Silk Touch Med Spa, Laser & Lipo Center Blog has moved

Dr. Brian Kerr and his partner Susie Kerr with the Silk Touch Team

Our blog has moved! Please click Silk Touch Med Spa Blog to read about the latest and greatest treatments in Boise, Idaho.

Is it ok to lose weight fast?

I see a lot of clients in my office who are desperate to lose weight or inches quickly. Often the question is, "Can you fix me now? I am desperate!"

They come in desperation for various reasons: some want to look good for a High School reunion, a wedding or a planned cruise or big event. Some clients have more serious reasons: they are at risk of losing their job.

I do about four cases of liposuction a week (Smart Lipo, Vaser, PAL) and it really can be amazing to see the transformation, but liposuction isn't for everyone and I wanted to talk about another very effective method that we have used in our office to help clients achieve their weight loss goals.

For the past two years I have been recommending the Take Shape For Life program. I am confident that patients who adhere to the program will lose weight quickly and safely. At Silk Touch Med Spa we use the program as follows:

1. Pre-liposuction to get a patient to the desired weight (generally a BMI of 30 or less)
2. Post- liposuction to keep the weight off.
3. As an alternative to liposuction.

The successes of our clients has been simply amazing. More importantly, patients have been able to make a "lifestyle change" to keep their weight off. They learn to eat more frequently and to eat smaller portions.

The program consists of 5 meals a day with one additional "lean & green" meal that can be eaten at any time during the day. The replacement meals are high in protein which helps to keep the client from getting hungry. Generally, hunger is felt in the first 1-3 days....but most of our clients find that after that three day window....they've adjusted to the smaller meals and feel quite satisfied!
Most of our clients drop 2-5 lbs. a week very easily.

After the client loses their desired weight they go on a maintenance program where they begin adding regular food. Many of them continue to use the high- protein Medifast bars or meals long after their initial weight loss because they are easy to prepare or carry with them and very satisfying. It's nice to be able to substitute a bar or meal when the scale starts to creep up a bit.

If a client is interested in the Take Shape For Life (TSFL) program, they are asked to fill out a medical history. If they meet the criteria for the program, we offer them free coaching and medical supervision throughout the program. We also offer FREE consultations for those who would like to know whether TSFL is right for them.

We've had so many success stories lately, I thought I'd share some of their testimonials:

“I’ve done them all (diet & weight loss programs)…..Take Shape For Life was easy for me with fast results. When my doctor told me my cholesterol was 287 and wanted me on medication, I knew I had to lose weight and get my health back. Three months, and 42 lbs. lighter, my cholesterol is now 180 and no meds!
I had forgotten what fun you can have in a dressing room! I feel great!”
-Karen W. 03-11-2011

“Medifast really works! I lost 30 pounds and 17 and a half inches in just under 3 months! Donna Berg was very supportive and there for me when I really needed her. I highly recommend the program for anyone who wants to see weight loss results in a few months and wants to learn to eat healthy again.” – Jan, Boise 1-31-11

“I started Take Shape For Life in March of 2010 and Lost 30 pounds in three months and have kept it off for almost a year. The program was super easy and the support from Susie and the staff at Silk Touch Med Spa was amazing. The program made eating simple and stress free. I was most impressed with this weight loss method over others because it seemed to make sense as a lifestyle change and not just a quick diet fix. I have to say the best part is how much better I feel overall- my knees are especially thankful!” — Dorothy Hope 1-10-11

For more information on the Take Shape For Life Program click here.

--Dr. Brian Kerr

Acne scarring and Stretch Mark solutions with Affirm laser

The AFFIRM Multiplex laser is the only one of its' kind to treat acne scarring and stretch marks. It's a 2 for 1!

AFFIRM is a "next generation" laser, outperforming the Fraxel laser for laser skin treatments on many fronts.

The Fraxel and similar systems are generally 1540nm wavelength lasers that emit fractional energy at 800 microns to 1600 microns deep into the skin. The AFFIRM emits 2 wavelengths. The first is more shallow (about 300 microns) where most sun damage is found). The other wavelength goes deeper (2000-3000 microns) for deeper skin rejuvenation and tissue tightening.

The AFFIRM laser is called a "Multiplex" laser because it is two "fractionated" laser treatments in one. It has a 1320nm and a 1440nm wavelength combined in a single multiplexed treatment (both lasers fire almost simultaneously so that the pulse is felt only once).
The 1320nm is considered the "Gold Standard" for acne scar treatments.

The Affirm laser is considered a non-ablative fractional resurfacing laser since it does not remove a layer of the skin as the co2 Fractional laser does. This laser fires "columns" of energy down into the skin, leaving healthy untreated skin around these columns that can help the treated tissue heal more quickly. Although it doesn't ablate the skin, it "tricks the skin" into believing it is wounded -thereby incurring a "healing response".

With the use of anesthetic cream and a Zimmer Cooler we can keep our patients quite comfortable while this laser penetrates deep into the dermis to work its magic. The Affirm can diminish Scars, Stretch Marks, and Acne scars in a series of treatments with minimal downtime.

Our patients can get treated in approximately 30-45 minutes depending on the area. They'll have a sunburn look for about 24 hours and then can usually put their makeup on the next day and no one knows they've had anything done.

Patients who have come to us after having a previous Fraxel treatment have reported that the AFFIRM is far more comfortable than the Fraxel laser even when BOTH lasers fire at once. Some clients have told us that they couldn't even finish their Fraxel treatments because they were so painful.

We have gotten wonderful results with the Affirm and skin often regains good color and texture in just a few treatments. 3-6 treatments are recommended.

When more serious skin problems present themselves, such as a patient with severe skin texture problems or very deep acne scars, then I use my Fractional CO2 laser. I get incredible results but there is significantly longer down time (4-7 days) to achieve results.

Mild to moderate acne can be treated with chemical peels, microdermabrasion and acne medications and or skin care products. Moderate to severe acne may be treated with Acne LED Blue Light Therapy alone, or photodynamic therapy with Levulon. Each treatment has its merits and offers affordability to all clients. For more information visit our website www.SilkTouchMedspa.com

Perfect, plump, full lips with Juvederm lip enhancement

Before and after photos of upper lip filled with Juvederm.



Recently a woman sent an email to Dr. Kerr telling him how much she loved his work. She happens to live in Europe and since she couldn't get to Dr. Kerr, wondered if he would be willing to share his technique and how much dermal filler he used, etc. Dr. Kerr was happy to share his technique. And here is more of their correspondence. --Susie

Good evening doctor!

I am writing from Europe and I know you do not have to answer my question, but I would be really happy for a short information.

"I have seen a photo of a great job you did on lip augmentation with juvederm at your blog. As I live in Europe, unfortunately I can't go to the US just to get lip augmentation done by you, but if I could I certainly would :).

Nevertheless I'd like to ask my surgeon here, to get the same effect that is visible in your photos as I have exactly same lips as the patient photographed. Therefore I kindly ask for an information on how much of the filler was injected to gain such an effect." -Megan from Europe

Dr. Kerr's answer:

These lips were treated with Juvederm Ultra. As you can tell from the "before" picture this patient already had a very nice bottom lip, however she was very self conscious about her upper lip.

Generally I use about 0.4-0.5 ml in the upper lip and 0.3-0.4 in the lower lip primarily along the vermilion border starting about 2-3 mm from the corner of the mouth and let the Juvederm track medially under slow steady pressure. Often it will track along the vermilion border all the way to the mid line or across to the other side. Occasionally it will stop tracking and I will advance to the point where it has been impeded and begin injecting from that point. In this particular patient I used the entire unit (0.8ml) in the upper lip with about 0.5-0.6mls along the vermilion border and the balance into medial body of the lip to enhance the volume.

This patient continues to return to my Medspa about once a year for touch up of her lips.

Thanks for your inquiry,

Brian Kerr MD

And then a follow up email to Susie, Dr. Kerr's wife.

As I have my sister living in the U.S. maybe I could visit your medical center, while visiting her someday :) It would be great to get some lip treatment by Dr. Kerr as me and my friends find his work extremely well done- the effect is very natural and the amount of the filler is well- balanced. I hope i get a similar effect from my doctor using Dr. Kerr's advice and knowledge!

Thank you for your kind interest and support,
Megan M.

Do it yourself Botox? A very bad idea.

Do-it-yourself Botox..... a really bad idea.

I had heard rumors that you could buy Botox "do it yourself kits" on line but frankly I didn't believe it. I was stunned to find that it is true. Not only botox but dermal fillers as well. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind if you are the "do it yourself" kind of person.

1. It is illegal to sell and illegal to buy without a prescription.
2. Such operations can and will be shut down. You could loose your investment as well as be prosecuted.
3. The pricing is so low that the products can not be legitimate. The wholesale cost to physicians with bulk discounting is 2-3 times what these wesites are offering. I don't like the fact that these raw products are so expensive either, but that is the market pricing.
4. These ares not FDA approved BOTOX or dermal fillers. What is it? Who knows.
5. I've done thousand of injections. Its one thing to inject someone else, a completely different thing to inject yourself in a mirror. Everything is reversed and you lose depth perception.
   
6. Ask yourself this question. Would you want the doctor injecting you to be experiencing the pain of injection right at the moment he or she is focusing on making an artistically placed injection in you.
7. My moto is "you can't rush art", and you sure can't make good art while under the stress of self inflicted pain.

Do-it-yourself Botox business busted in Mansfield

by REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA-TV

Posted on November 25, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Related:

• Attorney General's lawsuit against Discount Medspa and Ontario Medspa (PDF)

MANSFIELD -- Undercover officers raided the home of a Mansfield woman who they say was selling do-it-yourself wrinkle treatments.

Police confiscated boxes, computers and more at the home of Laurie D'Alleva. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott charged the Tarrant County woman with illegally offering prescription drugs -- including botulinum toxin (Botox) injections -- without a license.

The legal action also alleges that D'Alleva operated illegal Web sites to market her products. The state obtained a restraining order to keep her from selling the drugs and shut down her Internet sites, Discount Medspa and Ontario MedSpa.

The sites included video demonstrations of how to use the prescription drugs, along with customer tesimonials about the results they were getting.

Doctors caution that self-injecting or taking any drug without the authorization of a doctor can be harmful -- even deadly.

The state said D’Alleva falsely claimed that her membership in the "Texas Medical Council" authorized her to sell prescription-only products. There is no such organization.

According to court documents, undercover investigators bought a “Newbie Starter Kit” from D'Alleva which contained the prescription Restylane in a filled syringe. They also purchased Dysport and Freeze, both of which contain purified neurotoxins, which are used for wrinkle-reduction.

Empty syringes, needles and other pharmaceuticals were also seized at D'Alleva's home.

Residents of the quiet Mansfield neighborhood said they were surprised when they saw officers entering the residence.

"I thought she was a housewife," said Dana Child.

The Attorney General's office is seeking civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation per day.