Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Skin Care Center Blog

For people struggling with unsightly, unwanted hair in Pittsburgh, laser hair removal provides a long-term solution. While it cannot be called permanent, this treatment does eliminate many hairs by directly attacking the hair follicle, making it difficult for the hair to re-grow. With the right series of treatments, many patients find they are rid of these hairs, and if they do crop back up over time, a simple follow up treatment effectively eliminates them.

If you are interested in Pittsburgh laser hair removal, you will need to prepare your skin and hair for the procedure. Always follow the advice of your plastic surgeon carefully when opting for this procedure. Here are some general guidelines that you might be given.

First, do not do anything to your skin and hair that might disturb the hair follicle. Typically, this includes waxing, plucking, and electrolysis. This can interfere with the laser procedure. If you want to get rid of the look of your unsightly hair, shaving is typically considered ok, and some doctors think it will improve your results.

Next, stay out of the sun as much as possible, and use sunscreen when your skin is exposed. Having a tan makes the chance of side effects even greater. If you already have a tan, you will need to let it fade before you have the procedure, unless your doctor feels differently. This is the same for tans from the sun, tanning beds, or sunless tanning products. The issue is the pigmentation in your skin, not the source of the tan.

If you follow these guidelines as well as any others that your Pittsburgh laser hair removal doctor offers, you will have excellent results from your treatment.

While a tattoo can seem like a great idea at the time of its application, it’s not uncommon for those who wear ink to feel a twinge of regret later in life and possibly even seek out tattoo removal. Pittsburgh patients should consider laser removal.

One factor that many don’t take into consideration is the tendency of body ink to fade over time, leaving a blotchy and irregular design that is both unattractive and wholly dissimilar to the original version. Crisp lines can become “fuzzy” and once-vibrant colors will dim into dull, muddy versions of themselves. In this case, one’s options are to either retouch the tattoo’s colors– a process that will have to be periodically repeated over the individual’s lifespan– or have it removed altogether.

In addition to the subtle long-term deterioration of physical ink of the piece, there are also more obvious factors — such as regret — to consider. Who is the same person they were ten years ago? Some choose to have a person’s name or a special design permanently inked on them, later finding that the image that they chose is no longer attractive to them — or, worse, that the writing serves as a painful reminder of a person who is no longer in their life. Additionally, societal standards against tattoos ensure that many employers will look down on applicants with prominent ink, which can in turn severely reduce an individual’s chances of employment.

In all of these cases, tattoo removal Pittsburgh can offer an effective, safe way to eliminate the unsightly image. Although getting a tattoo is an intensely personal choice and should be considered with long-term consequences in mind, this exciting, state-of-the-art technology called Med Lite C6, offers an option for people who have considered all the factors and decided to start over with a clean slate.

At Acqua Blu Medical Spa & Plastic Surgery Center we are well-known for helping men and women remove a tattoo that seemed like such a good idea at the time but now…not so much. The MedLite C6 laser is an excellent choice for tattoo removal because its unique combination of short wavelength light and rapid, high intensity pulses maximizes the destruction of skin pigmentation and tattoo inks. The MedLite C6 also preserves surrounding skin and minimizes scarring by focusing its light energy only on the ink of the tattoo, causing it to break up and be naturally removed by your body’s cleansing process. Tattoos use a wide variety of ink colors, and MedLite C6 is able to remove practically all shades of ink, with the exception of certain shades of green and yellow, which are difficult or impossible to remove with any current laser technology. Repeat treatments over a period of several weeks are usually required to achieve the best results. Patients on average see a 90 to 95% reduction in the appearance of their tattoo. To schedule an appointment call Acqua Blu at 412.835.555

As you finish the holidays and begin the new year, you might be preparing for spring and summer, when you can shed the extra layers of clothing and greet the warm sun. Of course, to aid this transition, you may need proper skin care. Pittsburgh’s Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center offers a variety of treatments to help you, both cosmetically and medically.

To improve your skin’s complexion and tone, we offer many non-surgical treatments, including laser hair removal and skin care. Pittsburgh residents who are ready to prepare themselves for the warmer months will find many viable and efficient types of treatment at Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center.

Of course, our areas of expertise in skin care extend far beyond the cosmetic, including skin cancer screening and treatment, mole evaluation, removal of benign skin lesions, treatments for adult and adolescent acne, rosacea, chronic skin conditions (psoriasis and eczema), hair and nail disorders, skin infections, and allergic and immune skin diseases. We are able to tailor your skin treatment to your precise needs, utilizing all the newest methods and technology to achieve professional results.

Our skin care staff includes Ana C. Busquets, MD, FAAD, a Harvard graduate and a member of the Cleveland Dermatological Society, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Academy of Dermatology. If you are interested in learning more about our programs for skin care, Pittsburgh’s Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center staff is ready to attend to your needs and schedule you for a consultation. Please call 412.835.5550.

Holidays are a great time to spend with family and friends, but this time is also notorious for the great parties and loads of food. After the holidays are over, you may be feeling a little heavier than usual, but nothing a little diet and exercise won’t whip back into shape, right? Not for everyone!

For many people, dieting and exercising are simply not enough to lose the weight they desire or need to lose in order to be healthy. Without turning to surgical options, including liposuction and tummy tucks, there are several non-surgical and effective programs available for weight loss. Pittsburgh’s Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center offers FDA-approved appetite suppressants with meal planning, under guidance of our medical director, Pittsburgh plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Heil.

Each individual is analyzed for their personalized needs based on age, sex, activity, muscle mass, and medical history, which allows us to produce a healthy program for your weight loss. Pittsburgh residents that are ready to embark on a healthy solution for weight problems must first schedule and consultation so that we may determine eligibility. Once accepted, there are three different phases that will program your body into burning fat.

During the first phase of the program for weight loss, Pittsburgh patients must come in for a weigh-in and body analysis, physical exam, program counseling and guides for a personalized diet plan. Energy-boosting vitamin shots and appetite-suppressing medications for those that qualify is an important part of the process.

During the next step of the program for weight loss, Pittsburgh patients who have completed the first two weeks and have lost up to 14 lbs in those two weeks, will enter into Phase 2 of the program. During this phase, patients will introduce a sensible meal of lean protein and vegetables, as well as the continuation of protein shakes, supplements and nutritional counseling.

Phase 3 is considered the maintenance phase. This phase includes patients who have reached their personal goal weight. To maintain goal weight, protein shakes as well as other protein dietary products are recommended for breakfast and before bed. In addition, a wider variety of foods can be added to the diet. If at any time a patient would like to lose more weight, the phase 1 liquid diet can be referred back to.

If you are interested in learning more about our non-surgical programs for weight loss, Pittsburgh’s Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center staff is ready to attend to your needs and schedule you for a consultation. Please call 412.835.5550.

As you are getting ready for the holiday season, you may be looking into different options to improve your looks. If you are not ready for a full-blown cosmetic surgery procedure, you may consider injectables at our medical spa. Pittsburgh residents often come in to Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center to inquiry about Botox, Dysport, Juvederm, Restylane and other products on the market that can improve the look of your skin.  As you consider injectables, Pittsburgh plastic surgeon, Dr. Heil and Pittsburgh dermatologist, Dr. Busquests can recommend that you be aware of the function of each of these common dermal injections.

Botox or Dysport can be used to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead, neck, and around the eyes. The procedure tends to take less than 15 minutes, and you will be able to go back to your regular activities afterward.  Botox and Dysport actually paralyzes the facial muscles into which it is injected and the effect lasts about four months. Immediate side effects usually include bruising around the injection area, which usually goes away quickly and can be covered with makeup. These injectables are also temporary, which means that if you did not like the results, it will wear off with very little risk of permanent damage.

Juvederm, a hyaluronic acid injection, is often used to address laugh lines and any other lines that surround the mouth. Juvederm can also add fullness to the lips. Wrinkles are smoothed over by pushing previously sunken skin up and adding volume to the layer underneath. Hyaluronic acid naturally occurs in the body and acts like a sponge to attract and hold in water for ultimate moisture and volume. If you want to use only the most natural products on your body, Juvederm could be the best treatment for you.

Restylane also works to restore volume and eliminate wrinkles and under-eye hollows. Restylane also uses hyaluronic acid and when injected under the skin, results can last up to six months. Restylane injections intended to make lips fuller can last about 9 months. As for side effects, you can expect some redness and swelling for about two days after treatment and sometimes bruising occurs. Otherwise, the recovery period is fast, and only a topical anesthetic will be needed before applying the injection.

Many doctors can administer Botox, Dysport, Juvederm, Restylane and other soft tissue fillers, which is why the dangers of each, vary. If you do not do adequate research on your selected doctor, you might have problems no matter which filler you choose. If you are having trouble choosing which treatment is right for you, step into our Acqua Blu Medical Spa.  Pittsburgh plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Heil, is the medical supervisor and our experienced staff can consult your options and implement the right option for you.

Tweezing, shaving, waxing and depilatory creams are traditional methods for getting rid of unwanted hair, but these options are not permanent and need to be repeated continually. With new progress in laser surgery, Pittsburgh specialists at Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center have a better option: laser hair removal.
On smaller areas of your body, you may just consider plucking the hairs out. This method works, but often leaves the area red or swollen and has to be redone every few weeks. Shaving is another option, but this must be repeated every day or so to maintain smoothness. Depilatory cream is yet another choice, as is waxing, but both of these methods must be redone often and can cause burning and irritation.

Laser hair removal uses light to damage the follicle and stop growth. The procedure is done in multiple sessions over time in order to fully inhibit follicle growth. This takes approximately six months to achieve complete eradication. After that time, you will no longer need to shave, tweeze, wax or use any other methods to eliminate unwanted hair.

If you think hair removal is a great advancement in laser surgery, Pittsburgh professionals have several other laser treatment options to make things easier on you too. For acne treatments, numerous acne creams can be replaced with new developments like Blue Light PhotoDynamic Acne Treatment. Other unsightly skin conditions, such as spider veins from aging or pregnancy can also be treated using similar laser surgery methods. Laser options have come very far in the last few years and can offer you some great alternative options to traditional methods for skin care, hair removal and anti-aging treatments.

If you are looking for complementary or alternative treatments to your current skin care regime using laser surgery, Pittsburgh specialist are ready to consult your options at Acqua Blu Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery Center!

Though summer has ended in Pittsburgh, laser hair removal is a good way to get rid of hair – long-term – so that you can be ready to show your smooth legs, arms or bikini area this spring.

Before you decide to come in for laser hair removal, there are some things you should know. First, the procedure may not work for everyone. Laser hair removal works by using a beam of light to damage the hair follicle so that hair will not regrow in the future. However, the damage to the hair follicle may not be permanent, so it is not guaranteed that you will be hair free forever. In most cases, laser hair removal must be conducted over a series of sessions to receive the desired long-term result. Sessions are usually quick and do not require excessive time to be scheduled.

People with light skin and darker hair are the best candidates for laser hair removal. If you have darker skin, you can still undergo the procedure, but know that the process affects the skin’s melatonin and thus, can leave uneven spots on the skin. However, there are new methods of laser hair removal, specifically designed for those with darker skin. Consulting your doctor is the best way to understand what options are out there and what kind of results you can expect.

Generally, laser hair removal is safe, but there are some risks and side effects. Sometimes, the skins surface is slightly irritated and can scab. The skin may also feel extra sensitive and temporarily, be darker or lighter than usual. For these reasons, laser hair removal may be best conducted when you do not plan to be exposed to the sun.

Consulting your doctor is necessary to get a good idea of what you can expect with laser hair removal. You should discuss your medical history, including any medications you are taking, some of which could interfere with the results. Your doctor should also let you know how to prepare for your first laser hair removal session and how to heal correctly after the procedure.

Acqua Blu Medical Spa Pittsburgh laser hair removal specialists are ready to consult with you.

I’m not sure if you’ve heard of this one before. Batting your eyelashes at the object of your attention will help the two of you bond and get intimate. But how do you bat your eyelashes at the perfect person when you have sparse lashes that can hardly be seen? Eye make-up such as mascara clumps and could cause dark smudges under your eyes. As a result you may just not look your best when you want to. Well, there is an easy way out that will help you look your best. Latisse, Pittsburgh residents swear by it.

So what’s latisse, Pittsburgh residents who don’t know may ask? Latisse solution is a prescription treatment that promotes the growth of eyelashes making them longer, thicker and darker. This is the first and only FDA approved product for eyelash enhancement. The application of latisse, Pittsburgh residents claim, just once-daily is enough to ensure the growth of your eyelashes. You have to apply the solution topically to the base of your upper eyelashes.

One can expect to see a change in as little as eight weeks and full results can be expected in 16 weeks. One would have to continue treatment with the solution to ensure that the effect is maintained. Else the eyelashes will gradually get back to what they were before the treatment.
I’m sure you’re worried about the possible side effects of using Latisse. Pittsburgh users did complain of itchy eyes and eye redness. But this generally went away when they got used to the product and started applying it properly. Other side effects include skin darkening, dryness of the eye and some eye irritation.

A great place to get your eyelash treatment is the Acqua Blue Medical Spa in Pittsburgh. Our experts help ensure that you get thicker, stronger lashes. To schedule a consultation visit www.acquablumedicalspa.com

Now where were we? Oh yeah, batting our eyelashes and hoping to get intimate with that someone special! It’s now possible with the help of Latisse.

Who doesn’t want to be pampered and look good at the same time? If you want both these wishes to be fulfilled, you need a good dermatologist. For a good board-certified dermatologist, Pittsburgh has the finest dermatologists who offer an array of services right from plastic surgery to cosmetic surgery procedures. These services are for anyone who wants to enhance the appearance of their skin.

Professional treatments that are important to maintain radiant, healthy and young looking skin is what is offered by the dermatologist. Pittsburgh based surgeons offer products and procedures that are not only safe but are designed in a comprehensive way to meet your changing skin care needs.
Get a complete range of facial and body contouring surgical procedures that are performed in AAAASF accredited surgery center or at a nearby hospital facility when medically appropriate. Get advanced techniques like reconstructive plastic surgery procedures including breast reduction, panniculectomy and removal of skin lesions performed by board certified plastic surgeons and dermatologist. Pittsburgh based experts also offer sophisticated treatment that will hydrate, smooth, and firm the skin with beautiful pearly reflections.

All skin treatments are customized as per your skin type and you also get a wide range of spa treatments including laser hair removal, laser peels, BOTOX® and Restylane® and Juvaderm™, injections, and microdermabrasion.

Beautify your skin and combat the signs of aging by opting for our carefully chosen, exclusive at-home medical skin care lines that contain pharmaceutical grade active ingredients that expedite your results.
Furthermore, you can maintain your new look by following a good skin care routine prescribed by the dermatologist. Pittsburgh carefully blends state-of-the-art medical treatments with the ultimate pampering and relaxation experience. We carefully evaluate emerging aesthetic technology, and offer only those products, services and procedures that are safe, effective, and scientifically sound.

To schedule a consultation or receive details on any of our plastic surgeons or procedures, visit www.acquablumedicalspa.com

Tired of waxing, tweezing and shaving? In Pittsburgh, laser hair removal has helped many to get rid of unwanted hair from their legs, hands, underarms, abdomen and other sensitive areas of their bodies? Each of us wants to have a hair-free and smooth body so that we can flaunt it by wearing fabulous and glamorous outfits.

Razors are not bygones yet, but a number of people are opting for this new procedure in Pittsburgh. Laser hair removal targets your melanin, the dark pigment that gives color to your hair and skin. Melanin absorbs the laser rays and the rays kill the roots of the nearby hair follicles. This is the main reason why this procedure is best for those who are dark skinned.

The number of sittings also differs from person to person and it depends on many factors like the coarseness of your hair, age, metabolism, skin color, hair color and the rate at which your hair grows. Generally, 60 to 95 per cent of unwanted hair can be removed with this procedure within six months.

After knowing the procedure, you must be definitely worried about the side-effects. Laser procedures are often associated with side-effects. In Pittsburgh, laser hair removal is done with lot of care and as a result the side-effects are minimal and temporary.

Here are the possible side-effects that you can expect after the procedure:
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain
• Blisters
• Scarring and skin discoloration

Do not worry as these side-effects are temporary and will soon fade away with time. To address all your concerns and to explore your options in Pittsburgh, laser hair removal experts can offer you a consultation. Please click on www.acquablumedicalspa.com.