GiftCard Bonus Starts November 26!
November 23rd, 2010Want to ‘Glow’ for your Thanksgiving Feast?
November 23rd, 2010
Glowing skin starts at Ology
My favorite combination of products to use during treatment is Jan Marini Clean Zyme / Skin Zyme enzyme therapy combined with the Jan Marini Factor A mask. Both of these clinical products deliver results- and really change a relaxing Ayurvedic Facial into a super-charged Treatment Facial. This has been my ‘go-to’ combo when wanting to provide my guests with an immediate, dramatic glow. The enzyme therapy products digest dead skin cells- without irritating the skin. I love to use this product combination with steam before using a gentle granule exfoliant, and before performing extractions. It immediately increases skin clarity and improves the texture of the skin.
The Factor A mask contains Azelaic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Kojic Acid, and the highest percentage of retinol available which improves acne and helps improve photo damaged skin. Some people experience mild tingling with this product, but for most people the warmth decreases after a few minutes. Guests see improvement in acne and fine lines immediately.
The combination of these products leaves the skin looking luminous and healthy, while calming down inflammation from breakouts. By finishing with a vitamin C product, the skin feels plumped and hydrated for days.
Best of all, the results can be maintained by using these products at home in between facials. These products are a staple in my own home regimen, especially when I feel a breakout coming. For my oilier skin type, I can use the products several times in a week to help control a breakout or when I want my skin to look its best. I will even use the Factor A mask to spot treat a blemish. Email me directly for more product combo ‘tricks’ to deliver glowing skin for the holiday party season!
Kimberly Dine, LE
Licensed Aesthetician – Ology LLC
kdine@ologymd.com
November Specials – E-Coupon
November 2nd, 2010
Getting Old Ain't For Sissies
Zerona Results:- What We’ve Seen
November 1st, 2010
My My My My Myyy ZERONA!!!
(… remember that popular song from the 80″s “Sharona” by the Knack? You know you’ll be sing that song in your head the rest of the day! )
Ok moving on.
ZERONA, my favorite new treatment! This non invasive body slimming laser is wonderful. How can losing fat be so relaxing? No pain no gain, right? Not true with Zerona. This 40 minute treatment is amazing. I have seen differences in every guest I have treated. Patients have lost 3.5 inches, 6 inches, 9 inches, and even 11 inches.
The biggest comment: “I feel so much better in my clothes!” From the bra line to the thighs, you will see and feel areas that have reduced in size. I will tell you though, as the treatment provider, every individual IS different. It can depend on how far over your ideal weight you are. Zerona works best for those who are 10 to 40 lbs overweight. If the area you are trying to reduce is closer to 40 lbs over your ideal body weight, I highly recommend 12 treatments. I have found those who have gone through menopause also need more treatments, 9 to 12 at least.
If you stick to the commitments - drink at least 64 oz of water daily, eat a balanced diet and get some sort of exercise, you will be pleased. I have had most guests say it really is the water drinking that you have to stick with. This makes the most sense to me because, the laser is working on the adipose tissue, where the fat lives, to create what’s called a transitory pore. This pore is only open a few hours, that’s why we suggest you come for a treatment every other day. Once the fat seeps out of the pore, it has to go somewhere! That’s your job…by drinking the adequate amount of water you are encouraging your lymphatic system to flush the fat out through natural detoxification. If you’re lowering your caloric intake, you’re putting less fat back in your body and if your getting some sort of exercise (even just walking 10 to 30 minutes a day) well, BONUS! That’s even more weight loss in addition to the target-specific slimming effect of Zerona. I even had a guest who was not able to exercise during her sessions and she still felt a difference in her clothes.
I believe in Zerona because I’ve seen it change my guests with my own eyes. No, it’s not liposuction- but it is a nice non- invasive alternative method to slim the body.
Kimberly Ross, LE
Aesthetician – Ology Spa
The Great Hair Removal ‘Wait’
September 13th, 2010A patient came to me several months ago with frustrating results from past Laser Hair Removal. She had been to several doctors’ offices and medical spas to treat her bikini and underarms. After multiple series of treatments and multiple types of machines, her results had not been what she was expecting from the treatments.
We discussed the details of her past treatments including spacing of treatments, side affects during and after treatments, personal grooming history, etc. After reviewing her past experiences and examining her skin and hair type, it turns out that she is the best candidate for laser hair removal. She has light skin and does not allow herself to tan, her hair is very dark and coarse, and she does not tweeze or wax. This makes her past experiences even more unusual.
We began by changing her usually 6 week treatment intervals to 4 wks to see if her growth cycle is more frequent than is typical. In the past, the treatment intensity was so high that she was often left with overheated areas and burns. We started with a light- based technology called BBL® for hair removal, and used a double pass with deeper and more superficial settings and moderate intensity.
The second treatment, which took place at 4 weeks, showed hair was just beginning to return. In the past hair did not shed at all, so this was a great initial improvement. We then tried a 1064 laser to compare with her initial results, but they were not as impressive as they had been with BBL®. We continued with this same protocol for the first 4 treatments, with improved results at each treatment. For the 5th treatment we waited 6 weeks to see what would happen to her results as a few more weeks passed.
At the 5th treatment more hair had returned than expected, but she could still see a significant difference from her original treatment. For the next series of 5 treatments we will try 5 week spacing and hope for even more reduction.
The patient refers to her hair as stubborn, but I think it’s just misunderstood. Laser Hair Removal is not an exact science, and can require some patience. Time, technique, and the availability of more than one form of laser / light technology can make all the difference!
Kimberly Dine, LE
Licensed Aesthetician – Ology LLC
Zerona has arrived at Ology!
August 26th, 2010
Zerona has arrived! It’s been on Nightline, the Rachel Ray show, in Harpers Bazaar and Allure, yet I have to admit I was a skeptic – anytime a treatment seems too good to be true, it typically is. However, after seeing the results our patients have had and talking with staff that have had the treatment as well, I’ve become a believer.
How does Zerona work?
If you would imagine making a tiny hole in a balloon and watching it deflate as the air escapes, then you will have a basic idea of how the treatment works. Zerona is basically a ‘cold’ or low-level laser that targets fat cells. The laser moves painlessly through the skin and creates a small pore in the fat cell itself, allowing the fat to drain out of the cell. This excess fat is then passed out of the body through normal, ongoing detoxification. This allows us to ‘spot reduce’ certain areas of the body without the need for any invasive procedure. It does not remove the fat cell itself – it removes the contents of the cell, thereby slimming the treated area. It’s not painful, but it does require a time commitment, and a strong commitment to adhere to some basic protocols in order for the treatment to work as well as possible.
The studies behind the science show that 80% of patients who have been treated with Zerona lost over six inches, and that on average, patients lost an additional 6.8 inches combined from their knees, neck, upper arms, and bra-line. Treatments sessions consist of six, nine, or twelve treatments spaced about 48 hours apart. The sessions are 40 minutes in length, with half of the time allowed for the front of the body and half for the back of the body. In order for Zerona to really be effective, you’ll have to commit to the schedule and make sure that more than 72 hours does not pass between your treatments.
There is a double benefit to really embracing some of the other elements for success in the Zerona program as they can serve as a ‘starting point’ for long-term lifestyle changes:
- Hydrate. It’s simple; it’s basic and you’ve heard it before. While on the Zerona protocol, you will need to consume at least 64 ounces of water per day to promote the detoxification process. A dehydrated body and a sluggish lymphatic system will not product good results. It’s important to note that WATER is the requirement – not soda (diet or otherwise), coffee, or tea.
- Eat a reasonable diet that is low in fat and high in fiber. Again, simple steps. Don’t overindulge, and definitely don’t fall under the impression that the Zerona treatment will allow you to eat what you please. It’s not a weight loss treatment, and cutting back on fatty, sugary foods is required.
- No alcohol during the course of treatment. Results will not be their best, and alcohol consists of ‘empty calories’.
- Supplement your diet with Curva®. Curva® contains a proprietary blend that promotes detoxification and is included with your Zerona Treatment series.
- Move! If you don’t have a work out regimen, walk briskly at least ten minutes each day – more if possible. Again, this helps promote detoxification and will also increase your desire to hydrate. If you absolutely cannot work out, wear a compression garment over the area being treated (such as Spanx).
- Keep your appointments on schedule. It’s very important to keep the window as close to 48 hours between treatments as possible.
Does Zerona replace liposuction or SmartLipo?
No. Zerona is ideal for slimming areas of the body that are exercise resistant, but remember- it shrinks the fat cells; it does not remove them. For some patients, Zerona will not produce enough benefits to outweigh the benefits of liposuction or SmartLipo. For patients who are fairly active, maintain their body weight and eat well – but still have trouble spots, Zerona may prove to be final step in achieving their best body ever.
Call us today to reserve your private consultation – we’ll help you determine if Zerona is right for you.
Andréa Bradley-Stutz
Director – Ology LLC
Got Spots? It’s that time of year again!
August 17th, 2010It’s this time of year that I am asked quite often: “How do I get rid of these brown spots!?” 
Whether you call it a freckle, age spot, sun spot or a liver spot, it’s all the same animal: HYPERPIGMENTATION. This dreaded, spotty darkening of the skin is caused by increased melanin production – a direct result of increased UV or sun exposure. The melanin in your skin is produced by melanocytes, located in the epidermis layer of the skin. When these melanocytes are stimulated by UV light, the areas in the skin that are denser will form hyperpigmentation. Over a lifetime of aging and exposure to the sun, we see these brown spots occur. Even though sun exposure is the number one cause for hyperpigmentation, there are other ways it can form as well. Injuries to the skin like a burn or acne vulgaris can also leave hyperpigmentation behind. There are also some skin disorders that can cause pigment change. One of the most common is melasma (aka: chloasma)- patchy hyperpigmentation usually seen in pregnant women. Some women will also notice melasma after they start taking birth control pills. It seems like melasma is the hardest pigment disorder of all to treat, in the sense that the pigment lies deeper in the skin.
Which leads me to the magic question- how do you get rid of hyperpigmentation?
My first recommendation, which is the fastest and closest to a permanent solution is through Broadband Light (BBL™) therapy. BBL™ or Photo Rejuvenation Therapy is also called ‘pulsed light’ therapy. A device similar to a laser produces wavelengths of light that heat the layers of skin and target unwanted melanin. BBL™ is our most popular clinical treatment because it works extremely well for most skin types. There is very little down time and fairly rapid results. Plus you get the added benefit of stimulating skin cells and generating new collagen. (The more collagen, the tighter the skin!) Now BBL is not for everyone, unfortunately. Individuals with darker skin tones such as African American, Middle Eastern, or Hispanic skin types may be better off using a topical skin lightener. Yes, there are many over the counter products for lightening the skin, which is what makes it so hard to know which one is the right one. These specific ingredients are those you want to look for: hydroquinone, azelaic acid, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), tretinion (retinol) and even licorice root. All of these ingredients are great for helping aid in the lightening of hyperpigmentation. Your results will depend on the percentage of the ingredients in the product and how often you may have to use it. Many of my patients undertake both BBL™ & a topical lightening product for the maximum benefit. Additionally, prescription-strength lightening agents such as TriLuma Cream (a combination treatment) are very popular with our patients.
Whichever treatment you decide is right for you, please remember one critically important thing… Don’t forget to wear your SPF DAILY! Rain or shine- protect your investment by protecting your skin. I always tell my patients, the more religious you are about wearing daily SPF, the less you are going to see of me!
Kimberly Ross, LE
Aesthetician
(317) 814 4100 Ology at Clarian North
(317) 217 2200 Ology at Clarian West
These aren’t your mother’s falsies: Eyelash Extensions
August 10th, 2010When I tell my guests that I do eyelash extensions I always hear the same two questions…..how is it done and how long d
o they last? We then get into a lively discussion about how wonderful it would be to go without mascara, get up in the morning and go to the gym looking like you have on make-up, and how great it would be to finally add some “flutter” to their eyes.
Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent lashes attached in a single strand to your individual lashes one at a time. They are weightless and curved to closely replicate a natural lash. Each lash is attached using a surgical adhesive that was originally designed to be used to close incisions during surgical procedures. This adhesive is extremely lightweight and flexible, which gives you a terrific soft, natural feel to your lashes. If applied correctly, it is nearly impossible to detect where the natural and artificial lash begin and end.
Which brings me to my next point…..you get what you pay for when it come to eyelash extensions. Because this is very painstaking, detailed work and a natural look is what we all strive for, it is important to select a lash ‘stylist’ with care. Look for a stylist that has had extensive training and is certified in her craft. In Indiana, a lash stylist must be either a licensed aesthetician or cosmetologist. Ask to see pictures of their work. Ask about their training. If you have friends who have had extensions look closely at the work. Do they have a soft natural look or are their lashes clumpy and “gluey”? A full set of lashes (approximately 60-80 lashes per eye) takes about two hours to apply. Prices range from $300-$400 depending on location. If you find a place that does them for $30 in thirty minutes you may not be pleased with the results.
When it comes to the question ‘how long do they last?’ I always tell my guests that lash extensions will naturally fall out as your natural lashes shed. You can keep your new lashes indefinitely by coming in for “fills” about every 3-4 weeks. This process takes about 45 min. and a typical cost is $75-$100. Most of my lash guests are on a 4 week schedule to maintain the fullness of their lash extensions.
All lash sessions are customized for each guest. Lashes come in different lengths, thicknesses, curls, colors and even different materials. A good lash stylist will do a comprehensive consultation taking into consideration your eye shape and the “look” you are trying to achieve. There are infinite variations for the finished look – from ‘Kardashian-esque’ to very natural. By carefully selecting curls and placement, a mature eye can be “opened up”, an almond-shaped eye can achieve a rounder look and an eye with thin, pale lashes can finally practice her “flutter”.
Wake up to longer, thicker and fuller lashes every day. Contact Ology Spa for an appointment to have your own beautiful set of natural eyelash extensions applied. You will LOVE them!
Joan Kutsch, LE jkutsch@ologymd.com
Licensed Aesthetician – Ology Spa / Aesthetics / Medicine
Carmel, Indiana
Semi-Permanent Makeup at Ology
July 28th, 2010
I’ve had a few inquires about semi permanent makeup recently, and was intrigued by a concept that I hadn’t read about before. My first thought was that even what is known as permanent makeup is in fact actually semi-permanent. This is because the results usually start to fade around 5 years and touch ups are needed to keep the color fresh. Some people do have long lasting results that can be seen 15 or more years after the initial application, but this isn’t the norm.
It turns out, the end point a permanent makeup artist shoots for during the application process can be altered to turn permanent makeup into semi-permanent makeup. Basically when I perform a permanent makeup application, my goal is to pack as much pigment deep enough in the skin so that as the skin naturally turns over or sheds, the pigment stays under the skin for as long as possible. The average end result should last between 3 and 10 years depending on how well the patient takes care of their new tattoo. To make the results less permanent, fewer passes are made during the application leaving less pigment implanted in the skin. Also, the treatment can be done more superficially than traditional permanent makeup. The color choice should be lighter with semi permanent makeup because darker colors tend to be more opaque even after the treatment area is healed. The end result should last 3 months to 3 years. Although three years in still a significant amount of time, it seems that for some people, semi-permanent feels like less of a commitment.
It is still important to be conservative when deciding on the color and design of your semi-permanent makeup. Even a few months can seem like a long time if the application is too heavy or too dark. I recommend brows to be a soft color that follows your natural brow line, and not a trendy style. For natural eyeliner, it is best to stick with a lash enhancement which is done just in the lash line. You can always add to permanent or semi permanent makeup with traditional cosmetics for a more dramatic look, but a cat eye might get old as the years go by.
Licensed Aesthetician – Ology Spa Avon / Ology Spa Carmel
Take 50% OFF Tuesday!
July 26th, 2010
It’s a special kind of TUESDAY!
Get two of our top treatments – and take 50% OFF! Tuesday, July 27 at our Carmel location only… Alas, many of our guests are out of town, vacationing, or getting their kiddos ready for the school year – and we’ve got to fill some reservations. This is a great one-day sale – if you’ve got some time, we’ve got great treatments at big discounts.
Any Massage Therapy Session (One Hour, Half Hour, 1.5 Hour, Stone, Before Birth) – 50% OFF!
Or – our fabulously relaxing Ayurvedic Facial – 50% OFF! Remember – this offer is for Tuesday, 7/27 only…
Call or email us today for your reservation – ecode TUES27! (317)814-4100 / INFO@ologymd.com