Skin consists of 70% collagen, which in turn accounts for up to 90% of the connective tissues (dermis). Collagen is capable of retaining as much as 8 times its weight in water. Therefore collagen is by far the skin’s major moisturizing element. Consequently with time, collagen undergoes many different phases of weakening. In our prime, collagen fibers are filled with water. They perform to their fullest because they are constantly supplied with “collagen fibrils” which attach themselves to these fibers, providing them with vitality and moisture. Although “the production of collagen fibrils” deteriorates with time, our collagen itself is never lost. However, the aging process is instrumental in the decrease of natural nourishment caused by the slower production of fibrils. As collagen fibers no longer receive adequate nourishment from the fibrils, their potency to retain moisture is on the decline, and with time, they become thinner and slowly dry out. La Maison Clayton Shagal has produced a collagen capable of penetrating the dermis and replenishing the skin’s dwindling supply of much needed collagen fibrils. This line is unique not only because it specializes in infusing collagen to deeply nourish, repair and hydrate the skin at the cellular level, it works directly with the skin’s natural regenerating process and addresses three principal components of the skin: COLLAGEN, ELASTIN and WATER. This specialized skin care line tends to the skin care needs of both younger and mature skin types for both men and women alike, and at American Medical Aesthetics we simply cannot get enough of the fabulous results we have encountered. Both our staff and patients love using Clayton Shagal skin care, because the purity and effectiveness of each product’s delivery system is unsurpassed. The anti-aging and regenerating properties possessed by each and every one of their products is what consistently keeps our medical aesthetics team on top of what is most effective and on the cutting edge of beauty. When it comes to the specialized treatments and skin care we provide from Clayton Chagal, after just one Medical Aesthetic Facial Treatment or a few applications at home your eyes won’t believe your skin.

 

 Are spider veins and broken capillaries getting you down? It is because of these types of veins that during the summer months we are often kept from putting on our favorite swimsuit, dress or skirt. These unsightly blemishes can also leave us to continually apply gobs of makeup to cover up the excess pigment that stands out amongst our skin tone. The great news is that the fall season is the perfect time to get rid of them, as lasers work wonders on spider veins and broken capillaries and only take just a few treatments to eliminate them! In vascular skin lesions such as spider veins and broken capillaries, the laser energy targets hemoglobin (in red blood cells), which vaporizes the blood and instantly collapses and destroys the unwanted vein. Over the course of a few weeks, your body simply dissolves any remaining fragments of the destroyed veins resulting in beautiful vein-free skin. Distinct facial spider veins and broken capillaries which are easy to target, are usually completely eliminated by only 1-2 treatments, leaving your skin with no evidence that you ever had any visible veins or capillaries. In a few cases, facial veins may turn slightly purple for a few days before they completely resolve (disappear). Though rare, in the case of a larger facial vein, a tiny indentation may appear where the vein collapses. With time, your skin will usually fill this indentation with beautiful new tissue. Some more complex and multi-layered facial vascular conditions (such as rosacea, matted broken capillaries and leg veins) are also significantly improved with one spider vein treatment. However, the more complex broken capillaries and spider veins often require 2-4 follow up treatments in order to dramatically reduce or completely eliminate them.

   

 With treatment leg veins often completely disappear after 2-4 sessions, but usually leave a residual “reddish shadow” that typically requires 8-12 weeks to completely resolve (disappear). In addition, a temporary “cat scratch” swelling may appear and persist for 2-3 days. In some cases, the “cat scratch” may become crusted and flake off. Much like the healing of any deeper scratch or cut, in the case of larger blue leg veins, some bruising may occur and occasionally, after a few days, scabs may appear at the surface. These scabs will simply crust off revealing beautiful new vein-free skin underneath. In the case of smaller spider veins and broken capillaries, the healing will be much less visible. All these conditions are normal inflammatory responses necessary for dissolving vein fragments and healing the tissue that surrounded the unwanted vein. Depending on the size and depth of the treated veins, as well as how responsive the patient’s skin is, the degree a patient experiences these conditions will vary from person to person. In all cases, experiencing these conditions is an indication of a successful spider vein treatment. 

 

 

Collagen is the major structural component of the dermis and is the tissue that is most responsible for the youthful appearance of our skin. When we are young, Fibroblast cells in our dermis make abundant amounts of new collagen fibers, which are linked together by cross-bridging and organized into tightly bundled, dense “laminar” layers. Throughout our lives, our collagen becomes continuously damaged from a variety of factors such as oxidative stress internally (like cigarette smoking) and sun exposure externally. Fibers deteriorate, cross-bridges break, bundles become disorganized and loose, which results in enlarged pores, thinning, wrinkled and sagging skin. If you are looking to boost the volume and all around health of your skin, there are three different modalities that AMA provides to help you achieve younger and healthier looking skin......safely and effectively. COLLAGEN FACIAL - PURIGENEX TRANS-DERMAL COLLAGEN FACIAL TREATMENT One of the most premier anti-aging and collagen restoration treatments available. This collagen facial fills out and smoothes fine lines and wrinkles in the epidermis by promoting healthy, natural cell-regeneration beneath skin's surface. Wrinkles around your mouth and eyes will be reduced as improvement in your skins overall health actually lifts and corrects creases in deeper layers of your skin. This treatment has been found effective by anyone seeking to repair and prevent skin damage caused by sun exposure, aging, discoloration, or acne scarring. Regular treatments will improve the integrity of your existing collagen, making it plumper, smoother, suppler, and more youthful. Additionally, skin nourished with PURIGENEX collagen functions more effectively as part of a healthy body's natural defense system. This type of cutting-edge treatment has never before been offered as part of a facial treatment system, and it was once available in only the most exclusive medical offices. Now, our experienced Medical Aestheticians can offer you this dramatic, skin-improving treatment stand-alone, or as part of a fully customized Medical Facial.  

  COLLAGEN INDUCTION THERAPY (CIT) Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT) plays an important role in AMA’s collagen protocols as a stand-alone treatment, as well as in combination with our laser treatments. CIT is applied with tiny micro-needles that are used to create tiny micro-holes in the skin. The needles are exquisitely engineered to produce holes of a precise shape and that are so thin that they completely heal in a matter of minutes ensuring that the skin is not damaged at all. When expertly performed, micro-needling causes a change in micro-electrical-currents that flow between cells (demarcation currents) that trigger a cascade of growth factors production. These growth factors cause the formation of new blood vessels and critical new blood flow to the dermis followed by the migration of new Fibroblast cells. Consequently a harvest of new, strong and healthy collagen fibers fills the dermis. To accelerate and amplify this process, as we apply CIT we also infuse into the skin PRM formulations, which increases the overall efficacy of both the PRM and CIT treatments. (see PRM) Thus, CIT is another example of how AMA’s unique multiple-modality protocols create a holistic partnership between your skin’s natural physiology and our advance medical science. You skin will look years younger, healthier and more beautiful on the outside, because on the inside it is physiologically years younger, stronger and healthier.

INTENSE COLLAGEN LIFT AMA's Intense Collagen Lift is designed to work on your skin’s collagen in three different ways in order to produce maximum stimulation of your collagen-producing cells. Therefore, this is the most effective, non-invasive wrinkle removal treatment available. Additionally, since we are working with your skins natural physiology, this protocol is completely holistic in nature. These unique collagen treatments incorporate three different procedures with three specialized laser modalities that work together to give you the lift you’re looking for… naturally! 1) DEEP COLLAGEN REMODELING AND DERMAL REGENERATION: In this phase we will target old deteriorated collagen deep in the dermis (the cause of deep wrinkles, sagging and enlarged pores) in order to accelerate its removal by your body’s own natural processes. We will also target fibroblast cells throughout your dermis, stimulating them to produce amplified quantities of new young collagen… the kind that you had when you were a teenager…healthy, firm and toned. Simply put, this wrinkle removal occurs from the “inside out.” Wrinkles will actually lighten, lift and disappear, and your pores will shrink. Since the affect on your fibroblasts is cumulative, with each wrinkle treatment the production of collagen increases and lasts for longer and longer periods of time. Week by week, for nearly a year after the Intense Collagen Lift series, you will look progressively better as your skin becomes younger and smoother. 2) SPECTRAL, INFRARED TREATMENTS - TIGHTENING & LIFTING EXCESSIVE LAXITY: The second phase of the collagen treatments utilizes a safe infrared light to heat the dermis well below the skin’s surface. This light-based platform provides a more uniform distribution of energy for heating the deep dermis than other energy sources (such as Radio Frequency). During this phase, we focus on areas that have excessive laxity (sagging), such as the jaw line, under the chin, and the “marionette lines” at the corners of the mouth. The intense collagen treatments will tighten and lift the skin back into its natural more youthful profile for a dramatic, beautiful non-surgical facelift. The results of these procedures can be dramatic even after your first treatment, and successive collagen treatments will typically result in tremendous improvement towards the transformed youthful profile you are seeking. 3) SUB-CELLULAR LED PHOTO-MODULATION: During the third and final phase of the collagen treatments we utilize an amber LED light-energy device which reduces the signs of aging by drenching the all the cells in your skin with specially modulated frequencies that stimulate rapid healing, reverse cell damage and dramatically accelerate the production of collagen. Because this is a gentle and safe wrinkle treatment that does not require eye protection, we are able to focus more on the fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes (typically a problem area for most people). Although the mechanism of action is very subtle and occurs on the sub-cellular level (within mitochondria), the results have been scientifically proven to be dramatic. Overall levels of cellular ATP (the fuel of your cells) are sharply increased which dramatically increases the cell’s energy.