Have you caught yourself looking in the mirror and finding that those wrinkles that once didn’t bother you all of a sudden look deeper? Do people ask you if you are upset because they notice frown lines in your forehead? Are you getting tension headaches from straining the muscles of your face? Well, you’re not alone.
As millions of Americans age, they find themselves looking for that fountain of youth. Well it might be as close as your nearest plastic surgeons office. Various drug companies along with physicians have developed products to help diminish signs of aging. One of those products has made its way into the everyday vocabulary and that product is BOTOX.
BOTOX is a purified protein made from a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. By blocking the nerve signals to the muscles of your face, BOTOX works to weaken those same muscles that cause frown lines and wrinkles. The procedure consists of multiple small injections of the toxin into the problem muscles. Areas in which it is commonly used are the forehead, the brows, the crow’s feet around the eyes as well as other specific targeted areas. It has become a common procedure in many physician offices as it can be done in a short period of time on an outpatient basis. The effects of a BOTOX injection generally last 3-4 months , therefore repeat injections are required as maintenance.
With its popularity increasing, the misuse of BOTOX has also risen. Many patients go in for the procedure with misconceptions about what BOTOX can do for them. BOTOX is very useful for early signs of aging such as forehead lines, frown lines, crow’s feet and mild brow elevation caused by muscle overactivity. What BOTOX is not useful for is filling in wrinkles, improving skin quality or the tightening of loose skin. These conditions may require other treatments such as injectable fillers, laser therapy or even cosmetic surgery.
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 Dr. Navinderdeep Singh Nijher joins the staff at the Aesthetic Center
The Aesthetic Center for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery is proud to welcome their newest surgeon, Dr. Navinderdeep Singh Nijher.
The "face" of plastic surgery is changing radically in America. Years ago, the average cosmetic patient was probably well-to-do, most likely female, and more often than not, over 50 years of age. Times have changed. Due to advanced techniques, elective cosmetic surgery has become more affordable and more accessible than ever.
For more than 25 years, the Aesthetic Center for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery in Ocala has been changing lives, one patient at a time. A stellar reputation, paired with individualized patient care and attention has made the Aesthetic Center an extremely popular choice for prospective patients. So popular, in fact, that in order to maintain the quality level of patient care, the Aesthetic Center is welcoming a new surgeon to the staff -- Dr. Navinderdeep Singh Nijher, or Nav for short.
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 By JOSEPH DAVIS
Djamel E. Ramoul
Originally published in Ocala Magazine
August 26, 2005
A YOUNG DOCTOR, new to Ocala, smiles and gives some very truthful and important advice: “The short of it is,” he says, “if mama’s happy, everybody is happy.”
He’s talking, of course, about his wife, Salesia, who is, indeed, very happy about moving to Ocala for her husband’s new job.
Dr. Leonik Ahumada is the newest addition to the now four-doctor staff at The Aesthetic Center for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is also very pleased about their decision to move to Ocala and join the Aesthetic Center team at their state-of-the-art facility.
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By Karin Fabry
Photos By John Jernigan
Originally published in Ocala Style Magazine
Monday, July 28, 2003
 The Aesthetic Center offers many treatments to create a whole new you.
Individual attention, lasting beauty and personal comfort are the most important things to The Aesthetic Center. Not only does the center offer access to complete medical facilities, but it features an advanced skin care clinic as well.
"Each procedure is tailor-designed for that specific patient," explains licensed medical aesthetician
Claudia Snook. "We discuss options and appropriate ways to achieve the desired results with each client."
Different facials, skin peels, hair removal techniques and other treatments are performed by highly trained professionals.
And, from personal experience, I know that to be true. In preparation for this article (I know, my job is tough!), Claudia scheduled an appointment for me to receive my first facial.
It was amazing! Claudia makes her clients feel welcomed and relaxed, with a deep reclining chair, soft lighting and wonderful instrumental music.
A facial consists of cleansing, exfoliating, massaging and protecting the skin through use of a mask treatment. When receiving mine, Claudia carefully discussed my daily skin-care regime and my skin's "condition." Following a short consultation, we determined a copper-based facial would suit me best. Copper restores the skin's ability to repair itself and works as an antioxidant to defend the skin against the harsh environment.
With the basics covered, it was time to get pampered!
An hour of steam treatments and wonderful smelling cleansers and masks awakened my senses. A thorough, but gentle facial massage miraculously made my tension headache disappear. And these are just a few of the highlights. Immediately following the procedure, my skin felt soft and smooth, I couldn't stop touching my face. A $50 facial is worth every penny and then some. I've already purchased a gift certificate for my mom so she can indulge herself for an hour.
Before leaving, Claudia was sure to provide me with an SPF moisturizer.
"Nobody leaves the center without SPF protection," Claudia says.
When I arrived home following my stint at the spa, I was told that I had "a glow about me."
While the pampering is enough of a reason to schedule a facial, the benefits far outweigh the pampering aspects. Through the use of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, your skin is thoroughly cleansed and freed of build up caused by makeup, moisturizers and the natural environment. A facial will also increase the elasticity in your face, making the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles decrease.
For specific skin problems such as acne, sun damage, age spots, pigmentation problems or a host of other conditions, a skin peel will take years from your appearance and leave your skin feeling invigorated.
"You definitely see the immediate effects of a facial peel," Claudia says. "Anytime you exfoliate like that, by removing four or five layers of dead skin, you're going to notice a positive difference in the way your skin looks and feels."
 The Aesthetic Center specializes in Parisian, glycolic and lactic acid peels. A consultation with a specialist will help determine which procedure would benefit you the most.
For treatment of benign skin conditions that require a more in-depth approach, The Aesthetic Center offers patients the Vasculight Plus system. This system isn't specific to the face, but instead can benefit skin anywhere on your body. Spider or varicose veins, uneven skin pigmentation and rosacia can be treated with the system. Vasculight Plus is also used to permanently remove unwanted hair. Physician assistant-certified Kathleen Reilly specializes in Vasculight and Hair Removal techniques.
Before a Vasculight session begins, skin is cleaned free of dirt and make-up and prepared with a cool gel. The gel allows the skin to absorb pulsating laser energy, resulting in damage to the targeted area. Following the skin procedure, the body begins the natural process of healing itself.
The Vasculight Plus System allows for the treatment of many conditions with very low risk and very minimal down time from your normal daily activities. When used for hair removal or reduction, treatments are spaced over time to achieve optimal results.
If you're looking for temporary hair removal, waxing and threading procedures are available as well.
Threading is the process of using two pieces of thread that are twisted back and forth over the unwanted hair follicle, trapping the hair and forcing it out of the skin. This process works great for the eyebrow, giving the brow a defined overall shape. It can also be used on the sensitive areas near the lip and on the chin. Another benefit is that threading is less painful than tweezing. Results from both waxing and threading, including a less painful sugar-based wax, typically last up to eight weeks.
The Aesthetic Center also offers several complete lines of skin care products and top-quality make-up, including Neova, Theraderm, Primacy and M.D. Forté skin products, as well as mineral-based Jane Iredale make-up.
Claudia promotes Jane Iredale make-up, saying that minerals have a very calming effect on the skin.
"Minerals can actually reduce puffiness, inflammation and redness. It's a very healing makeup. It's clean and safe. As a matter of fact, we use it on clients right after they have procedures.
"I not only truly believe in all the products we carry," Claudia explains. "I use them on myself. Our daily skin care regimen can greatly affect the long-term condition of your skin. All products we carry are prescription strength and you can't buy them at stores or even through salons."
The products available through The Aesthetic Center carry a higher percentage value of active ingredients than do department store make-up brands.
Skin is the body's largest organ, protecting us from the harmful effects of the sun and our environment. It acts as a barrier for our fragile organs. For everything your skin does for you, treat it right.
Karin Fabry is the assistant editor of Ocala Style magazine. She can be reached at
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