ZEL NEWS

Dr. Brian Zelickson Talks About Light and Laser Therapies
on Showcase Minnesota

Dr. Brian Zelickson Speaks at Harvard Medical School

Dr. Brian Zelickson recently answered some tough questions posed by national and international leaders in laser and aesthetic skin therapy at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Zelickson was a key speaker at the expert course, The Laser and Aesthetic Skin Therapy: What’s the Truth? The topic of discussion focused on the real benefit of each new and emerging technology in treating aging skin, vascular lesions, wrinkles, tattoos, acne and more problems.

Clarisonic is here

This cordless device with its sensitive brush head offers everything you need to sonically cleanse and clarify your skin. It removes dry skin, reduces oily areas and blemishes, and diminishes the appearance of large pores, fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin looks smoother, healthier and radiant. No wonder Oprah calls it “a miracle massage for your face”! To purchase, stop by or call us at 952–929–8888.

Silk’n and Tria Hair Removal Systems Now Available at Zel

Zel is the only place in Minnesota that offers both the Silk’n and Tria personal laser hair removal systems. These remarkable light–based devices allow you to achieve clinical results in removing unwanted hair in the privacy of your home. For more information or to purchase, simply stop by or call us at 952–929–8888.

Join the fun

What:  “Fun” Raiser for the Fashion Group International Foundation of Minneapolis/St. Paul

When:  Thursday, Sept. 25, 4–9 p.m.

Where:  50th & France businesses, including Zel Skin & Laser Specialists!

Zel is proud to be a sponsor of the Fashion Group International Foundation (FGI) of Minneapolis/St. Paul’s “Fun” Raiser on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 4–9 p.m. The foundation funds fashion–related scholarships, internships, educational seminars, and public service activities.

The event starts at 4 p.m. at “Ladies Night Out” at 50th & France and includes a tour of Zel facilities at 6 p.m. with free wine, cheese and skincare product samples. At 7 p.m., Dr. Brian Zelickson will make a presentation at Tejas Restaurant, and $1,000 in gift certificates for Zel services will be given away.

The event ends with a “Fall Trends” presentation by other 50th & France merchants. For more information about this exciting event, go to the FGI Web site: http://minneapolisstpaul.fgi.org.

Dr. Zelickson Speaks at Conference

Dr. Brian Zelickson made a faculty presentation in August at the “Controversies & Conversation in Laser and Cosmetic Surgery: An Advanced Symposium” in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The event, attended by laser and aesthetic surgeons, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists, oculoplastic surgeons and other health care personnel from around the world, offered ongoing discussion about current trends and state–of–the–art techniques in cutaneous and aesthetic surgery. 

Zel Exhibits Work of Photographer Ruth Thorne–Thomsen

The otherworldly photographs of American photographer Ruth Thorne–Thomsen will be on display at Zel this fall. Thorne–Thomsen, whose work is in major museums around the world, uses a process called pinhole photography to create myth–like scenes. The photographs have been graciously loaned to Zel by the Jon Oulman Gallery and Salon (www.jonoulman.com).

Fraxel Laser:
As Seen on the Today Show 

Zel has the new Fraxel Repair laser treatment recently featured as a “mini–medical miracle” on NBC’s Today Show. Here’s a video of the Today Show segment, which contains great graphics and before–and–after photos:



You can read more about the Fraxel and other laser skin treatments here.

VelaShape:
A New Non-Invasive Treatment for Cellulite

Want your thighs to look smoother and smaller during the upcoming shorts–and– swimsuit season, but don’t want to undergo liposuction?

Then consider the VelaShape procedure now available at Zel.

VelaShape is a new FDA–approved non–surgical solution for the temporary reduction of the appearance of cellulite. Clinical studies have shown the procedure also temporarily reduces thigh circumference by an average of three–quarters–of–an–inch.

VelaShape achieves these results by using a combination of infrared light and radio frequency energies. The heat from both types of energies increases the metabolism of the skin’s fatty top layer and shrinks the size of fat cells. In addition, VelaShape’s gentle vacuum–suction device increases blood circulation and massages the skin, resulting in a smoother, less dimpled surface.

Although its results are not as obvious as liposuction, VelaShape does provide fast, visible improvements with as few as four office visits–and without surgery. The results can last from one to six months (or more).

VelaShape can also help reduce fat on other areas of your body, such as your stomach, those “love handles” around your abdomen and your upper arms.

With age comes a pearl of wisdom:
New Pearl Laser skin rejuvenation treatment

At Zel, we’re continually updating our laser technology so we can offer you state–of–the–art skin repair and rejuvenation treatments. Recently, we obtained the Pearl laser, a new and highly effective laser therapy that uses pulses of light to gently resurface sun– and age–damaged skin. Not only does this treatment gently remove the top layer of damaged skin, it also stimulates new collagen growth, filling out and decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. The result: a healthier, more vibrant appearance.


A Warning About Mesotherapy:
It’s Not a Proven Safe Alternative to Liposuction

At Zel, we believe in evidence–based medicine.  In other words, we offer our patients only those treatments and procedures that have been proven safe and effective by scientific studies.

That’s why are currently not offering one of the latest fat–melting fads: mesotherapy. This non–FDA approved procedure is often touted as a non–surgical alternative to liposuction, various liquid chemicals are injected into the skin’s subcutaneous tissue (the mesoderm) to stimulate fat cells and cause them to “melt away.”

Despite all the hype and publicity surrounding mesotherapy, no credible evidence exists to show that the procedure actually works. During the 50 years since mesotherapy was first “invented” in France, its practitioners have produced not a single randomized, double–blinded controlled study to show that the procedure dissolves fat cells.

Nor have they proven that it’s safe.  In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the procedure.

Until such studies are conducted and published in peer–reviewed journals, consumers should be leery of mesotherapy. Here are some of our specific concerns:

     • The substances used in the injections have never been standardized.
       So during the mesotherapy procedure, you could be injected with just
       about anything, from prescription medications to plant extracts to
       vitamins–none of which has been studied for this purpose.

     • One drug frequently used is phosphatidylcholine, which can cause
       severe skin reactions. Brazil, a country usually less strict about
       approving drugs than the United States, has specifically banned
       phosphatidylcholine for this procedure.

     • Even when phosphatidylcholine isn’t the substance used for the
       injections, consumers are at significant risk of developing various
       prolonged skin reactions and infections.

     • No one knows what long–term effects these injected substances may
       have on the body’s other tissues.

     • It is also now becoming common to inject a pure solution of
       deoxycholate. This can be very painful and cause long term
       inflammation and injury.

While it is very enticing to be able to reduce fat with a series of injections, until the substance and protocols have been FDA approved exercise and diet with or without standard liposuction is still the best therapy for fat reduction. Currently several prospective randomized studies using well defined protocols are now underway. Until this data is out and the FDA approves this for use we follow the Position Statement of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery to not recommend this therapy.

Our promise to you is that we believe in evidence based medicine and will only offer you proven FDA approved therapies.