How Does Genius RF work?

Each Genius tip (we always use a new sterile tip for each use) has 49 tiny microneedles. These needles are insulated, so that the RF energy is only released at the tips of the needles. A motorized handpiece is used to deliver the needle tips at precise depths within the dermis. Each insertion causes 49 small balls of coagulation (tissue damage) within the dermis. Each of those areas of coagulation is completely replaced with collagen and elastin over time. Genius is actually one of the few treatments that has been shown to stimulate elastin along with collagen. We make several passes through the dermis to treat it completely. The advantage of the insulated needles is that they do not zap the epidermis. This allows maximal treatment to the dermis with much less downtime that what you see with most lasers. (Lasers create a column of destruction, taking along with it the epidermis. This creates more of a burn, and carries much higher risks of hypo- and hyper-pigmentation.)

How long does it take to see results?

All procedures that trigger collagen stimulation take a long time to show results. Why? Each time you do a treatment, the cells in your dermis that make collagen, the fibroblasts, respond with 4-6 months of collagen building. If you do a series of treatments 1-2 months apart, your maximal result will be 6 months after your last treatment. That could be 8-12 months after you start! I tell people to give me a year. The change is slow but steady. It is hard to tell day-to-day, but over time results can be dramatic.

How long do results last?

Because Genius causes the skin to make its own collagen, results are long-lasting. The collagen you produce is yours to keep! Your body will still break down collagen at 1-2% per year, and of course you will continue to age. You will always need to make up for this loss with some kind of maintenance. Correction of acne scarring is permanent (unless you get new break-outs that scar!)

Does Genius treatment hurt?

At Glow Medispa, we use a very strong topical anesthetic to numb the skin, oral pain medications and a chiller that blows cold air during the procedure. With these preparations 90% of our Genius patients do not feel anything at all. For about 10% even with all that, the procedure is still uncomfortable, but doable. As with any procedure requiring medication, all patients undergoing Genius will need a ride home after the procedure.

What is the downtime from Genius?

After Genius there is an average of 3-5 days of downtime. Immediately after the procedure you will be red and swollen. The swelling lasts 1-2 days. This is somewhat diet dependent. If you go home and eat a salad and some protein, you will not have much swelling. If you eat pizza and beer that night, you’ll probably be a pumpkin the next day. The redness fades over 3-5 days. In general it is the swelling that keeps you home. The redness is easily covered with a high quality powder. We recommend Jane Iredale mineral makeup as it is highly purified and is safe for post-procedure skin. Each procedure gets easier, and downtime tends to decrease with subsequent treatments. Genius may be used to treat any skin; however, recovery takes longer the lower you go on the body.

What are the possible complications from Genius treatment?

Genius RF is safe on any skin type. We have treated skin of all colors and ethnicities. Patients with very sensitive skin can have prolonged recoveries, and we have seen a few people take 2-3 weeks to completely recover, but this is very rare. We have also seen a small number of patients have a transient hyperpigmentation as the skin heals, also very rare. Anyone at risk may be pretreated with topicals to prevent hyperpigmentation.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for Genius?

If you are interested in tightening and lifting the skin or want to correct acne scarring, you are likely a great candidate for Genius. You have to be willing to do 3-5 days of downtime and follow our aftercare instructions. No matter what modality you choose, you have to be willing to give it a long time to get results– “Give me a year!” If you are looking or a quick fix, this will not be a good match for you. But if you are in it for the long haul, you’ll find no better option.

You can read more about Genius and view before and after pictures on our website here. We are also happy to talk with you in consultation, which you can schedule online or call us at 206-800-7379.

By Kate Dee, MD

One and Done? Will I see results after just 1 treatment?

I get this question every day. “Will I see results after just one treatment?” Very few treatments in aesthetics have immediate results and almost none offer a “One and Done” answer. (OK maybe fillers. But those are temporary, and you’ll eventually need more!)

Think of maintaining your skin as like maintaining your body. The skin care products you use every day are like eating a nutritious diet. The procedures that improve your skin are like getting regular exercise. Will you have a six-pack after one rigorous work-out? No. Will you slim down after one virtuous day of salad and grilled salmon? No. Will you look like you’re 10 years younger after one skin tightening treatment? No.

Is doing one vigorous workout great for your body– yes. It is a great first step, but you have to work for a while to get into shape, and then you have to maintain your results with continuing effort. It is the same for your skin.

I have written a lot in this blog about collagen and the treatments that increase it. Let’s use skin tightening as an example. We need to build collagen in the skin to keep it thick and springy, to prevent wrinkles and sagginess. Each time we do a treatment like Infini for skin tightening, the skin cells that make collagen go to work for 4-6 months, then go back to sleep. In order to get your skin back in shape, we have to do a series of treatments, building on each one to get a slow improvement. We recommend a total number of treatments equal to the number of decades you have lived. So, at 50, we recommend 5 treatments (on average). We do this 4-6 weeks apart until we get the results we want. Give us a year and we can change what your skin looks like. Then after that, you must do something to keep those fibroblasts awake every 4 months for maintenance. This is a long term project. If you want instant results, this is not your procedure. But if you want long term results that don’t just dissolve away, then Infini is a great way to go. You will slowly age backwards while your friends and colleagues age forward. It is kind of amazing.

This is true of pretty much everything we do. Some procedures can show demonstrable results soon after the treatment, like laser hair removal. But will all the hairs be gone after 1 treatment? No. It takes 6-10 treatments for most people to clear the hair. The same is true when you treat sun spots with IPL or LaseMD. You can see some improvement after one, but you will need a series of 3 or more to make a significant difference.

If this resonates with you, come talk with me! Anyone can take your money and promise you one and done, if they have no intention of seeing you again. At Glow, we commit to our patients for the long haul. We will work on a treatment plan that works to keep your skin beautiful and healthy long term.

I will never give someone ducky lips. I simply do not believe that ducky lips make people look beautiful. How is it that we see more and more people looking overstuffed with fillers? Giant ducky lips, huge cheeks, a lower face that doesn’t really move when they talk. These things do not look natural and often are so distracting, one spends more time thinking about why this person looks so odd than listening to what they are saying. So why does this happen?

As you age, you lose volume in your face. When we are kids, we have fat pads that round out the face and give us a baby-face look. As you get older, you lose those fat pads over time. Eventually, you get hollows and areas that look scooped out. Fillers are one solution that can help replace volume. And when done well, they can really make you look younger. Fillers are a great tool, but they are not the only tool.

The big process that contributes just as much to aging is the thinning of the skin. After around age 30, the cells in your dermis that make collagen and elastin go dormant. Your body breaks those down at 1-2% per year, so after that, your skin is slowly thinning out. As it thins, it is no longer thick and springy, and it starts to sag. Here’s the problem: many injectors use fillers to prop up this sagging skin. It is like adding a few tent poles under stretched-out tent fabric. The results can be dramatic, and they are instant (although temporary). But what happens over time as your skin continues to thin out? You need more and more filler to prop it up.

If the only tool you have is filler, you end up chasing this increasing problem of sagging skin with more and more filler. Eventually, you look ridiculous and you still have not addressed the real problem – a loss of collagen and thinning skin. Places that do not offer other tools, or have an approach more focused on creating repeat filler customers, are missing the opportunity to address the whole problem, and they are overstuffing people in the process.

At Glow, we believe in preserving your natural beauty. We use a combination of approaches to tighten skin and replace volume that makes you look like you, just a bit younger. Yes, we still offer filler – it is a great tool! But we also focus on building your collagen with tools like Infini, LaseMD, Exilis Ultra, PRP and microneedling, and Sculptra, a non-filler injectable that also builds collagen. Check out this blog post about “How to keep your skin thick and springy.” Taking great care of your skin is also critical to keep it looking young and healthy. At Glow, we are looking at the big picture for the long-term. By educating our clients and using our natural approach to beauty, we hope we are helping you to feel great about your skin.

Here’s the most important thing I have to share with you: keep your fibroblasts awake!

OK, what do I mean? By the time you turn 30, the cells in your skin that make collagen and elastin go dormant. Collagen and Elastin are what keep your skin thick and springy– and resistant to gravity. And the fibroblasts that make them– they fall asleep and STOP making it. By age 30! And your body breaks down collagen 1-2% per year. So, for the rest of your adult life, the skin is thinning out. Often, by age 80, the skin is completely see-through. That’s because the dermis is gone.

This is why we suddenly notice in our late 30’s or early 40’s that our skin just does not look the same. It almost feels like it happened overnight. But in fact, by that time, it has been going on for a decade or more. You just don’t notice in the beginning because when you’ve only lost a few percent, it is hard to detect.

This is why it is so important— to Keep Your Fibroblasts Awake! This is totally possible. There are several easy treatments that poke at your fibroblasts and wake them up and stimulate collagen. Each time the fibroblasts respond with 4-6 months of collagen, and then they peter out. So the idea is to poke at them every 3-4 months to keep them awake and productive all year. You must at least make up for the 1-2% loss. That will preserve the thick, springy skin you already have. If your skin is already thin and starting to fall, you need more powerful treatments to thicken and tighten the skin. These treatments range in cost, benefits and downtime.

Microneedling with Growth Factor Serum or PRP

• Multiple channels are created into the dermis with tiny needles, and growth factors stimulate fibroblast activity to make collagen
• Benefits: Decreases fine lines and pore size, decreases acne
• Downtime: 1-2 days of redness
• Cost: $

LaseMD Fractional Laser

• Fractional non-ablative laser resurfaces the skin and heats the dermis to stimulate collagen
• Benefits: Decreases fine lines, wrinkles and pores, decreases pigment/sun spots
• Downtime: 1-2 days of redness, 1 day of mild swelling, 3-7 days of sandpaper skin (not visible)
• Cost: $$

Exilis Ultra

• RF and Ultrasound combine to heat the dermis and stimulate collagen and elastin
• Benefits: Thickens and tightens skin, decreases wrinkles and sagging skin
• Downtime: none
• Cost: $$

Infini

• Combines insulated microneedles and RF to cause coagulation and massive collagen remodeling of the dermis, also stimulates elastin production
• Benefits: Most powerful tool to thicken and tighten skin, decreases wrinkles and sagginess, reverses acne scarring
• Downtime: 1-2 days of swelling, 3-5 days of redness
• Cost: $$$

Your skin is an important part of your body. In order for a product to improve the appearance of your skin, it has to take a complete 3D approach to treatment. This is exactly what Infini does. It takes advantage of RF energy to increase the volume and ionization of the skin.

How does it work?

This treatment makes use of radiofrequency energy as well as the rejuvenating powers associated with micro-needling. There are other radiofrequency treatments on the market, but they focus on addressing the outside of the skin. Since micro-needling is combined with radiofrequency treatments, your skin is rejuvenated from the inside out. The micro-needling technology allows the radiofrequency energy to be delivered right where it needs to be.

Your dermis is a deeper layer of skin. This is the layer of your skin that produces collagen. This is the layer of your skin that helps to build the structure of your skin. Your dermis is what makes your skin look and feel tight and healthy. If your skin looks nice on the outside, it’s because what’s on the inside is working well.

Infini has become very popular because it is a non-surgical treatment. It has been shown to drastically improve the way your skin looks by removing scars, by getting rid of wrinkles, and by making your skin look and feel overall tighter.

Once your dermis is heated to a certain temperature, your tissue starts to become tighter and begins to remodel. Other radiofrequency devices on the market are categorized as being ablative, non-ablative, and sub-ablative. However, Infini is one of the only products that produce a multidimensional energy approach to the dermis.

Many people have been turning to Infini as a way to treat wrinkles, to encourage collagen production, and to improve the appearance of your skin. This product has been used throughout Asia, South America, and Europe. It has helped individuals who have acne scars and individuals with premature wrinkling to tighten the appearance of their skin.

Contact us

Loose, wrinkled, or scarred skin can make you self-conscious about your appearance. Infini can help give you the attractive appearance that you want. Contact us today at Glow MediSpa in Seattle to schedule your consultation.

by Kate Dee, MD

LaseMD Reviews
What is Lase MD: the quick summary is that the new LaseMD treatment is fantastic for resurfacing the skin, eliminating pigment and sun damage, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles, diminishing pores, smoothing the skin and stimulating collagen. For more information on how and why, read on!

Those of you who know me know I’m a research junkie. I have to know everything before I jump into a new service. For 2 years now I’ve wanted a fractional laser for resurfacing. It was the one thing we needed to be able to offer people at Glow and didn’t have. But there were drawbacks to every device out there. Until now.

How does LaseMD Laser work?

Lasers have been used to change the surface of the skin for decades. The original CO2 lasers came out in the 1970’s– they are ablative lasers (think disintegrate) that take off the entire surface, create what amounts to a controlled burn, forcing the skin to completely regrow. The results were amazing, if all went well. The risks were high– scarring, hyperpigmentation or worse–complete hypopigmentation. Then came fractional CO2 lasers, which destroy the skin in small bits, leaving adjacent skin intact from which it can regrow more safely. These are still widely used today– BUT there is still a risk of those same complications. At Glow, our guiding principle is that nothing in aesthetics is worth that kind of risk of permanent harm.

Fractional non-ablative lasers cause damage but do not destroy the skin. They are much safer, and with a series of treatments, one can achieve similar results to the ablative lasers, with much less risk. I’ve been researching these lasers for the last 2 years. Some are underpowered producing minimal results. Some are overpowered, so one cannot adjust the treatment down for different skin types. Some come as handpieces attached to very expensive bloated machines that are otherwise not worth the money.

Finally, the LaseMD from Lutronic came along. This machine has become very popular in Asia and Europe and was FDA approved in the US in the summer of 2017. This laser has the best of all worlds. It has a wide range of settings, allowing a low-energy no-downtime treatment (called the LaseMD Glo!) comparable to “Clear and Brilliant.” It has the high-energy settings allowing it to perform a full resurfacing treatment comparable to “Fraxel.” And it has everything in between to allow us to cater the treatment to different purposes and skin types. Finally, it was specially designed to deliver high-potency serums that penetrate into the skin to produce great results and faster healing. Honestly, I know it is going to sound silly, but I love this laser. My skin looks amazing after just one treatment. It is my 50th birthday gift to myself!

The best combination to keep your skin looking youthful:

Not only is LaseMD laser treatment a great stand-alone treatment, but it is complementary to the skin tightening and collagen-stimulating procedures we already offer, and we are creating special packages that combine LaseMD with Microneedling and also Infini RF. The results from these treatments will keep your skin looking beautiful, young and natural.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! As always we offer consultations. Call us at 206-800-7379 or book a consultation online.

What are Skin Tightening Treatments?

Skin tightening treatments are non-invasive and non-surgical procedures that are available on an outpatient basis at our office in Seattle. At our med spa, we use the INFINI skin tightening system, which utilizes both radiofrequency (RF) energy and micro-needling to provide effective and long-lasting skin rejuvenation. The RF energy heats up the collagen under your skin’s surface and causes your skin to contract and tighten. Micro-needling enhances your results by further encouraging collagen production in the body.

The results of the INFINI skin tightening system are noticeable right away and can last for several weeks. Because these treatments are minimally invasive, they require little to no downtime. You can get your procedures done on your day off or during your lunch hour and get back to your normal routine quickly.

They also are safe enough to undergo regularly if you desire. The frequency at which you receive the treatments will depend on the cosmetic issue that you want to address. You and your doctor can determine how often you might need them based on what kind of results you hope to achieve.

However, even if you do not undergo skin tightening treatments several times per month, you can still enjoy long lasting results with your initial procedure. The effects of the treatment can last for as long as four months for some patients.

INFINI skin tightening is FDA-approved and effective for treating skin issues like wrinkles, fine lines and skin laxity. It is a viable alternative to surgical procedures such as facelifts.

Skin Tightening Benefits

INFINI skin tightening treatments offer numerous benefits that make them appealing to people who would rather avoid going through a face lift. Some of the primary advantages of skin tightening procedures include:

• Long lasting results
• Effectiveness
• Noticeable and immediate improvements
• Safe
• Fast

Because it is non-invasive, it can be performed on patients who would otherwise not qualify for more invasive methods of skin care like dermabrasion or chemical peels.

Skin tightening is one of the newest options available to patients who want minimally invasive cosmetic skin care. It can be a viable alternative to invasive surgeries like facelifts. We are pleased to offer INFINI skin tightening at Glow Medispa in Seattle, and we would love to help you find out if it is the right treatment for you. Contact us today to book your first appointment and learn more.

Vanquish fat reduction

When men see a comparison of how they look now to how they looked when they were younger, it can be quite a shock. This has led many men to want to take steps to improve the way that they look, especially with body contouring.

One of the biggest changes that men go through as they age is an increase in weight. Body contouring techniques such as Vanquish fat reduction can provide men the sculpted figure that they want.

Vanquish fat reduction can be used to treat the love handles, outer and inner thighs, abdomen, flank and more. During treatment, you are able to relax as a specialized device is used to target your problem areas with radiofrequency energy. This energy is absorbed by the fat deposits which then destroys the fat cells. You will begin to see results in as little as four to six weeks after treatment, but you will need to be patient as the body will slowly eliminate the destroyed fat cells.

Some men look to the Vanquish fat reduction program because they have lost a lot of weight and still have excessive fat in their abdominal area. Vanquish can help with this. It can help a man get that flat abdominal area they so desperately want. It can help a man improve the way that he looks and by extension improve the way he feels.

You can finally get rid of those stubborn fat deposits with Vanquish fat reduction. To schedule a consultation, you can contact our office at Glow Medispa. Our offices are both located in Seattle. Our medical team will examine your problem areas and medical history to see if this treatment is right for you. We would also be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have about the treatment. You can finally get the body you’ve always wanted with Vanquish fat reduction!

Our medical team specializes in a variety of treatments including microneedling, PRP and Infini skin tightening. Contact us today to make an appointment to learn more!

Dermaplaning is a technique that is used to remove the dead skin cells on the epidermis. The procedure is very gentle. It removes the rough, dead skin cells on the outer layer of the skin, revealing a beautiful complexion underneath.

Our trained professional will use a specially designed tool to lightly graze the top layer of your skin. The process removes dead skin cells while promoting the healing process in the layers underneath. The result is fresh, vibrant skin that produces new and healthy skin cells.

After treatment, you can expect to immediately see smoother, softer skin. You will continue to enjoy these results over time, as the process encourages collagen production and greatly enhances the effects from skin care products. Since dermaplaning is so gentle, you can come back for more treatments to maintain beautiful skin.

Dermaplaning is so effective that it is used frequently in the entertainment industry. This is largely because along with revitalizing the skin, the procedure is especially effective at removing peach fuzz. When someone has peach fuzz on their face, makeup can get easily stuck. When a famous person has caked on makeup and visible peach fuzz, this becomes even more noticeable in high-definition pictures. Dermaplaning provides a quick and easy solution for those who don’t want others to see peach fuzz on their faces, making it a popular choice for high-profile people.

You may be wondering if you are a good candidate for dermaplaning. You will be happy to know that this treatment is appropriate for just about any skin type. Many people who do not qualify for other procedures make great candidates for dermaplaning, since it is completely non-invasive and uses no chemicals. During your consultation, we can help you determine if this is the best procedure for your specific needs.

Located in West Seattle and Magnolia, Glow Medispa wants to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. We proudly offer a variety of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including dermaplaning, fat reduction treatments, Vanquish ME (the better CoolSculpting alternative), PRP treatments, micro-needling and INFINI skin tightening, just to name a few. To learn more about the many benefits that come with dermaplaning, contact us today to schedule your consultation!

Since many people are worried about what the end results will be, they put off having a facelift. Plus, some people don’t need a facelift in order to achieve their cosmetic goals. They may just have a few lines and wrinkles as well as sagging skin. This can be addressed through a non-surgical treatment at our office called a GlowLift. This amazing procedure uses non-surgical means to make a person look years younger. Thanks to the GlowLift, you no longer have to undergo invasive surgery and a long recovery in order to look and feel better.

Facelifts can be expensive and invasive. There are often individuals who say that they know how to perform a facelift, and they offer some other cosmetic procedures. However, when a person actually goes in for the facelift, the results are a disaster. For this reason, many people opt for a GlowLift at our office. This innovative procedure uses a combination approach to achieve its goals, typically utilizing dermal fillers, radio frequency and micro-needling techniques for amazing results.

If you opt to have a facelift, you will want to have a nurse or a medical professional with you for the first week or so after the procedure while you are healing from the surgery. In most cases, after a couple of weeks, you will be up and about. The GlowLift is different because the downtime is minimal. Patients can resume most of their normal activities quickly, if not immediately.

Your face is your most valuable asset. Take care of it by taking advantage of the latest and greatest in cosmetic procedures. Think twice before getting a facelift and consider the GlowLift, our non-surgical facelift treatment at Glow Medispa. Located in Seattle, we offer a variety of cosmetic procedures, including fat reduction treatments with innovative CoolSculpting® alternatives, PRP treatments, micro-needling and INFINI skin tightening. During a consultation at our office, you can get all the facts about the GlowLift and how it can benefit you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!