Hangers&Hangers

Diane Cantrell M.D.

Med Spa Plus

Dr. Cantrell is the #1 Sculptra physician in Central Florida.  Often, offices will purchase a large amount of a product to rank higher on the product’s website or to get higher ratings.  That doesn’t mean they actually use all of that product or treat with it themselves.  The data is in and Dr. Cantrell has more experience with Sculptra then any other physician in Central Florida.

As one of the first doctors to be trained in Central Florida, Dr. Cantrell had been at the leading edge of non-surgical solutions for the effects of aging that we all face.  Her skills allow her to successfully treat multiple areas typically beyond the scope of most physicians; and, she is one of only a few doctors in the Southeastern US trained to treat the effects of aging on the hands with Sculptra and Laser.  Her results speak for themselves:  soft, natural corrections that restore your youthful appearance without the harsh or “they had something done” look common with so many cosmetic treatments.  She takes her time, just like nature does, so that you “anti-age” in a graceful and controlled manner.  And, unlike surgical treatments, future touch-ups and adjustments are simple and easy.

Sculptra, simply the best.  Dr. Cantrell, Sculptra’s best.

If you have questions or would like to find out more info about Sculptra, Schedule FREE Consultation Today!  Med Spa Plus is located just outside Orlando in Oviedo, FL.

Carbuncles or sebaceous cysts are being seen a lot more this Summer and are highly contagious.  Just sitting down on a chair used by an infected person can spread the cyst to an exposed leg or arm.  Be more vigilant at the gyms this Summer.  Thought very treatable, if not caught early, the infected area can often lead to permanent marks and discoloration that will require cosmetic laser treatment.

We often have patients come in and say they want to look younger and more youthful, but don’t know how to go about it.  Fact is, losing facial volume is the primary cause of aging.  Picture a plump grape, as it loses volume it becomes wrinkled and no longer holds its shape.  Now imagine being able to inject that grape with juices to bring it back to its shape and stretch the skin to reduce the wrinkles.  That is exactly what we do with the product Sculptra.  Celebs have been using it for years to maintain their “youthful” appearance, now it’s time for you to be in the know.  We see women and men coming in every 6 to 8 months asking for gallons of filler, when in reality we could fix them up with just a few treatments of Sculptra-that we’ve seen last up to 2 and a half years.  We are so excited about this product, half our staff has it in their faces!  Point being, if you want to look like you did in that high school picture again-Sculptra is the way to go.

On July 9, 2010, British regulators approved the use of Botox for the treatment of Migraine Headaches.  It is expected that the U.S. will shortly follow.

Ok, considering the fact these treatments have been around for many years and in fact, Dr. Cantrell was one of the first in the area to offer such treatments, it’s nice that the Government will make it “official” soon.  For those patients that think anything ‘not approved’ by the FDA is ‘illegal’ please note that the use of ice packs to reduce swelling has never been approved by the FDA along with many other standard practices used everyday in medicine.  So, if you suffer from debilitating Migraine Headaches you can choose to wait and see if the FDA approves of you being treated; or, you can can choose to dramatically reduce the severity and frequency of your headaches for up to a year, right now.

By the way, all those cool Botox treatments that you’ve been so pleased with for your forehead, crows feet around the eyes, frowns around your lips, etc. - they’re not FDA approved either.

I.B.D. has reported that a particle of English ivy may protect the skin from UV radiation four times better than today’s metal-based sunblocks.  Interesting that it also states that this “…would avoid the potential health problems of metal-based products, which can seep into organs.”

By “metal-based products” they mean the Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxides.  By “potential health problems” & “which can seep into organs” they mean:  we’re making this up to get funding and to better position our research.   In all the generations that these have been used to block the damaging rays of the Sun, there has never been a reported case of health problems associated with them “seeping into organs”.   On the other hand, there are numerous studies implying or proving that the current batch of “chemical” screens can and have caused health problems to the point that many countries put minimum age requirements on their use.  Many people will insist that they prefer the “natural” products from something like this plant over the Zinc or Titanium dioxides.  They fail to realize that not only are Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide “natural” products but they are far less complex than most of the chemical alternatives, including the “natural” ones.  Along with their long history of use, their interactions with the body are far better known and offer far fewer opportunities of unhealthy interactions than do the chemical substitutes.  Perhaps that’s why Australia still recommends them as the most approved and proven ingredients to be used in topical sunscreens.  “New” is not always better.

Finally, after all the “acne cures” on the market today they have finally gone directly to Gold for probably the most expensive solution yet.   Not just any gold but lauric acid inside Gold nanoparticles to attack the acne bacteria directly.  Can you just imagine the marketing hype and the price tag for that cream!?   Still, nothing indicates the treatment will ‘cure’ acne which to-date usually can just be controlled.  Guess if you have to have the most expensive method available, this will bring that to a whole new level.  But, if you just want your acne taken care of at an affordable price, Dr. C has had over a 98% success rate with compliant patients in clearing up their acne.  Even the old acne scarring of youth can be pretty well eliminated in a single treatment.  But clearly there will always be someone who must have the Golden Treatment.

Recent studies indicate the use of Botox  “…may diminish the quality of emotional experiences.”  Now, if you read carefully you’ll notice that the emotions that are diminished are associated with frowns and negative emotions.  Nothing wrong with diminishing your negative emotions and the bad day blues, is there?  Other studies indicate that people with natural frowns also experience improved social relations and feel happier after they have their frowns minimized or reversed with the use of Botox or Dysport.  So, I guess it’s fair to say the Botox makes you happy…really.

Every day I see patients that are new to medical cosmetics and one of the first treatments they are confused over is Botox.

Botox, and now Dysport, are medicines used for a large number of different treatments.  They are effective in treating symptoms as diverse as Cerebral Palsy and sea sickness.  For our purposes I will keep it limited to Cosmetic services.

Most people identify Botox with facial wrinkles and indeed that is its most common use.  But, not just any kind of wrinkle.  Botox and Dysport work only on dynamic wrinkles.  The kind of wrinkles that occur or are enhanced when you make strong expressions.  Frowns, squinting and even smiling.  (These are not the same as static wrinkles that are there all the time regardless of your expression.)  The areas most effected by dynamic wrinkles are the forehead, brow area and around the eyes.  By treating the specific muscles that make these wrinkles, they are dramatically softened and over time they can be eliminated.  These are not the same muscles that you use to actually make your facial expressions (unless you feel all the added wrinkles enhance your expressions).  I’ve treated patients as young as 19 and as mature as 79.  It’s not the age, it’s the look.

Wrinkles are not the only use of Botox and Dysport.  In the proper hands, they can be used to change the shape of your lips and your smile, the shape of your nose when you smile and other areas in a very subtle way that can still have a dramatic effect on your appearance.  I have treated actors and actresses who needed specific muscle groups to perform in specific ways and my ‘custom Botox’ has been the treatment of choice by those who could have receive treatment free of charge else were.

In the wrong hands, you can get the “frozen” look that so many people are familiar with, drooped eye brows, crooked lips and strange effects during normal expressions or worse.  The good thing about these ailments are that they won’t last.  After about 3 months your expressions and face will begin returning to ‘normal’.  Of course, when you get the look that you want, the bad thing is that it too will return to ‘normal’ in about 3-4 months.

Botox and Dysport have other benefits that many people are still not familiar with.  Tired of wet, clammy hands and feet?  Disappointed that, in this Florida humidity, you can’t wear those special blouses and tops without unsightly sweat marks and stains?  Excess sweating can be controlled for 8 or more months with just one treatment.  Migraine headaches can be controlled and even eliminated for months at a time.  Do you ever wonder how the Hollywood Stars keep their cool on stage under all those lights?  They use Botox in a lot more places then just their faces.

With one of the highest retention rates in all of Florida and years of unique training, my treatments are not like anything else.  The Botox ‘connoisseurs’ have found that there truly IS a difference.  Call me for a complimentary consultation and experience the difference that is Med Spa Plus.

In health,
Diane Cantrell, M.D.

In today’s economy, every penny counts, and consumers are choosier about where to spend their hard earned dollars. Every day we see some new sales pitch, special, or guaranteed product to make us thinner, younger and ultimately happier. Every week I receive an email targeting physicians to “increase their bottom line” by buying cheap equipment, and beauty products I would dare use on my own skin. There are a few things that you should know before you try to save money and end up spending even more.

DID YOU KNOW? - That many of those brand-name cosmeceuticals in your medicine cabinet have no active ingredient? High-end department stores are selling you products at INSANE prices that have you BELIEVING they make a difference when in reality actual medications that CHANGE THE SKIN are more AFFORDABLE!

BEFORE YOU BUY, DO YOUR RESEARCH
Find out what the active ingredients are in the products you are buying. When in doubt ask your DOCTOR, not the sales lady behind the counter.

Hair removal is another area where misinformation and a glossy sales pitch can actually cost you money.
Below is an ACTUAL conversation I had with a provider at a MAJOR “Laser” Hair Removal Chain

Q: Do you have a real laser? I heard that you use an I.P.L.?
A: Gee, nobody has ever asked me that…
Q: All those years there and all the consumers who do “research”?
A: I’ve never had anyone ask that.
Q: What would you say?
A: Uh, yes, it’ll remove your hair.
Q: You’re COMFORTABLE with saying that? So, you don’t tell them that I.P.L. is less effective than Laser? What wavelength is your “laser”?
A: Nobody asks that.
Q: Well, it’s a dead giveaway if there’s a single wavelength (meaning a laser).
A: Nobody has ever asked that.
———-
SO WHAT DO I NEED TO ASK?
-Is it a Real Laser, with one wavelength?
OR…
-Is it an IPL/Filtered IPL?

WHY ASK?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, lasers can work broader areas of skin than IPL. As a result, IPL hair removal is often more time consuming and costly than laser hair removal. This may explain why you’ll find dozens of laser hair removal centers in your area with constant advertised discounts and relatively few “Laser” hair removal providers. Additionally, the jury is still out on whether IPL’s actually can be a factor in causing cancer unlike the monochromatic beam of coherent light used by a Laser.

If it’s not a single-wavelength “Real” Laser, thats plugged into a 220-Volt outlet, instead of a typical 6 Treatment Package, you’ll have to go 10-20 TIMES! WALK AWAY! Because and IPL will WASTE your time, and TIME IS MONEY!

In health,
Diane Cantrell, M.D.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in weight loss would be that it’s ACTUALLY ATTAINABLE…for EVERYONE

We’ve all been there or know someone who has.  The group meetings, the $800 a month meal plans, the 25 minute work-outs followed by a power bar nutrition or a protein shake. “If only I’d stuck with it a few more weeks/months/years and didn’t cheat so much…”

In it’s simplest form, food calorie intake, must match your energy output to stay at the weight you desire. When something in our physiology and/or lifestyle becomes unbalanced, our weight will often reflect that unbalance. These are some of the basic steps I successfully use on each of my patients:

1.    EAT REAL FOODS!

Focusing on what you CAN eat; Normal foods, normal diets. If you need to    change your entire lifestyle then you probably won’t be successful in the long run with keeping the proper balance. The key to maintaining weight after you’ve reached your goal is keeping life simple and “normal”. By understanding what you CAN and SHOULD be eating, many of your friends won’t even notice the significant shift in your eating choices.

2.    PRIVACY

Yes, Privacy. I’ve found that you don’t need to share your particular issues with twenty other people, and that patients don’t benefit from being reminded that they are not at their ideal weight. Waiting for hours in a weight clinic while everyone who comes in knows exactly why you’re there doesn’t enforce desired outcomes. My staff and I work hand in hand to minimize patient wait time and maximize my one-on-one to help better achieve your desired result.

3.    CUSTOMIZE TO YOUR LIFESTYLE

Customize a program for your specific needs and lifestyle. If everyone were the same then one program would work on everybody. A specific pill or diet plan that helps one person to lose weight may add weight onto another person. We first discover what caused the unwanted weight. It is important to rule out medical conditions as either the cause or contributing factor so that we don’t just treat a symptom and miss what could possibly develop into a more serious issue. This is why I deal personally with every patient on a one-on-one basis for EACH and EVERY visit to ensure personal customization.

4.    MAINTAIN

Now that you’ve finally achieved your desired results, maintain them! As you can tell by now, the process just works its way into your daily cycle, so by the time you’re at your ideal weight, you just continue what you’ve been doing. No one can do everything; but it’s nice to know the same doctor you’ve trusted for your treatments can also help you to maintain your ideal weight as you enjoy your new lifestyle. There’s always something more to keep you younger, fitter and meeting your new goals!