According to the National Laser Institute, beauty standards have changed over the past decade and so has the way consumers take care of themselves. More and more people are taking charge of their health and looks with minimally invasive, affordable options such as Botox to reduce wrinkles, dermal fillers to plump skin and lips, cosmetic laser treatments such as skin resurfacing to get rid of acne scars and fine lines, and body contouring procedures to smooth cellulite and tone thighs.

With the opening of Sidney Health Center’s Advanced Aesthetics in January 2017, residents living in the MonDak region now have options to help turn back the hands of time. Under the direction of Dr. Shari Twigg, Advanced Aesthetics offers a full-range of nonsurgical cosmetic procedures for women (and men) of all ages. 

Aesthetic Medicine includes all medical procedures that are aimed at improving the physical appearance and satisfaction of the patient, using non-invasive to minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Typically, medical spas perform many of the same procedures that are offered at regular spas, but with a more results-oriented focus and a larger arsenal of medical-grade tools because they are used under the guidance of a physician.

Dr. Twigg originally started her career years ago in the aesthetic skincare field, working in a world renowned spa and making a name for herself as an award-winning makeup artist. After going on to become a physician and working in obstetrics and gynecology for several years, she is now combining her medical expertise with her passion for aesthetics. Dr. Twigg recently became certified in Aesthetic Medicine from the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM).

According to the AAAM’s website, the exciting field of Aesthetic Medicine is a new trend in modern medicine. Patients not only want to be in good health, they also want to enjoy life to the fullest, be fit and minimize the effects of normal aging. Patients are now requesting quick, non-invasive procedures with minor downtime and very little risk. As a general rule, the needle is increasingly replacing the scalpel.

So what’s trending in the field of medical aesthetics? In the last two years, a few trends have surfaced to the top as indicated by the National Laser Institute:

1. Stop the clock! Botox or Xeomin treatments with bolulinum toxin help soften dynamic wrinkles/lines and create a more youthful appearance. These injectables remain a hot commodity as it’s tough to beat these products in terms of convenience and results. The only downside is the treatments are temporary – generally, lasting 3-4 months.
2. Fill ‘er up! Dermal fillers continue to rise in popularity, with more than 2.3 million procedures performed nationally in 2015. These fillers are used to improve the appearance of moderate to severe facial wrinkles or folds as well as be used in cosmetic areas to add fullness in the lips or lip lines, cheeks, scars and chin.
3. Ditch the scale. In 2017, many more people are opting to book treatments for new and improved nonsurgical fat reduction treatments including CoolSculpting, radio-frequency and laser-assisted technology to name a few. While there is no substitute for eating right and exercise, these technologies offer excellent results for stubborn fatty areas. Viora Body Sculpting uses radiofrequency to contour and reduce cellulite by shrinking fat cells that results in a firmer, tighter appearance of the skin with little to no downtime. This is done in 6-8 sessions on any area of the body including the neck, arms, abdomen, love handles, thighs and buttocks.
4. PRP Gaining Popularity – Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) gained significant notoriety when a celebrity posted pics of herself getting a “vampire facial” that included dripping blood (actually, PRP) onto her face. These plasma rich platelets are harvested from your own blood that contain stem cells and human growth factors to help stimulate soft tissue healing, aiding in new collagen formation. When accompanied with microneedling, PRP penetrates into the skin, aids in new collagen formation and softens the appearance of sun damage, wrinkles and scarring. PRP is also effective for hair loss treatment.
5. More Men, More Millennials – As more and more people are getting comfortable with getting medical aesthetics services, they are talking about it on social media and the market share for both men and millennials continues to grow. For millennials, it’s all about prevention and tiny tweeks. Routine maintenance with small amounts of Botox, light peels and more mild lasers are gaining popularity. Women are starting to visit the medical spa with the same frequency as the salon.

As trends continue to make their way to rural communities, Sidney Health Center is pleased to expand its line of services to include the following treatments at Advanced Aesthetics:

• Injections of Neruotoxins and Dermal Fillers
• Chemical Peels
• Cosmetic Dermatology Treatments
• Microdermabrasion
• Body Contouring and Treatment of Cellulite
• Acne Clearance
• Hair Loss Treatment
• Hair Reduction
• Platelet Rich Plasma
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatments
• Radio Frequency Fractional Laser Ablation
• Scar Management
• Venous Treatment

Advanced Aesthetics is open Monday through Thursday with extended hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. The medical spa is located in the MonDak Clinic building at 304 S Ellery Avenue – Suite 2 in Fairview. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Twigg, please call the office at 406-742-5256 or visit us online at http://www.sidneyhealth.org/Service/Advanced-Aesthetics.

Sources: National Laser Institute and American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine.