What Is Aesthetic Medicine?: A Day in the Life of an Aesthetic Physician Assistant
Aesthetic medicine is a branch of modern medicine that focuses on altering a patient’s cosmetic appearance through a variety of medical grade treatments. As an aesthetic physician assistant at VITRA Aesthetics in Long Island, my job is to help people enhance their natural beauty through a range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments. These treatments can include neurotoxin and/or dermal filler injections, and various skin treatments, such as radiofrequency microneedling and broadband light.
So what does a typical day in the life of an aesthetic physician assistant look like? Let me walk you through it!
Morning Routine
I start my day early, arriving at the clinic at around 8 a.m. After checking my schedule for the day, I review my patient files and prepare for my consultations. I ensure that I have all the necessary equipment, supplies, and materials ready for the day.
Patient Consultations
The first part of my day involves patient consultations for skin services. During these consultations, I meet with patients to get a detailed medical history and discuss their aesthetic concerns. Together, we develop a personalized treatment plan. This is an important step, as it allows me to understand their goals and expectations and to create a treatment plan that meets their unique needs.
Many of our patients come to us with concerns about their appearance. This may include fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, or other cosmetic issues. These concerns can have a significant impact on their self-esteem and confidence, and it's our job to help them find solutions that will help them feel better about themselves.
As we work with our patients to achieve their aesthetic goals, we often see a transformation in their confidence and self-esteem. Patients who were once hesitant to smile or make eye contact because of their appearance become more outgoing and confident as they see the results of their treatments. This transformation is incredibly satisfying and fulfilling. It's rewarding to see the positive impact that our work can have on our patients' lives, and it's one of the reasons why many of us choose to work in this field.
In addition to building personal relationships with our patients, we also work closely with other healthcare professionals—including physicians, nurses, and other support staff. Collaborating with these professionals allows us to provide comprehensive care to our patients and ensures that we can offer the best and safest treatments and outcomes.
Treatments
After my consultations, I move on to performing treatments. These can include neurotoxin injections, dermal filler injections, RF microneedling, and broadband light therapy. Each treatment requires careful attention to detail and a steady hand to achieve the best possible results. The number of treatments I perform in a day varies depending on the complexity of the treatment and the amount of time required.
Charting
I update the patient's chart with the details of the procedure and any follow-up instructions. I make note of settings, dosage adjustments, supplies used (size of needles, type of cannula, etc.) and technique utilized. This is an essential step in providing quality care and ensuring that patients receive the best possible results with each treatment. I also make sure to emphasize any allergies or past medical history that may impact the procedure.
Continuing Education
I am always striving to improve my skills and knowledge. I spend time each day reading industry publications, attending seminars and conferences, and staying up to date with the latest research and advancements in the field of aesthetic medicine. This helps me stay current with the latest trends and techniques and ensures that I can provide the best possible care to my patients.
End of Day
At the end of the day, I take time to clean and sanitize my equipment, restock my supplies, and prepare for the next day. I also review my schedule and follow up with any patients who require additional care or support.
Conclusion
As an aesthetic physician assistant, my days are busy and filled with a variety of tasks and responsibilities. From patient consultations and treatments to charting and record-keeping, I strive to provide the highest quality care to each of my patients. While the work can be challenging at times, it is incredibly rewarding to help people feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin!
For more information, contact VITRA Aesthetics Clinic by calling 631.662.7880 or sending a message online.
Here Are 5 Surprising Ways Cosmetic Treatments Can Benefit Your Life
Some people struggle with the decision to spend money on themselves and consider it a “treat” to get aesthetic treatments. While self-care and self-improvement can seem indulgent, it’s important to remember that aesthetic treatments can be an effective way to not only improve one's physical appearance but also their mental and emotional well-being. By feeling good about ourselves, we are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors and activities that can positively impact our overall quality of life. It’s more than an indulgence or a treat; it’s an important part of improving our life. At VITRA Aesthetics Clinic, offering cosmetic treatments in Long Island, we understand this very well and make it our objective to focus on not just the outer beauty but the wellness of the whole patient.
Here are some of the ways that aesthetic treatments can positively affect our lives:
Boost in Self-Esteem
Aesthetic treatments such as injectables, facials, chemical peels, and laser treatments can improve the appearance of the skin, reducing blemishes, and other imperfections and addressing aging concerns. This can lead to an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence, which can positively impact a person's overall mood and quality of life.
Reduction in Stress and Anxiety
Visiting a spa or receiving an aesthetic treatment can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. This can lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety, as well as an increase in feelings of well-being and relaxation. At VITRA, we want you to enjoy your experience, and we make sure you are comfortable and relaxed throughout your treatments.
Improved Physical Health
Certain aesthetic treatments, like IV vitamin therapy, can have physical health benefits beyond their aesthetic benefits.
Social Benefits
When we feel good about our appearance, we are more likely to engage in social activities and interactions. This can lead to an increase in social connections, which in turn can positively impact our mental health and overall sense of well-being.
Long-Term Benefits
Some aesthetic treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing and RF microneedling, can have long-lasting results. This can lead to a sustained boost in self-esteem and confidence, which can positively impact a person's overall quality of life for years to come.
Our caring and experienced team at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic can explain more about how aesthetic procedures can help you feel and look your best. Call us at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form if you would like to request a consultation to discuss what treatments would be right for you.
How Can CoolSculpting® Help You Achieve Your Goals?
It’s March. How are your 2023 resolutions going these days? No matter how you’re doing, keep this in mind: Every day is an opportunity for a fresh start—especially if you have backup from a team, like all of us at VITRA Aesthetics. With that in mind, you may be wondering: Are cosmetic treatments good for resolutions? Our Long Island-based practice knows that at the beginning of the year, many of us are thinking about our annual resolutions. The new year offers an opportunity for self-improvement, so many women and men decide to make positive changes.
Many of the most common resolutions people have focus on becoming healthier and fitter or losing weight. Unfortunately, many of these most common resolutions also fizzle out.
The best way to truly transform your look in the new year is by maintaining a proper attitude, realistic expectations, and doing research. Cosmetic procedures are meant to be complementary to a healthy lifestyle, but they can also be a driving force in maintaining positive changes long after January has come and gone.
If you want to enhance your body and get a slimmer, more toned look, it’s the perfect time to consider non-surgical body contouring treatments like CoolSculpting® for sculpting diet-resistant areas. Sculpting the body shape you want can be difficult, even with the best workout routine. When you’ve lost weight through a healthy lifestyle, there may still be one or more areas that you can’t seem to slim down.
CoolSculpting® involves causing fat cells to freeze and then be metabolized by the body for leaner, more defined body contours. It works well on small, stubborn areas of fat that don’t respond to diet or exercise. The great thing about this procedure is that no surgery or downtime are involved. Although CoolSculpting® is not a weight loss treatment, it can reduce inches and help you fit better in clothes.
CoolSculpting® and other types of cosmetic treatments can also have psychological benefits. When we feel like we look our best, we tend to perform better at work and in other situations. We’re also more likely to charge forward with our goals and exude positivity when we feel better about ourselves. Cosmetic treatments in combination with a healthy lifestyle can help some people achieve this. Some studies suggests that these procedures boost self-esteem and allow you to enjoy a higher quality of life!
Our supportive team at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic can explain more about how aesthetic procedures can help you attain your desired look. Call us at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form if you would like to request a consultation to discuss fat-reduction options.
Who Would Be a Good Candidate for BBL® HERO™?
BBL® HERO™ at our Long Island-based clinic is a single treatment with a variety of benefits. That’s good, because your skin faces a variety of stressors every day! A combination of excessive sun exposure, pollution, hormones, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can contribute to an uneven tone—and, of course, there’s that pesky thing called “aging” to remember.
Fortunately, light-based treatments have long offered an effective approach to rejuvenating the skin and improving a wide range of issues. Intense pulsed light treatments target a variety of cosmetic concerns, including fine lines and wrinkles, scars, uneven skin tone, rosacea, melasma, and acne scars. As one of the most recent and advanced light-based treatments available, BBL® HERO™ from Sciton generates beautiful results with more benefits than ever before.
The device features increased speed, a shortened pulse width, and twice the cooling capacity of its predecessor as it gives off photothermal energy to heat the skin. That means BBL® HERO™ can cover large areas with virtually no discomfort. Due to its improved design, you’ll soon see results from this advanced BroadBand Light device. This option is also gentler in comparison to many other skin rejuvenation techniques, such as laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels.
The best candidates for BBL® HERO™ include:
- Patients who have light to medium skin tones
- Patients with minor skin imperfections, such as uneven or blotchy skin, and broken capillaries
- Patients who want to tighten their skin
- Patients with skin conditions such as rosacea and active acne
- Patients who want to turn back the clock by addressing the visible effects of aging skin
BBL® HERO™ is highly effective on its own, but it can also be combined with other treatments, such as laser-based MOXI®, for even better results.
Ready to see this advanced treatment in action for yourself? Contact VITRA Aesthetics Clinic to get answers to your questions about this and other cosmetic options. During your consultation, we will examine your skin and talk to you about your goals to determine whether IPL treatments would be the most effective option for you. Call us at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form if you would like to talk more about this treatment—and get started on rejuvenating today!
Why Do We Have “Problem Areas” on the Body?
Patients on a journey of cosmetic transformation often ask us, “Which body sculpting method is best?” Our Long Island-based team at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic recommends specific treatments based on the patient, since every person’s needs—and goals—are unique.
That said, almost everyone has at least one part of their body they wish they could change, whether it’s the thighs, the upper arms, or a double chin. As much as we’d like to specifically exercise or diet away that one problem area keeping us from having the look we want, there’s unfortunately no guarantee that our body shape and type will be exactly the way we want it to be—even after reducing overall body weight. For example, you may want a balanced, hourglass shape but be unable to lose stubborn fat on the stomach or thighs. It can seem like fat refuses to leave from “problem areas” regardless of how strict of a diet we follow or how much time we spend working out.
The reason why it’s often tricky to reduce fat from specific areas is because factors we have little control over—including genetics and hormones—influence how we store fat on our bodies. For example, men and women are essentially programmed to store fat differently. On some men, fat tends to collect in the abdominal area, while some women tend to store more fat on the lower body.
Happily, there’s a way to restore a more balanced, firmer body shape. EvolveX by InMode is a new, non-surgical body contouring device that can transform the appearance of the body by lifting and remodeling skin, reducing fat, and toning muscles. Also, as we age, sagging can occur on the lower face, and the contours of the face may change. Evoke is a facial rejuvenation platform from InMode that adds definition to the cheeks, neck, and jawline to reshape the face by delivering bipolar radiofrequency energy to the subdermal area.
This works well for many people, since problem areas many not only be caused by excess fat that lingers, but also loose, stretched-out skin and/or poor muscle tone.
EvolveX Body Reshaping is ideal for patients who want to reduce excess fat, tighten loose skin, and build muscle to sculpt their ideal body shape, while Evoke Facial Reshaping is best for patients who want to improve their facial contours. CoolSculpting® is a fat-freezing option for patients who want to focus on slimming down isolated areas where loose skin is not a concern.
Which contour-sculpting method is best for you? Our Long Island-based team at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic is available to answer this and other questions about cosmetic treatments. Call us at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form if you would like to discuss your options.
How Can Cheek Fillers Enhance Your Appearance?
Facial fillers are highly versatile treatments that can improve various aspects of any face—without the need for surgery. Many of the most popular types of temporary facial fillers are made with hyaluronic acid to create gels injected beneath the skin’s surface to fill in wrinkles or to augment certain facial features. While considering treatments for lines and hollows, patients sometimes also ask us, “Do cheek fillers make you look slimmer?” Our Long Island-based team explains that it’s indeed possible to alter the shape of the face, making it appear thinner with the help of cheek fillers. Injectables can also add fullness that emphasizes desirable proportions.
Overall, the cheeks are an important element in bringing balance to the face and giving it attractive contours. High, full cheekbones are associated with a youthful appearance, whereas flattened cheekbones can make you appear older.
If you naturally have a rounder face because of genetics, fillers can be used to add definition to the cheekbone area and give your face a more defined and angular appearance. The gel can be used to better define your natural facial bone structure.
On the other hand, some patients may want to soften the face instead—and this is also possible! Fillers can improve the volume of the cheeks to fill out and rejuvenate an area that has developed a gaunt or flat look. Hyaluronic acid fillers are ideal for the cheek area because they are adjustable: More filler can be added if necessary, and the material can be dissolved as desired for the reverse effect.
Beyond hyaluronic acid-based fillers, there are also semi-permanent injectables such as Sculptra® and Radiesse® that provide longer-lasting results and are effective for filling deep hollows caused by significant volume loss. Semi-permanent fillers are known as collagen stimulatory or biostimulatory fillers because, unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, they stimulate gradual production of the body’s own collagen to add fullness. These treatments are an ideal way of improving projection for the cheeks.
Which options is best for you? Our Long Island-based injectors at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic can help to answer this question and tell you more about the benefits of the various available injectables. Call us at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form online.
Can HydraFacial® Help with Acne Breakouts?
Our skin thrives in mild, consistent weather, so any drastic changes or intense conditions can lead to skin problems if we aren’t careful. When the temperature gets higher during the summer, it means more oil production, sweating, and pores becoming blocked—which can often result in some terrible acne breakouts. We continue to apply moisturizers, sunscreens, lotions, and oils during the summer, just as we would during the rest of the year, and this also makes flare-ups worse when the products mix with grime, dead skin, bacteria, and sweat. People who are searching for ways to get clearer skin will often ask us, “Does HydraFacial® remove acne?” Here’s what Long Island-area patients should know about how this skin revitalization treatment can benefit acne-prone skin.
If you have blocked pores, acne blemishes, or blackheads, then a HydraFacial® may be exactly the type of facial you need, regardless of what’s causing your acne flare-ups. The great thing about HydraFacial® is that it can target a variety of cosmetic concerns at the same time.
HydraFacial® helps to cleanse the pores of impurities, which is why it can be so helpful for acne. The treatment deeply exfoliates and includes extractions to remove blockages from the pores. It also removes the excess sebum (oil) on the skin that is known to make acne worse. Since it is a microdermabrasion technique, HydraFacial® is believed to improve not just acne, but acne scars as well!
This treatment can be especially helpful for non-inflammatory types of acne such as blackheads, which are partially caused by an accumulation of dead skin cells. HydraFacial® can also soothe inflammation, replenish hydration, and infuse the skin with antioxidants to provide lasting relief from acne breakouts.
As HydraFacial® provides a form of deep cleaning and skin resurfacing, it can be an ideal treatment after the summer to revitalize skin that has become a little dry, washed out, blotchy, or congested from all of the sweat, excess oil, and sunscreen.
Our Long Island-based team at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic can answer more questions and explain further about the benefits of HydraFacial®. Call us at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form if you would like to request a consultation.
What Can You Do to Get Pleasantly Plumper Skin?
Plump, supple, and beautifully full skin is something many of us strive for. Babies and small children have a pleasing, round-faced look that we associate with health and youthfulness. This is thanks to several factors—including abundant collagen. Collagen is the substance that keeps skin from sagging and wrinkling, so when the body starts making less of its own collagen (which happens as we get older), we begin to notice thinner, more fragile, and less elastic skin. After the age of 40, it’s estimated that we lose as much as one percent of our body’s collagen each year. Anyone who wants to address this loss must turn to cosmetic treatments that help to replenish this important building block of the skin. Additionally, facial fat stores in the skin are diminished as time passes, so the skin may become drier, making it appear even thinner. There are many popular cosmetic techniques that purport to make skin thicker, but not all work the same. With that in mind, many people who come to VITRA Aesthetics Clinic want to know: Does microneedling plump skin? Our Long Island-based team often gets asked this question by patients who are seeking ways to treat skin that is thinning or damaged.
If you’re noticing that your eyes look puffy or dark, your skin is dull, and lines that you have developed over the years look more pronounced, it’s likely that you have thin or tired skin that may need extra attention. Microneedling effectively stimulates collagen production and increases elastin fibers by triggering a wound healing processes that gradually makes skin appear fuller and smoother.
Through a series of treatment sessions, microneedling can make the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) thicker and tighter. Along with microneedling, patients can take the following steps to get more voluminous skin:
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that’s excellent for adding hydration to skin because it absorbs and retains large amounts of moisture. Using hyaluronic acid products will help your skin to hold onto moisture so it looks plumper.
Exfoliation
Regular exfoliation helps your skin to shed dead cells so that turnover increases. This gives your skin a brighter, fuller appearance.
If you have questions about skin rejuvenation and achieving a plumper look, our team at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic would be happy to answer them and provide further advice on enhancing your skin’s appearance. Call us at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form to request a consultation.
How Can Cosmetic Procedures Help You Achieve Your Body Goals—Even if You’re a Procrastinator?
Summer is finally here, and the prospect of wearing lighter, more revealing clothes motivates many of us to want to get into our best shape. What many patients want to know is, does QWO® really work for cellulite? Our Long Island-area patients (and others!) can indeed benefit from QWO® to get smoother skin on their buttocks—as well as other treatments for sculpting their ideal body. With this in mind, our team at VITRA Aesthetics Clinic can help you put together a personalized plan to help you achieve your body goals if you want to transform your look.
First, remember that it takes time to get in shape. Similarly, it can take months before fully enjoying the optimal results from many cosmetic treatments, such as QWO® injections, which produce noticeable results within 10 weeks on average.
Procrastination is something we all do, especially if a task feels stressful or overwhelming. If your workout plans got derailed this year, or if you simply put off getting the cosmetic treatment you’ve wanted for too long, the good news is that it’s never too late to start working on your beach body.
Some of the most common cosmetic concerns our patients want to address are cellulite (a harmless but frustrating condition that gives the skin a lumpy, dimpled appearance), deposits of stubborn excess fat, and sagging skin due to aging or weight fluctuations. The most suitable treatment for you all depends on your specific cosmetic concerns and goals.
- QWO® is the only injectable, science-backed treatment that is proven to reduce moderate to severe cellulite on the buttocks. It targets the underlying cause of cellulite: the tense, fibrous bands of collagen below the skin’s surface. The enzymes that QWO® contains release these tightened bands, allowing fat cells to redistribute while promoting the growth of new collagen.
- CoolSculpting® is a popular, non-surgical fat reduction treatment that focuses on isolated pockets of excess fat by freezing the unwanted fat cells. This causes them to eventually break down and be metabolized, sculpting slimmer body contours.
- EvolveX body reshaping is an energy-based technique that promotes fat reduction, skin tightening, and muscle building at the same time by prompting muscle contractions, collagen production, and more.
What do these three treatments have in common? Once you get them done, your own body then works on its own to develop the results. That’s great news for procrastinators, since there’s not much to remember to do after you’ve had your treatment. That said, it’s recommended that you combine aesthetic procedures with a balanced, healthy diet and a consistent exercise routine to maximize results.
Long Island-based VITRA Aesthetics Clinic team can provide more information about injectable cellulite treatments, fat freezing, and other types of cosmetic procedures available from our practice. Call 631-662-7880 or submit a contact formto set up a consultation.
Which Injectable is the Best Option for You?
Starting from as early as our 20s and 30s, it’s common to see the earliest wrinkles begin to form. Even though wrinkles are one part of life that we can’t completely avoid, there are ways to “disguise” the lines so that your face barely appears to age. Since there is a wide variety of injectable wrinkle treatments available on the market—and each is used to treat different concerns—knowing which one you need to address your specific cosmetic needs can be confusing. The main question you might be asking yourself might be: Is it better to get filler or BOTOX®? Our Long Island-based VITRA Aesthetics Clinic team can explain the differences and similarities between these two treatments in detail during your consultation—but don’t worry. You don’t have to know everything about your options, because we will give you the information you need and will help to guide you in making a decision.
The most effective treatment for you depends on what’s causing the signs of aging you want to address. Wrinkles fall into two main categories: static and dynamic.
Dynamic wrinkles are usually the first wrinkles we notice. They are caused by habitual facial expressions and are only visible when the face is in motion. Static wrinkles remain visible in the skin even when the face isn’t moving and are linked to loss of volume or elasticity from the skin rather than muscle contractions.
Injectable facial fillers are gooey, gel-like, transparent substances made from natural or synthetic materials that are injected beneath the skin in strategic areas of the face. They add volume and lift to reduce the depth of wrinkles. These injections are intended for static wrinkles.
BOTOX® is a diluted solution that impacts nerve cells and temporarily limits muscle contractions so that the skin won’t crease on the surface. BOTOX® only works for dynamic wrinkles.
The results from facial fillers last longer, and they have a faster onset, but many patients start with BOTOX® first because dynamic wrinkles begin to develop at a younger age. Or course, scheduling a treatment that takes advantage of both injectables in an option, too.
So is it better to get filler or BOTOX®? Contact Long Island’s VITRA Aesthetics Clinic to learn more about these wrinkle treatments and we’ll help you decide. Call us today at 631-662-7880 or submit a contact form.