Season’s Greetings!

Just in time for the holidays, Dr. Zimmet and his team are pleased to announce the availability of the highly-anticipated Ultherapy® Full Neck Treatment. The folks at Ulthera® (the company that provides the Ultherapy® medical equipment and technology) heard the concerns of patients who complained of sagging  skin under the chin and neck and took action.

The solution they have provided is the new Ultherapy® Full Neck Treatment. In October, the Ulthera system was granted FDA approval for this single-session, no-downtime procedure. Now men and women can recover a youthful look through this effective skin tightening of the face, chin, and neck. (Find out more about Ultherapy® and what it can mean for your skin.)

As usual, Dr. Zimmet is committed to providing his patients with the cutting edge of medical and cosmetic technology while also being dedicated to safety, comfort, and results.

Call our office soon to make your appointment in time for those holiday get-togethers! (512) 485-7700.

Have you ever wanted a “do over” with your skin? A chance to lessen or even erase the evidence you see of age, time in the sun, or acne scars? An approach called “fractional resurfacing” might be right for you. As the name suggests, this treatment “resurfaces” facial skin by removing the top layer of skin and revealing new, healthy skin in its place.

Resurfacing was introduced in the 1960s and featured a CO2 laser that successfully removed the tissue on the surface layer of skin, resulting in a smoother, tighter skin surface. That process has been improved by the fractional laser (hence the name fractional resurfacing). This new laser delivers tiny pinpoints of light to the skin, which allows speedier healing with lower risk.

Hyper-pigmentation, lip lines and eyelid lines, crows’ feet, sagging skin – these are just some of the reasons why people choose fractional resurfacing. This treatment has enjoyed a high success and satisfaction rate among patients, but it should be noted that not all dermatologists are equal in experience and safety. When it comes to your skin, you should entrust it only to a physician that has the knowledge and skill to perform highly technical procedures.

Dr. Zimmet has over twenty years of laser training and is a recognized leader in the fields of dermatology and phlebology (a branch of medicine dealing with vein issues). In fact, physicians in the U.S. and around the world have come to him for teaching and training.

If you’re serious about renewing your skin, why not go to someone who will be equally dedicated to patient care? Call our office today to schedule a free consultation so you can find out the best possible treatment for your skin. (512) 485-7700.

In our last post, we told you about a few foods that fight sun damage, and suggested you try to include them in your holiday meal. Well Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away now, and for those who are still searching for ideas on what to whip up, we have a special treat: Below are two recipes we found that feature antioxidant-rich ingredients and that have high ratings. Enjoy!

The following recipe is courtesy of Epicurious.com:  

Pecan-Stuffed Mushrooms

“Baked creminis bursting with a buttery pecan and garlic stuffing make for eye candy just waiting to be devoured.”

Makes 8 servings
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 1 hr

Ingredients:
24 (1 1/2- to 2-inch-wide) cremini or baby bella mushrooms with stems
2 tbsp unsalted butter, plus more for buttering dish
1 large minced garlic clove
1 1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh oregano
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

• Place oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Trim ends of mushroom stems and carefully separate caps and stems, keeping both. Arrange caps, stemmed sides up, in a buttered 13 x 9- inch shallow baking dish.
• Finely chop stems, then cook with garlic and oregano in butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until lightly browned (about 5 minutes).
• Stir in pecans, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper and cook, stirring frequently for 1 minute.
• Stir in 1/3 cup cream and bring to a simmer, then remove from heat.
• Sprinkle insides of caps with remaining 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper, then divide filling among caps.
• Drizzle mushrooms with remaining 2/3 cup cream and bake until filling is browned and caps are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve mushrooms drizzled with pan juices.

Cooks’ note: Stuffed mushrooms can be assembled, but not baked, 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before baking.

The following recipe is courtesy of FoodNetwork.com:

Sweet Potato Casserole

“By mixing carrots and sweet potatoes and mashing them together you get a double punch of Vitamin A as well as the natural sweetness from the carrots. From there, just a touch of butter, sugar, orange zest and spice with the crunch of some pecans toasting on top makes this classic casserole updated and healthier.”

Makes 8 servings
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 1 hr 10 min

Ingredients:
2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
1/2 tsp finely grated orange zest
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Put the sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with salted water by 2-inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the carrots. Cook until both the potatoes and carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
• Transfer the potatoes and carrots to a large bowl and add the sugar, butter, ginger, zest, and cinnamon. Mash until well combined and slightly chunky. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the egg whites and transfer to the baking dish. Sprinkle with the nuts and bake until well puffed and hot through, about 30 minutes.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Zimmet Vein & Dermatology!

Most of us don’t want to rely on makeup to feel beautiful (or at least presentable). While playing around with fashionable color combinations can be fun, we would prefer to have the option to go confidently makeup-free.  But for 50 million Americans — and 50% of adult women — that option isn’t acceptable because of acne.

Sometimes we need makeup to camouflage unsightly pimples and scars—but makeup can also make the problem worse. So how can we make makeup and acne work together instead of against each other? The following tips might help:

First, Take (Proper) Care of Your Skin

• Never go to bed with your makeup on. It can be tempting to skip washing your face after a long day, but doing this enables pores to clog with dirt, oil, bacteria, and other daily toxins. The hours when you are sleeping are prime for skin repair, so wash up before you get to bed.
• While we’re talking about it, don’t wash your face too much. Washing your face too much (more than twice a day) strips your skin of needed oils and can aggravate your skin.
• Don’t skip moisturizer. Avoiding moisturizers can result in over-dry skin, so choose an oil-free moisturizer that will give your skin the drink it needs. Moisturizer will also help makeup go on smoother.
• And of course, no picking and squeezing pimples, no matter how tempting it is. Doing this spreads the acne-causing bacteria, which only makes your problem worse.

Next, Choose the Right Stuff

• All makeup should be non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. Water-based makeup is ideal.
• Try mineral-based makeup that features ingredients like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and silica, which can absorb oil and camouflage redness without irritating the skin.
• Find the right shade. Instead of testing foundation against your wrist, try it against your jawline to get the most natural-looking shade.
• Green concealer can help hide red spots—only make sure to dab your foundation over it.
• Blushes and eye shadows can be tricky. Sparkly eye shadows often contain mica, which can clog follicles; cream blushes are prone to comedogenic ingredients which you need to avoid.
• Regularly clean brushes and applicators. Cleaning brushes once a month with mild soap and warm water will help keep your skin free from breakout-causing bacteria.

You don’t have to feel embarrassed while treating your acne. Good skin care, along with choosing the right makeup products, can go a long way in boosting self-confidence.

Is your current skin regimen not working? Contact Dr. Zimmet’s office today to schedule a consultation, and see how you can put acne behind you for good.

Getting skin tightened, smoothed and lifted is often thought of as an exclusively female desire. The idea of men “getting work done” was practically an alien one just a few years ago.

Men have traditionally been disinterested or at least reluctant to pursue any kind of cosmetic treatment outside hair loss treatments. But is it possible that this is changing—that more and more men are considering other cosmetic treatments? Dermatologists and plastic surgeons across the country have answered with a resounding “yes”.

Florida physician Mark Nestor, MD, PhD, explains that, “There’s been a certain stigma associated with cosmetic surgery in men, and historically they have stayed away from that. What’s happening now is that as men realize that they can have nonsurgical procedures that look natural and help them look young, more and more are opening up to having them.”

Not only that, but the 2011 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report shows a 56 percent increase in minimally invasive procedures in men.

So what really accounts for this change? Are men and women seeking treatments for the same reasons?

In short, no. While women typically view a more youthful, radiant appearance as a goal in and of itself, men tend to view cosmetic treatments as a means to an end. Men are concerned about competition in the workplace and in the dating scene and see treatments as ways to gain a competitive edge.

This accounts for men’s motivation, but that’s not the only thing encouraging them to pursue cosmetic procedures. Men are discovering that treatments have greatly improved as far as being comfortable, natural-looking and long-lasting.

Men (like women) want the fact that they’ve had work done to be virtually inconspicuous, which is why fillers and toxins have been popular with them. They also appreciate that there is little to no downtime involved — that getting treatment won’t be a big deal.

An added comfort for men who are interested in improving their appearance is the fact that they don’t have to head to a plastic surgeon’s office, which to many of them has connotations of invasive surgery and “Real Housewives” results. Instead, men can turn to a dermatologist to take care of them. Mark Nestor claims, “They’ll feel comfortable with us. We’re in a unique situation where men come to us with a rash or a growth, and we can educate them not only about how we can help them medically but how we can help them aesthetically.”

For men who need a “competitive edge”, there’s never been a better time to look into cosmetic treatments. Dermatologists like Dr. Zimmet can treat brown spots, rosacea, double chins, skin keratoses, photodamage and more.

Contact our office today to learn more about treatments for men — either for yourself or for the man in your life. (512) 485-7700.