-What kind of problems did you have with your skin?

-I had acne on my back and chest, discoloration from old acne lesions, brown sunspots, and broken blood vessels. Also, I wanted to get rid of the excess hair on my underarms and bikini area.

-What type of treatments did you do?

-Dr. Chiu, our dermatologist at Bellevue Laser, put me on a topical and oral medication regimen for my acne. I also have been getting Intense Pulsed Light photofacials for my acne, brown spots, and broken blood vessels as well as laser hair removal for my underarms and bikini.

-Your skin looks so beautiful and glowing. What makes healthy skin?

-I eat very clean and try to de-stress as much as possible…an hour of walking every day. Getting fresh air is also great for your skin. I do yoga, drink lots of water (at least 8 glasses of water every day), and try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

-What causes skin problems?

-The main causes of skin problems are stress, diet, genetics, picking, and sun exposure.

-How fast did you see results?

-If you have acne, you should start treatment at least 6 months before your wedding date. It takes a couple of months for medication to start working. You have to be patient. IPL photofacials are a great way to even out your skin tone and make your skin absolutely glowing. There is no significant downtime (you can put make up on right away!) and no “wound care” afterwards. However, it can take up to 4 treatments, a month apart, to get the results you want. IPL treatments are great for anything that is red or brown as well as for active acne. You can also do chemical peels to even out the skin tone, unclog pores, and give your skin a nice glow. We usually recommend 6 treatments, one month apart to get the best results. For hair removal, start a year prior to your wedding date. It takes 6-8 laser treatments approximately 4-6 weeks apart.

-Were you completely satisfied with the results?

-Of course! Now I don’t have to shave as often, and have less frequent breakouts.

-Are there other treatments besides lasers that can be done? What if I am older and have some fine lines and wrinkles? What about dark circles?

-There is a lot you can do with injectibles, including Botox and dermal fillers such as Juvederm, to help erase fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. We like to call it a “liquid face lift”. Dr. Diane Chiu personally does all of the Botox and filler injections at our office and she has 13 years of experience. Her results look totally natural. No one will be able to tell you had anything done!

-Any make up or product suggestions?

-Wash your make up brushes with gentle cleanser every now and then to keep them clean. My favorite line of make up these days is Armani!

-What kind of products did you use to tackle your skin problems?

-Dr. Chiu prescribed both an oral antibiotic and a medication called spironolactone for my acne as well as a 5% benzoyl peroxide wash for my back. I wash both morning and night, use proper skin care, and exfoliate 3-4 times a week. I also use a salicylic acid containing serum by SkinCeuticals called Blemish & Age Defense for my acne and Obagi Vitamin C Clarifying serum with 4 % hydroquinone (a prescription grade bleaching agent) to help with my brown spots.

-What’s your daily skin care routine?

Morning regimen:

Skin Ceuticals Simply Clean Cleanser

Skin Ceuticals LHA Solution Toner

OBAGI C-Clarifying Serum

Skin Ceuticals Emollience Rich Restorative Moisturizer

Epionce Ultra Shield Lotion, SPF 50

Skin Ceuticals A.G.E. Complex

Night regimen:

Skin Ceuticals LHA Cleansing Gel

Skin Ceuticals LHA Solution Toner

Skin Ceuticals Blemish + Age Defense: Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment

Skin Medica TNS Essencial Serum

Skin Ceuticals A.G.E. Complex

Make an appointment with The Bellevue Laser and Cosmetic Center for a free consultation and find your path to healthy radiant skin!

I am excited to tell you about the newest dermal filler that we have added to our liquid facelift arsenal here at the Bellevue Laser & Cosmetic Center…Belotero Balance!

Belotero Balance is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler (similar to Juvederm, Perlane, and Restylane) that became available late last year. The difference is that it is much softer and more fluid and is perfect for very fine lines and wrinkles as well as areas where the tissue is thinner. I have been absolutely loving it for tear troughs and the lines around the mouth. Before Belotero, I would tend to use Juvederm in these areas. However, there was always the risk of having more bulk than I would like. In the lines around the mouth, the fillers would often look like a little lump that end up having the wrinkle sitting on top. In the tear trough area, there would be a risk of a bluish bulge because the skin is so thin. I have not found these problems to be an issue with Belotero Balance. It is such a beautiful product and fills these areas without lumpiness or bluish discoloration. Also, it is fine enough to get into the small crevices that other fillers cannot physically get into. It also tends to cause significantly less swelling and bruising compared to other fillers. I have even used it in fine forehead wrinkles.

Belotero Balance can be used anywhere, however, it does not provide a lot of volume or bulk. I often combine its use with Juvederm or Radiesse. It is extremely safe and has been found to last about 6-9 months in clinical studies.  The price is the same as Juvederm Ultra XC and as always, there is a multiple syringe discount.  Make your appointment with me at the Bellevue Laser & Cosmetic Center and find out if Belotero Balance is right for you! You can also check out our specials, use your Brilliant Distinction points and enjoy proven savings. And remember, at BLCC, I will be the one who will be personally doing your injections. www.bellevuelasercenter.com/monthly-special

One syringe of Belotero into lips and perioral lip lines

Lip augmentation, also known as lip filler, is one of the most popular treatments that Dr. Diane Chiu has specialized in for over 10 years.  She has an extremely high patient satisfaction rate and particularly loves the results she has seen from this procedure. Dr. Chiu is well known for her keen eye and attention to detail, especially when it comes to cosmetic injections. She has a reputation for giving her patients the most natural look possible, while achieving beautiful results. Her goal is to make sure people never leave her office looking like they had just had “work” done.

One of the great lasting effects of filler is its ability to stimulate natural collagen production, leaving the patient with results for up to a year.

When choosing a clinic for your lip augmentation you want to first consider the following:

1. What is the track record and reputation of your doctor?

2. How much experience does your doctor have performing this procedure?

3. What look are you trying to achieve? Having pictures to show your doctor can be helpful.

Here is a live demonstration of Dr. Chiu performing a lip augmentation on our model, Stephanie, using the product Juvederm.

Before and After:

Questions or comments? Please post below!

If you have you been considering a lip augmentation please call our office today for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Chiu!

425.732.2677

Young Men and Skin Health

It’s known that males have a greater number of skin oils than females. It’s for this reason that boys sometimes break out more severely, particularly on the chest, neck, and back. During the teenage years, hormones surge, causing unpredictable oil production. Even with constant face scrubbing, acne can appear. There are a number of treatments meant to reduce topical oil; creams and rubs spring to mind. There are also different daily cleansers meant to make it easier to control facial oil in particular. Finally, medication is available, often combined with a facial treatment, that will reduce overall oil production while also cleaning the skin and pores. Increased testosterone levels lead to an overproduction of oils meant to hydrate the skin and hair. Those oils become targets for the bacteria that cause acne. Topical treatments aim to reduce the oil, while oral medications help reduce inflammation and baceria.

Young Women and Acne

Women have a slightly different experience with acne. Most women experience fewer breakouts than men during adolescence, with frequency increasing through from their 20s to 40s. During adolescence, however, breakouts may be caused by rapidly shifting hormones, as the body becomes used to female hormone cycles. This, combined with experiments with make-up, foundation, and other beauty products, can lead to clogged pores and the resulting blemishes. Women are better served by oral medications, generally, as they balance hormone levels. This is why it’s common for birth control medication to be combined with acne medication. Topical treatments are also available, but for those who wear make-up consistently, one of the best solutions can be proper face washing and make-up removal. Tanning bed use can also damage skin, reducing its ability to fight infections.

Common Factors

Hormone levels in both adolescent males and females are significant sources of acne. A second primary source is diet. Poorly balanced diets can have a dramatic impact on oil production and skin health. There are many myths about foods that cause acne – chocolate, fast food, red meat, and so on – but the fact is no single food has that much of an impact. A person’s overall diet does. Eating healthier will not only reduce levels of skin oil, it will also bring about a healthier glow. Dairy products have been linked to increased acne, so if nothing seems to work, that may be something to try. Before you make dramatic changes to your diet, you should consult with a nutritionist and/or a dermatologist.

If you have any questions about dermatology or skin care, be it acne or another skin condition, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We have experience treating a number of skin ailments. It’s our goal to make everyone comfortable in their own skin.

Reducing Vein Appearance with Collagen Production

The beauty of the V-beam laser is that it manages to eliminate unsightly veins without significantly damaging other tissue. By leaving the skin intact, your body is encouraged to heal more naturally after treatment. This natural healing involves the production of collagen – the skin structure that produces luster and visible depth. Not only will your spider veins diminish, you’ll be left with healthier, vibrant, youthful-looking skin. Retaining the body’s natural healing mechanisms also means that V-beam laser treatments have significantly reduced recovery times compared to other options.

What to Expect from a V-beam Treatment

For maximum patient comfort, we employ a number of methods to reduce pain and improve recovery time. The first line of defense against pain is the Dynamic Cooling Device built into the V-beam system. This actively cools the skin before each laser pulse, meaning patients feel less of a burning sensation from the laser itself. There may still be a slight sting involved – if this proves to be unbearable, we can arrange for a topical anesthetic. Your skin may remain tender for a day or two after the procedure. In some cases, it will be slightly darker than untreated skin, even after the initial bruising and irritation subside. This will resolve itself over time. The post-treatment sensation is often compared to a mild sunburn.

Who Can Receive V-beam Treatments?

In most cases, V-beam laser treatments are best suited to those with lighter skin with very superficial small blood vessels. The dense pigmentation of darker skin can be more difficult for the laser beam to penetrate, and also increase the risk of blistering and hyperpigmentation. For deeper veins, it’s also possible that the area you want treated may be out of range of this laser. It is only able to penetrate 1.5 mm beneath the surface of the skin – veins beyond that are simply out of reach. Further, the device is best at treating red blood vessels. It may still work on blue vessels, but its efficiency will be reduced. Sclerotherapy, or injecting the vessels with a concentrated salt solution or detergent solution, is still the gold standard for treating spider veins. V-beam laser is often reserved for the small, matted blood vessels that are too small to inject. Even under ideal conditions, you’ll likely need more than one sclerotherapy or laser session before you see full improvement.

If you have any questions or concerns about using a V-beam laser to treat spider veins, or if you have questions about any other skin condition or treatment, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re available if you’d like to schedule a consultation or appointment. It’s our job to see that everyone is comfortable in their skin – if you’re unsatisfied with yours, let us help.