FEATURE: Dr. Michele Koo

KOO forYou

A metro AreA plAstic surgeon recently lAunched her own skin cAre line.

By Alecia Humphreys | Photos courtesy of Private Practice by Dr. Koo

After witnessing skin care products promising perfectionunderperform for patients, St. Louis plastic surgeon Dr. Michele Koo has created a skin care line, Private Practice by Dr. Koo, whichis proven toperform.

“I’ve always been fascinated by skin care and more importantly skin health,” says Koo, who has been studying plastic surgery for more than 27 years. “My mother was obsessed with it, as [is] all of Asia. I started supporting my patients before and after surgery with various commercially available and subsequently private-label skin care products. I really was disappointed with their results as I followed their results over months and years.

“Being the results-driven person, I wanted to see more significant change in the quality, health of the skin. Plastic surgeons live and die by wound and scar healing, and I knew I could do better. Serendipitously, Iwas enough of a lab geek at Stanford and WashingtonUniversity MedicalSchool studying wound, collagen and tendon healing, I used many of the principles and contacts curated from those days tostart assembli ng my team of formulators.”

Fast-forward through 27 years of practice, iteration,clinicaluse informationand teamwork, and Private Practice by Dr. Koo was produced using compounded medical-quality ingredients.

“I use only the purest, most effective actives, as well as unique and unsurpassed delivery systems – buffering,microsomes,microparticles – that deliver real results without irritation and redness,” says Koo. “More importantly, the concentration of actives is curated and sequenced to actually achieve improvement. They are designed with differentiating acti ves and concentrationlevelstofit every type of skin – in other words, 100 percent ‘skin kind’!”

All ingredients are also non-eco-toxic, free of phthalate, parabens, fragrance, gluten, dye and hype. Yes,hype.

“Let the results speak for themselves,” Koo says. “I have a minimal marketing budget. Other skin care is 90 percent marketing and hype. I am 90 percent contentinsidethe bottles.”

Private Practice by Dr. Koo products range from cleansers and eye care, to hydrators and retinoids,

to serums and vitamins and minerals, and antioxidantsand alpha hydroxy acids.

“My favorites and the start of all healthy and beautiful skin areantioxidant vitamin guards [which] patrol against theenvironmentforsun and pigmentation damage. Tolerated by all and a wonderful all-around simple way to begin the Koo habit!”

Habitbecause the doctor believes skin care isn’t just important – it’sessential.

“Your skin is the gateway to longevity and health, followed by beauty,” she says. “It is the first defense to all environmental toxins. It is one of the few things we can change. We cannot change our genetics.”

And thankfully, Koo has made it easy for clients to select their appropriate skin care set – whether a given clientneeds wrinkle reducers orhelp with uneven skin tone, dry skin or more.

“I have already taken the guesswork and created that consultation for you by product, ingredient and concentrationdifferentiationwith the stepwise le vels of the products,” Koo says. “You simply need to find your proper level by taking the quiz andfinding yourskinneedsand description. If additional questions arise, I personally or my staff will support via a phone call or via email. The clinicalexperience and recommendations are based on the 27 years ofallskin types that have already used my products.”

Quiz questions include not only obvious skinrelated questions but also questions about lifestyle.

“Your entire lifestyle – of sun exposure, smoking, stress, exercise, sleep and eating habits – affects your skin significantly, and you should be educated and empower yourself,” Koo says. “This is part of my turning over the keys to you to help yourself with myguidancephilosophy.”

And Koo is fairly confidentin her creations.

“Lett he results speak for themselves,” Koo says. “Try the products for three months.If you’re not happy,send or bring the products back,and we will either change up your regimen until youdoachieve success or give the entirepurchaseamount back!”

Dr. Michele Koo, 333 S. Kirkwood Road, Suite 203, St. Louis, 314-984-8331, drmichelekoo.com

I use only the purest, most effective actives, as well as unique and unsurpassed delivery systems –buffering, microsomes, microparticles –that deliver real results without irritation and redness.”

–Dr. Michele Koo