HEALTH

THE LIQUID GOLD FACIAL

AN ALL-NATURAL APPROACH TO AGING GRACEFULLY

BY BRI WILLIAMS, RN, BSN

Have you heard of the Vampire Facial, also known as platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP)? It is all the rage amongst celebrities, and that’s because it is a facial treatment that delivers astounding results, stops aging in its tracks and is all natural.

Think of PRP as a treatment in self-healing. A small amount of your blood is drawn from your arm and spun down in a centrifuge. This separates your plasma from your whole blood, and this plasma is rich in platelets (the cells that heal tissue and grow new cells). Hence the name, platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP).

The PRP is then injected into specific areas of the face to regenerate collagen, smooth and tighten skin, soften wrinkles, brighten your skin’s tone and enhance elasticity. It can specifically soften dark hollows around the eyes, plump drawn cheeks, soften lines and pores, and give your skin tone, tightness and improved texture. After injecting the PRP into specific areas of the face, the entire face is microneedled (a minimally invasive procedure that creates thousands of microscopic needle pricks on the surface of the face). The remaining PRP is then rubbed on the face, and it travels down the channels that are created during microneedling to reach the dermis of the skin and continue to rejuvenate.

For years, PRP has been used for reconstructive surgery, in orthopedic medicine and in dentistry, but its benefits are now being utilized in aesthetics to slow the effects of aging on skin. Below are some most frequently asked questions.

How much does platelet-rich plasma therapy cost? A plateletrich plasma therapy treatment is generally around $600. It takes three months to see full results, and a series of three treatments are recommended to start, and then once a year for maintenance.

Does platelet-rich plasma therapy hurt? Prior to your treatment, most providers will apply a topical numbing cream. Most clients describe the treatment as uncomfortable, but not painful.

A facial treatment that delivers astounding results, stops aging in its tracks and is all natural.

How long will my appointment take? A platelet-rich plasma therapy treatment generally takes one hour and 15 minutes from start to finish.

Is there any downtime or recovery after this treatment?

Most clients look a little red the first 24 hours after treatment (like a sunburn). Mild swelling and occasionally bruising can occur. Most clients return to their normal activities on post treatment day one. The PRP is like liquid gold, full of stem cells and growth factors, which speeds up your healing time.

Curious if this treatment could help you with your

aesthetic goals? Consult with your aesthetic provider to learn if you are a candidate and how this treatment can help you feel like the best version of yourself.

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IS IT SAFE TO VISIT YOUR DENTIST? What we are doing for our patients to navigate through COVID-19

BY DRS. KARLA BLOOMQUIST AND CHIARINA IREGUI SOUNDBRIDGE DENTAL ARTS AND SLEEP THERAPY

Heading into summer, we look forward to seeing patients for all preventative, restorative and sleep apnea needs. We want you to know that we take your health seriously and are doing everything we can to reassure you that moving forward with your dental care is the right thing to do.

During these past couple of months, we have spent time learning about this virus and how it could potentially alter dental care. It is important to keep in mind that we, as dentists, are trained professionals and practice safety every day! Although COVID is a new virus, we are well versed in practicing universal precautions, which means everyone is protected from all potential infections. In general, this is nothing new for us! With the apprehension directed at COVID in particular, there are new precautions that we are taking to protect our patients:

• When making your appointments, you will be asked a short series of screening questions regarding your health. • Upon arrival at our office, we will ask that you remain in your car until your appointment time. • We ask that you wear a mask into the office. • Patients with appointments will be allowed in treatment areas, and companions are asked to remain in your vehicle. We are limiting the number of patients in our reception spaces. Our goal is to not have anyone waiting in the reception area. • Upon check-in, you will have your temperature taken with a touchless forehead thermometer at the front desk. • We will ask you to use hand sanitizer upon arrival. • Once in the treatment area, where we have air filtration units, we will conduct a formal screening consisting of a series of questions. • Rest assured that we will be taking the usual disinfection protocol precautions and disinfecting all exposed surfaces in the treatment areas. We are also expanding these measures to door handles, countertops, light switches and other commonly touched surfaces. • Feel confident that we are wearing personal protective equipment to keep ourselves healthy as well. This means you will see us with masks on even if it is the first time we meet you! Our new look will also include face shields.

So the answer is yes, indeed, it is safe to see your dentist! Remember, dental work and sleep apnea therapy are considered essential. This is because delaying treatment puts you at risk for dental infection, more involved procedures, more expensive care, and increased risk of depressed immune system from lack of productive sleep. We want you to know that at SoundBridge, we take your health as seriously as we do our own. The dental office is safer than any other place you can be—trust us!

During these past couple of months, we have spent time learning about this virus and how it could potentially alter dental care.

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