Mona Dermatology is excited to announce a new provider and a new service offering this fall, thanks to the addition of local Mohs surgeon, Dr. Kasie Kudrewicz Adkins.
Have you or a loved one ever had skin cancer on your face? Then, you may have been referred to a Mohs surgeon to have this treated. Mona Dermatology is now offering Mohs surgery, in addition to our existing cosmetic and medical dermatology services.
What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is a type of outpatient skin cancer surgery, named for its founder, Dr. Frederic E. Mohs. This specialized type of surgery allows a these surgeons to completely remove skin cancer cells while minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy skin. Undergoing Mohs surgery is very safe and only uses local anesthesia. Mohs surgery is the most effective way to treat non-melanoma skin cancers with a five-year cure rate of more than 98%!
How does Mohs surgery work?
Your surgical team will begin by making sure you are comfortable, prepping the area for surgery, and numbing the area with a local anesthetic. Then, the Mohs surgeon will begin by gently removing thin layers of the cancerous tissue. They will examine the layers of tissue under a microscope to confirm that all cancerous cells have been removed. Your surgeon will continue this process until the cancerous lesion has been removed completely and only healthy skin remains. This technique is what makes Mohs surgery beneficial. It is highly precise and only removes small amounts of tissue at a time. It requires your surgeon to be highly specialized. They must act as both a surgeon and pathologist at the same time.
Who is a candidate?
The precise technique of Mohs surgery is often recommended for cosmetically important areas. This includes the face, ears, nose, fingers or toes. It also is recommended in certain cases if skin cancer is recurrent, at a high risk for recurrence, aggressive, fast growing, or large, if it has indistinct borders, or if the patient is immunosuppressed.
If you have a suspicious spot that has not yet been diagnosed by your dermatologist, it is best to begin by scheduling a spot check or complete skin exam online or by calling the office at 513.984.4800
Fall for Chemical Peels: Chemical Peel Benefits
If achieving flawless, glowing, and healthy skin is on your fall to-do list: Chemical peels may be for you! These medical-grade facial treatments have minimal downtime and are safe for all skin types. They are the perfect choice for skin maintenance or even addressing skin concerns. This includes: acne, acne scarring, brown spots, pores, or texture. Mona Dermatology aesthetic providers, Kylee Finn, RN and Amanda Schmidt, LME, break down the science behind chemical peel treatments and answer your top questions about chemical peel benefits.
How do chemical peels work?
Kylee, RN: Chemical peels use the applications of various chemicals, such as alpha-hydroxy acid or salicylic acid. This causes the top layers of your skin to shed over a short period of time. During the appointment, your provider will apply multiple layers of the chemical peel solution onto your skin. These solutions consist of retinol, and different types of acids to raise the acidity of the skin. When you change the acidity of the skin it causes the skin to start to exfoliate, causing your peeling. The peeling of the skin promotes rejuvenation of healthy skin cells. This allows new, fresh skin to be revealed after the peeling.
Will I “peel”?
Amanda, LME: There are different levels of chemical peels such as superficial, medium depth or deeper peels that cause more layers of skin to peel. Your provider will help choose the best peel for you. This depends on the severity of your skin condition, what type of skin condition you want to treat, and how sensitive your skin is. Chemical peels can range from gentler treatments that will refresh your skin and cause no peeling at all to deeper peels that can improve more advanced concerns.
What can a chemical peel treat?
Chemical peels treat many different skin conditions such as sun damage, hyperpigmentation, melasma, acne, acne scarring, and other concerns. There are many benefits to a chemical peel making it versatile.
Sun Damage:
Chemical peels can address the visible signs of aging caused by sun damage. This can be done by, increasing the turnover of skin cells and promoting collagen production. Common concerns include superficial lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, brown spots, and more. In addition to addressing these cosmetic concerns, some chemical peels can also help to exfoliate actinic keratosis. These precancerous lesions develop in the epidermis of your skin as a result of sun exposure. Overtime, this has the potential to develop into skin cancer.
Hyperpigmentation:
A chemical peel helps exfoliate the skin, which reveals fresh and youthful skin underneath. In addition to boosting your collagen production, a chemical peel can also help exfoliate sun-induced brown spots as well as hyperpigmentation from various conditions such as acne scarring and melasma. By addressing these key causes of hyperpigmentation, chemical peels help even out and benefit your skin tone over time.
Melasma
Melasma is often triggered by hormone changes in the body which cause an overproduction of pigment in the superficial layers of the skin. A chemical peel can help increase your skin cell turnover, and exfoliate brown patches without causing heat-induced inflammation that can actually trigger melasma. Therefore, chemical peels are a great way to decrease the visible signs of Melasma.
Acne & Acne Scarring:
By promoting the shedding of skin and reproduction of skin cells, chemical peels can help heal acne breakouts quicker and prevent them from becoming inflamed. It can also help fade the leftover red pigment caused by acne, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and some types of acne scarring. In addition, salicylic acid peels are a great way to help treat active acne as well as acne scarring.
Fine Lines & Wrinkles:
if you’re seeking a no-needles way to soften superficial wrinkles and fine lines, a chemical peel may be a great option. By increasing cell turnover and boosting collagen production, a series of chemical peel treatments can help lessen the appearance of wrinkles over time. For deeper wrinkles, other treatments such as Botox or lasers may be a better choice.
Rosacea
Some lighter chemical peels contain mandelic acid, which can help calm inflammation. As a result, this can decrease the redness in your skin from rosacea. Chemical peels may not be the best choice for all patients experiencing rosacea. Your provider will help you choose what products and treatments are right for you.
Click the video below to read more about this customizable treatment!
When choosing any cleanser, it’s important to start by understanding the ingredients. Everyone’s skin is unique and when trying new products, you want to make sure you’re making the right choice. To choose Korean cleansers, determine your specific skin concerns. If you happen to have oily skin, consider searching for a foaming or gel Korean cleansers with ingredients such as salicylic acid or tea tree oil. This will help to control excess oil. If you happen to have skin on the dryer side, focusing on a hydrating or oil-based cleaner with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid is ideal. And for those with combination skin, consider a gentle or sensitive cleanser that can target both oily and dry areas.
What Korean cleansers are best?
To find the right cleanser for you, start by considering your unique skin concerns and needs. Here are a few top choices:
COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser: A budget-friendly pick perfect for dry or sensitive skin, thanks to its unique ingredient, snail mucin.
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser: Ideal for dry skin, this cleanser boasts a rich, hydrating texture typically found in facial creams.
SUPEREGG Gentle Elements Cleansing Foam: A great choice for sensitive and dry skin. True to its name, this cleanser is gentle and helps support delicate skin.
What is the Korean cleansing method?
The Korean cleansing method is a two-step skincare routine. We’re usually used to one round of cleansing, so it’s an interesting method. The first round of cleansing features an oil-based cleanser. This removes makeup, sunscreen, and anything else oil-based that appears on our face throughout the day. This effectively remove these products without stripping the skin. The second round of cleansing is with a water-based cleanser. This removes any remaining products or buildup and cleanse any sweat and dirt.
Filler Myths: Fact or Fiction
Filler is a popular injectable cosmetic treatment for adding or restoring volume in the lips, cheeks, under eyes, jawline, and more. Board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Mona Foad and Dr. Alexandra Bowles, share the truth behind what you may have heard about filler myths and whether or not it’s fact or fiction.
“One syringe of filler will be enough to treat multiple areas on the face”: Fiction
Dr. Mona: Believe it or not, a syringe of filler usually only con-tains 1 ml of product. In comparison, a ketchup packet contains over 8 ml. For this reason, one syringe of filler does not go that far, especially when trying to restore lost volume in multiple areas of the face such as the cheeks, temples, lips, and more. How many syringes do most people get? That depends on how many areas you want to treat and how much volume loss you may have. If you are nervous and only want to do one syringe, I recommend choosing one area on your face, like your lips for example, to get the best result.
“Fillers replace lost volume that happens as we age”: Fact
Dr. Mona: We naturally lose volume in the face as we age. We lose bone, muscle, and collagen at the same time as our fat pads flatten and shift downward, all of which can cause jowling and a more sunken or hollow look. Fillers can be a great way to immediately treat areas where volume has diminished and to restore a more youthful version of ourselves.
“Most fillers are made up of products that are naturally occurring in your skin”: Fact
Dr. Mona: Hyaluronic acid is produced by our bodies and can be found in areas such as our eyes, joints, and skin. Most dermal fillers are made up of hyal-uronic acid, such as Juvederm Collection, RHA Collection, Restylane, and Belatero. Hyaluronic acid fillers are a great option because they have a very low risk of allergic reactions, due to their natural occurrence in the body. The other benefit of hyaluronic acid fillers is that they are dissolvable, so the treatment can be reversed if necessary. Radiesse, another popular filler, is made of calcium hydroxyapatite, another naturally occurring substance in our skin.
“Filler is unsafe or risky”: It depends
Dr. Mona: Although most filler treatments are safe, with few side effects, complications are possible with any medical procedure, and filler is no different. There are many blood vessels and arteries in the face. If the filler is injected into these areas, serious complications can arise. However, choosing the right provider is the best and most important step you can take to reduce this risk and ensure you have a safe and effective treatment. Ensure that the office you are visiting has a physician on staff who is board-certified in a related field, such as a Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon.
You also want to ensure that the individual provider who you are seeing has extensive experience and training in not just the treatment, but also on how to handle any complication. At Mona Dermatology, all of our providers hold advanced degrees (such as MDs, DOs, PAs, NPs). They also train for a minimum of six months prior to seeing patients. It is important to ask your provider about these potential risks at your first visit and understand how they will handle a complication in the unlikely event that it does occur.
Dr. Alexandra Bowles
“Lip filler will look unnatural”: Fiction
Dr. Alexandra: Filler injections are highly customizable. Results can vary depending on the provider’s technique as well as the patient’s natural lips. Often, individuals you may see with obvious over-filled lips have had multiple syringes placed in the same area over a short period of time. A well-trained provider who is skilled at giving natural-looking results can enhance the shape of your lips in a way that still fits your facial anatomy. We discuss patient expectations and proportions before each procedure to ensure that both myself and the patient are on the same page with regards to shape, volume, and overall look. Additionally, as we age, we begin to lose volume in our face such as the mid face and lips. Filler treatments is a great way to maintain the youthful volume in these areas and continue to age gracefully.
“Filler can correct facial imbalances”: Fact
Dr. Alexandra: Dermal filler treatments are a great way to correct asymmetry and balance facial features. Popular treatment areas for balancing the facial pro-portions include temples, cheeks, chin, jawline, and lips. It is very important to see a provider who can do a full facial assessment. They are able to provide you with a treatment plan that addresses all areas of your facial anatomy. It is always beneficial to see before and after photos of past full-face treatments your provider has given. Providing volume in proper areas can result in a beautiful refreshed result that still looks very natural.
“Filler goes away quickly or stays for a long time”: It depends
Dr. Alexandra: Hyaluronic acid–based dermal fillers, such as Juvederm or RHA, last 6–18 months. Filler is metabolized in the body varies between patients and depends on the area treated and type of filler used. This determines the speed it metabolizes at. For example, filler around the mouth may not last as long as filler in the cheeks. This is due to the properties of the filler and constant movement of the mouth. As a result, it is possible some people may notice their filler results disappearing quicker or lasting longer.
“Filler will make me look frozen”: Fiction
Dr. Alexandra: A common misconception! Fillers add volume to treatment areas, such as the lips, cheeks, or undereye. A filler treatment will not give the ap-pearance of looking “frozen.” Botox on the other hand, is a neurotoxin which temporarily paralyzes or softens muscle movements to relax wrinkles over time. It is possible that someone could get too much Botox. By stopping their muscle movement entirely, which can lead to this frozen look. A well-trained provider utilizes techniques that ensure your muscle movement is appropriately reduced while still maintaining a natural look.
“It’s expensive”: It depends
Dr. Alexandra: Depending on the office where you are being treated, a sy-ringe of filler can range from $600 to $1,000. If you are treating one area, such as your lips, it is possible to only need one syringe. This will leave your final cost of treatment under $1,000. You may need a larger number of syringes when treating multiple areas. Large amount of volume loss you wish to replace may also require a larger number of syringes. If you are considering a filler treatment and are curious about the cost, it is best to have a consultation. At your consultation, your provider can provide you with a personalized treatment plan and estimate costs before beginning.
Take a look at this patient’s results after a lip filler treatment:
Make Your Jawline Filler Last
You just arrived home from your first jawline filler appointment. You can’t stop admiring your side profile in the mirror and are eager to show your new look to the world. Not so fast! If you want to enjoy the maximum benefits of the procedure and maintain your new look, Mona Dermatology recommends some important aftercare steps.
Be Cautious For 24 Hours After Jawline Filler
Our experienced providers will be meticulous while placing your filler to ensure you receive the safest treatment and best possible results. Everyone’s facial structure is different, so precision is key when it comes to building the jawline of your dreams. However, applying pressure to the treated area during the healing process may cause the filler to migrate to other areas around the neck and jaw. Be aware of habits, like resting your chin in your hands or sleeping on your side, for the first 24 hours as this may put too much pressure on the treated area.
Stay Hydrated
Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers work by attracting water molecules from nearby tissues to create a plumping effect in the desired area. Drinking plenty of water after your appointment will maximize the results of your filler, ensuring you get the most out of your treatment. Additionally, the topical numbing applied to the skin during the procedure may cause dryness, so it is important to hydrate your skin with your favorite moisturizer during the recovery period.
Avoid Excess Salt and Alcohol
Alcohol products and food high in sodium increase water retention and cause systemic swelling — think of the dreaded bloating and facial swelling the morning after dinner and drinks with friends. While fluctuation in water retention is normal, higher-than-average swelling is not ideal after a filler appointment. Your jawline will already be sore and irritated from the treatment, so it’s best to avoid the extra puffiness until the area heals. Instead, drink plenty of water to flush out the excess salt.
Use UV Protection & Avoid Excess Heat
Although you should be applying sunscreen to your face daily, UV protection is especially important post-filler, since excess UV rays can affect the longevity of your dermal fillers. The damage and inflammation caused by overexposure to the sun stimulates your skin’s healing process. As you shed dead skin cells, the molecules in the filler can be broken down, too. Make sure to wear a topical sunscreen and consider adding a wide-brimmed hat to your daily wardrobe, as well as staying indoors during peak UV hours. You’ll also want to be cautious to avoid extensive heat exposure for 72 hours after your treatment, as it could negatively impact your results or cause excessive swelling.
Schedule a Combination Treatment
It’s good practice to schedule a follow-up appointment for two weeks after your initial treatment. That way, your provider can evaluate how the filler is settling into your face, even out any asymmetry, or add more product if needed. Many clients also choose to pair filler with other anti-aging treatments — like Botox, microneedling, or chemical peels — to boost their results.
What Is a Seborrheic Keratosis?
Seborrheic keratoses affect us all at one point or another. What are these skin growths, how do you identify them, and what are your next steps if one appears? Whether you’re wondering about the unfamiliar spots popping up on your skin or just want to be prepared, our well-trained providers are here to answer all your seborrheic keratosis questions.
What is a seborrheic keratosis?
A seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin lesion. This means they are not at risk of developing into a cancerous lesion. If you see one, don’t panic! These spots are common, like a mole or sun spot, so plenty of patients have them. While they sometimes can look suspicious, or in some cases even look like skin cancer, they are harmless. Doctors don’t all agree on what causes them to appear, but new research has linked seborrheic keratosis growth to genetic mutations, changes in estrogen levels, and sun exposure. While more research is needed to understand their cause, we know they are epidermal tumors. This means they are made up of excess clumps of cells in the skin’s outermost layer.
Am I at risk for developing seborrheic keratosis?
Although people of all ages are susceptible, a seborrheic keratosis appears most commonly during middle to late adulthood. More than 90% of people over the age of 65 have at least one. These growths affect men and women equally, but other demographic factors — like skin tone — play a role. Generally, you are more likely to develop a seborrheic keratosis if you…
Have a family history
Have fair skin
Are pregnant
Have taken hormone therapy
Have a FGFR3 or PIK3CA genetic mutation
Spend a significant amount of time in the sun
How can you identify a seborrheic keratosis?
Seborrheic keratoses come in all shapes and sizes. In part one of her series on benign skin growths, Jessica, PA-C teaches us that these particular growths can be any shade of brown, ranging from light tan to black. As for shape, they can be raised or flat, and their texture ranges from rough to waxy. It’s important to note that location can vary depending on skin color: for those with darker skin, seborrheic keratoses usually appear around the eyes, while those with fair to medium skin usually find them on the torso, neck, face, or scalp. They never appear on the palms or soles of the feet.
What should you do if you have one?
The trickiest thing about a seborrheic keratosis is that it can resemble other cancerous and benign tumors, including melanoma. We recommend scheduling a skin check with an experienced provider who is well-trained in distinguishing between different types of skin growths. That way you can feel comfortable knowing that your skin is healthy and has no potentially dangerous spots, lumps, or bumps.
Seborrheic keratoses are not going to harm you, so there is no medical reason for a removal. However, if removing your spots will give you a confidence boost or minimize discomfort in a high-friction area, our providers can help! There are three common treatment avenues:
Gently scraping them off of the skin’s surface
Lightly burning them with an electric current
Freezing them with liquid nitrogen
Mona Dermatology’s experienced team usually employs the freezing method. Click here to schedule a cosmetic appointment and discuss a treatment plan with one of our providers!
Dr. Mona S. Foad and Dr. Alexandra Bowles from Mona Dermatology in Kenwood share how they found their passion for preventative care and why you should be getting your skin checked annually.
Dr. Mona Foad
I remember it like it was yesterday. I walked into the patient room, where I was greeted by a friendly middle aged man with a big smile. He was a little nervous because he had never had a complete skin exam before and was worried about a spot on his back he was told had changed. I started looking at his skin, but my heart sank once I got to his back. Immediately, I biopsied the red, black and brown 1 cm growth staring at me, and hoped that this was not the melanoma I suspected. I wish I had been wrong.
Over the next year, I saw him every 3 months for skin exams and read the reports from his oncologist. I know he fought this disease, but in the end, it was a fight he could not win. Melanoma can be a fatal disease, but with yearly skin exams, we can catch atypical moles, melanomas and other skin cancers before they have a chance to evolve and cause devastation. I may not be able to bring him back to his family and loved ones, but I hope I can encourage people to get yearly skin exams and be aware that early detection is the key.
Dr. Alexandra Bowles
Knowing the signs and symptoms of skin cancer is vital! Living and training in Miami, Florida strengthened my passion for skin cancer prevention. It provided me with intense exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of various skin cancers. I love seeing my patients learn and embrace new habits to be more sun safe, especially after a skin cancer diagnosis. Educating my patients on how to be sun safe is one of my favorite parts of dermatology!
Regardless of skin type, everyone can benefit from learning how to care for our skin properly. It always begins with protecting it from the sun. Wearing sunscreen, utilizing SPF protective clothing, getting annual skin exams, and limiting sun exposure during the time of day with the highest UV index are a few great ways to be sun safe. I can’t wait to bring my experience and passion for dermatology to the patients of Cincinnati!
Fast Facts:
1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer by the age of 70
Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk of melanoma
When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99%
You may be thinking about getting lip fillers, but the myths circulating social media make you second-guess whether it’s the right decision. Every day, Mona Dermatology’s well-trained providers help people achieve natural looking lips using lip fillers in the Cincinnati Area. We are here to address what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to lip augmentation procedures.
Fiction: Lip fillers are always noticeable.
Fact: When done correctly, lip filler treatments can achieve natural-looking results.
Strategic filler placement, volume control, and customized treatments are all components of natural-looking lip results. It is important to schedule a consultation (if you’re in Cincinnati, start here!) before receiving lip fillers so your provider knows exactly what you want out of your treatment. Some people want to enhance their natural lips, while others want to create more volume. Sometimes, patients just want to treat the lipstick lines caused by aging. In the right hands, lip filler can achieve beautiful results.
Fiction: Lip fillers are artificial.
Fact: Hyaluronic acid — used in popular fillers like Juvederm — occurs naturally in the skin.
Mona Dermatology carries a variety of hyaluronic acid-based fillers, including Juvederm Collection, RHA Collection, Restylane and Belatero. Hyaluronic acid is a gooey component of the extracellular matrix and it is found in human tissue, including skin, eyes, and the fluid and connective tissue between your joints. When you undergo a lip augmentation, your dermatologist is injecting a small amount of hyaluronic-acid-based gel into your lips. Since this substance is naturally occurring, it has a very low risk of causing an allergic reaction.
Fiction: I don’t need a professional. I can do lip fillers at home.
Fact: Lip injections can only be safely performed by a licensed professional.
Lip augmentation is a medical procedure, so medical professionals should perform it. Any time you use a needle, you risk infection. Make sure that the medical setting is and clean and takes precautions to decrease your risk of infection. Pay attention to whether your skin is being cleaned with an antiseptic prior to any procedure. In addition, unsterilized needles can lead to needle born illnesses like HIV and hepatitis, and your health care provider should use disposable needles to avoid cross contamination. Medical offices have rigorous sterilization procedures to ensure providers throughly clean sharp objects between patients. These are difficult to reproduce at home.
Additionally, poor injection technique invites the risk of occlusion, or fillers injected into blood vessels or arteries and blocking blood flow. This can be a serious adverse event which in the untrained hand can lead to more serious complications including tissue loss. A well-trained provider will know how to manage any complication that may arise, so it is important to choose the right one for your lip filler treatment to avoid risks like infection, scarring, burning, tissue damage, pigmentation disorders and more. Look for an office directed by a board-certified physician with extensive experience performing lip augmentations. Request before-and-after photos from satisfied patients and remember to ask lots of questions!
Even non-invasive at-home options, like Hyaluron pens, are unreliable and imprecise. The filler enters the lips via microscopic holes created by the force of pressurized air, which the Hyaluron pen releases in short bursts. These bursts can be difficult to control, leaving the user with an uneven distribution of product and lumpy-looking lips.
Fiction: Lip fillers cause cancer.
Fact: There is no clinical evidence that fillers impact the immune system.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light causes skin cancer, not dermal fillers. Sunscreen and regular skin exams are your best friend when it comes to lowering your risk of skin cancer.
Fiction: Once you get lip fillers, you’re stuck with them.
Fact: Hyaluronic acid-based lip fillers gradually dissolve over time. If necessary, a provider can easily dissolve them with hyaluronidase.
Lip filler will dissolve naturally over time, so you never have them forever, even if you wish you could. Hyaluronidase is a protein enzyme that breaks the bonds holding hyaluronic acid molecules together and encourages the body to naturally reabsorb those molecules. These highly targeted injections will not dissolve the hyaluronic acid that your body produces naturally.
Identifying Skin Cancer Spots
May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month and the team at Mona Dermatology in Kenwood is sharing their top tips to be sun smart and recognize skin cancer spots this summer!
Dr. Mona’s Sun Smart Tips
Get a complete skin exam with your dermatologist yearly
Do your own skin checks regularly
Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen
Avoid mid-day sun 10am-2pm
Wear a broad-brimmed hat
Consider wearing UPF clothing for added protection
Types of Skin Cancer:
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer with over 1 million diagnosed per year.
When found early, this skin cancer is highly treatable. An early basal cell carcinoma can often be removed during an appointment with your dermatologist.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer.
Chronic sun exposure is a risk factor for developing a squamous cell carcinoma.
Finding this skin cancer early is important so that we can treat it before it grows deeper into the skin and has a chance to spread.
Melanoma
Melanoma arises from the pigment producing cells in your body called melanocytes. These cells give color to your skin and are what make up your moles. Melanoma can arise from a pre-existing mole or can develop on your normal skin as a new growth.
While fewer people get melanoma than the other types of skin cancer, developing melanoma can be more serious because it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Although melanoma is an aggressive cancer, early detection is key because early detection translates into a higher cure rate.
ABCDE’s of Melanoma
A – Asymmetry
Moles should be symmetrical, not asymmetrical. Each half should be like the other.
B – Border
Moles should be round or oval and not have irregular borders.
C – Color
Each mole should be a single color, not multiple colors or darker than the other moles on your body.
D – Diameter or Different
Moles should be smaller than a pencil eraser and should not be growing in size. They also should not be different than your other moles. Look for the “ugly duckling mole” that does not fit with the rest of your moles.
E – Evolving
Moles should not be changing in color, size, or shape.
Cincinnati is one of only a few cities in the country to have the newest technology in non-surgical anti-aging. In the fall of 2022, Mona Dermatology in Kenwood premiered the new “EmFace” treatment. It was one of three locations in Ohio–and the only one in Cincinnati–selected to launch this new technology.
How does EmFace work?
EmFace is the newest device from BTL, the makers of the popular body-sculpting treatment EmSculpt Neo. EmFace will use a patented technology of muscle contraction and skin tissue heating to tighten, lift and rejuvenate facial skin in a way that no other treatment has before.
Is this a new method?
Skin tissue heating has been a pillar of the aesthetics industry for years. Whether through RadioFrequency, Ultrasound, or lasers, heating the tissue in the skin creates injury and results in an increase in collagen and elastin production. Over time, this can make skin look tighter, reduce wrinkles, and give an overall more youthful appearance. Muscle contraction for the face is a new innovation, but it is rooted in equally strong science. EmFace uses High Frequency Electrical Stimulation (HIFES) technology to tighten the muscle layer as well as radiofrequency to build collagen and tighten the skin overlying the muscle.
Who can benefit from EmFace?
As we get older, we start losing the support structures of our skin, bone, muscle, fat, and collagen. Currently, we replace lost volume with fillers, tighten and lift loose skin with radiofrequency or ultrasound. We also repair sun damaged skin with lasers, lights and chemical peels. Up to this point, we have not had anything that could safely address one of our skin’s basic support structures, the muscle layer. EmFace will be a first-of-its-kind procedure to address this important component in facial aging.
“For years, non-invasive treatments that use RadioFrequency or Ultrasound technology have been some of my favorite options for patients that want to tighten skin, build collagen, and continue to look and feel their best.” shares Dr. Mona Foad. “When I first heard about this technology I knew that this would revolutionize our non-surgical treatment of the aging face. I am so excited to be bringing our patients the EmFace device because it will take this incredible technology a step further as we lift and tighten muscle and skin to reverse the signs of aging in this no downtime and painless procedure.”
