Ralph's Blog
Proudly supporting Project HANDS
Physician Skincare Centre and Pender Medi Spa are proud supporters of Project HANDS – a Canadian, non-profit organization currently working among the indigenous Maya in rural regions of Guatemala. The goal of Project HANDS is to improve the quality of rural Mayan life by providing healthcare, education, and family support to those living in impoverished conditions.
Because the Maya have little access to medical care, Project HANDS sends medical teams to run outreach clinics, and surgical teams to perform elective surgery in such areas as gynecology, general, and reconstructive surgery.
In addition to medical projects, Project HANDS has also started an education sponsorship program to assist Mayan girls and women who wish to continue their education. They also provide support to families in need by providing housing materials and food as necessary.
We encourage you to learn more about Project HANDS and incredible work they do by visiting their website at www.projecthands.org.
BC Youth Banned From Tanning Bed Use
It was recently announced that youth under the age of 18 will be unable to use commercial tanning beds in the province of BC as of Fall 2012. The ban has been put in place as an effort to reduce the future risk of developing skin cancer – the most common form of cancer in Canada. Studies suggest the chances of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, increases by 75% for individuals who use indoor tanning beds before the age of 35.
Other risks of indoor tanning include:
- Sunburn
- Premature skin aging and wrinkling due to the destruction of collagen and connective
- Tissue by UVA rays.
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Sun spots and uneven pigmentation
- Photokeratitis, a painful eye condition that may develop when using tanning bed without goggles.
For those who still admire the look of tanned skin, we highly suggest using self-tanning
products as a safer alternative. And as always, the best way to prevent skin cancer and
premature aging is through the daily use of a well-formulated sunblock of SPF 30 or
higher. The best formulations are those that utilize zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as
their active ingredients. These offer the best protection against both UVA and UVB rays,
while being non-irritating to the skin. There are many high quality sunblocks available
that offer superb protection, while being cosmetically elegant and easy to wear under
makeup. Some of our favorite products include:
Tizo3 Protection (SPF 40) – this product is tinted and dries to a soft matte finish. It will
even out the complexion, while providing full sun protection.
Colorescience Sunforgettable (SPF 30) – this mineral sunscreen is a powder formulation that will help control oil. It is sheer, can be reapplied throughout the day over makeup, and comes in clear, tinted, or shimmer varieties.
Obagi Rosaclear (SPF 30) – this product is designed for individuals with rosacea-prone skin. It is lightly-tinted, and contains light-reflecting particles to help diffuse the look of skin redness.
All of the above sunscreens are available at Physician Skincare Centre or Pender Medi
Spa.
Physician Skincare Centre at Nowruz celebration in North Vancouver
On Sunday March 11th, 2012 Physician Skincare Centre participated in North
Vancouver’s Nowruz celebration for the Persian New Year at Mickey McDougall gym
- and what a celebration it was! Live music, performances, face painting, delicious
traditional food, and lots of treats. Yum! Nowruz is one of the oldest spring festivals,
having been celebrated for over 3000 years, and we were very happy to be part of it.
Physician Skincare Centre at Nowruz celebration in North Vancouver
Along with a number of other local businesses, we had a table set up with staff members Jenny and Sarah on hand to greet the masses. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people, and educating everyone on all the services we have to offer at Physician Skincare Centre. We are looking forward to celebrating again next year!
Happy Nowruz!
Pender Medi Spa 2012-01-26 17:17:52
Myth: If a skincare product isn’t showing results in a few weeks, it isn’t working.
Anti-aging skincare products take time to show their true colors, therefore we need to be committed and give these products a chance to do their job. After the first few weeks, you may notice that your skin is plumper and smoother. More dramatic changes require patience. Reducing the appearance of fine lines can take up to three months, while more substantial changes, like reducing discoloration and wrinkles, can take up to six months. Some products provide instant results, but that’s because ingredients that cause a temporary effect, such as light-reflective particles, have been added.
Unfortunately, many of us are looking for a quick fix and become discouraged when we don’t see instant results from a new product. In this case, a little bit of patience may be all that’s required to get the results we desire.
Recap: A Walk To Remember
This past Sunday, Pender Medi Spa staff participated in the first annual Walk to
Remember for melanoma awareness. Sunny and breezy, it was a perfect day for the 5km
walk along the West Vancouver seawall. The event was organized by the Save Your
Skin foundation which promotes awareness and education of skin cancer, and provides
support for those affected by this condition.
Participants in the walk were treated to t-shirts, drinks, snacks, and a cool bracelet that
changes colour when exposed to UV light – an excellent reminder to apply sunscreen!
Our staff could be found at the registration tent, sporting Pender Medi Spaq
shirts while handing out sunscreen samples, and providing information on proper sun
protection. We also donated a raffle gift consisting of Jan Marini Sunless Tanner,
SwissTEC Global Protect SPF 30, and a complimentary microdermabrasion treatment.
The event was a lot of fun and we look forward to participating again next year. Check
out our Facebook page for more photos: www.facebook.com/physicianskincarecentre
For more information on the Save Your Skin foundation, please visit their website at:
www.saveyourskin.ca
A Walk to Remember – August 7th in Vancouver
We are proud sponsors of A Walk to Remember – August 7th, here in Vancouver. Join us for a walk, picnic and raising awareness in support of Save Your Skin Foundation!
For full details, please visit the Save Your Skin Foundation’s Official Website
New Service – Laser Nail Fungus Treatment
Pender Medi Spa in Vancouver, BC is pleased to announce that we have added Laser Nail Fungus Treatment to our available services list.
Nail Fungus, or Onychomycosis, can be treated by shining a gentle, focused light beam on the nail and surrounding skin. This laser beam shines through the nail helping to eliminate the fungus embedded in the nail bed and nail plate where the nail fungus exists.
Visit this page, http://pendermedispa.com/treatments/laser-nail-fungus-treatment/ for more details and before / after photo.
Face to Face (2)
Dr. Ralph Bieg
Face to Face – Dr. Ralph Bieg
Q
Botox: What is it and is it safe?
A
Botox is an organic compound that nobody is allergic to. Botox has been used medically in Canada for almost 30 years and undergone over 4000 published studies. In the hands of an experienced injector, adverse affects are rare.
Q
When the Botox wears off will I look worse?
A
Certainly not. While the Botox is effective you will learn to use other muscles that “break the habit” of a negative frown or squint. Once the habit has been broken and facial muscles have been “retrained”, you may even requite less botox to maintain a youthful look year after year.
Free Consultations are available
with a Cosmetic Technician
at 604-929-3299
Face to Face (1)
Dr. Ralph Bieg
Face to Face – Dr. Ralph Bieg
Q
Botox: Is Botox safe?
A
Botox has been used medically in Canada for almost 30 years and studied in over 4000 published studies. Botox is an organic compound that nobody is allergic to. In the hands of an experienced injector, adverse affects are rare.
Q
When the Botox wears off will I look even worse?
A
Certainly not. While the Botox is effective you will learn to use other muscles that “break the habit” of a negative frown or squint. Once the habit has been broken and facial muscles have been “retrained”, you may even requite less botox to maintain a youthful look year after year.
Q
How often will I have to get injections to maintain the effects?
A
Initially you may require treatments every 3 to 4 months to have Botox be most effective. However, as the muscles relax you will require less Botox at less frequent intervals
Q
Why is there such variability in cost?
A
At the present time there is only one approved Cosmetic Botox available in Canada. Reputable physicians will only use this product and not imported competitor clones. The cost of Genuine Botox Cosmetic supplies is a significant part of the treatment price.
Q
Will Botox make me look “plastic”?
A
There is a “Science and Art” to the use of Botox to avoid stone face or plastic looking results. The Art can only be perfected with experience. Experienced and ethical physicians will use the minimum of injections to soften your lines to give you a refreshed and relaxed appearance, and not inject excessively to inflate your face, or your budget!
Free Consultations are available
with a Cosmetic Technician
at 604-929-3299
Dermal Fillers and How They Work
For many years we have been aware that as we age everything seems to deflate and descend on our body and our Face. These changes are even more evident in slim individuals over the age of 50. The traditional solution has been a Surgical Facelift with a month of bruising and a drastically changed final result.
At one time, fillers were used to fill lines in the Naso-labial folds or Marionette lines descending from the corners of the mouth. However, in the last 5 years the entire conceptualization of the aging face has changed dramatically. The loss of volume can be replaced with extremely safe biodegradable products that lift the Face and restore the more youthful definition, balance, and shape of our Faces. That change is most obvious in deflated, falling cheeks.
The lovely lady to the right achieved an entirely refreshed look in 30 minutes with no bruising allowing her to return to work immediately.. She does not look different; but, merrily refreshed. We now have evidence that these fillers stimulate our own bodies’ collagen. As a result, the initial improvements last longer and longer with subsequent treatments and require fewer products. The woman to the right returned 18 months later still looking more like the “after” result, but wanting to prevent the return to her “before” appearance.
The most used Fillers in Canada are made of Hyaluronic Acid, a natural occurring sugar found in the body. It is not obtained from any animal products and therefore very safe and natural. In 2008 Hyaluronic Acid became available in a form pre-mixed with an analgesic compound. As a result the actual procedure is essentially painless.
Free consultations are available at the Pender Medi Spa www.pendermedispa.com where all injections are performed by Dr. Ralph Bieg, a recognized trainer in Hyaluronic Acid volume replacement.
Please call 604-929-3299 to book your complimentary consultation.
