Blog with Dr. Irwin

Body Treatments

Is liposuction safe?

Posted in Fat reduction, Facial rejuvenation, Body Treatments, 2011 on Dec 31, 2011 | Permalink

Hi Dr. Irwin - I love your book and have purchased copies for friends. In it you advise against liposuction. Is that still your opinion with some of the new treatment options on the market like "smart" lipo?

Thank you! Hmmm ...... what I usually say about liposuction is to be very careful about who does it and realistic about goals. Maybe I didn't get that across clearly! Anyway, on the... more

A question about darker skin under the arms and in the groin area.

Posted in Pigment problems, Body Treatments, Asian skin, 2011 on Nov 30, 2011 | Permalink

Hello Dr. Are the darkened skin in the pubic area and under arm also called melasma and do the medications for melasma such as renova, hydroquinon, and peeling work for those skins? I am an Asian woman and my skin in those areas are 3-4 degrees darker than the olive skin in the rest of my body and I feel embarrassed.Thank you for your help and advice.

First, generally this isn't referred to as melasma because it isn't caused by the interaction of female hormones and light exposure. Other causes can include genetic (other people in... more

Would it be a good idea to use the DOT CO2 laser on the legs for wrinkles/lines?

Posted in Wrinkles, Lasers, Body Treatments, 2011 on Sep 24, 2011 | Permalink

Hi Dr. Irwin.. I'm now 40 years old. I had written a long time ago about DOT Therapy. Also I know there are different machines out there-which ones the best? Do you suggest having it done on the thighs and lower legs for crepiness/skin lines? I have tried everything other then lasers. I'm extremely embarassed of the way my legs look. I had a test spot done but not sure if one time testing will actually show me any difference. What's your thought and do you know of a good doctor in the Thousand Oaks/Los Angeles area that is reasonable. Thank you - thank you....i am so thankful for your input-

This is a tough one because the answer to this really isn't known. I think there are a LOT of women (include me on this one) who would love to get rid of the sun damage, and some of that... more

What might help sagging skin on the breasts after child birth?

Posted in Body Treatments, Body Thermage, 2011 on Sep 17, 2011 | Permalink

Hello Doctor, I am 32 years old and I have a lot of loose skin at my breast (sagging) due to pregnancy and child birth. Can I use Thermage CPT for skin tightening? Thank you, sagging

Okay - I really wish that the Thermage body tip worked well for this but it doesn't! Please don't waste your money. There is an occasional person who gets a great result from the... more

Is there any technology that can help with fat on the neck?

Posted in Body Treatments, Body Thermage, 2011 on Jul 20, 2011 | Permalink

Hi Dr Irwin, My lower nape is a bit fatty. It looks like as if i had a hump. Will radio frequency work to melt away the fat?

Depending on how long you've had this and your overall body type, it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor before doing anything cosmetic. Sometimes that fatty "hump" can be a... more

Can the CO2 DOT laser improve stretch marks?

Posted in Stretch marks, Carbon Dioxide Lasers, Body Treatments, 2011 on May 06, 2011 | Permalink

I have loose skin mixed with light stretch marks around my belly button following my pregnancy 5 1/2 months ago. I am lucky to be back down to my weight (104 lbs. and 5'2, fair skinned), but I am left with some record of my pregnancy on my abdomen! I have been told that my stretch marks are minimal. If I pull my stomach skin tight, you can't even see them. I have heard the C02 DOT laser is very promising in removing stretch marks. My question is, have you heard anything more on this laser to make you believe it actually is effective in removing stretch marks? I am willing to spend money to make them heal, but I just want to know I won't be wasting it. Thank you for your time.

I'm going to say a tentative yes on this one. While there isn't much data available yet, different centers around the country are doing it and getting definite improvement in blending the... more

Is there any way to control these benign growths (keratoses) on the body?

Posted in Skin Care Products, Skin Care, Growths, Body Treatments, 2011 on Apr 04, 2011 | Permalink

Dr. Irwin, I am 48 years old and really battling keratosis. Some are raised and some are flat. Is there a lotion that can help me get rid of these and fade them?

Okay - I'm making some assumptions. I'm assuming these are the benign form (seborrheic keratoses (seb kers)) not the precancerous ones (actinic keratoses). Sometimes people get these... more

What can I do about excess skin on the abdomen after children?

Posted in Thermage and Radiofrequency Devices, Thermage, Body Treatments, 2010 on Dec 09, 2010 | Permalink

Hello, I am curious as to the best recommended treatment for excess skin on the abdomen after childbirth. I was 115 then became pregnant and gained 45 lbs. My youngest is now 8 and I would really like to be comfortable in my own skin again but cringe at the thought of tummy tucks. Thank you.

In my opinion, plastic surgery is still the best option for this problem. If you have just a tiny bit of excess, you could consider body Thermage but I really don't see much result from... more

Is Lac Hydrin 12% good for moisturing and also exfoliating?

Posted in Skin Care Products, Skin Care, Exfoliation and Scrubs, Exfoliating, Dry Skin, Body Treatments, 2010 on Oct 17, 2010 | Permalink

Is Lac Hydrin 12% good for moisturizing and also exfoliating? Can it be used daily on the face? Thank You, Francie McPherson

Francie - you are completely cracking me up here!!!! (Francie is my absolutely wonderful mother-in-law!). You can always just call me! But to answer the question -

Yes - LacHydrin 12%... more

What results have you seen using Thermage on thighs?

Posted in Thermage and Radiofrequency Devices, Thermage, Body Treatments, 2010 on Jul 29, 2010 | Permalink

What results have you seen using Thermage on thighs?

Not many. We haven't been recommending it to our patients because the first 3-4 patients we did (with the new reengineered tips) had very disappointing results. Theramge skin... more

Is there any help for crepey skin on the back of the arms?

Posted in Carbon Dioxide Lasers, Body Treatments, Body Thermage, 2010 on Jun 29, 2010 | Permalink

What to do about crepey skin on side and back of arms - have been exercising - no help

A few years ago, I would have said no and told you to please not waste your money with offices making false promises. But ........... now there's beginning to be some very interesting... more

Is there a solution for lines on the chest?

Posted in Lasers, Botox, Body Treatments on Apr 06, 2010 | Permalink

Hi, I have vertical lines on my chest from sleeping on my side. My question is how to prevent this from continuing on and how to fix what has been caused from sleeping like that in the past. Thanks so much! karen

Okay so I have to do a bit of guessing here. I'm guessing you're over 40 and have some sun damage on your chest. Without seeing you, it's a bit tough. You'll need to have a good cosmetic... more

Will a laser work for loose skin on the abdomen?

Posted in Thermage and Radiofrequency Devices, Thermage, Pregnancy, Lasers, IPL, Fraxel laser, Body Treatments, African american skin on Mar 21, 2010 | Permalink

I had a baby almost three years ago. I was fortunate that I was able to loose the weight and escape stretch mark free(She weigh 10 pounds). I am 5'4 and weigh 130 pounds. I workout regularly so I'm in pretty good shape. I am thinking of trying a laser for my belly button area. The skin has lost the elesticity and that area looks so different from the rest of my abdominal area. I know you are against this type of thing incase of major weight loss but I wonder if you think that it would make a difference in my case? I have consulted with 2 doctors and of course, both said yes that it would make a significant difference. I still don't know if I trust the response. If you think it would is there a particular one you recommend? I so appreciate your honesty and straight-fowardness. Thank you again and again.

Good for you for getting back into shape!! It's hard, isn't it.

Well........it depends on which type of laser and how loose the skin is. If it's more like a stretch mark around your... more

Any solutions for wrinkles on the elbows?

Posted in Body Treatments on Nov 19, 2009 | Permalink

Dear Dr. Irwin- I am 49 years old and on the thin side. My biggest area of concern is the area above my elbows. I have fairly muscular defined arms however I have a "hood" over my elbows that drives me crazy-I am wearing shirts that are 3/4 -everyone thinks I ma crazy when I point it out to them but I HATE IT!! Has there been any developments in Thermage for this area?? I read your Thermage info where it talked about a newer tip in development for other body parts. Or, is this something that a plastic surgeon could possibly treat?? Thanks- Patty

This is a tough one. I've never heard of a plastic surgeon doing this but that doesn't mean there isn't somewhere someone doing it! If a plastic surgeon just removed the loose skin, I... more

Can acne be improved with diet?

Posted in Dry Skin, Body Treatments, Acne on Nov 19, 2009 | Permalink

Dear Dr. Irwin: My 16 year old daughter is starting to have acne problems on her face which includes alot of very tiny pimples on her forehead and sometimes larger pimples on her nose. She also has very bad kitosis on the backs of her arms. A dermatologist gave her slayic acid lotion for the arms. Im afraid to let her use it becuase she had the flu shot. Is this safe to use? There is no history of either of these problems in our family. What foods should she eat to improve the condition of her skin and what do you recommend that she use on her forehead and arms? Thank you. Marci

Hi Marci -

Lotions with salicylic acid in them have been around for more than 20 years and used for a variety of skin conditions including that problem on the back of your daughter's arms... more

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