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What You Need to Know About Laser Hair Reduction

August 23, 2019/in Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Now that summer is winding down, it’s the perfect time to think about receiving laser hair reduction! Shaving, waxing, tweezing and depilatory creams are typically the methods people use to get rid of unwanted hair — but these are temporary solutions. Laser hair reduction is a safe, noninvasive treatment that can permanently reduce hair growth in a specific area. If you’re tired of constantly having to remove unwanted hair on your arms, back, legs, upper lip, underarm or elsewhere, laser hair reduction may be the right option for you! Read on to discover how our laser treatment can help you achieve long-lasting results.

How Does it Work?

The laser generates a beam of light, which then gets absorbed by the pigment of the hair. As the light is absorbed, the energy transfers to the hair follicle — causing permanent damage. Each light pulse takes a fraction of a second and can treat multiple hairs at a time. Since hair grows in cycles, multiple treatments will often be needed to ensure permanent hair reduction. Hair color must be dark in color — not red, gray or blonde.

How Should I Prepare?

Properly preparing for this treatment is essential to your health, safety and success of the procedure. Before the treatment, make sure you do not wax, tweeze or do electrolysis. This method of removing hair temporarily removes the hair’s root, which is what the laser is targeting during laser hair reduction.

Another necessary preparation is to avoid sun exposure for six weeks before and after the procedure. Sun exposure can cause the treatment to be less effective as well as making complications likely.

Recovery and Downtime

Typically, there is no downtime after undergoing this procedure. You may experience irritated and swollen hair follicles on the treated area; however, this is only temporary. Most patients can return to their everyday activities right away.

You will likely see results immediately after treatment. Depending on the type of hair, as everyone’s hair is different, you can expect a 10% to 25% reduction after the first session. To completely remove unwanted hair, patients typically need to complete an average of six sessions. After the necessary amount of sessions, the patient will likely need touch-up treatments over time.

Book a complimentary consult or schedule an appointment by calling (913) 317-9386 (Leawood) or (816) 436-3262 (North KC), or submitting a request form online.

Video Interview With Dr. Killion: Tips to Rejuvenate Your Hands

July 22, 2019/in Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Did you know your hands are one of the first spots to reveal your age? As much as we pamper our face and neck, our hands deserve some love, too! By recognizing how sun exposure plays a role in skin damage is the first step to keeping your hands looking young. If your skin is showing signs of aging caused by sun exposure, we provide plenty of treatment options to restore youthful skin. According to Dr. Elizabeth Killion, a Monarch plastic surgeon, “They used to say that you can tell a person’s true age by looking at their hands, and fortunately that’s just not true anymore.” Watch as she notes the signs of aging in your skin as well as how to manage it with some simple hand rejuvenation treatments.

Signs your hands are aging

There are two key signs that your hands are aging: dark spots and loss of volume. Darks spots are also known as liver spots or solar lentigines, which are caused by sun exposure. They vary in size and usually appear on the back of hands as well as the face, arms and shoulders. Dark spots can affect people of all ages and skin types, however, they are most common in people over 50 and those who have lighter skin.

Loss of volume in the hands causes the veins to be more apparent on the back of the hand. When we get older, the skin goes through morphological changes and becomes thinner. These changes may appear earlier and more pronounced when exposed to sunlight and UV rays. However, there are ways to treat this.

Treatment options

The first method to treat dark spots would be to try and prevent it initially. Sunscreen is the best method to protect your skin from sun exposure. As Dr. Killion mentions, try keeping sunscreen in your car, and apply it to your hands while you’re waiting at a red light. Another way to treat dark spots is the BroadBand Light (BBL). This treatment only takes around five minutes and works wonderfully at getting rid of those dark spots.

There are two different options when it comes to treating the loss of volume in the hands. For those who are interested, but aren’t sure what to expect, a filler would be a great option. Fillers last 12 to 18 months, giving you a temporary option. This plumps up the volume in the hands and decreases visible veins. A more permanent option would be fat grafting. Fat grafting is when fat from either the abdomen or thighs is harvested and injected through small incisions into your hands. Since it’s your own tissue, this would be a permanent result.

Have questions for our surgeons? Schedule a consultation with us today by calling 913-663-3838 (Leawood) or 816-436-3262 (North KC) or request a consultation online.

EMSELLA® Treatments — What You Need to Know

July 18, 2019/in Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Rejuvenation Center has the technology to improve the lives of both men and women struggling with incontinence. The FDA-approved EMSELLA technology from BTL Aesthetics is revolutionizing women’s
intimate health and wellness and strengthening the pelvic floor to improve bladder control. Watch as Dr. Killion explains this revolutionary treatment!

EMSELLA is a type of chair you sit in — providing a noninvasive method that strengthens the pelvic floor. While staying fully clothed, this electromagnetic technology sends signals to the pelvic muscle causing it to contract — equivalent to 11,000 kegel exercises in over just 28 minutes.

What benefits do Kegels provide?

Performing Kegel exercises often can help to improve those that struggle with incontinence. The EMSELLA chair makes this simple, providing thousands of contractions in your pelvic muscle per second. The magnetic technology stimulates the targeted tissues of the pelvic floor, building up muscle strength to restore the support needed for the pelvic organs. This type of exercise tightens the vaginal wall, strengthens the pelvic floor, decreases stress and urge incontinence, increases sexual satisfaction and gives you the confidence you’ve been missing.

Who is a good candidate for EMSELLA?

Both men and women suffer from urge and stress incontinence. This happens when physical activity, such as laughing, coughing, sneezing or exercising, puts pressure on your bladder. Those who suffer from these symptoms may feel embarrassed, isolate themselves or avoid social and work life. While this places negative stress on the wellness of the individual, EMSELLA can help you feel confident again.

Is EMSELLA painful?

The EMSELLA treatment is completely painless. It is a noninvasive procedure that sends electromagnetic signals to the pelvic floor muscle. The EMSELLA technology is designed as a chair — a simple procedure where all you have to do is sit and relax. While remaining fully clothed, the technology stimulates the muscle with thousands of contractions per second.

Ready to improve your quality of life? Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Rejuvenation Center provides the FDA approved EMSELLA technology. Call 913-317-9386 (Leawood) or 816-436-3262 (North Kansas City) or submit a contact form to schedule a consultation.

The First Plastic Surgery Group to Introduce EMSCULPT® to the KC Metro Area: A Safe and Non-Surgical Body-Sculpting Technology

March 29, 2019/in Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Interested in achieving the results of 20,000 sit-ups? Now you can — with EMSCULPT! A new technology at Monarch, EMSCULPT is the first and only non-invasive body-shaping procedure that simultaneously addresses both muscle and fat. FDA-cleared for toning and strengthening muscles, EMSCULPT helps patients achieve next-level contouring results. Watch as Dr. Paul Leahy, a Monarch surgeon, explains the technology behind EMSCULPT, and read on to learn how this treatment can help you burn fat and build muscle!

How Does EMSCULPT Work?

According to Dr. Leahy, the “EM” in EMSCULPT stands for electromagnetic: “[EMSCULPT] uses magnetic technology to create muscle contractions, and we have the ability to help people better define their abdominal muscles and even their buttock muscles.”

This breakthrough magnetic technology, known as HIFEM^® (High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic) energy, induces powerful muscle contractions to build muscle and burn fat. Delivering almost 20,000 abdominal muscle contractions per 30-minute session, EMSCULPT increases the strength and tone of the muscles to help even athletic and fit patients take their body-contouring to the next level. The unique application of the HIFEM technology penetrates through skin to impact muscle tissue. Then, Dr. Leahy explains, the energy induces muscle contractions “that are more powerful than any human can do in a gym atmosphere.”

What Results Can You Expect?

While the EMSCULPT procedure feels like an intensive workout, Dr. Leahy assures patients, “It’s very comfortable. You walk right out after it.” In fact, you can lay down and relax during the treatment! Because EMSCULPT is a non-invasive treatment, it requires no pre-treatment preparation or recovery time.

Patients can begin to feel tangible results right after the treatment. Positive results are usually reported two to four weeks after the last session and continue to improve for several weeks following the treatments. Besides building muscle, Dr. Leahy explains, “The really encouraging thing is that we’re also seeing fat reduction, which is permanent.” Clinical results have shown that the treatment can build muscle mass by 16 percent and decrease fat by 19 percent.

Build muscle and sculpt your body today — no sweat required! Initial EMSCULPT treatments must be purchased in a package of four 30-minute sessions to be completed within a two-week period.

Book a complimentary consult or schedule an appointment by calling (913) 317-9386 (Leawood) or (816) 436-3262 (North KC), or submitting a consultation request form.

Facts About Labiaplasty Procedures with Dr. Killion

February 13, 2019/in Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Pregnancy, genetics and the natural aging process can all affect the shape and appearance of a woman’s intimate anatomy. Elongated labia minora, the “lips” surrounding the vagina, can sometimes cause pain or discomfort when exercising, during intercourse or even when wearing slim-fitting clothing. Labial appearance can also cause some women to feel self-conscious, affecting their romantic relationships.

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure Monarch surgeons perform that reduces and reshapes the length of the labia minora. According to Dr. Elizabeth Killion, a Monarch surgeon, “It is a procedure that has been around for quite some time, but more recently has gained a lot of attention and popularity.” Dr. Killion also points out that “Women who seek this procedure typically have both aesthetic and functional concerns.” There are several different techniques to labiaplasty surgery, which means our plastic surgeons can tailor the procedure to the specific needs and desires of their clients.

Communicate with Your Plastic Surgeon

According to Dr. Killion, “Patients typically don’t have a great deal of pain after the procedure and have minimal downtime.” The best way to determine which surgical approach might work best for you is to clearly communicate your goals with one of our plastic surgeons. Our highly qualified surgeons will work with you to select the option that will best meet your individual needs. Because there are so many different possible variables, open discussion with your plastic surgeon is essential to help ensure beautiful, natural-looking results.

If you are interested in learning more or determining if you are a candidate for one of these procedures, please call us at (913) 663-3838 or request a consultation.

Look Your Best with BOTOX and Dermal Fillers at Monarch Plastic Surgery

December 3, 2018/in Blog, Featured Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

This year, look and feel your best in every photo and every “selfie” by rejuvenating your skin with dermal fillers or BOTOX. According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, dermal fillers are increasing in popularity thanks to their cost-effective, speedy procedures and quick results.

Take a moment to learn more about some of the differences in these injectables, and we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our expert nurse injectors to determine the best treatment for your skin.

BOTOX Injections

If your primary concern is forehead lines, either in-between or around the eyes, then BOTOX is certainly a treatment to consider. BOTOX injections soften wrinkles around the eyes and forehead by relaxing the muscles that contract in those places every day. The procedure is not only virtually painless but also speedy — injections usually take no more than 10 or 15 minutes. Because the procedure is nonsurgical, you can carry on with your day as usual and enjoy little to no downtime. And much like laser treatments, the more consistently you receive BOTOX treatments, the longer-lasting and more effective the injections will likely be. Your nurse injector will provide recommendations for follow-up treatments.

Dermal Fillers

The key to dermal fillers? Hyaluronic acid. Chances are you’ve heard of this water-loving molecule before — our skin naturally produces HA to regulate moisture levels, but thanks to factors like environmental toxins and aging, the level of this hydrating substance in our skin decreases over time. Applied topically, HA allows for intense hydration of the skin and as a result gives you healthy, supple and glowing skin. But because serums and creams only work on the surface of the skin, and skin degradation happens on a cellular level, they may not be enough to achieve the results you seek.

Juvéderm XC and Voluma XC are injectable gels that go deeper and add volume to smooth the skin while also reducing lines and folds. Juvéderm XC and Voluma XC are both hyaluronic acid fillers, and Voluma XC uses lidocaine, which helps increase your comfort during the procedure. Restylane is also a HA filler that can be used to treat those lines around your mouth (nasolabial folds) or to enhance and plump your lips.

There are plenty of options available to achieve your desired look at Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Rejuvenation Center. Call 913-663-3838 or click here to book a complimentary consultation for radiant skin you’ll be flaunting in every photo op this season!

Laughing Gas Brings Serious Relief to Monarch Plastic Surgery Patients

November 2, 2018/in Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Though it’s completely normal to feel a little anxious going into a cosmetic procedure, at Monarch Plastic Surgery, we want you to be as comfortable as possible. A simple solution may come in the form of “laughing gas”, or nitrous oxide. Seriously, though, it’s no laughing matter — we take patient comfort very seriously, which is why Monarch is now offering PRO-NOX soothing treatment.

An innovative new device, PRO-NOX puts both control and relief directly into the patient’s hands. The instrument releases nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, in a safe 50/50 combination with oxygen to calm nerves during procedures. Although it may sound intimidating, nitrous oxide is simply a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas used as an anxiolytic (a drug for anxiety relief) and analgesic (a drug for pain relief), according to the American Pregnancy Association. All you have to do is take a breath from the specialized tubing, and the gas will release for a brief sensation of reduced stress. It offers you peace of mind during a procedure, knowing that relief is at your fingertips if needed.

“The unique thing is that it’s completely patient-controlled,” says Monarch surgeon, Dr. Paul Leahy. “The company who made this device, their primary goal is patient safety.”

With proven effectiveness during labor and delivery, nitrous oxide is being increasingly applied to cosmetic procedures as well. Its ease and flexibility is a point in its favor in this area in particular — it’s an affordable option and easy to use for both the patient and the doctor. According to CAREstream America, the PRO-NOX system has the benefit of quick-onset relief that lasts only a short duration, meaning that recovery is quick and there’s no added downtime or after-effect. Within 10 minutes, you can safely drive home. It’s also non-addictive and reduces the need for other pain medication.

PRO-NOX is now available at Monarch as an add-in option for most in-office procedures. A safe, non-invasive way to soothe nerves during cosmetic procedures, nitrous oxide is a game-changing technique that keeps control literally in the patient’s hands.

For more information, please call us at (913) 663-3838 or request a consultation.

Exfoliation Q&A by Jessica Hager

August 27, 2018/in Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Ex·fo·li·ate, by definition, means (of a material) to come apart or be shed from a surface in scales or layers. Exfoliating your skin is very important because you are removing dead skin buildup, which helps promote the formation of healthy new skin cells. It can soften fine lines and wrinkles, reduce pore size and treat acne and skin discoloration. Exfoliating can be done in several different ways. Below are answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.

What are some ways to exfoliate my skin?

Here at Monarch Skin Rejuvenation Center, we offer several different options to keep your skin glowing. The two most common ways to exfoliate are mechanical and chemical. Mechanical exfoliation typically includes microdermabrasion, dermaplaning and facial scrubs. Chemical exfoliation is done by using acids such as glycolic, lactic, fruit enzymes and salicylic. Products play a big role in the exfoliation process as well. Products such as retinoids stimulate cell turnover, resulting in a smooth and healthy complexion.

What specific procedures should I ask for at Monarch Skin Rejuvenation Center?

Our most common procedures that aid in exfoliation are medical facials, Hydrafacials and chemical peels. Microdermabrasion, which is part of the medical facial, uses mechanical exfoliation to gently remove dead skin cell buildup. The Hydrafacial uses multiple serums and acids to exfoliate your skin while providing you with immediate brightness and hydration. Our VI peel offers a proprietary blend of salicylic, retinol, TCA and vitamin C. Also, make sure to add on dermaplaning to your service. Dermaplaning gently exfoliates and temporarily removes vellus hair (peach fuzz), which allows for better product penetration.

Can you over-exfoliate?

Yes, you can over-exfoliate. Less is more. Exfoliating too much can cause damage and irritation, which can result in redness, inflammation, breakouts and even small tears in the skin. Certain skin types and conditions require different forms of exfoliation. For example, if your skin is inflamed due to acne or rosacea, then specific treatments such as BBL or facials would be ideal for you so that you don’t distress your skin any further. The best way to safely exfoliate is to have your aesthetician recommend an at-home product regiment as well as a plan for in-office services.

Does the change of the season and temperature matter?

Yes, it does matter. In the summer, your skin can become more oily from the heat and humidity. Also, extra sun exposure and sweating can make you more susceptible to clogged pores and acne. Exfoliating is still important, but the type will depend on your amount of sun exposure. In the winter months, when there is no humidity and the air is more dry, your skin cells dehydrate quicker, leaving you with dead skin buildup on the surface. This is an ideal time to do chemical peels or more aggressive procedures that may require some downtime.

There are many different products and services to give you a beautiful outcome no matter what your skincare concerns are. The first step is to come in for a complimentary consultation here at Monarch Skin Rejuvenation Center. We can customize a great game plan just for you!

Tips to Choose the Best Breast Implant Size for Your Body

March 14, 2018/in Blog, Featured Blog/by Monarch Plastic Surgery

Typically, women think of implant size based on bra size. But, implant size actually has nothing to do with bra size since those sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Just because you’re a 34B at Victoria’s Secret doesn’t mean you’ll fit perfectly in every 34B bra you find. Here are some tips to achieve the results you want from breast augmentation surgery.

Bring visuals.

Photos are a good way to show your plastic surgeon what you are looking for out of a breast augmentation. You can bring in photos or ask your surgeon to look through their before-and-after gallery. It’s important to note that results vary because every woman’s body is different and breast tissue amount varies woman to woman.

Communicate clearly with your surgeon.

Discuss your breast goals with your surgeon openly. You don’t want to wake up with chest size reminiscent of Kim Kardashian if you had a Kate Hudson look in mind. Be as specific as possible when discussing your breast augmentation goals so that your surgeon can determine whether or not they are realistic. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has a great list of breast augmentations questions to ask your surgeon.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Breast Augmentation Surgery

Don’t- Select a implant size without visualizing what it will look like post-op. Dr. Keith Hodge, our board certified plastic surgeon, said this, “You want to choose an implant that fits your breast dimensions. The implant should not be wider than your natural breast. I would suggest trying on sizers with a sports bra so you can visualize your post-op appearance.”

Do- Your homework. Homework may seem like a thing of the past, but if you’re considering surgery, you’ll want to do some research. Find examples of breasts that are appealing to you. It’s also a good idea to research the plastic surgeons in your area.

Watch our very own Dr. Paul J. Leahy explain what to expect when you come in for a breast augmentation: http://bit.ly/2IbiyJ1. If you’ve been considering a breast augmentation, the next step you can take is to schedule a consultation. Click here to request a time for a consult or call us at 913-663-3838 today.