need to know a few simple things about how nerves and muscles work. Muscles in the body contract only when a nerve stimulates them to do so. Nerves communicate with muscles using chemicals, which the nerves release into the tiny space between the nerve surface and muscle surface, known as the “synaptic cleft” or “synaptic junction”.  These chemicals that the nerve releases are known as neurotransmitters. These chemicals that the nerves release then attach to the surface of the muscle and cause it to contract or move. See the schematic diagram below for details on what a “synaptic cleft” looks like.

Now the reason that Botox works the way it does is that it interferes with the nerve’s ability to release these neurotransmitters, stopping the communication between the nerve and the muscle. The Botox molecule basically consists of two protein chains hooked together; a larger “heavy” chain and a smaller “light” chain. The heavy chain allows the Botox molecule to get into the nerve cell after it’s injected. Once inside the nerve cell, the light chain does the lion’s share of the actual work. It makes its way down to the “synaptic cleft” we described earlier, or the space between the nerve and the muscle. There, inside the nerve cell, this light chain blocks the nerve’s ability to release its chemical neurotransmitters into the space between the nerve and the muscle. The end result is that now that nerve can no longer communicate with the muscle, and the muscle is blocked from contracting….and voilà….no more frowning and no more frown lines.

WHY DOES BOTOX WEAR OFF?

Now we know that the effects of Botox only last anywhere from 3-6 months, so how do the nerve and the muscle recover their ability to communicate? This process is now well understood, but we do know that after the Botox molecule blocks the nerve transmission, the nerve cells spends a lot of time sending out new “sprouts” of nerve endings to try and communicate with the muscle. However, at the end of the 3-6 months period the nerve cell manages to degrade the Botox molecule and the “sprouts” regress, leaving the original nerve ending intact. The muscle then regains its full function.

Botox treatments usually have to be repeated at 3-6 month intervals, depending upon the individual. Anecdotally, the effects of Botox injections seem to be prolonged with repeated and consistent use. Dr. Lawton is offering Botox at the special rate of $8.50 per unit for new clients on their first visit.  Dr. Lawton has been awarded Allergan Inc.’s “Black Diamond” certification. The certification is awarded to leaders in the field of medical aesthetics and demonstrates their commitment to innovation, excellence and the highest level of patient care. Dr. Lawton offers complimentary consultations in a no-pressure environment. Call us today at Bella Luce Medispa at 714-846-5950.

Age spots, sun spots, “liver spots”…all common terms used to describe hyperpigmentation. This is the discoloration common to older skin caused by years of exposure to the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. It can also manifest as melasma, a poorly understood and hard-to-control from of hyperpigmentation that often starts with pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives. Hyperpigmentation, and even melasma, is difficult to treat and often recurs. Usually, the first line of defense and the least expensive method is to use topical creams, namely Retin-A or Hydroquinone, or a combination of these two. Less potent but more “natural” remedies usually come from plant or herbal extracts, such as arbutin, kojic acid, azaleic acid and a host of others.

HYDROQUINONE AND RETIN-A

Retin-A is an excellent way to treat hyperpigmentation because it works as the cellular level to even out clumped melanin and also increases the production of collagen and elastin to help with texture, fine lines and wrinkles. However, it is sun-sensitizing and can lead to dryness, redness and peeling, so many people give up on it before they can realize its benefits. Hydroquinone is an excellent lightening agent, probably the most potent on the market, but levels above 2% require a prescription, irritation is common, and more exotic side effects like ochronosis can occur. Ochronosis is a rare condition where blue-black hyperpigmentation results from the use of hydroquinone, typically related to prolonged use for skin lightening.

VIVITE VIBRANCE THERAPY

Vivite Vibrance Therapy promises a new era in skin lightening without the irritation, side effects or complications of other lightening agents but with lightening potency equivalent to 4% hydroquinone. The active ingredient in Vibrance is methyl dihydroxybenzoate, (MDHB) which stops melanin synthesis before it starts. In addition, Vibrance also contains large amounts of Vitamin E which acts synergistically with MDHB to prevent hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme that is one of the crucial steps in the production of melanin pigment. Vitamin E is also an excellent anti-oxidant and free-radical fighter for the skin.

In  an eight-week study done by Allergan, women were selected to use Vibrance on one side of their faces and 4% hydroquinone on the other side. Results of the study showed that the effects with Vivité Vibrance Therapy actually surpassed those of 4% hydroquinone, with 70 percent reduction in hyperpigmentation versus hydroquinone’s 63 percent. In the study, no one stopped using Vibrance because of irritation. In the image below, you can the dramatic reduction in hyperpigmentation after 8 weeks of Vivite Vibrance therapy.

Here at Bella Luce Medispa, we proudly carry Vivite products, and Vibrance therapy retails for $119. If you’re a Brilliant Distinctions member, you can earn points for every Vivite product purchase you make, and points are redeemable for cash off your next purchase of Vivite, Latisse, Botox or Juvederm. Brilliant Distinctions is free to join. Visit their website at BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS for more information or call us at 714-846-5950 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.