Although Vitamin C is commonly used to treat colds, this single most popular vitamin has other numerous health benefits as well.  Lee, one of our fabulous skin experts, shares that one of her favorite beauty secrets is achieving healthy, glowing skin from the power of Vitamin C.
            “Vitamin C is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage – free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles,” according to www.howstuffworks.com.  
            Vitamin C plays a crucial role in collagen production that not only helps give your skin firmness and strength but also makes it convenient to heal different types of wounds.  When taken orally, Vitamin C aids in faster and better healing for cuts, broken bones, burns, and recovery from surgical procedures.  
Applying Vitamin C topically can help shield your skin from free radical damage once exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays.  It can also reduce sunburn and prevent the outcome of long-term sun exposure, which can develop into skin cancer.  With that said, it’s not safe to apply Vitamin C and then bask in the sun, it mainly ensures that your skin is receiving enough antioxidants and helps keep your skin healthy and soft.
Bodies don’t naturally store Vitamin C and an abundant amount is flushed out through your kidneys, so your supply needs to be replenished every day.  Aside from multivitamins or vitamin C supplements, there are a wide variety of foods that will help get your daily dose such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.  In order to enhance collagen production and fight free radicals, apply topical vitamin C to your skin.  “Look for a facial cleanser or moisturizer that contains the L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C to ensure the vitamin penetrates your skin layers,” according to www.howstuffworks.com. 
              
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            New York Fashion week officially kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 4.  Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City said it best, “Every year the women of New York leave the past behind and look forward to the future…this is known as Fashion Week.”  Although the majority of us are unable to attend, Instagram is a great way to live vicariously through those that are behind the scenes and in the front row of shows.  The following are our favorite Instagram users we came across for a glance at the best beauty shots during New York Fashion week.
Gucci Westman (@gucciwestman): “Make up artist / global artistic director Revlon.”
MAC (@maccosmetics): Follow the legendary beauty brand for a peek at backstage looks
Essie (@essiepolish): Find all the fabulous nail trends and runway looks from the iconic nail brand
Hannah Murray (@Hannah_Murray1): “Make Up Artist.  Topshop Make Up Consultant.  Globetrotter.”
Rebecca Minkoff (@RebeccaMinkoff): The lifestyle brand covers an array of behind the scenes and runway shots throughout fashion week
            Have you heard?  The SHAW Center is now on Instagram as well!  Follow us @THESHAWCENTER.  Be one of our first 250 followers for a chance to WIN CoolSmooth treatments.  Two lucky followers will be chosen at random once we reach 250 followers, good luck! 
(Photo courtesy of The Coveteur)
           
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            Roughly every 28 days our body creates a new layer of skin.  When new cells form, they push their way to the skins surface.  As you begin to age, this system begins to slow down resulting in skin appearing less radiant.  Clogged pores, breakouts, uneven texture and a dull appearance can also form if the skin doesn’t shed correctly. 

Microdermabrasion is available in the SHAW Center Spa and is a non-invasive exfoliating procedure that aids in repairing acne scarring, sun-damaged skin, age spots, freckles, stretch marks, fine lines, scars, and rough skin.  The treatment can be done on the face, neck, chest, hands, back, elbows, feet, almost anywhere! 
Depending on your skin, the treatment can take anywhere from 15-40 minutes.  A moisturizing sun block is then applied post procedure.  You can expect to have a mild, temporary pinkness in the treated area.  Like the majority of other procedures provided in the SHAW Center Spa, the treatment doesn’t have any “down time” and you can return to work and other standard activities instantly.
The treatment is conducted utilizing a jet of fine mineral crystals that are brushed over the skin’s surface by forming a soft vacuum.  The crystals then sit on the skin accompanying dead/damaged skin cells.  The crystals softly exfoliate about 20-25 microns of dead skin cells of the outermost layer, leaving younger looking skin to appear.
           In order to achieve optimal results, it’s recommended to have several treatments.  Treatments are usually scheduled two to three weeks apart.  Throughout your tailored treatment program, you’ll experience gradual improvement.  Microdermabrasion will make your skin feel soft and silky with a healthy glow.  Contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900 for further questions or to schedule a skin consultation!
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         D.E.J. eye cream is a recently developed route to youthful-looking eyes.  The product is composed of advanced extracts, peptides and antioxidants for confirmed anti-aging results.  The formula targets all the signs of aging around the eyes along with the upper eyelid.
            The DEJ is “the dermal-epidermal junction; an area of skin where the dermis meets the epidermis.  With age, this junction flattens and skin begins to weaken.  Research shows that addressing the DEJ greatly affects the skin’s appearance,” according to Revision Skincare.
            All skin types have the ability to benefit from the cream and it supplies powerful moisturization to produce a smoother skin appearance.  Ninety-six percent of users have reported an improvement in skin elasticity along with an enhancement in the look of fine lines, firmness and overall photodamage.  
            The key ingredients within the cream are Dipalymitoyl Hydroxyproline, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Methyl Glucoside Phosphate Proline Lysine Copper Complex, Goji Fruit Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Vitamin C and Cucumber Fruit Water.  All of these powerful ingredients work together to firm, moisturize, energize, brighten and soothe your skin. The ingredients also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, provide antioxidant benefits, and increase skin’s moisture level.
            Anyone who is interested in minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on top of refining the overall appearance of the eye area is an excellent candidate for D.E.J. eye cream.  The element that sets this eye cream apart from the rest is that it’s designed to tackle all of the signs of aging among the eye including the upper eyelid.
            Contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900 for additional information and to talk about beginning your D.E.J. eye cream routine!
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            We’re sure you’ve heard of at least one beauty myth out there and wondered if it really worked: utilizing toothpaste on zits will make them go away, it’s possible to diminish your pores or sleeping on your back prevents wrinkles.  Are all of these really true?  We’ve debunked some of the typical beauty myths so you can finally get the truth.
            Putting mayonnaise on your hair will make it shinier:  Although mayo contains an oil base and it will make your hair glossier, this process can get messy.  In order to steer clear of a major clean up, try the following: “Apply a cup of mayonnaise mixed with a teaspoon of vanilla extract (to cut the mayonnaise scent) to dry, unwashed hair.  Cover your head with a warm towel to help the mayonnaise penetrate, and leave it on for 20 minutes.  Before you step into the shower, apply a heaping handful of shampoo to your hair.  Don’t add any water yet; just massage it in thoroughly for several minutes,” according to www.realsimple.com.  
            You can diminish your pores: Although it’s unfeasible to actually alter the size of your pores, it’s possible to make them appear smaller.  Applying egg whites to your face tightens the skin, making your pores look smaller, however, this is a short-term effect.
            Crossing your legs can create varicose veins: Although sitting down and crossing your legs will not cause varicose or spider veins, standing might.  Standing makes the vascular network work more strenuously to pump blood from the legs up to the heart.  The valves duty is to continue to flow blood in one direction within your vessels.  If the valves aren’t working correctly, the result may be a pooling of blood, which then produces unattractive veins.
            Applying toothpaste can help get rid of pimples: Toothpaste typically is comprised of methanol, which has the ability to help dry out a pimple.  However, the other ingredients within toothpaste can aggravate your skin. 
            Sleeping on your back help prevents wrinkles: There may be slight truth behind this one.  As you grow older, the collagen and elastin fibers within your skin begin to break down.  When you lay with your face buried in a pillow and place pressure on the fibers for several hours from time to time, your skin becomes less probable to pop back.  However if you typically favor one side of your face to the other when sleeping, the side you sleep on will usually have more wrinkles. 
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            Due to Dr. Shaw’s numerous years of experience within the plastic surgery industry, it is uncommon for him to come across new and exciting things that compliment his status of expertise.  However, 3-D Vectra imaging has trumped this theory. 
“3-D imaging and morphing technology has come a long way and will help my patients better understand the proposed surgery and together we can come to a visual agreement of intended surgical results,” said Dr. Shaw.  “Patients who have had the opportunity to experience the technology are very excited about it.”
            When you come in for a consultation at the SHAW Center, your photo will be taken with a VECTRA 3D picture session.  Dr. Shaw will then be able to show you the various possible results of your aesthetic procedure due to special simulation software with the 3D picture.  You can play around with altered looks until you come across one that you desire. 
            Once you determine which image you like best, the simulation will supply a foundation for your surgical procedure.  The majority of patients are at ease going into their surgery since they have a better idea of what their desired outcome will be. 
            Try out an online demoto get a feel for how 3-D imaging works.  Although you can get a rough idea from the demo, a consultation with Dr. Shaw and the VECTRA software allows you to use a 3D image of your own body, “try on” different size implants, see the results from different angles, and choose the implant that’s best for you.
            If you are interested in scheduling a consultation with Dr. Shaw or have any questions, contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900.
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            The SHAW Center Spa offers a wide variety of peels, products and microdermabrasion.  One of our most popular procedures is photorejuvenation, a safe, non-invasive solution that can be customized to your skin type and condition. 

            Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology is utilized during photorejuvenation in order to repair an array of benign skin conditions, such as facial skin imperfections, the signs of photo-aging, birthmarks, unwanted hair, unsightly small veins and other blemishes.  The light is altered to heat energy as it penetrates the level of the collagen below the skin surface.
            Typically a cool gel is applied to the area being performed on and you may be asked to wear dark glasses to protect your eyes from the light.  The IPL hand piece is cautiously applied to your skin and pulses of light are applied.  Patients report minimal pain, similar to the snapping of a small rubber band.  An anesthetic cream may be used but is hardly ever necessary.  Depending on your desired results and your skin’s condition, the procedure is typically done in a series of 4 to 6 sessions to provide excellent long-term results.  Each treatment takes approximately twenty minutes.
            Once you’ve had the treatment, you can return to work and all other normal activities within the same day.  By utilizing several treatments, you will notice a gradual improvement with very low risk and it helps uphold the “no down time” aspect.
            If you would like more information about photorejuvenation or are interested in booking an appointment, contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900.
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            Research indicates that there are two specific kinds of aging: aging created by genes we inherit (intrinsic) and aging caused due to environmental factors, such as exposure to the sun’s rays (extrinsic).  Our patients as well as our staff have been raving about EltaMD Sun Care in order to protect their skin from the brutal sun, especially in Arizona.
            Ultraviolet (UV) rays are components of the invisible energy that comes from the sun.  UVA (aging) rays account for 95% of our sun exposure.  These rays create skin aging and contribute to skin cancer.  UVA rays sneak into the skin layers, harming collagen and cells, which leads to wrinkling, hyperpigmentation and loss of elasticity.  UVB (burning) rays typically affect the outer layer of the skin. 
            EltaMD Sun Care products provide a variety of sunscreens that prevent sun damage safely and supply true broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection.  All of the products are composed of microfine transparent zinc oxide and are noncomedogenic, sensitivity-free, fragrance-free and paraben-free.  The products range from facial and body sunscreens from SPF 30 to 50 and each product is tailored to certain skin types such as those prone to acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation.
            Dermatologists have discovered that the most powerful cosmeceutical that can prevent and reverse the signs of aging is sunscreen.  All of the EltaMD Sun Care products can help put a stop to signs of premature aging and protect against sun-related skin diseases when used daily.
            Contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900 to find out more about the EltaMD Sun Care products that we carry!   
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            If you are receiving a procedure from the SHAW Center Spa, all treatments will be performed within our office.  For more invasive procedures, there are several options for surgical facilities.  The North Scottsdale Outpatient Surgery Center is a modern, state-of-the-art facility conveniently located on the first floor of our building, offering a comfortable private outpatient surgery option.  The Piper Outpatient Surgery supplies a personalized high quality care for patients undergoing a surgical procedure.  Dr Shaw is also on the staff of Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital with full admitting and outpatient surgical privileges.
The North Scottsdale Outpatient Surgery Center’s highly trained staff will work with you before, during and after surgery to help you feel as comfortable as possible.  The facility is a fully AAAASF-accredited Ambulatory Surgical Facility, meaning that it is frequently inspected and evaluated to be accredited by the program.  The AAAASF preserves the highest standard of excellence for the facilities it certifies and regularly updates its requirements for safety and quality of care.
            The operating suite within the North Scottsdale Outpatient Surgery Center is fully prepared, providing general anesthesia and innovative instruments and monitoring devices for patient safety throughout surgery and recovery.  Board-certified anesthesiologists perform all procedures that involve anesthesia and all staff members are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
            The Piper Outpatient Surgery Center supplies tailored, high caliber care for patients enduring a surgical procedure.  This surgery center is located on the Shea Campus of Scottsdale Healthcare.  Patients experience comprehensive nursing care from the moment they are admitted until they are properly discharged.  On top of that, Piper provides a remarkable quiet nursing care unit that creates a relaxed, therapeutic environment for patients that need to extend their stay for 1 to 2 days.  This unit also enables one adult family member to stay overnight with the patient.  

            

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         You may’ve already heard of the innovative procedure CoolSculpting, a patented method that uses carefully controlled cooling to reduce fat, however, CoolSmooth is the newest addition to the revolutionary treatment.  CoolSmooth is an alternative applicator that targets your thighs or other areas that have non-pinchable fat bulges such as your lower back and middle abdomen. 
            Find out more information on the difference between CoolSculpting and CoolSmooth from Tammy, one of our fabulous medical assistants:

            CoolSmooth is a great alternative to liposuction if you are seeking a treatment that is noninvasive, has quick results and does not require any downtime.    After your treatment you’re free to return to normal activities and go back to work.  You can expect a small red mark on your skin where the applicator was attached. 
            The ideal candidate for CoolSmooth is anyone who has non-pinchable fat that wants to get rid of it with no downtime.  If you are interested in CoolSmooth, contact the SHAW Center at (480) 767-1900 for a complimentary consultation.
            Want to WIN CoolSmooth treatments?  Be one of our first 250 followers on Instagram @THESHAWCENTER.  Two lucky followers will be selected once we’ve reached 250 followers!

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