You, Refined.

The Beauty Dilemma: Secrets to firmer skin

It’s a very delicate balance. You want to look healthy, attractive and youthful, yet you don’t want to look like you are trying too hard to maintain that youthful glow. We’ve all heard about this beautiful unicorn of a woman who just rolls out of bed looking fabulous with nary a wrinkle nor blemish in sight. But for nearly all of us, this myth remains just that — a myth.

We can use the best products, eat a nutrient-packed diet, and stay out of the sun — all of which are essentials for taking great care of your skin and body — but sometimes a little extra help is needed.

As you age, the skin on your face and neck begins to sag because existing collagen gets weak and loose, and collagen production has slowed. You may find that what you see in the mirror just doesn’t look like a reflection of you anymore. This is immensely frustrating, as your face isn’t supposed to be a barrier between you and the world; it’s supposed to be a window through which you can connect with people and express yourself.

Luckily, there are things women (and men!) can do to encourage nature to work in their favor when it comes to looking great and fighting that dwindling collagen supply. In particular, there are some relatively new treatments that actually lift and tighten sagging skin on the face and neck without surgery, and cause your body to make new collagen. There is a misconception that a face-lift is the only way to get rid of sagging skin in a lasting way, but that just isn’t the case any longer.

Newer technologies enable treatment of wrinkles and loose skin in innovative ways that stimulate collagen production and tighten collagen that has gotten weak, working with the body instead of against it. The results are long-lasting and require no surgery, so you get great results with little to no down time.

Ultherapy

For starters, Ultherapy is the only non-invasive procedure that is FDA-approved to lift skin on the face and neck. Using ultrasound energy, Ultherapy stimulates the body’s own healing process to lift and tighten the skin, resulting in natural looking, noticeable results with no downtime. Individual treatments take between 30 and 90 minutes with most people doing one and sometimes two treatments. Over the following two or three months, patients will begin to see their results unfold.

This technology works by treating the deeper, supporting layers of your skin with heat, which causes them to tighten without cutting or disrupting the surface. Additionally, Ultherapy stimulates new collagen production, which helps the skin maintain its youthful glow.

EndyMed

Another option, EndyMed, uses state-of-the-art radio frequency (RF) energy to stimulate collagen contraction and trigger new collagen growth. This technology sends radiofrequency energy pulses below the skin, which tightens existing collagen and stimulates the growth of new collagen. The RF energy comfortably raises the temperature of the tissue without creating excessive heat in the top layer of skin. It can be used on the face and body, including neck, décolletage, upper arms, thighs, abdomen, hips and buttocks. Smoother skin is often visible after one to two visits, but a full series is four to six treatments. It takes up to three months to show full results.

Both of these non-surgical treatment options are great for treating sagging skin — whether from sun exposure, gravity, aging, or any combination — and offer very natural looking results.

With so many options out there, it’s important to consult with a knowledgeable dermatologist to determine which treatment will deliver the best result for you, bringing out your best features and restoring the smoother and more luminous appearance of your youth. In just a few treatments, you can enjoy the person you see in the mirror each morning while your friends marvel at your fresh-faced appearance and ponder your secret.

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Dr. Steven Zimmet has been practicing dermatology in Austin, Texas for over thirty years. He is the first doctor in Austin to offer both Liposonix and CoolSculpting at his practice and also offers an array of aesthetic services, including Ultherapy, pulsed light rejuvenation, Botox, fillers, microdermabrasion, facials, and brow and lash tinting. Dr. Zimmet’s mission is to help his patients achieve optimal results through clear information, thorough guidance and clinically advanced treatments.

Call (512) 861-8901 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zimmet. Mention CultureMap for an exclusive 15% discount on skin tightening services.

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts