Summer is just around the corner and it’s time to think about showing your best face to the world and protecting it from the sun. I am writing to tell you about several new and exciting developments in my practice. I thank you in advance for taking the time to read this letter and invite you to call my office, come see me for a visit, or email me (drgodin@drgodin.com) to discuss any of the topics in this letter that interest you.
Let me start with an exciting announcement. You may remember from my last letter that I have been searching for a hair removal laser. I’m delighted to announce that I purchased the top of the line laser from the world’s leading hair removal laser company, Lumenis. The Lumenis diode laser is considered the worldwide gold standard in hair removal and the newest and most advanced machine is called the Lumenis Duet. This laser is in demand nationwide and I have purchased the first one to be installed in Richmond. In my view, it is simply the best. The Duet is FDA cleared for hair removal on all skin types and colors. It is called the Duet because it is two hair removal lasers in one. The Duet features a small hand piece for precise work in tight or sensitive places such as the upper lip, chin and bikini area. The tip of this hand piece is continuously cooled to 3 degrees centigrade to keep the skin protected and more comfortable as the laser treatment is given. The second part of the Duet is a large tipped hand piece with an innovative suction assisted mechanism that stretches and blanches the skin to decrease discomfort from the laser treatment and allow for very fast treatment of large areas such as the legs or the back in men.
As with the Fraxel Re:pair laser which I purchased for skin rejuvenation, and from which you may already have benefitted, I have spared no expense to bring you the best technology available. In addition, you’ll receive treatments from our extremely well-trained master medical aestheticians who will provide you with the excellent level of care in hair removal that you have come to expect of them in all other areas of facial and body aesthetics. All laser hair removal treatments will be given in a safe, beautiful, and comfortable environment, every detail of which is overseen by my staff and me.
In March I attended the Allergan National Faculty Meeting in Los Angeles. First, I must thank you, my patient, for the opportunity to be a member of this and other cosmoceutical company-selected national faculties. I simply could not do it without you. These companies choose a very small percentage of doctors from across the country to participate based on practice volume, technical excellence, and teaching ability. You benefit from my participation because I get the latest information on existing and new products. Allergan happens to be an industry leader because it produces not only Botox, but also the filler Juvederm, and the eyelash enhancer, Latisse.
If you haven’t heard about Latisse yet, believe me, you will. It is actually a medication that has been used to treat glaucoma. Years ago, ophthalmologists noticed that their patients using it had longer and thicker eyelashes. A light bulb went on and a new product was born. This same medication is now applied in precise amounts with a brush to the upper eyelashes. It has been proven to make them longer, thicker, and darker. Most women I know would take that deal!
Latisse works for as long as you use it. Side effects are few and far between as long as it is used correctly. Allergan knows of no case in which eye color has been affected by Latisse which is a rare side effect when this medication is dropped directly in the eye (resulting in 20 times more of it) to treat glaucoma. Several members of my staff have been using it, and you can ask them about their experiences next time you are in my office. Also be sure to ask about special offers that Allergan has created for patients who use Latisse and also get Botox or Juvederm treatments.
Speaking of Botox, you are aware from my last letter that it now has competition in the form of Dysport and other neuromodulators (wrinkle relaxers) which will be available in the future. Botox has maintained its place as the preeminent product in this category due to its reliability and effectiveness. It continues to be the most popular cosmetic procedure in America which it has been virtually from the day of its FDA clearance for cosmetic use in 2002. Both Botox and Dysport prevent permanent facial lines by relaxing the muscles that cause them. They are mainstays of my practice and I am glad to offer them to you.
The last of Allergan’s products I mentioned is Juvederm. Juvederm is one of several excellent fillers, including Radiesse and Restylane, which I continue to love to use. There is a real artistry that is required to add volume to the face to make it look better in a natural-appearing way. I commonly use fillers to improve the size and shape of the lips, fill in fine lines on the face, deal with folds around the mouth, drooping of the jaw line and sagging of the cheek area. The great news here is that the manufacturers are now preloading the fillers with local anesthetic. Gone are the days of painful blocks using injections in the mouth. Between the powerful numbing cream we use, application of ice before the treatment, and the presence of anesthetic in the filler itself, both pain and bruising are far reduced.
So given all these great fillers, wrinkle relaxers, and eyelash improvers, why do surgery at all? The simple fact is that eventually most people get to a point where something bothers them that all the products and even lasers in the world cannot correct. If a turkey neck or droopy eyelid skin is bothering you, then you are best off spending a little time with me in the operating room and taking care of it. The good news is that the surgical procedures continue to improve and can be tailored to target what you want improved quickly and effectively with as little drama and downtime as possible. When it is time to consider surgery, I’d like to sit down with you for a consultation. I will take photographs of you, and we will look from many different angles to see where improvements can be made and select the best ways to get you there. If we decide to go forward, the procedure can almost always be done in my fully accredited operating room under sedation anesthesia (not general, no tube to breathe through) given by a board-certified MD anesthesiologist. We will get through it together, and I’ll do my best to get you a superb result.
The one surgical procedure I still do under general anesthesia and not in the office is rhinoplasty. Surgical reshaping of the nose is well known to be the most technically demanding and difficult procedure in all of plastic surgery. Having said this, it is also my favorite one and has been a particular passion of mine throughout my career. I have just today returned from the annual Rhinoplasty Society meeting in Washington DC where I recruited several fellow experts in the field to contribute case studies to my rhinoplasty textbook. That’s right! The book is finally a reality. I have a contract to deliver it to the publisher by December 31st of this year. Although I will write most of it, I intend for the clinical content to be a collaborative effort using cases from many of today’s top rhinoplasty surgeons. The innovative format of this book will make it useful to beginning and experienced rhinoplasty surgeons throughout the world. I cannot tell you how excited I am to have this long dreamed of project underway.
The newly renovated medical skincare space in my office has been a hit. I believe we have one of the most experienced and talented groups of licensed master aestheticians anywhere, so I had to give them the proper environment in which to work. If you haven’t been in for a skincare consult or treatment in a while, please do call and arrange to do so. Healthy, optimized skin does a lot to boost your appearance and I know we can help you with this. Now is a good time to get your skin in shape for summer. And don’t forget our delightful little room downstairs where Trisha Boor performs therapeutic massage. Trisha is as good as it gets in my opinion and I am happy to make her available to you whenever you truly need to relax or want help with sore muscles or stiff limbs.
Finally, I want to close by saying that I want you, my patient, to not only look terrific, but to have excellent health in which to enjoy your great appearance. Our healthcare system is changing, and almost every day a patient will mention misgivings about the future of his or her medical care. If you have an excellent physician, it is a good idea to maintain that important relationship and your health by scheduling regular physical examinations. If you do not have a primary care physician or want to make a change, let me do you a favor and recommend Partner MD, a membership medical practice that I’m personally familiar with. This group of excellent physicians serves a select and limited number of patients and by doing so gives their members exceptional service, time and dedication. I am a patient of Partner MD myself, and I consider it a great investment. In anticipation of this letter, I asked Partner MD to do something special for my patients and they generously agreed. If you have an interest, please call Lynda Lattimore at 804-237-8282, let her know you are one of my patients, and she will let you know about this special offer. To me this is just the icing on the top of the cake; the real value is the wonderful care you get.
So hopefully I’ll get you looking good and feeling good too! Seriously, please do come in to see me or give the office a call to discuss any of the topics I’ve mentioned in this letter or any other areas of facial enhancement that you want advice about. My practice is all about helping you meet your goals. Best wishes to you and your family for a safe and enjoyable summer.
Sincerely,
Michael Godin
PS: Please wear your sunscreen!