Malcolm Gladwell put it best when he published a book explaining the “tipping point” as the phenomenon of change that – for some undeniable reason – takes place all of a sudden and quite unexpectedly. The idea that noticeable change seems to happen almost at once thus taking us in a direction unplanned, unrealized, and for the most part, placing us in uncharted territory. Such is the case with our skin. As the largest organ in our body, it is indeed a life force all its own. In our 20s, skin is taut, supple, resilient and ready to bounce back. However, once in your 30s, there is less resilience, the subtle appearance of lines, and the beginning stages of sagging start to settle in.

Inevitably, certain factors can lead to faster aging of the skin such as smoking, sun tanning, and alcohol; however clinical studies are now showing that aside from environmental reasons, skin does reach a tipping point – the point where the skin shows a greater and more rapid deterioration of pigments, volume and elasticity. A recent study conducted by P&G Beauty and Grooming confirms a distinct difference in skin from those in their 20s versus the skin of those in their mid-30s. In fact, the mean age of regression was estimated at the age of 35.09 which indicates a clear “skin tipping point” at which point there is a precipitous drop in the skin’s elastic tolerance.  After confirming these studies, researchers conducted another trial to evaluate certain anti-aging ingredients which improve skin elasticity. Findings showed that specific topical agents, such as olive oil, can delay the unwanted signs of aging and prolong a youthful complexion.

According to Dr. Steven Weiner at the Aesthetic Clinique, one of the hot issues in skin science is oxygen free radicals.  It appears that the environmental oxidative stressors overwhelm the body’s ability to keep up at the tipping point.  We then start to lose the battle of collagen formation versus degradation, as well as lose elasticity.

“You don’t have to throw in the towel when you reach 35,” says Dr. Weiner “We have several treatments to directly fight the oxygen free radicals such as GliSODin Skin Nutrients, Retin A, and Revale Skin with Coffee Berry.  There are also treatments to replace the loss of collagen and elastin such as Fraxel re:pair, Fraxel re:store Dual, Thermage, and dermal fillers that stimulate collagen such as Radiesse and Sculptra, and to a lesser extent Restylane and Juvederm,” he added.

When it comes to genetics, there is definitely a role that inherent genes take in helping or hindering us to age gracefully, but external circumstances – our environment – plays just as important in the grand scheme of overall youth and long-lasting luminous skin. Contrary to popular belief, celebrities, models and fashionistas face the same problems. But today’s consumers can mimic these media idols through proper care and proactive techniques.

One such product offered at the Aesthetic Clinique is GliSODin® Skin Nutrients which is shown to maintain skin elasticity. Formulated by dermatologists and nutritionists to provide powerful antioxidants and bioactive nutraceuticals, GliSODin® promotes enhanced and longer lasting results from medical aesthetic treatments and beauty programs. GliSODin® is a unique melon extract naturally rich in superoxide dismutase (SOD), combined with wheat protein to protect its SOD activity within the intestinal cells. SOD, also known as the “Enzyme of Life”, catalyzes the natural antioxidant defense system, boosts immunity, and reduces the rapid signs of aging. The production of SOD decreases with age, causing an increase in susceptibility to free radical damage.

Thermage® is a completely non-invasive treatment that tightens the skin.  By heating up the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, it promotes collagen formation to provide the improvement.  It takes roughly six months to fully form the collagen and appreciate the full results, which can last three to five years.  In addition, there is no downtime and the treatment can be performed on all skin types.  The newest version, Thermage® CPT, has proven to be even more effective and comfortable than prior models.

Fraxel® re:store Dual and the Fraxel® re:pair are fractional lasers which tighten wrinkles and loose skin by penetrating the skin microscopically to stimulate collagen.  The safety and rapid healing from these lasers is related to their “fractional” component, affecting only a fraction of the skin to which they are applied.  The Fraxel® re:store Dual is the newest of the two lasers, which offer several improvements:  more comfort, less treatments, and an additional laser wavelength for pigmentation.  Social downtime from the Dual is only up to a few days.  On the other hand, the Fraxel re:pair is an aggressive fractional CO2 laser for people desiring one treatment and more serious correction, but has approximately seven days of downtime.  Both lasers are effective in assisting those who have reached the “tipping point”.

No matter your age, your lifestyle, or your daily activities, there are innovative treatments available at the Aesthetic Clinique which can be individualized whether you have reached your skin’s “tipping point” or are approaching it. Going under the knife is not the only option anymore.  Non-invasive procedures are rapidly growing in popularity due to lifestyle demands but also refinements in devices and techniques which are leading to longer lasting and natural results. 

To find out which treatment works best for you, contact Dr. Steve Weiner at info@theclinique.net.

Previous tournaments have brought in more than 200 participants and spectators who gather at the eastern and western greens of Rosemary Beach for Italian-style bocce ball. Kicking off with a ceremonial flag-raising and the Italian National Anthem, the event, as is tradition, will be refereed by the famous town manager as teams of two compete for the acclaimed bocce ball trophy and bragging rights for the entire season. This event is the seventh overall tournament since it began four years ago. Loyal residents and vacationers have become avid players of the competition and new fans continue to increase every season.

Food, wine, music and refreshments will be provided along with special prizes which will be awarded to the winners. The fourth annual fall tournament is now accepting sponsors for businesses or individuals who would like to share in the day’s event. Sponsorship opportunities are as follows:

Italia Prima Sponsor (For new sponsors) – $275

·    12’ x 2’ Banner with logo which will be displayed during the day of the event along Hwy 30A (graphic design for banner must be supplied by Oct. 15th).

·    Sponsor may keep banner after the tournament.

·    Verbal recognition during event

·    Promotional materials will be included in goodie bags for participants

·    Logo can be included in all promotional materials and/or advertising: Posters,

   Articles, T-shirts, Facebook, Twitter, 30a.com, SouthWaltonScene.com, SoWal.com

Viva Italia Sponsor (For last tournament’s sponsors) – $150

·    Use of last year’s banner (previously purchased)

·    Verbal recognition during event

·    Promotional materials will be included in goody bags for participants

·    Inclusion in all promotional materials: Posters, Articles, T-shirts, Facebook,

    Twitter, 30a.com, SouthWaltonScene.com, SoWal.com

Piccola Italia Sponsor – $75

·    Logo included on 12’ banner displayed at the event

·    Logo on Bocce Tournament T-shirts

The tournament will take place at Rosemary Beach on Saturday, November 28 from 12:00 – 5:00pm at the eastern and western greens. Tickets for participating teams are $25 per team. This event is free and open to the public. For more information on the fourth annual Rosemary Beach bocce ball tournament e-mail Dr. Weiner at info@theclinique.net or call 850-622-1214.

These days, appearance is almost as vital as your actual resume. Why? There are several reasons, but most importantly, first impressions are critical. While many would have previously splurged on surgery as an anecdote to age, this option has become harder to commit to as bank accounts have dwindled and expenditures have re-adjusted.

So how do those 40 and 50-somethings maintain their competitive edge against the array of young professionals? Easy….they are turning to non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to turn back the hands of time without burning a hole in their pocket or their bank accounts. A recent article published discussing this very subject, and in the process, outlined “Six Popular Treatments for Cost-conscious Consumers”.

And they are:

1) Botox Injections – still the most requested procedure to date, this treatment temporarily removes the glabellar lines (vertical lines between the eyebrows).

2) Cosmetic Fillers – wrinkle fillers such as Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, Evolence, etc.

3) Laser Treatments – longer lasting procedures that eliminate not only wrinkles, but scars, birthmarks, blemishes, acne, spider veins, and much more.One of the most popular procedures is the Fraxel re:pair, which is virtually a facelift without a facelift.

4) Skin Resurfacing/Rejuvenation – this includes treatments such as chemical peels and microdermabrasions.

5) Minimally Invasive Surgery – facial plastic surgeons are now using more minimally invasive techniques which give you less pain, less downtime, and less trauma to the skin.

6) Lip Augmentation – a great way to give your pucker a little more “umph” while reducing wrinkles around the mouth.

Understanding that these procedures may still sound intimidating,  it is important to do your research before moving forward. Americans undergo more than 2 million facial plastic surgeries per year. Go with a doctor you can trust, has great training and experience, and who takes your face and your appearance seriously.

1) Who can do these procedures?

• Can. In the state of Florida, any physician (M.D.), dentist (D.M.D.), osteopath (D.O.) can do any of these procedures. In addition, under specified medical supervision, a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant can perform these treatments as well.

• Cannot. A nurse, aesthetician, medical assistant, is NOT ALLOWED to perform any these procedures. The state of Florida is trying to ensure the safety of the general population and has stricter laws than neighboring states.

2) How do I pick which physician, dentist, or osteopath to go to?

• Experience: You have to look at experience and expertise. If you are getting work done on your face, it’s my humble opinion that a Facial Plastic Surgeon/Head and Neck Surgeon is the most qualified. These surgeons spend their entire residency operating on the face and neck area.

• Training: You also should look at where your doctor’s training was done. Large, prestigious institutions are the most desirable and most difficult residencies to get accept to. See if they are board certified. There are several boards that are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

3) What qualifies a physician’s experience as good?

• For example: When considering experience, let’s talk about BOTOX cosmetic, the most popular cosmetic procedure. There are several levels of recognition by Allergan (the makers of BOTOX) which are based on number of vials of BOTOX used. They are, in order of low to high – Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Diamond. For a physician to ask you to get “your friends together” to share a vial of BOTOX, or to give him time to “order the BOTOX for you”, you have got to worry that their BOTOX volume is very low.

• Trainer, not Trainee. If a physician is training other physicians and hired by companies to do this, he/she has shown superior results and expertise in these procedures. This is another qualification one should look for.

4) How should cost of the procedure factor into the decision-making process?
Don’t choose solely on price. With the boom in cosmetic procedures, every provider is jumping on the band wagon. Most times, the poorly qualified providers can only compete on price. When considering who to go to, remember it’s your face, and this is what people see every day. Although, I wouldn’t suggest going to anyone that is not competitive, it doesn’t make sense to strictly choose a physician based on price. Poor results or unsatisfactory outcomes can ultimately cost you more to correct, or give you prolonged grief.

5) Questions to ask your doctor:

• Who, What, Where?: If you are getting laser procedures done, ask your physician what his/her training was and for how long they have been using lasers. It’s very important, particularly for aggressive lasers like the Fraxel re:pair CO2, that the physician is extremely experienced.

• Ask to see pictures of results of patients that your physician has done. It is even better if your physician’s results are being used by the companies to highlight. This is extremely important. Results can vary significantly between physicians.

A recent article in The Walton Sun, published our comments on this new procedure and the national recognition that we have already received. After publishing a one-year study on my first 50 patients for Solta Medical, I realized that there will soon be a drastic shift of people now turning to non-invasive procedures. Because of the sheer effects and dramatic results, it’s’ a no brainer why someone would rather skip the scalpel and head straight for the Fraxel. After undergoing this treatment, you’re downtime is less than a week, and you have very little pain…and most of all, you have no cutting on your face whatsoever! For a fraction of the cost of a face-lift, why not?

Check out my website to see more before and after photos