Conditions & Concerns

Acne affects millions of teenagers and adults, but here are some treatments that may help…

IPL Photofacial IPL procedures do have limitations on darker skin tones, but they can work wonders. It can calm acne and reduce redness! Photofacial light causes your body to produce new collagen that your skin uses to heal and smooth itself, eliminating existing acne while also working as an acne scar treatment. The best thing about photofacial treatments is that they treat acne just as well as antibiotics, but with zero side effects.

VirtueRF VirtueRF uses fractional radiofrequency and micro-needling to rejuvenate the skin. This collagen building technique is not only great for fighting acne, but also for clearing up old acne scars. Radiofrequency creates the desired controlled damage in the deeper layers of the dermis.

Chemical Peels A chemical peel can smooth skin, reduce oil, and lower the number of cystic acne nodules. A glycolic acid, or alpha-hydroxy peel, is perhaps the most sought after chemical peel for acne treatment. It’s derived from fruits and plants and stimulates new cell growth while allowing dead cells to fall off naturally. 

Acne scars are caused by severe cases of acne, however, acne scars are treatable.

Micro-dermabrasion (Diamond-dermabrasion) Minor acne scars can be smoothed through a simple skin exfoliation.  It can help remove the dead and damaged skin from the surface. Micro-dermabrasion can be useful in treating raised scars from issues like cystic acne. Deeper, sunken scars cannot be treated with this procedure.         

VirtueRF An alternative to laser treatments for acne scars, VirtueRF utilizes intense radiofrequency to smooth your skin. Most people associate VirtueRF with skin tightening, but because it stimulates new collagen growth, many patients noticed it treated their acne scars by default.

Dermal Fillers Dermal fills can help remedy acne scars by filling in the diveted areas caused by scarring, while plumping up your skin. Many dermal fillers will last only a few months, however, Bellafill can last up to 5 years. An injectable is by no means a permanent solution to acne scar removal; it does not correct the acne scar. Eventually, further injections will be necessary.

Age spots and sun spots can be treated with non-surgical skin care.

IPL Photofacial Photofacials use a special florescent pulsed light that penetrates deep into the skin. New collagen and tissue connections are created naturally. It’s as if your skin is returned to its younger healing levels; so, you can deal with sun damage as if you were in your 20’s.

Chemical Peels Some age spotting might be more serious than others. Chemical peels are safe and effective treatments for age spots and other pigmentation problems. Chemical peels remove the layer of skin with the pigmented sun damage. The dead skin simply peels away, and healthier spot-free skin is then able to emerge.

Body contouring is the umbrella term given to all procedures and treatments related to the reduction of inches from the circumference of the body (be it in the midsection, arms, buttocks, thighs, or legs). These procedures generally focus on fat removal, either through injection (mesotherapy), cryotherapy,  laser or radiofrequency energy.

Also known as body shaping or body sculpting, popular body contouring treatment options include Exilis, Vanquish, EmSculpt NEO, and Zerona. Many forms of plastic surgery could also be designated as body contouring procedures, including liposuction, arm lifts (brachioplasty), tummy tucks (abdominoplasty), butt lifts (gluteoplasty … and not to be confused with a “Brazilian butt lift, which adds volume using fat transfer)  and thigh lift (thighplasty) surgery. While some cellulite removal treatments double as body contouring treatments, not all types of body contouring will reduce cellulite.

Today’s woman no longer has to put up with those little lumps that can cause endless amounts of grief and annoyance. There are a number of advanced cellulite treatments available that can successfully reduce and remove cellulite. Cellulite can be tricky to treat, but several non-surgical methods have been known to help reduce visible cellulite.

Exilis Ultra Exilis is a step beyond endermologie by also incorporating radio frequency energy. These energies actually increase your metabolism, burning up all that stored fat your cellulite contains. Exilis is beginning to emerge as the preferred cellulite treatment.

Emtone Emtone is the first and only device which simultaneously delivers both thermal (RF) and mechanical energy (TPE – targeted pressure energy) to treat the major contributing factors of cellulite

Dark under eye circles can be a nuisance, but they can be successfully treated with a number of non-invasive aesthetic treatments.

Dermal Fillers such as Restylane or Bellafill can remove dark circles under the eyes by filling in the hollow portions beneath the lower eyelids, and by filling out areas of puffiness around the eyes. By creating smoother skin, dermal fillers remove the shadows that, sometimes cause the dark circles.

Chemical Peels Chemical peels have also been used to renew skin around the eyes.  By brightening the skin, dark circles are less noticeable.

No longer just associated with the fashionable elite, facial rejuvenation techniques are available across the country, running the gamut from anti-aging creams to skin re-surfacing treatments and injectable dermal fillers. Some of the more popular facial rejuvenation options include: IPL Photofacial, VirtueRF, Botox, Dysport, Ultherapy, Exilis Ultra, Restylane, Radiesse, Bellafill, Chemical Peels and Micro-Dermabrasion.   

Generally speaking, facial rejuvenation refers to any available technique or procedure focused on restoring a youthful, vibrant appearance to a person’s skin.

The signs of wear brought on by aging, sun exposure, or poor health habits often exhibit themselves most noticeably in the face. These imperfections can include wrinkles, age spots, acne, blackheads, acne scars, freckles, large pores, and sagging skin. Facial rejuvenation targets these problems and provides ideal solutions for patients seeking cosmetic enhancement without the downtime associated with surgical procedures.

Luckily, while these facial veins do carry blood, they’re not part of the venous valve system, so facial veins can be removed without any worry of harming yourself. The main facial vein treatments are sclerotherapy, radiofrequency, and IPL treatments. These are permanent solutions to your facial veins. Once a particular vessel has been destroyed, it will never return.  Of note, these treatments do not prevent future facial vein development. If you’re prone to facial veins, getting rid of them could be an ongoing struggle, but at least there’s help. These techniques can also help with skin tags, cherry angiomas,  and facial telangiectasis

IPL Photofacial  Lasers and light-based treatments are the best solution for those smaller facial spider veins. All laser procedures for facial veins basically work by the same principle. The laser’s energy is absorbed by red blood vessels, but not by the surrounding tissue. The heat generated burns the capillaries, which are destroyed, and your body absorbs the remains. 

There are several treatments for lightening or removing freckles, which include:

IPL Photofacial  Using IPL on freckles is the most effective solution to deal with them. A photofacial is the preferred light-based treatment to use on freckles because of its lack of side effects and downtime. The IPL wavelength is absorbed by the unwanted spot and actually breaks apart the pigment. These fragmented pigments are absorbed back into the body, leaving little to no trace of the original freckle.  Beware… you will look worse before you look better, and the freckles can return with sun exposure.

Chemical Peels  For freckle reduction, either a superficial or deep chemical peel can achieve significant lightening of your unwanted spots. A more superficial chemical peel like a glycolic peel can help lighten freckles, but it may take many repeated treatments to see results. A deeper, highly concentrated peel can give you a more dramatic result, however the recovery process is much longer and more painful.

Bleaching  Prescription skin bleaching agents, such as hydroquinone, are available and extremely effective.

PRP Therapy Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. In this way, PRP injections use each individual patient’s own healing system to improve musculoskeletal problems. This technology has been found to help reverse hair loss and rejuvenate the skin. 

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that is characterized by excessive and often unpredictable sweating of the underarms, hands, feet, face and head. Most of us sweat when we exercise or exert ourselves, when we are in a hot environment (like our lovely state of Florida), or when we are anxious or under stress. The excessive sweating experienced with hyperhidrosis far exceeds such normal sweating.

Botox & Dysport Botox and Dysport injections usually work best to treat axillary hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating in the underarms. Although Botox/Dysport for underarm sweating is not a permanent solution to the problem, most patients do experience a considerable decrease in sweat production that lasts at least several months.

Injectable dermal fillers have become the easiest way to smooth away those unwanted wrinkles (and provide instant gratification).  A lot of dermal fillers are very similar but the one used will depend on what area is being injected.  Some dermal fillers might be better at filling laugh lines, while others are great at enhancing lips or filling in acne scars. 

Bellafill This unique product is a long-lasting filler comprised of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) microspheres and bovine collagen.  It provides and elegant fill and can last up to 5 years. Bellafill might be a bit much for your first cosmetic dermal filler, but if you’ve already used a filler such as Restylane, you’ll probably love Bellafill.

Restylane This dermal filler is made from a synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural component of healthy skin. Restylane works well to correct fine lines and wrinkles and especially well for lip augmentation.  Depending on the area which is injected, Restylane can last 6-12 months.

Radiesse Radiesse contains calcium and phosphate ions, found naturally in our bones and teeth. This makes Radiesse a very strong and versatile dermal filler. It has the same effects as Restylane, creating volume and decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Radiesse, however, can last for up to 12-18 months.

Some women have a personalized concern with regard to a condition known as Labia Minora Hypertrophy, where the inner labia are larger/thicker than desired.  Common symptoms of labial hypertrophy include:

• Discomfort with certain activities (biking, running, horseback riding, and intercourse)
• Frequent labia yeast infections and/or skin irritation
• A disconcerting bulge when wearing tight clothing such as a bathing suit

Labiaplasty Dr. Bernstein is highly trained to successfully and effectively address the condition in a surgical manner with amazing results tailored to each individual woman’s desires.

Toners and astringents can temporarily reduce the size of your pores, but the best way to unclog your large pores is with a deep exfoliation. Home remedies for battling large pores include anything from sugar scrubs to egg white masks. At-home exfoliation can help in some cases, and it certainly can’t hurt. However, at the end of the day, there really is nothing better than medical grade spa treatments like micro-dermabrasion, photofacials, VirtueRF and chemical peels.

Micro-dermabrasion is a safe and proven method for treating minor skin damage. Your pores are filled with oil and dead skin and the only way to really clean them out is with an intensive exfoliation. After your micro-dermabrasion, you’ll actually be able to feel the difference on your face right away; you’ll feel cleaner and 10 lbs. lighter. (Sign me up!)

Chemical Peels A good peel can offer your pores a deeper level of exfoliation than micro-dermabrasion. As your clogged pores and dead skin are pulled away, healthier skin is encouraged to grow back in its place. While recovery is more intensive than a micro-dermabrasion, the results can be even greater. You can generally expect younger, softer skin from a chemical peel with noticeably smaller pores. Also offered is a micro-peel, which is a combination of micro-dermabrasion with a chemical peel. A micro-dermabrasion before a chemical peel allows for deeper penetration of the product into your pores.

VirtueRF This micro-needling/radiofrequency combination is a power house when it comes to fighting large pores. While gently resurfacing the skin surface, there is lifting and tightening of the skin due to the creation of new collagen and it also reduces the appearance of the pore size.   

Injectable fillers like Restylane and Juvederm can work double duty as wrinkle removers and lip enhancers, adding a practical and aesthetically pleasing fullness and definition that can range anywhere from a subtle plump-up to Angelina Jolie lips.

A Liquid Facelift is a term that is used to describe a non-surgical treatment involving multiple dermal fillers and a neuromodulator. Unlike a traditional facelift, a Liquid Facelift does not involve surgery nor general anesthesia. Instead, a combination of some of the most respected and effective injectables are used to restore youthfulness to a patient’s face. The injectables used during a Liquid Facelift can vary, but they often include Bellafill, Botox, Dysport, Radiesse and Restylane. It’s an increasingly popular option for people that don’t need a surgical facelift yet, or those that don’t want to undergo surgery.

Liquid Rhinoplasty has become increasingly popular as well, with the use of the above-mentioned products, to reduce the appearance of “humps/bumps” at the top of the nose or to lift the tip of the nose. 

IPL Photofacial Photofacial for rosacea could be the best treatment available, particularly for clearing up redness of the skin. Intense pulsed light get deep into the skin to target the capillaries. These reddened veins heat up and die, causing them to be harmlessly absorbed back into the body.

VirtueRF VirtueRF helps your body create new collagen and helps with tone and texture of the skin.

Urinary stress incontinence occurs when an activity such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising causes a small amount of urine to leak from the urethra, which is the tube urine passes through. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common type of incontinence suffered by women, especially older women. In addition, women who have given birth are more likely to have stress incontinence.

With stress incontinence, movements and activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, and lifting put greater abdominal pressure on the bladder. That causes the leakage of urine.

There are a number of contributing factors. SUI can result from weak muscles in the pelvic floor or a weak sphincter muscle at the neck of the bladder. A problem with the way the sphincter muscle opens and closes can also result in stress incontinence. Chronic coughing, smoking, and obesity may also contribute to SUI.

Stress incontinence, especially in women, is often caused by physical changes to the body. Things that can cause these changes include pregnancy and childbirth, menstruation, menopause, pelvic surgery, problems with muscles in the bladder and the urethra, weakened muscles around the bladder.

Emsella is a breakthrough treatment for incontinence and confidence. This unique technology revolutionizes women’s intimate health and wellness by providing those suffering from incontinence with a completely non-invasive option.

Chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion both use exfoliation techniques to remove sun spots. Chemical peels use a solution to literally peel off the top layer of sun damaged skin. New, healthier skin grows back. Micro-dermabrasion uses a fine aluminum oxide spray or a diamond tip to gently exfoliate your skin. Dead and damaged skin is removed during the process. Both of these treatments are minimally effective since they only address the most superficial layers of the skin.  Generally speaking, sun spots come from deep within the skin and, that will require a more aggressive approach.

Photofacials use light to break down the unwanted pigmentation. Initially the spot gets darker and appears worse, however in about one week, the spot flakes off and you are left with a flawless look! 

Prescription products, such as Obagi Medical, use 4% hydroquinone which is very effective in combatting sun spots, sun damage, age spots, and freckles.  

The sun can be your best friend or worst enemy. Sunlight can provide your skin with Vitamin D and can even help with bad acne. Still, it’s important to watch for over-exposure to the sun. Obvious sun damage includes sunburns and skin cancer, but sun damage can also include thick skin, dry skin, wrinkles, blotches and discoloration, freckles, and sun spots. Some people refer to sun spots as age spots or liver spots, high exposure to the sun can make us age prematurely.

There’s no reason to look old before your time. Several non-surgical cosmetic treatments can successfully remove sun spots including chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion, prescription skin care products (such as Obagi Medical)  and IPL Photofacial. Obagi and IPL being the most effect options. Remember: just because there are great aesthetic procedures available to correct sun-damaged skin, it does not give you a license to go gallivanting in the sun. Always wear a hat, and use sunscreen to protect yourself.

Stretch marks – so many of us have them and few of us know what to do about them or how to get rid of them. Stretch marks are those fine, often silvery lines that result in over-stretching the skin. When the skin is pulled too rapidly, from growth or weight gain, a stretch mark can occur. Pregnancy stretch marks can be a particular burden to new mothers. Both men and women have stretch marks, and now there are ways to eliminate them. Stretch mark removal is possible through laser treatments, topical creams, and a micro-needling/radiofrequency treatment known as VirtueRF. Stretch marks can be a difficult problem to address. The newer the stretch mark, the easier it is for an aesthetic expert to treat. If it’s red or purplish in color then there’s a good chance it can be removed. Silver or white stretch marks haven proven to be more difficult. However, stretch mark treatments can offer, at the very least, reduction if not total removal.

Laser Treatments for Stretchmarks Laser modalities can be used for treating stretch marks. Laser resurfacing will ablate the skin, allowing new and hopefully stretch mark-free skin to grow back in its place.

VirtueRF Stretch marks form partially because they’ve lost healthy collagen, and a series of VirtueRF procedures (usually 3 to 4) can help restore that. VirtueRF helps your body create new collagen. This is achieved by micro-needling with simultaneous delivery of radiofrequency.  The micro-damage stimulates your body’s wound healing response, which in turn produces new, healthy skin cells free of stretch marks. Even IPL photofacial has also proven to be somewhat effective for restoring collagen growth in stretch marks.

Unwanted hair refers to an excessive amount of hair occurring on any part of the body. Both men and women struggle with unwanted hair, typically on the legs, back, chest, stomach, underarms, buttocks, arms, face, or bikini area.  Many times, the hair is conspicuous because of its location in an area not usually associated with hair growth (back, upper arms, between eyes), which can be an embarrassment. Other times, the issue might be more functional than aesthetic, as some hair can be itchy, irritating, or physically unpleasant to deal with. People often remove unwanted hair by the temporary means of trimming, shaving, waxing, or tweezing, but the time and discomfort associated with these activities only makes the hair increasingly unwanted over time, leading many people to seek a long term solution.

Laser Hair Removal Laser hair removal is one of the most popular options available. Laser hair removal is a safe, effective, and simple method for eliminating unwanted hair. It is performed in a series of treatments, scheduled in coordination with the stages of hair growth. After patients complete all their necessary treatments, they will be rid of their unwanted hair. No more hassles, embarrassment, or worries.

Vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis, is thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to your body having less estrogen. Vaginal atrophy occurs most often after menopause, but postpartum women who are breastfeeding may also experience this issue.

For many women, vaginal atrophy not only makes intercourse painful, but also leads to distressing urinary symptoms.

Symptoms may include the following:

•           Vaginal dryness
•           Vaginal burning
•           Vaginal discharge
•           Genital itching
•           Burning with urination
•           Urgency with urination
•           Increase in urinary tract infections (UTI)
•           Urinary incontinence
•           Light bleeding after intercourse
•           Discomfort with intercourse
•           Decreased vaginal lubrication during sexual activity
•           Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal

CO2 lasers, such as the MonaLisa Touch, have proven to be an effective and simple solution for the treatment of vaginal atrophy and its urinary symptoms. 

Vaginal laxity is a thing, and ladies you don’t need to silently accept it.  Our vaginal tissue is comprised of collagen fibers, and when it breaks down, laxity occurs! This is the same process that happens to our face…and that causes the skin on our knees to sag and… well you get the idea.  Collagen provides skin with strength and flexibility. For women who have given birth vaginally, a diminished tightness and sensitivity of this tissue is a real concern. The collagen fibers are weakened when they are overstretched. This is known as vaginal laxity, and it can cause decreased satisfaction during intercourse, as the overstretched tissue reduces the amount of friction. An inability to attain an orgasm during intercourse is common.

A recent survey of more than 500 OB/GYNs indicated that vaginal laxity is the foremost concern women have about their physical change after giving birth. Over 420 women in an American survey showed that 48% of them were worried about vaginal laxity. Unfortunately, a non-surgical treatment had not been available. The Femme 360 has changed that. 

BTL has developed a new treatment to restore this damaged collagen. It is a non-surgical treatment that focuses on actually rebuilding collagen fibers on a cellular level using low temperature heat generated by radiofrequency energy. This triggers the body’s natural healing process so that the improvement is more than simply cosmetic. While tightness is increased, vaginal sensitivity is simultaneously addressed so that sexual satisfaction can also be restored. No incisions, no anesthesia, no pain, and no downtime.

There are many options in anti-wrinkle treatment, including non-surgical wrinkle removal procedures. Treatment for deep wrinkles tends to be a little more complex than that of fine, thinner lines, but wrinkle injection treatments as well as laser and radiofrequency based procedures are making any type of wrinkle removal a possibility.

Botox, Dysport, Chemical Peels, Micro-Dermabrasion, IPL Photofacial, dermal fillers (such as Radiesse. Restylane, Bellafill), VirtueRF, Ultherapy and Exilis Ultra.

Wrinkles are fine lines or creases in the skin, primarily in the face, that usually result from a combination of factors, including sun and weather damage, environmental factors, smoking, and the natural aging process. Wrinkles in the face can unfortunately cause a person to appear older than they truly are, or simply reveal their true age. (Boo for wrinkles)
How do we get wrinkles?
When we’re young, our skin is more elastic and better at retaining moisture. The elasticity of the middle layer of skin is attributed to the elastin and collagen located there. These proteins deteriorate as we age, and the dermis becomes thinner and unable to deliver moisture to the outer layer of skin. Additionally, the innermost layer of skin loses some of its fat (which gives skin its plumpness) over time, causing sagging and wrinkles in the surface of the skin.
So avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning booths. Don’t smoke. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and flush out toxins.