Six Tips to Minimizing Dark Under-Eye Circles

Dark circles can be blamed on multiple factors including heredity, hormone levels, sun exposure, stress, aging, a lack of sleep and most commonly- allergies. An important thing to note about dark under-eye circles is that here is no perfect way to prevent them, only minimize them once they are visible. However, contrary to what you may think, dark circles cannot be remedied by skin lighteners because the darkness is not caused by skin discoloration, rather a shadowing of the skin.

In order to relieve the darkness around the eyes, there are various methods you can use to minimize the appearance of them.

• Using powerful peptides such as Enza Essential's Eyebright Anti-Puffiness Gelee will cool and sooth the appearance of puffy bags while increasing cell turnover, leaving you with a brighter, more youthful appearance.
• Dermal Fillers can be used in order to plump the area around and under your eyes which reduces the intensity of shadowing. 
• Because allergies are the number one cause of dark circles, it is important that you have identified what you are allergic to and have proper allergy medication to minimize any potential reactions.
• Wearing sunscreen, particularly an SPF 30 or greater, will help to minimize unprotected sun exposure and the effects of aging from the sun. 
• Applying ice packs or cucumbers directly on the dark circles at nighttime will sooth and minimize the dark circles caused by puffiness.
• Lastly, the Pelleve Wrinkle Reduction System is a treatment that will help to tighten and brighten your face while also increasing collagen production that will work against the skin's natural aging process.

Although there is no way to completely prevent dark circles from appearing, there are multiple ways to reduce the shadowing that occurs. By using the methods listed above, you can successfully mask those embarrassing signs of aging, lack of sleep and stress before anyone has time to notice them. 

Winter Skin Care

The combination of dry air and holiday stress can prove to be a nightmare for your skin. As with any other season, you will have to adjust your daily routine accordingly to keep your skin fresh and renewed. The following are tips to help you rejuvenate your skin and look your best for the winter season.

• Don't Skip the Toner- Applying toner will normalize the skin's pH level, misting your skin throughout the day will allow the toner to absorb excess oil and keep you looking fresh.
• Curb Your Cravings- Be sure to limit sugar intake. When your body processes sugar, it turns into glucose which can destroy collagen and your skin's elasticity. Eating fiber-rich foods can help ward off hunger and your sweet tooth.
• Exfoliate Twice a Week- Dead skin and bacteria left on your face can irritate your acne and leave scarring. Be sure to slough it off with a gentle exfoliator.
• Watch the Blow Dryer- The extreme heat and extended use of a blow dryer facing your neck can break capillaries and over time, leave them permanently broken. 
• Use Lukewarm Water- When rinsing your cleanser, avoid water that is too hot or too cold. Your skin is very sensitive and not being careful with temperature could cause irritation and break capillaries. That means shower water temperature can also be damaging if it is too hot. 
• Use an Oatmeal Based Scrub- Abrasive scrubs and exfoliants are too harsh on your skin during winter. Milder, oatmeal-based facial scrubs can unplug the oily pores. 
• Avoid products that use mineral oil or petroleum- Mineral oil and petroleum, both derived from fossil fuel, may dog your pores and prevent your body from flushing out toxins through your skin, leading to breakouts. Be sure to check the ingredients on all your skin care products and cosmetics. 
• Drench and Hydrate- With dehydrated and cracked skin, be sure to add moisture with deep-hydrating creams and facials. Also, don't forget to stay hydrated yourself. Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to maintain a radiant complexion. 

By following these tips you will ensure your skin stays healthy and protected through the cold, snowy weather. You can do it- keep your skin you love, even in the harshest winter months. 

Pellevé®: A Breakthrough in Anti-Aging

It’s an inevitable evil, and it happens to us all: with each increasing year come new wrinkles. We’ve tried it all- creams, medications, even surgeries in hopes of minimizing wrinkles and reducing age. However, Rucker M.D., Enza Medispa has taken initiative and began using a new procedure in their offices: the Pellevé® Wrinkle Reduction System. Here we look to introduce and explain this new procedure and why it is important to the Rucker M.D., Enza Medispa and its patients.

What is Pellevé®?

Pellevé® is a unique wrinkle reduction system with various benefits including minimizing wrinkles, tightening and smoothing the face, and creating a younger, brighter complexion. Pellevé® does this through a non-invasive and nonsurgical treatment.

How is Pellevé® different from other wrinkle remedies?

Dr. Joseph Rucker M.D. describes what he sees as the top three benefits of Pellevé® that no other wrinkle reduction treatment can offer:

1.   An appreciable wrinkle reduction

2.  A painless procedure

3.  No downtime

What can I expect to experience while undergoing the procedure?

Rucker M.D., Enza Medispa patient feedback will tell that the Pellevé® experience is calming and enjoyable. “It feels like a warm facial, and when it gets too hot for me, they move on. It’s never too uncomfortable. It’s relaxing; I even dozed off a few times.”

How long until I start to see the effects of Pellevé®?

Immediately- Rucker M.D. Patients have expressed their surprise at how quickly they could feel the treatment working on them. “It was immediate and the results were amazing. I loved the tightness and I loved the fullness.” “My face had this healthy glow; [it] felt tighter and firmer. I noticed around my eyes right away that the crow’s feet weren’t noticeable.” And when combined with Enza Essential’s topical wrinkle reduction serum, the Tri-Peptide Cell Activator, your immediate results will be enhanced.  

With your immediate results, you may notice a slight depletion of tightness a few days following treatment. This is normal. With time and follow-up treatments, you will begin to feel a permanent re-tightening of the skin.

What are the side effects?

One of the benefits of Pellevé® is that there are very few side effects to this procedure. As mentioned earlier, it is a non-invasive treatment, meaning no downtime is necessary. You will be able to go out in the sun, apply make-up, and get back to your daily routine immediately following treatment. Some patients may experience mild swelling and redness; however this typically goes away within 2 to 24 hours.

Is it effective?

Dr. Joseph Rucker, M.D. stands by his efforts to ensure patient comfort and satisfaction by incorporating Pellevé® into his practice. Pellevé® successfully passed all of his following criteria:

1.   Research shows its benefits

2. A waiting period to review the long term effectiveness of the technology

3.   My own personal use of the technology

For more information or to set up an appointment for a Pellevé® treatment, please call our offices: 715-832-1774. All inquires are welcome and can be answered by an experienced Rucker M.D. staff. 

Can You Imagine BOTOX Results without the Needles?

Anti-wrinkle procedure, needle injections —these daunting phrases associated with using Botox as a wrinkle reducer may be no more. New preliminary research suggests that a gel based topical Botox called RT001, could help reduce facial wrinkles—without the pain of needles.

A few facts on RT001- Topical Botox:

•  Has been shown to produce significant improvement in the crow’s feet wrinkles in 89% of the 553 patients already treated
•  Similar to the injectiable form, the gel relaxes the muscles responsible for causing skin wrinkles beneath the skin
• Is not yet FDA approved and therefore will not be available until 2013 or 2014
• Preliminary results are significant and exciting, but not quite as successful as traditional injectable Botox
• Results of topical Botox have proved to last up to three months 

After reviewing the results of the studies on RT001, Dr. Rucker is hopeful it will deliver as promised. He has many patients that want the results of Botox, but refrain from it due to needle phobia. In the meantime, he strongly recommends Tri-Peptide Cell Activator as an effective alternative. Where Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles, the Tri-Peptide Cell Activator stimulates collagen production to plump the fine lines and creases. So if you are wary of needles, the Tri-Peptide Cell Activator just might be your new best friend. 

5 Factors That Contribute to A More Natural Appearance and Feel in your Breast Augmentation

1. Scar Around Implant - If a scar develops around the implant, this can result in a firmer feel and a less-than-natural appearance. I routinely use an antibiotic rinse in the implant pocket during the augmentation to combat this problem and have seen the occurrence of this capsular contraction around the implant to be much less frequent.  

2. Over the Muscle vs. Under the Muscle - I have a personal preference to place the implant beneath the chest wall muscle. In the 1,500 breast augmentations I have performed I have placed the implant in the space beneath the muscle in 95% of my patients. My reasons for sub-muscular placement are as follows:

• A more natural appearance
• Easier to detect any breast lumps, which may appear at a later date
• Less concern with breast feeding
• Less of a chance of scarring around the implant
• Less of a chance of seeing rippling on the side of the breast

3. Silicone vs. Saline - 90% of my patients has chosen Silicone over Saline for their implants. A significant number of patients that have chosen Saline over Silicone return in 1 to 3 years and request an exchange to Silicone implants. My rationale for choosing Silicone over Saline is:

• Silicone is much more natural feeling
• In my experience, there is less of a chance of leakage
• There is a smaller chance of detecting rippling on the side of the breast with the use of Silicone.

4. The Size of the Breast Skin Envelope - This is a less-mentioned, but very important factor.  If the breast skin has been stretched during pregnancy, it is more difficult to obtain a natural feel and appearance without doing a breast lift at the same time as the augmentation. The lift coupled with the augmentation produces a much more natural appearance and a more perky appearance of the breast. 

5. Smaller Normal Breast Tissue vs. Larger Normal Breast Tissue - The amount of breast tissue prior to the augmentation contributes significantly to a natural feel after augmentation. The implant is more easily hidden in the larger breast tissue and takes on a more natural feel and appearance.

Botox™ at RUCKER MD's Enza Medispa

Looking for the best deal on Botox™? Look no further than RUCKER MD's Enza Medispa!

Because we believe everyone should be able to feel comfortable in their skin, we would like to share a few tips to note when searching for the best Botox™ deals. One of the most common questions we get is about pricing. When price shopping for Botox™, always ask yourself: does this price seem too good to be true? Here are some clues that it just might be:

•     The place is really using and off-brand, not Botox™. The Enza Medispa uses ONLY Botox™, directly from Allergan.

•     The Botox™ may be diluted. A vial contains 50 mL of Botox™. Some places will water it down in order to make it go further. This results in a Botox™ treatment that doesn’t last long or isn’t as effective

•     The product may be expired. At the Enza Medispa, we always use FRESH Botox™ and never save any left-over Botox™. Each application is from a brand new vial. 

We hope this helps you when deciding where to go for Botox™ and whom you can trust!

Profiles Fall / Winter 2012

The NEW Profiles is here! Click below to see our online edition.

• 1st Annual Pink Ribbon Charity Golf Classic Recap
• Giving Mother Nature a Boost
• Saying Good-Bye to Wrinkles
• Tips for Luscious Lips
• Eating Healthy for the Holidays
• Botox Blunders

Also check out our specials on the back-page for the Enza Medispa.

Watch your mail-box or check out these newspapers for your own copy:
Nov 7th: Pioneer Press, New Richmond News, River Falls Journal, & Hudson Star Observer
Nov 10th: Leader Telegram
Nov 11th: Chippewa Herald

Open publication